Last month on my birthday, while still in Cortona, Benita called with birthday wishes and a surprise gift – she bought us tickets for a CUBS game on June 6. So off we went last Wednesday.
As is always the case, whenever I get near Wrigley Field, I love seeing the iconic marquee above the entrance, one that has welcome fans for the last 80 years!
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What was new for me was all the renovation across the field on Clark Street. I knew that a hotel and many restaurants had opened, but this was my first time seeing them.
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Should you not have a ticket to the game, every restaurant has open seating with large TV screens. And while you can’t literally see inside the ball park from there, you can certainly partake in the cheering!
Benita had chosen Dutch and Docs for our dinner, opened just 2 weeks ago, and named in honor of players who had carried one of these two nicknames over the years.
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We started with the cauliflower toast – delicious!
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Len and Benita followed with fried entrees while I opted for a salad. We put off dessert till later, walked around a bit, then headed for our seats. Our view from behind home plate was terrific!
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At game time, the sun was shining, the skies were blue, the wind was still and the temp was 70° – a perfect evening! Benita posted this on Instagram:
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As for the game… for about half of the game, CUBS led 3-0, until the Phillies scored two runs in the top of the 9th inning. Damn.
It was about 10 PM, bottom of the 9th, and after two CUBS were on base, Len wondered aloud how many extra innings this game might go. Suddenly the bases were loaded and Jason Hayward was facing the pitcher.
With two outs and two strikes, he let one go deep into right field. And that, my friends, was a walk off grand slam!
The over 41,000 fans erupted! CUBS WIN 7-5! CUBS WIN!
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Oh, what a night, what a very fun and memorable night…
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And what a very perfect birthday celebration for me.
Thanks, Benita, you sure know how to pick ‘em!
Ciao,
Judy
Blogging In Italy 
Benita knows how to pick her parents as well 🙂
Greetings from the land of The Golden State Warriors!
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Thanks and yes, congrats to those Warriors!
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Aloha Judy, Leonard & Benita,
A belated Happy Birthday Judy. I may have shared this with you once before, but reading about your evening with the CUBS brought a special memory of my first game at Wrigley Field. It was with Leonard, as a bonus afternoon I suspect for doing a good job, Leonard took me to my first CUBS game one afternoon. We both worked for Control Data Corporation on Michigan Avenue at the time and we took the “L” to the ball park.
I was a freshman in high school when I attended my very first ball game at Comiskey Park with a buddy who invited me. His neighbor gave him two box seat tickets behind 3rd base. Ironically, my first game at also had a Grand Slam event and the scoreboard exploded with fireworks. After seeing all this I said, “Oh. so this is baseball, I like baseball. 🙂
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You did share this with me before, but always a fun memory to re- live!
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What a wonderful daughter! And a happy day!
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Yes and yes! I agree totally!
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Happy Birthday Judy,
All the Best!
Lovely family !
xoxo Gustavo and Hilary
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Thanks Hillary!
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You made it feel like I was there
Thank you
My best to all
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Thanks so much, it was quite the night!
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Sounds great💕
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It truly was!
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