Tag: White Sox

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

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The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.

Not every city is blessed (cursed?) with two Major League Baseball teams, but Chicago boasts a team for the North Side and the South Side. I was raised a Cubs fan and still hold true to the red and blue (no bandwagon-ing here, I promise), but growing up on the other side of the state the biggest rivalry I knew was Cubs vs. Cardinals. I didn’t realize the extent to which the MLB divided this city.

I do my best to stay out of any Cubs vs. Sox heated discussions, but I have been caught in the cross fire. I think that especially at a time when the Cubs are better off than the Sox, the Sox’s fans are holding even tighter to their team allegiance. While they can boastfully ask when the Cubs won their last championship, the Cubs can come back with questioning the Sox last visit to the play-offs…

Even as a Cubs fan, I went to a Sox game last fall for fun. I definitely enjoyed it, but will (somewhat biased-ly) admit that Wrigley is where it’s at. For me, Wrigley’s historic charm and ivy wall are so much more appealing for an afternoon of baseball. Wrigley is also much easier to get to from LUC’s red line L location, rather than a long journey to the South Side for a Sox game.

I had planned to go see the White Sox game this Saturday, but waking up to a snow-covered ground doesn’t exactly put you in mood for baseball. Sooner or later Chicago will get its weather back on track and going to a baseball game will be much more appealing.

As a Loyola student, be sure to keep your eyes out for discounted tickets for baseball games (and all kinds of other shows and events)! Then you’ll have a little extra money to spend on a hot dog or pretzel at the game.

If you come to Loyola from out of town or without an MLB allegiance, I encourage to pay a visit to Wrigley and U.S. Cellular Field to experience all that Chicago baseball has to offer–then you can let me know who really does baseball best.

 

Sweet Home CHICAGO

Sweet Home CHICAGO

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There is no better place on earth than Chicago and let me tell  you why…

  • Explore: Get to know the city through the CTA (Chicago’s public trains and buses). Students get U-Passes which provide unlimited access and serves as your passport to the city. This is a great way to explore different neighborhoods all over the city.
  • Cheer on Your Team: 24 hours after the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup for the 3rd time in 6 years, Chelsea Dagger is still playing in my head. Now Chicagoans are tracking the cup (AKA Lord Stanley) as it travels all around the city and prepare to continue the celebration during the parade and Rally at Soldier Field on Friday. Chicago is not only a hockey dynasty but also home to the Chicago Bears,  the Bulls, and crosstown rivals – White Sox and Cubs. Even if you’re not a die-hard Chicago sports fan, you can likely cheer for your hometown team with they compete in town (and Loyola students often have access to tickets ranging from $2-20 to check out these events)! This year not only did the Bulls make the playoffs, the Blackhawks win the championship, and the NFL held the draft in Millennium Park, but our own Loyola Ramblers won the Division 1 Men’s National Volleyball Championship for the second year in a row, but the Men’s Basketball Team also won the CBI tournament this spring. There really is no better place to cheer on both your collegiate and professional teams
  • Enjoy the Waves: Have you ever sailed before? Kayaked down the Chicago River? Or is the beach more of your scene? Or hop on an architectural boat tour of the city from Navy Pier. Either way, there are countless ways to enjoy Lake Michigan.
  • Get Fit: Work out at Halas, Loyola’s awesome new fitness center (complete with a new pool and rock climbing wall) that hosts several club, recreational and intramural sporting events and teams throughout the year. Or join a beach volleyball team, do yoga in Grant Park, run along the lake, or rent a bike from Chain Links or Divvy.
  • Bon appetit: Chicago has some amazing places to eat from Portillo’s  to Lou Malnatti’s to Taste of Chicago where you can try all of Chicago’s tastiest items (may we recommend a Chicago style hotdog, italian beef, and deep dish pizza). This is another time to hop onto the CTA and go to Little Italy, Chinatown, or any other cultural neighbordhood in the city to try some of the best ethnic food.
  • Appreciate the Arts: World-class artists & performers swarm the city throughout the year so catch a Broadway Show, the Joffrey Ballet, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony, a late night show at The Green Mill, or concerts at venues all over the city. Looking to see an inexpensive show on campus, learn what Colossus means at Loyola (it’s one of my favorite Loyola events)!
  • See the Sights: It’s never too late to play tourist and find out why everyone takes selfies at “The Bean” or see why everyone loves Sue at the Field Museum. Don’t forget to check out the view of the skyline from the Adler Planetarium, the SkyDeck in the Sears Tower, or from the Signature Room in the John Hancock Building. While you’re at it, just hit up the rest of the museum campus – The Shedd Aquarium, and The Museum of Science & Industry (thought some of the smaller, more niche museums are among my favorites).

Really though, the only way to fall in love with Chicago is visit and explore it yourself!