Meanwhile, Back In Chicago...

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2009 9:00 AM CDT in Chicago Cubs News

I was quite surprised when I saw these photos David took on Saturday afternoon, and if you haven't been in the area near Wrigley recently, you may be as well to see the very large new structure being built to house the Cubs' new bar/restaurant that will be replacing the Friendly Confines Cafe on the Addison St. side of the park. There will be interior space and a large outdoor patio, which is what will be under this structure. Here are four different views:

Photos by David Sameshima, Saturday, March 28, 2009

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Hmph.

Obviously we need to see a finish product, but it kinda sticks out there as of now, doesn’t it? This is behind right/center field, correct? I don’t make it to Wrigley often enough to know my exact locations.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 29, 2009 9:05 AM CDT reply actions

This is on the first-base side, next to the corner of Addison & Sheffield.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

I think this is just a small beginning

Wrigley Field is a huge point of interest and the ideas related to a hotel, and entertainment zone that is 360 days a year I can see being filled out around the park including some of the roof top buildings being bought out and made part of a umbrella organization that is the Cubs.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Mar 29, 2009 9:50 AM CDT reply actions

Only 360 days?

What five days would it be closed?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

christmas eve, christmas, easter, new years day and yom kippur?

There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner

by laidbackliam on Mar 29, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Yom Kippur?

Maybe. But probably Thanksgiving.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

the non american

aspect of my life coming back to haunt me. i had to struggle to think of the first 4. least i tried ;).

There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner

by laidbackliam on Mar 29, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions

That sounds horrible.

Like a Chuck-E-Cheese for baseball.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 29, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

No need to hurry back to Chicago Al.....2 inches of wet snow in the city..

…and 6 inches reported in the burbs….Enjoy the AZ sunshine while you can!

New sig currently under construction

by JB 23 on Mar 29, 2009 9:57 AM CDT reply actions

Wow.

I heard there was going to be some snow… didn’t realize it would be that much!

Glad the home opener isn’t for two more weeks.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions

It's a big old messy mess

the heavy snow, not the light fluffy kind. Heart attack snow. Bleh.

Steal a little and they throw you in jail, Steal a lot and they make you king -- Bob Dylan

by Emelie on Mar 29, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

And yet...

… you are moving to a place where you will see more snow than you ever thought imaginable.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

oh yeah.

But I’ll now have permanent bragging rights ;-)

Steal a little and they throw you in jail, Steal a lot and they make you king -- Bob Dylan

by Emelie on Mar 29, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

but it's a dry snow... ;-)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 29, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

It looks like

They’re gonna have to ‘relocate’ a bunch of those commemorative bricks that were shilled a few years back. Hopefully they let people know where their new bricks are going to end up and preferrably not in the trash. I’m sure there might be a few folks who dropped money on those things who could wind up a little bent out of shape.

WOXY.com - The Future of Rock and Roll

by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 29, 2009 10:27 AM CDT reply actions

Count me as one.

From the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs want to thank you for your support. As for your inquiry your commemorative paver is currently being relocated to a new location. At this time we are unable to inform you of the exact location because the relocation process is not yet complete. You will be notified of your paver’s new location shortly after the relocation process is complete.

Thank you,

Chicago Cubs

if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand

by N Oakley on Mar 30, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I can't wait

Looks like the ballpark is changing. For the better I hope. Ha ha you guys in Chitown got snow. In St Paul MN all we have is clear blue skies.

"It was a wise Man that invented Beer" (Plato)

by LarryCubFan on Mar 29, 2009 10:54 AM CDT reply actions

Aren't the exterior walls covered by Wrigley's landmark status?

Was this project approved by the city’s Committee on Historical Landmarks and Preservation? An article by the Tribune’s Blair Kamin attributes the successful bleacher renovation to the careful review by this group:

The Cubs have been able to make numerous changes, especially the sensitively designed 2006 expansion that gave the ballpark 1,790 more bleacher seats. The expansion turned out as well as it did because landmark status guaranteed a careful review from the city landmarks staff, not just a rubber-stamp from the development-happy City Council.

by AlSpangler on Mar 29, 2009 11:37 AM CDT reply actions

I don't think the exterior walls are covered...

… only the ivy walls, the scoreboard and the marquee.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

This story says the exterior walls are covered...

…by the landmark designation. Click here for Carrie Muskat’s story posted on the Cubs’ web site.

The council’s Committee on Historical Landmarks and Preservation did not issue blanket landmark designation for the 90-year-old ballpark, according to City News Service. Instead, the committee endorsed a proposal to grant landmark status to Wrigley Field’s four exterior walls and roofs, the marquee sign at the corner of Clark and Addison streets, the center field scoreboard, the grandstands and bleachers, and the brick wall and ivy surrounding the playing field.

by AlSpangler on Mar 29, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope they didn't landmark those ugly concrete panels.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2009 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions

You won't be able to anywhere near that bar

on any day of the week. It’ll be packed open to close.

I anticipate it being prohibitively expensive.

"I'll take one in the mouth over the eyes any day". - AJ Pierzynski
http://lostinthevines.blogspot.com/

by lostinthevines on Mar 29, 2009 1:16 PM CDT reply actions

I kind of contradicted myself, there, so

maybe I should have specified that it would be prohibitively expensive for ME, and for most Wrigley attendees who are not a) utilizing an expense account or b) a North-side trust fund baby.

"I'll take one in the mouth over the eyes any day". - AJ Pierzynski
http://lostinthevines.blogspot.com/

by lostinthevines on Mar 29, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions

To quote Yogi...

“Nobody goes there anymore because it’s too crowded.”

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 29, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Of course I understand that it'll go like gangbusters.

I’ll pry myself through the front door if I get the chance, I imagine.

Reason #204 I see my Cubs games @ Miller Park. And I live in Joliet.

"I'll take one in the mouth over the eyes any day". - AJ Pierzynski
http://lostinthevines.blogspot.com/

by lostinthevines on Mar 29, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Ugh, the concrete panels...

Drove by the ballpark the other day and they are sailing along on this latest project. But it really is a dirty rotten shame that SOMETHING can’t be done to get rid of those hideous concrete nd chain link fence panels that adorn the exterior of Wrigley. They look so bad, and doing all of these things on the exterior (brick pavers, statutes, the new restaurant and outdoor patio) only serves to draw further eye to the ugly exterior features.

Wrigley needs an EXTREME MAKEOVER. The sooner the better.

by BLou on Mar 29, 2009 8:50 PM CDT reply actions