Tonight the Chicago White Sox will play a baseball game against the New York Yankees. There’s nothing unusual about that. The teams have been competing against each other for more than a century. What’s unusual is the location of the game.
The teams will be playing in Dyersville, Iowa. That’s where you’ll find the field that was featured in the baseball film “Field of Dreams.” You remember the movie, don’t you? Shoeless Joe, ghosts walking in and out of a cornfield, Burt Lancaster saving a young child, and Kevin Costner having a catch with his dead father. Good stuff!
A replica of the field was built near the original site. The two teams will play there in the game that was scheduled for last season but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tickets for the game are at a premium. The field seats only 8,000 fans. The demand for tickets far exceeded what was available.
It was decided that residents of Iowa would have the first opportunity to purchase tickets. They held a lottery and if your name was chosen, you would get the chance to buy tickets at face value. The price, including fees, is around $400. That’s right…FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS!!
Pretty pricey for a regular-season game, even at a special location. However, that’s nothing compared to the resale market. If you check Stubhub, you’ll find seats starting at $880 and going as high as $13,000. That’s right….THIRTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!!
Those numbers price out most people. It made me think back to a couple of other sporting events that I wanted to attend but the costs made it almost impossible.
In 2018, I went to the Rose Bowl game, in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma was playing Georgia with the winner advancing to the college football championship game, in Atlanta. When Oklahoma had a two-touchdown lead at halftime, we started seriously thinking about going to Atlanta for the title game. When we found out game tickets were going for $2,000, it gave me second thoughts. Actually, there were third, fourth and fifth thoughts, too. Good thing the Sooners blew that fourteen-point lead and lost in overtime….at least a good thing for my pocketbook.
Two years earlier, the Chicago Cubs were playing the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. Before game five of the series, I decided to go over to Wrigley Field to take in the atmosphere. I brought $500 with me in case there was a chance to get a game ticket. None of the fans had any extras for sale, so I decided to check with a broker. When he told me his seats cost $2,000, I told him I would be watching on tv, even if it meant putting up with Joe Buck. Actually, I was relieved. I really didn’t want to spend the five hundred bucks.
I understand that like everything else these days going to games is going to cost major dollars. I realize it’s no longer the 1960s when you could get a seat in the bleachers at Wrigley Field for $1. That’s right….ONE DOLLAR!! But, everyone has that line where the price makes it no longer feasible to attend a game, no matter how much you want to see it live. I’m not sure where that line is, but it’s definitely there.
So, if you want to attend tonight’s Field of Dreams game, you still have time to get to Iowa. Just get out your credit card and head to the Stubhub site. Is $13K too much for you?
My so called friends think it’s time to edit this section. After four years, they may be right, but don’t tell them that. I’ll deny it until they die!
I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for four years.
It started as a health/wellness thing and over the years has morphed to include so many things that I don’t know how to describe it anymore.
I really thought this was going to be the final year of the blog but then Donald Trump came along. It looks like we’re good for four more years..God help us all!
Oh yeah…the biographical stuff. I’m not 60 anymore. The rest you can read about in the blog.
Two men and a 15-year-old girl were shot late Wednesday in Chicago Lawn on the South Side.
They were standing on the front porch of a home about 10:55 p.m. in the 6900 block of South Campbell Avenue when a male suspect approached them and fired shots, Chicago police said.
A teen girl, 15, was shot in the arm and was taken to Comers Children’s hospital in fair condition, police said.
A 35-year-old man was struck in the torso and was taken in serious condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said. Another man, 39, was shot in the leg and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition.
No one was in custody as Area One detectives investigate.
I got ’em, thousands of others got ’em – the Cubbie blues. Ever since the biggest three stars were unceremoniously and shockingly traded from the Cubs, I’ve felt this sadness and anger towards ownership and management. My first thought was, “how could they do this?” – and then I immediately went into anger mode feeling that the ownership was throwing in the towel on the 2021 season awful early by trading Bryant, Rizzo and Baez a few weeks ago. Hanging it up, maybe next year, no hope for 2021 so might as well trade our top attractions – shake things up and see where things fall.
Well I can tell you where they fall on me – I haven’t watched a Cubs game since the trades. After all, if ownership and management didn’t care about the fans, then I no longer care about the Cubs. And I”m not alone in this thinking and feeling of betrayal – a friend of my sister took down all her Cubs memorabilia around the house – saying she just didn’t care about the team anymore after this debacle.
Yes I know as a member of the sports media I am supposed to be more neutral on our sports teams but heck, I’ve been a life-long Cubs fan since way before I became a member of the media and I’ve spent too many years caring about my team to just let this one slide. It hurts, it hurts bad – Bryant, Rizzo and Baez made this team worth watching and were a major reason many fans watched the games on TV and in person. I haven’t been privy to how this has affected viewership on Marquee Sports Network or in ticket sales but I have to feel this has had some major impact because it sure has had a major impact on me.
It was bad enough we have had to endure the horrors of a pandemic that just won’t quit – now we have to endure a team (owners and managers that is) that did quit. They quit thinking about the fans, they quit caring about this season and they quit on three of the most popular and talented players on their own team.
Back in the 1920’s singer Ethel Waters sang a haunting ballad called “Am I Blue” – and I’d like to have all of the Cubs fans out there who feel like I do sing along with me to the following lyrics from that song (adapted to suit this nightmare)…
It was a morning, long before dawn Without a warning I found they was gone How could they do it Why should they do it They never done it before
Am I blue Am I blue Ain’t these tears, in these eyes telling you How can you ask me “am I blue” Why, wouldn’t you be too If each plan With your Cubs Done fell through.
There was a time When we all felt like one But now we’re The sad and lonely ones.
Repeat chorus – Am I Blue Am I Blue ain’t these tears in my eyes telling you got the Cubbie Blues.
Born in San Diego – raised in Chicago’s northern burbs. Lifelong Cubs, Bears & Bulls fan – Chicago Sky fan. Member professional golf media since 1996; golf professional; freelance photojournalist. School – UW Madison; former Marketing Director-booking agent for pro athletes for speeches, appearances and promotional work; I love sports of all kinds and work with several groups that provide sporting opportunities for Chicago’s inner city and under-served kids. Played tennis in high school and college – switched to golf for fun and then as a profession. Have been published in many national and regional sports publications – both words and photos. I believe in the power of sports to transform one’s life both personally and professionally.
Two people were shot by police Wednesday morning after a vehicle slammed into a police car during a traffic stop in East Chicago, Indiana.
About 8:50 a.m., officers attempted to make a traffic stop near Indianapolis Boulevard and Chicago Avenue, East Chicago police said. The driver refused to stop and struck a squad car that was attempting to assist with the stop.
Once the driver of the vehicle struck the squad car, he continued to accelerate, trapping one of the officers inside the vehicle and pinning his leg near the door panel, police said.
An officer who was inside the squad car got out of the car and fired shots, striking the driver and a passenger, police said. They were taken to the hospital in Chicago for treatment.
The officer was taken to St. Catherine Hospital for treatment, police said.
From my own GTOM trip in 2011, with 5 Rabbit making its debut.
Of course you’re aware that the Great Taste of the Midwest is going on Saturday the 14th in Madison, WI. It’s the biggest sampling event of the midwest, and of course tickets have been sold out for months. Your best bet by this point is to get on some discussion groups or homebrew club email lists to see who is offering tickets because of changes in plans.
Friday, August 13
Wolfden’s 3 Year Anniversary Weekend Wolfden Brewing, 112 W. Lake St., Bloomingdale, IL (847) 610-5117 Map Come celebrate our THREE YEAR anniversary weekend event with special beer releases, food, and live music every day – exclusively at Wolfden Brewing! • FRIDAY 8/13: — BEER RELEASE: 7 C’s of Rye (Rye IPA) – 6% ABV — Billy Bricks On Wheels PIZZA (food truck) 5-8p — Matt Shukin LIVE in the Wolfden Beer Garden! 5-7p • SATURDAY 8/14: — BEER RELEASE: Passionfruit We Jammin’ (DIPA w/ Passionfruit) – 8% ABV — Nice Buns BAO BUNS (food truck) 5-8p — EBJ Band LIVE in the Wolfden Beer Garden! 5-7p • SUNDAY 8/15: — BEER RELEASE: Barrel Aged Cookie Calamity (Pastry Stout aged in bourbon barrels) – 10% ABV — Savory Crust EMPANADAS (food truck) 3-6p — Black Bolts LIVE in the Wolfden Beer Garden! 4-6p For more information on each individual event, visit this link for more details!
12:00 pm • Mexican Lager Can Release Goldfinger Brewing Co., 513 Rogers St., Downers Grove, IL (630) 541-9728 Map Gather your camping gear, oil that bike chain, fuel up the boat, pack those beach towels, trace that hiking trail, cut the grass, or refill the propane tank. Whatever last minute activities you’re planning to squeeze in before the end of summer, we got you. We’re canning our Mexican Lager (“Chela Chido” as you’ve come to know it in our taproom), this Friday! These cans will hit Chicagoland distro the following week. It is hard to think of a more refreshing beer than our crisp, light, Mexican lager with that touch of corn tortilla on the finish.
5:00 – 8:00 pm • Friday Night Food Truck – Lucky Burger & Grill Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, IL 847-821-6140 Map Lucky Burger and Grill serves quality, always fresh, never frozen classic burgers along with mouthwatering specialty burgers. Classic additions include daily hand cut fries.
5:00 – 8:00 pm • BBQ Pop Up Tour: Whiskey Hill Brewing Co. Whiskey Hill Brewing Company, 1115 Zygmunt Circle, Westmont, IL 630-442-7864 Map Chuck’s Cafe Darien is hitting the road all summer long & setting up shop at some of our favorite local breweries! Up next is a first time brewery for us- Whiskey Hill Brewery! We’ll be there serving up our killer $6 Menu so come hungry & thirsty!
5:00 – 8:00 pm • The Roseluau Pollyanna – Roselare, 245 E. Main St., Roselle, IL (847) 285-1909 Map This Friday, join us for a local favorite event, The Roseluau! Flyin’ Hawaiian Food Truck will be serving food from 5-8pm, we will have Aloha Chicago Hula Dancers, and we will be featuring a new cocktail, our Polly Rum Punch. Get your pre-ordered tickets at Toast. Each ticket will be $25 and will include a choice of 2 meals and 1 drink ticket. Luau menu: 1 ticket includes Kalua Pork Plate + 1 drink ticket Juicy Smoked Pork Shoulder slow cooked for 16 hours- includes white rice and mac salad. OR 1 ticket includes Huli Huli Chicken Plate + 1 drink ticket Topped with Grilled Pineapple Salsa- comes with white rice and mac salad.
7:00 pm • Adult “Drunk” Spelling Bee Side Lot Brewery, 110 Slocum Lake Rd., Wauconda, IL 847-714-2584 Map No one cares you were the champ in 5th grade. Prove you’re still the spelling bee champion… while drinking! $10 Per-Entry (Online here). Each entry includes two (2) beers. Single Elimination. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
8:15 pm • Backyard Movie Night Side Lot Brewery, 110 Slocum Lake Rd., Wauconda, IL 847-714-2584 Map Side Lot Brewery is excited to bring back Backyard Movie Nights. With school starting just around the corner, this movie night will feature Ferris Buehler’s Day Off. Reservations are strongly recommended. Make reservations at SideLotBrewing.com Movie Nights are Weather Permitting.
9:00 pm • Drive-In, Dinner, and Drinks Rock Island Public House, 13328 S. Olde Western Ave., Blue Island, IL 708-388-5513 Map Friday the 13th, duh.
Saturday, August 14
Thirsty Ears Festival 2021 1758 W. Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL Map Saturday and Sunday: Access Contemporary Music is proud to present the sixth annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival! For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature seventeen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage. We’ll also have delicious beer from Empirical Brewery, vendor booths, kid friendly activities and food trucks on both days. Highlights include a special performance of our Sound of Silent Film Festival Saturday at sundown and, to close out the fest on Sunday, a classical remix from Origin of Animal. $10 suggested donation, all proceeds support the ACM School of Music, a non-profit organization. Music schedule at the Facebook Event page.
9:00 am – 4:00 pm • Weekend Energy City Releases Energy City Brewing, 917 First St., Batavia, IL (630) 597-5581 Map Online pre-orders are live for Bistro Cream Pie and more! Click here to order and we’ll see you Saturday at the brewery! Available: Bistro Cream Pie – Pineapple, Coconut & Vanilla, fruited Berliner Weisse (6.5% ABV) Zephyr Turbine – Pineapple, Orange & Citra Hops, fruited American Sour Ale (6.5% ABV). Mango’rine Sorbet IPA – Mango, Tangerine & Citra Hops, NEIPA (6.8% ABV) Mango Strawberry MOSA, Hard Seltzer Smoothie (6.5% ABV) Apple Cranberry Crumble MOSA, Hard Seltzer Smoothie (6.5% ABV) Bistro Orange Meringue Pie – Orange, Lemon & Vanilla, fruited Berliner Weisse (6.5% ABV) Crimson Guava Sorbet IPA – Pink Guava & Blood Orange IPA w/ Sabro hops (6.5% ABV)
11:00 am • Ain’t Life Grand Hazy Fest Ike & Oak Brewing Co., 6315 Main St., Woodridge, IL (331) 998-2907 Map On August 14th we will be celebrating our 2.5 Anniversary party! Due to Covid, we were unable to celebrate in February. We’ll be going all out & soaking up the August sun! We will be releasing two different variants of our popular Double NEIPA, Mt. Massive as well as six local guest taps of Hazy IPA’s. Come out and enjoy a day full of live music, games, crafts, Big Fork Brands Sausage tent, and more!
11:00 am • For Grace Day & 1st Anniversary Party Standard Meadery, 11A W. Park Blvd., Villa Park, IL (630) 359-3999 Map We are super excited to finally celebrate our first anniversary and we’re having a party! Tickets will be available starting Friday at 1pm CST via Oznr. All the pertinent details are below! Time: 3 Sessions (11:00-1:30pm, 2:30-5pm, 6pm-8:30pm) Price: $65 + Taxes & Fees Limit: 2 tickets per person Full Ticket Includes (1) Entry to 1st Anniversary / For Grace Day (1) 375ml Bottle of For Grace (Black Currant w/ Madagascar Vanilla) (1) Anniversary/Grace Day Glass (4) Drink Tickets – Additional tickets can be purchased day of event for $4ea (1) Iced coffee from Daydream Coffee We will have special mead pours available for all sessions along with pours from some of our amazing friends that will be attending! Phase Three Brewing, Manic Meadery, Afterthought Brewing, CH Distillery and Daydream Coffee! If you purchase two tickets, your guest must enter with you as your name is attached to both tickets via Oznr.
12:00 – 4:00 pm • Beer, Bacon & Bourbon Fest 2021 Bulldog Park, 183 S. West St., Crown Point, IN Map Off Square Brewing presents the 2nd annual Beer, Bacon & Bourbon Fest! Your $59 ticket will include a collectors bag, bacon inspired cocktail and collectors glass upon entrance. Once inside the event you will enjoy samplings from 25 breweries, 15 distilleries and entertainment provided by Dirt Born & Dick Diamond and the Dusters. Food trucks will also be on sight for food purchase. Tickets available at On Tap Tickets
2:00 – 5:00 pm • Barks ‘n Beer with Little Giants Dog Rescue Afterthought Brewing Co., 218 E. Saint Charles Rd., Lombard, IL (630) 849-7872 Map This Saturday we’re partnering with Little Giants Dog Rescue for our first ever fundraiser. Come out to learn about them, meet some dogs, and have some saison! We’re donating 25% of taproom sales back. There will also be raffle prizes.
2:00 – 6:00 pm • Pop Up: Lodi Tap House Penrose Brewing Co., 509 Stevens St., Geneva, IL (630) 232-2115 Map Our friends from Lodi will be cooking on site serving up some of their best locally sourced dishes. Come and grab a pint and some grub and get your weekend started!
3:00 – 3:00 pm • Evanston to Skokie Brewery Ride Sketchbook Brewing Co., 821 Chicago Ave., Evanston, IL (847) 859-9051 Map The City of Evanston is conducting a shared street experiment on Greenleaf, a lovely east-west route in Evanston. This street just happens to connect Sketchbook to Temperance and take us toward Sketchbook Skokie on the Main St. bike lanes. Please join us to test this experimental route and sample some local product along the way. We’ll start at Sketchbook Evanston in groups of 10 scheduled to manage this inside space. We’ll arrive at Temperance at roughly 4pm and Sketchbook Skokie around 5pm where great food from Libertad will be available for purchase. This is a free event and participants are responsible for their own beverages and safety. What to bring: – beer/food money – bike & helmet (Divvy bikes available across from Sketchbook Evanston) – a mask – friends (please provide headcount) We’ll follow up with table time in Evanston as needed. This event is planned in coordination with Skokie Bike Network and the breweries involved. Please share the shared street love on social media and Evanston officials. It’s a small change on Greenleaf but could lead to bigger efforts down the road. And this brewery ride can become a run/ride/walk routine for active beer lovers going forward
4:00 – 8:00 pm • Dark Horse food pop up is back! Goldfinger Brewing Co., 513 Rogers St., Downers Grove, IL (630) 541-9728 Map Dark Horse is back and this time they’re firing up the pizza oven. They’ll be set up in the taproom ready to serve you at 4pm.
4:00 – 8:00 pm • Motown Craft Beer Festival 1400 5th Ave., Moline, IL Map This Quad Cities Father’s Day weekend tradition (postponed) is taking on a new name to compliment the Great City of Moline for hosting us for over 7 years! If you thought the Micro Brew Mile Craft Beer Festival was great, the Mo Town Craft Beer Festival will be even “Mo” Better!! Featuring over 40 Breweries, great food on site, vendor booths, merch tents, and live entertainment! All supporting four great local charities here in the Quad Cities, The Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad Cities, Mississippi Bend Trykes, The Peaceful Palate, and the Chris VanSpeybroeck Memorial Scholarship. Tickets are $39-$59 through Eventbrite. The 2021 Brewery Line Up: Bent River Brewing Co., Galena Brewery, Front Street Brewery, Crawford Brew Works, 7 Hills Brewing, Potosi Brewing, Backpocket Brewing, Goose Island, Elysian Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery, Golden Road Brewing, Spoetzel Brewery, Kona Brewing, Bell’s Brewery, SweetWater Brewing Co., Alaskan Brewing, BrewDog, Destihl Brewery, Millstream Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, Lena Brewing, Whole Hog Beer Co., Point Brewing, Collective Arts Brewing, Great Revivalist Brewing, Nerdspeak Brewery, Twinspan Brewing, The Long Drink, Geneseo Brewing, Radicle Effect Brewerks, Industry Brewing Co., Wake, Midwest Ale Works, Five Cities Brewery, Odell Brewing Co., 4 Hands Brewing Co., Bootleg Honey Hill Mead, Cider Boys Hard Cider, Woodchuck Hard Cider, Seattle Cider Co., Virtue Cider.
5:00 pm • Flyin’ Hawaiian Food Truck Pop-up at Dry City! Dry City Brew Works, 120B N. Main St., Wheaton, IL (630) 456-4787 Map & Metal Monkey Brewing, 515 Anderson Dr. Ste 900, Romeoville, IL 630-862-9595 Map We adore our friends at Flyin Hawaiian, their food is always amazing and it is the perfect pairing for a cool pint of Dry City beer! Huli Huli Chicken, pork sliders, and Spam Musubi are so so delicious, and a totally different and unique treat! Head on over, and give it a try!
5:00 – 8:00 pm • Friday Night Food Truck – Mario’s Cart 17 Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Ln., Long Grove, IL 847-821-6140 Map Chef Mario and his wife Anita share a passion for cooking and partnered in 2013 to create a food cart and catering company that would allow them to utilize their skills and creativity. They take their treats to the streets, providing delicious food to the community with quality, service and passion.
5:00 – 6:15 pm • Rotary River Cruise Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Ave., St. Charles, IL Map St. Charles Noon Rotary Club is hosting a River Cruise and craft beer tasting fundraiser on Saturday, August 14, 2021 with two fundraising cruises. First cruise begins at 5:00 p.m. Second cruise begins at 6:45 p.m. Guests will enjoy a scenic river cruise down the Fox River and will be able to sample local craft beer, including Pollyanna, Riverlands, and others. Tickets include six 5oz. beer samples and a commemorative cup! Proceeds from this Rotary Club’s fundraisers support local non-profits. This is a 21+ event. Paddlewheel boat launches at Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Avenue in St. Charles
5:00 – 8:00 pm • Dope Sandwich Food Truck at Alter Brewing Co. Alter Brewing Co., 2300 Wisconsin Ave. #213, Downers Grove, IL 630-541-9558 Map A sandwich is just a sandwich… until it becomes a DOPE sandwich. Join us for some delicious eats from these sandwich ninjas THIS Saturday August 14th at 5pm.
9:00 pm • Drive-In, Dinner, and Drinks Rock Island Public House, 13328 S. Olde Western Ave., Blue Island, IL 708-388-5513 Map We’re paying tribute to Elvis this weekend! We start with one of his best, and a personal joke around RIPH, King Creole!
Sunday, August 15
9:00 am – 3:00 pm • Mom’s Day Out! Back To School Bottomless Mimosa Brunch Side Lot Brewery, 110 Slocum Lake Rd., Wauconda, IL 847-714-2584 Map Whether you are sending the kids back to school or you’re a teacher getting ready to face another year of teaching, you need to celebrate! $32 per person, advance tickets through Toast. Includes bottomless mimosas for 2 hours and brunch board to share! Reservations are required. Tax & 20% Gratuity will be added to your final bill.
11:00 am – 12:30 pm • Sunday Yoga and Beer Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Ln., Long Grove, IL 847-821-6140 Map Join us for an outdoor yoga class sponsored by Mindset Yoga and Buffalo Creek Brewing. Rain or shine, we’ll be enjoying socially distant spacing while getting in a great workout. Please bring your Yoga Mat and arrive 15 minutes early. In the event of rain, the Rustic Room and Patio will be used. We have you covered! Reservations through Toast.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm • Pound & Pour Empirical Brewery, 1330 W. Morse Ave., Chicago (773) 654-1565 Map Instead of listening to music, you become the music in this exhilarating full-body workout that combines cardio, conditioning, and strength training with yoga and pilates-inspired movements. Using Ripstix®, lightly weighted drumsticks engineered specifically for exercising, POUND transforms drumming into an incredibly effective way of working out. Designed for all fitness levels, POUND® provides the perfect atmosphere for letting loose, getting energized, toning up and rockin’ out! The workout is easily modifiable and the alternative vibe and welcoming philosophy appeals to men and women of all ages and abilities. Join us for a live 45 minutes sweat dripping cardio jam session …then quench your thirst afterwards with a drink from the Brewery!Tickets $15 through Eventbrite.
12:00 – 5:00 pm • Sunday Fun Day The Beer and Now, 2801 Ogden Ave., Ste 7, Lisle, IL (630) 946-6660 Map Every Sunday stop by for $1 off all draft beers!
3:00 – 5:00 pm • Trivia Night at Noon Whistle Naperville Noon Whistle Brewing, 1748 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, IL 331-431-4882 Map Are you tired of sitting at home answering every question correct on Jeopardy with nothing to show for it? Come out for our General Knowledge trivia night with Baig of Tricks Entertainment and join your host as they quiz your teams through two full hours of general knowledge trivia, including awesome themed bonus rounds and music rounds! While we’re testing your wit, Cellar Door will be keeping you fueled up an incredible food menu and delicious drinks all night, PLUS the top teams will win bragging rights and prizes, so bring your friends, family, and even your enemies (if they’re good at trivia) to increase your chances of winning. Be sure to get there early and snag your team a spot and fuel up with some drinks, see you soon! Please follow ALL Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions put in place by the venue, and here are a few extra tips: 1) Please bring your own pen/pencil. Our host will have pencils just in case, but it would be best to use your own for everyone’s safety & comfort. 2) The questions will be read by your host over our PA system, but may not be displayed on a screen if one is not easily available. 3) Any and all rules/restrictions are subject to change.
3:00 – 6:00 pm • Savory Crust’s Empanadas in the Wolfden Beer Garden! Wolfden Brewing, 112 W. Lake St., Bloomingdale, IL (847) 610-5117 Map Come celebrate Wolfden Brewing’s third anniversary with Savory Crust’s unbeatable empanadas! Baked and never fried, Savory Crust’s Fillipino-inspired cuisine combines a delicious pastry turnover with a variety of savory ingredients. Wash down “the dinner of your dreams” with a frothy brew at Wolfden.
5:00 – 7:00 pm • Marvel Cinematic Universe trivia Black & Gray Brewing Co., 311 Barrington Ave., East Dundee, IL (224) 484-8200 Map Join us for a night of trivia covering questions from the Infinity Saga (Iron Man to Spider-Man: Far From Home) movies only. You can play solo or round up a team of superheroes! Top teams win prizes!!
9:00 pm • Drive-In, Dinner, and Drinks Rock Island Public House, 13328 S. Olde Western Ave., Blue Island, IL 708-388-5513 Map We wrap up Elvis Weekend with Love Me Tender!
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Meet The Blogger
Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment in Chicago at our city’s best museums and galleries. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on the latest activities.
‘The Art of Banksy’
Banksy’s “Flower Thrower”The Art of Banksy
When: Aug. 14-Oct. 31
Where: 360 N. State
What: The identity of the artist known as Banksy has for years been the art world’s most intriguing mystery. But while we don’t know the man, we do know the art. The English-based street artist has created some of the most iconic images of the past few decades. A new exhibit brings more than 80 of these original works to Chicago. World-famous pieces from private collections including “Flower Thrower,” “Rude Copper” and “Girl with Balloon” will sit alongside other works rarely seen by the general public. As the artist-provocateur Banksy says: “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” Tickets: $40, $30 for 16 and younger.
“Helmut Jahn – Life + Architecture”Chicago Architecture Center
‘Helmut Jahn: Life + Architecture’
When: To Oct. 31
Where: 111 E. Wacker
What: Chicago Architecture Center presents a new exhibit honoring the late Chicago architect, which highlights his designs ranging from signature early projects like the Michigan City Public Library (1977) and the James R. Thompson Center (1985) to the Sony Center in Berlin (2000) and the Pritzker Military Archives Center, currently under construction in Somers, Wisconsin. Photography, models and sketches illuminate each project and explore the collaborative design and engineering process, while personal imagery, video and recollections by those who knew and worked with Jahn underscore his flair for the dramatic and zest for life. Admission is $15.
What: The immersive art experience that debuted in Chicago in 2019 returns for a limited run. The exhibit allows attendees to step into many of the artist’s works and learn about them in a whole new way. Fly through the Starry Night or step behind the shutters of his iconic Yellow House and walk through a re-creation of his studio. Open seven days a week 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tickets: $20, $10 for 12 and under.
‘Mimi Cherono Ng’ok: Closer to the Earth, Closer to My Own Body’
“Untitled” by Mimi Cherono Ng’ok(C) Mimi Cherono Ng’ok
When: To Feb. 7
Where: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan
What: This new exhibit features the work of a photographer who travels extensively across the tropical climates on a mission to understand how natural environments, botanical cultures and human subjects coexist and evolve together. In this solo exhibit, she presents photographs and a film in which she tracked flowers and floral imagery across varied contexts and a range of hidden associations. Admission: $14-$22.
Mel Chin’s Fundred Dollar Bill ProjectProvided/Courtesy of the artist
When: July 25-Oct. 24
Where: 5020 S. Cornell
What: Mel Chin’s Fundred Dollar Bill Project as well as works by LaToya Ruby Frazier and Fazal Sheikh are on display at the Hyde Park museum as part of “Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40.” Chin’s 13-year-project, here titled “Chicago Fundred Initiative: A Bill for IL,” invites people to create their own “Fundred,” a form of currency that affirms the right of each maker to equal protection against lead contamination; Frazier’s film “Flint is Family” uses her photographs and voiceover by Flint, Michigan, resident Shea Cobb to understand the Flint water crisis; Sheikh’s landscape photography examines the connection between desertification, colonialism, and the displacement of Bedouin communities from ancestral lands in Israel’s Negev desert. Admission is free.
What: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where children of all ages can connect to nature and science, reopened July 8. Exhibits include “Without a Trace,” selections of photographs by Zbigniew Bzdak; “Patterns in Nature: A Bridge between Art and the Natural World,” mixed media work by artist Katherine Lampert; “Judy Istock Butterfly Haven” “Birds of Chicago” and many more. Admission: $6-$9, children under 3 free.
You can walk among life-sized reproductions of a fresco masterpiece when you visit “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” in Oakbrook Center.SEE Attractions
When: To Aug. 15
Where: Oakbrook Center, 2120 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook
What: For a new perspective on some of the world’s greatest art check out this immersive exhibition showcasing the artist’s renowned ceiling frescos from the Vatican chapel. The reproductions were made using a photographic technique that captures the look and feel of the original paintings. Tickets: $14-$26.60.
‘Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40’
Toba Khedoori’s “Untitled” at the Smart Museum of Art.Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner and Regen Projects, Los Angeles (C) Toba Khedoori.
“Toward Common Cause — Art, Social Change and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40” is a multi-museum venture organized by the Smart Museum of Art that explores the current sociopolitical moment, challenging questions of inclusion, exclusion, ownership and rights of access. In its gallery, the Smart Museum features works by Mark Bradford, Mel Chin, Nicole Eisenman, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Jeffrey Gibson, Toba Khedoori, Inigo Manglano-Ovalle, Julie Mehretu, Fazal Sheikh and Xu Bing. From July 15-Dec. 19 at Smart Museum, University of Chicago, 5550 S. Greenwood. Admission is free. Visit smartmuseum.uchciago.edu; for a list of participating museums visit towardcommoncause.org.
Stony Island Arts Bank reopens with its contribution to “Towards Common Cause.” The group show features work by Carrie Mae Weems, Kerry James Marshall, Gary Hill, Whitfield Lovell, Trevor Paglen, Deborah Willis, Dawoud Bey, Fred Wilson and Nicole Eisenman. From July 18-Dec. 19 at Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island. Admission is free. Visit rebuild-foundation.org.
The reopened DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., participates with an exhibit of “Presenting Negro Scenes Drawn Upon My Passage through the South and Reconfigured for the Benefit of Enlightened Audiences Wherever Such May Be Found, By Myself, Missus K.E.B Walker, Colored,” a signature black silhouette installation from the artist Kara Walker. Admission: $3-$10 (Sundays free), children under 5 free. Visit:dusablemuseum.org.
‘Chicago: Where Comics Come to Life (1880-1960)’
A 1954 “Brenda Starr” panel at the Chicago Cultural Center exhibit.DCASE
When: To Oct. 3
Where: Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph
What: This exhibit looks at Chicago’s significant role in the development of the early comic strip. Curated by artist-author Chris Ware and the City of Chicago’s cultural historian emeritus, Tim Samuelson, it focuses on comics in popular publishing, African American cartoonists, the first women cartoonists, the first daily comic strip and more. Admission is free. (The exhibit is a historical companion to “Chicago Comics: 1960s to Now,” the survey of contemporary Chicago comics at the Museum of Contemporary Art.)
“We the People” by Chaz BojorquezNational Museum of Mexican Art Permanent Collection, gift of Chaz and Christina Bojorquez
When: Ongoing
Where: National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th street
What: After being closed for 15 months, the museum has reopened with a handful of exhibits. “Spotlight on Chaz Bojorquez and Enrique Alferez” features the museum’s newest acquisition, “We the People,” a painting by Bojorquez, and Alferez’s iconic bronze sculpture “La Soldadera.” Plus “Adlateres and the Unexpected Journey: Works by Carmen Chami” features paintings inspired by Mexican Baroque painting and figurative style. Admission is free.
“Mother and Child,” Njideka Akunyili Crosby (2016). Courtesy the artist, Victoria Miro and David Zwirner.(C) Njideka Akunyili Crosby
When: To Nov. 21
Where: National Public Housing Museum, 625 N. Kingsbury, and at the Minnie Riperton Apartments, 4250 S. Princeton
What: The National Public Housing Museum partners with the Chicago Housing Authority to display artwork by MacArthur Fellow Njideka Akunyili Crosby as part of “Toward Common Cause,” a multi-site exhibition organized by the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the MacArthur Fellows Program. Crosby uses acrylic, colored pencil and photo collages to create her distinctive portraits of African American life. “I almost want people to feel like the door is open and they’re walking by a scene into someone else’s life,” she says, “because that really is what I’m doing… mining my life to tell a story that is global but really wanting people to feel like they’re getting a glimpse into my world.” Crosby’s artwork installation is displayed on 70-foot banners on the sides of two buildings.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Bill MauldinCopyright the Pritzker Military Museum & Library
When: Through spring 2022
Where: 104 S. Michigan
What: Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Bill Mauldin, who studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and was a cartoonist for the Chicago Sun-Times, is the subject of a retrospective at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. “Drawn to Combat” covers Mauldin’s career as a wartime cartoonist focusing on soldiers’ experiences and as a political cartoonist. The exhibit draws from more than 5,000 cartoons and objects donated to the museum by the Mauldin family. Tickets: $8, $10, children under 12 free.
Amy Sherald’s portrait of Michelle ObamaNational Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
When: To Aug. 15
Where: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan
What: The Art Institute is the first stop of a five-city tour for the official portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald are the first African Americans to be commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Galley to create the official portraits of a president or first lady. After the nationwide tour, the portraits will reside in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The exhibit is included with museum admission ($14-$25).
Nick Drnaso’s painting for the cover of his graphic novel “Sabrina” in “Chicago Comics.”Provided
When: To Oct. 3
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago
What: A new exhibit celebrates Chicago’s pivotal role as a national and innovative center for comics and cartooning. With a focus on rediscovering the work of women and BIPOC comic artists, this major exhibition presents the last 60 years of the city’s artful cartooning history, showing how comic art is a democratic medium that allows artists to speak directly to people in relatable ways. Over 40 cartoonists are featured including Lynda Barry, Lilli Carre, Daniel Clowes, Nick Drnaso, Edie Fake, Emil Ferris, Nicole Hollander, Charles Johnson, Kerry James Marshall and Chris Ware. On display are comics, graphic novels, zines, original drawings, dioramas, commissioned films, installations, rare ephemera and books. Admission: $8, $15.
What: Generations have been inspired by the work of primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, who has not only shown the urgent need to protect chimpanzees but also redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and the environments. A new exhibit follows her journey from a curious young child in England to a passionate scientist studying chimpanzees in Africa. Included in the exhibit are a re-creation of her field research tent, a hologramlike projection of Goodall sharing her fieldwork memories, augmented reality activities and a projection of Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park. Tickets: $18-$32.
Vivian Maier, “Three Highland Park firemen,” Highland Park, August 1964, inkjet print. Gift of Jeffrey Goldstein/(C) The Estate of Vivian Maier
When: To May 8, 2023
Where: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark
What: Much has been heralded about street photographer Vivian Maier’s black-and-white photographs in exhibits, books and films. Now this multimedia exhibit features 65 color images made during her time as a suburban Chicago nanny from the 1950s to 1970s, many of which have never been seen before. Maier, who died in 2009, was a bit of a character and always had a Roloflex camera around her neck as she walked the streets snapping images of women, children, the old, the poor, the abstract. While her motives remain elusive, her photographs continue to speak volumes. Tickets: $17, $19.
Where: Cleve Carney Museum of Art in the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell, Glen Ellyn
What: Here’s the not-too-miss art exhibit of the summer. Dolores Olmedo (1908-2002), a Mexican musician, businesswoman and friend of artists Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera, amassed an impressive list of works by both artists that reside in Mexico City’s Museo Dolores Olmedo. Her collection of paintings and works on paper by Kahlo have now traveled to the newly expanded Cleve Carney Museum of Art. The long-awaited exhibit, delayed a year because of the pandemic, features an array of oil paintings and works on paper, pivotal pieces created by the artist. Also featured are a multimedia timeline that offers a framework of Kahlo’s life, more than 100 photographs, a Kahlo-inspired garden and a family-friendly children’s area featuring a replica of Kahlo’s Casa Azul in Coyoacan, Mexico. Tickets: $23, $40.
An-My Le’s “Migrant Workers Harvesting Asparagus, Mendota, California,” part of “Much Unseen Is Also Here.”Courtesy of Marian Goodman Gallery
When: Through Aug. 29
Where: 600 S. Michigan at Columbia College Chicago
What: The museum is presenting two new exhibits. “Much Unseen Is Also Here: An-My Le and Shahzia Sikander” features the work of two Asian-American artists who explore their relationship to America. In the tradition of American road photography, Le’s photographs confront the political rhetoric of the moment and tackle current events; Sikander uses sculpture, drawings and animation to examine the intersection of power, gender, empire and self. “Martine Gutierrez”features work from Gutierrez’s independent art publication, “Indigenous Woman”, a magazine exploring how deeply sexism, colorism, racism, transphobia and other biases are embedded and ubiquitous in popular culture and fashion photography. Admission is free.
The Paderewki Collection at Polish Museum of America.Courtesy Polish Museum of America
When: Ongoing
Where: 984 N. Milwaukee
What: The museum, since 1935 a repository for a wide variety of materials pertaining to Poland and the Polish-American community, has reopened after being shuttered for more than a year. Among the many permanent exhibits are “Polish Chicago 1850-1939,” “Folk Art Collection” and “The Paderewski Collection,” which documents the life of Polish pianist and composer Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Tickets: $6-$10.
The Hartwell Memorial Window bears a design attributed to Agnes F. Northrop of Tiffany Studios.The Art Institute of Chicago
When: Permanent
Where: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan
What: A magnificent stained glass window made by Tiffany Studios in 1917 is now on permanent display at the Art Institute. The Hartwell Memorial Window, attributed to Agnes F. Northrop, Tiffany’s leading landscape window designer, was originally commissioned for a church as the gift of Mary L. Hartwell in memory of her husband Frederick W. Hartwell. It consists of 48 different panels, and is a scenic view of Mount Chocorua, a peak in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The window, located near the museum’s entrance, is one of the most ambitious landscape window projects produced by Tiffany. Museum admission: $14-$25.
Gears that open the bridge.Friends of the Chicago River
When: Ongoing
Where: 99 Chicago Riverwalk
What: This five-story museum celebrates the Chicago River and its world-famous movable bridges. Visitors explore a historic bridgehouse, watch the massive gears of a moving bridge and learn about the history of the Chicago River. Plus from the top floor, there’s a 360-degree view of the city and river. Find the museum at 99 Chicago Riverwalk. Admission: $5, $6; children 5 and under free.
If you’re unfamiliar with commodities, basically they are the societal necessities that are consumable by human beings on daily basis. That means commodity trading, of course, is the practice of traders buying and selling these commodities with one another. People that work in commodity trading need to be vigilant and careful in the deals they make, because there are many variables at work. Some of the most common examples of commodity trading include futures and options on crude oil, beef, gold, natural gas, soybeans, corn etc.
How Does Commodity Trading Relate to Business
Commodities are greatly affected by stock prices and market fluctuations. It’s an understatement to say they have a huge impact on the market(s) which makes them an essential part of the entire financial ecosystem. The prices of these commodities move in accordance with their corresponding equities, which makes them interdependently connected. The commodity trading industry has recently gone through a revolution of sorts in the digital age. Now it’s strictly for expert traders, because succeeding in the industry requires a lot of acumen, insider knowledge and robust experience.
That said, you don’t have a lot of formal, official barriers to entry and in this era of the democratized stock market, anyone with even a mediocre idea of how commodity trading works can still be a part of it; if they really want it bad enough.
IsHaving Strategies In Commodity Trading Important?
Strategies play a vital role in commodity trading, much like any other financial business. You can consistently earn a reasonable rate of return if you have a solid strategy, and we’ll cover the most important ones below. Understanding these strategies can help you optimize your business investments while ensuring that you make a stable ROI.
Strategies for Commodity Trading
These are some of the most common strategies that you should look into upon entering the commodities trading industry.
Moving Average
The easiest way to make good money in the trading industry is to focus on the average. Calculating the moving average for a commodity can help you determine its trend. This average is dependent on various internal factors and it might take some time to learn it.
However, you can yield good benefits from the market once you understand how things work in moving average. You can calculate the moving average and invest in the market accordingly.
Swing Trading
Swing trading is one of the best strategies for investors who want short-term profit. It is ideal for a commodity trader that wants to earn a fair amount of money between 1-10 days. This kind of trading is popular amongst small-scale investors but can bring you some serious profit if you do it right.
Position Trading
If you want to keep your trading investments in the market for a few weeks, then position trading is ideal for you. The process involves plotting the position of various commodities and determining where things might work best for you. This requires a bit of research so make sure you do it before you place your bet.
Day Trading
Day trading is one of the shortest trading strategies that you might come across. It involves making a trade for a day and then pulling out your investment with whatever profit/ loss you have made. This method requires a hands-on approach and has a higher risk factor. So, it is best to opt for it only if you know how things work.
Long Term Investment
This strategy involves investing your capital for a longer period (as the name suggests). An average long-term investment involves a year or more and is the most beneficial if you choose the right commodity to invest in. People who are well versed and experienced in the industry tend to make these longer term kind of investments.
Which Of These Strategies Is The Best?
Swing trading is by far the best option for anyone who is looking to consistently generate profits (and really, who isn’t?) It involves the commencement of a price quote and then gaining profits when all the commodities are released in a single day. It is a great way to make a profit of a substantial but not excessive amount of capital, but don’t completely discount the other strategies.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and ChicagoNow.
He’s been a featured guest in dozens of media outlets including The History Channel. His work has been cited in hundreds of publications including the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.
Welcome to our roundup of movie screenings and events in Chicago. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on shows and activities.
Gene Siskel Film Center
Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard in “Annette.”Amazon Studios
When: Ongoing
Where: 164 N. State
What: The Loop cinema has reopened with 50% capacity, a mask mandate and its usual great lineup of films beginning with Leos Carax’s highly anticipated English-language debut “Annette,” starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. The lineup also includes a nine-film Federico Fellini retrospective and two documentaries: Matt Yoka’s “Whirlybird,” a portrait of a married couple who as helicopter journalists covered news events in Los Angeles, and Hogir Hirori’s “Sabaya,” the story of those risking their lives to save Yazidi women and girls being held by ISIS. Tickets: $12.
Matthew James Morrison (lower) and Alexandros Koutsoulis in “Boy Meets Boy.”Ariztical Entertainment
When: July 18-Aug. 14
Where: Online
What: Featured are 29 films from eight countries streaming online in four separate programs. The diverse selection explores the range of queer life topics ranging from comedy to drama to science fiction and Zoom dating. Three programs of short films each run for a week with the festival’s final week devoted to “Boy Meets Boy,” a new feature by German filmmaker Daniel Sanchez Lopez about two men who develop a deep connection over one long night in Berlin. Tickets: $12 per program.
What: The Chicago Park District’s series returns with films ranging from Hollywood classics to retro childhood favorites and family-friendly offerings from recent years. Admission is free.
Prosecutors had said they wanted Jamel Danzy held in custody, and a detention hearing had been set for Wednesday. But when the hearing began, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert said lawyers had come to an agreement on conditions for Danzy’s release.
Gilbert then agreed to release Danzy, 29, on terms that included a $4,500 unsecured bond, supervision by court personnel and a warning to have no contact with Eric Morgan, who has been charged along with his brother in state court in connection with French’s death.
Chicago Police Supt. David Brown blasted the decision, which he views as another example of the lax judicial system releasing too many people charged with serious offenses.
“To say that I am extremely disappointed in U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffery Gilbert’s decision to release Jamel Danzy on an unsecured bond today is an understatement,” Brown said in a written statement. “It is an outrage.”
Brown said “the court has done a disservice to Officer French’s memory, to the entire Chicago Police Department, and to the thousands of men and women across the country who work around the clock, day in and day out to stem the violence that is plaguing our communities.”
The Saturday shooting at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue left French dead and her partner in critical condition.
Danzy, who was arrested Sunday, is charged with conspiracy to violate federal firearm laws. His release underscores the uphill battle authorities say they face when prosecuting so-called straw purchasers, who use their clean criminal records to put guns in the hands of people who aren’t supposed to have them.
“[Gilbert’s] decision sets a dangerous precedent that straw purchasers like Danzy are not a danger to society, despite the fact that his alleged actions directly led to the murder of a Chicago Police Officer and left another in critical condition,” Brown said. “The outrageous abundance of illegal firearms in our city and our nation is a major factor driving the violence that is continually cutting short the lives of our loved ones and fellow human beings.”
Straw purchasing has been characterized as a so-called paperwork crime that involves lying on a form. And straw purchasers have clean criminal records by nature, though prosecutors would point out that they use their clean records to commit their crime.
To have Danzy held, the feds would have had to show he is a danger to the community or a flight risk. They signaled during an earlier hearing that part of their argument could have involved at least one other straw purchase he allegedly made. Danzy admitted he also purchased a gun for his cousin, who he knew was a convicted felon, records show.
The criminal complaint filed against Danzy alleges the Honda CR-V stopped by the officers Saturday was registered to Danzy. He was not present at the shooting, it said. Authorities then traced the gun used in the shooting to Danzy.
He allegedly purchased the Glock semi-automatic pistol from a licensed dealer in Hammond on March 18.
Federal agents approached Danzy on Sunday at a Munster restaurant where he works, according to the complaint. He agreed to speak to the agents, and he initially told them his purchase of the gun was legitimate, the document said. Eventually, the feds say he admitted he was lying. He said he bought the gun for Eric Morgan knowing Eric Morgan could not legally purchase it because of a criminal conviction, court records show.
Eric Morgan was previously convicted of felony theft in 2019 in Dane County, Wisconsin, records show. He was sentenced to three years of probation.
The road back to Chicago has been a long and winding one for Cubs reliever Rowan Wick. After getting back on the mound in a big-league game for the first time in nearly a year on Tuesday, his recovery is one of the more unusual ones you’ll hear about.
“It’s really good to be back here and feeling like I can contribute,” Wick said before Wednesday’s game. “Watching from a distance kind of stinks. It’s good to be back and see some faces.”
Wick entered this season as a high-leverage option in the Cubs’ bullpen, but after the intercostal/left oblique injury that put him on the injured list in September 2020 returned in spring training, his return was anything but guaranteed.
The intercostal muscle is in the rib cage and while it appeared the team had the issue under control entering the offseason, once the pain returned in the spring, pinpointing what the cause of the pain was became more difficult. especially with it affecting his entire left side.
After months of treatment and spending time not throwing, the Cubs’ right-hander finally caught a break. After trying various treatments, including dry needling and cup therapy, Wick’s pain finally subsided.
“It’s a rotating muscle, so I was using a lot,” he said. “I was feeling that all the way until early May. I didn’t even pick up a baseball until late May. So it was just having to battle that every time I tried to throw, it would pull on me and it was just not strong enough. I was able to put in a lot of work.
“After last year [with] two months in the season, missing that and then missing over four months this year was not where I wanted to be.”
Once the pain subsided, the road began for Wick’s return to the Majors and on Tuesday, the road was completed. Wick pitched a scoreless inning in Tuesday’s loss to the Brewers, making an appearance for the first time since Sept. 16, 2020.
“I think his resume and the way he looked [Tuesday], I would definitely insert him into the back end of the bullpen, for sure,” Ross said. “When you’re up and need a guy to come in and stop games, there’s definitely comfort in him pitching the ninth. .
“But trying to use some of these back end guys in moments where maybe it benefits us for a pocket in the order that we feel like sets them up well, so yeah, we’re trying to balance that. … I thought he looked really good. The fastball seemed extremely deceptive.”
The bullpen was the Cubs’ biggest strength before the trade deadline with Andrew Chafin, Ryan Tepera and Craig Kimbrel. But with Wick back in the mix late in games along with young arms Manny Rodriguez and Codi Heuer it still appears to be an area of strength.
The trio have electric stuff and seeing all three together and healthy will give the team something to build off of when looking at next year’s bullpen.
“Oh man. Those young arms out. Have you seen Manny?,” Wick said with a chuckle. “He’s electric, dude. You just get him more reps. They’re some good quality arms, for sure.”
Chicago’s Favorite Food Critics and Bloggers
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Hugo van Lawick/National Geographic
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