“I believe in the Church of Baseball. I’ve tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones…. And the only church that truly feeds the soul, day-in day-out, is the Church of Baseball.”

Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), Bull Durham 

As the Chicago Cubs take on the Milwaukee Brewers at 1:20pm today to open the 2023 Major League Baseball season, let’s take a moment to remember what an iconic place the ‘Friendly Confines,’ has been for 107 seasons at what is now known as Wrigley Field, 1060 West Addison Street. For starters, it’s  the second-oldest ballpark in the United States. The only ballpark older than Wrigley is Boston’s Fenway Park (1912).

Things you may not know… 

The Cubs, an active franchise since 1870, moved to Weeghman Park (later Wrigley) from West Side Park, which was located at Taylor, Wood, Polk and Lincoln (now Wolcott) Streets. From 1906 through 1910, the Cubs won four National League pennants and two World Series championships at West Side Park. The 1906 World Series between the Cubs and the Chicago White Sox featured the first cross-town matchup in Series history. 

Wrigley Field opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman’s Chicago Whales of the Federal League, which folded after the 1915 baseball season, according to Wikipedia sources. Designed by Weeghman’s friend, architect Zachary Taylor Davis, the cost of building Weeghman Park, with a seating capacity of 14,000, was estimated at $250,000. After the Whales folded, Weeghman purchased the Cubs from the Taft family of Cincinnati and moved the club to the ballpark at the corner of Clark and Addison streets.

Play Ball… base and foot! 

The Cubs played their first home game on April 20, 1916, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 7–6 in 11 innings.  According to the Cubs’ website, the ballpark became known as Cubs Park in 1920 after chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. (Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, etc.) of the Wrigley Company acquired the Cubs in 1921 It was named Wrigley Field in 1926 in honor of William Wrigley Jr., the club’s owner. Also, between 1921 and 1970, it was the home of football’s Chicago Bears and Chicago Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) from 1931 to 1938.

And they were a pretty good team, winning National League championships in 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, and 1938.

The Walls of Ivy…and the Birth of the ‘Bleacher Bums’

In 1937, the stadium was renovated. According to the Cubs’ website, the Wrigley Field bleachers and scoreboard were constructed in 1937 when the outfield area was renovated to provide improved and expanded seating. P. K. Wrigley discussed beautification with then-Cubs President William Veeck Sr., who suggested planting ivy on the outfield walls. His son, Bill, who later owned the White Sox, planted English ivy, but was later changed to Boston Ivy or Japanese Bittersweet, which can endure the harsh Chicago winters better. Veeck, Sr. was president of the Cubs from 1919 to his death in October, 1933. Under Veeck’s leadership, the Cubs won two pennants, in 1929 and 1932. 

Following a change in MLB rules, which requires all outfield walls to be padded, Wrigley Field was grandfathered in, and is the only stadium in the league without padded walls. In 2004, according to Wikipedia sources, the ivy was specifically included in Wrigley Field’s Landmark Designation by the Chicago City Council in 2020. Under the ground rules of Wrigley Field, if a baseball gets gets stuck in the ivy, the batter is awarded a ground rule double. 

According to the National Park Service website, the Cubs’ 27-foot high scoreboard was also added at this time, and remains manually operated to this day. One of the traditions of the ballpark is the flying of a flag bearing a “W” or an “L” atop the scoreboard after a game. A white flag with a blue “W” indicates a victory; a blue flag with a white “L” denotes a loss.

Finally: Three flags fly on the left field foul pole: Ernie Banks’ uniform No. 14, Ron Santo’s No. 10 and Fergie Jenkins’ No. 3. Four flags fly on the right field foul pole: Billy Williams’ No. 26, Ryne Sandberg’s No. 23, Greg Maddux’s No. 31 and Jackie Robinson’s No. 42. And there’s a “Hey, Hey!” for broadcaster Jack Brickhouse’s call after home runs. And don’t forget Harry Caray’s seventh inning stretch rendition of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame!’

And Finally… That Goat… 

The ‘Curse of the Billy Goat,’ according to Wikipedia sources, was placed on the Cubs in 1945, by Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis. The curse lasted 71 years, from 1945 to 2016. During game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley Field against the Detroit Tigers, Sianis’s pet goat, named Murphy, was bothering other fans, and so the pair were asked to leave the stadium. Outraged, Sianis allegedly declared, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more.”

Ironically, the “curse” was broken on the 46th anniversary of Billy Sianis’s death. The Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series in seven games after trailing 3 games to 1. They won by a score of 8–7 in 10 innings at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, ending a 108-year championship drought.

What will happen in the 2023 campaign? Only time will tell. 

GoCubsGo!! 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

The first thing you need to do is look at the space that you have. Do you just have a patio? Then maybe you need to do container gardening. You can have a successful garden even on a small deck if you live in a condo. Even if you do have a lot of room in your backyard for a regular garden, it’s a good idea to make a raised bed. A raised bed will keep the soil soft and not packed down from people walking on it. Raised beds are also good for drainage and will stop any pooling of water. 

The soil you use for your garden will definitely make the difference between success and failure. The soil you have may be good, but it’s usually not as great as you think. I live in Chicago and the soil we have here is very clay-like, meaning it’s very thick and hard and it’s not really good for drainage or most plants. You can get tests at Home Depot and places like that, but it’s probably just as easy and more accurate to send out the soil to a lab for an analysis. This is usually relatively inexpensive, around $20 or so. Google soil tests in my area and you should be able to find somewhere to send it. But, if you are container gardening, the best way is to use fresh soil that comes in bags from your garden center. Miracle-gro has an all-purpose garden soil that I’ve been using for years, and it works very well and actually contains fertilizer. This also works well with raised beds, and if you find your soil is decent you can augment with the bagged soil by mixing them together. It works well for me!

Next thing we need to think about is: what are we going to grow? Check out how much sun your area gets each day. Many garden vegetables need a lot of sun, specifically at least six hours a day of direct sun. A good rule of thumb you can use: if you pick fruit off the plant it tends to need more sun. So, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers all need more sun. But don’t think that you can’t plant tomatoes just because your sun cover is less than 4 hours a day. Think about the size here also. Yes, of course beef steak tomatoes are huge and need a lot of sun, but there are other versions, cherry tomatoes and plum tomatoes that are much smaller and don’t need quite as much sun. Fun fact, most greens don’t need much sun, they actually do better without direct sunlight. Things like leaf lettuce, kale, and other greens.

Planting from seed is more difficult than getting transplants. A few things that do work well from seed are different lettuces, radishes, and carrots. But everything else I would consider getting transplants, you will definitely have better luck. So in a month or so head out to your local garden center and see what they have. All of the plants in your local garden center will be plants that will be successful in your area. They are all grown now to be resistant to disease and that’s a good thing. So, let’s try to get out and grow a few things!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

It’s time to “Spring” forward as we wrap-up nearly a month’s worth of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and more this last weekend in March! Don’t get left behind!!

Thousands of runners are gearing up to hit the city streets for the annual Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle as they kick off the spring running season here in Chicago. The Mile portion will take place on Saturday (8:00 a.m.) at Grant Park in The Loop welcoming participants of all abilities, from walkers to families to competitive athletes. Runners will receive a 2023 race T-shirt and a bib with an awards ceremony at the end of The Mile. The 8K Run and 2-Mile Walk will take place on Sunday (7:00 a.m.) at Grant Park as well. Runners for this event will receive a festive shirt and knit hat, a bib, and a drink ticket to use at the post-race party which will be held at Buckingham Fountain featuring live music! It’s your last chance to be Irish until next year!!

The 3rd annual Uncorked: Chicago Wine Festival will be held on Saturday (7 p.m.-11 p.m.) at the Museum of Science & Industry (5700 S. Lake Shore Dr.) in the Hyde Park neighborhood. As a guest you will be able to enjoy over 100 wines and champagnes from across the globe. Full after-hours access to the museum, a DJ, interactive exhibits, and more are all included in either your VIP ticket ($100) or General Admission ticket ($70). Plus, the VIP ticket includes access to a private lounge with higher end wineries as well as an extra hour of tastings!

It’s the last weekend for Karen’s Diner at Rizzo’s Bar & Inn (3658 N. Clark St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. This touring pop-up diner offers great food but horrible service! Your $45 ticket gets you a burger, fries, soft drink, and being roasted by your servers with over-the-top banter!! Vegetarian options are also available.

Get the kids out of the house to release some of their pent-up winter energy at this Sunday’s (2 p.m.-4 p.m.) Family Fun Fair at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness (1320 W. Fullerton Ave.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  This indoor event offers a range of fun attractions and activities which include bounce houses, relay races, Lego contest and prizes, carnival games, craft and coloring stations, airbrush tattoos, and more!  Some attractions/activities as well as all food and drinks will require tickets that can be purchased on the day of the event.

In preparation for our next upcoming holiday, join the Kambs Jennings Group at Guaranteed Rate for complimentary Photos With the Easter Bunny this Saturday (10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) at Park & Field (3509 W. Fullerton Ave.) in the Logan Square neighborhood.  Even your four-legged family members are welcomed to get their photo taken with the bunny as this is a dog-friendly event as well. Plus, be sure to stick around for the awesome brunch!

As far as tribute shows go, there can be none better than One Night of Queen this Saturday (8 p.m.-11 p.m.) at the Rosemont Theatre (5400 N. River Rd.) in Rosemont. This spectacular live concert recreates the look, sound, and pomp showmanship of one of the greatest rock bands of all time as performed by Gary Mullen (Freddie Mercury) and The Works. They have played to sellout crowds in the USA, United Kingdom, Europe, and New Zealand!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

This year, Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, begins on Wednesday, March 22, after the sighting of the crescent moon over Mecca, according to wego.com, and ends on Friday, April 21. The end of the Ramadan fast is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr, the “Feast of Fast-Breaking,” on Saturday, April 22.

One delicious way to break any fast (or eat healthy, Indian-Pakistani meals) is at Lincoln Park’s Tandoor Char House, or their takeout locations in River West and River North. Brothers Fahim and Faraz Sardharia serve authentic Indian and Pakistani offerings representing their unique approach to fine dining. In fact, they were voted “One of the top 10 spots in Chicago for Halal Street Food” by Eater.com. Their Zabiha Halal meat entrees combine with vegetarian options for satisfying, shareable, diverse meals. 

Appetizers, accompanied with homemade cilantro and tamarind chutneys, include a Masala Ceviche with jalapeños, shrimp, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers, topped with house spice blend laying on roasted papadum (lentil wafers). Or, try their fusion Chaat Fries, which are curly fries liberally dusted with a special blend of Indian spices. Or a Vegetarian Samosa, a light, flaky pastry stuffed with potatoes, peas, and savory seasonings. Tandoori Chicken Empanadas combines shredded tandoori chicken with a savory tikka masala sauce.

Moving on to entrees, the highly rated Tandoori Chicken is available in three options: chicken legs, half-chicken, and whole chicken; slow roasted in their traditional clay oven.

Murg Malai is aboneless chicken breast, marinated in special spices and cream, then slow roasted in the tandoor. 

Karhai Signature dishes accompanied with a side of rice, raita, and achar, include a Lamb Karhai-tender cuts of boneless lamb stewed in an onion-based sauce. Tikka Masala comes with a choice of lamb, chicken, beef or fish, baked in the tandoor and marinated in their homemade buttery cream sauce. Kafta Kabobs combinespiced beef, cooked with onions, green peppers and tangy, fresh squeezed lemons, and served with naan. Aloo Gobi is made with potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes and onions, simmered with Indian spices.

As we always say, leave room for dessert! Gulab Jamun are homemade mini doughnuts soaked in an aromatic rose scented syrup. Mango Cheesecake is made with a ginger cookie crust, topped with whipped cream and garnished with pistachios. Falooda Kulfi is a rose-flavored ice cream served with pistachios. 

“For the best Indian halal food, head over here. They do grill platters and fusion food so well. I loved the ceviche on papad and the fish platter. Tandoori heaven! And lots of veggie options too. Mango cheesecake is to die for. Remember it’s BYOB! Go here now!”

“Amazing food. Every thing we got was amazing. I ate in many indian placed across the country, this is a gem. Food, service are 10/10.”

Tandoor Char House locations are in Lincoln Park at 2652 N. Halsted Street, and for takeout and delivery only at 110 W. Hubbard Street, and 1022 N. Western Avenue. Their hours across all locations are Monday-Friday, 4pm–10:30pm, Saturday from 11am–10:30pm, and Sunday from 11am – 10pm. For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

It’s much better to have a few quality items than a bunch of clutter. This is what the minimalist approach in home decor is all about. Forget about cramping your space with a ton of little items – instead, adding a handful of stylish pieces can say a lot more than lots of little knick-knacks.

Paring down on things in your home can make the space feel more open and breathable. While you don’t exactly have to eliminate everything down to the bare bones, consider the following tips to creating a space that’s comfortable, sophisticated, and easy to take care of.

De-Clutter

Getting rid of overcrowded items sounds like a no-brainer, right? But it’s usually the first step in achieving the trendy minimalist approach in interior design. Certain spaces in the home tend to be easy targets for clutter, such as the dining room, kitchen and living room.

Unopened mail spread all over the dining table, and magazines on the coffee table can make a space look smaller. Clearing the clutter and replacing it with one attention-grabbing piece, such as a seasonal arrangement or tall glass vase, can do wonders for creating a simple yet chic look.

White is More Expressive Than You Think

While white walls might be immediately associated with hospitals and doctor’s offices, this neutral shade is making a comeback in the world of home interior design. Accent walls and punches of bright hues may have been the trend a few years ago, but these days, simple white has found its place in decor.

A white backdrop has the power to highlight certain aspects of your home – such as antique pieces or hand-scraped hardwood flooring. It acts as the perfect canvas upon which you can display all of your finishes, furnishings, and other decor that you want to focus on in your home.

Group Like-Objects Together

Rather than splitting up similar objects, group them together instead. For instance, assemble a few mirrors together on a vacant space on your wall, or cluster glass vases together on your window sill.

Arranging objects in this manner can do wonders for pulling a room together. Just make sure that you don’t overcrowd the area – the key is finding that sweet spot between too little and too many.

Tone Down the Lighting

Task lighting is important in certain space to help focus on what you’re doing, such as in the kitchen when preparing meals. But such lighting has a tendency to create harsh shadows.

To counter this effect, mixing up your lighting can help add a softer ambience to the space that’s conducive to minimalist decor. Ambient lighting that’s non-directional, such as pot lights with dimmers or lamps with soft halogen bulbs, can help to bring warmth to a space.

Be Careful With Your Accessories

It’s easy to overcrowd a room with an over-abundance of accessories. But when it comes to a minimalist decorative approach, less is more. When accessorizing a space, it’s better just to have a handful of striking pieces than a lot of small objects, which will do nothing more than clutter the space. How you use accessories in your home can mean the difference between cozy and cramped.

The Bottom Line

As the saying goes, quality is more important than quantity. This rings especially true when it comes to achieving a minimalist style in your home. It’s practical, simple, and even more affordable. Keep the above suggestions in mind while paring down each room in your home to get back to basics.