I used to be a much bigger fan of baseball than I am now. There was a point where I could tell you almost every team's starting roster and where I watched almost literally every Cubs game.

I affectionately refer to this time in my life as "2003".

It was a perfect storm: I had the summer off between college and finding a big boy job, the Cubs were playing great, anchored by "the next Tom Seaver" and this other guy who once threw 20 strikeouts in a game as well as an up and comer with a short fuse named Zambrano. Throw in Sammy Sosa rounding out his 'beloved' years, Corey Patterson showing flashes of brilliance and an overestimated skipper coming off a world series appearance and we were set up for something special in October. Then, I actually moved to Chicago right before that something-special was to happen. I spent the first few weeks of October planted in Wrigleyville or watching games with my dad and Mike with the TV on mute and Ron & Pat on the radio.

Most of you know the rest of the story. After "the inning" imploded, all of Wrigley Field went silent and we collectively lost our will to will the team to a victory. We ended that series in a game seven that we lost before the first pitch. Everyone I was with (meaning hundreds of people) could barely get excited when someone would get a hit. We were all waiting for the other shoe to drop. And drop it did.

The next day, Chicago's demeanor went from jolly and a little bit insane to clinically depressed. It was awful. No one knew how to process it, so we all kept our heads down and tried not to think about it.

Fast forward to October 2007, when we had a team that looked pretty good on paper and we all talked ourselves into a run, even though I don't think anyone really expected them to make it out of the NLCS. Indeed, they were swept in the first round. I decided that I was done devoting too much time to baseball.

This summer, I took a new job and decided to fully devote myself to experiencing Chicago in the summer. This meant fewer Sunday afternoons on the couch watching the Cubs. We had tickets to the final home game, the day after they clinched, and I remember feeling a little disconnected from the team I just a year before was fully devoted to. So I spent the last week of the season watching games and cramming as much Cubs-love in as I could. Then...

Then we won playoff tickets. Seriously. Free of charge, box seats. I selfishley prayed we'd win them and we did. It was a little humbling (perhaps I should've spent that time praying for world peace, but here we are). This kicked me into another gear. I spent time daydreaming about sitting in Wrigley Field in October. Wrigley Field, where the "real fans" were priced out years ago. Wrigley Field, where 1908 happened and where 2003 happened. Wrigley Field, my mecca for so many years, but the mecca that was unattainable in October.

I recalled 1989 and 1998, Rick Sutcliffe, Greg Maddux, Ryne Sandberg, Mark Grace, Andre Dawson, random copies of Vineline strewn about my room, Topps Jerome Walton rookie cards, Cubs Conventions, Shawn Dunston, standing behind Don Zimmer on a televised interview, the autographed 1984 ball that my papa gave me that I swore was real, going to games with mom, dad and Steve, Harry Caray, Steve Stone & the Ron & Pat show. I remembered documentaries about 1908 and Ron Santo, Ernie Banks & Billy Williams. I painted pictures in my mind of my parent's back porch, decorated in Die Hard Cubs Fan paraphernalia, and watching games on my papa's knee in his wheelchair.

And I was back. I've watched enough and read enough this year to know that this was a team capable of doing something special in October. All year Chicago's (ill-advised) mantra was "It's Gonna Happen" and we clinched the division the earliest we had since 1932. On the 100-year anniversary of our last World Series, we're coming fully prepared.

Our lineup is formidable. We have perhaps the deepest bench in all of baseball. Our bullpen is capable of holding on to close games, and our starting pitching rotation is, when healthy, amongst the best in all of baseball. There are X factors to be sure (two of them being the afformentioned short fuse and 20k pitchers), but nothing to get too worked up about.

And so Cubtoberfest began.

But by the grand slam in the fifth inning, something tragic happened. The team didn't quit. The fans did. Wrigley Field was quiet, only getting excited for the biggest of moments. Did everyone collectively come to their senses and remember that history was not on our side? They gave away home field advantage. Collectively decided not to will their Cubbies to a rally. It was heartbreaking. And so we slumped our way to a game one loss. And the city was no longer abuzz.

What happened to "It's Gonna Happen"? Did everyone assume we were sweeping our way to the World Series? Does no one remember Sox-Yankees 2004?

Tonight my wife and I get to sit next to Soriano and Manny Ramirez. We get to be part of the crowd and I'm determined to will my Cubs to a victory. The worst thing we can do is repeat game 7 of 2003. We can't quit. I've talked myself into winning in five games (not sure we can take two in L.A.) and the Wrigley Field faithful are going to have to bring their 'A' game if it comes back here for a game 5. But first, tonight, we have a calling. We must play our role in the dream. We must not be quiet. The lineup tonight has Zambrano pitching, Soriano, Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez, Soto, Theriot, DeRosa, Edmonds/Reed and us.

The fans.

Let's give them back home field advantage.

photo - Bugsy

Labels: chicago, Other

Fall is my favorite season - being outside, smelling the air, gazing at leaves, eating the foods, all while wearing my comfy green hoodie and shorts or jeans (depending on the day). But before I know it, the winter will be here - so, it's time to get intentional. In addition to eating too many Honeycrisps (just enough?) and pumpkin-foods, here are the ten things I want to commit to doing this fall:

1. Sit in Winnemac Park for at least two hours every Monday it isn't raining. Read a book, write, pray, stare.

2. Visit the Osaka Japanese Gardens.

3. Go sculpture hunting in Lincoln Park.

4. Hang out in Wrigleyville during playoff games, especially games where we can clinch.

5. Go to Pilsen and marvel at the murals.

6. Bike Lake Shore Drive.

7. Go see Jack Kerouac's On the Road manuscript.

8. Ride the Sunday Parkways.

9. Only go out of my way to watch TV shows I'm already invested in (The Office, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother & Chuck, and later Lost & Friday Night Lights) with a couple others DVR'd for late night insomnia or rainy Mondays. Watch no new shows.

10. I'm leaving this one up to you. What should I make sure to add to my list? Daydream with me in the comments.

photo - Pavel Trebukov

Labels: chicago, Other

DAVE'S ONGOING, MOSTLY-CRIBBED GUIDE TO SUMMER IN CHICAGO

The Tribune ran a list of 99 things to do in Chicago this summer. Some of them are Chicago-specific, others are easily adaptable to other parts of the world, so I took the liberty of splitting them up. The ones I'm committing to doing this summer are in bold. Anything catch your eye?

99 Things to do this summer: Chicago-specific

3. Treat yourself to an ice cream sundae at Gayety's, 3306 Ridge Rd., Lansing; the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, 7347 W. Madison St., Forest Park; or Homer's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, 1237 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette.

4. Play drums Sundays at the Point (Promontory Point) in Hyde Park.

5. Enjoy a day at 95th Street Beach.

7. Go to the batting cages at the Bunny Hutch in Lincolnwood as often as possible (www.nerfect.com/bunnyhutch/bh00.html).

8. Go to at least one SummerDance class and bust some crazy moves with abandon.

9. Play the ponies at Arlington Park racetrack (www.arlingtonpark.com).

11. Visit a different city neighborhood every weekend.

12. Do Saturday morning yoga (8 a.m.) at Millennium Park (June 7-Sept. 27; 312-742-1168).

13. Kayak on the Chicago River.

14. Discover 5 great snacks in a neighborhood, by foot with friends, instead of going to Taste of Chicago.

15. Run screaming through a cold sprinkler at a Chicago park.

16. Get box seats ($12) at a Kane County Cougars game (www.kccougars.com).

18. See a show at Theater on the Lake (June 11-Aug. 3; 312-742-7994).

21. Reinvigorate your wilted self on a sweltering afternoon with an intense Vietnamese iced coffee.

23. After a long hot day, get take-out of assorted Middle Eastern/Greek dips with plenty of crusty bread and eat them with a cold cote du rhone with a loved one. Soak your feet in a pan of cold water while eating and pretend you are on the Mediterranean.

26. Challenge a chess master at North Avenue Beach.

28. Go to Great America to check out the new Dark Knight coaster.

29. Eat a brochette of meat washed down with a Coco Rico from one of the trailers in Humboldt Park.

30. Get to Lake Michigan in time to sit and watch the sun rise. Bring a blanket and pillow if you like.

33. Eat a pot bin soo (shaved ice, malt, sweet red bean and fruit sundae) at a Korean cafe.
35. Take a martial arts class at Chase Park as part of the Chicago Park District's cheap, comprehensive and convenient programs (www.chicagoparkdistrict.com).

36. Eat an arroz con leche paleta (essentially rice pudding ice cream bar) from a passing vendor.

38. Arrive at Green City Market super early when it's still cool and you can find parking. Sip Intelligentsia coffee while you ponder the lovely meal you will make with your stash.

39. Go to the Drinking and Writing Festival June 14 at the Hopleaf (www.hopleaf.com).

40. See Cirque Shanghai at Navy Pier's Skyline Stage (June 4-Sept. 1; 312-902-1500).

41. Go to Wizard World (June 26-29) at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont and see world premiere of "Batman: Gotham night." (www.wizardworld.com/chicago.html)

46. Get a freshly shaved piragua (shaved ice) from one of the piragua vendors in Humboldt Park.

47. Go to at least one movie in the Chicago Outdoor Film Fest in Grant Park (begins July 15; www.chicagooutdoorfilmfestival.us).

49. Spend a couple of hours on the beach beneath the Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evanston. Squint. Pretend you're on Nantucket.

50. Forget the sweltering heat and just groove your behind off to stellar live acts such as Girl Talk, CSS, Santogold, The National and, of course, Radiohead at Lollapalooza (Aug. 1-3).

51. Attend the first night of the Pitchfork Music Festival (June 18; www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com). See Public Enemy play "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" in its entirety, in order, start to finish.

54. Enter the Muddy Buddy race Aug. 3 (www.muddybuddy.com).

55. Volunteer for a day on the Red Witch Tall Ship (www.redwitch.com). Consider a life at sea.

56. Get a freshly made lemonade from one of Chicago's South Side "steak and lemonade" joints.

59. Picnic by Lake Marmo at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle (www.mortonarb.org).

60. Shoot a round of golf on one of Chicago's terrific public courses. If you don't golf, bring a friend who does and carry the clubs while he/she plays.

63. Avoid cover bands at other block parties and instead see Ted Leo and the Pharmacists rock out the crowd (8:30 p.m. May 31) for just a $5 donation at the Do-Division Street Fest and Sidwalk Sale May 31-June 1.

65. Learn a few words or phrases of Japanese, like "That ball was definitely out!"

66. Eat a softshell crab. Good places to find 'em include Hugo's Frog Bar, Mario's, Prosecco, Catch 35 and Shaw's Crab House.

70. See "The Dark Knight" (July 18). Point to Chicago locations you recognize.

71. Have a Signature Sunset ice cream cone (made with merlot) at Bobtail Ice Cream (www.bobtailicecream.com).

72. Check out the Jeff Koons exhibit, running virtually the entire summer at the Museum of Contemporary Art (www.mcachicago.org).

74. Take a jewelry-making class at Lill Street Art Center on North Ravenswood (www.lillstreet.com).

75. Take an early morning stroll along North Pier, before the shops open. It's a completely different place then.

77. Attend the first-ever Taste of Oak Brook on July 3 at the polo fields, and stay for the evening's 4th of July fireworks display there.

78. Get some freshly squeezed sugar cane juice with lime from one of the vendors on Devon Avenue.

79. Decorate a square ($10-$50) at the Chalk Festival in Oz Park on June 7, then watch the pros create their superior chalk murals.

80. Make plans to see the Chicago Air & Water Show, Aug. 16-17.

81. Dig into some roast lamb at the Croatian Fest (Aug. 15 at Princeton Avenue and 28th Place). They're planning on roasting a whopping 75 whole ones for this street bash that also features a parade, music, dancing and games.

82. When the heat gets unbearable, slip into Johnny's Ice House and watch a hockey game (johnnysicehouse.com).

83. Check out Northerly Island for a concert (Al Green?) or a nature hike.

87. Catch Elvis Night and Fireworks at The Cell on Aug. 22 (Sox vs. Tampa Bay, whitesox.com).

89. Explore the delectable eats at the Taste of Randolph Street, June 20-22. Bonus: the fest's live music has been great in the past.

90. Take a drive up Sheridan Road. Start in Evanston. Don't stop 'til you hit Highland Park.

91. Definitely, Kiddieland, in Melrose Park (www.kiddieland.com).

93. Pack a picnic basket and grab some lakefront grass for Venetian Fest, July 26. Enjoy the festive boat parade and the spectacular evening fireworks.

94. Grab a mitt, head out to Wrigley Field and be a Waveland Avenue ballhawk for a day. (This works best if you pick a day when the Cubs are playing.)

96. See Garrison Keillor when he tapes a live show of "A Prairie Home Companion" at Ravinia.

98. Take off your shoes, walk through the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park on your way to or from work.

99. Grab a burek (a flaky treat full of minced meat) at Deta's Cafe in Rogers Park (773-973-1505). Sit on the curb out front.

photo - Luis Castro

Labels: chicago