Wisch List

From the Saturday, Nov. 7, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

The WISCH LIST

By Dave Wischnowsky

When it comes to the pecking order of America’s holidays, I’ve long thought that Thanksgiving gets something of a short shrift.

Sure, we embrace Turkey Day and all its gravy-laden gluttony once it actually arrives. But it also seems that as soon as we settle into our sugar comas following a month (or more) of Halloween decorations, costumes and hype, our eyes also immediately turn toward Christmas, leaving Thanksgiving to desperately flap its wings for equal attention.

This month in Chicago, Thanksgiving certainly gets some love. But in the battle for November supremacy, it also has to duke it out with Christmas, which can never come too early – especially in the Windy City.

But whatever your seasonal tastes might be, Chicago is filled with plenty of holiday stuffing this month. And here’s how you can take part in the revelry.

A Christmas Carol
Nov. 14-Dec. 27

The Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future start their haunting early as Goodman Theatre on Nov. 14 stages Charles Dickens’ holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” for the 38th year.

If you’ve never seen the Goodman’s magical interpretation of Ebenezer Scrooge’s timeless tale of hope, redemption and “Bah Humbugs,” it’s worth it – for both you and the kids.

For more information, visit goodmantheatre.org.

Continue reading “In Chicago, Christmas can never come too soon”

From the Saturday, Oct. 31, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

The WISCH LIST

 By Dave Wischnowsky

When it comes to nightspots in Chicago, the city sure has a lot of haunts.

I mean that literally.

From the North Side to the South Side and from the West Side to the lake, Chicago is filled with bars and restaurants that claim to have both spirits and ghosts on the menu. And in honor of Halloween, I thought I’d take you on twirl around town to let you know a few of the places where you can scare up a good time.

In more ways that one.

The Red Lion Pub
2446 N. Lincoln Ave.

This venerable Lincoln Park bar was shuttered for six years before finally reopening in early 2014, but that long closure didn’t scare away The Red Lion Pub’s most famous patrons: its ghosts.

Billed as one of the most haunted bars in Chicago, the building was built in 1882 is said to be lousy with the spirits of past patrons who have died either inside or nearby. Among them is the ghost of infamous Public Enemy No. 1 John Dillinger, who was shot and killed by federal agents in 1934 just across the street outside the Biograph Theater.

It’s also said that a scruffy cowboy haunts an upstairs dining room, and current co-owner Colin Cordwell claims that the ghost of former owner “Dirty Dan Danforth” once pushed him down the stairs, sending him to the hospital.

Continue reading “Where to find ghosts – and spirits – in Chicago”

From the Saturday, Oct. 24, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

So, Marty McFly was wrong.

But so much about this Chicago Cubs season was so right.

When it began, I was just hoping to see the team post an above-.500 record. That’s it. So, never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d instead get to see 97 wins and watch the Cubs reach the National League Championship Series while vanquishing the St. Louis Cardinals along the way.

Sure, the postseason ended with a dud – and a Lucas Duda – against a shockingly dominant New York Mets team that I predict will now win the whole shebang. But the sweep in the NLCS hardly put a damper on this magical 2015 Cubs campaign, about which I have some thoughts.

So allow me to step up to the plate.

Feels like optimism

On Wednesday night after Game 4 ended with the Mets moshing on the mound, there wasn’t joy to be found in Wrigleyville. But unlike the Cubs’ NLCS losses in 1984, ’89 and ’03, there weren’t any tears, either.

This postseason loss just felt different – in a good way.

That’s because while those postseason runs that fell one round shy of the World Series came crumbling down in heaps of heartbreak and frustration, this one felt more like the start of something much bigger.

The Cubs, after all, couldn’t have traveled further ahead of expectations this season with a DeLorean and a Flux Capacitor. And with Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon holding the reins of a youthful roster brimming with talent, the future, I’m quite confident, is only beginning.

Continue reading “With 2015 over, Cubs look back to the future”

From the Saturday, October 17, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

The WISCH LIST

By Dave Wischnowsky

I’ve been to a Rose Bowl. I’ve been to a Final Four. I’ve even been to Games 6 and 7 of a National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field.

But I’ve never before been to anything quite like Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, which at times this past week seemingly threatened to shake Wrigley into the lake.

Along with the rest of the North Side.

Against the Cards, the electricity generated by nine Cubs home runs could have lit the ballpark, even if it didn’t have lights. Around me in the bleachers, the crowd – often a distracted bunch – collectively hung on every pitch for all 18 innings and helped sing “Go Cubs Go” so loud it was heard a mile away. For my part, I yelled so much from right field that more than 48 hours later my voice was still listed as day-to-day.

Hopefully, it’s cleared to play again come Tuesday.

A huge reason why this NLDS was unlike any previous series that I’ve ever witnessed at Wrigley – including the epic games during the 2003 run – was because of the competition (beating the Cardinals still seems surreal), but also because of the sheer history of the moment.

Which, as it turns out, was even more historic than you thought.

Continue reading “Waiting on a title, but Chicago no longer the ‘When-dy’ City”

From the Saturday, Oct. 10, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

By Dave Wischnowsky

The WISCH LIST

For fans of the Chicago Cubs, October has never been the kindest of months. The tricks usually start weeks before Halloween – and then we never end up getting any treats.

But might this October finally be different? Is it possible, as once foretold by that time-traveling oracle Marty McFly, that the Cubs’ elusive “Next Year” is actually here in 2015?

Great Scott, would that ever be something.

But as the Cubs now mix it up in the postseason with the St. Louis Cardinals for the first time in the two franchises’ 123-year rivalry, the biggest obstacle between Chicago and a World Series championship might not actually be the Redbirds. Or the Dodgers. Or the Mets. Or any team out of the American League.

Rather, it might be the “curse” of history.

Although, I also think that this very well may be just the Cubs team – and manager – finally capable of overcoming that.

Looking back, ever since I sat in the Wrigley Field upper deck watching the eighth inning tragically unfold in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series, I’ve been convinced that, for the Cubs, a “curse” does truly exist.

Continue reading “The Cubs’ real ‘Curse’? It isn’t what you think”

There are few things more fun than talking Cubs playoff baseball and Illini football victories.

Neither happen very often.

Tonight, I got the chance to do both with the guys at Illini Drive on WPGU-107.1, which also happened to be my favorite campus music station when I was a student at Illinois.

To listen to the podcast of the show, you can click the link here.

 

From the Saturday, Sept. 19, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

The WISCH LIST

By Dave Wischnowsky

Your kids have probably already motored about the Museum of Science & Industry. Odds are they’ve pressed their faces up against the glass at Shedd Aquarium to watch the underwater wildlife. And they may have marveled at the stars spread across the ceiling at Adler Planetarium.

Perhaps they want to do all again.

Or maybe they’d like to try something different in Chicago – and you would too. If that’s the case, here are a few of the best places to take kids in the city, some of which you may not know about.

Maggie Daley Park

My wife and I don’t have kids. But we do have nephews. And on Labor Day weekend, we took them, along my brother and sister-in-law, to Chicago’s new downtown playground covering the swath of land between Millennium Park and Lake Shore Drive.

Maggie Daley Park (337 E. Randolph St.) is quite the wondrous space, especially for kids, as it offers a Play Garden with attractions designed for ages 2-5 (The Watering Hole and The Harbor), ages 5-12 (The Sea and The Slide Crater) and all ages (The Wave Lawn and Enchanted Forest). There’s also a climbing wall and a roller skating ribbon that becomes an ice rink during wintertime. With wide green spaces, a food cart and incredible views of the Chicago skyline, your family could easily while away an entire afternoon.

For more information, visit maggiedaleypark.com.

Continue reading “Kids’ Play: The best places to take children in Chicago”

From the Saturday, Sept. 26, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

By Dave Wischnowsky

The WISCH LIST

It’s not October yet. But we can see it from here.

And for Chicago Cubs fans, there’s nothing more tantalizing than the thought of seeing the ivy turn red at Wrigley Field – while the team is actually still playing in front of it.

Now, whether that happens this fall with postseason games at the corner of Clark and Addison remains to be seen. But if the playoffs indeed do happen at Wrigley, the scene around the ballpark – if not inside it – almost has to be seen by any Cubs fan worth his or her pinstripes.

And if you’re among the die-hards that want to get a taste of October in Wrigleyville next month, here are my tips on how you can best do it.

Tickets

When the Cubs made their epic (and tragic) 2003 postseason run, I was fortunate to have press passes to all six home games – Bartman’s included. This year, thanks to my season-ticket package, I’m blessed to have a seat in the bleachers for at least one game per round.

But even if you don’t have already an “in” at Wrigley, you can still get in to Wrigley in October. The best chance is by visiting chicago.cubs.mlb.com/ticketing and registering for an opportunity to purchase postseason tickets. If that doesn’t work, other options do remain, including StubHub, Craigslist and Wrigleyville scalpers – most of whom prowl around the bleachers entrance or along Addison west of the ballpark.

Be prepared: Sticker prices likely will be shocking.

Continue reading “How to get ready for October in Wrigleyville”

Legendary Champaign News-Gazette sports columnist Loren Tate believes that embattled Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas is the best option to make the Illini’s next football coaching hire.

I disagree.

And this past weekend on Saturday SportsTalk on WDWS 1400 in Champaign, we butted helmets about our differences of opinion on that topic, while also sharing our similarities of opinion on some other issues as we waded through the wild world of Fighting Illini football along with WDWS co-host Michael Kiser.

If you’d like to listen to the podcast of our discussion, you can do so by clicking here.

From the Saturday, Sept. 5, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

By Dave Wischnowsky

The WISCH LIST

The Illini football season was supposed to have kicked off last night.

But, really, the action started last week when Illinois’ embattled athletic director Mike Thomas booted embattled head coach Tim Beckman just seven days before his team was scheduled to battle Kent State.

The stunning firing was the result of a preliminary external review alleging Beckman influenced medical decisions and pressured players to play hurt, but there had long been ample reason to fire him for his on-field failures.

And that’s what should have happened last October when Illinois lost to Purdue, dropping Beckman’s Big Ten record to 1-17. Had Thomas simply replaced Beckman then and named offensive coordinator Bill Cubit interim coach – a move that I strongly encouraged 11 months ago – the messy saga that’s unfolded since could have easily been avoided.

Alas, Thomas chose to hitch his wagon to Beckman’s star. That was foolish. And as a result, Thomas needs to hit the road too so an untarnished AD can lead the coaching search and department makeover.

I expect that’s likely to happen once Illinois names a permanent chancellor. And if (or when) that new AD is hired, here’s my checklist of what should be done to finally get the Illini football program on track.

And avoid future embattle scars.

1. Ask admissions to relax

Illinois’ admissions standards for athletes are more stringent than the minimum requirements established by the NCAA, which has long been used as an excuse for Illini football struggles.

I think the bigger problem has been poor coaching hires. But that said, it would behoove an AD to ask the new president and chancellor if a small number of marginal qualifiers could be admitted each year. That could help the school’s athletic reputation without harming its academic one.

Continue reading “My checklist for the future of Illini football”