July 18, 2006

Wrigley Field in Chicago is a tactile experience in history and Americana. The elevated train rumbles past living room windows and afternoon barbeques overloaded with locals on their way home from work, college kids on a night out, and the old faithful Chicago few.

The trip was as much a part of the experience as the game itself, traveling through the local neighborhoods and opening up directly against the right field wall. Getting into the ballpark among such a large crowd is an abstract experience where you need let go and become part of the movement. The streets are lined with gritty pubs and baseball shops and the walk through the stadium was a weave through wood and steel from the twenties married with a few modern additions such as digital monitors and advertisements. One of the most amazing elements of the park was the men’s room that appeared to be original. Men ushered in through the multiple doors like cattle to find the long metal troughs of the 1940's. It was the most surreal bathroom experience ever.