Chicago dwelling die hards, where to watch?
As a non-alum die hard fan* I don't really have a group of fellow michigan fans to enjoy games with here in chicago...typically it's with a buddy or two who loves college football and are non-osu/nd fans...or by my lonesome.
where do fellow chicagoan, die hard, mgoblog readers watch the games? i am torn on watching the WMU game in solitude or setting up shop and bellying up early that morning at a UM bar.
Anyone else in a similar predicament and want to watch the game? I will be the one at the bar and I will be holding a picture of Woodson with the rosy smile.
*I began expounding upon this, but will do so in a diary.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:16 PM ^
for in Chicago. But it could be potentially less awkward then how other people meet for the first time. All we'd have to do is wear the official MGoBlog shirt/s and we'd be good to go.
***EDIT*** my vote would either be for Mad River or to check out Rock-it.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:21 PM ^
suggest The Union. Not a Michigan bar but not a bad place to watch all the games. Excellent burgers.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
For those interested in getting together for the games: I'm down for any bar.
I would suggest Mad River since it generally has the space to accommodate us w/o having to get there 3 hours before.
Although Mad River does seem to be a front running bar, I guess that doesn't bother me that much. I'm from Toledo originally, and any bar that doesn't have both UM and OSU flags flying seems pretty legit to me...
How do we want to decide which bar? someone want to create a poll?
August 27th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
I would be in for Mad River (live a few blocks away) if people want to give it a shot for WMU and hopefully it is agreeable, or we can discuss a new location for future games.
that said, i am in for wherever people may want to watch.
I too am from Toledo. t-town!
August 27th, 2009 at 3:55 PM ^
I'm pretty sure that even though they make it seem like its all Big Ten, this is really a State bar. Besides that, the air conditioning doesnt work...the place is a piece. Can't join you all as I have season tix, so have fun wherever you end up.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:12 PM ^
Duffy's is the best place to watch a Michigan game hands down. 2 for 1 jager bombs, $8 32 oz. miller lite mugs. Did i mention 2 for 1 jager bombs? If you are scared of the "frat scene" in the back you can always try to get there early and secure a table in the front. If its a big victory (Capital One Bowl victory over Florida was the last one for me) there is nothing like stumbling into the back singing Hail to the Victors with all the other die hard drunkards!
Mad River and Moes pale in comparison.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:15 PM ^
Clemson in the first round of the NCAA's. No one gave a shit about the game, no cheering, no chants.. It sucked
August 27th, 2009 at 3:03 PM ^
Duffy's sucks for basketball. I went there for a game last season and they turned the sound off for live music. Really frustrating.
But for football, it's completely different. It's really intense/awesome.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:32 PM ^
I was there, too. Maybe it's who you were sitting with? I was there with a couple tables of about 12 other alums in the back, and it was outstanding- yes, chanting, yes, yelling, yes, loud cheering. I don't understand where this info is coming from. Perhaps because it's such a big bar there can be pockets of apathy???
August 27th, 2009 at 4:22 PM ^
I was there for an early regular season game on a weekday night. I didn't watch any tourney games there so I could have caught a bad night. Still think it's awesome for football.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:18 PM ^
I just can't see how Rockit will be a good place to watch Michigan games this year. I would never think of it as a Michigan bar, more like a place to go get a piece of ass.
Was it mentioned in some alumni club emails or something? Is the owner a UofM alum?
Duffy's or Mad River if you want to relive the college experience. If you don't, choose one of the other places mentioned above.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
Rockit has been advertising in the RedEye for the past week w/ a Sports Illustrated inspired advertorial w/ Brandon Minor on it. "Rockit Illustrated" - real clever.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:33 PM ^
1. In the normal downtown neighborhood
2. The ***NEW*** location in Wrigleyville.
I'm assuming that since the "meet and mingle" was at rock-it in wrigleyville that the games would be too can anyone confirm this from the chicago.alums email list?
August 27th, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
Pretty sure the association emails have listed the River North location.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:35 PM ^
The General Manager for Rockit is a Michigan Alum. I'm sure he's been pushing for this. I've wathced a bunch of games there at the River North location before they opened up the Wrigleyville, as a friend of mine was a bartender.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:27 PM ^
Duffy's or Mad River.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:36 PM ^
Anyone have a recommendation for where to watch a game in the Hyde Park area? I'm going to U of C this Fall, and the only bar I know of is Woodlawn on Tap, and I don't know if they even have an allegiance.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^
I also live in Hyde Park. Jimmy's (no one calls it Woodlawn Tap) has only a few TVs, mostly small ones. What they'll show is unpredictable: they're big White Sox fans, but other than that they can be flexible, and I don't think there's a strong CFB allegiance (though one of the bartenders is an OSU fan). So going there for a M game might work, but it's not a sure thing.
But Jimmy's is a great bar in general.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:38 PM ^
...but I've watched a couple of Michigan games, as well as a few other Detroit sporting events, at the Avenue tavern on Broadway like a block or two up from Diversey. They even make an attempt at a Coney Dog.
As far as the Union is concerned, I watched the #1 v #2 Michigan / Ohio State showdown from a couple years ago there and it was an awful, awful experience. I sat in a tent behind the bar with a bunch of other people who didn't show up hours early and watched a tv with no sound because sound might have pissed the neighbors off.
I got to listen to some chick cheering for "Ohio University" all game. Didn't help I was hungover from the night before (buddy's birthday at Kingston Mines) but still.
Maybe for any game other than "the Game."
August 27th, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^
Union is a hole. Place looks like they haven't made any upgrades since 1991.
Avenue Tavern is a great place to watch NFL Sundays.. It's a nice set up that doesn't get crowded.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
The Union is also a Big Ten bar and not affiliated with any team in particular. That makes the crowd pretty hit or miss.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:44 PM ^
Correct- Take 5 is closed. A shame, I dug that place. They were very liberal with playing the fight song - annoyed some, but I loved it.
Dark Horse - as others have said, it's not a UM bar. Was in the past, but I live right by it and have been a few times. All-Pennsylvania.
Mad River - I like the bar, but (1) hate the UNC-basketball-bandwagon hopping, (2) find the Philly Eagles affiiliation annoying (except for you, Jason Avant!), and (3) as some have alluded to, it's run by a major front-running place. I believe McGee's (OSU bar) and some big Notre Dame bar are all owned by the same place. So it's not exactly heavy on UM-character.
But that brings me to this point - the UM bars in Chicago sort of suck. I'll be interested in checking out Matilda (glad someone confirmed what I heard, that it is a UM bar - but still... I've been there... just don't get a sports vibe from it), and Rock-It on Clark this year.
Other than that, the real options are Duffy's (packed, but I think fun), and Mad River (front-running, but OK). Moe's can suck it. And I fully plan to repeat my drunken tirades and demands that Moe's stop waiving the UM flag this fall.
EDIT:
I forgot - yes, I like the Union for Big 10 games. Watched a few UM games there (including UM-MSU in 2006 - same night that Bonderman shut down the Yankees in the playoffs) - fantastic night.
Re: the Avenue - I believe that's an MSU bar? Maybe not, maybe just Big 10? It was decked out in MSU gear during the Final 4 (finals) this year.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:10 PM ^
...but I thought the Avenue was unaffiliated with any one school.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:43 PM ^
Is a whore. I watched the thunderstorm-delayed CMU game there a couple years ago. During the delay, I noticed a stack of USC cups behind one of the bars and found out that after our game, the place would magically transform into a Trojan's bar for their game later in the day.
I'd like to say a have a favorite bar to go to, but I'm pushing 50 and all the ones mentioned here are sewers in my aged, sensitive-nosed perspective. Don't get me wrong, I'd love any of them and become a diehard regular if a cute 20 something cozied up to me and said she really liked older guys but we know that's not going to happen.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:05 PM ^
never say never! And either way you're obviously not getting the girls drunk enough
August 27th, 2009 at 2:02 PM ^
and I still like Duffy's. I want a loud group of recent grads who drink too much and scream at the tv. Part of my love of Football Saturdays is reviving that college kid inside. Maybe its just me. The things people said about it are mostly true though. However, I feel that most of the people did care about the game and if you get there early you can get a seat. Just sit down, have a drink and watch gameday or another football game(depending on kickoff time).
August 27th, 2009 at 3:36 PM ^
I'm pushing 30, and I fully agree. Yeah, I have posted more on this topic than in the last 4 months combined. It's always pissed me off when friends of mine raise the objections some on here are raising- if you want intensity, loudness, drunkenness, and people who give a shit, it's not even a question: Duffy's is the place to go.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:17 PM ^
Duffy's is actually quite fun if you can get there early enough to secure a table. But they blast hip-hop during time-outs and ads, which is really fun if you're drinking and hanging out, but can be really f'in annoying if you're really hungover or just want a chill place to watch a game with your friends. They do play the audio, pretty loudly, which is huge in my book b/c I hate watching games I care about with overlying classic rock or whatever. So, Duffy's is great if you wanna make it a day-drinking event and don't have a headache already.
I've watched non-Michigan games at Moe's and really like the place b/c it's open and they have big windows. I'll probably check it out at some point this fall.
Dark Horse - never heard of it and never been, but may try it out too.
Mad River is too far for me from the Gold Coast, but it's pretty solid I've heard.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:00 PM ^
Duffy's = MGoBlog
- for die hard fans looking for a more involved and intense environment.
Moe's/Rockit = collegefootballnews.com, espn.com
- fly a M flag and get a quick cash grab.
Mad River = mgoblue.com
- if you prefer an easier environment then this is your place.
Matilda = ????
- Who ever is pushing matilda needs to be kicked off the site because you are that loser that hung out in Kerrytown on a friday night.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:23 PM ^
There is no question that Duffy's is the spot. I am either at the Big House in AA, or at 420 1/2 West Diversey slamming beers in my Souvenir Michigan Mug.
All the rest of the places are co-football bars with other teams (Mad River is Mich/USC) and none of the rest are the original. I have to say that seeing all the grads at Duffy's is great. Also they have good food and the atmosphere has a casino like effect - blocking you off from the outside world in a all Michigan football drinking cave w/ about 500 fellow fans.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:33 PM ^
I'm tired of Duffy's, disappointed in Mad River's two-timing and indifferent to the rest. Maybe someone here just make some inquiries of a non-affiliated joint, see if they'll set aside a table and a few tvs. Trouble is I can't think of any likely place except the Player's Club on Ashland, and it might be uncomfortable to watch the games under the eye of the Polish Motorcycle Team.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:39 PM ^
What's its deal?? The audacity to call itself "The Players Club" and not be a strip club is intriguing...what kind of bar is it? Let's be honest- I'd probably never go. But I am curious.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:54 PM ^
I haven't been there in about a year, but back then it was frequented by Poles. Big Ducati bike behind the bar, pool table in the back. Pretty good bar food. A couple of smoking hot bartenders whose command of English "not so good".
I love the giant, 3-story lesbionic poster on the side of the building -- just hilarious.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^
A good bar that has lots of TVs and pretty good food is Union Park in the West Loop. i've watched a bunch of games in there. I'm pretty sure they have a buffet for Saturday mornings. I know they want a college football following. The owner is usually there all the time and is pretty cool. I'm sure he'd be willing to do something
August 28th, 2009 at 11:30 AM ^
How about the West Loop? I am of course trying to get this meeting place established as close to my condo as possible...Lincoln Park is a pain in the ass in general (at least to me - I avoid LP on the weekends), and it seems like it's the only place where there are official UM bars.
There are a lot of new places in my neighborhood, but I'm not sure if they already have allegiances - West End has a lot of TV's and they're usually packed for football Sundays, there's Union Park on Jackson, and Stanley's on Van Buren. I don't go out very often, sadly (married 36-year-old), and most of my college friends have moved back to Michigan, so I'd be game for any bar where I can get away with wearing a t-shirt, pony-tail and gym shoes. Just hoping for a non-Lincoln Park spot - no offense to Lincoln Park dwellers.
EDIT: I posted this before I read Skataria's entry - I'd be interested in Union Park...I can walk there, which means I could have more Bloody Marys.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:59 PM ^
Subscribing to this thread and waiting for a decision to be reached. I'm from the NW burbs but would be willing to ride in (any Saturday is a good day to ride the motorcycle). Mad River sounds good so far...
August 27th, 2009 at 4:10 PM ^
well, shall we settle on Mad River for the western game?
how early does one need to get there to get a table? i will gladly get there early to secure one.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^
What about the Pink Monkey?
August 28th, 2009 at 11:26 AM ^
I actually just looked it up. Very funny...maybe an MGoBlogger could volunteer to do a lap dance for every touchdown we score. (not me, of course)