HELP WANTED! I'm moving to Chicago for school and I need good haunts to watch football/basketball games. Recommendations?
Hey guys! I'm a long time lurker who needs some help. I'm moving to downtown Chicago for school in the fall, and i need somewhere to watch UM football/basketball/hockey. Looking for a known MgoBlogger haunt, or maybe just a michigan bar. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
April 19th, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 11:46 AM ^
I thik the Palmer House rap is that it's got the old-school charm but without being properly maintained.
If you want an old-school vibe with modern upkeep, I'd suggest the hotel at the Chicago Athletic Association.
April 19th, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
The Palmer house invented brownies!
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/November-2016/Palmer-House-Brownie-recipe/
April 19th, 2018 at 11:50 AM ^
Is old and not all that nice (similar to the Drake), although PHH has a good magic show. The brand equity is the only thing keeping it going.
I've stayed at a lot of the hotels in Chicago - a very pleasant surprise was the Loews. The best bang for the buck IMHO.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^
UM grads own the Essex Inn (under construction), Hotel Felix, Hotel Cass and Godfrey Hotel Chicago. Keep it in the family.
london house and langham as well.
Rutledge is that you?
what I believe is Northwestern Medical Center.
Last time I stayed there the ambulanes kept me up all night.
April 19th, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
My sister has lived up there for 10 years and I visit on a regular basis.
We like Diag Bar & Grill. Used to do Duffy's in our younger days, so that would be fun if you're still in your 20s.
Alumni Association offers up a few options http://clubs.alumni.umich.edu/chicago/game-watching-u-m-club-greater-ch…
April 19th, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 11:50 AM ^
Chicago Wolverine here. There are a lot of us, and a very active Alumni Association:
http://clubs.alumni.umich.edu/chicago
https://www.facebook.com/umcgc/
There are sponsor bars, which donate a TON (I think at least $10K, but mabye it's $50K?) towards scholarships to get that designation.
Can confirm. Duffy's is a great place to catch a Michigan game and they throw a great bar deal for St. Patrick's day as well.
please don't go to duffy's. long story, but they refuse to give money to the alumni association even though they are a major beneficiary of our alumni.
please visit the official bars.
This sounds like the Alumni association mafia, which is not my experience.
I'm all for donating to the university and athletic funds, and have been an active alumni association member since graduation, but if a bar goes full Michigan, why is that not enough?
April 19th, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^
I live in Evanston, but I have been to The Diag (Lakeview) a few times for games. Fun atmosphere and they have a courtyard with TV's to watch if the weather is nice. Otherwise I know the Chicago Alumni Association announce in emails what bars they are having watch parties at for football/basketball.
April 19th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
Matilda was my go-to UM bar while I was in law school. Much less of a shit-show than Duffy's was. Good beer and food, too.
Everything is superior at Matilda...food, drink, music, the talent.
western just south of montrose. more of an old school chi dive bar. never watched UM sports there but they have a great pot roast sandwich.
April 19th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
I would not watch games at places that are haunted. It will certainly take away from your ability to focus on the games.
April 19th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 11:50 AM ^
Perhaps Sister Jean will let you watch Michigan basketball games with her at the convent
April 19th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 11:56 AM ^
Lock themselves in a closet with a projector every Saturday.
(Indiana, every year)
April 19th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 11:54 AM ^
April 19th, 2018 at 11:54 AM ^
In the West Loop if you want a Michigan bar that's not packed.
Diag was great but too many people go there lately and they have a single men's bathroom. I skipped last season for that reason so maybe it's changed.
Duffy's if you want to pretend you're still in undergrad.
As mentioned above there are a ton of us. We should probably MGoBlog tailgate for NW in that goofy high school sized parking lot, huh?
Ok well F them then.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:00 PM ^
and, if you are headed toward the MGrowOld side of things (as I am), it's a bit loud. And I'm only a block and a half away. That said, the crowd/noise is awesome for atmospherics on big game days.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
Do you....do you live in my apartment? Intersection of Wolfram & Southport right here.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^
been around since 2000; Diag was Jack's then.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
Ahhh right by the Side Street Saloon. Fantastic little bar.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:41 PM ^
was a time when a group of young Spartans were heavy patrons and they leaned in that direction. All is now well at the SSS, and you will find lots of UM sports on the tube there.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
What neighborhood? it's a big city.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^
It has big shoulders.
April 19th, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^
The North Side on Damen is a favorite of mine and is real good for general sports watching.
Nearby, Lottie's is another good one, but shades toward fan bases of Wisconsin and Kansas.
The Diag, 50/50 or Moe's Cantina (Kinzie St. in River North) are your best bets.
Really, for Chicago you start this thread? It's basically Ann Arbor lite. Can't spit without Michigan fans and alums.
Off the top of my head. The diag named after the dish w the brass M in the patio. Rockit bar and grill both river north and wrigley Arturo, an owner, is a Michigan grad. There are others see the website and try and go to an official bar. It's for a good cause.
Always a pleasure to have more M fans in town.
You say you're moving to Chicago for school. Thus, I assume you're in your 20s. Duffy's is the ultimate place to go if that's the case. It's a youthful and boisterous atmosphere. It's where I went when I was new to the city. Kind of like a rite of passage.
These days, for me, I prefer The Diag. It's an "older" crowd in that it isn't newly graduated 22-year olds. Not as shoulder-to-shoulder as Duffy's but plenty of TVs for viewing.
There are plenty of other places throughout the city that could make sense based on where you're living. If you're in the West Loop, head to West End (but avoid at all costs if the Blackhawks are playing. You'll never get sound and might be relegated to a few TVs only).
If you're in River North or Wrigleyville, try the Rockit restaurants. But if you're going to the River North location, get there early. It fills up fast.
If you want a more chilled out location, there's Matilda's in Lakeview. But the TVs are as good.
That's a good primer for your introduction. Of course, once you're here long enough, you'll find your neighborhood bar (there are plenty), buddy up with the bartender/owner, and get the M games on whenever you want. But you'll probably be fighting over sound for the Bears/Cubs/Hawks games.