Milwaukee

Set out around 8 this morning from Detroit, heading for Milwaukee. I decided to skip over Chicago because I've been there a number of times and seen games at both Wrigley and Comiskey (U.S. Cellular). It was a 370 mile drive and most was not very interesting - more corn fields and lots of billboards for Fireworks stores and Adult Super Stores (is that like Costco?).

I did stop for lunch in the Andersonville section of Chicago - about 2 miles from Wrigley Field. The plan was to eat at the Hopleaf, but they didn't open til 3. So I put in an emergency call to Kevin Dean for a recommendation. He suggested Hamburger Mary's and described it as "colorful". He also knew one of the waiters there, who happened to be my waiter. And with a name like "Hamburger Mary's" I knew I had to get the Chipotle Chicken Wrap. Fantastic!

Back on the road, I missed the Brat Stop, just across the Wisconsin state line (Kevin told me about it as I got into Milwaukee). Also missed the Mars Cheese Castle. Tempting, I know.

Milwaukee is actually a pretty nice city. I was surprised. It was very clean and had some cool old buildings - like City Hall.

The Blatz Brewery was started back in the 1850's. Today, it's still here but in the form of upscale apartments.

And no trip to Milwaukee would be complete without The Fonz. His blue jeans were more of a teal. Not so cool Fonzarelli. Pinky Tuscadero wouldn't be impressed.

Mo's Irish Pub on the corner of Plankinton and Wisconsin offers a free shuttle to and from Miller Park, which is about 7 miles outside of Downtown. The nice man driving brought a cooler on board the bus loaded with beer....free beer....my favorite flavor (to quote Kevin). The shuttle dropped us off right in front of the ballpark.

Miller Park has a retractable dome, which is normally open. It's fan-shaped and can open and close in 10 minutes.

Bernie Brewer once slid into a giant mug of beer after a Brewers Home Run in old County Stadium, the Brewers home prior to 2001. Now the BREWERS playing in MILLER Park think it's more PC just go down a slide rather than slide into a beer. The Brewers failed to homer tonight, so Bernie stayed in his dugout.

The seats seem to be getting better. I don't think I'll be this lucky in AT&T Park in San Francisco next week. Tonight for the low price of $50, I sat six rows behind home plate. Translated into "Yankee Stadium" = $1250. But the seats at Yankee Stadium are padded and include all you can eat food! What a bargain! But these were the best seats I've had anywhere. Randy Wolf's 89 mph fastball sounded like 99 mph.

Dinner tonight: 1 Bratwurst and 1 Chorizo. Both quite tasty, but I give the edge to the Chorizo. Which brings me to the Sausage Race! After the top of the 6th, the 5 sausages - Brett Wurst (bratwurst, duh), Stosh (Polish sausage), Guido (Italian sausage...I'm slightly offended), Frankie Furter (don't need to explain, right?), and finally Cinco (a chorizo that was the fifth to join the race in the mid-2000s). It wasn't even close. Guido devoured the competition, maybe to honor my attendance. I believe Frankie was hidden behind Guido in my picture below. Also, they're risking their lives running past both Pablo Sandoval of the Giants and then later Prince Fielder of the Brewers.

The Seventh Inning Stretch is also pretty special. Not only do they sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", but they go right into "Roll Out The Barrel". I'm pretty sure there were many more singing the latter.

Here are a couple of action shots:

Pablo Sandoval - a.k.a Kung Fu Panda

Jim Edmonds - a motherless, godless criminal according to Kevin because Edmonds was once a Cardinal. He later became a Cub, so I don't know if his status changed.

Good day. Lots of driving - 6 to 7 hours. More on Wednesday. Touring Target Field in Minnesota. Then I go on my All Star Break by visiting some National Parks.