This Saturday, the Cubs clinched the NL Central in dramatic fashion against the Cards. Having attended 26 Cubs games in addition to 8 other MLB games, I needed a break before the playoffs to make it through the homestretch of the season. So, on Saturday, I found myself helping the premier lemonade stand in Wrigleyville for my team’s ice skating fundraiser. Given the high spirits of Cubs fans, donations rolled in. We sold $250 worth of dollar lemonade and treats….that’s like drug money lemonade stand.

Such is the informal economy in …

The more I write about life in Wrigleyville, the more I realize that bartering is part of the informal economy around the ballpark. Want rooftop access? Well, trade your garage for a season’s worth of fun. Want good ticket prices from a scalper? Well, trade your loyalty and some no-strings-attached tickets that you can’t use and you will get taken care of all season long.

Last night, I planned on going to the Cubs v. Braves game in our ordinary season ticket seats in the upper-deck, but, I got a fateful …