After having sat courtside at the Chicago Sky game, watched Mark Buehrle throw a perfect game and sat in a luxury box at Solider Field the previous two days, I figured I should continue my priceless experiences on Friday. With no ticket in hand for the Cubs game, I walked over to WrigleyRooftops.com and asked if I could go up. Immediately, my contact at the rooftop said “yes…no problem” – a much easier process than last time.

With all three levels open, the good food was available to everyone on the rooftop – ravioli, meat carving station, bacon wrapped scallops, etc. rather than the usual hamburger, bratwurst and Italian beef which they also had.

The Game
Eric Cooper was umpiring at 3rd base – a day after being the home plate umpire for Buehrle’s perfect game.

In the second inning, Randy Wells threw home for the force out rather than turning an easy double play since Reds’ pitcher Aaron Harang was on deck. Instead, Harang hit Wells pitch over the left field wall for a 3-run homer – his first career home run in 389 plate appearances.

The Cubs ended up defeating the Reds 8-5.

Wrigley Rooftops
In a change of policy on the rooftop, you can now get beer up through the end of the game (instead of at the end of the 7th inning) and you can get two beers at a time (rather than one). I’m not sure why they made the rule changes but the rooftops may be trying to be more customer friendly than they had been.

Post Game
After the game, I met Nicole at the Hopleaf Café in Andersonville. As I have written in the past Andersonville is a close (bus ride) and calmer alternative than hanging out in Wrigleyville after a Cubs game.

After the Hopleaf, we headed north to the Heartland Café for dinner located at 7000 N. Glenwood. The Heartland Café is a lengthy trip from Wrigley Field but only one block north of the Morse Red Line Stop if you are taking the train north after the ballgame.

After dinner we headed to the bars down the street from the Heartland Café – Red Line Tap and The Glenwood.