I found out yesterday that I’m going to Chicago on Labor Day weekend to watch and write about the Mets, and also probably eat a bunch of sandwiches.
If you’re in or near Chicago, you should come hang out. Matt Cerrone is going to put together some sort of party, so join me there as I make so many Blues Brothers references they grow intolerable then poke fun at whichever of Cerrone’s numerous bizarre traveling whims has come up in the last day or so.
If you’re not in or near Chicago, the Mets are offering a package that includes tickets and accommodations.
Obviously Wrigley is awesome and I love Chicago, plus the trip should mean different and hopefully interesting content for this blog.
I haven’t figured out exactly what that means yet, but I’m certain it will involve eating. I know about the fake-ass “pizza” they serve up there, and I recognize that it’s pretty good even if it’s not what pizza should be like, so I’ll probably have some of that.
And I know it’s a sausage town, plus I’m certain to go back to the Billygoat Tavern, both because they serve good burgers and because it’s on Lower Wacker, which cracks me up.
But what I’m really excited about — and what I didn’t know existed the last time I was in the Second City — is the breaded steak sandwich. Look at that thing.
If you know any other Chicago-area delicacies, please let me know. I’m not sure how much food I’ll be able to cram in my face in three days, but hey, when in Rome.
Tedquarters 
A few things…
1) I’d leave Manhattan in a heartbeat if my company relocated me to said “2nd city”
2) Lou Malnati’s can’t be beat even though it’s a chain…no joke, better than the other deepies I’ve been to.
3) Publican was unbelievably good, but it’s a little pricy. Take a look.
4) Adventures in Babysitting was an underrated Chicago movie and Rookie of the Year was slightly overrated.
Anthony Bourdain went to a place called the Silver Palm, in or around Chicago that had an amazing-looking sandwich called the Three Little Pigs. It consists of:
Pork tenderloin, double-smoked ham, bacon, a fried egg, and your choice of cheddar or Gruyere cheese.
Ive heard nothing but great things about the chopped brisket sandwich from Smoque.
I should be at all 3 games in Chicago – I live here now – looking forward to the meet up.
http://www.smoquebbq.com/brisket.html
You must go to Hot Dougs. http://www.hotdougs.com/specials.htm
In news that makes me angry, I live in Chicago and have a wedding that weekend in St. Louis. The one time the Mets are in town, I will not be there. Hopefully I can make it to the Friday game.
Oh, and for burgers, Kuma’s destroys Billy Goat.
http://www.kumascorner.com/
@Ted – Lou’s is the place for pizza. It’s my preference, anyway. Can’t say I’ve been to Hot Doug’s, but The Weiner Circle (just south of Wrigley) is a Chicago staple. And Kuma’s does kick butt, but it’s not easy to get to and always has an hour or longer wait.
@Greg and Alex – I’m a Mets fan that lives in Chicago as well, with a blog: http://www.chicagometsfan.com. Shoot me a note with your emails so I can add you to my list for game watch meetups. Though, they have been far and few between this season.
Ted, where you Julia Roberts stand in for Eat Pray Love? Just kidding. No I’m not. Yes I am. Just kidding. She would get her brother to do it. Just kidding. Seriously, I wouldn’t mind hanging in Chicago, but then again I don’t really even go into the City anymore, so maybe I should start there first.
Do they cut up their fake-ass pizza in that criminally insane, blasphemous criss-cross configuration there? I shudder to even think about it.
@Theresa – only the thin crust is cut like that, I think it’s a Midwest thing – no idea why though. The deep dish, on the other hand, is cut the way a pizza should be cut. Having lived here for 3 years now, I still miss NY pizza every day.