Are there any good restaurants within walking distance of the stadium. Any sports
bars or moderate priced places that I can get ribs?

Ideally I would take the subway, walk to the restaurant and then walk to the game.

I'm going to go out on a limb here an guess that you have never been to Comiskey Park before. I would only eat at a place between the el station and the stadium. Or eat at the stadium. That is not a good neighborhood.

The food at the park is pretty good. There are many choices too. If you can, try to get a ticket which lets you eat at one of the club restaurants with a glass view of the field.

We do it. My sons bring me to a great pork chop restaurant with street facing stand, but we use cars and park under the L/train lines, then on to the game and park in one of the designated lots. It's $17 to park now. Better to take the el if you can. We used to park in Bridgeport- and then walk under the viaducts to the park (about 4 blocks)- but you can't anymore as they will ticket you. Zoning has changed for game days.

Some of the best rib places in the country aren't far (Leon's), but most of the people on Fodors would be shaking in their boots to walk or drive in those particular all Black neighborhoods. They HAVE been tough neighborhoods with occasional gang / high crime activity. Actually, the most gang dominated public housing (Robert Taylor Homes) is gone, but not all walkable areas near the Cell are troublefree, either- but better. I have taken a train downtown and to the redline North el by myself, though- staying west of IIT and been fine throughout.

IIT (Illinois Institute of Technology) is to the East of the park. Many industrial factories are in the blocks south of the park as well. If you are coming from downtown you can take the red line South and exit at U.S. Cellular Field/IIT with no problem (31st/35thSt) and walk west merely 2 blocks to the park. This area is fine and I have done it to go to IIT as well, and not only on game days.

By 2007 there will be a platform to exit from the Metra train (SW Chicago and suburbs beyond) at the same place. Right now I can wave at the park and can't get off.

Just to let people know, who wonder about these things, seem to "know" everything about racial neighborhood real estate history/white "flight", and yet have never lived it- two weeks ago we happened to also be the only white people at a great new shrimp place at 84th and Kedzie. And everyone was just terrific to us, also wanted to know if we were lost. LOL!

But for a person who doesn't know all the neighborhood avenues and other variables, it would be best to eat at Chinatown and then go to the park. Or eat at the park itself. We've done all of the above.

The park is rated as having the third best food in baseball. You also can go to the restaurant/bar BEFORE the game start, for the right ticket price. I have gotten all level seats and eated good food of many different kinds- steak sandwiches to pizza.

It is not like many parks in that it really does not have its own neighborhood. The best bars were knocked down to build the new U.S. Cellular and the old Comiskey was knocked down for parking. The Old Com.Park had some great bars and we are working on one terrific owner family to come back. They may.

JJ,

Thanks so much, I do enjoy those kind of neighborhood places. I have only been to Comisky once, ten years ago.
I like going to a game pre-rush hour, enjoying a meal and then going in an hour before the game.

Should I take a cab from the subway stop to Leon's?

Another tip. This summer when we were there they had a special to let you park for less if you went early to the game. I don't know if this is common or not.

TKT,

I'm being very candid. I'm not particularly sure you are going to get cabs in that area, especially upon pick up. One of the biggest complaints is that cabs don't answer calls, or pick up as frequently in the Black neighborhoods. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they weren't correct to complain.

The Leon's that I know of is about 1100 West on South 59th Street. I used to have the ribs frequently because my neighbor worked at Joslyn's just North of there (factory) and he would pick them up on the way home. By the way, the rib TIPS are highly regarded by the
local customers, more than the ribs are.
I like the ribs with hot sauce. It's served on a slab of white bread with fries etc.

If you are really interested, I will call my son and ask some more questions about where we get our pork chops sandwiches under the tracks. That is a real Chicago joint, and isn't quite as far off the beaten track. This son (youngest) used to deliver tires all over in this area and he knows all the true streets and slant streets. I don't want you to get messed up with Archer Ave. and you easily could. It just happened to us trying to take a short cut to the park from my mother's last summer.

55th Street is Garfield Blvd. I was born on 52nd and Racine and lived there until I was in 3rd grade. I know Marquette Park and South of that much better now.

Check here later and I'll try to get you better directives.

Skip dinner by the park and head a few red line stops N and have a meal in Chinatown. Then you can hop back down to 35th an hour b4 the game as you planned!

eroz is right. That's what many people do. We come from far Southwest so we don't do the el but drive to/park in Chinatown. El/subway is easy to do if coming from the North and you could hop right back on. Oftentimes we would do dim sum on Sunday and then go to a day game. That's a terrific duo.

Actually Chinatown is very diverse and IMHO does not closely resemble the Chinatowns of other cities. I don't want to get flamed again about this, but be very careful there as well- and keep your attention to your person and placements at all times.

I have a Polish blonde Nursing student who takes Garfield Blvd. all the way east to Mercy Hospital every day. But I wouldn't want to sent you out into the "off" or side-streets on your own- it might be foolhearty.

But do check back here if I can get you some better info- you have time.

April 2, 2006 the White Sox open the entire baseball season now at home against Cleveland on a Sunday night.

And by the end of next week we should know if Paulie will be playing for us or the Angels. Thome's on the news all the time, and he has already called up Paul himself. Well regardless, we can't wait until baseball is back.

TKT and all:

Paul Konerko just signed.

For FIVE YEARS!

wahoo wahoo wahoo wahoo!

Paul Konerko signed with the Sox. Jim Thome has been acquired via trade. Two potential Hall-of-Famers at the heart of the line-up. Probably means the Sox will flame out next year. Go Nationals!

Don't count on it.