Game on

We identify a few of our readers’ favorite spots to catch the big game this fall

By Trent Modglin

To say Chicago is a passionate sports town would be the understatement of the year. Locals here bleed Cubby blue or Bulls’ red, their week’s emotions ebb and flow based on the result of the Bears’ game on Sunday or their alma mater on Saturday. We know our sports, and the good news is, we’re also more than willing to share a few of our favorite game-watching spots around the city for this fall, as the baseball playoffs and football season take precedence in our social schedules.

The ESPN Zone (43 E. Ohio) in the trendy River North neighborhood is a good place to start, given its versatility and high-energy atmosphere. Catch the game amidst the crowds in the dynamic screening room (get there early to grab the leather recliners) or numerous bars, take over a private dining room or glass-walled skybox for a more private viewing experience or treat the young people in your group (or just the young at heart) to the sport-themed, interactive video games and attractions in the sports arena. Talk about your added bonus!

One of the more popular stops for the city’s die-hard sports fans is Joe’s (940 W. Weed, 312-337-3486) in the tucked-away Weed Street entertainment district off of North Avenue. It’s a recently renovated 20,000-square-foot warehouse-style venue that offers live local and national music acts, a large outdoor patio and five private party rooms. Blessed with more than 110 plasma TVs and high-definition projector screens, it’s difficult not to find a good angle here. Home, at least in part, to alumni clubs from the University of Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, UCLA, Auburn and California.

Every city seems to have that one sports bar that people have heard of no matter where they’re from. The Cubby Bear (1059 W. Addison) is just that bar in Chicago. Its vast history and convenient proximity to Wrigley Field (try directly across the street) make it a favorite stop before and after Cubs games, but the place is awfully popular during football season as well. The Cubby Bear offers a spacious interior with more than 100 TVs and has turned into a legitimate music venue in recent years.

Staying put in Wrigleyville, Rebel Bar and Grill (3462 N. Clark), from the owners of Waterhouse (3407 N. Paulina) in the Lakeview neighborhood, has quickly become a fan favorite since doing a serious renovation to the old Ivy on Clark location. The sleek Rebel boasts 20 total flat screens between both levels. They are spaced out nicely to where they’re not overwhelming but remain easy to view from any angle in the bar. Rebel is home to Illinois football, not to mention a haven for Cubs and Bears fans. “I’m looking forward to using this as my Cubs hangout during the playoffs because the staff doesn’t treat you like a piece of meat when it’s busy, and it’s much more enjoyable than some of the sweat boxes down the street,” said one patron. Waterhouse, meanwhile, cooks up some of the best cheese curds you’ll find south of the border for Wisconsin Badger football games.

Another favorite Wrigleyville spot for readers is Merkle’s (3516 N. Clark), owned by four friends who have earned their stripes in the bar business from Boston to San Diego and several points in between. The official home of Iowa football in Chicago, Merkle’s has some serious ties to the Hawkeyes and is mere steps from Wrigley Field if you’re looking for that close connection this fall. “You’re not just a credit card here,” says a satisfied J. Malak. “A lot of bars around here look for pure volume, but they look for quality. They aim to treat you like their neighbors.”

In the heart of Lincoln Park lies what looks to be a rather unassuming pub called McGee’s near DePaul University (950 W. Webster, 773-549-8200). But once you walk through the doors, it’s a different story. Often packed to the hilt on Saturday afternoons for Ohio State football, McGee’s is a favorite of locals as much for the atmosphere as the daily specials (10-cent wings on Tuesdays, $1 domestic bottles on Thursdays, etc.).

From the popular Four Corners Tavern Group comes one of the hottest sports bars on the north side — Kirkwood (2934 N. Sheffield), a sparkling new joint that easily fills to capacity even when there’s not a big game on. Indiana and Nebraska alumni can see all the action on the gridiron and hardcourt this fall, and the spacious outdoor beer garden (complete with TV screens) is a unique touch as long as the weather stays warm.

A little over two years old, Four Shadows (2758 N. Ashland) has earned a loyal following — especially from Iowa alumni and die-hard Bears and UFC fans. Four Shadows has the feel of an old-school classic Chicago bar, complete with rich, dark woodwork, exposed brick and large mirrors, and a vast array of high-quality flat screens make it easy to enjoy the action no matter where you’re seated. The shrimp po boy and spicy chicken sandwich come highly recommended.

Just down the street from Four Shadows is Clybar (2417 N. Clybourn), near the corner of Ashland, Fullerton and Clybourn, a slightly off-the-beaten-path pub that is definitely worth checking out. It’s a sports bar — even the owners will tell you that — but you can also head there and not be overwhelmed by sports whatsoever. It’s a laid-back neighborhood place that exudes class with its tin ceiling, brick walls, hand-carved dark woodwork and attitude. “People generally don’t want to leave,” says Lauren, a bartender. “We get a lot of people coming back the next day or the next weekend.” It’s easy to see why.

Mother Hubbard’s (5 W. Hubbard, 312-828-0007) is a true Chicago original. Open nightly till 4 a.m., loaded with TVs (including seven 10-footers) and carrying a bit of a dive theme, this relaxed and friendly pub can get a bit raucous during games — but in a good way — and caters to everyone from a chic after-work crowd to tourists in jeans and t-shirts. Don’t leave without sampling the wings and ribs.

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