You love to go out. We love to go out. You love to eat. We love to eat. You love to drink. Well, you get the idea. So when you're itching for the lastest Chicago nightlife has to offer, check out The Extrovert for up-to-the minute details on the scene.
Holy Cow!
In case you’ve been living under a rock, let us inform you that today is the Cubs home opener. It also marks the official grand opening of the new Harry Caray’s Tavern, just steps away from Wrigley Field.
We went down to check it out before the first pitch and found Harry Caray’s crowded with fans of both the team and the late announcer. And the man’s biggest fan, widow Dutchie Caray, was even at the bar before the game. “I know Harry would be so excited to have it, and it’s just a beautiful place,” Caray told Metromix as she hung out in the second-floor Skybox VIP area.
Like at the original Harry Caray’s, the length of the bar is 60 feet and 6 inches, the same distance as home plate is to the pitcher’s mound. The curved portion in the front of house denotes the mound; look for the home plate built into the mosaic tile floor at the other end.
While the tavern has many highlights (including a new bust of Harry Caray made by the artist who did the sculpture at the corner of Sheffield and Addison), what stands out the most is the overall transformation of the space. Hi-Tops was a pre- or post-game stop for fans for years, but now the space has gone from run-down college bar to upscale sports bar in a matter of months.
How did it all happen? Owner Mike O’Malley, owner of Hi-Tops for the past few years, said that when he decided to renovate the space it was a no-brainer to bring a Harry Caray’s to Wrigleyville. “It just made sense,” O’Malley said.
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