UNH fans planning on making the trip to Northwestern

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I recently posted on another college football board asking for advice and tips on going to Northwestern... One poster gave me this awesome response... Thought I would post it here if anyone was interested... i had to post in multiple parts because it was so long..

Also, I emailed the UNH ticket coordinator asking if there were any plans on UNH putting together a package deal or anything like that.. she said she did not know as of now and that she has been talking to the alumni office but nothing has been decide on...

Evanston is now a great college town. If you want to soak in a bit of its smaller town life, staying in Evanston is just fine. But if you want to spent extra time in Chicago, you can stay there -- and the el trip up to Evanston is easy. The stop at Central street would leave you just two blocks from the stadium.

Here's some more info for you:


INFORMATION FOR FANS VISITING EVANSTON
If you are planning a trip to Evanston and have never been here before, the following may be helpful to you. Evanston is a safe, family-friendly town in which to see a football game. On football weekends, you can usually find small groups of fans from other Big Ten schools roaming around, decked out in their team colors. The local residents and people who work in Evanston are not into college football (outside of Northwestern students, alumni, and friends of the school), so no one will give you a hard time for wearing your colors. Remember, this is the Chicago area, and life here does not revolve around Northwestern football (it does revolve around Chicago Bears, Cubs, Sox, and Bulls, as well as so many other entertainment options that it boggles the mind).

Evanston has some aspects of a big city and some aspects of a suburb. Like a big city, strangers will come up to you and ask you for money. You may also see vendors selling a weekly newspaper called Streetwise, which is legal way for homeless people to earn money. Try to take all of this in stride and either ignore them or give them a dollar. Also, like a city, Evanston has limited parking. The stores and restaurants here do not have parking lots, so you have to make do with street parking and public parking garages.


THE LAYOUT

Evanston is perched on the shores of Lake Michigan. It serves as a buffer zone between the city of Chicago to the south and the affluent suburbs to the north shore. The three areas that will be of interest to you are the stadium, the campus, and the downtown area. If you think of the layout as being like a large clock laying face up, the stadium is at ten o'clock, the downtown area at six o'clock, and the campus at three o'clock. For street maps, try either Yahoo maps or Mapquest and enter the following addresses:

For a map of the streets near the campus:
2200 Sheridan
Evanston, IL

For a map of Evanston's downtown:
1700 Sherman
Evanston, IL

For a map of the stadium area:
1501 Central
Evanston, IL

For the official brochure in PDF format on parking and with a local map, go to

http://www.fansonly.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/nw/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/ryanfield

then click on "Complete Version"

For general directions to Evanston, try
http://nusports.collegesports.com/genrel/nw-ryanfield-directions.html


STADIUM

The football stadium is named Ryan Field, but many locals still call it Dyche Stadium. The stadium is NOT on the campus. It is located on Central Street about one mile west and north of the campus. While there are parking lots next to the stadium, they are reserved for season ticket holders who have sufficient priority points to purchase the highly coveted stadium parking passes. Without such a pass, don't even try parking at the stadium. While a few local businesses along Central rent out their lots for game day parking, it is usually better to park on campus or in the large public garage in downtown Evanston. If you are driving down Green Bay Road, you may also encounter some pay lots for game day parking.

Local fans without stadium parking passes, like me, usually know where to find street parking within a ten-minute walk of the stadium. However, this requires some detailed knowledge of the one-way streets of residential Evanston and Wilmette. However, if you arrive early enough on Saturday morning, you may be luck enough to find free street parking within a reasonable walk of the stadium. The key word is EARLY.

There is tailgating at the stadium for those few who have parking passes. Usually, at least a few cars of visiting fans manage to obtain parking passes (how, I don't know), so you may find some tailgating for the visiting team going on in the stadium lots. Most of the tailgating occurs in the west lot, but the east side has its fair share. For people without parking passes, tailgating occurs in the campus lots and a few other locations.


DOWNTOWN EVANSTON

I generally tell visitors to park downtown and use the shuttle buses to get to the stadium. This has some advantages and disadvantages. By heading directly for downtown Evanston, you can avoid the traffic jam near Ryan Field and also near the intersection of Green Bay road and Central. Downtown Evanston also offers many restaurants and bars to enjoy before or after the game. The disadvantages are that you cannot do your own tailgating in the downtown garages and you will probably have to walk back to downtown after the game because the shuttle buses simply cannot handle everyone leaving the stadium at the same time.

As for using the shuttle buses to take you from downtown Evanston to the stadium, the PDF file mentioned above shows the location of the lots and the shuttle route. The shuttle buses from downtown Evanston to the stadium are reliable, provided you use them at least 75 minutes prior to kickoff. If you try to use them within an hour of kickoff, you may find that the buses are already full before they get to your stop, although this varies depending on which stop you use and how crowded the game is. The main downtown parking garage is on Maple, a little north of the Century Theatres and across the street from Chili's. There is a shuttle pick-up point across the street from this garage, on the corner of Clark and Maple. Since this is the last stop on the shuttle route, the bus may already be filled with fans. If you have time, check the route map in the PDF file mentioned above and walk a few blocks to one of the other stops. The first stop is on Sherman in front of the Best Western hotel.

If the weather is nice, you can walk to the stadium from downtown Evanston in about 30 minutes. Walk west to Ridge Avenue, then north to Central, then west on Central to the stadium.

Other ways to get from downtown Evanston to the stadium include taxis (especially Norshore Cab which seems to have taxis stationed in Evanston all the time, 847-864-7500) and the CTA trains (board at Davis Street in downtown Evanston, go north (toward Linden) and get off at Central).



CAMPUS

The Northwestern campus is beautiful. It is right on Lake Michigan and has a scenic walking path near the lake. On the south border of the campus, the walking path connects with the jogging/biking paths of the Evanston park system. I highly recommend walking the campus after the game and ending your walk with an ice cream cone or snack at Norris University Center. Anyone on campus can give you directions to Norris.

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INTERNET ACCESS AND OTHER USEFUL STUFF
Internet Cafes
There are several cafes that feature free wireless Internet in Evanston. Simply walk up and down Sherman Avenue and/or Chicago Avenue. It should be very easy to find a hot zone. For example, on Chicago Avenue you will find Peet's Café (1622 Chicago Ave.), the Café Mozart (600 Davis St.), and Kafein (1621 Chicago Ave.). By the way, the Mozart Café has a mini-dessert for less than a dollar called a brownie bite, which I tend to overdose on. Kafein, which seems to be for cool people and aging hipsters, has a sandwich called "the world's greatest" that is unique and good. It's essentially a turkey melt on pita.


Screenz
What is it: Computers with fast internet connections that you use for a fee
Location: 1730 Sherman Ave. 847-332-2539
On Sherman, half a block north of Davis.
If you are addicted to the Internet but didn't bring your laptop to Evanston, or your hotel charges an arm and a leg for a high speed connection, then go to Screenz. They have several workstations with large monitors that you can rent by the minute or the hour. The bandwidth is good (a full T-1, they claim). The hardware includes printers, CD writers, DVD writers, and scanners. The software includes just about anything you might normally need, such as word processing and even Photoshop. Of course, the place is ideal for checking the message boards. The atmosphere is nice and they also offer beverages and snacks. The rate is $8.40/hour, but you don’t have to purchase a full hour. You pay your money, and they give you a card with a magnetic stripe. Sit down at a workstation, swipe the card and you’re online. There are discounts for purchasing multiple hours up front, and you can use the card over as many sessions or days as you wish. They are open late (11:00 PM weekdays, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays). So after seeing the game, go to Screenz to see what the web is saying.


CVS Pharmacy
Location: 1711 Sherman Ave. 847-328-3105
On Sherman, a little north of Church.
Since the Osco closed, this is now the only pharmacy in the downtown area. It is within walking distance of all the downtown Evanston hotels.


Farmer's Market
What is it: an open market where Midwest farmers sell produce and flowers
Location: The surface parking lot across from 1033 University Place. The lot is directly behind Hilton Garden Inn.
The farmer’s market is on Saturday mornings from about 7:30 AM until noon. They sell fresh fruits and produce, and it is simply a fun place to walk though. You can also buy flowers really cheap, so if you are bringing a date to the game, you can make a good impression without spending too much. It shuts down in early November.


Bookman's Alley
What is it: used bookstore
Location: 1712 Sherman Ave. 847-869-6999
In the alley -- of course -- behind Seville Flowers (just off of Sherman, north of Church).
If you enjoy used bookstores or history, check out Bookman's Alley. It's a fascinating storehouse of interesting old relics, artwork, and books. Also, the guy who sits by the door has been there for decades, yet he never seems to age.


Lake Michigan
What is it: a large body of water
Location: Walk five blocks east of downtown Evanston
There is a nice park along the lake with a paved walking path. If you walk east along Church, Davis, or Grove, you will find the park and the path. Walk north on the path, and it winds itself into the Northwestern University lakefront campus, with its own set of walking paths. If you are staying in Evanston and wake up early on Saturday, it makes for a very enjoyable walk.


Churches and Places of Worship
Evanston has more churches and places of worship within a short walk of downtown than any other place I know. Many of them are in beautiful old buildings. If you are in town for a game and feel the need to invoke some divine intervention, check one out.



SOME NOTES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Getting to Evanston from Chicago is relatively easy using either CTA trains or Metra trains. Both lines have stops at Davis street (i.e. downtown Evanston) and at Central street (for the stadium).

The CTA trains (also known as "El trains" or "L trains") are elevated, electric-powered trains that run frequently and have many stops. It is relatively easy to take an El train to the game, but coming back after the game is another matter. You may have to wait in a long line to get a train back to Chicago. For information on CTA trains visit http://www.yourcta.com, then click on "Train Schedules" and examine the system map. The various lines are named after colors. From anywhere in Chicago, head for the Red Line and take it all the way north. It ends at Howard Street, where you transfer to the Purple Line and continue on to Central Street to get to the stadium (or Davis St. to visit downtown Evanston). Transferring from the Red Line to the Purple Line is easy and costs nothing extra. You get out of your Red Line car and walk to the other side of the platform and get on a Purple Line car (or wait a few minutes for the next Purple Line train to arrive). Avoid the Yellow Line, which takes you to Skokie.

While the system map shows the Purple line running all the way into Chicago, this is only true for weekday rush hours. On Saturdays, the Purple line stops at Howard Street, the southern border of Evanston.

If you are staying in downtown Chicago, your hotel desk should be able to guide you to the nearest CTA station. Once you arrive at a station, you will find vending machines that issue CTA cards with magnetic stripes. You have to put in $5 to get a new card, which is more than enough for a round trip from Chicago to Evanston.

Metra trains are diesel trains that run according to a fixed schedule and only stop in a few locations. On weekends, hourly service is the best you can expect. If you're coming from downtown Chicago and you're not too far from the main Metra station (the Madison Street station), this may be the fastest way to get to the game. The stadium is on Central Street. For more information visit http://www.metrarail.com/, then click on Quick Schedules, then on Metra Union Pacific North Line. On weekends, you can purchase a weekend pass for $5 that allows you to ride Metra trains all day Saturday and Sunday.

PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK
Evanston is blessed with over a hundred restaurants, including many ethnic specialties. It is usually not a problem to find something to eat in Evanston. I limited the list below to only restaurants that I have tried. Naturally, some of my favorite haunts are listed. Most of the establishments serve lunch; however, few, except for breakfast places, are open before 11:00 AM on a Saturday.

There are few restaurants or bars near the stadium. Most of the bars are in the downtown Evanston area, which is an excellent reason to park there. Since most games start early, for example 11:00 AM or noon, you can walk back to downtown after the game for a late lunch and some serious football discussion.

Sadly, none of establishments in Evanston can be classified as a true sports bar, and I can honestly say that I don't know of any Evanston bar that can be referred to as Wildcat Central. Tommy Nevin's Pub (see below) is making an effort to fill that gap, but the atmosphere doesn't yet compare to sports bars around other Big Ten schools. Still, Nevin’s offers a genuine pub atmosphere with dark wood paneling and excellent pub grub. They recently added several flat-screens and couple of large projection screens that definitely add to your viewing pleasure.

As for downtown parking, it can be difficult, but certainly not the nightmare it is in Lincoln Park. The large parking garage on Maple, north of Church, is a good choice. There are also many metered spaces along the downtown streets, but they are usually filled on weekends. If you do find a metered space, note that you have to feed the meters until 9:00 PM. Also, don't leave your car in a metered space after 2:00 AM or it might be towed. People who frequent Evanston soon realize that it is almost always possible to find parking along the residential streets just outside of the downtown area, within a ten-minute walk of any downtown destination. Some places, such as Pete Miller's, have valet parking. If you are staying at an Evanston hotel, the hotel's parking garage is a good idea, especially if you don't like look for street parking. However, keep in mind that Evanston hotels will charge for parking your car in their garage.

The downtown area of Evanston, which includes most of the restaurants and bars, is generally safe during the day and early evening. However, it is probably best not to walk outside alone after midnight.

Note: the public garage on Benson is closed for construction. Also, there is lot of construction going on in Evanston, which combined with the one-way streets will certainly cause some frustration.

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BARS AND RESTAURANTS

Tommy Nevin's Pub
Type: Bar on one side, full service restaurant on the other
Location: 1450 Sherman Ave., 847-869-0450
On Sherman, a few blocks south of Church and across the street from the Best Western hotel.
This is an Irish bar with wood floors and benches. It also has a restaurant with some decent Irish and American fare. Both the bar and the restaurant have outside seating in warm weather. The bar area has multiple rooms, including one with a couple of large screens that usually show Northwestern football games. People of all ages hang out at Nevin's. I've seen a lot of Evanston business owners here, along with college-age fans from Michigan and Ohio State.

Bar Louie
Type: Bar that also serves food
Location: 1520 Sherman Ave. 847-733-8300
On the corner of Sherman and Grove, half a block north of the Best Western.
This is one of the Bar Louie chain, and as such, there is nothing Evanstonian about it. However, as bars go, it is a perfectly good one. They also have an outdoor seating area in warm weather.


The Keg
Type: Bar that also serves food, student hangout
Location: 810 Grove St. 847-869-9987
On Grove, very close to Sherman and next door to Bar Louie.
This place has seen better days, but it serves well as a bar for students. It has multiple rooms, several of them with TV screens, but it really does NOT have the reputation of being a place to find and interact with the sports watching crowd. On warm evenings during the school year, a large number of legal-age NU students stream into this place. A police car usually sits nearby on weekend evenings, and a person was shot here in June 2005.


The 1800 Club
Type: Bar that also serves food
Location: 1800 Sherman Ave. 847-733-7900
On the north side of the tall office building at the intersection of Sherman and Clark (in other words, a block north of Church).
This is a smallish bar with a nice atmosphere in the evening. Students and grad students show up here late in the evening. Not much goes on before 10:00 PM. The menu features many Thai items, which is unusual for a bar. However, they do have Tater Tots, which in my opinion is a good thing. Not too much sports watching goes on here, but they have a couple of small screens near the bar, and a projection screen that is occasionally used.


Pete Miller's Steak House
Type: Bar on one side, full service restaurant and bar on the other
Location: 1557 Sherman Ave. 847-328-0399
On Sherman, a little north of Grove, about one block north of the Best Western.
This is a high-quality steakhouse with two nice bars, one in the middle of the main dining room and the other in a separate room with pool tables. The restaurant is excellent, although the prices are steep. They usually have a live jazz combo in the evenings. With luck, you can find a seat at the bar in the dining room and enjoy the live music for the cost of a drink.


Bill's Blues Bar
Type: Bar with live music most nights
Location: 1029 Davis St. 847-424-9800
On Davis, three blocks west of Sherman.
This is a real blues bar with live music every evening. They usually have a cover charge of $5 to $10. If you are in Evanston for the night, be sure to walk by and check out who's playing. Some top names in blues show up on the weekends. One Chicago-area artist who appears there roughly once a month is Melvin Taylor. He's a guitarist and in my opinion the heir apparent to Buddy Guy. Note that on weekday nights, the bar sometimes plays non-Blues music.


Rhythm Room
Type: Bar that also serves food, but with a very limited menu
Location: 1715 Maple Ave.
This bar is located in the upper lobby of the Century Theatre on Maple Ave. You go up the escalator, then through the glass doors on the right. Yes, the Evanston movie theatre has a full-service bar featuring live jazz music on the weekends. If you go to the movies, definitely stop by to have a drink before or after the movie. The Rhythm Room has a large screen, but I've never seen them show sports on it (except for a World Series). It is more a place for pleasant cocktails, and it is probably the most unique bar space in the area. The feeling is definitely upscale, with French movie posters, a cocktail pianist, and a nice view of downtown Evanston from the floor-to ceiling windows.


BlueStone
Type: Restaurant with a small bar area
Location: 1932 Central St. 847-424-0420
On Central, about a block west of Green Bay road. It is a ten-minute walk from Ryan Field.
This is a small restaurant with a few flat screen TVs that usually show the Northwestern games. Because it is west of Green Bay road, few fans seem to be aware of it. On more than one occasion, I've actually found seating here immediately after a home game.


Coaches Café -- CLOSED
Alas, the Coaches Café (formerly Barnett's) is now gone. It joins Yesterday's, Jim's Charbroil, and many other Evanston institutions that are now nothing more than fond memories. Actually, there is a restaurant occupying the same space. It is called the Globe Café in the Hotel Orrington. However, I have not been there.

The Celtic Knot
Type: Bar on one side, full service restaurant on the other
Location: 626 Church St. 847-864-4507
On Church, half block east of Orrington.
This is in the same space that used to be Roxy's. It was started by renegade employees from Tommy Nevin's Pub, so don't be too surprised that the menu is similar. It is much smaller than Tommy Nevin's, and the bar area has very limited seating. On Saturday afternoons it does not aim for the sports watching crowd. During the summer, they served "High Tea" on Saturday and Wednesday, which by the way is kind of fun, especially if you like scones. Of course, any place that serves Irish beer is okay in my book.


Merle's Rib Palace
Type: Bar in the front as you come in, full service restaurant up a few stairs towards the back
Location: 1727 Benson Ave. 847-475-2229
On Benson, half block north of Church.
Land of BBQ in the form of ribs and pulled meat sandwiches. The bar has a Texas theme, and it is one of the more interesting bars in Evanston.


Wolfgang Puck's
Type: Restaurant with a large bar
Location: 1701 Maple Ave. 847-869-9653
On the intersection of Church and Maple, and next door to the new Century movie theatres.
The food is good and it has a nice bar area with ample seating. It may be crowded on weekend evenings, but you can usually get a tall table near the bar, even when the restaurant is full. Wolfgang Puck’s is very active in the Evanston community, hosting Super Bowl parties and other seasonal events. During the basketball season, they host the Cat Chats here.


Prairie Moon:
Type: Bar in the front, full service restaurant in the back
Location: 1502 Sherman Ave. 847-864-8328
On Sherman, one block north of the Best Western (but on the opposite side of the street)
The front room has a bar and some tables, as well as large projection screen. The dining room is in back. They serve mostly American gourmet dishes, and the bar has a good selection of beers. Check your ticket stub because it sometimes has a discount coupon for this restaurant.


Chili's
Type: Chain restaurant with a bar
Location: 1765 Maple Ave. 847-328-9068
On Maple, a half block north of the Century movie theatres (and across the street from the large parking garage).
This is one of the Chili's chain and it seems to have done well in Evanston. The menu is rather diverse, and yes it does include their baby back ribs. The bar area has several small TV screens.


GIO:
Type: Restaurant with a bar
Location: 1631 Chicago Ave. 847-869-3900
On Chicago Avenue, just south of Church.
A classy, but not too expensive, place for Italian food. The bar is mostly for people waiting for seating. No TV screens anywhere, even in the bar.


Dave's Italian Kitchen:
Type: Restaurant
Location: 1635 Chicago Ave. 847-864-6000
On Chicago Avenue, just south of Church.
Homemade pasta with large portions and low prices. This place has been an Evanston favorite for years.


Tapas Barcelona
Type: Restaurant with a bar
Location: 1615 Chicago Ave. 847-866-9900
On Chicago Avenue, halfway between Church and Davis
A Spanish tapas restaurant, which means small portions that are shared by all at the table. It has a bar area, but it is mostly for people waiting for a seat in the dining room. On warm evenings, there is a nice outdoor seating area.



Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop
Type: Restaurant
Location: 825 Church St. 847-733-9030
On Church, just east of Benson.
As you would expect from the name, this establishment serves Cajun food and other Southern specialties. The dining room is small, but the place is fun.


The Pine Yard
Type: Restaurant
Location: 1033 Davis St. 847-475-4940
At the intersection of Davis and Oak, which means it’s about three blocks west of the main downtown.
It may be called the Pine Yard, but they serve Chinese food. There are many Chinese restaurants is Evanston. For some reason, I tend to frequent this one.


Carmen's
Type: Restaurant
Location: 1012 Church St. 847-328-0031
On Church, three blocks west of Sherman.
Carmen's has endured for over twenty years as an Evanston pizzeria. It is a bit smaller now, because they made room for new Brazilian restaurant next door, which I have not yet tried.


Flat Top Grill
Type: Restaurant
Location: 707 Church St. 847-570-0100
On Church, between Sherman and Orrington.
The thing to order here is their amazing custom stir fry. They also have an interesting beer selection.


Las Palmas
Type: Restaurant
Location: 817 University Place 847-328-2555
Near the intersection of Benson and Emerson, which is about two blocks north of Church
This Mexican restaurant has been around for many years. The prices are good and the portions are large. They usually give you free chips and salsa and will refill it as many times as you ask. Of course, they have Margaritas.

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Davis Street Fish Market
Type: Restaurant
Location: 501 Davis St. 847-869-3474
Davis Street, two blocks east of Sherman.
This is the most popular seafood restaurant in Evanston. They have a small bar area, but it is usually used only on weekends by those waiting for a seat in the dining room.


Stained Glass Wine Bistro
Type: Restaurant
Location: 1735 Benson Ave. 847-864-8600
On Benson, almost a block north of Church.
For those who want something more elegant (and expensive). They offer 32 wines by the glass, and even if the restaurant is filled, you may be able to find a seat at the small bar for a glass of wine.



That Little Mexican Cafe
Type: Restaurant
Location: 1010 Church St. 847-905-1550
On Church, 2 1/2 blocks west of Sherman
This is a more upscale Mexican restaurant (at least compared to Las Palmas), but still not too expensive.


Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
Type: Chain restaurant
Location: 1850 Sherman Ave. 847-328-5400
On Sherman, two blocks north of Church (where Yesterday's used to be)
Those who loved Yesterday's restaurant will probably never forgive the Malnati's chain for opening a restaurant in that space. However, they make an amazing pizza with such high-quality ingredients that I have to forgive them, even if it is a chain restaurant. The dining room is small, and they do a hefty take out business.


BREAKFAST PLACES

Le Peep
Type: Breakfast and lunch
Location: 827 Church St. 847-328-4880
On the corner of Church and Benson. This is one of the most popular places to have breakfast in downtown Evanston.


Clarke's
Type: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Location: 720 Clark St. 847-864-1610
On Clark St., half a block east of Sherman (and slightly west of Burger King)
They usually have seating available even when the other breakfast places are filled. They are also open late most nights.


Walker Brothers Pancake House
Type: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Location: 153 Green Bay Road, Wilmette 847-251-6000
On Green Bay road in Wilmette, about a mile north of Central Street.
Walkers Brothers’ Tiffany-style stained glass windows and amazing breakfast fare are a legend on the North Shore. Although Walker Brothers is now a chain, the original restaurant maintains its unique atmosphere. The real specialty here is breakfast foods, especially the huge baked apple pancake and the Belgian waffles a la mode. On many mornings, there is long line waiting for tables. When I was student, a long night of partying usually ended with going out for breakfast at Walker Brothers.


Vive Le Crepe
Type: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Location: 1565 Sherman Ave. 847-570-0600
On Sherman, half a block south of Davis.
For those who are fond of crepes, a restaurant dedicated to this food type.




OTHER STUFF

Hecky's BQ
Type: carry-out barbecue
Location: 1902 Green Bay Road 847-492-1182
On the corner of Emerson and Green Bay Road.
Everyone around here knows their motto: "It's the sauce." They specialize in carry-out ribs, chicken and other BBQ items, plus some of the best cornbread ever made. They are most certainly an Evanston institution.


Mustard's Last Stand
Type: hot dog and burger joint
Location: 1613 Central St. 847-864-2700
On Central, just west of the stadium.
This hot dog/burger joint is a legend in Wildcat athletics. Over the years, virtually all NU players have eaten here. In the old days, when you were allowed to exit the stadium and get back in by showing your ticket, some people used to come here at halftime. Even today, you can usually find a crowd of people here before the game. Sometimes they have live music playing in the outside seating area. While I like Mustard's Last Stand, I have to admit that they just can't handle a large number of people. If the line is long, you may wait can seem like forever. This place is also an Evanston institution.


Gigio's
Type: Carry-out pizzeria
Location: 1001 Davis St. 847-328-0990
Davis, two blocks west of Sherman.
Thin crust pizza by the slice and grill items. Ask for the "super sausage" sandwich, which is made out of a large flat slab of the same sausage they use for pizza and covered with melted cheese, or the "super combo" sandwich which is similar but also has Italian beef. They have tacos that simply drip with grease (quite wonderful actually).


Pita Pete's
Type: Chain custom pita place
Location: 1571 Sherman 847-905-1455
On Sherman, a little south of Davis
Here you pick and choose what meats, veggies, and sauces you want on your pita. The meats are grilled, and the resulting pita-wraps are quite large and filling.


Potbelly's Sandwich Works
Type: Chain sandwich place
Location: 630 Davis St. 847-328-1800
The address says Davis Street, but they actually face Sherman, just south of Davis.
Although they are quite numerous in the midwest, people from outside the area may be unfamiliar with this chain. They offer hot sandwiches and real milk shakes. I mention them because they are open until 11:00 PM each night. They offer good milk shakes, too.

Cold Stone Creamery
Type: High quality ice cream
Location: 1609 Sherman Ave.
On Sherman, half a block south of Church
They specialize in high quality ice cream, including the ability to have numerous toppings mixed in with the ice cream. If you don’t mind blowing four bucks on a scoop of ice cream, this is your place!


Marble Slab Creamery
Type: High quality ice cream
Location: 940 Church St. 847-328-7330
On Church, 1 1/2 blocks west of Sherman
They specialize in high quality ice cream, including the ability to have numerous toppings mixed in with the ice cream. Its prices are comparable to Cold Stone Creamery.


Gary Poppins
Type: Caramel corn and kettle corn
Location: 1739 Sherman Ave. 847-733-1300
On the east side of Sherman, between Church and Clark.
This place makes gourmet popcorn of all types. You can buy a small bag to munch on while walking around Evanston, or a large can to share.


The Italian Coffee Bar
Type: Coffee place
Location: 1549 Sherman Ave. 847-328-7164
The corner of Sherman and Grove, diagonally across from Bar Louie
Evanston has many coffee places, but this is the only one that I have first-hand knowledge of. They have intensely strong caffeine beverages here.


HOTELS
Over the years, my company has put up guests in all of the hotels in Evanston. My experience is that all of them do at least a serviceable job, and they all cater to business travelers. Note that I have not yet talked with anyone who has stayed at the Hotel Orrington since its remodeling in 2004.

Prices can vary greatly depending on what events are going on in Evanston. Around graduation time, getting a room can be almost impossible. For most of the year, expect to pay $100 to $150 per night, although you may find something cheaper at the Margarita European Inn (see below).


HOTELS IN DOWNTOWN EVANSTON

Best Western University Plaza
Location: 1501 Sherman 847-491-6400
The Best Western (formerly a Holiday Inn), is on the corner of Sherman and Lake. It is across the street from Tommy Nevin's Pub. The stadium shuttle (well, actually a school bus) stops right at the front door. The glowing Best Western sign at the top of this 12-story structure is nice landmark for finding your way around.


Hotel Orrington
Location: 1710 Orrington Ave., 847-866-8700
The Hotel Orrington (formerly the Omni Orrington) is located on Orrington, between Clark and Church. It was completed revamped last year and is now a very upscale hotel. This is probably the highest-priced hotel in Evanston. The Coaches Café, which used to be located in this hotel, is no more. It has been converted into the Globe Café. The food there is okay, but the Wildcat sports theme is gone. The main restaurant, Narra, is a European style steakhouse and on the expensive side.


Hilton Garden Inn
Location: 1818 Maple Ave. 847-475-6400
The Hilton Garden Inn is located on the corner of Maple and University Place. It is very close to the Century movie theaters and the large public parking garage. This hotel is only five years old.


Margarita European Inn
Location: 1566 Oak Ave. 847-869-2273
The Margarita European Inn is located on Oak, between Davis and Grove. Think of it as something halfway between a hotel and a bed-and-breakfast. They often have rooms when everything else in downtown Evanston is sold out. It's in a vintage building, and it has "European charm," which means that some rooms (the cheaper ones) share are dormitory style (i.e. no private bath). Also, I’m not sure if any of the rooms have air conditioning. The Va Pensiero restaurant on the ground floor is very good, if you can afford it.

[UNHWILDCATS05]

OUTSIDE OF EVANSTON

Away from Evanston, many hotels can be found in the nearby communities of Skokie, Lincolnwood, and Chicago. Keep in mind that the Chicago metropolitan area is huge, and it can take a long time to get from downtown Chicago to Evanston. Hotels in Glenview, Northbrook, and Wheeling can also be used, but allow 30 minutes or more for the drive to Evanston.

The following list is far from comprehensive, but it at least will provide you with some possibilities.

North Shore Skokie Hotel
Location: 9599 Skokie Blvd., Skokie 847-679-7000
This hotel is in Skokie on the corner of Golf road and Skokie Blvd. Until recently, it was a Doubletree hotel, and before that a Hilton. It is in a great location for those who love to shop. On the opposite corner is Old Orchard shopping center (now officially called Westfield Shoppingtown at Old Orchard). Also, the North Shore Performing Arts center is next door, so you might be able to combine a football game with a concert or a theatre performance. It is about a 10-minute drive to the stadium, but allow more time if arriving within an hour of kickoff.


Purple Hotel in Lincolnwood
Location: 4500 W. Touhy, Lincolnwood 847-677-1234
The Purple Hotel is located in Lincolnwood, near the intersection of Lincoln and Touhy. It is about a 15-minute drive to the stadium, but allow more time if you are arriving within an hour of kickoff. Rates and availability tend to be better than the Evanston hotels.


Hampton Inn & Suites in Skokie
Location: 5201 Old Orchard Road, Skokie 847-583-1111
The Hampton Inn & Suites Skokie is on Old Orchard road right at the Edens Expressway. It is within a 10-minute walk of Old Orchard shopping center, and it has a Ruby Tuesday restaurant next door. You can expect a 10-minute drive to the stadium, but allow more time if you arriving within an hour of kickoff.


GAME DAY STUFF
When visiting the stadium, be sure to walk through the tailgating areas (either east or west sides) and chat with the Northwestern fans. Also, they sometimes have live music playing outside of Mustard's Last Stand.

In addition to the tailgating, you should visit an area north of the stadium called Wildcat Alley. They usually have free beer there, courtesy of Goose Island Brewery. Each adult can get two drink tickets just for the asking. It opens two hours before kick-off. It's just north of the big building (Welsh-Ryan Arena, AKA McGaw Hall) that is immediately north of the stadium. The marching band plays a concert in Wildcat Alley approximately one hour before kick-off. Usually some kid-type activities and games can be found here. Don't let the beer fool you, Wildcat Alley is a family-friendly place. Beer is served in a roped-off area. Once you have your beer, you are free to carry it into the rest of Wildcat Alley, you just can't carry it outside of Wildcat Alley. No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the stadium. If you need a restroom, head into the lobby of Welsh Ryan. It is much better than the portable units near Wildcat Alley.

Enter the stadium and find your seat about 20 minutes before kickoff. If you are sitting in the areas designated for visiting fans, allow plenty of time to get to your seat. With the higher level of security, very long lines can form at some of the entry gates. If you see a long line at your gate, try a different gate. As long you use a gate on the same side of the stadium, you will probably be able to access your seat from any gate (although this is not true for seating in the Northwestern student section -- NU students have to use the designated gate).

The Northwestern band will take the field about 15 minutes before kickoff. They line up in the south end zone and march onto the field. Then they pause as the drum majors are introduced. At this point, the three drum majors will bend over backward so that the tops of their hats touch the ground behind them. Also, check out the Wildcat statue in the south end zone. Next, the band will play the fight song and march to the north end zone to welcome the team onto the field. As everyone is waiting for the team, the large video screen will show an animation of the Wildcat statue running down the field. At some point, a miniature UPS truck will drive onto the field to deliver the game ball. Willie the Wildcat has to sign for it.

The locker room for the visiting team is in the south tower of the stadium. There is a doorway in the base of the south tower through which the visiting players will pass as they enter and exit the field. The passageway allowing fans to walk from the south endzone to the west stands intersects the path the visiting players use, so both players and civilians share the same passageway. If you want to see the visiting team up close, go there near the end of the halftime break, just before the players return to the field. Security people are usually in this area, just ask them where you can stand to see the players as the come out.

As some point during the game, usually at the start of the second quarter, they open up Touchdown Terrace. This is the low building immediately north of the north endzone. The Terrace is actually the rooftop of this building. It offers a good view of the field and they usually have some food vendors present there.

When the game is over, you can walk back to the campus lots or to the downtown area. I do not recommend taking the shuttles, because too many people will be trying to use them at the same time

After the game, check out the clock tower in downtown Evanston, across the street from Burger King. When it gets dark, the face of the clock will glow either white or purple. It glows purple after a Northwestern victory. It's white after a loss. It stays that color until the next game.

[UNH SUPERFAN]

THANKS FOR THE INFO, WE WILL BE GOING OUT ALSO.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

05, thanks for so much detailed information!!! :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

I've already been out on the CTA/Metra web site doing research deciding where to stay at a reasonably priced hotel with easy access to public transportation. Looked like you'd have to be patient with the weekend train schedule, but that's what good neighborhood pubs are for, right? :nod: xlolx xlolx

I'm sure UNH will offer tickets so that our fans will be together. And I'll be amazed if the Alumni Association doesn't plan some sort of gathering like they did at Rutgers two years ago. Not sure how significant the alumni population is around Chicago, but I'm guessing there are a fair number in the vicinity just because of Chicago's size and importance. Plus, Milwaukee isn't that far away.

As the summer progresses, if we don't see the Alumni Association planning anything, we should start to make our own plans to get together via this forum's PM vehicle.

[UNHWILDCATS05]

ya, I definately agree...

[Granite]

Good stuff. I doubt I'll make it to Northwestern this year. I'm going to go to Dartmouth and try to make the Delaware game (in addition to the home dates), but Chicago probably won't be in the plans, unfortunately.

Too bad, really, because I think it would make a really interesting road trip.

[MR. CHICKEN]

NEW HAMPSHIRE FANS...WON'T EVEN TRAVEL TA...DURHAM...:eek:....BRAWK!

[henfan]

This UNH alum will probably be at the Northwestern game:

http://www.nuvo.net/blog/jsilverstein/archives/Azumah.jpg
:bow: :bow: :bow: