After fiddling around for what seemed like an eternity waiting for and trying to find the photos that I had paid to have taken with some celebrities of the Wizard World Comic Con on Saturday, August 13, 2011, my friend Jason and I were finally ready to get moving to the next event for the evening. Jason whilst making a trip to the car to charge his phone, had discovered that it was now raining – which put a bit of a damp damper on this event – an evening at U.S. Cellular Field to watch the White Sox play the Kansas City Royals.
We left the show at 6:30pm and the game had been scheduled to start at 6:10pm. As well, you might be surprised to learn that there is traffic in Chicago. So we slowly crawled our way across the city to get to the ball park. Thinking that the game might be almost over by the time we got there, we did luck out with a premium (and almost free) parking spot on the street. It was 7:30 as we entered the gates.
Outside U.S. Cellular Field – my 14th Major League ballpark visit
Taking a rest before entering the ballpark, until I was attacked by a man with a bat
Jason and I grabbed our hot dogs on the way in, worked our way to the nosebleed seats, and plopped down, hungry and disheveled. I took a cursory glance at the scoreboard and noted that the game was only in the top of FIRST inning. The game had been delayed due to the rain. The hot dog tasted even better after finding this out.
A swell hotdog – grilled onions and mustard aplenty
Diamonds are a boy’s best friend
Jason made quick friends with the high school girls seated next to us, and they relished the opportunity to be part of our pictures. But on the other side of the spectrum, some dipbag dad that was seated behind us delighted in explaining everything under the sun to his two annoying children Alaister and Eleanor to point that I almost threw them all over the deck railing. Eventually they took off.
The high schoolers invade our photo…
…which serves as Jason’s inspiration for this photo
Alaister attacks the most annoying father in the world
Jason’s camera provides a panoramic overview of the park and my face
The game itself was quite good, but since it was running so late, it was putting us in danger of missing our restaurant plans for the evening, so we left after the seventh inning stretch. At that time, the White Sox were losing 4-3, despite home runs from Paul Konerko and Tyler Flowers. However, as we were walking out, we could hear the cheer of the crowds, which was a result of the Sox scoring two more runs. They ended up winning 5-4. As we made our way back to our car (and prime spot), we saw a great real-life Chicago police chase. The fact that they were chasing a man who had socked a lady at the game and who was on foot, didn’t diminish the excitement.
Home run!
But I must say that it was worth missing the winning runs to enjoy the pizza from Vito & Nick’s Pizzeria. Naturally, this place had been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in the episode Something from Everywhere. The big surprise was that this place didn’t specialize in the typical deep dish Chicago pizza, but in thin crust pizza with various unusual toppings. Jason and I got a round of garlic bread that melted in our mouths, and then split the Italian Beef Pizza, which was superb. The pizza joint wasn’t too far from our lodging for the night at the Chicago Midway Airport Hotel.
DD&D #18: Vito & Nick’s Pizzeria in Chicago, Illinois
The Italian Beef Pizza
I loved the ambiance of the establishment, which reminded me of a 1970’s Eagles club
Ready to eat, drink, and be merry
I had a new item to add to our agenda for the day on Sunday, August 14. But first we had more food on our minds. Our morning wasn’t too terribly rushed before we headed out to breakfast at Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe. I didn’t have much information about this BBQ joint beforehand other than that it was a DD&D spot featured on the episode Global Comfort, so we just went with what looked good for breakfast. And I wasn’t disappointed in any way. I had a Huevos al Frontera, which is Mexican Eggs Benedict served with sopes filled with refried black beans, poached eggs, poblano cram sauce, crumbled chorizo, and diced tomatoes. As if we needed dessert, we ordered the cheese crepes.
DD&D #19: Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe in Burbank, Illinois
Huevos al Frontera – which means “green but good” or something
Breakfast of champions. But we ate it anyway.
So the original plan was to eat breakfast, then either go back to the room or find something to do until we were ready for another round of DD&D for lunch. But lunch was not in the cards that day for several reasons. First of all, I had found something else to do. Secondly, Jason was hoping to visit one of his friends. And third and most importantly, we were both too stuffed to consume even a wafer thin mint.
The thing I had found to do was attend the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention being held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare . Unbeknownst to me until some of the fans at the Comic Con told me, this event was going on right across the street from the Comic Con. There weren’t anywhere near the number of celebrities, but there were a half-dozen that I wanted to see. Also, in contrast to the intense crowds and harrowing stress of the Comic Con, this one was very calm and subdued. Check out the trail of celebs from this show here.
We arrived right when they opened at 11am, so I was able to zip through five of the six celebrities there in no time flat. The only celebrity present whom I had met in the past was Sid Haig. We also enjoyed checking out the dealers, displays, and some of the interesting attendees. The sixth celebrity proved to be problematic. I think one of the reasons the main room was so calm was because a tremendous line had formed to meet Robert England of Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Krueger fame. By the time I meandered over there, they had cut off the line and told us to return at 1:30. Then the time changed to 2:30. Since I already had autographs of Robert England, and the opportunity for a photo-op was iffy at best, I decided not to wait. Jason ran into one of his old friends from Dayton named Joel Robinson, who was now a successful artists that frequented shows of this nature (and in fact had been a guest at the last Chiller I attended). They had fun catching up for a bit before we left.
Booth at the Horror Convention for Troma Entertainment, the name Troma having become synonymous for low-budget schlock. I’m sure this DVD of “Buttcrack” is an exception though.
In case you’re wondering what they sell at Horror conventions…
Creature Productions was grabbing convention attendees to put their picture on their Facebook. I snatched mine from there.
In honor of the Walking Dead guests, the convention created this great photo op
We took off and headed to visit with Jason’s friend Matt and his two twin baby daughters Addison and Julia. After an hour or so, we began our trek home. Jason volunteered to drive and I had absolutely no qualms about handing the wheel over to him. Especially when we got into a ridiculous traffic jam which put me in mind of – but wasn’t quite as bad as – the one that Denise and I had gotten into last Fall.
Matt and the ultra shy twins
Jason’s unusual departing pose
The jam did almost ruin our chances to eat at the last DD&D spot of the day. As we arrived at the Steer-In in Indianapolis, it was obvious that they were getting ready to close. Putting the other chairs on top of the tables wasn’t subtle either. But still Jason and I persevered and had what may have been the best Italian Meatball sub sandwich of all time. This was one of the signature items that had gotten it featured on the episode Soup and Sandwiches.
DD&D #20: Steer-In in Indianapolis, Indiana
Italian Meatball Sub and fries. Good stuff.
Our final meal of the road trip. Jason would begin his weight loss regimen upon return.
We finished our trek home and got back to my place around 10pm. Jason came in for a bit, while I uploaded the pictures that he had taken, some of which I desperately needed since my camera battery had died Saturday night. Yeah, shut up…I forgot my charger once again. It had been a really lucrative and fun trip and Jason proved to be a great travel partner.
2011 will continue…
Follow the trail of celebs from the Flashback Weekend show here…
I think its hilarious that if you scroll down and look at these pictures really fast, I get fatter.
Jason
October 17th, 2011