Advice for traveling Nits from a PSU and NU alum

by happyvalleytom on Oct 27, 2009 8:54 PM EDT

I did my undergrad at Penn State and my master's at Northwestern. I'm on my way Thursday to Chi-city. Anyone who asks me "Who ya' rooting for?" this weekend is getting shot. If you are also heading to the 312 this weekend, here's what you need to know:

1. There is no Yuengling in Chicago. That nearly inspired me to burn that city to the ground like it was 1871 all over again.

2. Stay the f--- away from Evanston. There is no reason to be in Evanston unless you are at the actual game. Stay in Chicago and get to the game on the El. Evanston is like State College with no bars, no attractive co-eds, no soul.

3. If you must be in Evanston, the one bar (ok, there are actually three bars in Evanston that I know of) that has a pulse is Tommy Nevins. The crowd there on a Friday is like the Cafe 210 on a Tuesday night.

4. Tailgating in Evanston is tough. Your best bet is to hang out in Wrigleyville and stagger to the game on the El. Give yourself about an hour to get to the game.

5. Chicago ain't friendly territory for The PS. In Wrigleyville, the lone Penn State-friendly bar is the Dark Horse on Sheffield.

Finally, tickets will be available. I just bought three of them for $60.

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hey happyvalleytom

I was curious, since you got your undergrad degree at Penn State and master’s at Northwestern, Who ya’ rooting for? … runs like mad

by PSUisMyHeart on Oct 28, 2009 12:07 AM EDT reply actions

I did my undergrad at Penn State and my master’s at Northwestern.

Oh, so you think you’re our Master, huh? Okay, Master, who’s gonna win? More importantly, who you rootin’ for, Master?

by Mr. Rosewater on Oct 28, 2009 2:16 AM EDT reply actions

WHO YA GOT?

by speedomike on Oct 28, 2009 6:03 AM EDT reply actions

If I recall correctly..

and I might not since we were like 10 table toppers deep, but isn’t the PSU bar in Wrigleyville directly across the street from the Michigan bar? There seemed to be a Big Ten area right there, and I remember making ever-increasingly-ludicrous comments throughout the day about the bar across the street.

by Jeff Junstrom on Oct 28, 2009 6:38 AM EDT reply actions

Any of you posters touch my stuff, I’ll kill ya. Any of you posters ask me who I’m rooting for, I’ll kill ya.
Relax, Francis (er, Tom)

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Oct 28, 2009 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

You sound like one of those Flavor of Love girls.

I’LL KILL YOU!

by Jeff Junstrom on Oct 28, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

It's from a classic 80s movie (10 points for the correct answer)

Flavor of Love girls sound hot. Or scary. Or both.

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Oct 28, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions

And my reply was from a classic '00s movie (a rec for the correct answer)

by Jeff Junstrom on Oct 28, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Please...

Your quote is from ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ in the scene at Lazy Joe’s. Now I’m going to compose a musical with Dracula puppets.

by PSUFlyers on Oct 28, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

CORRECT SIR!

You are now the proud owner of a rec. Although it wasn’t a very difficult challenge.

by Jeff Junstrom on Oct 28, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Movie is Stripes

Also, every big 10 team has dozens of bars in Chicago except maybe Minnesota, PSU, and Northwestern. After Cubs season every bar in Wrigleyville associates itself with a team.

Angry Mike

by AngryMike on Oct 28, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions

If you aren't going to the game, go to Flounders

I’m not from Chitown, but every time we have college get togethers there, our PSU buddy takes us to Flounders and we have never had anything less than an awesome time. At least from what I can remember…

by Jeff Junstrom on Oct 28, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

Flounders is meh.

The only thing that makes it great is the multitudes of PSU fans there. However if you are going to the game, Flounders is not close to the Red Line L to Evanston. If you want to drink in the city and leave for the game at the last minute, go to the Darkhorse or another Wrigleyville bar.

Angry Mike

by AngryMike on Oct 28, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

Agree 100% about Flounders...

I feel like its become far worse this year, I know the aforementioned darkhorse in wrigleyville flies a penn state flag, but do more than a handfull of penn staters show up there?

I’m looking for a weekly Flounders alternative… The only positive to the place is being around likeminded people, but often that can be annoying as well.

oh their tater tots are aight

I know a lot more than they know. I'm going to do what I believe is in the kid's best interest. That's what this whole thing is about.-Joe Paterno

by JoePaPa on Oct 28, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Darkhorse

Don’t know how many show up. i think it gets a good crowd for Steeler’s game but I haven’t been for PSU but I hear people talk. Some of us tried to stage a coup against Flounders and get Can’s in Wicker Park but we failed and now Can’s is a Michigan bar. i think the PSU Chicago social chair is a friend of Flounder’s owner. I usually watch at home or with friends at their homes. Although that probably says more about my advancing age than whether or not there is a decent PSU bar out there. Last thought, I never figured out why people don’t go to Dunlay’s in Logan Square. Dunlay is an oline player from the 82 team.

Angry Mike

by AngryMike on Oct 28, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I was in Darkhorse last time I was at a Cub's game

I asked the guy behind the bar why they were a Penn State bar thinking that there must be some connection. He told me that there was not one around so decided to hang a flag outside and see what happens and he has had a loyal Penn State following since.

"Wherever you go, Penn State will go with you. You are now a part of her. Her image will be cast in your image. Your reputation will become her reputation."

by noodlebucket on Oct 29, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

00's movie is Shallow Hal

I will take the rec but it is not nearly a classic on the level of Stripes

Angry Mike

by AngryMike on Oct 28, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

00s movie IS NOT Shallow Hal.

Try again. And try using the reply link under each comment. Sometimes it gets confusing if all replies are new comments in the general FanPost.

by Jeff Junstrom on Oct 28, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Sorry

I was looking at the “Flavor of Love girls SOUND HOT” quote. Don’t know yours

Angry Mike

by AngryMike on Oct 28, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Any reccomendations?

I’ll be flying to ORD from DFW after my son’s playoff game. We’ll be getting to ORD around 1:40. We’d like to take the train.. Any advice on hotels along the route? It would be nice to drop our things off along the way and get to the stadium ASAP. Thanks.

by Pentimental on Oct 28, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

What a coincidence!

I graduated PSU in ‘83 and just got my masters from NW last year! I live in Chicagoland now and can’t tell you how much fun it is to live in the middle of Big 10 country as a proud Penn State fan. Made it to Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan games so far this year, and will be in Evanston tomorrow for the party!

Evanston has some fun college bars as of last Spring – check them out if you have the chance. It’s a pretty small downtown.

Let’s go Lions! Prediction: Lions 41 NW 17

by Pudstudmj on Oct 31, 2009 12:35 AM EDT reply actions