quote:

Originally posted by Yossarian:
On Saturday, Mrs Yoss and I gave Vittorio's a try for the first time-good food, great service. Since the bar there allows smoking, we went to the Tap House for a few cocktails. It was around 7:00 p.m. and pretty crowded, especially the bar. One reason we couldn't sit in the bar area was that there were three kids, ages around 6-10 playing their Gameboys sitting AT the bar. Several people have informed me that since they were under 21, this is illegal. The owners of the Tap House might want to get their people up to speed on this fact.

i agree that kids should not be sitting at bars or enter saloons, etc. taking this a bit further: since i've had kids, i've felt that most sports arenas have become very saloon-like. i don't know about you folks, but it was tough taking my sons to pro sporting events when they were younger because the crowd was drinking heavily and, mostly, just partying -- making it kind of frightening for my young kids. we had a few really nasty drunken fights in our areas while at bears games and sox/cubs games. subsequently, my kids, who are in their late teens, still don't like going to most sports arenas.

being that it's illegal for kids to enter taverns, etc., i always thought the law (and the sports team owners) were turing a blind eye to this tavern-like atmosphere in the sports arenas. they're also negatively impacting future customers.

I was at the Bulls preseason game on Friday and I thought the atmosphere was very family friendly. I think the cost of the tickets and beer ($6.75)keeps the crowd pretty well behaved. We had a family of four sitting a few seats down and they looked like they were having a great time. Hockey games at the UC have always been pleasant affairs, except for the product on the ice.

I think baseball and football games are a different beast and does seem to attract some obnoxious idiots.

quote:

Originally posted by Yossarian:
I was at the Bulls preseason game on Friday and I thought the atmosphere was very family friendly. I think the cost of the tickets and beer ($6.75)keeps the crowd pretty well behaved. We had a family of four sitting a few seats down and they looked like they were having a great time. Hockey games at the UC have always been pleasant affairs, except for the product on the ice.

I think baseball and football games are a different beast and does seem to attract some obnoxious idiots.

I'm glad someone pointed this out. When I was a kid, I remember my Dad telling me that he would not subject me to Soldier Field crowds...and to a certain extent, Comiskey Park crowds. Now that I have my own children, I wouldn't even think of bringing them to a game at the Cell or Soldier Field. In fact, I wouldn't even think of bringing my wife. At any given game, about 20% of the stadiums are filled with the most vile, despicable individuals in the Chicagoland area. It takes a whole lot for me to bat my eye at any comment - but when going to these games, I am constantly amazed at what people say in public.

Notwithstanding my feelings about this as they apply to my wife and kids, I could care less if I go to another Sox or Bears game in my life.

At a risk of sounding like a snob, it's just not my crowd.

quote:

Notwithstanding my feelings about this as they apply to my wife and kids, I could care less if I go to another Sox or Bears game in my life.

Could not care less...you rube.

couldn't agree w/ yoss and jrp more. it's primarily the baseball and football games that have scared my kids away by ignoring the tavern environment they promote. don't get me wrong, i think folks should be able to enjoy themselves at the game, but i'm not exactly sure when it became a patron's "right" to over-indulge at a sports event.

actually, i think it probably began around 1970 when Bud and football really shook hands on some big-dollar marketing contracts.

quote:

i think folks should be able to enjoy themselves at the game, but i'm not exactly sure when it became a patron's "right" to over-indulge at a sports event.

I've never understood the whole thing about getting ****faced at a sporting event. When I watch an event, I like to get into the game and watch the nuances. Hester's punt return yesterday being a great example. I still recall clearly him catching the ball over his shoulder, turning, sizing up the coverage, then taking off. It is one of those things people will talk about for years. Yet, I'll bet you half of crowd at Soldier Field were too drunk to remember the play. They'll be like Chris Farley in those skits-Remember when Hester ran back that punt 89 yards? (Pause) That was cool. Ask them to describe the play and they couldn't do it to save their life.

the last bears game a son of mine attended was when he was about eight. during the second quarter a guy about 35 years old two, sitting rows in front of us laid and broke the nose of a tiny 75-year-old man. lots of blood, cursing and mayhem ensued. the kind of stuff you see in otto's on a busy saturday night. the same stuff you wouldn't subject your child to.

it's the tailgaiting that's killing it for the football games.

quote:

Originally posted by t.a. superette:
it's the tailgaiting that's killing it for the football games.

That's where I disagree. The tailgate is the best part. I would prefer to tailgate all morning/afternoon and then sit in the parking lot and watch the game on TV.

quote:

Originally posted by Yossarian:

quote:

i think folks should be able to enjoy themselves at the game, but i'm not exactly sure when it became a patron's "right" to over-indulge at a sports event.

I've never understood the whole thing about getting ****faced at a sporting event. When I watch an event, I like to get into the game and watch the nuances. Hester's punt return yesterday being a great example. I still recall clearly him catching the ball over his shoulder, turning, sizing up the coverage, then taking off. It is one of those things people will talk about for years. Yet, I'll bet you half of crowd at Soldier Field were too drunk to remember the play. They'll be like Chris Farley in those skits-Remember when Hester ran back that punt 89 yards? (Pause) That was cool. Ask them to describe the play and they couldn't do it to save their life.

You do know Chris Farley is alive don't you?

ROTFLOL that it brought a few associates into my office to see what was so funny.

quote:

Originally posted by JRPotts:

That's where I disagree. The tailgate is the best part. I would prefer to tailgate all morning/afternoon and then sit in the parking lot and watch the game on TV.

right, not the tailgaiting per se. i meant the binge drinking tailgaiters who enter the stadium.

Wow, Fish! That is amazing! Where did you get that picture...poor kid.

Holy reincarnation, that kid is a dead ringer for CF.

I wonder if there is a David Spade like kid looking to sponge off her accomplishments?

Has anyone been at THG for dinner when it wasn't wall-to-wall kids? I tried on Saturday at 6:15 (big mistake, I know) and suggested to my wife that we try Chucky Cheese instead where there would probably be a lower kid/adult ratio. We stayed, had barbecued pork sandwiches (not good - should have tried the fish tacos per BB recommendation) and tried to shout above the noise in the middle room. The service, however, was excellent. Our waitress was both fun and efficient.

I went to THG on Friday night with a neighbor and we were greeted at the door by a foul smelling odor. No kidding, the place smelled worse than a 10 day old diaper. I was thinking maybe they had a backed-up sewer or soemthing. Needless to say we walked out, it was that bad.

When we were there a week or so ago (the night of the last Cubs' game), my husband also commented on the accoustics in the middle room. The walls are completely bare - no pictures, clocks, prints, nada - which only makes the echoing much worse. Hopefully they'll add something to the walls that can help absorb the sound.

As far as the plethora of kids, yeah, I did notice a few in the bar area which didn't seem right. What I really hated, though - and THG isn't the only place that does this - is that the hostess walked my husband and me past lots of empty tables or tables near quiet adults, and tried to seat us right next to a table full of screaming kids. I politely requested to be seated elsewhere and my request was immediately granted. I think it should be a rule that two adults out on a Saturday night, sans kids, should automatically be granted access to a "kids free" space.

I know that families have to have a place to go to eat, and if THG becomes the "family" place in GE, along with Barones and Glen Oak, that's cool. I may choose to go elsewhere, though, now that I'm becoming a cranky old lady. Especially since the sound seems to be such a problem in that space.

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I think it should be a rule that two adults out on a Saturday night, sans kids, should automatically be granted access to a "kids free" space.

Couldn't agree more and that's what I thought the bar area was. The THG is running into a problem Firkin's had-no waiting area. Families waiting for a table congregate in the bar to the point of it becoming claustrophobic in there. Others walk in, see the crowd and promptly turn around and go elsewhere. I don't have an answer to the problem, but if it were my restaurant, I'd find a better way to manage the peaks. As Scribbler points out, it would seem common sense not to seat a couple next to a table full of kids, but here we were on Saturday, six feet away from a screaming kid.

Hmmmm, going to the new place in town (along with the other multitudes) on a Saturday night......ya think it might be busy? So, Yoss, were you seated next to the screaming kids (the parents should do something about that, in a place where others are trying to enjoy their meal)because the host/hostess didn't think anything of it, or because of limited seating options?
The whole layout of the restuarant is not the best - that's why a lot of people think/thought, that only the front room was the whole thing. Tearing down walls would open the place up, but being an older building, it also might bring the place down.

quote:

Originally posted by TheMoon:

The whole layout of the restuarant is not the best - that's why a lot of people think/thought, that only the front room was the whole thing. Tearing down walls would open the place up, but being an older building, it also might bring the place down.

I thought that years back about SweetWater. Walked out cause it looked packed! And this was lunch time. Then took a gander with Firkin & Fox and was stunned how big/long it is.

quote:

Originally posted by lupechennel:

quote:

Originally posted by TheMoon:

The whole layout of the restuarant is not the best - that's why a lot of people think/thought, that only the front room was the whole thing. Tearing down walls would open the place up, but being an older building, it also might bring the place down.

I thought that years back about SweetWater. Walked out cause it looked packed! And this was lunch time. Then took a gander with Firkin & Fox and was stunned how big/long it is.

Everyone, just......leave.....it......alone.