Welcome, Theo!: A Tour of Chicago for New Cubs President

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 26, 2011 2:45PM

The cockles of Cubs fans everywhere are still aglow with the arrival of Theo Epstein to the Friendly Confines yesterday. We already think the Epstein Era is off to a good start, since he made no references to billy goats, curses, donned a baseball cap or jersey, referred to his new team as "The Cubbies," and spoke of his intentions to lay the rebuild the Cubs into a perennial contender like his former team in Boston, the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies.

And then Epstein met Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers and the magnitude of Epstein's task became ever more clear. When Epstein isn't being confronted by the mascot's of the Cubs' "lovable loser" history, he's being recognized buying a banana at a Starbucks.

This is what Epstein wants to get away from. In that regard, we've put together a list of places for the new president of baseball operations to visit around town to get a pulse of the city away from Wrigleyville and help lay that "foundation for sustained success" he talked about yesterday.

• A nice Jewish boy like Epstein should try and find a good bagel as soon as possible, so he should print out Kevin Pang's bagel tour of the Chicago area.
• Because Cubs fans are so obsessed with goat, head down to Pilsen and eat some at Birreria Reyes de Ocotlan (1322 W. 18th St.)
• Epstein could visit Wrigleyville watering holes like Sports Corner, Murphy's Bleachers, Cubby Bear and John Barleycorn to speak directly with the fans, but we suspect their hopes and dreams for the team involve beer and helmet nachos. Instead, head to Weiner Circle at 3 a.m. on a Friday night for some real constructive criticism.
• Hit up some local record stores like Reckless, Permanent Records, Jazz Record Mart, Saki and Dusty Groove to update the in-house music choices, make Len Kasper do some offseason work, and get rid of "Go, Cubs, Go" once and for all.
• Hit up Bridgeport, home of the city's last World Series winner (six years ago today, by the way). Contrary to people whose opinions of Bridgeport were formed in the 1950s, there's a surprising number of Cubs fans in the neighborhood who live peacefully in the shadow of The Cell. Epstein can also grab a quart of Ramova Grill chili to go. It's the best in the city.
• Pick a Chicago-style hot dog joint of choice and stick with it. Gene and Jude's in River Grove is a trek from Wrigley Field but worth the trip.