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March 2008, Issue 46 | |
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Sheffield's
Beer and Wine Garden |
Raven's |
Silver
Cloud |
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| Is it age that makes some people lose it, or is it too much money? Where comes the moment when silly, rich old men start to make decisions that make us sure they’ve lost it? I’m speaking, of course, of Sam Zell. He’s built his wealth to the point that no amount of stupid thinking is going to affect his ability to live well, and as a result he’s unplugged himself from the petty restraints of common sense. Seriously, the guy is whacked. Change the name of Wrigley Field? Yeah, that worked out real well down at U.S Cellular Field. Look, the White Sox won the World Series and still they can’t persuade people to come to a game at their ungainly, suburban shopping mall. Zell wants to sell the naming rights to Wrigley, and the ball park itself to the State of Illinois. Does he not see the impact that these actions will have on the brand? After all, he is trying to sell the Cubs, too. Since when has a state run anything been a good idea? Meanwhile, the city’s listening while an investor run amok unveils plans for a fifteen story condo hotel on the corner of Addison and Clark. What is going on? Simple, obvious solution? Stick to the existing building codes and tell Herr Investor to stick it, then give the people over at the Wrigley building a call. Get them to step up to the plate and pay for the exposure they’ve been enjoying. Doesn’t seem that tough. The point is, the Cubs are returning to Wrigley Field March 31st, for their home opener against Milwaukee. With the unrest over at the Tribune – Zell’s highly leveraged purchase of the company in jeopardy, the plummeting dollar, a collapsing economy – there’s no guarantee what Wrigley Field is going to look like in a few years. So make every game count. This is next year in many ways. Then stop by Sheffield’s to celebrate, or commiserate, depending on the circumstances. The BBQ is better than ever, we’ll soon have our new line up of spring beers on tap, and there’s even a rumor that Larry Bell’s cautious reentry into the market is going to stick under the new moniker Kalamazoo Brewing. As cynical as the years might make us, spring is always a time for renewed hope; we are Cubs fans after all. We have to be optimistic. For those of you still
in the dark, we’ve completed a renovation of Sheffield’s front
room and there are more upgrades on the way. But unlike a certain real
estate billionaire, the changes will never alter the fundamental spirit
of what Sheffield’s is. Our name’s not the Sheffield’s/Anheuser
Busch Beer Garden. We plan for and look to the future but with our values
firmly rooted in the traditions of the past. It’s a formula that’s
worked for us for the past 28 years. It’s a philosophy that Mr.
Zell might want to consider. |
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Join us at Ravens for Cocktails and Conversation everyday till 4am (5am on Saturdays)! • $3 draft special - all day/everyday. Hope to see you soon!
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March 20th, at 5:48 AM, the sun enters the Vernal Equinox and the promise of Spring returns to the Windy City. It’s largely a symbolic transition, of course; we all know about blizzards in April. But there remains the fact that from that point on, the days get longer, the nights shorter, and summer can’t be far behind. As always, the Silver Cloud is out in front of the crowd. Our sidewalk café, long known as one of the best people watching spots in Bucktown, opens March 1st. There may be times that the chairs and tables will be covered in snow, but there will also be those rare spring days when the temperature soars, the coats and hats come off, and everyone drops everything and heads out doors. We’ll be ready. We’re also celebrating the season by offering $4 pints of Anchor Bock. Bock is a traditional spring beer, and, contrary to popular rumor, has nothing to do with being made from the dregs of the winter’s brewer’s kettles. If you know anything at all about brewing, that doesn’t even make sense. What are the dregs and how would you brew with them? Bocks range from pale to dark in color, and are usually a little higher in alcohol than familiar American lagers (Bud and Miller and their ilk). The name Bock evolved either from the style’s birthplace, in Einbeck, Germany, or is a literal translation of the German word for Goat. I’ve never read a credible explanation for the goat link, so I’m going for the hometown theory. But if someone out there has a better story, let me know. St. Patrick’s Day rolls around on the 17th, with the Northside Parade on the 15th, and we’ll have specials all weekend long. Corned Beef and Cabbage, Rueben Sandwiches, Irish Coffee Bombs and Guinness. It’s not traditional Irish, but it’s traditionally American Irish and, on the day when everyone in Chicago’s wearing the green, that’s what counts. Finally, our daily specials make everyday a holiday. Sunday: 1/2 price bottles of wine. Monday: $5 martinis. Tuesday: $2 sloppy joes and $2 cans. Wednesday: $2 off Kettle one cocktails. Thursday: $6 Meatloaf dinners, the list goes on and on. We’re the
Silver Cloud; if we don’t have something that you like, you’re
just not trying. |
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