Help for an out-of-towner

[dripps29]

Hey everybody. I'm a Philadelphia native and a Phillies fan and I'm making a midwest trek with some pals in early August to catch the Phils in Wrigley and then heading up to Miller Park. I was in Milwaukee back in '98 when the Phils played there (Curt Schilling vs. Steve Woodard...that WAS a while ago) so I'm a little familiar with the city but I wanted some suggestions and needed some info, and I figured who better to ask than the locals? So here we go with the questions:

 

Where's a good place to stay that's reasonably priced and close to some bars/nightlife? Last time I was there I stayed at a Ramada that was near Water St. Are there other parts of town that are better to stay in?

 

I know the ballpark is kind of out in the sticks compared to downtown (like it is in Philadelphia) and it's fairly close to the Miller Brewery, which we'll be visiting. We'll have a car and we plan on tailgating before the game...is there any place fairly close to the ballpark that we can pick up food/beer?

 

If there's anything else you can think of, feel free to suggest things.

 

Thanks for reading.

[homer]

For an out of towner looking for bars, downtown is probably your best option. Other than the Ramada, there is a Holiday Inn, a Residence Inn and a Courtyard Inn downtown. If you want to stay at a nicer place, the Hilton, Hyatt, and Pfister are all nice. There's also an Intercontinental (used to be Wyndham) about a block from Water St.

 

Another couple of neighborhoods in/around downtown other than Water St are Milwaukee St and Cathedral Square (corner of Wells and Jefferson). Both have a little bit of an older crowd (late 20's early 30's) relative to Water St.

[gypcasino]

is there any place fairly close to the ballpark that we can pick up food/beer?

 

Just south of the ballpark-

 

Pick N Save on Miller Park Way.

 

Or, downtown just north of the hotel area=

 

Pick N Save

 

and

 

Metro Market

[SeriesFinale]

I've always really liked Phillies fans but hated Eagles fans...strange, eh?

 

Anyway, have a good time in Milwaukee. It's a relatively quiet little city but there's fun to be found, especially during summer. I was always a fan of the brewery tour cruises from Lakefront Brewery along the Milwaukee River--if you can get one of those in before the game, try to. The tour ends at Rock Bottom Brewery downtown and they'll just let you off there if that's where your hotel is at.

 

Brew City Queen

[burniebrewer]

I've always really liked Phillies fans but hated Eagles fans...strange, eh?

 

So you hate me? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[SeriesFinale]

Sorry buddy

 

I've always heard the apocyrphal stories but it wasn't until attending games at Chicago and Tampa against the Eagles that I really appreciated them

[dripps29]

Thanks for the help, if anyone has anything else to add, feel free. That beer cruise sounds like a good idea.

 

I remember from my last trip that it was a pretty laid back town...I enjoyed it. I was shocked that after the first inning started error, error, walk, passed ball that there weren't any boos until the passed ball!

 

I have to defend my fellow Eagles fans by saying that the ones that make the road trips in mass numbers are usually the alcohol-fueled obnoxious ones. The whole "a few bad apples" argument. We're also just sarcastic and edgy people by nature out here. Also, I'll add that since people assume that if you're an Eagles fan that you are a jerk, they start stuff with you regardless of whether you've said a word. A couple years back I went to a game in Ford Field in Detroit and people gave me crap right away...so I threw it back at them. Then 3 Eagle touchdowns in the first quarter pretty much shut them up.

 

Anyway, I appreciate the suggestions.

[gypcasino]

Thanks for the help, if anyone has anything else to add, feel free.

 

How long will you be in town? I can expand on what Homer suggested if you're looking for nightclub & restaurants suggestions.

[SeriesFinale]

I have to defend my fellow Eagles fans by saying that the ones that make the road trips in mass numbers are usually the alcohol-fueled obnoxious ones.

 

There's this team about 90 miles south of Milwaukee called the "Cubs"...

[PaulRigdon]

visitmilwaukee.org is a helpfull website.

[dripps29]

I'll be in town from Friday afternoon 8/3 until either late Saturday or early Sunday. We're all flying out of Chicago on Sunday, it depends on what my buddies' flight times are.

 

Cub fans come up there and give you crap, huh? That's pretty funny, considering they continually stink. 1908 anyone? New York sends their toxic waste (Met fans) down I-95 9 or 10 times a year when the Mets come to town. I hate those games...even when we win it feels like a loss having to deal with all those scumbags all night.

 

I'm thinking about staying downtown since I didn't get to see that area before...it's about 2 miles from downtown to the stadium, right? Also, what are good seats to get at the park?

[OutoftheBallpark]

Not sure if you're planning on staying in Chicago at all... but if you are... there are some nice hotels close the the stadium. Check out www.outoftheballaprk.com. Go to "Area Map"... then "Stay."

 

In the interest of full disclousure, if you haven't figured it out yet... that's a web site I run. But... it's free. And there are coupons! And plenty of nightlife suggestions.

 

Have fun and enjoy the tailgatingâ?¦ it canâ??t be beat!

[dripps29]

I decided on the Hilton downtown, we'll do the Miller Brewery tour (of course) and a Miller Park tailgate for the Saturday night game on 8/4. Hoping to do some drinking on Water St. postgame and maybe squeeze in a trip to the casino. Looking forward to visiting your town again!

[Barbs4339]

Most places to sit at Miller Park are good seats, but I would get them soon as we are actually selling out a lot of games lately and a Saturday is sure to be close to a sellout.

[patrickgpe]

The downtown hilton is a nice choice, i worked there in college. As far as going out after the game, there are some nice bars around the stadium. Fiesta Garabaldi or any other Bluemound Ave bars (Long Wong's, Haggerty's) will be filled with baseball fans after the game. The water street bars are fun but is mostly filled with college kids. I stopped going to those places after college.

 

www.yellowpages.com/more-...-Garibaldi

[dripps29]

You weren't kidding about the tickets. I called yesterday and had to settle for LF upper deck (section 439 I think). We're up high but the view doesn't look that bad, and for $13, I'll take it. One of the guys on the trip said to hold off on tickets, he thought he had a connection through the Phils' front office on really good seats. I should know better.

 

More help, if I may ask...what's the best lot to park in as far as getting out of the place and back downtown after the game? I don't mind a hike to the stadium if I can get out with relative ease afterwards.

[Barbs4339]

I would say the lot off of Miller Park Way(43rd street). That seems to empty pretty quickly and you have access to the freeway.