Exiting the El stop at Addison, a quick turn to the right and there is Wrigley Field in its new splendor. Ironwork painted Wrigley Green (Benjamin Moore SC-62), walls a warm cream with Marquee Red (Benjamin Moore SC 61) accents—it’s a delight without even entering the ballpark. On the west (Clark Street) side, formerly a drab pedestrian area, Park at Wrigley offers brick-covered grounds, a bright green area of grass, some seating tucked against the low walls. The north side is lined with bright new restaurants: Starbucks and the two-story BrickHouse Tavern which accommodates 900. Rising behind that is the Cubs headquarters building with a jumbo big screen to keep those in the Park at Wrigley up to date on happenings on the field and in the Park.
Park at Wrigley Continues to Draw During the Off-Season
All this new beauty will not go unused in the off-season and when the Cubs are out of town. Park at Wrigley began Sunday presenting the first of a season of FREE performances called The Line-Up. Other events are ongoing.
Top-notch Classical Musicians
A classical concert was an unusual premier event—after all, this is Wrigley. But somehow, the organizers booked about 20 top-drawer musicians from the Chicago Symphony, Lyric, Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. On three small stages were a woodwind quintet, a string quartet and seven horns. The music was lovely and the afternoon sunny. Giant umbrellas provided a bit of shade.
Thanks to Park at Wrigley
The groups played sequentially. Depending upon where you sat, you might enjoy one ensemble more than another due to the speaker set up. In hindsight, from this writer’s viewpoint, it may have been more effective for the musicians to use one stage, with the audience gathered centrally.
The horns were loud and clear, the strings were bright and melodic. The woodwinds sounded light, both in volume and because of the nature of the music they performed. But who’s complaining about such first-class music in a congenial environment on a beautiful day?
Thank you, Ricketts Family, for enhancing our landmark ball field and for Park at Wrigley!
Where: Park at Wrigley, 3637 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
For more information, visit Park at Wrigley events page.
Ann Boland is committed to Chicago theater. Involved in the audience since the early 80’s, she’s witnessed firsthand the rise of our theater scene, our exceptional local talent, and the vigor of each new generation. Ann handles public relations for authors and works on programs to help seniors with neurological movement disorders.
