Intersection section. addison and sheffield



words by nicholas zieglerThe list of sacred spots in the world is growing increasingly secular. No longer do we discuss the hallowed grounds of the Church, but instead we venerate places that reek constantly of urine – sports arenas. Naturally, sixosix had to see what's going on at one of Chicago 's most socially visible intersections: Sheffield and Addision.

Interesting side fact: The area of “Wrigleyville” doesn't exist. To the City of Chicago , it's simply “Lakeview.” It's important to know that, because when participating in illegal or idiotic activity , since the neighborhood doesn't exist, it's like nothing happened. Remember that.


01. Fighting and Hi-Tops, or an inseparable pair: 4.3

I have memories of Hi-Tops. Unfortunately, most of them are or were illegal, so let's just say I haven't been to Hi-Tops in years and leave it at that. The place makes one of the bolder statements I've heard in a sports bar's marketing campaign, namely, that it's “the best sports bar in the free world, showing every sporting event there is.”

From their statement, we can deduce two things: One, that somewhere in the non-free world, there's a better sports bar – Hey! I don't want to go to Wrigleyville. My buddy was telling me about this great place in North Korea – and two, that I could catch the England-India cricket final on a Sunday afternoon, or have a drink after work and see the highlights in the world of dressage. There's nothing finer than watching an evening spent with a cold one, witnessing highly trained riders guide their steeds through a complex series of maneuvers.

So upon seeing this modern wonderland, I wanted to give it the benefit of the journalistic doubt. I was going to give this Mecca for the sporting set a fighting chance, but my path was blocked by no less than seven (7!) police cars. Apparently there had been a fight of some sort involving at least three, but possibly all, items on the following list:

•  the statement “What did you say to me?”
•  at least one participant who didn't have control of basic motor functions, such as the ability to stand upright
•  a girlfriend who was told to “stay out of this”
•  a sucker punch when the other person wasn't looking
•  beer

Based on hazy past recollections and the fact that I couldn't get within 30 feet of the entrance due to the heavy police presence, I knew that was all the information I needed on Hi-Tops right there.


02. Quickie marts that sell malt liquor, or a new definition of ‘convenient’: 8.5

The 7-11 store just across from Wrigley Field should not a have a parking lot. It does enough business during baseball season to finance revolutions, but you simply can't get your car in or out of lot during a Cubs home game. Hence the lot outside is always empty, lending a perfect location for what the British call “ hooliganism .” And as we all know, hooliganism usually stems from the drinking of 40s.

It's tough to find a good 40 these days. You're usually stuck searching liquor and convenient stores, uttering things like “Boy, I have enough Cristal to host a hip-hop record launch,” or “I'd love to have a nip of 18-year Macallan in the study this evening,” but the fact remains that you still can't find a damn 40 of Old English malt liquor. All you wanted was to mourn the passing of your homies and drink out of a bag, but 40s have become a tricky species that can be hard to locate.

That's where this highly convenient 7-11 steps up to the plate – like your friend who lets your borrow his car to get out of the state, avoiding the arrest warrant you most likely deserve – and gives the post-game rabble-rouser alcoholic hydration while nicely hiding it from the police across the street outside Hi-Tops in a magical concealing device called a paper bag.

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