With two Chicago teams as rooted in history as the Cubs and White Sox, there's bound to be a rivalry between the two. Explore this century-old feud by traveling between Wrigleyville and Bridgeport along the Red Line train and learn about the moments and landmarks that have made an impact on our great city!

Media Burn

Crosstown Classic

Chicago baseball fans are traditionally loyal to either the Cubs or White Sox. It’s a classic North Side vs. South Side rivalry that has lasted more than a century. In this tour, follow the tracks across town between Guaranteed Rate Field and Wrigley Field on the CTA's Red Line and learn from Chicago legends Minnie Miñoso and Bill Veeck about the moments and landmarks that have inspired lasting emotions and allegiances.

Visit both ballparks and see some of Media Burn’s favorite videos of Chicago greats, plus a video to keep you company on the Red Line in between. After the tour, visit Media Burn online at mediaburn.org, where you can see dozens of videos preserved in our archive about the history and culture of Chicago in the 20th century, including more footage of Bill Veeck, Minnie Miñoso, and both the Cubs and the White Sox.


red line rivalry

nORTH sIDE VS. South Side

North Side vs. South Side

Wrigley Field and it's ivy-covered walls, an exemplar of a bygone era of ballparks

Wrigley Field is a historical landmark and lasting exemplar of a bygone era of ballparks. This was the last major league park to have lights installed for night games, finally lighting the field in 1988 despite years of resistance from the community. Among the most beloved features of Wrigley are the ivy-covered outfield wall and the hand-operated scoreboard, both of which were brought about by none other than Bill Veeck. 

Though never an owner of the Cubs (Veeck ended his career after two stints as owner of the White Sox), he had grown up as a fan, working odd jobs and learning about team management here in Wrigley where his father, a former newspaper columnist, was president of the team. In 1937, when Bill was in charge of construction, he planted the ivy and created the distinctive scoreboard.

In this unique 1984 video we are offered a tour of the inner workings of the manually operated scoreboard from scoreboard technician “Art Upstairs” and hear Veeck speak with pride of the virtues of the oldest surviving scoreboard. Enjoy the hand-crafted experience of one of the only two manually-operated scoreboards in Major League Baseball. 

ivy strong

Ideal For Sunset

Wrigley Field's bleachers and the world of diehard fans

“The most beautiful thing in the world is a ballpark filled with people. And the second most beautiful thing in the world is a ballpark half full of people.” - Bill Veeck

Bleacher culture at Wrigley Field is a world of diehard fans. For about 90 years, there were no reserved seats in the Wrigley Field bleachers, only general admission day-of-game. Fans would queue outside the stadium for cheap seats with no amenities. 

This video shows Bill Veeck at Wrigley on opening day 1985, a year before he died. We see him in the bleachers where his deep love of the game and the joy of being a fan are inspiring.  At that time, bleacher tickets cost less than $10 (the equivalent of $23 in 2016). This season, Cubs sell bleacher tickets for an average of about $75 each and resellers are getting more than $100. At those prices, obviously, the bleachers are no longer "the people's seats." 

“I have discovered in 20 years of moving around a ballpark that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats.” - Bill Veeck

Here we see Veeck in the bleachers with his wife, Mary Frances, and other friends and family singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Always a man of simple indulgences, we hear Bill declare:  “This is the epitome of pleasure.”

Wrigley Field

The old Ballgame

The Old Ballgame

Mayor Daley, political power and the original "L" train

The Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line trains run north-south through dozens of Chicago's neighborhoods. The original L train lines were built in 1892, making the CTA the third oldest rapid transit system in America, and as the city has expanded and changed, the train system has grown to be the fourth largest in the country.

No expansion came about without a measure of labor and an extended commitment to find funding by Chicago politicos. No figure looms larger in the history of Chicago than Mayor Richard J. Daley. For 21 years, he was the undisputed boss of Chicago, always living in his modest home in Bridgeport less than half a mile from Comiskey.

This video vividly illuminates the lasting power of the first Mayor Daley. Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, interviewed in 1980 when he was the Chairman of Ways and Means Committee, tells the story of how Daley, through a single call to President Lyndon Johnson, was able to divert federal funds intended for the expansion of the Blue Line on the northwest side to a project to expand the Red Line to service his Bridgeport neighborhood on the south side.

“That was Daley, he loved his neighborhood, he loved his community, and he took care of his people.”

the Red Line

For The Love of The Ward

Pushing the boundaries of tradition with home runs & fireworks at the home of the White Sox, from old Comisky Park to Guaranteed Rate Field

As a fan and an owner, Bill Veeck offered a view of baseball which was both romantic and practical. As “Baseball’s greatest maverick,” Veeck was a constant innovator for six decades, always pushing the boundaries of tradition, always bringing a new spectacle into the ballpark. Among them was the world’s first exploding scoreboard. With it Veeck found a way to emphasize and extend the excitement of home runs.

“Home runs, strangely enough, are dull, except for the result...because they happen so fast, it isn’t like a triple with the bases full. It’s boom and it’s gone.” - Bill Veeck

When Comiskey Park was rebuilt in 1991, the new scoreboard was modeled on Veeck’s design, continuing the tradition of home run fireworks. While Veeck spent a lifetime creating entertainment for the fans, he came to regret the way stunts had grown to such excess. Comparing himself to Dr. Frankenstein, he lamented in this 1984 video that spectacle often distracted fans from “the greatest game ever invented” and that people forgot to watch the ballgame.

home runs & fireworks

The Exploding Scoreboard

Meet Minnie Miñoso, "the Cuban comet" and the first Black player on the White Socks

Built in 1910, old Comiskey Park was located here on the south side of Chicago. “The baseball palace of the world” was home to the White Sox for eighty seasons before being torn down in 1991 when the Sox moved into new Comiskey Park, now called Guaranteed Rate Field. 

It was here in 1951 that Minnie Miñoso, the Cuban comet, first came up to bat for the White Sox. Miñoso was the first black player on either Chicago team and in his first at-bat, he hit a homerun. In the parking lot across 35th Street from Guaranteed Rate Field, you will find a marker commemorating the location of home plate at old Comiskey Park.

Watch Miñoso, one of the most popular White Sox players of all time, return to that home plate and relive that moment, looking out where there was once a ballpark.

“I do everything for baseball, I do everything for baseball…I given my life to the game and I think the game give me everything I am.” -Minnie Miñoso

the Cuban comet

Mr. White Sox

The White Sox watering hole where ball players roam free

McCuddy’s tavern opened its door in 1910, just a couple months before the old Comiskey Park opened. For the next 78 years, it remained directly across 35th Street and served as a meeting place before, after, and even between games for some ball players.  

During his years as owner of the White Sox, the legendary Bill Veeck was a regular patron. In this 1984 interview, Frances McCuddy, daughter of the bar’s founders, shares memories of her parents and the days of Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, who would come in for Ma McCuddy’s roast beef on homemade bread, plus a beer or two. McCuddy’s closed in 1988 and was torn down to make room for the new ball park. Many Sox fans will always miss the tavern, the owners, and the way of life it represented. 

“Before and after and when it was a double header, the Babe would run over to have a beer and a roast beef sandwich in his uniform.” - Bill Veeck

Neighborhood taverns are still a part of life in Bridgeport. You can see several quiet and unassuming bars on this residential strip of 33rd Street, two blocks away from 40,000 cheering fans. 

where ball players roam free

McCuddy's

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Plan your spring break family fun in Chicago! Check it out on the Choose Chicago channel on Vamonde.

Plan a family getaway the kids won't soon forget!

Spring Break Family Fun

Explore some of the locations of the Chicago blues scene of the 1960s with this VAMONDE adventure, based on the Chicago History Museum exhibition, "AMPLIFIED: Chicago Blues."

Chicago History Museum

Explore some of the locations of the Chicago blues scene of the 1960s with this VAMONDE adventure, based on the Chicago History Museum exhibition, "AMPLIFIED: Chicago Blues." Southern black migrants brought the blues to Chicago, where the music helped them forge connections and transform an unfamiliar, often inhospitable city into a new home. The music was also transformed—electrified and amplified to compete with urban noise. The photography of Raeburn Flerlage captures the streets, clubs, homes, and studios where a community of musicians defined the Chicago blues sound.

AMPLIFIED: Chicago Blues

From a 20th century resurgence that rivaled the Harlem Renaissance, to spectacular displays of Victorian Era architecture, this South Side neighborhood is responsible for tremendous cultural and social advances that are not to be missed.

The heart and soul of Chicago lies in its 77 vibrant neighborhoods, and going beyond the loop (Chicago’s downtown business district) will give you a much needed escape from the hustle and bustle of the skyscraper district. As part of the Beyond the Loop video series, The Second City and Goose Island Beer Company have teamed up with Choose Chicago to explore the local hotspots in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Discover why Bronzeville is more than just an artsy pocket on the South Side.

Bronzeville and Beyond

"How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?" We've all been there, even if we're not Ferris Bueller. After your mornings stretch, you look outside at the shining sun, soft breeze, and then wonder, "How can anyone expect me to handle work on a day like this?" So take the day off! While you're at it, follow in Ferris Bueller's footsteps too as Choose Chicago takes you through the film locations that made Ferris Bueller's Day Off such a wonderful adventure (but make sure Ed Rooney isn't on your tail).

It’s Ferris Bueller's Day Off! Take a day to explore the city, but don't get caught by the incredulous Principal Rooney! Kick it like a couple of wise-cracking high school kids at The Art Institute of Chicago and peer down from over 100 stories in the air with the Skydeck at Willis Tower. (Cover photo from @thiswashollywood via Instagram)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Chicago’s legendary Second City comedy troupe and Goose Island Beer Company have teamed up with Choose Chicago to create the quintessential Old Town experience. Join us as we explore the historic neighborhood and discover its many claims to fame.

As part of the Beyond the Loop video series, The Second City and Goose Island Beer Company have teamed up with Choose Chicago to create the quintessential Old Town experience. Discover why this neighborhood has been home to immigrant families, gays, hippies and young professionals alike over the years.

Quintessential Old Town

The Second City and Goose Island Beer Company team up with Choose Chicago to how you why even 120 years after the Columbian Exposition, Hyde Park is still a profound point of historical and social importance in Chicago.

The heart and soul of Chicago lies in its 77 vibrant neighborhoods, and going beyond the loop (Chicago’s downtown business district) will give you a much needed escape from the hustle and bustle of the skyscraper district. As part of the Beyond the Loop video series, The Second City and Goose Island Beer Company have teamed up with Choose Chicago to explore the local hotspots in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Join us as we show you why even 120 years after the Columbian Exposition, Hyde Park is still a profound point of historical and social importance in Chicago.

Hyde Park: Obama's Neighborhood

The Budget Savvy Travelers

Temperatures are rising and the days are getting longer. This is a sure sign that schools will soon be out for summer vacation. Families looking for fun, affordable ways to keep kids busy during hot days will appreciate this guide that shares some great ways to cool off around Chicago—most are even free.

Best Places to Cool Off in Chicago

Craving a getaway, but short on vacation time or extra travel funds? Why not consider embarking on a culinary adventure? Chicago is a great city to experience the world through food! There are over 100 different neighborhoods in the city, each with its own unique flavors and traditions to share. Chicago has always celebrated a diverse array of people, cultures, and cuisines. Therefore, it's not surprising that Chicago consistently ranks high in top foodie destinations in the United States. For those of us that can’t book a plane ticket to satisfy our travel “craving,” taking a culinary adventure is truly the next best thing. Chicago offers a great opportunity to be carried away to a dreamy, distant place–if only through our palates alone.

Traveling the World Through Food | Chicago

Haley Guidry

Only have a short time to visit Chicago? No problem! With this guide, you can fit it all in - in just a weekend!

Spending a Weekend in Chicago

Looking for some free activities to explore in Chicago? You'll be surprised to learn that there are many things to do around the city that are absolutely free of charge!

6 Chicago Hidden Gems to Explore For Free

Wrigley Field holds the very identity of the Chicago Cubs. But Wrigley isn’t the only spot that embodies the spirit of the Cubbies. Lakeview is home to so many rich businesses that are full of North side pride!

Lakeview Chamber of Commerce

Wrigleyville isn’t the only haven for fans of the Chicago Cubs. Take an adventure “Beyond Wrigley” into West Lakeview to explore some of the neighborhood icons and local businesses that are full of Cubbies pride!

Beyond Wrigley

Glessner House

Glessner House -

An architectural treasure in Chicago

Glessner House - An architectural treasure in Chicago

Welcome to the Chicago Cultural Center, a landmark home of the arts.

The People's Palace

Chicago Architecture Center

Chicago has long been a laboratory for architectural innovation and experimentation. Let the Chicago Architecture Center lead you through the stories behind some of the city’s most significant skyscrapers. Come on an adventure to unlock the secrets of ten iconic Chicago Buildings.

Cover photo courtesy of Jessica Cabe

10 Iconic Chicago Buildings

Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce

An Adventure through all the Best Spots in the City

Must Visit Attractions in Chicago

Chicago has one of the most iconic skylines in the world. This insider guide shows you the best vantage points to capture a memorable photo of the skyline of Chicago. Best of all? These are all places that you can visit that are all free of charge.

Where to Find Chicago's Best Skyline Views for Free

Start on Chicago's South Side and travel back in time as you explore visit the homes of some of the most influential LGBTQ+ people in the city's vibrant history. Make your way through Washington Park and Woodlawn moving north towards Rogers Park.

Learn about Chicago's vibrant LGBTQ+ history on this cultural excursion through various parts of the City. This tour covers the historic markers and residences of some of Chicago's top LGBTQ+ luminaries. Find out how they left their marks from Washington Park and Woodlawn all the way up north to Rogers Park.

Explore Gay Chicago History: LGBTQ+ Landmarks Tour

Around every corner of The Magnificent Mile lie surprising pieces that make up the rich history of downtown Chicago.

The Magnificent Mile

Around every corner of The Magnificent Mile lie surprising pieces that make up the rich history of downtown Chicago. Unexpected turn-of-the-century ballrooms, lavish chandeliers, stained glass fit for royalty, atlases of the Renaissance, former mansions of America's elite, eclectic bars, iconic burger joints, classic cocktails, and unbeatable views make up our guide to the top hidden gems around the district.

The Magnificent Mile's Hidden Gems

Chicago is a city built of neighborhoods and cultures and Chinatown is the prime example. Just south of Chicago's Loop, Chinatown is bustling with people, traditional cuisine, and of course culture.

Chicago is a city built of neighborhoods and cultures and Chinatown is the prime example. Just south of Chicago's Loop, Chinatown is bustling with people, traditional cuisine, and of course culture. Hop on the Red Line, a bus, or even a water taxi and discover one of Chicago's most unique neighborhoods.

Chicago's Chinatown

This adventure, based on the Chicago History Museum exhibition, "Remembering Dr. King: 1929–1968," invites you to explore some of the locations Dr. King frequented in Chicago.

A Baptist minister and champion of nonviolent activism, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential figures of the civil rights movement. He spent considerable time in Chicago protesting racial discrimination, particularly in housing and education.
This VAMONDE adventure is based on the Chicago History Museum exhibition, "Remembering Dr. King: 1929-1968," and invites you to explore in person some of the locations King frequented in the city and to consider how Dr. King’s work remains relevant today, 50 years after his assassination.

Martin Luther King Jr. in Chicago

Join Julia Bachrach, former Chicago Park District historian, on a journey through Humboldt Park to learn more about the role the 150-year-old park served as key experimental grounds for Jens Jensen's Prairie style of landscape architecture.

Julia Bachrach

Established 150 years ago, Humboldt Park can be thought of as a living landmark with layers of history that reflect contributions by important landscape designers, architects, and artists. The most noteworthy, Danish immigrant Jens Jensen (1860 – 1951), revered the indigenous scenery of the Midwest and created the Prairie style of landscape architecture. Humboldt Park provided important grounds for his process of experimentation. Jensen went on to design estates for prominent businessmen such as Julius Rosenwald, Harold Florsheim, and Henry Ford. Join Julia Bachrach, former Chicago Park District historian and author of "The City in a Garden: A History of Chicago’s Parks," on a journey to learn more about how Humboldt Park served as Jens Jensen’s Experimental Grounds.

Humboldt Park: Jens Jensen’s Experimental Grounds

The Art Institute of Chicago is no stranger to "best museums” list, but beyond Michigan Avenue there are many amazing galleries displaying works from heavy hitters like Keith Haring and Hebru Brantley. Get inspired by these galleries and their collections

Chicago Scene

Chicago is home to countless world renowned cultural institutions. The Art Institute of Chicago is no stranger to "best museums” list, but beyond Michigan Avenue there are many amazing galleries displaying works from heavy hitters like Keith Haring and Hebru Brantley. There’s something for everyone at these galleries, whether you’re simply an appreciator of art or a seasoned collector.

Art Galleries: Beyond The Museum Campus

Not your everyday Chicago adventure, these unique outings go inside, behind-the-scenes, and even underground to show off a different side of the city.

From the lair of a notorious Chicago gangster to the infectious groove of a legendary blues club, this adventure will have you socializing, singing, and exploring the city all day (and night!) long. Personally curated by the Vamonde team (a group of foodies, architecture buffs, music fanatics and bar-hopping explorers) this adventure will provide you with the incredible stories and secrets behind some of Chicago’s notorious and renowned spots. Did we mention gingerbread cookies at the Waldorf Astoria?

A Chicago Insider’s Adventure

Join the American Writers Museum on a journey through Chicago's neighborhoods to learn the fascinating stories of some of the city's literary landmarks.

American Writers Museum

Join the American Writers Museum on a journey through Chicago's neighborhoods to learn the fascinating stories of some of the city's literary landmarks. A special adventure created in honor of the 2017 American Library Association Annual Exhibition and Conference.

Chicago Literary Landmarks Hunt

Photojournalist Paul Natkin captures his love for music through the lens of his camera and has worked with the biggest names in music during his 40-year career. Paul speaks with blues experts to help you explore Chicago’s blues scene past and present.

Paul Natkin

Photojournalist Paul Natkin captures his love for music through the lens of his camera and has worked with the biggest names in music during his 40-year career. In this adventure,  Paul goes beyond the Chicago Blues Festival to speak with blues experts to help you explore Chicago’s blues scene past and present.

Beyond the Blues

The Gathering Spaces are a series of artist-designed community areas along the Burnham Wildlife Corridor, a 100-acre ribbon of urban wilderness spanning Lake Shore Drive. Travel along the corridor to discover how the artists linked nature and culture.

Chicago Park District

The Gathering Spaces are a series of five artist-designed community areas along the Burnham Wildlife Corridor (BWC), a 100-acre ribbon of urban wilderness spanning both sides of Lake Shore Drive. The five Gathering Spaces reflect the nature and culture of the area and serve as assembly grounds and rest areas for people exploring the Corridor. The spaces were designed and created by teams of local artists in partnership with community-based organizations in the Chinatown, Bronzeville, and Pilsen neighborhoods. On this adventure, we'll travel along the BWC to get the inside scoop on the creative process, community goals, and environmental context of each Gathering Space.

Lakefront Gathering Spaces

Choose Chicago® is the official destination marketing organization for Chicago, Illinois. When you’re in Chicago, you’re home. With the countless experiences there are to have here, you're absolutely welcome to do any and all of them.

Crosstown Classic

North Side vs. South Side

North Side vs. South Side

Ideal For Sunset

Ideal For Sunset

The Old Ballgame

The Old Ballgame

For The Love of The Ward

For The Love of The Ward

The Exploding Scoreboard

The Exploding Scoreboard

Mr. White Sox

Mr. White Sox

McCuddy's

McCuddy's

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