Our trip to Evanston

[WanderingSpectator]

We made the trip to Evanston for the Penn State game this past weekend.

TL;DR Very nice campus. Awesome Lake views. Expected more team support/spirit. Loved the N Zone concept and easy access to the stadium.

Here’s my writeup of our visit.

Cat Fight in Evanston!

Penn State makes their second trip to Illinois in two weeks and we were there for the Cat Fight!

wanderingspectator.wordpress.com

 

[psuro]

Nicely done.

Game day in Evanston is as relaxing as a Saturday in the summer in State College.

 

[djm181]

Great recap! I made the trip from Florida and, coincidentally, I was sitting pretty close to you. In fact, I can see myself in your picture labeled “thirty-six minutes to kickoff.”

 

[WanderingSpectator]

Great recap! I made the trip from Florida and, coincidentally, I was sitting pretty close to you. In fact, I can see myself in your picture labeled “thirty-six minutes to kickoff.”

Small world

 

[udsig91]

I’ve always enjoyed going to a PSU game against NW. I really like their stadium despite it not being very big.

 

[PSUFTG2]

Its almost like making the trip - without leaving your house (or packing on the extra calories).

Well done (again) WS.

 

[psuno1]

Great writeup, are you going to C-bus?

 

[IrishHerb]

Great writeup! Thanks!!

Had relatives who lived in Wilmette within view of the Bahai Temple while I was growing up.

Daughter and her family now live in Evanston along the lake, walking distance from Northwestern.

 

[LionJim]

Great writeup! Thanks!!

Had relatives who lived in Wilmette within view of the Bahai Temple while I was growing up.

Daughter and her family now live in Evanston along the lake, walking distance from Northwestern.

I’ve known Herb’s daughter since she was in diapers. The life she and her family have made for themselves is just a joy to see. Herb and wife raised her right.

 

[WanderingSpectator]

Great writeup, are you going to C-bus?

Sadly, no. We’d been there before and, believe it or not, really enjoyed it.

 

[WanderingSpectator]

Great writeup! Thanks!!

Had relatives who lived in Wilmette within view of the Bahai Temple while I was growing up.

Daughter and her family now live in Evanston along the lake, walking distance from Northwestern.

The North Shore area is really nice. We loved downtown Wilmette.

Just can’t imagine living there in the winter.

 

[LionJim]

Sadly, no. We’d been there before and, believe it or not, really enjoyed it.

I like visiting Columbus. It’s midway from DMV to Springfield IL. Decent art museum (George Bellows was Columbus born and bred, lots of his early stuff there, very nice). Great zoo, German Village and the Brewery District. The best independent bookstore I know, the Book Loft. Some damn fine BBQ at Smoked on High. My wife insists on going to Schmidt’s (I like it okay), but Smoked on High hits it out of the park.

 

[ApexLion]

I like visiting Columbus. It’s midway from DMV to Springfield IL. Decent art museum (George Bellows was Columbus born and bred, lots of his early stuff there, very nice). Great zoo, German Village and the Brewery District. The best independent bookstore I know, the Book Loft. Some damn fine BBQ at Smoked on High.

Its a big city and I agree there's lots to do.

BTW, C-bus is the only location several Nittany Lion Clubs (bus trips) stopped going to years back. Not sure if that's still the case but some PA chapters just didn't see the need to get abused on a bus trip. Hopefully, that's changed.

 

[WanderingSpectator]

Its a big city and I agree there's lots to do.

BTW, C-bus is the only location several Nittany Lion Clubs (bus trips) stopped going to years back. Not sure if that's still the case but some PA chapters just didn't see the need to get abused on a bus trip. Hopefully, that's changed.

Every fan base has their idiots but what worried us about going was that my mother-in-law had a beer dumped in her there. Granted, she can get feisty, but seriously.

The worst we had was when a drunk student came up to me as I was in their Union after the game in 2017. He whispered “You’re season is over.” The delivery was perfect and definitely non-combative. He girlfriend quickly pulled him away and said, “Sorry. He’s drunk.” Perfect.

 

[ApexLion]

Every fan base has their idiots but what worried us about going was that my mother-in-law had a beer dumped in her there. Granted, she can get feisty, but seriously.

The worst we had was when a drunk student came up to me as I was in their Union after the game in 2017. He whispered “You’re season is over.” The delivery was perfect and definitely non-combative. He girlfriend quickly pulled him away and said, “Sorry. He’s drunk.” Perfect.

whisper back "I schtuped your girlfriend before the game so no worries."

 

[BobPSU92]

whisper back "I schtuped your girlfriend before the game so no worries."

“The Jerk Store called, and they’re running out of you!”

 

[ODShowtime]

Every fan base has their idiots but what worried us about going was that my mother-in-law had a beer dumped in her there. Granted, she can get feisty, but seriously.

Ok, so under no circumstances ever go there with my family. I'll end up on death row.

BTW I always enjoy your articles. Quality all around. I wish you safe travels.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Wandering, wonderful as always. You truly once again nailed it!

I’m about 45 minutes west north west of Northwestern in Barrington. Had my first knee surgery performed by The Cats’ team doc back in the early ‘70’s at Evanston Hosp.

And fortunate that my country club is tucked away in Glencoe.

Your next visit should include hitting Glencoe’s Chicago Botanic Garden!

 

[WanderingSpectator]

Wandering, wonderful as always. You truly once again nailed it!

I’m about 45 minutes west north west of Northwestern in Barrington. Had my first knee surgery performed by The Cats’ team doc back in the early ‘70’s at Evanston Hosp.

And fortunate that my country club is tucked away in Glencoe.

Your next visit should include hitting Glencoe’s Chicago Botanic Garden!

Thanks! I think we drove in between a club in Glencoe. But we saw a few clubs over that way.

We stayed by the Gardens and almost went. We opted to drive around and see the area and the Baha’i.

We were really impressed with the area. Beautiful!

 

[Tgar]

We made the trip to Evanston for the Penn State game this past weekend.

TL;DR Very nice campus. Awesome Lake views. Expected more team support/spirit. Loved the N Zone concept and easy access to the stadium.

Here’s my writeup of our visit.

Cat Fight in Evanston!

Penn State makes their second trip to Illinois in two weeks and we were there for the Cat Fight!

wanderingspectator.wordpress.com

Great write up, very enjoyable read. We have been to NW games a couple of times and found Evanston and the game day experience to be underwhelming and you describe it perfectly. Thanks for posting your travel blog.

 

[BostonNit]

We made the trip to Evanston for the Penn State game this past weekend.

TL;DR Very nice campus. Awesome Lake views. Expected more team support/spirit. Loved the N Zone concept and easy access to the stadium.

Here’s my writeup of our visit.

Cat Fight in Evanston!

Penn State makes their second trip to Illinois in two weeks and we were there for the Cat Fight!

wanderingspectator.wordpress.com

Nice recap. Visited for first time myself and saw many of the same things.

Will differ with you on the N Zone concept though. About 10 mins before kickoff we buy two beers at a kiosk 10 feet away from the tunnel to get to our section. Start walking in and get verbally assaulted by an usher for trying to take beers into the seating area.

There were no signs ANYWHERE that we saw saying no beers inside the bowl. Turns out there was a disclaimer printed in like 10 font on a placard at the kiosk.

So we stand outside to chug our $12 Modelo's, then walk in just in time to see Nick fumble the opening KO. Not a great start to the game day experience.

On a positive note our seats were in the lower section in with a bunch of NW player parents. They were all super cool and loved how hard their kids were playing despite being big underdogs.

And none of them bitched about the last TD.

 

[Statewise]

We made the trip to Evanston for the Penn State game this past weekend.

TL;DR Very nice campus. Awesome Lake views. Expected more team support/spirit. Loved the N Zone concept and easy access to the stadium.

Here’s my writeup of our visit.

Cat Fight in Evanston!

Penn State makes their second trip to Illinois in two weeks and we were there for the Cat Fight!

wanderingspectator.wordpress.com

 

[Statewise]

Glad you had a good visit. We may have bumped into each other a couple times! During your Friday tour, you were 100 yards from my house, we also ate at Napolita Friday night (we ate outside though), and it looks like we both sat in the middle of Section 108.

 

[PSU Mike]

Wandering, wonderful as always. You truly once again nailed it!

I’m about 45 minutes west north west of Northwestern in Barrington. Had my first knee surgery performed by The Cats’ team doc back in the early ‘70’s at Evanston Hosp.

And fortunate that my country club is tucked away in Glencoe.

Your next visit should include hitting Glencoe’s Chicago Botanic Garden!

Splendid write up!!!

I run across @ILLINOISLION’s club course a couple times a week, and we walk to the Chicago Botanic Garden from our house. And yes, we eat at Napolita frequently, despite the pizza rarely being perfect. Had a great walk home from the game Saturday - two beer breaks broke up the 6-7 mile trek.

 

[WanderingSpectator]

One thing I failed to mention was the amount of PSU tailgating that was happening at a lot on Campus. Several large Penn State RVs were set up Friday in the middle of campus. Always a great site to see on the road!

Props if any of you were there!