Shout(box)ing from the Rooftops…
Aspiring comedian Ryan Dempster probably got a little bit of a lift from the hilarity ensuing just past the left field wall (and across the street) at Brixen Ivy, the well-situated and acousticophobic rooftop on Waveland Ave. Dempster picked up another Wrigley Field win as regular Shoutboxers, Desipiots and some of their wives and girlfriends were there to witness the Cubs’ 6-2 win over St. Louis, drink enough beer to kill the populations of DuPage, Lake and Cook counties, cheer wildly politely clap at Jim Edmonds’ exploits against his former team, renew and make acquaintances, educate an older woman on the greatness that is Jim Essian, mock hospitably welcome a few well-dressed Cardinals fans, and otherwise have a good time.
Amazingly, nearly every member of this group is a functioning member of society. They all even have jobs (sorry, Lee Elia). Well nearly everyone. The employment status of the three women in the front row is in doubt.
Front Row: Three random women who live in their condominium for a living. Second row (from left): Morpheus, Oleg, TDubbs; Third Row (from left): Bad Kermit, flannj, TEC, A guy whose hat and glasses are the only things visible, Irish Yeti, T.J. Brown, Banana Hands; Third Row: Chuck Dickens’ girlfriend, Chuck Dickens, the left side of Pre’s head, Thrillho/Cornfed, Butthead, Forklift, Mike D., Andy Dolan, thehawk.
Not pictured: Chuck-to-Chuck and Mrs. Chuck-to-Chuck; Slaky and his girlfriend; Andy’s father who probably disowned Andy after meeting this crowd; Mrs. T.J., who is a 3-1 shot to return home today from work now that she met this group; Saint Mrs. Fork, who did vow not to attend a Blackhawks-Red Wings rooftop on New Year’s; Mrs. Butthead; Weebs (out on the curb at 1050 W. Waveland).
For those who have not been a rooftop, Brixen Ivy has its pluses: a great view of the action (sort of important, seeing that you’re paying $150 for a seat) and plenty of beer and food. The view is truly outstanding:
The downsides? Hmm, there were a few.
- As noted before, the managers of Brixen Ivy were apparently terrified of loud noises. Anything approaching the decibel-level of a golf gallery clap was quickly met with a verbal warning from the Brixen Ivy
brownshirtsgestapostaff. - The food was good — Thrillho strongly recommends the chips — but dessert was promised in the fifth inning. By the top of the sixth, any evidence of “dessert” was gone. Come on boys, get with the program here.
- Even the gentlest teasing of Cardinals’ fans brought in the “zero tolerance” policy.
- They oversold the event as 20 or so fans didn’t even have a seat. (Thankfully, not the Shoutboxers.)
- Apparently, ordering 20 beers and keeping the cups stored on the back row of the bleachers beyond the seventh inning is frowned upon here.
OK, the last item makes sense, but Catholic parishes usually don’t impose such rules on their parishoners during Sunday Mass. (And when my parish advertises doughnuts and coffee post-Mass, the doughnuts and coffee remain for awhile.)
All was not lost. Bad Kermit made a new friend.
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Comments
The girl in the front on the left was a lawyer, and has absolutely no excuse for wearing sunglasses. The other two are clearly unemployed.
Sorry I never made it upstairs for more than a very brief cameo in my ‘78 away Sutter jersey. The game went by way too fast last night.
I’ll fall into the ‘Not Pictured’ group as well. Sorry I never made it upstairs to the bleachers for more than a very brief cameo in my ‘78 away Sutter jersey. The game went by way too fast last night…where’s the 12-10 slugfest on a night where the beer is, you know, complementary?
I was at the game too. If you enlarge the second photo 1000x you will clearly see my buddy Dan the Cardinal Fan explaining to me how Chris Carpenter will be better after Tommy John surgery.
The middle women in that photo looks a bit nervous as she contemplates the likelihood of surviving a jump from 4 stories up.
If I’m not mistaken, “guy whose hat and glasses are the only things visible” is Scott Weiland. He looked awfully anemic for a “recovered” drug addict.
My only regret is that I didn’t ask TDubbs to smuggle some more chips out for me in his Kohl’s cargo shorts. Being camo, I would presume they’d be great for hiding pilfered foodstuffs.
Originally Posted By Fork
No mention of the Special Presentation?
I gave mine away, and I can’t remember to whom. Who took the picture of that, though?
Seeing shots like this reminds me of what a dump Chase Field truly is and how much I miss Wrigley. I can’t believe the only Cubs games I will see this year will be the ones I saw at Chase. At least they have some bars near by that act as Cub fan rallying points.
Those rules sound a bit rediculous. Cubs fans can’t ride the Cards fans…in CHICAGO?!?! WOW…
@Angry Mike - Yeah, I had to talk some power-hungry asshole out of kicking TDubbs off the rooftop. It was pretty lame.
Originally Posted By Dave BChrist, you guys were in shouting distance of Pollyellon.
That’s how we first learned about the manager’s acousticophobia.
The broad in the middle is “Susan” or “Susie” (shockingly I can’t remember exactly) and works for William Blair. The one on the right is a senior at DePaul.
I had an awesome time last night - thanks to Fork for putting it together!
kermit, is that you in this week’s muskbag asking about luis montanez and ben christensen?
cause i think it is.
The owner of that wonderful rooftop establishment used to be my landlord. He achieved (and continues to achieve) a level of douche-baggery that had previously only been achieved in a lab setting.
@Penis Ivy - There’s some, but years of soccer and being German have left my legs smoother than most Berkeley co-eds’.






I *knew* I was at the wrong place!