Schmidty's Den

A True Debate Ketchup on a Hotdog? As many people in the world now, one of the biggest debates to ever be brought up is that of whether ketchup belongs on a hotdog or not.   Since the beginning of hot dog eating time, many people have questioned if it is acceptable to put ketchup on a hotdog.   (The answer is obviously N.O.)   There technically is not a right or wrong answer since it is the person’s own desire that trumps everything, but to any Chicagoan, it is a sin to put ketchup on your hotdog. Many individuals will disrespect us Chicagoans and put ketchup on the dog right in front of us.    It is super disrespectful!   But if you ask any of those salty tomato lovers why they do it, they will give you the most pathetic excuses ever.   Some of these excuses are because they’ve done it their whole life or they have never tried it without or just can crap that they can spit out.   The only acceptable answer to the question of why y...

Links to other content: If you are interested in checking out specific pages or past content on my blog then this is the post for you!  On this post, there will be links to all of the articles and pages I have posted in the past.  I wanted to make my blog easily accessible to all of the users so no one ever gets stressed out trying to find specific pages.  Let's get to it! Purpose Page:  This page is just a brief explanation of the purpose of this blog and online business. http://schmidtysden.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html About the Author Page: Pretty straight forward-all of the information you need to know about me is posted on this page! http://schmidtysden.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Contact Page: If you ever need to contact me or ask me any questions, this is the page to visit. http://schmidtysden.blogspot.com/p/contact-page.html Donations Page (My Favorite):   Please check out this page and donate to one of my favorite charitable organizati...

Bryce Harper to the Cubs? If Bryce Harper went to the Chicago Cubs, they would definitely won the World Series this year.  The reason why I say this is because I feel that Harper would be a perfect piece for the Cubs.  They need one more incredible outfielder to fill the gap that has been gone for a few years. Dexter Fowler was a very versatile player for the Cubs so if they could fill his position they would be set!  Plus, Bryce Harper is a considerable hitter as he has substantial power. The Chicago Cubs are currently sitting in second place in the NL Central right behind the Pirates.  Their record consists of 5-4 which is not too bad.  Last season Harper batted .319 with 87 RBIs and 29 Homeruns.  These stats are just mediocre for Harper in which he can consistently raise his averages.  On top of his exceptional hitting, Harper is a great fielder.  He is also a team leader in which he can incorporate with the Cubs. If  Bryce Harper we...

Alongside my blogs and article updates, I also have a series of Schmidty's Den products available for purchase.  The items being marketed range from t-shirts, to pins, to coffee mugs etc... Show your support and rep your favorite Chicagoan!  All products can be found on the link below: https://www.cafepress.com/schmidtysden On this post I will show some of my favorite products and give them a quick description! Schmidty's Den Oval Car Magnet Become one of Chi-Town's Finest by purchasing this simple yet meaningful car magnet!  This small product has the ability to stick to any magnetic surface.  Let the world know that you are involved with Schmidty's Den so they can join the movement too! Schmidty's Den iPad Sleeve This incredible iPad sleeve shows some Chicago culture within its design.  With the graffiti theme, many of Chicago's notorious traditions can be seen within the art.  This product is guaranteed to protect your iPad through short...

With every big city... comes thousands of homeless individuals living on the streets off of anything they can scavenge.  It is not a surprise that Chicago has over 125,000 homeless people in 2015.  This is a huge issue as there are many children and young adults that are literally living off of anything that they can get.  Everyday in the loop when I am out in Chicago I see the same homeless people out on the same corners.  They are literally there year round trying to panhandle and get some change to live off of. The big problem here is of course that these people are homeless, but also that many homeless adults suffer from mental diseases or face addiction challenges.  These individuals virtually receive no help.  The only help they get from others are either from people giving them cash or food, or volunteers walking around handing out blankets and tents.  It is just a terrible situation because there are homeless shelters but many of these homele...

Many people who enjoy traveling need some inspiration in order to choose their next destination.  Whether you are living on the mainland or not, I promise you that you will not regret checking out Chicago.  I am here to encourage you to travel to Chicago and have the best time of your life. The reason why Chicago is so great is because of all of the different events and destinations it has to offer throughout the year.  Chicago is in the Midwest region of the United States so you best believe that this amazing city experiences all four seasons of the year.  The reason why Chicago is so awesome is because there are many things to do year round, as well as many seasonal events to attend.  There is literally always an exceptional amount of concerts, festivals, plays, etc.. that are incredibly welcoming to tourists.  There is literally so much to do in this magnificent city that you will need more than a week to visit and experience everything! I can assure...

Although there isn't a correct team to root for in Chicago, many fans try to speculate why their team is better than every other team.  I am going to show some facts and statistics to give an accurate comparison between Chicago's two beloved baseball teams: The Chicago White Sox & The Chicago Cubs. Chicago White Sox: Current Stadium Name: Guaranteed Rate Field Stadium Location: 333 W. 35th St. Chicago, Illinois Team Colors: Black/White/Silver Established in 1893 in Iowa then moved to Chicago in 1900 First team to put player's last names on jerseys in 1960 Beat the Chicago Cubs in the 1906 World Series Fight Song:"Let's Go Go GO White Sox" Various Stats: 3 World Series Championships (1906, 1917,2005) 6 Division Titles 3 Cy Young Winners 3 MVP Winners 6 Rookie of the Year Award Winners Chicago Cubs: Current Stadium Name: Wrigley Field Stadium Location: 1060 W. Addison St. (North side of Chicago) Team Colors: White/Red/Blue Establ...

Interview With Alex Katres I have been given the opportunity to interview one of my life-long friends, Alex Katres.  Alex, originating from Greece, grew up in the Chicago-land area almost his whole life.  This individual is the biggest Bulls fan I have ever met as he loves the electricity in the arena.  The questions I am asking are in bold text as his responses are quoted under. Why do you enjoy being in Chicago? "I enjoy being in the city because you get to see different social classes all in one big area.   You also get to take a look at all of the different backgrounds of everyone walking by.  It seems that everyone is working towards a common goal on keeping the positive atmosphere alive." How do you feel about the Chicago Bulls? "Just got in trouble for benching their starters when the commissioner knew that the team was healthy.  They are definitely trying to tank the rest of this season.  They traded Niko Mirotic to the Pelicans fo...

Kanye West Throughout the years, Kanye West has been building up one of the most notorious reputations in the 2000s.  Born in June 1977, Kanye recently hit is 40 year old mark.  Many people know Kanye because of his Chicago background.  However, not too many people know realize that he was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended a Chicago high school where from there he started making music that is known to the whole world.  As a famous artist/producer and fashion designer, Mr. West has created a self net worth of about $147 million!  Pretty crazy to think that just one person could be worth that much money.  It just goes to show that hard work pays-off. Kanye is the perfect representation of how Chicagoans are-extremely dedicated and motivated.  Mr. West has had huge accomplishments titled to himself. Accomplishments: United States records sales-14.65 million Global record sales-32.70million 6 Albums reached Billboard's number 1 spot Over 100...

The Loop in Chicago If you have ever lived in a major city or the surrounding neighborhoods, there is a high probability that you haven't used a train system.  The Loop, also known as the L, is a set of trains that follow specific routes.  The system essentially follows a rectangular path through out the center blocks of the City of Chicago.  This rectangular system stems out in multiple directions to carry people to and from the center of Chicago from surrounding areas.  There is no question that a huge percent of people who work in the city use this train system as transportation.  The image below shows the different lines that operate within the L system. Although this system is extremely efficient, there are still some negative connotations to be attached from my personal experiences with using the L. You never know the crowd on the train. People range from individuals who work to individuals who are homeless. It is typically packed during rush...

I understand that nowadays it can be tough to find some community websites/blogs that you trust has excellent content.  With all of the jargon being thrown around the internet, it can be frustrating finding some other fantastic websites that have users sharing the same views as you.  Luckily, I have found a perfect website that anyone can blog on.  The website https://dabearsblog.com/ is for any supporting Bear's fan who still has hope. This website contains personal user's thoughts and experiences with certain information pertaining to the Chicago Bears.  Whether it's news, updates or opinions, you will find heartfelt content that you will truly enjoy.  It's great to be involved with a community of individuals who share similar thoughts as you so I would highly encourage participation. For all of you non-sport's fans out there, I have found a blog that you will truly enjoy about Chicago. This blogsite https://www.choosechicago.com/blog/ has all of...

There has ...been disappointment throughout Chicago when it comes to basketball.  Ever since a young Derrick Rose tore his ACL in the 2012 first round of playoffs, the Bulls haven't fully recovered.  There has been a lack of making excellent front office decisions that have left the players and the fans hanging the past five something years.  This season, the Bulls are currently sitting in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with an embarrassing record of 21-41.  There is no doubt that the team is still in the rebuilding process, but I truly believe the Bulls will make the playoffs next year and here's why. First off, the Bulls have the 8th pick in the 2018 draft.  Typically a top 10 picked player will have the potential to fill what the team needs.  The bulls are currently looking into a big man who plays center.  I think this would be a great move however, the Bulls need to look into getting some outside shooters.  The best 3-point shooter (N...

Throughout this blog, I am going to list five places one must see when they go to Chicago.  Granted, there are many incredible sites to see and places to be, however, this list pertains to my top five choices.  The only criteria on this list is that the locations to visit are in Chicago.  These are not in ranking order.  Without further ado... #1: Wrigley Field  Although I am a Southsider and a huge White Sox fan, attending Wrigley Field should be on everybody's bucket list.  This baseball stadium hosts the Chicago Cubs and is one of the most famous stadiums in sport's history.  The environment is electric during a Cub's game.  On top of this, there is great beer and food available inside and outside the stadium.   #2: Michigan Avenue Michigan Avenue is considered to be the most known street in Chicago right above State Street.  This prominent street is a home to numerous high-end restaurants, businesses, and five star h...

The Chicago Bears... I can not... express how disappointed I am with the Chicago Bear's front office staff.  The Bears have not won a Superbowl since 1985 when they had arguably the best NFL team ever.  Since then, the Bears have only been to the Superbowl one time in 2007.  In this Superbowl XLI the Bears were defeated by a prominent Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 29-17.  I am not too upset about taking an L this year because the Bears weren't even projected to make it that far this year.  However, these last few years, I have been DISGUSTED with the front office administration. The current General Manger (GM), Ryan Pace and previous GM, Phil Emery, have made a set of extremely poor decisions in my opinion.  To me, it all started going down hill when they hired their Offensive Coordinator, Marc Trestman as Head Coach who had an overall record of 13-19 in two seasons.  The reason why I was extremely salty with this move was because he di...

Atlas Stationers 227 W. Lake St. Chicago, IL 60606 (312)726-5261 www.Atlasstationers.com What is Atlas Stationers? Atlas Stationers is the largest independent office products store in Chicago.   Started in 1939, Atlas has been family owned and currently enjoys participation from the 3rd and 4th generation.  Carrying over 100,000 items, Atlas seeks to help every customer find exactly what they need.  If a product is not in the retail shop, it can be ordered in by the next business day.  On top of this, the company offers FREE delivery within the Chicago Loop which is pretty much unbeatable. Atlas aims to give a 'Service that makes a world of difference.' Review: My first experience at Atlas Stationers is one that I will remember forever.  Stepping foot in this retail store was incredibly refreshing.  My first impression of the store was very optimistic as the vibe was perfect.  Walking into an office supply store that isn't co...

Schmidty's Den is an online business in the tourist industry with a series of blogs that aims to create interest to attract tourists into the greatest city of all-Chicago.  I cannot stress how much I love this city as I have grown up, worked, and excelled in it.  The goal is to try and expose as many people to the history, traditions, and various facts about the 312. Types of blogs you should expect: Informative blogs Instructional blogs Humorous blogs Sports Blogs Reviews It is imperative to read the articles with an open mind as there will be many controversial topics discussed.   I will express my opinion about various topics and events happening in the Chicago-land area.  I am not saying that my opinions and beliefs have to match up with yours, but respecting other people's thoughts go a long way. To get into the flow of things, I have prepared some of my favorite facts about Chicago. Did You Know...? Chicago was founded in 1830 and is no...

Throughout the years there have been numerous amounts of people trying to become Chicago sports' fans.  There are an incredible amount of hopeless fans in the cities of Cleveland, Detroit, and Indianapolis to name a few in the Midwest.  (Who would want to live in these cities anyways) These individuals learned that flocking towards Chicago fanaticism is definitely the right move.  There has been twenty rings dished out throughout Chicago sports' teams from 1870 to now.  It's safe to say that Chicago has one of the most prominent histories in sports throughout the U.S.  Follow these exact steps below to assimilate into the greatest fan base of all times without looking like a hated band wagoner.  No one likes band wagoners.  Keep in mind, being a fake fan will derive much hate towards you as us Chicagoans take fanship very seriously. How to Be a Chicago Sport's Fan Step 1: Culture & History Read up on the culture of Chicago and its magnificent...

Born in Wicker Park, Chicago in 1996, assimilating into the best city in the United States was nothing but an exceptional experience.  Being the youngest of four children provided me with an absolute amount of empirical knowledge as I got to see my siblings test drive many situations to pave the way for my choices based on their reactions to their experiences. The amount of love from my family allowed me to see things for what they are as well as inspire an infinite amount of hope in life.  An example of my everlasting hope is that of which is invested towards the Chicago Bears winning a Super Bowl in the near future.  While the rest of Chicago dwells on the horrific people who put ketchup on their hot dogs and the repeatedly losing Bears, I find hope in these mishaps because I believe that there are good people in the world who put ketchup on their hot dogs as well as I believe the Bears will relive their 1985 glory with more style!  Well, I guess right about now yo...