 | The tour takes about 4 to 4.5 hours, depending on traffic. |
| Years of experience doing these tours have PROVEN that a tour that
begins at 10 A.M. or earlier on a Sunday, can mean all the difference
between seeing as much as possible or sitting in a traffic jam on a Saturday
afternoon or before a Cub's game. |
| There are no individual tours. These jaunts are for groups of 25 to 50
participants. If you are a member of a club, historical or genealogical
society, tavern owner, etc. and can put together a group, this is the perfect
venue. If you own a tavern, there's nothing like having 50 customers come back
to your bar for a few hours of after-tour enjoyment. |
| Cost is $40 per person. There's a standard contract, half down 3 weeks
before the tour, the remainder 1 week before the tour. ALL TOURS WILL BE
PREPAID. |
| We use a climate-controlled bus with toilet. No raggedy school buses. |
| There is no drinking nor smoking on the bus. If you need a smoke, we
make plenty of stops and get out to get a closer look at some of the buildings
on the tour. If you need a smoke, grab one before we reboard. We can also can
arrange for the tour to begin and end at the Goose Island brewpub on Clybourn.
Take advantage of their fine selection of beers after the tour. |
| I've done this tour without drinking allowed onboard and with drinking
onboard. Drinking onboard means too much frat-house trouble, additional
security deposits to the bus company, litter, unexpected bodily fluids, etc.,
and doesn't make for an enjoyable tour for others. (Man, could I tell you some
stories!) |
FAQs:
Q. Can we go inside one of the breweries?
A. No. The last old-time brewery closed in 1978. We are touring what's left of
the existing structures. Many of them have been converted to condos, warehouses,
or business sites and wouldn't appreciate 50 people trampling through their
front rooms while enjoying their morning coffee. Goose Island Beer Company has a
bottling plant on west Fulton but is not set up for tours.
|
 |
|
The Best Brewery |
Q. Will we stop for lunch?
A. No. C'mon. It's only a 4 to 4.5 hour tour. If we stop to eat, that's less
sites that we will be able to see. Eat a big breakfast or knock yourself out
when we get back to the Goose Island brewpub.
|
 |
|
The Hickory Pit in Bridgeport.
Scene of the murder in 1955 of
Lou Greenberg, owner of the
infamous Canadian Ace Brewery |
O. Why is the tour so long?
A. Because if I shorten it, someone will complain that it's too short.
Seriously, these sites are scattered throughout the city -- mostly on the North
Side -- and not lined up like museum displays. It takes time to get from one
site to another, especially if traffic becomes a problem.
Q. How many sites will we see?
A. All depends. Once again, traffic and even weather conditions can slow us
down. Expect to view anywhere between 12 to 20 sites.
Q. I paid but couldn't make it to the tour. Can I get a refund.
A. No. If you booked the tour through a group, talk to the organizer.
If you'd like to put your name of a list of individuals who'd like to take the
tour, send me an e-mail. I'll continue to build the list until we hit a
reasonable sized group.
toddlintown@comcast.net
with your
name
number of participants
telephone number
