Cykron

To add a few thoughts, if you don't care about the Gino's East atmosphere and/or want to avoid their terrible lines, order carry out and eat at your hotel or a park. Pro tip on the Signature Room. Go at lunch not dinner. The lunch buffet is great and reasonably priced, particularly when you get to sit right next to a window on the 95th floor. Essentially you get the Observatory experience thrown in for free. The Signature Room views are great because each is very different: south (downtown and lakefront), west (gritty city), east (Lake Michigan), and north (lakefront, near north, maybe even a view of Wrigley). The only reason to do the Willis (Sears) Tower is the acrylic walk-out area (bring extra pants in case you have an accident). And yes, Lincoln Park Zoo is fantastic and free. Lincoln Park is surprisingly lovely for being right downtown. My parents got engaged there and I had a break-up there. Both were providential moments in our family history!

Don't overlook the restaurants in Evanston. I love downtown Chicago (focus on River North), but have only recently come to appreciate the breadth and depth of what Evanston has to offer. Here are a few of my favorites: Blind Faith. Vegan restaurant, but you wouldn't know it by the taste. I'd swear the delicious pot pie actually has chicken in it. Dave's Italian Kitchen. Great down-home atmosphere that makes you feel like you are in Iowa, not snooty Evanston. Argh. It's closed. Prairie Joe's. Northwestern funky at its best. Walker Bros. Pancake House. Historic and oh-so-delicious. Hecky's BBQ. Carryout only, but worth it. This is vintage BBQ like you would expect on the near west side of Chicago. Make sure to read the articles on the walls and say hi to Hecky. He is what I want to be like when I grow up! Seriously, he is a local benefactor of the highest order and even cancer couldn't keep him down. If only the world had more men like Hecky! Mustard's Last Stand. Right next to the stadium. It will be packed, but they have several outstations where you can buy food. Great game day food. Gino's East. If you want the best Chicago-style pizza, go to the Gino's East on Huron in downtown Chicago. I recommend the sausage patty pizza with a slab of sausage, not little chunks. This is a man's pizza. There are Giordano's knock-offs all over town, but the best is Gino's East on Huron, just off Michigan Avenue.

You can watch for free on DishTV at our tailgate!

Kickoff 11am CT on Fox Sports North. Join us for a breakfast tailgate.

I don't know much about tailgating at Northwestern, but I wouldn't expect much if the most relevant thing you found was a Michigan State thread from 2011!

I like this one. "Sea of Red" with blue tents behind him! Go Zips!

Simple answer: double-header in Ames! Two games and two tailgates!

Hey, I've got an idea that would help both of our teams. In the words of the famous Cub Ernie Banks, "Let's play two!" Maybe even get a double-header tailgate!

Mike Rose from Brecksville got the start at MIKE linebacker.

Kinda glad I didn't get that telescoping flagpole that was on my list! Seriously, it rained Saturday morning, but it ended up being a decent day for tailgating.

Looks like I may have to go to Iowa City to see our game to "open" the season. Blech.

The story leads with the Minnesota Golden Goofers. What do you expect? I don't think Zips fans will be adding testimony about lack of fan attendance in Lincoln and Ames. We will be heading over for a full 10 hours of tailgating before our game today . . . all in scattered rain and thunderstorms.

Coming from the east as we did for years when travelling between Chicago and Akron, I almost always took the Skyway from Indiana. If the 90/94 Dan Ryan was slow, I would cut off and take major south side streets until I connected with Lake Shore Drive (LSD!) near the Museum of Science and Industry, then take it along the lakefront (awesome views of the lake and downtown, try to see anything like that in Lincoln) and Sheridan Road the rest of the way north to Evanston.

Update. 294 north of O'Hare has its center median torn up, so keep that in mind if you use 294 north in order to go east on Peterson or Dempster.

Oops. I thought it was being played in Evanston. Maybe I should just go over there and knock some books off the library shelves. That will get the smart kids all riled up!

In 2009, Iowa State beat Nebraska in Lincoln 9-7. The Fuskers had 8 turnovers! Hope you get the same, but "Zip" them 9-0!

I'm in Skokie right now (just west of Evanston). Want me to sneak into the Northwestern practice and go "Tonya Harding" on anyone in particular?

And if you fall asleep during the game, you will still be more coherent than most Fusker fans!

Didn't the MAC (NIU) win the last time they went to Lincoln! Hope it happens again in Lincoln . . . and in Iowa City!

This probably has more to do with Finebaum being far less relevant this year with everyone focusing on Ohio State rather than the SEC. Don't worry Pauly, your good ol boys will give you something to talk about soon.

The lack of respect is the residual of losing to North Dakota State a few years ago and occasionally losing to Northern Iowa, both FCS teams. We have been forced to respect highly ranked FCS teams. Also, it is related to the fact that we have such a big fan base. It means that disrespect gets vocalized more because there are tons of idiots who spout off about college football rather than anything else. And I will admit that we look down on the MAC, as if we have any reason to do so. We have been a perennial bottom-dweller in the Big 12. I think it has more to do with not knowing much about the schools in the Mid-East (or whatever you call the area between Dekalb and Buffalo). I, on the other hand, have vast appreciation and interest in MAC teams. Oh, and we beat you going away last year. And then followed it up by beating two Top 5 teams. Give us a break. We don't get to be cocky very often.

Good choice. Evanston and Ames are two of my favorite places! I'll be in both this week. You don't want to go to Lincoln!

I am a fan of Custer, namely Clayton Custer, starting guard for Loyola MBB started his career with Iowa State! He left because he wasn't getting enough playing time behind Monte Morris. And, true to your post, I did pick Loyola to go to the Elite 8! Zip those Huskers!

Last I heard, Kyle was the #2 QB for Buffalo. Almost all of the news reporting talks exclusively about Jackson throwing to Johnson (with vague references about "if Jackson can stay healthy"), but nothing about backups.

Kirk is close, but I'm hoping that someone else will be throwing to Anthony Johnson!