Went today. Illinois Derby was the 8th race, hence the big crowd, as well as WGN's and others radio…read morestations' presence. Hawthorne has renovated some areas, and it appears as if they now take credit cards at the bars. Nice, but whatever. I like this place. I liked it last year, and the year before. And I like it today. Employees are friendly and down to earth. Great place to watch thoroughbreds run, renovations or not. Went to customer service to check on the number of points I've earned on my Hawthorne card. Too funny....righteous man in in his Sears suit coat was issuing a very long complaint to the Hawthorne employee, whose expression was increasingly glazed. I mean LONG, and without a breath in between various disappointments. God love her, because 10 seconds in I wanted to tell the guy to STFU and enjoy the day for what it was. (I actually had to shove him over, verbally, to speak to the other employee.) "And then..our waitress took FIVE minutes to bring our drinks...and THEN..." And then what? She didn't bow down to your vast superiority? She didn't weep tears of joy and admiration for your Miller Lite orders? She didn't appreciate your Sears jacket or artfully arranged thinning hair?" Really, dude, what the F*** do you want? This guy was talking nonstop for at least 7 minutes (before I left the area)....that poor girl. I have enough points for a windbreaker, by the way, but am saving them up for a hoodie. I suspect the complainer is still there, explaining to that poor girl that he deserves better service...I'll have those points by the time he's done.

Always a good time at Hawthorne when the thoroughbred meet is in town. So much history here, so…read morewish they would do the much needed repair / upgrade work to the fan stands, concessions, restrooms that is needed because of age wear & tear.

I am in no way qualified to judge this since this is my first time. It is however what I thought it…read morewould be. The ladies with the hats or fascinator, the cars (today was Jaguar Day), the Veuve Clicquot stem that come with the price of table admission. It's something I would recommend once. It makes your next cocktail conversation that much more interesting.

The grounds were so amazing. Horses the most beautiful I've ever seen. Everyone was dressed…read morebeautifully. And of course the match was exciting! The establishment overall is something like out of the movies.

This is by far one of the most beautiful farms I have ever seen. I attended a horse show and was in…read moreawe at the professionalism and how gorgeous the grounds were!

We were driving along the freeway talking about the horse races when we saw a sign for OTB. Thats…read morewhen we decided to follow the signs to make a bet on this weekends horse races. The OTB site is located right next to Salerno-Pincente Ristorante. Admission fee is $1 per person. There are a few self-service machines where you can make your picks. and lots and lots of televisions with different races to view. The location provides service of drinks (not sure about food). Plenty of parking in the area. We had no idea how to put our picks in the machine, but it was easy to figure out once we got a racing guide that they offer when you pay your admission fee. The website states: The 4,700 sq. ft. Trackside facility located within the 12,700 sq. ft. restaurant features a total of 61 high definition televisions including 13 42" Plasma televisions, 16 50" Plasma receivers and one 63" Plasma monitor. Wagering will be available at any of 12 manned or self-service terminals featuring the latest in tote technology. The Trackside Sports Bar area can seat approximately 145 people while a private Gold Club Room is available for use by top level Twin Spires Club VIP players. The restaurant's main dining areas can seat about 170 people.

The sports bar and OTB are 1st rate. Was in yesterday and they are opening a new patio w a fire…read morepit, Bocce court and bags this weekend. Owners are hands on, food is great, had tequila wings app and pasta was cooked perfect. Bar is huge and there was a decent crowd when I was in. Highly recommend over some of the other OTB's I have been at, the food is way better here!

Wonderful riding facility, great lessons, full service. The trainers are top notch. You truly get…read moreyour moneys worth. Great care of the horses.

wish I was able to use my Groupon. lady takes weeks to communicate simple plans if she ever even…read moreresponds. after a month of attempts I was frustrated the day we agreed on was filled due to her taking to long to talk. I wanted to use my Groupon before it expires and she told me to return my Groupon. well that was a headache in it self. She ruined the day of 3 children.

I should have believed the bad reviews. What a waste of $43 dollars and an hour of driving. Just…read morereturned from my daughter's first beginner lesson. She had attended beginner camp at New Traditions last week. I did see them the camp riding nose to tail on the first day of camp when I stopped back early, but the camp person claimed that was a one time thing - and that they were going to fix it by rearranging the groups and it wouldn't happen again. I'm so gullible, I believed them.) Not knowing this nose to tail - waste of time "riding" - was their standard MO, at the end of camp, we signed up for a beginner lesson. My daughter really wanted get into horseback riding. She was so excited. When scheduling the lesson, we were told we should do the Wednesday class because there were only 3 kids signed up and there were 8 in the Monday class - and that 8 was a lot so it would be better to go on Wednesday. We were told she would get so much more attention in lessons than she had gotten in camp - and that she would progress quickly because she was a "natural." Fast forward to the lesson today. We arrived today ten minutes before class, then we learned that five more kids had signed up - there were now 8 in this class. Sounded like a lot - the number that the instructor said would be difficult to get individual attention, but okay. In the next ten minutes, however, people kept showing up with Groupons - and getting added to the class. This continued until TEN minutes AFTER the class was supposed to start. By the time "class" started, there were now FOURTEEN kids in the class. Class was late starting because everybody had to wait (with the horses noses to the walls), while more kids kept getting on horses. Then, once everybody was one, they walked each horse's nose in the tail of the horse in front of it. Every time one kid stopped, the entire group stopped. My daughter learned NOTHING and had an incredibly frustrating time. The instructor taught nothing. Plus, it is DANGEROUS. One of the parents was familiar with them doing this informed me that this happens ALOT - especially when they offer Groupons. She said that sometimes a horse acts up and a lot of kids fall off. Just a little something to add to the stress level of watching this disaster of a class. The "instructor" Anne, (and I use this term loosely, because there was NO useful instruction whatsoever) left the class after about 20 minutes because she has to go out and get payments for the people coming for the 5:30pm class. For 15 minutes of the she was out in the lobby getting people and selecting horses for the next class. Meanwhile, the packed horses/children are barely moving around the ring. Anne was also apparently teaching the 5:30 class. But, she had to come out and deal with all the unhappy parents from the 4:30pm class. So, we waited in line to talk to her. We left at 5:45pm after talking to her - and there was still another person waiting. That 5:30 class was still waiting for an instructor while all this was going on. The parent in front of me explained how unsatisfied she was, and Anne told her that she needed to do private lessons, which are $70. Of course, Anne noted, private lessons do not get the ring to themselves, other students will be in the ring. Anne said that they do not limit how many horses will be in the ring during a private lesson - she refused to indicate what number of horses would be too many. When I finally got to speak to Anne, I told her how disappointed I was - and she frankly - didn't care in the slightest. She said that classes fill up and if I don't like the class I need to invest in private lessons. She also told me that having fourteen horses in that tiny arena wasn't dangerous at all. I wish I would have believed the other reviews and not wasted my time and money.

PLAY BALL seriously…read morewho would give wrigley anything but 5 stars. Love my cubbies. Love my baseball diamond nestled in a neighborhood. Love that there isn't a massive parking lot surrounding the stadium. Love that you can see CTA and the lake. BEST MLB STADIUM

A first visit to Wrigley Field feels less like going to a ballgame and more like stepping into…read moreliving baseball history. From the moment you walk through the gates, the charm is unmistakable--brick walls, hand-operated scoreboard, and the famous ivy that covers the outfield walls create a setting that feels timeless. Watching the Chicago Cubs play here isn't just about the game; it's about soaking in more than a century of tradition that you can feel in every cheer and every crack of the bat. What makes the experience truly special is the atmosphere around the ballpark. The surrounding neighborhood of Wrigleyville buzzes with energy before and after the game, full of fans in blue and red sharing stories, grabbing food, and celebrating the sport. Inside the stadium, the sightlines are excellent, the crowd is passionate but welcoming, and even a simple hot dog tastes better when enjoyed under the summer sun or a cool Chicago evening breeze drifting in from nearby Lake Michigan. For a baseball fan visiting for the first time, Wrigley Field isn't just another stadium--it's a pilgrimage site. Whether you're watching a close game, singing along during the seventh-inning stretch, or simply admiring the classic design, it delivers a nostalgic, joyful experience that reminds you why baseball is called America's pastime.

Do I still love Miller Park...ahem...American Family Field?…read more I do. In recent years, they've begun getting some big headliner concerts here (in addition to watching the beloved Brewers) which is a welcome addition to the Milwaukee entertainment lineup. They've also changed up the local eateries and I love that Ian's pizza is now an option. Whether it's the tailgate scene, the food, the beer, or the view of the field--life doesn't get much better than an afternoon at the ballpark. Get to it!

I usually go to one Brewers game a year. I took my nieces to a game here and we had a great time…read more Purchasing parking ahead of time made the parking extra breeze. I did almost forget to activate the pass once onsite. I took a picture of where we parked but then I forgot to note what entrance we came in. We eventually found our way out after talking to a few employees. We had seats in the 400 section and made a few stops along the way. We stopped at food booth where you grabbed your food and then rang yourself up which proved to be pretty efficient. My nieces enjoyed some dippin dots later in the game. With already going to my one game for this early in the season, there is a chance I'll get there for a 2nd one!

From our perspective as neighbors, we can only say we are glad they are gone. Horses used to escape…read moreon a regular basis, and riders used to ride right through our front lawns.

Started out here at their summer camp when I was in third grade, which is a little late to start…read moreriding. However, they put me with people my own age and they worked with everyone individually, and by the end I felt very comfortable here. I rode her for about three years, until I broke my toe(not from horses) and stopped for two months. I came back for camp, which was great, although Kara no longer works there. The new instructors were really nice, but the lessons were only half an hour but still cost $60, which we couldn't afford. However, if you can afford this, I really, highly recommend Galway because they can teach any level of rider and I learned something every time. They have great lesson horses and take really good care of the horses they board. I still really miss this place.

From the owner: Summer camp, riding lessons, horse showing, horse salesread more