‘Go, Cubs, Go’ victory song on First Friday bill as Swizzle morphs into Wrigley South

Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Banner Graphic/Eric Bernsee Swizzle Stick owner Gail Smith with legendary Chicago Cubs’ reliever Lee Smith during his visit to the bar and the Greencastle Music Festival in 2012.

With her beloved Chicago Cubs having the best record in baseball and about to embark on the playoffs Friday, Oct. 7, Gail Smith is creating the Friendly Confines -- as Wrigley Field is known -- at The Swizzle Stick.

Baseball fans of all teams are invited to make The Swizzle their home away from home to watch the 2016 baseball playoffs beginning this Friday when the Cubs host the winner of the one-game Mets-Giants Wild Card playoff in a 9 p.m. start.

It also happens to be First Friday with all the fun and food on the square and the Rhythm Relics from Terre Haute performing at 7 p.m. on the outdoor stage. At 9 p.m. War Radio will be playing its regular First Friday gig inside The Swizzle Stick.

“We’ll be celebrating the Cubs’ first game of the playoffs with War Radio,” Smith said, explaining that the Cubs’ game will be on all three TVs in the bar (she has installed bigger TVs for the occasion) but the sound will be off while War Radio is playing.

On Saturday, the Cubs’ game will begin at 8 and there will be no band conflicts at what Smith likes to call “the best Cubs’ bar in Indiana.”

Meanwhile, the menu for the event will have a decidedly Chicago touch to it with Italian beef, “Friendly Confines of Greencastle” Chicago dogs and mac and cheese balls featured.

The night will also include wine tasting, baseball trivia contests with lots of prizes and more.

A video is even planned for the occasion, Smith said.

“We want to let them know that even here in little Greencastle, we’re rooting for the Cubs.”

It’s all about enjoying the friendly confines of the local pub.

“It’s about creating a nice atmosphere and keep the momentum going over here,” Smith said. “Come enjoy the playoffs in Greencastle. We will make you feel like you are at Wrigley Field. Wear your Cubs’ gear.

“You don’t have to be a Cub fan to take part,” she added. “You can even be a Cardinals’ fan, that’s OK. We just want to crank it up as things move along. We’ll celebrate every win (and sing ‘Go, Cubs, Go’ she promises).”

Of course, The Swizzle Stick is already festooned wall to wall in its owner’s cherished Chicago Cub memorabilia, yet Smith has much more to display, including a prized autographed Fergie Jenkins’ No. 31 jersey she plans to get out.

“When I got The Swizzle,” she said, “I pulled out a lot of my Cubs’ stuff (to display) but I’ve added to it, so there’s a lot more now.”

And should a non-Cubs’ fan try to wander into the bar with a goat as was famously attempted by the owner of the Chicago Billy Goat Tavern the last time the Cubs were in the World Series in 1945? A situation that supposedly cursed the Cubs from returning to the World Series, which they have not done.

“There will be no animals in my restaurant,” Smith assured.

And don’t even think about bringing along that guy with Notre Dame sweatshirt, Cub hat and headphones.

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