Just as a heads up to any New York City BCBers that do not already have a subscription to MLB Extra Innings, all this week Time Warner is running a free promotion of the package.  I can't remember the exact channels, but I think they are in the 470s.  It's through the weekend, so it should make for some goooooood watchin'.

Jones

I know this is pretty self-serving, but as elementary school teachers such fans of telling their students, if you have a question, someone else probably has it, too.  So, here goes:

I am finally buying a smart phone of some sort.  I've narrowed it down to a Blackberry, the new Samsung on Verizon that runs Windows Mobile, and the iPhone.

Does anyone has any experience with MLB gameday (just the online live stats, not the audio or video) on a smart phone?  This is pretty much the main reason I'm buying a more sophisticated telephone.  

Thanks!

After some talk a few weeks back about bars where you can catch the Cubs on television when they are out of market (read: nearly all the time), I decided to check one out yesterday.

I went to Standings (2nd ave and 7th street) to see the game.  The bar is really small, but the beer selection is excellent, the staff is friendly, and everyone seems to be very knowledgeable about baseball.  They even have a chalkboard revealing the bar fantasy league standings.  They were good about keeping one TV on the Cubs, even when the BoSox game began after their extended rain delay (many Boston fans present) and during the Chicago rain delay.

They don't have any food, per se, but there are good places nearby and they also have free pizza on Friday nights and also some specialty nights.  For example, next Thursday (5/31), they're having a tribute to Wisconsin (in their series of events honoring the microbrews and grub from a particular state).  They will have sausage and pepper sandwiches and Leinenkugel and Sprecher on tap!  Plus, in July they're having a Philadelphia/Pennsylvania night for their anniversary, replete with Victory beers on tap (yes!) and cheesesteaks.

In short, I recommend the place and plan to get there as often as possible.  www.standingsbar.com.