Bachelor Trip for Rutgers @ NU

DarkSide576 said:

Connor,
I have degrees from both NU and RU. I hope you and your friends have a great time in Evanston and Chicago for your bachelor party weekend. Although the NU tailgating scene, in my opinion, is more intimate than RU due to a smaller footprint, it is more lively, in my opinion. People do not really head to bars prior to games due to the scarcity of bars in proximity to the stadium. Evanston has nothing like Easton Ave/Olde Queen's bar scene. Think more like Princeton and less like New Brunswick. The new tailgating scene is a question mark due to the new stadium/parking lot layout. I would most certainly recommend staying in Chicago and taking the El to the game. Having a few beverages at your hotel or your rental prior to going on the train is certainly a nice thing to do. Tickets are another question mark. The Rutgers game will be family weekend. That means a lot of Freshmen families likely will be looking for tickets in a smaller stadium that will still be a novelty. That said it should not dissuade you from coming to Chicago for the weekend. Should you have any other questions I would be happy to answer them on or offline.

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RU_UniWatch said:

Haha! Wow what a small world! Looks like I came to the right place. Thank you so much for the added context and the comparison to Princeton, which really put things into perspective!

I will definitely save your screen name and ask you question in the future! I am in contact with the Rutgers ticket office, too, and will hopefully be able to grab tickets through the away team allotment.

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RU_UniWatch said:

Hey everyone hope you’re having a great offseason so far! Lots of exciting additions for the Wildcats, and it’s been awesome to see the steady climb under Coach Braun.

I’ve been throwing around the idea of doing my bachelor trip at an away Rutgers game this season, and the Rutgers @ Northwestern game has stood out as a great option because of its proximity to Chicago (wish we got you during baseball season!).

I wanted to pop onto this board and ask the real fans some questions to get some clarity:

Tailgating: Is there a big, organized tailgating scene near Ryan Field, or do people mostly go to bars before kickoff? If bars are more of the norm, what are some popular spots you’d recommend for a group that’s visiting from out of town?

Tickets: With the new Ryan Field setup this year, do you expect it will be harder than usual to get tickets for home games?

We’ll probably roll with a group of 10-12 guys, so any tips, recommendations, and gameday traditions you think a visiting group should know about would all be awesome.

Thanks in advance I really hope to make it out to Evanston this fall!

Best,
Connor

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• Alice Millar Chapel (primary)
• Historic campus grounds (Old College site area)

• Brief reading from John Wesley’s Sermon 22: “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount”
• Reflection on Northwestern’s founding (1851) by Methodist leaders seeking moral and intellectual formation.
• Prayer for vocation, fidelity, and disciplined love.

• Marriage as covenant rather than contract.
• Wesleyan discipline: method, accountability, sanctification.
• The role of Christian education in forming character.

• 20-minute silent walk.
• Each participant carries a short printed prayer.
• Conclude lakeside with Psalm 127 (“Unless the Lord builds the house…”).

• Unity of religion
• Sacred geometry and devotional architecture
• Interfaith humility

• Enter in silence.
• 15 minutes seated reflection.
• Short reading from Bahá’í scripture emphasizing unity and moral rectitude.

• The universality of devotion.
• Marriage as participation in divine unity.
• Distinction between theological differences and shared moral aspiration.

• Quiet
• No televisions
• Minimal alcohol (optional shared bottle of wine)

• One memory of the groom’s integrity
• One exhortation for married life
• One prayer intention

• Candlelight.
• Readings from:
  • 1 Corinthians 13 (without commentary)
  • Wesley’s Covenant Prayer
• 
  
• End in silence.

• Reformed liturgical architecture.
• Discipline and ordered worship.

• Attend morning service if schedule permits.
• Note sermon themes.
• Reflect on covenant theology.

• Apostolic continuity.
• Sacramental theology of marriage.

• Observe architecture and iconography.
• Discuss marriage as sacrament vs covenant.
• Quiet prayer for perseverance.

• Incarnation and material beauty.
• Catholic understanding of family life.

• Psalm reading in nave.
• Reflection on time, scholarship, and mortality

• His understanding of marriage.
• His commitments.
• His spiritual disciplines going forward

• Commitment to check in quarterly.
• Commitment to pray weekly.
• Commitment to counsel honestly.

CatManTrue said:

Welcome! Excellent choice. I’ve outlined a religious, pure, and morally clean outline for your bachelor party which will keep you pure for your big day.

Here is a deliberately pious, austere, and historically grounded bachelor party concept centered on Northwestern University’s Methodist origins, Evanston’s sacred architecture (including the Baha’i House of Worship), and select Chicago churches. The tone is reflective, structured, and restrained.

“A Covenant Walk: From Wesleyan Foundations to Sacred Vocation”

Duration: 1.5–2 days

Dress Code: Jackets, no denim, muted colors.

Tone: Reflective, liturgical, historically literate.

Alcohol: Frowned upon. Optional modest wine at a single meal only.

Technology: Phones silenced except for photography.

Purpose: To mark the groom’s transition to marriage through spiritual discipline, theological reflection, and architectural pilgrimage.

Day I — Northwestern & Evanston: Foundations and Sacred Space

I. Opening Devotion — Northwestern University Campus

Location:

• Alice Millar Chapel (primary)
• Historic campus grounds (Old College site area)

Content:

• Brief reading from John Wesley’s Sermon 22: “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount”
• Reflection on Northwestern’s founding (1851) by Methodist leaders seeking moral and intellectual formation.
• Prayer for vocation, fidelity, and disciplined love.

Suggested Discussion Themes:

• Marriage as covenant rather than contract.
• Wesleyan discipline: method, accountability, sanctification.
• The role of Christian education in forming character.

II. Silent Walk to Lake Michigan

• 20-minute silent walk.
• Each participant carries a short printed prayer.
• Conclude lakeside with Psalm 127 (“Unless the Lord builds the house…”).

Symbolism: The lake as constancy; marriage as vocation built on foundation.


III. Bahá’í House of Worship (Wilmette)


Though not Christian, the temple represents:

• Unity of religion
• Sacred geometry and devotional architecture
• Interfaith humility

Structure:

• Enter in silence.
• 15 minutes seated reflection.
• Short reading from Bahá’í scripture emphasizing unity and moral rectitude.

Discussion outside:

• The universality of devotion.
• Marriage as participation in divine unity.
• Distinction between theological differences and shared moral aspiration.

Tone: Respectful, not syncretic.


IV. Modest Dinner in Evanston

Venue criteria:

• Quiet
• No televisions
• Minimal alcohol (optional shared bottle of wine)

Each groomsman offers:

• One memory of the groom’s integrity
• One exhortation for married life
• One prayer intention

No crude humor. No games.

Evening Close — Compline

Back at lodging:

• Candlelight.
• Readings from:
  • 1 Corinthians 13 (without commentary)
  • Wesley’s Covenant Prayer
• 
  
• End in silence.

Day II — Chicago Ecclesial Pilgrimage

Travel into Chicago early morning.

I. Fourth Presbyterian Church (Magnificent Mile)

Focus:

• Reformed liturgical architecture.
• Discipline and ordered worship.

Activity:

• Attend morning service if schedule permits.
• Note sermon themes.
• Reflect on covenant theology.

II. Holy Name Cathedral (Roman Catholic)

Focus:

• Apostolic continuity.
• Sacramental theology of marriage.

Activity:

• Observe architecture and iconography.
• Discuss marriage as sacrament vs covenant.
• Quiet prayer for perseverance.

III. St. Clement Church (Lincoln Park) or Old St. Patrick’s

Focus:

• Incarnation and material beauty.
• Catholic understanding of family life.

Short theological reflection:

Marriage as participation in divine creativity.

IV. Rockefeller Chapel (University of Chicago) — Optional Addition

Interdenominational Gothic space.

• Psalm reading in nave.
• Reflection on time, scholarship, and mortality

Concluding Rite: Rule of Life for the Groom

Gather in a final location (quiet café or private room).

The groom articulates:

• His understanding of marriage.
• His commitments.
• His spiritual disciplines going forward

Each groomsman signs a written “Rule of Accountability”:

• Commitment to check in quarterly.
• Commitment to pray weekly.
• Commitment to counsel honestly.

Seal with a final blessing.

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mickbula said:

Cmt, you are somewhat of a strange fellow. I guess more power to you??

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RU_UniWatch said:

Sounds like I need to talk to @Purple Pile Driver and Bob!

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