`Go Pack, Go’ for Green Bay Packers’Amazing History of Love of Community

By: Veronica Leighton

 

From the Chicago Bears country to Green Bay Packers country was not exactly an enchanting come-on for me. It’s not that I am a Chicago Bears fan–far from it–I don’t like watching football games, for that matter, all kinds of ball games, from big or small balls. But because I live in Chicago and Chicago Bears’ name has been almost injected into my ears since the first time I stepped onto the Chicago soil 50-some years ago, of course, I root for the Chicago Bears. It’s my team. There’s a sense of loyalty and belonging-nes here.

Through the official invitation of Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and Geiger & Associates, we heeded to the call of an unknown neighboring Greem Bay City, Wisconsin (to me, at the start), for it is only about three hours drive from Chicago. I love long driving, particularly if I’m not the driver. And, it thrilled me that I would be meeting with some journalists from all over America, even from as far as Toronto, Canada.

So, what’s in Green Bay? What I found out immediately was that Green Bay, Wi, is the smallest city to host an NFL team & the oldest city in Wisconsin, and GB welcomed us with open arms of great hospitality. Our group was housed at Holiday Inn & Suites, others were situated at Comfort Suites, Tundra Lodge & Airport Wingate.

Doing some kind of a journal posting on Facebook with all the activities we participated in, I kept my FB friends about what was going on with my GB trip and media tour of this very interesting and historical city. Now let me cull some of these notes for my print reporting here.

DAY 1 at Green Bay, WI

Hotel check-in at Holiday Inn & Suites, and Dinner at Titletown Brewing Company in Green Bay, Wi. Titletown was voted one of USA Today’s 10 Best Brewpubs in the nation. This local fave dining spot features creative cuisine–Titletown cheese curds, Wi brat platter, spicy elk burger, drunk mac & cheese pizza, Jam “beer” laya, & much more. But i opted on ordering New York Strip Steak & Joe ordered his fave bison chili & TBC tacos. Heavenly!

This was followed by the Brewery Tour & beer tasting at Green Bay’s Titletown Brewing Company’s Tap Room, located within the renowned historic Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Depot…very rich history. Sure learning something about beer though I don’t get beer-ful (Joe & I are not beer drinkers), here in Titletown Brewing Company. But enjoy the pictures and descriptions of this beer in this report.

Day 2 at Green Bay,

Wi Onboard the Packers Heritage Trail Trolley Tour….traveling back in time before 13 World Championships, multiple MVPs, and a waiting list for game tickets. Stops included the City Stadium (home to the Green Bay Packers from 1925 to 1956), and many others, a self-guided tour that weaves two compelling stories about Green Bay Packers & about the people of GB and how their undying devotion to their beloved football team pulled it through years of financial struggle & ensured its survival.Then experiencing watching Packers players on their way to Training Camp with local kids with their bikes offering them to ride to the locker room…a sacred tradition for the players & kids for about two blocks. It was so exciting to film this for CPRTV and catch the infectious excitement of the children walking or bicycling and talking with their heroes, the GB Packers players.

Lunch followed at the ultimate Packer House “Under the Lights of Lambeau” — the perfect place for the dedicated Packer fan to stay during game weekend–right across the street from Lambeau Field. Owned by very friendly & amiable Debbie Jacques. Each room in the house is fully decked with GB Packers paraphernalia. Debbie’s place is more like a shrine now for GB players and fans.

Then to the Lambeau Field Tour–feeling the indomitable spirit & impassioned energy of the Green Bay Packers, the only non-profit, community- owned major league professional sports team in the US. Incredible history!

Also visiting the newly renovated GB Packers Hall of Fame located in the dynamic atrium entrance of Lambeau Field. Ninety years of riveting history and pure Packers adrenaline fill the 2-story space with exciting exhibits including four Super Bowl trophies! Too bad, we were not allowed to film inside the Lambeau Field due to some kind of stadium policy.

By this time, we had started mouthing, “Go Pack, Go!” and got a stern warning from my son, “Mother, I will disown you, if you do that!” My Bobby is a diehard Bears fan. Ha ha! I love to tease him that am now a converted Packers fan. Didn’t we hear this story that the Chicago Bears echelons in the early 1900’s helped the GB during their financial distress? Check that out!

Ending the day at OGAN restaurant in DePere, a fine dining offering American cuisine with a fusion of European dishes. Superb shank of lamb we’ve ever tasted.

DAY 3 at Green Bay, WI.

The day started on a “farmer’s breakfast” at the Waseda Farms Market, a full-service, local organic and natural grocery store, that stresses seasonality of products and works with local gardens to provide the majority of the produce.

Menu included Pecan Croissant, Cheese Tray, Lemon Blueberry Kiefer Cup, Garden Vegetable Quiche & Smoked Tri Tip Steak.

After a hearty breakfast, while some members of our media group took off for a brisk morning stroll to the De Pere Riverwalk & Wildlife Viewing Pier and sampling the deliciousness at Alpha Delights European Bakery and Cafe, of course, enjoying Seroogy’s, handmade chocolates & confections, we opted for an adventure at GB’s new zoo & adventure park (no one tried the zip lines, the aerial adventure course & the climbing tower, I noticed.)

Lunch was spent at the popular 1951 West restaurant, an all new contemporary dining experience with a menu that offers a tantalizing glimpse at American Cuisine. This time, I had a very tasty Bison Burger.

This was followed by a relaxing visit at two vineyards, Parallel 44 Winery, one of the most unique wineries in Wisconsin, Situated on 44-degree North Lat which circles the globe and is renowned as the world’s finest grape growing and wine making region; next, was the Von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, founded in 1967.

Then, dinner at a’bravo Bistro & Wine Bar, a chic, fine dining bistro decorated with a Moroccan flair & offers a large variety of upscale plates. Had coffee encrusted tenderloin (out of this world, same thing with Joe’s scallops) . This resto has received many honors for its appetizing cuisine.

Amazingly and speaking of fine dining, Green Bay’s fine dining restaurants that we’ve been to are actually comparable to that of Chicago’s fine dining restos.

What about the bagful of goodies that awaited us every night when we come to retire at our hotel? Very sweet touch.

We hesitantly had to cut our media tour short due to Joe’s upcomng birthday celebration, and due to VT deadline. But first we made a detour to Champion, Wisconsin (about 30 minutes away), the site of the new and first National Shrine of our Lady of Good Help. This is another beautiful story of miracles and apparitions. Joe’s column on page 22 speaks briefly about Our Lady of Good Help.

Thank you so much to the wonderful untiring people that made our tour so worthy of remembering and relishing…from the Greater Green Bat & Visitors Bureau: Mr. Brad Toll, Ms. Brenda Krainik & Jessica Diederich; from Geiger & Associates, Debbie Geiger, Eva Simpson, Rachel (thanks for that special trip to Walgreen’s), and Virginia for your ever-helpful and accommodating nature.

We surely enjoyed Green Bay, Wisconsin, spread the word, and will be back!##

Our ABC’s of Beer at Titletown Brewing. 1st pic, Boathouse Pilsner– a Bohemian golden lager, spicy Saaz hops, clean finish (gold medalist in 2010 Best American Fest), pic 2, Dark Helmet Schwartzbier, black German lager, coffee & chocolate tastes, full bodied (bronze medalist, 2009 Great American Beer Fest) , pic 3, Johnny Blood Red, Irish red ale, caramel maltz & toasted barley (silver medalist Irish style red ale, 2015 Great American Beer Fest.

Listening to the beer lecture and history of Titletown Brewing Company from its president, Brent Weycker

Large stainless steel beer containers inside the Titletown Brewing Company.

The traditional bike ride when kids wait in line to offer a ride to the players on their way to training camp to ride their bikes.