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May the best fry win

By Lisa Arnett, @redeyeeatdrink — Thu, 23 May 2013

Serving fries from a food truck would have been a futile effort under Chicago's former regulations. Who wants to eat a pre-packaged batch that's fried in the morning and sits under heaters all day? After an ordinance allowing on-board cooking passed last year, licensed trucks are free to cook to order. We paid a visit to two recently debuted trucks that are frying up their own signature versions.

Jerk fries ($3) at Jerk Modern Jamaican Grill

The backstory: Video game producer-turned-food truck operator Dion Solano's two-month-old truck is inspired by the food carts he ate from growing up in Jamaica.

Best for: Eating on the go. Though the name might sound like the fries are covered with sloppy jerk sauce, they're actually just coated in jerk seasoning before being tossed into a wax paper bag, which makes for easy snacking-while-walking.

Tasting notes: Solano dusts his fries with the same jerk seasoning he uses on his meats. It's peppery, salty and sweet and built a slow burn with every fry I popped into my mouth. He keeps the exact spice mix under wraps, but the lettering on the back of the truck-"Vehicle powered by allspice"-provides one clue.

Also serving: Jerk chicken, beef patties and Festival, a traditional Jamaican corn fritter

Track the truck: jerk312.com or @Jerk312 on Twitter

The Fat Shallot fries ($5) at The Fat Shallot

The backstory: Husband-and-wife team Sarah Weitz and Sam Barron (a former sous chef atPump Room) sampled street food around the world while working on organic farms and are now putting their own spin on classic sandwiches with this three-week-old truck.

Best for: Eating right away. When packaged up to-go, the cheesy, greasy deliciousness of these fries soaks through the cardboard boat they rest in. They're best to order when you can perch on a nearby curb or bench and snarf them right away.

Tasting notes: A trio of toppings-caramelized onions and shallots, giardiniera and house-made cheddar sauce that's miles away from bright-orange food-court variety-makes this sloppy serving of fries a creamy-spicy-sweet flavor bomb. The fries could stand to be a little crispier to stand up to all the toppings, but that was my only gripe.

Also serving: A twisted reuben sandwich with crispy pastrami and tarragon slaw and grilled salami on a pretzel bun with pickled onions, barbecue sauce and a fried egg

Track the truck: thefatshallot.com or @thefatshallot on Twitter

Reporters visit food trucks unannounced and meals are paid for by RedEye.

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Expect crowds at CTA's airport stops

By Tracy Swartz, @tracyswartz — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:30:00 -0500

Expect more crowds than usual this weekend at the CTA Blue and Orange line airport stations--but Memorial Day isn't the busiest CTA day of the year.

Friday is historically the highest ridership day of Memorial Day weekend at the O'Hare Blue Line and Midway Orange Line stations, a RedEye analysis of daily CTA ridership found.

Last year, the O'Hare stop saw 13,090 entries on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend compared to 12,116 entries on the actual holiday. The Friday total put that day in the top 40 of most entries at the O'Hare station in the last 12 years, according to CTA data.

This year, some visitors may be paying more for their ride from the O'Hare station than they did in years past. Since January, riders without unlimited passes or Chicago Cards have paid $5 for Blue Line trips from O'Hare instead of $2.25, the systemwide cost for a rail trip. The CTA enacted that fare as part of pass price increases to balance the budget.

Compared to O'Hare, Midway sees far fewer riders Memorial Day weekend. There were 10,158 entries at the Midway stop on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend last year compared to 5,601 entries on the actual holiday.

Though these numbers are high, there are other days that see more riders than Memorial Day.

The O'Hare station saw the most entries in the last 12 years on Oct. 5, two days before the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The station recorded 16,175 entries that day.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving last year (13,710) also saw more O'Hare riders than the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.

Historically, the Fourth of July weekend has been the biggest weekend for the Midway station. The most entries at that Orange Line stop in last 12 years were July 3 in 2008, 2007, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

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Mr. Leather moves to the Mag Mile

By Tony Peregrin — Thu, 23 May 2013

A different kind of leather experience is hitting the Magnificent Mile this Memorial Day Weekend-the 35th annual International Mr. Leather competition-with accoutrements, goods and services not likely to be found at Coach, Ferragamo or Gucci.

Securely cuffed to a new host hotel this year-the Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile-2013 marks the first time the event, which draws thousands of leather daddies, rubber-suited men and other fetish folk from around the world, takes place on the front door of one of the most famous shopping and dining avenues in the country.

"The guys that come out for IML also go sightseeing and shop and out to eat-all the typical touristy things," said IML coordinator Jon Krongaard. "The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau estimates IML brings in $14 million to $18 million in tourist revenue each year to the city of Chicago."

Even with all that spending power, will shoppers at Forever 21 and the Gap-both within striking distance of the Marriott-balk at the occasional sighing of a hirsute man in assless chaps?

"They probably won't even blink an eye," said Krongaard, brushing off any potential culture clash. "It is what it is-IML attendees and contestants are just here to have a good time. And by the way, assless chaps are redundant-if your ass doesn't hang out-then they are pants."

"I don't think it's going to be a big deal-people are generally more accepting of gays and lesbians at this point. If anything, people on Michigan Avenue will be more prone to ask these guys if they can have a picture taken with them," said title-holder Jason Hendrix, International Mr. Leather 2004, and producer of the popular Chicago events DILF, Stag and Otter, which showcase various subgroups within the gay male community.

"The Marriott is well-aware of who this group is, and they are prepared for many eventualities," Krongaard added. "We've held back no punches on what goes on in the host hotels during IML. At the end of the day, I know the hotel will do everything they can to make sure attendees have as much fun as possible with limited interruptions."

No longer stymied by local labor union issues that plagued sympathetic but contractually bound IML organizers at the previous host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Chicago, this year's event promises to be bigger than ever. The Marriott has been sold out for three months, and weekend package sales are up 15 percent compared to last year. Krongaard also reports a noticeable uptick in vendors showcasing their wares at the popular Leather Market this year.

"Booth space has been sold out for weeks," Krongaard said. "The wait list is as long as a legal pad."

IML spans several days (Thursday through Monday) and features a bevy of speakers, seminars, mixers, and themed dance parties, many held at sites around Chicago, including a private screening of "Interior. Leather Bar." directed by actor James Franco and Travis Mathews at the Leather Archives & Museum in Rogers Park.

"We've been interested in the film "Interior. Leather Bar." since it premiered at Sundance earlier this year," said Rick Storer, executive director of the Archives. "We feel it's a good fit for the crowd that attends International Mr. Leather weekend, so we reached out to The Film Collaborative who handles screening licensing. Since the film still hasn't premiered in Chicago, we were permitted to screen it privately to members of the Leather Archives & Museum."

The film imagines 40 minutes of gay S&M footage that was rumored to be cut from the 1980 film "Cruising," which stared Al Pacino.

"The footage was cut in order to save 'Cruising' from receiving an X-rating," Storer said. "The filmmakers created 'Interior. Leather Bar.' to imagine what the lost footage might have contained. I'm particularly interested in [the film] because gay leathermen have had mixed reactions to 'Cruising.' While some see the 1980 film as representative of gay leather culture in the 1970s, others claim the criminal violence in the film overshadows any realistic portrayal. I look forward to seeing how 'Interior. Leather Bar.' adds to this conversation."

This year, all IML contest-related events Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night will also be held outside the host hotel: Opening Ceremonies and the Pecs and Personality contents will take place at the Vic Theatre in Lakeview, and on Sunday the contest to determine the new IML title-holder will once again be held at the Harris Theater downtown. According to Krongaard, the size of the Leather Market expanded from 120 vendors in 2012 to 134 this year-essentially harnessing both Marriott ballrooms for the entire weekend-and prompting IML organizers to seek venues outside the hotel for contest-related events.

"The Vic will be a little tight, from a production standpoint. And there isn't a lot of green room space for contestants. But The Vic is the perfect size for attendees of both events, and it has such an amazing history," Krongaard said, referring to the 100-year-old venue's past lives as a vaudeville house and porn theater. "It is also Boystown-adjacent, which is a big draw for some."

Boystown establishments are hosting a variety of IML-related events Memorial Day weekend, along with two new additions to the strip-Replay, a craft beer and bourbon arcade bar in the old Buck's digs--and after 15 weeks of construction--a newly remodeled MainBar at Sidetrack.

"People have asked me why we've made so many changes this year, and I always say we always try to change it up, and this year is no exception," Krongaard said.

Tony Peregrin is a RedEye special contributor.

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A drink for every woman in Chicago

By John Hickey, @johnnyjhickey — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:34:00 -0500

Summertime in Chicago means the bars will be as packed as ever with young singles looking to mingle and tingle. The women of this city are as distinct as the neighborhoods that produce them, and it's important for every guy to know his environment. Below is a handy guide to help a young bachelor navigate the waters of some different neighborhoods, with my researched-albeit extremely biased-recommendation for the perfect drink to order a lady in each one.

Gold Coast: Scotch

How did you even end up in the Triangle? She's old enough to be your aunt, and they're clearly fake. Quit trying to outkick your coverage and head up to McFadden's.

Lincoln Park: Bomb

O-bomb, car-bomb, Jager bomb. She might look like the bomb, but she's three quarters of the way toward getting bombed (don't read this out loud on an airplane). Chances are high that she goes to DePaul, and you probably can't compete with the guy who lives in her dorm. Sorry, champ.

Loop: Happy hour beer

She's a busy working professional and she only has time for one drink because she has to get to her spin class. While she's grateful for the gesture, don't break your wallet; you'll always come second to her career. I'd stay in touch with her in case you ever need legal advice. Which you will, because it's summertime in Chicago.

Old Town: Martini

Her friends told her they were going to Old Town Social so she busted out the stilts. You can find her leaning against the bar for support, her legs wobbling on her heels. Despite the fact that she seems a little out of place, she'll definitely know what type of vermouth to order in her drink.

River North: Vodka soda

Simple, classic, affordable. And I'm not talking about the drink. Be careful, you might end up having to buy a round for the rest of the bachelorette party she's with, but most of them seem like decent human beings. Bail if she says the words, "I want to go to a piano bar!"

Streeterville: ?

I can't find a bar anywhere. All I see are apartment buildings. Is it shady to try to buy a girl a drink at Lucky Strike? Is that a thing? A Beer and a bowl? I'm making it my thing. If it doesn't work out, I can always see "Iron Man 3" by myself again at AMC.

Wicker Park: PBR

The good news: It's cheap and easy for the both of you to get buzzed. The bad news: You don't have any tattoos or a handlebar mustache, so you feel out of place. Don't go back to her place if you're allergic to cats. Also, how do I get to the Red Line from here?

Wrigleyville: Doesn't matter

It really doesn't.

John Hickey is a RedEye special contributor.

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Crosstown beer brawl

By Kate Bernot, @redeyeeatdrink — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:44:00 -0500

Yes, some fans go to baseball games to watch the on-field action. But I'll attest that a solid 72 percent-a completely unscientific digit I've selected-are there for the sunshine, the nacho helmets and the chance to catch a slingshot tee. Especially when the teams' performances are lackluster, most fans are at a game because Wrigley and The Cell essentially are Chicago's two largest beer gardens. As the Cubs and Sox square off for the Crosstown Classic next week (May 27-30), only one question was on my mind: Which field has the better brews? I drank my way through the ballparks on two consecutive weeks to settle the true Cubs-Sox rivalry.

SCORECARD

The standard

Wrigley: On the North Side, Old Style still rules. It hurt to fork over the $7.75 necessary for a draft of the not-so-bubbly swill, knowing this could buy more than one better beer at a bar outside the confines. But, I reasoned, maybe Old Style's nostalgia factor would make it cool again, like suspenders or vinyl records. No such luck-and don't even ask me about Old Style Light.

U.S. Cellular: MillerCoors products are ubiquitous here, with Miller Lite earning the title of top-selling beer. Drafts come in large (20 ounces) and regular sizes (12 ounces), which cost $7.75 and $6.50, respectively. On a hot evening after a bike ride down to The Cell, Miller Lite tasted hydrating to me, plus the draft was well-carbonated.

Winner: U.S. Cellular

The premium options

Wrigley: Domestic craft beer fans won't have much luck at this ballpark, where premium choices are mostly imports such as Heineken, Modelo and Red Stripe. Anheuser-Busch rules here, so some concessions areas carry gluten-free Redbridge and Bud Light Straw-Ber-Rita. I was pleasantly surprised to find tallboy cans of Angry Orchard cider, but the $8.75 price tag kept me from ordering any.

U.S. Cellular: Bell's! New Holland! Weinhard's! Craft beer fans can find something to enjoy at The Cell, though it may take some walking. I gladly paid the extra dollar for a draft of Bell's Oberon, a warm-weather staple that, like baseball, screams springtime.

Winner: U.S. Cellular

Logistics

Wrigley: Buying a beer without ever leaving your seat really is the American dream, right? Wrigley's 75-100 walking food and beverage vendors were out in full force at the Monday night game I attended, and the vocal beer-slingers circled by at regular intervals. Finding specific beers on the concourse was tougher, since I couldn't always tell which vendors sold which beers without squinting at the refrigerators or menus.

U.S. Cellular: Clearly marked premium beer tents on the concourse display large-size menus, making it simple to identify which stands sell craft options. Attendance was more sparse at the Monday night Sox game I attended, which may have accounted for why few vendors walked through my section of the stands.

Winner: Draw

Wild cards

Wrigley: Though Breckenridge Brewery beers are not on the official list of Wrigley concessions, I saw two mysterious six-packs of them in a cooler at one of the concourse's stands. Were they for sale? Brought in by an employee for a post-work party? I didn't spy them anywhere else, so they were either a fluke or a craft beer mirage.

U.S. Cellular: Combining beer with some basic-level mixology, The Cell features a Leinenkugel's tent where various shandies and beers can be mixed together to create flavor combos. It's nothing a college freshman couldn't do in a Solo cup, but there was a line for these summery concoctions when I passed by.

Winner: Draw

Pre- and post-game bars

Wrigley: As a former Wrigleyville resident, I can attest that the 'hood is essentially one huge sports bar. A little extra searching, though, reveals more unique haunts such as Sheffield's, Goose Island Wrigleyville, Nisei Lounge and the new Replay arcade bar opening Friday in nearby Boystown. For sheer volume of TVs, beer and baseball fans, though, any bar along Clark Street will do.

U.S. Cellular: Bridgeport's tight-knit vibe is a major draw for me. Any time I'm at The Cell, I make sure to swing by Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar to check out the impressive beer list and to chat up the bartenders. Bernice's Tavern and Schaller's Pump are estuaries where old and young groups mingle peacefully, and you're way less likely to encounter major debauchery there than up north.

Winner: Wrigley

kbernot@tribune.com @redeyeatdrink

Inside the #SoxSocial Lounge

By Riley Blevins @Riley_Blevins — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:34:00 -0500

A handful of elderly folks stopped, peered past a set of double glass doors, scratched their heads and were on their way.

"Why's there a bird on the door?" one passerby said, index finger stapled to her chin and forehead scrunched.

The younger crowd had a much different reaction.

Once the youngsters spotted the sign that hangs just below Section 154 at U.S. Cellular Field, a slight nod of the head and a casual peek inside came to be expected.

"This is pretty convenient," 19-year-old Dylan Goll said.

What was all the commotion about?

The White Sox on Monday opened its #SoxSocial Lounge, a special social media room for fans and the first of its kind in Major League Baseball.

The lounge features multiple televisions--many streaming different White Sox social media content such as the team's Twitter feed and Instagram--two mobile phone charging stations and a few tables and couches to just sit and relax.

Additionally, the lounge is expecting to add two large tables equipped with 16 charging units next month.

Hanging from the lounge's walls are pictures of White Sox players with their respective twitter handles printed below.

"We wanted to give our fans an added value and connect the social media side of the game with the in-game experience," said Nicole Saunches, the White Sox director of mass communications. "They can connect with us and the team. It just adds value for the fans, and it's just a nice place to come and relax."

Goll, alongside his friends Adnan Jahan and Derek Bolman, would agree.

The group of 19-year-olds from Kildeer said they were sitting in their seats along the third-base line when the ballpark's jumbotron informed them of the lounge.

"Yeah, I mean it's cool, nice and relaxing," Goll said. "And that couch is comfy."

38-year-old Pete Alvarado from Bridgeport entered the lounge in desperate need of a phone charger.

With his phone plugged into one of the two charging docks, Alvarado climbed aboard one of the lounge's several seats.

Alvarado began asking Saunches questions about the social media shown on the televisions. Not long after, Saunches was educating Alvarado about Pinterest--a social media site he'd never heard of--and had the White Sox's page pulled up on one of the lounge's TVs.

"I came in for a second to charge my phone, and now I think I've been here a half hour," Alvarado said. "It's pretty great. It's a little empty right now, but I think everyone will be using it once they find out about it."

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This 'Hangover' is fun

Matt Pais, @mattpais — Wed, 22 May 2013

*** (out of four)

If by chance you own pet dogs, chickens or giraffes, do not bring them to "The Hangover: Part III." Things don't go well for animals in the movie.

Things never go well for the Wolf Pack, as they are once again in over their heads in this funny and quick-moving finale to a trilogy that didn't need to be a trilogy, but made improvements with each film. Actually, "The Hangover" now bests the "Iron Man" franchise by a half-star (8-7.5 total) in my book. So there's that.

Since no one's dazedly chasing down clues from the previous night's intoxicated mayhem, "The Hangover: Part III" diverts enough from the formula to avoid complaints that the movie's just redundant. (Many incorrectly made that claim about "Part II," which was a funnier, less misogynistic step up from the overrated original.)

With Doug (Justin Bartha) kidnapped as collateral, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galififanakis) must track down elusive international criminal/gangster and wild card Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) and retrieve the gold he stole from organized crime boss Marshall (John Goodman). The timing couldn't be worse-as if there's ever a good time to be stuck between a killer who favors pig masks and another who finds massive destruction hilarious-considering the more stable Wolf Pack members have just tried to intervene on Alan's reckless lifestyle. When a pal accidentally decapitates the giraffe they bought in order to feed it from his tree house, you don't shrug and say, "He can surely fix his issues himself."

I wish director Todd Phillips, who co-wrote parts two and three, would find humor only in Alan as a dumb, giant baby rather than mocking someone who at times shows signs of mental illness or developmental disability. Phillips also still finds anal rape just a stitch. And why don't these guys even think about how worried their wives are during these situations? Yet rather than leaning on countless over-the-top situations, "Part III" capitalizes on the comic skills of its cast, who have all come a long way as movie stars and onscreen partners.

Galifianakis can get a laugh just by crying as Alan, and I love that Alan wrote to Chow in prison just to say, "OMG, the McRib is back." Helms cracks me up by shouting, "Are you out of your mind?" Good comedy often comes from character and a funny person digging in, not necessarily doing the absolute craziest thing imaginable.

Don't worry, "The Hangover Part III" has its bananas moments. I just like that the franchise ends as a more balanced meal.

Watch Matt on "You & Me This Morning," Friday at 6:55 a.m. on WCIU, the U

mpais@tribune.com

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The porch-safety checklist

By Leonor Vivanco, @lvivanco — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:59:00 -0500

Chicagoans planning to use their porch this summer should check out the structure first, city officials advised on Wednesday.

The city issued porch safety tips on Wednesday, just before the Memorial Day weekend and the 10^th anniversary next month of the fatal Lincoln Park porch collapse that killed 13 people and injured dozens more.

"Like any part of a building that is exposed to the varied weather conditions experienced in Chicago, porches should be checked on an annual basis for any wear and tear," Buildings Commissioner Michael Merchant said in a news release.

Residents should check for split or rotting wood, evidence of water damage; loose, missing or rusting hardware or bolts; loose or missing anchors where the porch attaches to the building; missing, damaged or loose support beams and planking; excessive movement of the structure when walked on; and wobbly handrails or guardrails.

If there are problems, the city said, stop using the porch, report the concerns to the building owner or property manager, and contact 311 to report potentially dangerous or deteriorated porches and request an inspection.

The number of porch complaints has gone down over the past few years. For example, there were 1,282 complaints about porches made to 311 in 2012 compared to 2,322 in 2006, according to the city. So far this year, there were more than 200 complaints.

Meanwhile, the number of permits issued for new, repaired or replaced porches has fluctuated from 2,066 in 2006 to 3,468 in 2008 and back down to 2,028 in 2012. The number of issued permits continuing to stay above 2,000 each year indicated to the city that porches are being maintained, the release said.

Residents were also reminded to limit the number of people out on porches.

"Residents should check porches for issues before entertaining guests, and hosts should make sure that guests do not gather on porches and stair structures," Merchant said in the release.

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The case of the disappearing boyfriend

Anna Pulley, @annapulley — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:49:00 -0500

I was with my boyfriend for about seven months. Everything was fantastic, as far as I knew, until one day he just decided to disappear. No, really, I mean disappear. I couldn't get in touch with him via text, phone calls, anything. One night we were on the phone saying "goodnight" and "I love you," and the next day he was completely gone. I've racked my brain trying to figure out what went wrong, but I can't figure it out. It's been over two months now, and I've stopped trying to get ahold of him, but I'm having a really hard time moving on with no explanation, no answers, no closure ... Any advice?--Disappearing Boyfriend

He straight-up disappeared? In the sense that he stopped returning your calls, or, like, he disappeared from everywhere? No more Facebook posts? No tweets or even LinkedIn updates? Is it possible he is a political refugee, hiding out from cruel dictators abroad? One time I got seriously lost in Gary, Ind., and returned home several days later with a crate of Pall Mall cigarettes and a Michael Jackson tramp stamp. If those are unlikely scenarios, which I hope they are, then I'm afraid you'll have to chalk this up to an incredibly bizarre case of man vanishing, or manishing as it's known on the street.

Manishing is sadly quite common these days (as well as its female counterpart, Missappearing), especially if it's only been one or two dates, since modern forms of communication are all too easy to ignore. But seven months isn't a blind date one-off; it's a bonafide, meet-the-parents-and-drive-you-to-the-gyno relationship. Either way, I'm so sorry this happened to you, DB, and I sincerely hope your ex is chained to several yappy, incontinent chihuahuas right now.

You could drive yourself crazy theorizing why your beau disappeared, but I'd recommend you do that as little as possible. His disappearance is not about you--it's his immature and cowardly way of dealing with his own issues, which I'm sure are plentiful. Does this knowledge help you feel less terrible about being shrugged off? Probably not. But you don't need his explanations in order to have closure. Closure is something we cultivate on our own, like a Chia pet.

At this point, the "whys" of the situation are less important than the sheer gall of it happening at all. Remind yourself that, even though the months you spent together may have been great, in the long run, you deserve far better. In a way, it's good he showed his true colors fairly early on in the relationship, rather than years from now. Stay strong in not contacting him, and when you're good and ready, get back in the dating game, armed perhaps with a little more hesitance, but at least a strange story to tell those who end up being worthy of your time.

Want to ask Anna an anonymous question about love, sex or dating? Email your quandary to redeyedating@gmail.com. Need to give your dating life a boost? Sign up for RedEye Dating.

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This man has 6,680 balls

By Riley Blevins @Riley_Blevins — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:56:00 -0500

Glove in hand, backpack fastened around his shoulders, Zack Hample scans the field.

It's batting practice at U.S. Cellular Field. The rhythmic thud of ball meeting bat stops.

A new slugger trots to the plate.

Hample perks up.

He bites the bottom of his lip. He squints. He looks like a marksman trying to spot his target through a pair of aging sights.

Target acquired.

"Dustin Pedroia!" he shouts. "Left field, left field!"

Hample, the record-setting baseball collector who has snagged more than 6,680 balls at MLB games, bounds up the aisle in right field, skipping two steps at a time.

He hustles furiously. But this is only practice.

Snagging balls was once just a hobby. But this season there's money on the line.

Biggs Sunflower Seeds is challenging Hample to snag a game-used ball at all 30 big-league ballparks this season. For every stadium at which he succeeds, BIGS will donate $500 to Pitch in for Baseball, a charity that collects and redistributes new and used baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged communities around the world.

"It's been exhausting and fantastic all at the same time," Hample said.

So far, Hample has raised $7,000 and corralled balls at all 14 of his stadium stops.

Hample's record for most balls nabbed in a game came on his birthday on Sept. 14, 2011. He pocketed 36 that day at Great American Ballpark.

But don't ask him about it, he's still bitter that he let a guy out jostle him from No. 37.

The last time Hample didn't holster a ball? (game-used or BP) Sept. 2, 1993.

What went wrong?

"Two words: Yankee Stadium," Hample chuckled.

While Hample failed to snag a game-used ball Tuesday at The Cell, rest easy. He returns Wednesday night.

Currently, Hample said he averages eight balls a game.

"He's just so passionate about this," said Neal Stewart, a Bigs employee who's joining Hample on his journey. "He's on a mission. The fun part is, this won't be easy. He's so intense about it."

The intensity is easy enough to spot.

As seen in the New York native griping his backpack straps and sprinting down the outfield concourse, headed for left field and a better snagging position for the right-handed-hitting Pedroia.

"Hurry!" Hample shouts over his shoulder.

Hample reaches his destination: eight rows deep in left-center.

"Ah," he says, "I think Pedroia's gonna pull one."

He repositions. This time in the far left-field corner, squished against the bullpen that takes up the last 20 yards or so of the left field fence.

The windup. The pitch. Crack.

Sure enough, Pedroia yanks a ball down the left-field line.

Hample looks back, pulsing his eyebrows a few times almost to say, "I told you so."

But the ball crashes in the bullpen.

"That's the problem with The Cell," Hample says. "The bullpens swallow a lot of balls."

Hample has this ball-snagging thing down to a science. He carries both rosters. He wields a sheet with some version of "Hey, throw me a ball," written in more than 30 languages. He owns hats and T-shirts of all 30 big-league teams. He even owns an umpire hat for after the game. He tracks stats. He knows where to sit and where not to. He moves spots every half inning. And he's nabbed at least one ball in his last 902 games.

He pocketed four just 20 minutes into batting practice Tuesday night.

A few more batters take their hacks. Only a couple of balls reach the outfield seats.

"Slow day," Hample says, hands on hips. "Watch this."

Hample heads back to the bullpen. He sets his backpack at his feet.

He dives inside, emerging with a lanyard, string, rubber band, Sharpie marker and a carabineer. He grabs his Rawlings outfielder's glove. The one with "Zack Hample" branded down the thumb.

Hample loops the lanyard through the index finger hole in his glove and latches on the carabineer.

He leans over the bullpen railing.

"Look," he says, pointing to a ball resting about five feet away.

He lowers the string. He sways his glove a few times like it's the pendulum of grandfather clock, then tosses his contraption.

Direct hit.

He reels the ball closer. Time for step two.

He pulls up his glove, fastens a thick rubber band across its fingers, stuffs a marker in its heel and lowers it again.

He works the ball into his glove, wedging it between the marker and rubber band.

Bingo. He lifts it up.

A kid two rows back watches Hample with wide eyes.

Hample turns, ball in hand, eyeing his newest treasure.

Hample spots the kid.

"Here ya go," he says, handing the ball to the youngster.

No biggie. After all, batting practice balls don't count toward the charity challenge.

But most importantly, BP balls are easy to snag. Game-used is where the difficulty lies.

And for that, he has a whole different bag of tricks.

First pitch is just moments away. Hample sits at the end of an aisle--like always, because mobility is key--just two rows from the gate where players take and exit the field.

The White Sox are in the field. But Hample puts on his Red Sox hat.

Hample stands, flapping his arms, screaming, "Brian Butterfield! Hey, Butterfield!" He's trying to get the attention of the Red Sox's third-base coach.

"See," Hample says, "you got to get his attention. Make sure he knows I'm here. That way, if a ball rolls his way he knows I'm a [Red] Sox fan."

But the Red Sox cap only stays on for two outs.

Two Red Sox players are quickly retired. Out comes the White Sox cap.

Will Middlebrooks rolls a grounder to Paul Konerko, who steps on first for the third out.

Konerko eyes the ball, then flips it to shortstop Alexi Ramirez as the White Sox head back to the dugout. Hample is already positioned in the first row.

"Da me la bola, por favor," he calls out to Ramirez.

Ramirez notices, glancing into the stands. He sees Hample.

Ramirez raises the ball, but at the last minute he spots a little girl next to Hample.

The White Sox infielder points a finger toward Hample and draws a line to the pint-sized girl. Hample nods.

Ramirez flips the ball to Hample. Hample then forks it over to the little girl. Her face glows.

"Thank you," she squeaks.

"Put an asterisk by that one," Hample said. "Technically, I got it first. But that won't count."

After all, Hample has rules. The chief ones being no ball hawking from little kids.

As Hample says, it's just not worth it.

He remembers being a 12-year-old sitting in the bleachers at the Mets' old Shea Stadium. He had two balls tossed to him that day--the first balls he ever caught.

He remembers that moment, holding those baseballs thinking, "I just won the lottery."

The same moment his dad likes to say "was like a baby shark tasting blood for the first time."

After that evening in New York, Hample went to school the next day declaring to his friends he'd collect 100 balls in his life. His friends laughed.

His goal of 100 soon turned into 1,000.

"Getting a ball still makes me so happy," Hample said. "But as a kid, there was no better feeling in the world."

Walking the concourse in the late innings Tuesday, Hample spotted a knee-high youngster swallowed in a Red Sox jersey.

Hample handed him a ball.

The kid's face froze, like he had just walked into the world's largest candy shop. The child's father shook Hample's hand and thanked him.

After the game, with most of the bleachers cleared as rain came in buckets, two kids approached Hample.

"Are you the guy from those videos?" they ask, faces bright red and braces trembling.

"I guess so," Hample replied with a laugh. He sank to his knees, chatting for five minutes, sharing everything from stories to advice.

"When I was little I just wanted to catch one ball," Hample said. "I started off doing this for fun. All these years later, I'm still having fun.

"I've gotten way more attention than anyone deserves for catching baseballs, but this childhood hobby has evolved into this lifestyle that has hopefully touched so many people and will continue to do so for a long time."

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