Photo: Courtesy of Sweet Baby Ray’s Smokehouse, Bourbon & Beer
 

In Wrigleyville, no matter how hapless the Cubs may be, opening day is a holiday that everyone celebrates. That’s why David Raymond picked April 8 to fire up the smoker at his first city outpost of Sweet Baby Ray’s (he also has two suburban locations). We paid him a visit during that finger-licking first week. 

Given that Raymond smokes his brisket for a minimum of 14 hours, chances are he saw at least a handful of diehards lining up early for tickets. And it’s a good bet that—win or lose—the Cubbie faithful scored immediately with barbecued chicken, ribs, and pulled pork and scads of Baby Ray sauces, including a new Alabama-style white.

At least the city’s long wait for Baby Ray’s is over.

3478 N. Clark St., 773-975-7427.