“Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came.” That’s a line from the theme from old television show Cheers. It also fits every time I go to Village Inn, my local pizzeria and sports bar.

I haven’t quite reached Norm status, but I am always greeted warmly by staffers and some locals. In a joke between a former manager and me, my autographed picture actually hangs among pictures of Chicago sports stars.

Last Friday, unusually having nothing planned, I walked over to Village Inn. I planned on enjoying a pizza while watching the Cleveland Guardians hopefully beating the Chicago White Sox. My plans got slightly derailed when I saw musician Johnnie Miller setting up outside. Although I have seen Miller perform many times at Village Inn, I couldn’t pass eating outside and enjoying the show, especially on this beautiful summer night.

Miller and his band play a mix of country and rock covers and original tunes. For three hours Miller and the band entertained the outside diners, along with occasional passersby who lingered extra long, liking what they heard.

It was such a wonderful night. As I sat there with my tower of chicken nachos and big Coke, listening to the soothing sounds of Miller with just enough street traffic in the background to provide extra ambience, I was relaxed as could possibly be.

By the time Miller finished his three-hour set, the baseball game was ending with a White Sox loss. As I made the two-block walk home, I smiled at this perfect night.

— John Wroblewski, online writer