Holstein Park

The city sports an array of indoor and outdoor swimming facilities, but nothing compares to Holstein Park’s commodious pool. The deep end hits twelve feet, there’s a separate pool for the kids and the pool is wide and long enough for everyone to keep to themselves. It seriously puts East Bank Club’s members-only rooftop pool to shame. Conveniently located in Bucktown’s residential quarters, Holstein’s pool attracts young professionals and families, and eschews some of the riffraff of other pools. If only diving boards were allowed.

2200 North Oakley
(312)742-7554

Best of Chicago 2009

Malice with Chains

Malice with Chains, known in the conventional world as Alice Gleason, is retiring from the Windy City Rollers after four rough and rowdy years of turmoil and terror on the track. A Fan Favorite, MVP, Best Jammer and 2008 Blocker of the Year, Malice leaves as Team Captain of the WCR All Stars, the number-one roller derby team in the region (number two in the nation). Co-Captain Varla Vendetta describes Malice as a “tough goofball” who “brought her A-game when we needed to knock girls around.” Due to an existing back injury and the physical and emotional toil of derby life, Malice says her body needs some rest. Her advice for the Roller who takes her place in next season’s jams: “The harder you push yourself in practice, the less it hurts later on.”

Best of Chicago 2009

Michael Jordan during the 2016 Olympic bid

The question became: where was he during this whole campaign? He was more ghost than a fourth encounter. Couldn’t be seen nor heard. And even more than Oprah, Barack or Daley, this was supposed to be HIS town. But he laid low like a Tony Rezko crony. In pure Chicago style, he kept quiet and kept it movin’. And in the end, when the embarrassment was all over our face, it could have been his nonexistent-contribution-to-the-cause that caused the city to get treated by the IOC like the Bears treated Kyle Orton. Maybe he knew something that none of us knew? Maybe he wasn’t down with the Games coming here and messing up the infrastructure of his kingdom? Maybe so. Because once Pelé (the international Jordan before there was a Jordan) came to place a voice for South America, it was evident that MJ’s silence was about to be the exact opposite of golden.

Best of Chicago 2009

Raul Ibanez

Concern mounted almost immediately after the Cubs signed troubled outfielder Bradley to a three-year contract worth $30 million; after six months of controversy and distraction with the player and a lost season salt was thrown directly on the wound as veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez—who signed a mirror deal with the Philadelphia Phillies—posted a career-year with thirty-four homeruns and ninety-three RBIs. Yeah, the Phillies made it to the World Series as well.

Audience choice:
Parker Brothers

Best of Chicago 2009

Taj Gibson

The 6’9″ rookie forward from USC shows continued improvement on the defensive side of the ball—it’s nice for the Bulls to have a big man who’s strong on D, no?—and now with Tyrus out for a while with an injury, he’ll only be getting more minutes on the court. Even Gibson himself seems to have the right attitude, as he was recently quoted as saying “I’m a gym rat. I have coaches that have been around the league for many years, so I just watch a lot of film. Come in here late nights and just work on my game. It’s a blessing to be playing for the Chicago Bulls, and I’m taking it in stride.”

Audience choice:
Taj Gibson

Best of Chicago 2009

Hot Chocolate 15K/5K

With the proliferation of runners and races in the city, organizers have been stepping up their game in order to stand out, with jam-band-themed outings, costumed races at Halloween and even running Elvises. The Hot Chocolate 15K/5K, now in its second year and already one of the city’s largest races, offers, well, chocolate. But first, you have to run, along a beautiful course in and around Montrose Harbor, and 15K is a challenging distance (more than nine miles) that makes you feel like you’ve earned that chocolate fondue, those candy bars, that hot cocoa. And since it’s an early Sunday morning, you’ve probably had a more civil Halloween celebration the night before as well.

hotchocolate15k.com

Best of Chicago 2009

Jay Cutler

Twitter brings our sports stars closer to us than ever before, but they rarely have anything interesting to say other than “Getting ready for Sunday” or something similar. The Bears quarterback is not exactly the Hemingway of the Midway, but his Twitter account and accompanying Web site (jaycutlersix.com) shows a team leader at least willing to engage with the adoring public and show a modicum of transparency. His “Fan of the Week” series is charming, too.

twitter.com/jaycutler6

Best of Chicago 2009

Joel Quenneville

When Denis Savard was fired as Blackhawks coach after only four games last season, many thought the team’s campaign would be a lame duck, but Quenneville took the young squad deep into the playoffs (damn them Red Wings!) against the odds. Say what you will about Ozzie Guillen’s ability to get the most from his club, but let’s face it, the Blackhawks are currently the Chicago team that’s closest to a championship.

Audience choice:
Ozzie Guillen

Best of Chicago 2009

Tampa-2 just sounds sissy.

Best audience choices:
“Hey Chicago, I really love using (product) when I’m (service). Especially when I’m being treated so well at (place). Buy my SALZA”; “@media – Up Yours @Fans – Come eat a steak!”; “Twitter? WTF is ‘dat like playin’ with yourself or something?”

Best of Chicago 2009

Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon

One of the fastest-growing areas in one of the fastest-growing sports is the half marathon, a length that presents a formidable yet doable distance for more runners than a marathon and one that takes a lesser toll on your body. No wonder, then, that Chicago has seen significant growth and transition in its half-marathon offerings over the last year. Not only were both of our long-running races sold to national outfits, but two new 13.1 milers were added to the mix. They’re all fine races—at that distance, most operators know what they’re doing—but the Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon stands a few inches taller than the rest. Not only does it run along the scenic and accessible course starting downtown in Grant Park, but every detail seems to be executed with a great deal of thought and experience. Those details include integrating sponsor offerings into making the event a festive experience—Free Chinese food! Free beer!—to the even more important small details throughout the process that make the actual running as smooth as it can be.

August 1, 2010, http://chicago.competitor.com

Best of Chicago 2009