Why Chicago: Winter Warriors

The Chicago Bears are not the only athletes in town persevering through frigid cold and gusting winds from Lake Michigan.  Chicagoans prolong the inevitable dormancy of winter by continuing weekend soccer matches, flag football games, and daily runs against the wind well into November and December.

During a recent Saturday morning jog along Lake Front Path with members of Team in Training, I was baffled by the number of dedicated athletes ignoring 20 degree weather and high possibility of snow flurries.   The Team in Training volunteer staff even maintained periodic rest stops stocked with bananas and Gatorade.  Not an ideal Saturday morning for most!

Aside from runners and cyclists, the jog also provided a glimpse into soccer leagues organized by collectives like the Players Sports Group.  Outdoor soccer continues until early December before moving indoor for several months, but impromptu games of ice hockey fill the void throughout the winter season.

Capture footage of dedicated “Winter Warriors” and submit the results to Why Chicago.  Winners receive a trip to Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games for more cold weather…just what every Chicagoan desires

A “Global” English Pub

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Brits love their food, and they also love their beer and their football. Fortunately for everyone The Globe Pub serves them all up quite nicely.

Located on the north side, with dark wood paneling and high backed wooden bar stools, the Globe is a beer drinker’s delight. There are twenty beers on tap, and 168 - yes, 168 - by the bottle. The list is alphabetized and even declares the nationality of the brew. The menu is similarly diverse, yet pays homage to its English patrons with an extensive “Traditional Fare” section, including Steak & Ale Pie; Cornish Pastry, Chips & Beans; Chips & Curry; and of course, Fish & Chips.

What really draws them to The Globe Pub, however, is the football - both British and American. The bar televises English Premiership League EPL, Scottish Premiership League SPL , MLS Direct Kick games, NFL Sunday Ticket, college football’s ESPN Game Plan, 6 Nations rugby and Australian Rules Football. They’ve been known to open at 5am to broadcast a live game, and they did so during the Beijing Olympics games. It’s also the home bar of the Chicago Fire and they provide a $10 school bus ride to and from every home game, including refreshments.

For fun and games, there’s a separate room in the back that provides real cork boards for steel-tip dart games, a pool table, and a stage with DJs spinning 80s tunes on one night, comedians on another, and live quiz yet a different night. There are even open mic and variety nights.

While The Globe Pub may be billed as an English pub and cater to that clientele, with their food, sport, beer, and theme nights it’s truly global. When the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to Chicago in 2016, athletes and spectators from all over the world can pull up a bar stool and feel right at home.