1 / 47 The Grit and the Glory Photographer Michael Jarecki captures the wild energy and beauty of Chicago's underground pro wrestling scene.Photo: Michael Jarecki 2 / 47 The Grit and the Glory Photographer Michael Jarecki captures the wild energy and beauty of Chicago's underground pro wrestling scene.Photo: Michael Jarecki 3 / 47 The Grit and the Glory Photographer Michael Jarecki captures the wild energy and beauty of Chicago's underground pro wrestling scene.Photo: Michael Jarecki 4 / 47 The Grit and the Glory Photographer Michael Jarecki captures the wild energy and beauty of Chicago's underground pro wrestling scene.Photo: Michael Jarecki 5 / 47 Chicago’s 50 Best Bars We rank our favorite watering holes, from high-end cocktail dens to total dives. This one’s from No. 2, Scofflaw.Photo: Nick Muirway 6 / 47 Chicago’s 50 Best Bars We rank our favorite watering holes, from high-end cocktail dens to total dives. This one’s from No. 19, Estereo.Photo: Nick Muirway 7 / 47 February Issue Cover Photo For our Best Bars issue, we photographed our favorite bartender, Julia Momose, formerly of No. 4 GreenRiver.Photo: Lisa Predko 8 / 47 The Improbable Encore Fifteen years ago, the CSO’s Alex Klein was one of the world’s best oboists. Now he may be classical music’s greatest comeback story.Photo: JEFF SCIORTINO 9 / 47 Diners, Dresses, & Dives In our spring fashion special, killer cocktail attire brings a dose of glam to a few storied local spots. This one’s at the Billy Goat Tavern.Photo: T. Harrison Hillman 10 / 47 Diners, Dresses, & Dives In our spring fashion special, killer cocktail attire brings a dose of glam to a few storied local spots. This one’s at the Palace Grill.Photo: T. Harrison Hillman 11 / 47 Diners, Dresses, & Dives In our spring fashion special, killer cocktail attire brings a dose of glam to a few storied local spots. This one’s at Valois Restaurant.Photo: T. Harrison Hillman 12 / 47 The World’s Loudest Inner Monologue Queen of the confessional, Samantha Irby has written about pooping her pants and getting hit on by homeless men. Her readers can’t seem to get enough.Photo: Lisa Predko 13 / 47 Faces of a Century They have lived through the 1919 race riot, the Capone era, and seven Cubs trips to the World Series. Meet this Chicago-area centenarian, Luong Hoan.Photo: Sandro 14 / 47 Faces of a Century They have lived through the 1919 race riot, the Capone era, and seven Cubs trips to the World Series. Meet this Chicago-area centenarian, Evelyn Wettour.Photo: Sandro 15 / 47 Faces of a Century They have lived through the 1919 race riot, the Capone era, and seven Cubs trips to the World Series. Meet this Chicago-area centenarian, Lester Goodman.Photo: Sandro 16 / 47 Eight Statement Rings for Your Next Cocktail Party What better way to show off a hand full of gorgeous rings than these adorable, adoptable PAWS kittens?Photo: Colin Beckett 17 / 47 The State of the Blues Rhymefest and Billy Branch, Blues Fest collaborators, discuss the lineage of blues and hip hop and why Chicago breeds “facts of life” music.Photo: Lenny Gilmore 18 / 47 The State of the Blues Rhymefest and Billy Branch, Blues Fest collaborators, discuss the lineage of blues and hip hop and why Chicago breeds “facts of life” music.Photo: Lenny Gilmore 19 / 47 Welcome to Refugee High At Sullivan High School, where hijabs are as common as high-tops, a new mission has meant a second chance—both for the Rogers Park school and its swelling ranks of immigrant students.Photo: Alyssa Schukar 20 / 47 Welcome to Refugee High At Sullivan High School, where hijabs are as common as high-tops, a new mission has meant a second chance—both for the Rogers Park school and its swelling ranks of immigrant students.Photo: Alyssa Schukar 21 / 47 Welcome to Refugee High At Sullivan High School, where hijabs are as common as high-tops, a new mission has meant a second chance—both for the Rogers Park school and its swelling ranks of immigrant students.Photo: Alyssa Schukar 22 / 47 The New Life of a Former Refugee A day with Thang Khan Khup, a Sullivan High School junior who fled Myanmar with his family in 2010.Photo: Alyssa Schukar 23 / 47 The New Life of a Former Refugee A day with Thang Khan Khup, a Sullivan High School junior who fled Myanmar with his family in 2010.Photo: Alyssa Schukar 24 / 47 The New Life of a Former Refugee A day with Thang Khan Khup, a Sullivan High School junior who fled Myanmar with his family in 2010.Photo: Alyssa Schukar 25 / 47 Who’s Got Next? Keep your eye on these bold, innovative Chicagoans. From politics and activism to art and architecture, they’re poised to make big changes in their fields—and beyond. Pictured: Jordan HowardPhoto: Lucy Hewett 26 / 47 Who’s Got Next? Keep your eye on these bold, innovative Chicagoans. From politics and activism to art and architecture, they’re poised to make big changes in their fields—and beyond. Pictured: Teri ArvesuPhoto: Taylor Castle 27 / 47 Who’s Got Next? Keep your eye on these bold, innovative Chicagoans. From politics and activism to art and architecture, they’re poised to make big changes in their fields—and beyond. Pictured: Eve Ewing and Ike HolterPhoto: Taylor Castle 28 / 47 Who’s Got Next? Keep your eye on these bold, innovative Chicagoans. From politics and activism to art and architecture, they’re poised to make big changes in their fields—and beyond. Pictured: Joe FreshGoodsPhoto: Taylor Castle 29 / 47 Who’s Got Next? Keep your eye on these bold, innovative Chicagoans. From politics and activism to art and architecture, they’re poised to make big changes in their fields—and beyond. Pictured: Charlene CarruthersPhoto: Lucy Hewett 30 / 47 Who’s Got Next? Keep your eye on these bold, innovative Chicagoans. From politics and activism to art and architecture, they’re poised to make big changes in their fields—and beyond. Pictured: Peter CottontalePhoto: Lucy Hewett 31 / 47 An Immigrant Daughter’s Song Growing up, poet Erika Sanchez longed for Mexican American voices in literature growing up. Now she’s carving out a place for her own.Photo: Kevin Penczak 32 / 47 The Urban Wild Tucked throughout Chicago are verdant oases—some feral, others restored, each a respite from the noise of the city. Pictured: Montrose Beach Dunes, UptownPhoto: Tina Onderdonk 33 / 47 The Urban Wild Tucked throughout Chicago are verdant oases—some feral, others restored, each a respite from the noise of the city. Pictured: Steelworkers Park, South ChicagoPhoto: Tina Onderdonk 34 / 47 Queens for a Day Microbags, brooches, booties, and jewels: This season’s accessories are all about commanding the spotlight—and who better to model them than the divas of Chicago’s drag community? Pictured: Imp QueenPhoto: ADAM OUAHMANE 35 / 47 Queens for a Day Microbags, brooches, booties, and jewels: This season’s accessories are all about commanding the spotlight—and who better to model them than the divas of Chicago’s drag community? Pictured: Aurora GozmicPhoto: ADAM OUAHMANE 36 / 47 Queens for a Day Microbags, brooches, booties, and jewels: This season’s accessories are all about commanding the spotlight—and who better to model them than the divas of Chicago’s drag community? Pictured: The VixenPhoto: ADAM OUAHMANE 37 / 47 These Waters Run Deep The Chicago River is being reborn. To journey along it is to see the city’s future—and feel the undertow of its past.Photo: Whitten Sabbatini 38 / 47 These Waters Run Deep The Chicago River is being reborn. To journey along it is to see the city’s future—and feel the undertow of its past.Photo: Whitten Sabbatini 39 / 47 These Waters Run Deep The Chicago River is being reborn. To journey along it is to see the city’s future—and feel the undertow of its past.Photo: Whitten Sabbatini 40 / 47 These Waters Run Deep The Chicago River is being reborn. To journey along it is to see the city’s future—and feel the undertow of its past.Photo: Whitten Sabbatini 41 / 47 The Queen of Cool Famous for her Chance the Rapper overalls, designer Sheila Rashid launches her first full collection.Photo: Colleen Durkin 42 / 47 A Fringe Fantasia Haley Fohr, a.k.a. Circuit Des Yeux, embraces the dissonant on her album Reaching for Indigo.Photo: Colleen Durkin 43 / 47 The Dream Weaver Nnedi Okorafor crafts fresh, African-inspired sci-fi.Photo: Colleen Durkin 44 / 47 The Chosen One The first rapper signed by megaproducer Rick Rubin in 20 years, Towkio is an icon in the making.Photo: Colleen Durkin 45 / 47 Bold, Beautiful, Brutal Love it or hate it, the postwar architectural movement known as Brutalism was big in Chicago. Now, after years of being loathed, it’s gaining new appreciation. Pictured: River CityPHOTO: ANGIE MCMONIGAL 46 / 47 Bold, Beautiful, Brutal Love it or hate it, the postwar architectural movement known as Brutalism was big in Chicago. Now, after years of being loathed, it’s gaining new appreciation. Pictured: Science and Engineering Offices, University of Illinois at ChicagoPHOTO: ANGIE MCMONIGAL 47 / 47 Bold, Beautiful, Brutal Love it or hate it, the postwar architectural movement known as Brutalism was big in Chicago. Now, after years of being loathed, it’s gaining new appreciation. Pictured: Chicago Metropolitan Correctional CenterPHOTO: ANGIE MCMONIGAL The Best Chicago Magazine Photographs in 2017 Words alone couldn’t capture the breadth of stories we told in 2017. From wrestlers to refugees, the River to Brutalist buildings, here are the best shots of the year. December 27, 2017, 11:09 am