21

The Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon

It’s hard to beat a zip around the ice path cradled by the skyline — until the entire Loop sees you wipe out.

22

The Mardi Gras menu at Big Jones

23

Bars with curling lanes

24

The Pedway

No one loves you like a subterranean walkway on subzero days.

25

Holiday tea at the Drake

Because Christmas is for cosplaying as royalty, right?

26

The Winter Garden at Harold Washington Library

27

Duck cassoulet at Bistro Campagne

28

Sledding in the Dan Ryan Woods

Whoever says Chicago doesn’t have hills hasn’t been to Beverly.

29

St. Lucia Day at the Swedish American Museum

Young girls all in white singing in Swedish and holding candles — pretty much the opposite of holiday season chaos.

30

Hot buttered rum at Scofflaw

31

Dogs in sweaters

32

Solitary snowy walks at the Morton Arboretum

And the satisfaction of getting your steps in during subfreezing weather.

33

The Christmas decorations at Butch McGuire’s

34

Dogs in snowdrifts

35

The CTA Holiday Train

The only public transit we don’t mind waiting for.

36

Queen Mary’s citrus martini garnishes

Hello, yuzu.

37

Glühwein at Christkindlmarket

38

High school basketball holiday tournaments

39

Our German restaurants

Because nothing insulates against lakefront wind chill quite like comically large servings of sauerbraten and spaetzle.