CITY LIFE

skiing and snowshoeing. Pick up your gear at Viking Ski Shop in Humboldt Park, the city’s only dedicated winter sports store, in business for over half a century. When there’s su cient snow, my go-to route is the gravel road that runs along the lakefront from Montrose Avenue to the Waveland Clock Tower, with a breathtaking skyline view, followed by a downhill run at nearby Cricket Hill.

That knoll is also great for sledding. Other good destinations include the Dan Ryan Woods, Palmisano Park, Humboldt Park, and the dedicated sledding hill next to Soldier Field.

There’s sure to be a huge demand for ice skating this winter, so hot spots like the Millennium Park rink and the Maggie Daley Park skating ribbon will need strategies to prevent overcrowding. Eight other Chicago Park District rinks are fairly well-distributed around the city. But it would be great if popup facilities were installed in ice deserts like Englewood and Garfield Park, including free loaner skates and lessons, so more people could discover this fun, healthy activity. Hedge fund billionaire Ken Gri n, how about taking a break from spending $56.5 million to fi ght Governor Pritzker’s graduated income tax plan and sponsoring a couple of rinks?

Taking an outdoor stroll around the free Lincoln Park Zoo is another great COVID-safe option. Currently reservations are required. And I’ll probably head to the Osaka Japanese Garden in Jackson Park this winter to check out Yoko Ono’s 2016 installation “Sky Landing.” The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park and the Morton Arboretum, populated by giant wooden troll sculptures (reservations required), also spring to mind as fun winter walking destinations.

As an amateur musician, I’ve had a blast playing socially distanced porch shows this fall. Novak says this kind of thing is “probably OK” if audience members social distance and wear masks. So I’m looking forward to bundling up and taking in whatever outdoor concerts, theatrical productions, dance performances, and comedy shows talented Chicagoans cook up this winter.

The bottom line is that, despite the COVID threat and a long list of things we can’t do for fun this winter, there’s no need for Chicagoans to lose hope and hibernate. Limited options can be a recipe for creativity, and you may find good times in unexpected places. v

@greenfieldjohn