Best of Chicago 2019

We're all winners.

by Karen Hawkins on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Welcome to the Best of Chicago 2019! Pull up a chair or bar stool, sit tight in your CTA seat, or bear down on that elliptical—we hope you'll be here a while reading through our biggest issue of the year.

Best of Chicago 2019: City Life

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Best of Chicago 2019: Sports & Recreation

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Best of Chicago 2019: Buy Local

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Best of Chicago 2019: Food & Drink

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Best of Chicago 2019: Cannabis

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Best of Chicago 2019: Arts & Culture

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Best of Chicago 2019: Music & Nightlife

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Best athlete

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Khalil Mack (Bears)   Runner-Up

Best boutique for women

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Hazel  Runner-UpWolfbait & B-girls Finalists: Una Mae's, Penny Lane Studios, Ikram

Best Chicagoan to follow on Twitter

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

@eveewing  Runner-Up @ChiPartyAunt 

Best medical cannabis dispensary

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Dispensary 33   Runner-Up MOCA: Modern Cannabis Dispensary   Finalists: Windy City Cannabis, Zen Leaf, New Age Care Dispensary

Best new band

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Sincere Engineer   Runner-Up Resavoir   Finalist: Flesh Vortex

Best new theater company

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Logan Square Improv   Runner-Up

Best overall restaurant

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Mia Francesca   Runner-Up

Best boutique for men

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Cowboys and Astronauts Runner-UpHazel  Finalists: Penny Lane Studios, CRAM Fashion, Phayes

Best budtender

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Lorena Cupcake (MOCA: Modern Cannabis Dispensary)   Runner-Up Sarah Mitchell (Dispensary 33)   Finalists: Quinn Stifler (Dispensary 33), Nick Modica (Zen Leaf), Sam Fantauzzo (New Age Care)

Best Chicago Instagram account to follow

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

@brickofchicago  Runner-Up @transportationlibrary 

Best established theater company

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Steppenwolf   Runner-Up

Best fancy restaurant

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Smyth   Runner-Up

Best pro men's sports team

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Chicago Cubs   Runner-Up

Best rock band

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Twin Peaks   Runner-Up

Staff Pick: Best budtender

Lorena Cupcake

by Jamie Ludwig on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Lorena Cupcake is an arts and culture writer, social media expert, and—­according to the Reader's Best of Chicago poll—one of the city's top budtenders. Originally from California, Cupcake first got a look at the recreational cannabis industry through visits to their home state, and became familiar with medical marijuana dispensaries through their experiences as a patient.

Staff Pick: Best pro men’s sports team

Chicago Dogs

by Leor Galil on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

The best professional baseball games I've experienced in recent years have all taken place at an unusually tidy ballpark wedged between I-294 and the Metra rail up in Rosemont. But "professional" isn't the first word I'd use to describe the Chicago Dogs, who entered Chicago's constellation of sports teams last year.

Best bang for your buck

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Pizzeria Uno   Runner-Up

Best hip-hop artist

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Chance the Rapper   Runner-Up

Best off-Loop theater company

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Steppenwolf   Runner-Up

Best place to buy CBD products

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Dispensary 33   Runner-Up

Best podcast

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Please Make This   Runner-Up

Best pro women's sports team

on November 6, 2019 at 12:00PM

Chicago Sky   Runner-Up