During Chicago winters, I usually try to avoid ice when I’m out, but last weekend I purposely spent time on ice at the Warren Park ice skating rink. It was my annual attempt to not injure myself as I scuffle around the rink.

Located on Chicago’s far north side, Warren Park is one of the city’s largest parks. Although the nine-hole Robert A. Black Golf Course takes up a good portion of the 90 acres, there is still plenty of room for other recreation. In warmer weather the paved paths; basketball, tennis and racquetball courts; ball fields; and skating area are open to the public. In the winter, though, the ice rink gets most of the attention.

I chose to go ice skating when temperatures dipped into single digits because the rink would be less crowded. I also went right when it opened for the day. For a while, I had the ice to myself. While I envisioned myself as Jonathan Toews racing down the ice for a Blackhawks score, I was more like Rocky Balboa shuffling alongside Adrian on their memorable first date. Still, it was a fun time, and the weather didn’t bother me.

I had planned on finally taking skating lessons this winter, but the pandemic put that plan on hold, hopefully just until next winter. With lessons, perhaps I will actually get closer to Toews than Balboa.

— John Wroblewski, online writer