An indomitable spirit defines us.

Through the best and worst, we survive, endure, prevail. With its combination of Midwestern grit and sophistication, Chicago embodies the indefatigable character of our nation. We are the strong, diverse population of a vibrant city, a metropolis alive with so much greatness we may never recognize it all. And it is especially in this time of national turmoil that we feel it's important to honor the unique, strange, welcoming, familiar and unfamiliar place that is our city.

In this spirit we bring you our ninth annual Best of Chicago, an homage to the city's mammoth wonders and hidden corners. More than twenty writers have worked on this vision of Chicago. This year you can find even more items online in our Best of Chicago section at www.newcitychicago.com.

Our design team has contributed a vision that takes on our society's current need to monitor everything. From digital video taken on the fly to Webcams, we seem to be in a constant state of surveillance, and, considering the events of this month, it's likely that we'll soon see even more of this high-tech observation.

At heart, this issue remains the same as the eight that have come before. We've asked our readers to vote for their favorites in more than seventy categories, and these winners appear underneath items throughout. As "best" is always a matter of opinion, our writers and editors have made their own choices based on a combination of research, experience, critical assessment and our own sense of whimsy.

We know that with an issue this packed with Chicago goodness, you'll want to keep it around for reference, debate and use throughout the next year, so in the center you'll find a separate section, covered by the Verve page, to pull out and use for planning your week.

City Life

Culture and Nightlife

Food and Drink

Goods and Services

Sports and Recreation