Chicagoist is a big cheerleader for the city, but there are some things that even we have a hard time getting excited about. Swimming in Lake Michigan or jumping into the Chicago River are two of them. Maybe it is the dumping. Or maybe it is (jump in the way-back machine, for a second with us) Dave Matthews Band. Or maybe it is the knowledge that every summer, the beaches are closed several times... more ›

Chicagoist is a big fan of alternative sports. No we are not talking about underwater hockey but sports that are popular around the world that have just-under-the-mainstream-radar following here in Chicago. We're talking Gaelic Football, Rugby, and Australian Football. Chicagoist was excited to see there are some great alternative sporting events heading to town in the coming month. This weekend, Chicago United Australian Football Club is hosting the Nashville Kangaroos in a Mid-America Australian Football... more ›

Chicagoist has often considered running away to join the circus. So while looking for new ways to stay fit this summer and enjoying some adventures in the outdoors, we are going to head down to the lakefront to train with the Flying Gaonas Gym. Gloria and Julio Gaona make a living out of flying through air and dangling from a trapeze. more ›

Earlier this year Chicagoist told you about Chicago United, Chicago's very own Australian Rules Football team. This weekend they will be hosting the St. Louis Blues at 3pm on Saturday at Waveland Field. This is Chicago's home opener for the Mid-American Australian Football League (MAAFL) season. The MAAFL is a division of the United States Australian Football League and is made up of seven teams: Atlanta Kookaburras, Chicago United, Cincinnati Dockers, Dallas Magpies, Milwaukee Bombers,... more ›

Paintballers from around the country will be painting Chi-town in all sorts of colors this June. The 2006 Chicago Open Paintball Tournament returns to the Bolingbrook Recreation and Aquatic Center in Bolingbrook, June 21-25. The tournament is the second-largest event of the year for the Paintball Sports Promotion organization. This year's event is expected to exceed last year's 2,000 players, and will have more than $125,000 in cash prizes. more ›

The Chicago Australian Football Association (CAFA) is preparing for their 2006 season. The sport that is wildly popular down under, also known as Aussie Rules or Footy, has been growing in popularity and participation in Chicago and across the United States for more than 10 years. Aussie Rules is played on a gigantic oval that can be as long and as wide as two American football fields. It is a fast-paced, hard-hitting game that provides... more ›