(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls News: Zach LaVine questioning Jim Boylen proves the obvious by Ryan Heckman

Chicago Blackhawks Trade: Robin Lehner is headed to Vegas by Vincent Parise

The Chicago Blackhawks have been keeping Erik Gustafsson out of the lineup and now he has finally been traded to the Calgary Flames.

The Chicago Blackhawks have been keeping Erik Gustafsson out of the lineup for the past few games for precautionary reasons. That usually implies that a trade is imminent. They have finally pulled the trigger on the trade as he was traded about an hour before the official Trade Deadline. He is off to the Calgary Flames in exchange for conditional draft picks.

The Flames are good. They now have one of the better defense cores in the National Hockey League. They are fighting in a very tight Pacific Division. The additions they have made at the deadline could be exactly what they needed in order to get over the hump. They didn’t have an ideal first half based on their expectations but that could all change.

Gustafsson was a good player for the Hawks but he had many flaws. He was solid offensively at times but there were also times where he was a complete mess in his own zone. Defending wasn’t his thing so if he wasn’t killing it offensively, he appeared to be a struggling player. He currently has six goals and 20 assists for 26 points in 59 games played for Chicago which isn’t terrible, but he is far off his 60 point total from last year.

With Calgary, Gustafsson should be put in more of a position to succeed. When healthy, they have a really solid group. They are a team that should see themselves as a contender. If it all comes together in the end, it remains to be seen. These moves they made, however, could make that much easier for them.

Related Story: Toews and Kane deserve no blame for Chicago’s struggles

As for Chicago, they will just have another spot on the blue line to keep giving guys a chance. With Duncan Keith leading the way, this will give guys like Adam Boqvist and Connor Murphy chances to continue growing their game. There are a few guys in the system who are candidates to be there next year as well. This is a trade that could work out for the Flames if Gustafsson thrives in the proper role. For the Hawks, it feels like a situation that the Blackhawks messed up.

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(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Chicago Blackhawks: Erik Gustafsson traded to Calgary Flames by Vincent Parise

The Chicago Blackhawks have traded Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights. This leaves Corey Crawford as the main guy for the rest of the season.

The Chicago Blackhawks have had an up and down year. It has been more down than up since the All-Star break so they went into full sell mode this Trade Deadline. First, they sent Erik Gustafsson to the Calgary Flames. Now, they have traded Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights. In the trade, they acquired goaltender Malcolm Subban, a prospect and a pick.

Lehner is now going to go to a stacked Vegas Golden Knights team. They play a solid defensive game from their forwards to their defense so he should absolutely thrive in that system. For the rest of the regular season, he is going to share the net with Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury probably gets the nod for the playoffs but they probably won’t hesitate to go to Lehner if Fleury struggles at any point. This is a loaded team that is ready to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

This could also really help Lehner’s cause to get paid. He is going to a defensively sound team that is going to be a threat to make a deep playoff run. He already had good numbers in Chicago, where the team in front of him allowed so much rubber to be put on the net. In Vegas, they are better at keeping the opposition’s high danger scoring chances down so Lehner should be perfect.

Related Story: Toews and Kane deserve no blame for this bad season

As for Chicago, Corey Crawford should resume the role of a full time starting goalie. He is also on an expiring contract so you might see the team look to give him a little extension. Subban should take over the role as the team’s backup goalie. It is a little sad that this season had to come to trading one of their two very good goalies but here we are. Hopefully, things work out for Lehner in Vegas and beyond as he pursues a new full-time home.

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I remember watching the Bulls with my grandmother on Stafford Street in Dubuque, Iowa, on WGN-TV in 1976.

It was a Bulls team that still had Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lier and Tom Boerwinkle, joined by Scott May, Mickey Johnson, Artis Gilmore and Cliff Pondexter. For some reason, I remember their point guard, Wilbur Holland.

You would have watched them on WGN-TV.

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My grandmother viewed the game from a hospital bed since she had suffered from multiple sclerosis from a young age. The disease had worsened and took her from a wheelchair to a bed.

Being constantly confined led her to a love of card games, cigarettes and sports.

My grandfather had played organized football in Iowa before it became pro football, and the Chicago Bears were the favorite football team in that section of Iowa. My grandmother would listen on the radio to what she thought was the greatest rivalry in sports, when Iowa played Wisconsin in college football, so there’s no way any self-respecting Iowan would be a Packers fan.

I remember watching the Blackhawks on WGN when I was a child. And the Cubs, heck, you couldn’t keep from being a Cubs fan with the games on WGN, broadcast by Jack Brickhouse from 1948 to 1981. There are Cubs fans all over the nation because of WGN. Eventually WGN brought us North Siders that strange baseball team from the South Side.

Now all that is gone. Although WGN in recent years didn’t broadcast every Bulls or Cubs or Blackhawks or White Sox game, it aired enough games for a viewer to become familiar with hometown teams. Now you can’t watch any of these teams without cable. Families that can’t afford $60 to $100 a month for cable TV will be shut out. The sports you watched as a kid have become elitist. You can’t afford to go to the games and you can’t afford to watch them on TV.

My grandmother would have been stuck with Judge Judy and the “Price is Right.”

A trip to the ballpark with a spouse and two kids can cost $200. At that price how many times a year can you go to the ballpark?

And now TV’s been pulled out from under us.

Mike Ulreich, Bridgeport

Voter suppression

The GOP mantra has been in place for decades, but “low-information” citizens don’t realize this is the only way the GOP can win. Voter suppression, in the form of voter ID and voter purges and gerrymandering, has given the GOP victories as a minority party. The difficulty the Democratic Party faces is getting the majority of our citizens out to vote in order to nullify these shady efforts.

But many of us have become engaged by Indivisible and other movements to get out the vote. We can only hope this will be enough to counter the suppression effort that is expected to be massive in the 2020 election.

Lee Knohl, Evanston

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Growing up as a New Yorker that never skied, my knowledge of the state of Utah was limited at best. Sure, I watched the 2002 Olympics, knew that Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival is where a lot of great movies premiered, I had seen plenty of Utah Jazz games on television, and eventually, I caught The Book Of Mormon on Broadway; later research would teach me that music videos I had seen many times by Jon Bon Jovi, Metallica, Katy Perry, and Tiffany were all filmed in the state. However, I didn’t knowingly have any friends or family that had been there.

When the opportunity recently came to travel to Park City, Utah — thanks, in large part, to the support of the promotional teams of Deer Valley Resort, UGG, NordicTrack, Montage Deer Valley, Marmot, High West, iFit, CeraVe, Clif Bar, Hearth And Hill, Smith, Swiftwick, the St. Regis Deer Valley and the Stein Eriksen Lodge — I jumped at the chance. Thirty-five minutes by car from Salt Lake City International Airport (a hub of Delta Airlines, with direct flights to New York, London, Paris, and Amsterdam), Park City’s population is well under 10,000 residents. However, the Sundance Film Festival alone regularly brings tens of thousands of people into the city. Forbes Traveler Magazine has it voted as one of the 20 “prettiest towns,” also voting it one of its “16 Top Destinations.”

As one of the world’s premier skiing destinations, Park City had its first ski lift installed in 1946. Combined with what many call “the Greatest Snow On Earth,” Park City has two major ski resorts in the Deer Valley area. While ski season generally lasts from November through April, there is plenty to do outdoors year-round in Park City. Hiking and mountain biking are two of the more popular activities, which Deer Valley Resort and Park City both cater to. And as it turns out, aside from California, more visitors come to Park City from New York than anywhere else in the U.S.

During the few days in February 2020 I stayed at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, I met a lot of interesting people. In the course of speaking with many of those people, some of them locals, I inquired about their favorite spots in and around Park City where it comes to hanging, eating, and drinking. So should you visit Park City anytime soon, below are not only some “must-visit” spots, but also why it is that they love Park City so much.

Thanks to the following people for their great contributions to this article:

– Ty Taylor – Ginger Adventurez

– Austin Hamilton – Chef De Cuisine at The St. Regis Deer Valley’s RIME Seafood & Steak, St. Regis Bar and Brasserie 7452

– Brooks Kirchheimer – Co-Owner of Hearth And Hill

– Todd Passey – 57Hours, IFMGA-certified American Mountain Guide and owner of In The Company Of Guides.

– Caroline Gleich – Professional Ski Mountaineer & Adventurer, Endorsee of Clif Bar & Environmental Advocate

– Kelley Ellett – Store Manager at West Valley City Walmart

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Are you originally from Utah? If not, who or what brought you here?

Ty Taylor: I am a Utah transplant and hope to keep the newly-planted roots here. I moved to the area for work. I was born in Virginia and, after having moved 16 times, am now found in the beautiful state of Utah.

Austin Hamilton: I’m originally from the Bay Area right across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin Country. I was lucky enough to grow up right on the cusp of the greatest city to explore food and different cultures. I moved to Utah about 1 and a 1/2 years ago to help raise my daughter in a better family environment then a big city. Since moving to Utah I’ve been blessed with being able to help grow the food scene first at the Sundance Mountain Resort, now at the beautiful St. Regis on the top of the mountain in Park City.

Brooks Kirchheimer: I am originally from La Canada, California, where I was born and raised. After going to the University Of Denver for Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management, I opened the Montage Beverly Hills in 2008. I grew up coming skiing with my family every year for a week at a time to Park City. When I found out that there was a Montage opening in Deer Valley in 2010, I jumped at the chance to transfer and open the property. I have been in Park City ever since, with a two-year break from 2015 to 2017 in Maui.

Todd Passey: I am originally from Utah, but I have not lived here my whole life. I lived in Washington State for a decade, but moved back to Utah because of the mountains and the snow!

Caroline Gleich: I am originally from Minnesota. I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah with my family when I was in high school and I moved to Park City, Utah in 2017 with my partner, Rob Lea.

Kelley Ellett: I am a born and raised Utahn! Though I did live in California for a few years I ultimately returned to Utah because that is where most of my family is. Utah has so much to offer for any age whether you’re raising a family or single. There is so much to do!!

What is it that keeps you in the Park City area?

Ty Taylor: The immediate access to all things outdoors, dining, entertainment, and all-around memory-making is something I haven’t found anywhere else in the nation.

Austin Hamilton: I have always wanted to push myself to work for the best chefs, in the best kitchens, in the hardest cities I could. Moving to Utah and being a father I thought that I wouldn’t still have that same drive. While living in Utah country I found myself restless and unsatisfied. I wanted to make my mark on the best food scene in the state. There is no other city in Utah that gives you that possibility besides Park City. Every day I’m trying to push my staff into becoming the premium food destination in Park City. I just got to Park City but I know this is the start of big things.

Brooks Kirchheimer: Park City is the perfect mountain community. It is only a 30-minute drive away from a major international airport, and a fun and growing metro city via Salt Lake City. Park City has miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, amazing skiing, fun outdoor summer concerts, white water rafting, and many more outdoor activities which we all love to partake in. The school system is top-notch, the air is fresh, the views are beautiful, and the dining scene has something for everyone!

Todd Passey: I love my home here in Utah for many reasons, but access to world-class skiing and rock climbing is at the top of the list. I also travel a lot and the Salt Lake International Airport is so convenient and easy, so that’s a big plus. The cost of living, relative to other places I would consider living, is quite cheap. It’s also a great place to raise a family.

Caroline Gleich: I love the mountain views, the fresh air, the access to trails and outdoor recreation. I’m grateful to live in a place where I can feel connected to nature.

Kelley Ellett: As someone who lives in SLC, I make it a point to venture a bit east to Park City as much as I can because it is such a great vacation destination — or even for a quick weekend getaway. My family enjoys hiking, shopping, biking, and all the great restaurants.

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What do you wish more people knew about Park City?

Ty Taylor: There is something for everyone in Park City and the opportunity to discover something new you never knew you liked is around every corner.

Austin Hamilton: It’s more than just a ski town. Growing up in San Francisco, I went to Tahoe all the time as a kid. Still one of my favorite towns. I thought coming into Park City it would have the same feeling. But it is closer to a big city feel than anywhere else in Utah. Beyond the growing food scene, the nightlife is something else. I find myself in big city clubs everywhere I turn on Main Street.

Brooks Kirchheimer: That it is so easy to get to! Compared to other mountain towns throughout North America, Park City is one of the quickest and easiest to get to from just about anywhere in the country. Also, a fun and proud fact, is that Park City has over 140 non-profits, that benefit many in the community from health care to ability assistance, healthy-eating education and a lot more.

Todd Passey: To be honest, I don’t want any more people to hear about our secret — life here is good! (laughs) My favorite mountains in the world are right here, and I have been to enough mountain ranges across the world to know. But more than just the mountains, it’s a great lifestyle. We have some great music venues and excellent restaurants. There is literally no place in the country with an international airport so close to the mountains.

Caroline Gleich: It’s a wonderful place to visit year-round, and you most certainly can get a drink.

Kelley Ellett: The scenery is incredible in both the summer and winter seasons. Most people know Park City as a major winter resort but the summertime can be just as fun!

What are some of your favorite restaurants in town?

Ty Taylor: High West Distillery, try the shishito peppers and you can never go wrong with the local fresh trout. Yuki Yama Sushi, authentic Japanese cuisine in the mountains of Utah. Twisted Fern, A locals-only-know-about-it type of spot, well-crafted American Bistro with some Park City flair.

Austin Hamilton: My first place I love to eat is Tupelo. One of the things that attracted me to this job was being able to work with such an amazing talent and leader, as Matt Harris. Beyond the beautiful feel of the restaurant, the food is second to done. Five Seeds is also one of the best brunch places in town. I’ve always been surprised Utah doesn’t have a larger brunch scene. Nothing beats going to Five Seeds getting a killer benedict and coffee. It’s a true treat.

Brooks Kirchheimer: Obviously, besides Hearth And Hill! I am a big fan of Shabu on Main Street, owned by two brothers in a small atmosphere, with an eclectic Asian menu, that always promises a fun time! Cortona Italian Restaurant is located near us in Kimball Junction, also a family-owned quaint spot that serves up homemade Italian fare. Finally, Fireside Dining at Deer Valley Resort — open in the winter only — is a unique experience you will not find anywhere else. It showcases four stations of food, all four located in front of fireplaces, where there is something being cooked in front of the fire, from a lamb leg twirling or raclette.

Todd Passey: I mentioned restaurants, but I am really not one to ask. I keep it pretty close to home, my wife is an excellent cook. But when I do go out I look for healthy options, like Element Kitchen & Cafe or Ellie’s Cafe. Nothing fancy, just good food.

Caroline Gleich: Rodrigo Y Gabriela at Deer Valley.

Kelley Ellett: The last concert I went to was when Green Day was first starting to tour. But the Egyptian Theater always has a line up of shows and music events perfect for either a date night or the kids.

What was the last concert you attended in town?

Ty Taylor: I have not attended any concerts in Park City. I would love to at some point.

Austin Hamilton: I was luckily able to go see The Chainsmokers over sundance at Park City Live. It was a blast! Some of the amazing regular customers had a table on the top floor. Couldn’t have had a better time. They really went all out.

Brooks Kirchheimer: Good question! I have a six-month-old, so it has been a minute! This past summer I enjoyed listening to Ben Harper and Trombone Shorty outside at Deer Valley Resort — what a fun show!

Todd Passey: I do love live music, my wife and six-year-old son and I love the Deer Valley Summer concert series. Outdoor music, on the lawn and you can bring your own food!

Caroline Gleich: Five Seeds, Hearth And Hill, Handle, and Yuki Yama.

Kelley Ellett: Wasatch Brew Pub is definitely my favorite. They have a great menu with lots of options and have an open-concept space great for events. Chimayo is a close second.

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What are you currently working on?

Austin Hamilton: Besides opening a brand new restaurant, I’m constantly working on devolving new recipes and finding new local ingredients to work with for my next menu flip. On the side I writing a cookbook for a bunch of former clients and friends who want to be able to recreate some of my dishes at home.

Brooks Kirchheimer: In the restaurant industry there is always something! Our goal is to have multiple restaurants, so we are working on a couple of other concepts right now, that we hope to open in the next year or two. We also love to create and host unique events at Hearth And Hill. One that we will be putting on for the third time, April 6th, is our Hip-Hop Brunch, where we have a local DJ spin hip-hop classics and have a specially curated Hip Hop menu by Chef Jordan Harvey that all enjoy. Also, this summer, we are going to do a fun Mongolian-themed dinner out under the stars, where we will have a University Of Utah astrologist teaching all about the wonders of the sky.

Todd Passey: I have made Utah my home, in part, because it’s a great place to run my business. In The Company Of Guides is my guide service, and the Wasatch Mountains are the perfect place to train people for bigger trips I offer around the world, as well as a destination for skiing and rock climbing. I work with lots of companies around the world that send guests to me here in Utah. 57hours is one of these companies. They have an international reach and choose to send people seeking adventure to me here in Utah.

Caroline Gleich: As a pro ski mountaineer, I’m excited about the work I’m doing with the brands that support me, including Clif Bar. I’m really excited to help them launch their new Clif Coffee collection, crafted with sustainably-sourced, organic coffee beans from Colombia. I’m also excited about my work as a climate change activist. Next week, I’m going to D.C. to testify about an important climate change bill that would reduce emissions on public lands to zero by 2040.

Kelley Ellett: Perfecting my 7-layer dip recipe! Here’s some backstory: as the Manager at the West Valley City Walmart, no day is the same — I like to find new ways to keep my store fun and innovative. A recent campaign we have been involved in is #WalmartCooks in Utah. Associates from my store and surrounding store locations shared family recipes that are now made shoppable via walmartcooks.com and available for pick up at our Grocery Pick Up & Delivery Locations. And you guessed it, my recipe is a 7-layer dip.

Finally, any last words for the kids?

Ty Taylor: Come for the snow and come back for everything you never thought you’d find. Follow Ginger Adventurez on YouTube for Park City, Utah, and other adventures!

Austin Hamilton: “Work until your idols become your rivals.” I’m going to push myself until Rime is the best restaurant in Utah.

Brooks Kirchheimer: Come visit us at Hearth And Hill soon! We have live music every Friday and Saturday, have a large patio for summer dining, and feature a fun, modern atmosphere to dine in. We look forward to welcoming you!

Caroline Gleich: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead

Kelley Ellett: Ask your parents if they need an extra set of hands in the kitchen and help them prepare your next meal. Here’s some local inspiration: www.walmartcooks.com/associate-recipes.

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

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Green River Soda was first introduced to Midwesterners back in 1919. Technically created in Davenport, Iowa, Green River Soda was sold to Schoenhofen Edelweiss Brewing Company of Chicago at the start of Prohibition. Because beer was no longer legally available, people were turning to nonalcoholic beverages called “Near Beers.” Just like Malort, Green River Soda became a Chicago staple as the locals guzzled down the sweet, lime-flavored soda. Here are a few things you might never have known about Green River Soda.

Green River Soda Was the Second Best Selling Soda in the USA

Seventy years ago, Green River Soda was the second most popular soft drink in the USA, with only Coca-Cola selling more bottles during the Prohibition.

It Might Have Changed Our Slang

One of the biggest regional debates is whether it is called soda or pop. Anyone who is born and raised in the Windy City and its surrounding areas will likely fervently state that it is pop, and the reason might be because of Green River Soda.

Way back in the day, bottles weren’t capped and, instead, were sealed using a marble. The marble would be put inside the glass bottle and would serve the purpose of stirring the syrup that settled on the bottom. If you wanted to seal the bottle, you would flip it over, and the marble would shift to the neck of the bottle. Thanks to the carbonation of the soda, the marble would stay there. When you wanted to open the bottle, you would swiftly jerk the bottle up. Rumor has it when the marble fell out, and it would make a pop, which is how that slang was created!

Green River Soda is Still Popular on St. Patrick’s Day

It should come as no surprise, but Green River Soda is still extremely popular around St. Patrick’s Day. In the month before the holiday, this favored lime drink makes roughly 30 percent of its annual sales. Even though the drink is still nonalcoholic, the green color helps the soda to remain popular.

Green River Soda still has a special place in our hearts. It reminds us of a simpler time as we drink the green, lime-flavored pop. While it isn’t always easy to find this vintage drink, you can find it at some Chicago area retailers and restaurants.

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Arguably the fastest-growing wrestling company today, Major League Wrestling — MLW, for short — is seen around the world weekly via its TV series Major League Wrestling: FUSION. MLW is also the parent company of the MLW Radio Network, the leading provider of professional wrestling podcasts in the world, and regularly presents live shows internationally.

Among the top talent regularly seen on Major League Wrestling: FUSION is The Dynasty, the affluent and high-powered stable consisting of Richard Holliday, Alexander Hammerstone, and Gino Medina; Medina recently replaced Maxwell Jacob Friedman — short for MJF, of course — in Dynasty. Not only have all of the past and present members of The Dynasty held championship gold at some point, but the trio’s recurring Lifestyles Of The Rich & Dynastic segments on FUSION have been arguably the show’s most popular non-wrestling segments.

The Connecticut-based Richard Holliday — often known as both “The Most Marketable Man In Wrestling” and “The AirPod God” — bestowed on me the honor of speaking with him by phone on February 20, 2020. Within our conversation, we had discussed MLW’s upcoming Intimidation Games live event at Chicago’s Cicero Stadium on April 18th, his true feelings about Chicago pizza and Chicago’s music scene.

The full conversation with Holliday is embedded below for your listening pleasure; those preferring to read a partial transcription of the chat will be able to read it later this month via the UK-based STEELCHAIR Wrestling Magazine. For more on Richard Holliday, you can follow him via Twitter and Instagram, while MLW can be visited online.

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