The weirdest Chicago news stories of 2016

If there’s one thing Donald Trump is not, it’s a good sport. That’s why when famous Chicago hot dog stand the Wiener’s Circle decided to welcome the then-Republican presidential nominee to the city with his very own special menu item, it had all of Chicagoland cracking up over the size of his presidential appendage (he guarantees there’s no problem). A 3-inch hot dog called the “Trump footlong” was on the menu March 11-13, coinciding with a planned Trump presidential campaign rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago on March 11. Wiener’s Circle employees also wore hats with the slogan "Make Wiener's great again," showing just how much Chicago admires our new president.

In 2016, we learned that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich isn’t letting a 14 year federal prison sentence get in the way of his 16-year-old self’s dream to be a rock star. During a resentencing hearing earlier this year, in which the ex-Illinois governor looked to have his prison term reduced to five years, the defense tried to paint Blagojevich as a man who has undergone tremendous personal growth while incarcerated. Among his accomplishments, Blago formed and sang lead vocals for a band called the Jailhouse Rockers. A U.S. District judge presiding over the case was apparently not singing the same tune and ultimately upheld Blagojevich’s original sentence.

It’s been a recurring theme in Chicago Bears fandom of late to blame once-touted quarterback Jay Cutler for any misfortune that befalls the team. But one Bears super fan kicked her hatred of No. 6 up a notch by using her death notice to throw a little shade on the ill-fated QB. Late Northbrook resident Elizabeth Bowman's family included in her obituary a playful jab at Cutler. “She was a woman of loyalty, integrity, opinion, curiosity and intelligence,” the obit read. “A lifelong fan of the Cubs, Blackhawks and Bears (except Jay Cutler).” Well, Elizabeth, wherever you are, rest peacefully knowing that 2016 will likely be Cutler’s last year with your Bears.

Cameron Crowe's romcom Aloha was a lot of things. A box office flop? Yes. Millions of dollars over budget? OK. A terrible joke of a movie? You betcha! But, it was also a symbol of neighborhood identity. For more than a year, a billboard for Aloha remained in place atop the roof of the old Grace Furniture building in Logan Square. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the film's release on May 29, a Facebook event was launched to "honor the anniversary of the longest movie marketing campaign ever." However, the anniversary for the Logan Square monument quickly turned into a vigil, as the billboard was removed before the celebration could occur.

The Chicago White Sox aren't setting many records these days. The team won only 76 games in 2015, and after a forgettable hot streak to start the 2016 season finished their most recent campaign just 2 games better than last year’s mark. Still, the team and fans were able to take part in a unique championship celebration—one that didn’t involve winning baseball games. During the annual Bark at the Park night, the team set a Guinness World Record for the most dogs at a sporting event. White Sox fans brought 1,122 canine’s to the formerly named U.S. Cellular Field on September 13, giving new meaning to the phrase "dog days of summer." So cheer up South Siders, the Cubs weren’t the only Chicago baseball team to make history this year.

If people’s exuberance for Hamilton hadn't already reached its peak, animal caregivers at the Lincoln Park Zoo went the extra mile to get in on the popularity of the hit Broadway musical by naming a baby camel after one of our country’s Founding Fathers. In June, the zoo announced on Facebook and Twitter that a new baby Bactrian camel was given the name Alexander Camelton (we hear he's he's young, hungry and scrappy). Chicagoans anxious to catch a glimpse of the young, scrappy camel need only swing by the zoo’s Antelope and Zebra area.