Chicago’s Top Bachelors

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
February 13, 2003

For every woman who has complained that all the best men are married, gay or dead, we did a little legwork and came up with a few guys who aren’t. Granted, a couple of our accomplished hotties have girlfriends, but isn’t it nice to know guys like this exist?

We’re presenting just a portion of what’s out there; it’s up to you to find your own bachelor. How hard can it be? After all, there are 1.3 million single men in Chicago, and they may just be looking for you.

Carlos Bocanegra

Age: 23

Occupation: Soccer player, Chicago Fire

Resides: Wrigleyville

Status: Unattached after ending a long-term relationship.

Best date ever: In California, I took a date to the beach and we had dinner with a view. In Chicago, it’s nice walking around the lakefront and Navy Pier. I really like water.

What he looks for in a woman: I like a girl who’s career oriented. I also tend to go for blonds. That’s just a superficial preference though. I can’t date a girl if she won’t hang out with the guys, because my friends are such an important factor in my life. It’d be nice if she’s into sports, too.

First love: When I was in seventh grade, I would go to watch my brother play on the high school football team and there was this cheerleader in the front row that I really liked. I never asked her out. She was four years older than me.

Turnoffs: There’s something special about every girl, but nobody likes a girl who’s too high maintenance. It’s bad if they’re rude, too. I also don’t like really good-looking girls who know it–the ones who’re too cool for everyone else.

Marriage: I would like to be married one day and I definitely want kids. It’d be fun to have kids watching me play soccer and teaching them how to play.

Billy Dec

Age: 30

Occupation: Attorney, real estate broker, nightclub owner, entrepreneur (Le Passage, Pow!, Rockit Ranch).

Resides: River North

Status: Has a girlfriend.

Best date ever: My lovely girlfriend [of a year] and I went on a spontaneous date to Disney World a couple months ago where we ran around like little kids. We ate everything we could get our hands on, hit all the rides and got into trouble. We passed out on the way home.

What he looks for in a woman: I like women who are smart, natural, sweet, confident, fit, beautiful, funny, love their families, work hard and can hold an amazing conversation and be just as comfortable if I’m not talking at all.

First love: My third-grade teacher Ms. Reade, although I think she was everyone’s first love who went to [St. Clements]. Hi, Ms. Reade!

Turnoffs: Dishonesty, short tempers, drama and baggage.

Marriage: Absolutely. Just one though–a great one.

Brian Liesegang 

Age: 31

Occupation: Musician, American Sunshine

Resides: Lincoln Park

Status: Has a girlfriend.

Best date ever: I never dated normal people. I’m weird. I don’t date a lot and then when I do it takes me a while to get to know them. I consider the whole getting to know them part as being the best date ever. I’m not sure if that’s why I’m still friends with all of my exes. I met my girlfriend, Kate, through one of my ex-girlfriends, actually.

What he looks for in a woman: I prefer women who can kick my ass intellectually, and you’re not going to meet them hanging out in bars. The top requirements are independence, creativity, intelligence and flexibility because with my schedule–or lack of it–I have to be with someone who can understand that I don’t have a 9 to 5 job. Just ’cause I can’t doesn’t mean I don’t want to.

First love: When I was 15 or 16, I was enthralled with this girl who just moved back from London. She was a senior and I was a sophomore. She knew about all this music I had never heard of and she was a computer geek as well. It lasted about 1.5 years until I moved and then went away to college [at the University of Chicago].

Turnoffs: People who launch into conversations without knowing what they’re talking about. People who cheat. I see that as showing disrespect for yourself. If you want to be single, stay single.

Marriage: I can’t put a 10-year plan on when I’ll get married and have kids, but I would like all that one day. I certainly don’t want to be a bachelor forever acting perennially 21 and playing Xbox and reading books alone.

Mathieu Dufour

Age: 30

Occupation: Flutist, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Resides: Uptown

Status: Unattached

Best date ever: Oh, can I talk about that? I don’t have a girlfriend now, but I was in a relationship for five years and it was a great feeling. I’m not so much into dating different women all the time. In France [where I grew up], dating is more casual. You go out with a girl and it’s not called dating necessarily. In America when you date you’re a couple. It’s more formal here. And blind dates don’t exist in France.

What he looks for in a woman: How she looks is of course nice, but if you’re beautiful and have nothing interesting to say, that gets boring. I like smart people, but I don’t like smart people who know they’re really smart and tell you that all the time.

First love: I was 11 and so was she. Helene gave me my first kiss. We haven’t stayed in touch.

Turnoffs: Things like hair color or body type don’t matter to me. But if she didn’t like classical music, that would be a problem for me because it’s not just a job, it’s a passion for me.

Marriage: One day, sure. I would like to have at least two children, too.

Andy Cobb

Age: 32

Occupation: Comedian, Second City

Resides: Lake View

Status: Unattached

Best date ever: Once this woman and I went to a wine bar and then went dancing all night. We both really like house music. In the morning, we went out for mimosas. It’s one of those great dates that’s a little bit hazy.

What he looks for in a woman: Someone I can really talk to and binge on chocolate with every now and then. Someone who likes shopping, plants and cats–I have several cats.

First love: I was out with this girl named Jamie. We must’ve been about 14. She was big on golf so we went golfing and kissed on the fifth hole.

Turnoffs: Judgmental women. And if someone doesn’t have a sense of style, I don’t like that.

Marriage: It’s tough in my profession to keep a steady relationship, but if that right woman comes along, sure.