I'd like to throw in the possibility of the Jamis Aurora. It handles quite a lot like the Cross-Check, and has a very "lively" ride considering it's technically a touring bike. The Surly does have steeper angles on the seat and head tubes, of course, but when I test rode 'em both they were pretty similar in feel. Yes the cross-check had a "racier" feel, but the Aurora still felt pretty nimble.

Just throwing that in there because bike shopping isn't complicated enough already