Spirit Magazine Fall 2017

Midtown Athletic Club 2444 N. Elston Avenue Chicago, IL 60647

Spirit F a l l

2 0 1 7

Looking to make a move?

312.268.2799 | MorrisonNavarre@koenigrubloff.com

SellintheCity.com

Š BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates,LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.Ž Equal Housing Opportunity

Billie Jean King Interview Expansion Q&A with Alan and Steven Schwartz

Member and Associate Profiles Fall Events

homebuyingtips

L E G E N D A R Y

by Eric Morrison Broker and Certified Negotiation Expert Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group 312.622.0517 | emorrison@KoenigRubloff.com

Take the first step to finding your new home.

Navigating a hot housing market can be intimidating, especially with rents increasing and mortgage rates remaining low. This can result in a competitive situation for homeowners and buyers and create challenges in negotiating multiple offers. According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends report, 88% of all buyers and 9 out of 10 home sellers worked with a real estate agent. The report also indicated the final sales price was a median 98% of the final listing price.

In today’s market, what key factors should a buyer or seller look for in a broker and real estate team? The answer is simple: an award-winning team that believes in integrity and has outstanding buying, selling and negotiating skills. This is a must to avoid failure in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing market. This is true especially when you have found your dream house and seven buyers are bidding on the same property.

How do you win?

10 tips to win in a multiple bid situation: 1—Get pre-qualified rather than pre-approved.

2—Provide a strong pre-approval letter.

3—Make a large down payment to show you are a serious buyer.

4—Make an offer with few contingency items however always get a home inspection.

5—Select a broker with strong connections to third party vendors: inspectors, contractors, mortgage sources, attorneys, architects, etc.

6—Consider an escalation rider to automatically keep your bid active.

7—Include a cover letter explaining why you are the best candidate for the purchase.

8—Select a strong financing team with various options and a known track record.

9—Be aware of timing. Be ready to move. Sellers do not want to wait around or may need more time to move.

10—Offer a generous, earnest dollar amount upon presenting the contract.

Consider your finances in advance. Look around your desired market and know what you want. The market is turning over houses in as little as a few days so you need an edge. It may seem romantic to rush into the first house you love and cross your fingers, however nothing is a substitute for preparation and a little flexibility. Knowing in advance what you’re willing to change, forgive, or ignore will save time for you and the seller.

Working with the right experienced broker is crucial.

It is really important NOW, more than ever, to have a winning edge. This is our specialty and why we are top performers in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices President’s Club. We understand your needs, wants and budget, and craft a plan that gives you the perfect buying, selling and negotiating power. We know our neighbors, our neighborhoods and how to negotiate terms and conditions, recognizing that price isn’t everything.

Representation can be the difference between success and failure. Our team knows the ins-and-outs of the local industry and can ensure a fast purchase or sale to put you head and shoulders above the rest! © BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates,LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.”

312.268.2799 | MorrisonNavarre@KoenigRubloff.com | www.sellinthecity.com Gold Coast, North Chicago, West Suburbs to North Shore LISTING—SELLING—INVESTING—LUXURY LEASING “An ordinary service done extraordinarily well.”

WILSON.COM © 2017 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Trademarks advertised other than those of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. are properties of their respective owners. 17-0953

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tableofcontents august 1 – september 30 [unless otherwise indicated]

racquet sports and fitness

clubhours

monday – thursday friday saturday sunday

5:00 am 5:00 am 5:00 am 6:00 am

– – – –

12:00 am 11:00 pm 10:00 pm 10:00 pm

aquatics monday – thursday friday & saturday sunday

5:00 am 5:00 am 6:00 am

– – –

11:00 pm 10:00 pm 10:00 pm

kidtown monday – friday saturday & sunday

7:45 am 7:45 am

– –

8:15 pm 6:15 pm

chromium restaurant monday – friday saturday & sunday

7:00 am 7:00 am

– –

11:00 pm 10:00 pm

“grab and go” menu available from 5:00 am monday – saturday; 6:00 am sunday.

notes from michael

2

feed your spirit

5

billie jean king interview

6

member profile

11

club expansion q&a with alan and steven

12

club expansion by the numbers

17

construction progress photos

18

exercise your mind puzzle/answers

21/39

a little history…

22

member profile

25

junior tennis programs

26

meet your associates

28

around midtown

32

member profile

38

family changing room rules

40

pool rules

40

fall events calendar

44

tennis achievements

54

member profile

56

virtual reality parties

57

envisioning the new midtown

58

home buying tips

61

kitchen closes 1 hour prior to restaurant closing.

[through labor day]

daily

11:00 am

–

5:00 pm

Vol. I, No. 1, Fall 2017

the spa and salon monday – thursday friday & saturday sunday

9:00 am 9:00 am 9:00 am

– – –

9:00 pm 7:00 pm 5:00 pm

8:00 am 8:00 am 8:00 am 8:00 am

– – – –

9:00 pm 8:00 pm 5:00 pm 4:00 pm

the shop monday – thursday friday saturday sunday

Spirit MIDTOWN

poolside snack bar

About the Cover: Midtown stands on property that was once the site of the Bonewood Dairy, which was fortunate to survive the Chicago fire. When the land changed hands, written into the deed was a provision that this terra cotta horse’s head would remain on site to bring continued good luck to future owners.

© 2017 MillRace Design Associates All Rights Reserved No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording or storing in any information retrieval system without written permission from MillRace Design Associates.

Violation of copyright laws is a federal crime punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.

Spirit is published on behalf of Midtown Athletic Club (sponsor). All views and/or conclusions are those of the authors and not of the editorial staff, publisher or sponsors of Spirit. Any and all losses, liabilities, awards, expenses and costs arising out of or relating to any claim, demand or cause of action relating to the views and/ or conclusions expressed in Spirit, including without limitation,the actual or alleged violation of the rights of privacy or publicity of any person, defamation or injuries caused by negligence or otherwise are the sole responsibility of the authors and not of the editorial staff, publisher or sponsors of Spirit.

Midtown Athletic Club 2444 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 773.235.2300 www.midtown.com Michael Mahoney, General Manager, Chief Editor and Publisher michael.mahoney@midtown.com Joelle Beranek, Events Director, Content Coordinator joelle.beranek @midtown.com MillRace Design Associates, Principal Designer 234 Mill Street, Rochester, NY 14614 585.232.1180 www.mill-race.com Kathryn D’Amanda, Creative Director kda@mill-race.com Amy Holowczenko, Production Manager alh@mill-race.com James D’Amanda and Katherine Hannula Hill, Contributing Writers Rhonda Holcomb, Principal Photographer www.rhondahphoto.com

Dates and prices are subject to change without notice.

1

notesfrommichael

I have memories of my

father’s fondness toward Pontiacs. He never drove up our driveway in Rochester, NY with a Firebird or a GTO. Trust me, this would have been a vivid memory. Dad was a station wagon guy; the Pontiac model he preferred was a Catalina. Every two years, or thereabouts, he would pull into the driveway with a new Pontiac—much to my mother’s dismay and disappointment!

My Dad, Cha

lcie “Mac” Mahoney in his Air force un iform

he received from those at the dealership who maintained our cars, and I think that’s the reason why he continued to support Pontiac.

I like to think of myself as a loyal guy also. Perhaps I get this from my father. I started as a tennis coach at Midtown Tennis Club in Rochester, NY in 1978. The Midtown in Rochester was the second club built in our family of clubs which is today known as Midtown Athletic Clubs. From there I moved to our club in Evansville, Indiana, back to Rochester with a brief stint in Syracuse, NY, until finally coming to Chicago in 1990, which I’ve called home ever since. I’ve devoted my entire career to club operations with an emphasis on tennis. agon

lina Safari W

Pontiac Cata

Dad was loyal to the Pontiac brand. I never asked him why he preferred these cars compared to others. Keep in mind, this was during the 60s and 70s, a time when I was too young to really care that much. But as I think back, I believe his preference and his loyalty to Pontiac wasn’t attributed as much to the brand, as it was to the people at the dealership who sold him the cars. And he’d often talk about the service

2

So over the course of nearly forty years, I’ve seen Midtown, as a company, grow, prosper, and continually invest in our properties to stay ahead of industry trends in tennis and fitness. In actuality, our clubs have in many regards become the trend-setters in the industry. But this chapter in the evolution of our company is truly unique. It is hard to believe we began this journey in the fall of 2013 to build what is now being considered the world’s largest urban sports resort and hotel. At that time I doubt we would have coined the phrase “urban sports resort and hotel,” however, we knew we were creating something very special.

summercamps

I’ve had the pleasure to know you, our members, since 1990 when I joined the Club as General Manager. We have grown together as we experienced changes, additions and modifications at Midtown. In many respects today the rebuild of our flagship club is reminiscent of our owners’, the Schwartzes’, journey nearly fifty years ago to build the world’s largest indoor tennis club—Midtown Tennis Club.

I believe the goal then was to create something special, which has become a repetitive theme in our company for nearly fifty years. Yes, bricks and mortar are important, but the hundreds of innovations in the form of instructional tennis programs, competitive and recreational play, special events and fitness programming diversify our clubs from all others in the industry. We think what’s on the horizon with new specialized fitness facilities and programming will blow you away.

Through all the expansion construction and the unavoidable inconveniences, you have been loyal to the Club. Words alone cannot express our sincere appreciation for your support of the Club, particularly during this period of bricks and mortar growth. We remain committed to doing everything in our power to promptly address your requests and concerns and live up to the expectations for all the new club offers.

To our longstanding members, we invite and encourage you to experience the new club facilities and services and hope you will enjoy them as much as you have enjoyed the original Midtown. In addition to tennis, we look forward to you varying your exercise routine by participating in

To get started, please pick up and complete the Camp Midtown registration form located in the brochure rack near the front desk. For more information contact Kelsie Bunce at 512.2825 or kelsie.bunce­­@midtown.com

swimming, group exercise, small group training, cycling, Pilates, yoga, boxing, squash, golf and basketball. To our alumni members, welcome back! We are excited you have given us the opportunity to once again serve you. To our newest members, we look forward e m d n a d to meeting and getting to Da know you, and offering you personal attention. Thank you for joining us.

And, to prospects considering joining, “kick the tires,” take us for a spin around the block. We hope to serve you, too.

Welcome all to the new Midtown Athletic Club. The next chapter and our new journey begins here. On behalf of all Midtown personnel, we thank you.

Two final points: a sincere thank you to Spirit’s advertising partners for their support of Midtown and this inaugural publication, and an invitation to you to support them in turn.

Oh, and you may be curious about the horse’s head on the front cover of the magazine. It too has been part of the Midtown journey. The monument was placed on the site of the Bonewood Dairy which survived the Chicago fire, the establishment prior to Midtown. Written in the deed for the land was that the horse’s head would remain on site to bring the new property owners good luck. It has, and so it will remain. Personally, I’m superstitious; that’s a subject to be considered for a future article!

Best of health,

Michael

3

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feedyourspirit jenny maloney, registered dietitian/trainer

Plant-Based Diet I know what you’re thinking…a life with no meat? Don’t worry, I like meat too! This doesn’t have to be a vegetarian or vegan diet, it’s just a healthy approach to eating. Focus on eating foods from plants like fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, and seeds…and then throw in other foods as well. The premise behind it is to eat more whole foods and less processed foods and sugar. Here are 6 benefits to eating a plant-based diet.

1 Disease prevention—The Dietary Guidelines of 2015

recommends a plant-based diet for disease prevention— diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer—the list goes on. The reason is because a plant-based diet has more fiber and nutrients and when you eat more nutrient dense foods, you eat less junk.

2 Weight loss—This weight loss diet is actually healthy

for you. The fiber will keep you full and satiated. Meat is higher in fat and calories so cutting back on meat means fewer calories at the end of the day.

3 Reduce inflammation—This goes hand in hand with

disease prevention because inflammation in the body can be the cause of many diseases. Fruits and veggies have antioxidants that help fight inflammation. So you can not only decrease your risk of disease, you can help prevent and heal injuries, increase your immune system, improve digestion and gut health, and reduce stress.

4 Improves your mood—Vitamins and minerals that help

boost your mood and energy, like magnesium and B vitamins, are found in plant-based foods. In fact, magnesium is one of many unexpected minerals in which Americans are deficient; it can be found in foods like nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains. You feel better when you are getting the right nutrients for your body.

5 Detox—This buzz word gets people’s attention. Detoxes and

cleanses are popular trends that are supposed to get the toxins out of your body with the added bonus of weight loss. Your body naturally rids itself of toxins through your kidneys and liver every day, so an extreme cleanse is not necessary. On the other hand, your diet plays an important role in keeping your body efficient and healthy so why not “detox” with a plant-based, clean, whole food diet? Eliminating processed foods and sugar and eating more plant foods is about as “cleansing” as it gets.

6 Better for the environment—The production of beef

and other animal protein consumes large amounts of natural resources such as water, fossil fuels and topsoil, and also pollutes our water and air. For example, it takes 43 gallons of water to produce a pound of pulses (beans) compared to 1,857 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef. You can be healthier while improving our environment.

Sounds like good enough reasons to eat more plant foods, right? How do you get started? Try cutting back on meat— simply eat a smaller amount and/or cut back to once a day or every other day. Get protein from other food sources aside from meat, such as beans, tofu, and whole grains. Eat a balanced and healthy diet—don’t make the mistake of going vegetarian but then eating low nutrient carbohydrates and empty calorie foods. And lastly, be aware that any big changes in your diet, especially cutting out major food groups, may cause some deficiencies. If you are worried that you might be missing some vitamins or minerals, see a registered dietitian to make sure your diet is well balanced.

5

the

battleofthe sexes

revisiting

with

billiejeanking With 39 Grand Slam titles to her name, Billie Jean King is one of the greatest tennis champions of all time. She may have retired from professional competition in 1986, but in the social advocacy arena, she’s still a star player. The trailblazing athlete is perhaps most widely known for beating Bobby Riggs, a self-proclaimed male chauvinist and former No. 1 ranked player, in “The Battle of the Sexes.” Thirty thousand people sat in Houston’s Astrodome on September 20, 1973, and watched Billie Jean King run Bobby Riggs ragged for three sets; 90 million more watched it on TV worldwide. No tennis match before or since has been seen by so many.

King went on to found the Women’s Tennis Association, and thanks to her efforts to close the pay gap, the US Open became the first major tournament to offer men and woman equal prize money. She is the founder of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative and the co-founder of World TeamTennis. In 2009, King was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Midtown’s Glenn William sat down with the tennis legend to discuss a range of topics, including the new movie ‘The Battle of the Sexes’ starring Emma Stone as Billie Jean King and Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs.

6

Photograph by Andrew Coppa.

Glenn William: What role did you play in the development of the upcoming movie about your match against Bobby Riggs, ‘Battle of the Sexes?”

Billie Jean King: I met with the directors once.

They’re the husband and wife team who did “Little Miss Sunshine.” I spent ten hours with Simon Beaufoy, the writer. What I didn’t know is once the writer gives the script to the director, they can do anything they want with it, meaning they can interpret it in any way they want. There’s a great deal about what’s going on around the match at the time.

It shows Larry and me, and Bobby and his wife.

GW: Was there anything surprising in getting to know Emma Stone and Steve Carell?

BJK: I met Steve once when I went to the studio and we had a great talk. He’s fantastic. I’ve gotten to know Emma slowly but surely. When Holly Hunter portrayed me in a TV movie she hung out with me a lot. Emma’s process is different. Just like every tennis player’s processing is different. She’s a really great human being who never stops working.

GW: What was your relationship with Bobby Riggs like in the years prior to the match?

BJK: We’re both from Southern California, so on weekends we’d sit waiting for a court together and he was such a character. He was one of my heroes and, because I love history, I knew all about him before I met him. He didn’t know much about me. It was a tumultuous time in my generation, because we had just started Women’s Open

In 1973, former tennis champ Bobby Riggs faced off against King in a highly-publicized exhibition match called “The Battle of the Sexes.” The pair of photographs show King and Riggs at a press conference before the match, and Emma Stone (as Billie Jean King) and Steve Carell (as Bobby Riggs) in the new movie, set to be released September 22, 2017. Photographs courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox/ Entertainment Pictures.

professional tennis in 1968 and the players chose me to be their leader. He used to follow me around trying to get the match to happen.

Every time he asked me I would say, “I’m only getting four hours of sleep right now, Bobby, how am I going to find time to play you?” Beating him was not an athletic feat in my mind, because he was so much older. He was the same age as my dad and I thought we had a lot more to lose if I lost.

GW: What changed your mind?

BJK: Margaret Court said yes to him and it meant a big check for her. $35,000, which in those days was huge. If she’d won the match, this “battle of the sexes” thing would’ve been finished, but she lost. I knew how emotional people were about it and I knew I had to play him.

I wanted to protect our tour as well as Title IX, which had been passed the year before. I also wanted to help change the hearts and minds of people on gender equality. It makes the world a better place, that’s what I believe. I hoped that match would have a positive effect on both men and women, and it did. I had women tell me it gave them self-confidence for the first time. I had men come up to me with tears in their eyes, saying, “I watched that match when I was young and I have a daughter now. It changed my whole perception on how to raise her. I also have a son and I want both of them to have equal rights and opportunities.” It helps when a father has a daughter. I think it makes a big impact on his life. President Obama told me that he was twelve years old at the time and it influenced him on how to raise his children, particularly because he had two daughters. Would you give your daughter less allowance than your son?

7

(left) Bobby Riggs “dressed as a woman” on the tennis court in Forest Hills, Queens, 1973. Photograph courtesy of Keystone Pictures USA/Alamy Stock Photo. (below) King winning the 1975 Wimbledon Championship. Photograph by Michael Cole.

do you think that’s what he would’ve been talking about? I had just won a Triple Crown at Wimbledon. It was so irritating.

GW: What athletes have been most inspirational for you and why?

GW: Have we made as much progress in the past 50 years on the tennis tour as you hoped we would in regards to gender equality?

BJK: I’m never going to say I’m satisfied. That’s what keeps me going.

I wanted the men and women to be together on the tour, to be one union or one association, but they rejected it. From a business point of view it’s a no brainer—that’s why World TeamTennis has both men and women. When you have everyone together it’s worth more than an event with just men or women.

GW: What made you want to change things for women in sports?

BJK: The original nine of us sat in Gladys Heldman’s bedroom and I said to them, “If we’re going to do this because of a lot of money or applause, it’s not going to happen. We want this for future generations.”

Our goal was to give any girl moving up in the world of tennis a place to compete. We wanted to be recognized for our on-court accomplishments, not our looks. With the media it was always about our looks. Even when I played Bobby Riggs, Howard Cosell only talked about my looks. He said, “Let her hair grow out, get rid of the glasses and she could be a movie star.” If I were a guy, 8

BJK: Althea Gibson. At thirteen I got to see her play when she was number one in the world. If you can see it, you can be it. I saw what it was like to be number one and I realized how hard I’d have to work and how good I’d have to be. Every generation gets better, so you have to be better than what you grew up watching. Just being around Alice Marble helped me jump from 19th to 4th in women’s tennis when I was fifteen. She was number one and that’s what I tell USTA player development: Get kids around former number ones. I think it really helps kids. It helped me to be around number ones because I got to listen to their stories and ask them questions.

Bob Richards won the bronze in ’48, and the gold in ’52 and in ’56 in the pole vault. Most people remember him for being the first guy on the Wheaties box. He was my minister from the time I was eleven till I was fifteen. Every Sunday he spoke and he enabled you to feel that you could do anything. I used to go watch him practice behind the church.

Muhammad Ali and I were about the same age and we would end up at award banquets together and the two of us would talk about life.

The one subject we talked about the most was that you never know how a person is going to touch your life or how you will touch theirs.

I don’t think I understood enough then, but now I really understand that relationships are everything. I probably didn’t thank enough people when I was coming up. The friendships you make through sports is the essence, not the trophies or titles you win.

GW: How did your friendship with Midtown Athletic Club founder Alan Schwartz begin?

BJK: I really got to know Alan well when I was living in Chicago for twelve years. I would play at Midtown, because I was playing a lot and I would see Alan all the time. We also had our Chicago Fire Team and the last year I played professional we won the championship.

I cherish that team victory and that I was part of a team.

GW: Do you ever sit back for a moment and contemplate all you’ve been responsible for?

BJK: You don’t do it alone, so I don’t think like that. If we didn’t have Joe Cullman and Gladys Heldman, the incredible leadership and sponsor support of others, none of this would have happened.

(right) Riggs and King were on opposite sides of the feminist divide in the 70s; she’ll be forever known to many as a progressive hero, while he’ll be remembered as a self-proclaimed male chauvinist. Photograph courtesy of CSU Archives/Everett Collection.

GW: When you stopped playing tennis, did you miss the arena performance?

BJK: No. I didn’t retire until I was 40 and, basically, I had it all.

I’ve had the most incredible experience of almost any tennis player in the world, from amateur to pro. I started a players union, I played Bobby Riggs in the most watched match ever in the history of the game, which helped society move forward. Who in tennis has had my experience? I’m the luckiest person in the world.

GW: Are you playing today?

BJK: It’s one of my goals to get back on the court, but I have to lose weight to do that. Because I’ve had so many operations, I have to do a lot of weight lifting for my body to get stronger. There is nothing like hitting a tennis ball, whether it’s Fed Cup or World TeamTennis.

I get the most joy out of it because I love teams. I grew up on teams.

Basketball was my first sport, and later I loved track and field. I love team sports the best. My brother played baseball in the majors for twelve years.

really get to know the player. Another ridiculous thing is we never put the names on the shirts, so I’ve sat in the stands and heard people wondering which player is which.

The scoring in tennis is difficult. Fifteen love, thirty love. When I first started tennis I thought it was weird. Basketball and baseball are easy to understand, but I think tennis is difficult if you’re not brought up in it.

GW: If you could meet anyone from history who would it be?

BJK: Eleanor Roosevelt. I love history and I’m reading one of her books now. She was amazing in the way she thought. If she had been a boy, there would have been no stopping her. She was so smart; she could have been president. She helped her husband so much.

GW: If you decided on a career in music would you be a songwriter, composer or musician?

BJK: Musician, because piano was my first love. I could tell when I played tennis I had a chance to be the best, but I had no chance of ever being unbelievable at the piano. I think self-awareness is important; it helps direct your focus and accomplish what’s important to you. I wanted to be number one in tennis the first time I played, but I would’ve loved to be a rock and roll star.

GW: Why hasn’t mainstream tennis become more fun and accessible to the general public, like football and baseball?

BJK: Larry, my former husband and business partner, thought the reason tennis would never be a really huge sport is because it’s single elimination. Fifty percent of the players are gone in the first round. Seventy-five percent are gone in the second round. The people never Billie Jean King (left) and Martina Navratilova speak at a news conference for the World TeamTennis Smash Hits fundraiser in Washington on November15, 2010. The event raised money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and local Washington, D.C. area AIDS charities. Photograph courtesy of Reuters/Joshua Roberts. (bottom) In 2014, Team Billie Jean: Kim Clijsters, Tim Henman, Billie Jean King, Sabine Lisicki and Jamie Murray and Team Elton John with Martina Hingis, Elton John, Heather Watson, John McEnroe competed at 22nd Mylan World TeamTennis Smash Hits, which took place at the Royal Albert Hall, London, for the first time. Photograph courtesy of RNick Savage/Alamy Stock Photo.

9

experience excellence In 2016, Jill Hare’s listings sold at an average of 100.63% of list price in an average of only 24.28 days.

PROPERTY ADDRESS

LIST PRICE

SALES PRICE

% OF LIST PRICE

MARKET TIME

856 W. Newport #2

$275,000

$273,000

100.73

10

340 W. Superior #1102

$299,999

$305,100

101.7

4

880 N. Lake Shore Dr. #8C

$349,999

$318,500

91

150

1131 N. Winchester

$1,250,000

$1,260,000

100.8

4

3418 W. Foster #401

$299,999

$320,000

106.67

4

521 W. Superior #329

$299,999

$321,000

107

3

4203 N. Kedvale #4N

$315,000

$325,000

103.17

3

2828 N. Orchard #3

$349,999

$349,999

100

9

1918 W. Wellington

$1,225,000

$1,235,000

100.8

9

2002 N. Clifton #3F

$349,999

$350,000

100

3

2318 W. Bloomingdale #C

$339,999

$350,000

102.94

4

221 E. Cullerton #928

$365,000

$365,000

100

17

1000 N. Kingsbury #406

$374,999

$375,000

100

10

3519 N. Sheffield #3S

$399,999

$377,500

94.38

23

860 N. Elson #4

$525,000

$542,500

103.33

3

1638 N. Bissell

$550,000

$550,000

100

4

901 W. Cornelia #G

$172,000

$170,500

99.1

161

880 N. Lake Shore Dr. #8D

$250,000

$250,000

100

52

4203 N. Kedvale #4S

$325,000

$327,500

100.76

8

3822 N. Damen #2

$469,999

$465,000

98.93

21

2105 W. Webster

$499,999

$510,000

102

8

Jill Hare

vice president of sales, broker associate

jill@jillhare.com | 312.560.2617

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY AND THE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY LOGO ARE REGISTERED (OR UNREGISTERED) SERVICE MARKS USED WITH PERMISSION. SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY AFFILIATES LLC FULLY SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLES OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT. EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED.

memberprofile jillhare Are you a Chicago native? Chicago has felt like home to me since the day I moved here from Indiana in 1997 to attend DePaul University. As of this year, I’ve lived in Chicago longer than in my hometown.

When did you become a Midtown member and what motivated you to join? I joined in November 2013, when I decided I needed to get into a cardiovascular workout program.

I had tried it all but didn’t enjoy any of it…until I found cardio tennis (I call it “trick cardio!”) Now, I can’t imagine getting my workout any other way.

Tell us about your career path? What drew you into the real estate business? I came from what I consider a strikingly similar business: the restaurant industry. In college, I managed The Cheesecake Factory and Grand Lux Café. Both industries require strong interpersonal skills, exceptional work ethic, and incredible patience. The main difference in real estate is that you can work for yourself, which I find extremely rewarding.

What is special about the Jameson Sotheby’s brand?

The Jameson Sotheby’s international brand is in a league of its own. It has a local feel with area expertise paired with global reach. The brand itself focuses on responding to the many details of clients’ needs and exceeding all their expectations, something I call “experience excellence.”

What do you love most about your job? I love looking at gorgeous properties all day, but most of all, I enjoy and respect the people I do it with. My clients are incredibly loyal. It always circles back to the people.

How has working with a trainer at the club helped you?

Jenny Maloney, my personal trainer, helps me on so many levels.

As a dietitian, she guides me through fueling my body for all of the cardio tennis, and helps me recover from occasional over-training.

Most importantly, she keeps the workouts fun and exciting so I don’t get bored!

What are your ongoing fitness goals? I am always looking to improve my tennis game. Tennis is so complex and multidimensional. Just when I think I have conquered a skill, I start obsessing with learning another. But my main priority is simply

to look and feel healthy—in mind and body. No matter how busy I am, I make time to play tennis. I feel that is true of anything in life that you care about. You have to make time for things and people that are important to you or time just slips away.

How do you feel about the Midtown facility as it continues to evolve? Well, the evolution process has been difficult but after taking the “virtual reality tour” recently, I have to admit that I’m now convinced it will be worth it in the end—the place is top-of-the-line everything—it’s truly incredible.

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods with each one having a unique personality. What’s your favorite and why?

In my line of work, this almost seems like a trick question— like choosing a favorite kid. Because I live in Old Town, I am biased in saying that I absolutely love it here. However, I have lived in many neighborhoods and can make a valid argument for each of them being absolutely fantastic in their own way.

What is your favorite restaurant in the Chicago area?

My husband and I love Tanta in River North. We love ethnic food, specifically Latin, and Peruvian is near the top of the list for me.

Ceviche is one of my favorite dishes and they slam that out of park.

It’s one of those places where everything on the menu is just spectacular and very unique. And it has an amazing rooftop deck.

What do you like most (or least) about living in Chicago?

The same reasons I love Chicago and big city living can sometimes make me crazy. The hustle and bustle that drives and motivates me daily can also cause burnout. My husband, Ruben, and I have recently conquered this by spending time at our lake house in Plainfield—an oasis just outside the city where we can relax, unplug, and recharge. After a few days there, we find ourselves missing the city.

Tell us something about you that would surprise most people? I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere in Indiana.

I have completely blended into my urban environment since the day I moved here, so it really shocks people when they hear this.

Cubs or Sox? Why? I recently married a HUGE, lifelong Cubs fan so I have no choice in this matter. He accepts my love of tennis and I accept his love of baseball.

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clubexpansion

Q&Awith

alan&steven schwartz city of Chicago decided to overhaul the intersection of Damen and Elston, the Club found itself Wathena the crossroads of its own: should they simply replace its small fitness facility, or take the opportunity to move the Club forward into a new state-of-the-art fitness destination? Midtown’s Glenn William sat down with Midtown founder Alan Schwartz and his son, Steven, the current President and CEO, to discuss how they decided to embark on the largest club expansion in its history.

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Photography by Rhonda Holcomb | www.rhondahphoto.com

Glenn William: How did the Midtown expansion come to be?

Alan Schwartz: This was Steven’s vision. He took the lead in this happening, and he had a very clear idea of what he wanted to end up seeing.

Steven Schwartz: It all started because the city of Chicago wanted to change the intersection of Damen and Elston, and in doing so, they had to take the fitness center in its entirety —one tennis court, and our secondary locker room. That left us without a fitness center. The question then became: do we just replace the small fitness facility that we had, or do we go for something bigger? We have been very successful throughout the country doing large-scale sports resorts and really wanted to focus on that as our future. This gave us the opportunity to put a sports resort in an urban setting in our flagship location. Essentially, it meant spending way more than we had originally anticipated, but I think we created something that has never been done before.

GW: If the city had not forced your hand, would you have expanded anyway?

SS: No, but we may have down the road. A lot transpired from when the city first came to us ten years ago. So we had several years to think about what we were going to do, and in that time some of our clubs in other towns such as Rochester, NY or Weston, FL were very successful with this indoor/outdoor sports resort model. That gave us the confidence to take this big leap in Chicago.

GW: How did the hotel addition come about?

SS: That was more serendipitous. The president of Wilson, Mike Dowse, and I were standing on top of the parking lot in the middle of construction, and he just looked out and said, “What a wonderful view! I wish we could move our corporate office here, but we would need a hotel.” And a light went off in my head that essentially this area of Chicago was a hotel desert, and the community, the neighborhood, could really use a hotel. I had been a hotel developer for six years before I joined this business as a director of development at Hyatt.

GW: Why 55 rooms?

SS: I was a little nervous about making it too big. I wasn’t sure what the right number was, and then frankly we hit physical limitations. We knew it was somewhere between 30-70 [rooms] and this is what fit.

AS: We also had some height limitations from a zoning point of view. This was the maximum we could get without exceeding the height and still permit us to do all that we wanted to do on the other floors by way of fitness.

GW: Do you get overwhelmed by what you created?

SS: Depends on the day. Today, yes. The response from the community has been tremendous, and that gives me a lot of enthusiasm and confidence. There were days early on when the budgets were creeping up, creating a lot of anxiety and stress for our whole company.

AS: Knowing that I had Steven on the front line enabled me to not get overwhelmed. In addition, this was a decision that we made on a very sound financial basis, even if we had made a few miscalculations along the way. The bottom line is that I have Steven and his team on the front line, so I’m not overwhelmed.

GW: Steven, you travel the world, visiting the finest clubs many times over. How does what you’ve created stack up with the rest?

SS: I think this is something that our members will be extremely proud of. I think we will be able to hold our head up and say, “This is the best club in the world.” What I have been able to do by looking around the world is create the best boutique experiences, and couple it with a large scale physical plant and athletic club. We will have an outdoor pool and sundeck coupled with the best yoga experience you can find. We’re able to have a large-scale fitness floor coupled with a phenomenal spinning experience. We’re able to put a terrific restaurant and bar coupled with a full-service spa.

Golf simulators, basketball, free weights and turf performance fields. There is everything here that you could want in an athletic club or fitness experience.

AS: It reminded me of traveling a good part of the globe back in 1967-68, discovering the state of the indoor tennis 13

industry worldwide. When the dust settled, I sat down with my dad, who was my partner in starting this business, and we decided to build the world’s largest indoor tennis club.

50 years later I find Steven using the same measurement worldwide and I like it.

GW: I know both of you as being very competitive.

SS: He more than me.

AS: (laughing) He meant, “He more than I.” GW: Have you given any consideration to competing with East Bank?

SS: My goal was never to go out and compete against East Bank. I think East Bank does a wonderful job and I respect those people very much.

I think Chicago is big enough for both of us. I think East Tournament Champions Bank set a standard Steven and Alan in 1974 for the world for many, many years. I think we’re going to set a standard for clubs of the future going forward.

GW: Steven, what level of detail are you involved in?

SS: Some things a great deal and other things very little.

For example, tomorrow I am heading down to Greensboro, NC to evaluate the strength equipment in the factory of one of our suppliers to see if it’s got the right look, feel and biomechanics to fit in our program. I’m involved in some of the details of the lighting and experience in the spin room.

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I haven’t been involved in the menu planning for the restaurant, but I’m intimately involved in the layout of the building and the programmatic space. It depends on the area.

AS: I see Steven getting into great detail in the key areas.

Steven has taken a hard, detailed look at the things that are most important. I witnessed him spending an entire day looking at linens and toiletries and amenities, an area he knows a good deal about.

SS: I was very involved in the placement of windows and to make sure that the light and the feel of the atmosphere we are creating had great consideration. Having a lot of natural light is very important to me. While we were under construction we would spend hours on each level to ensure window dimensions were to scale and in the right location to capture sunlight and capture the skyline.

GW: You have a great sense for aesthetics, textures and finishes. Is that an area you are involved with?

SS: Yes, and one of the things that is radically different from our other clubs is that we are putting a hardwood floor under our entire fitness center. I think it will warm things up and make it feel different and very inviting.

AS: Let me give you an example of the detail and care here.

Steven directed the architect to layout and build two rooms adjacent to the architect’s office, two full-size model hotel rooms. Bathrooms were placed in different places in the same size rectangle. The whole Schwartz family was up there passing judgment on which we liked better.

SS: Back to the anxiety question (laughing). The entire family was there passing judgment and criticizing everything we did in the model room. We changed the model layout thanks to my mother and sister. But I think people will find a slightly different bathroom layout than typical and the rooms are a foot wider than a typical hotel room. I like to joke it’s a

boutique hotel in which you can see everything in the room and unpack at the same time. There is enough room and its functionally-friendly.

GW: With this blank canvas, what happens when you change your mind midstream?

SS: The first thing is the construction manager tries to take my head off because it slows the project down. Because of the sequences of the street renovations and the decision to add a hotel late in the game, we’ve had to make several changes along the way, which have been painful.

AS: There were a lot of very creative interim solutions that came into place that were very expensive, and not the least of which was to end up building a $1,000,000+ temporary locker room. But if you have people living in your club, making it their place and willing to put up with all the aggravation during that period, then you need to give them something that shows you’ve gone the extra step to accommodate them. They’ve recognized that. We have had a net gain of members during the past two years, even before the rush of the last six months when they could see what the new building would look like.

SS: An example of a painful change was deciding to add three levels of parking after we had finished the initial parking garage. We just decided that, frankly, with the potential of the hotel, we wanted ample parking, which became an add-on to the project. That was an expensive way to do business and created some additional inconvenience.

GW: When you developed this plan, did you include time for change orders, or was it more of a mad scramble?

SS: We had an original timeline that was altered by the city of Chicago. Instead of tearing down our building at the end of the project, they needed to do it at the beginning. As a result, it accelerated the entire process by a year, which

is why we were forced to make changes that were not on the original schedule.

GW: Do you ever second-guess yourself?

SS: Yes, I second-guess myself all the time. But I think that it is just who I am and the way I operate, and I am excited about what we come up with. I’m sure we have made some mistakes, and we will do our best to repair those over the years. But the way I see the club and hotel turning out will be sensational, and we will all be very proud of it.

AS: Steven may second-guess himself periodically, but it doesn’t stop him from moving ahead, continuing to go for it, and I like that. Rather than second-guessing, I like to think of it as an occasional buyer’s remorse, but we move on.

SS: One of the challenges of this site is the fact that Elston Avenue is on an angle that creates a series of triangles. Triangles are the single most difficult shape to deal with for an architect. Rooms want to be square; swimming pools are rectangular. This triangle has caused all kinds of challenges in our construction. It causes all kinds of tradeoffs that have to occur. I would say, if anything, that is where my remorse comes in. I don’t like having these tradeoffs. I want everything.

GW: You both have deep backgrounds in banking.

Have you learned anything new about banks during the Midtown expansion?

SS: We love our banks and we believe the feeling is mutual.

I just want to go on the record saying that. I’m not sure they love hotels as much as I thought they would, but we put soundness first so our balance sheet is strong, and we have a long history of a good, stable, growing business.

AS: We have a 50-year history in this company meeting every bank obligation on time. That has built our credibility

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with them, which is important. The banks respect that because they are not into combinations of hotels and clubs or shopping centers, which in many respects this is. But they showed their confidence and their willingness to go with us by making loans at attractive rates and for significantly long periods of time. So our relationship with the bankers have been excellent and we appreciate their understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish.

GW: Is finding the perfect formula for club operation a work in progress?

be flexible, adjustable and adaptable. Sometimes you have to repurpose spaces, and that’s a challenge for the architect and the operator. You want to keep pace with the market demands so you can be ahead of the curve.

SS: I would also like to add that the nature of personal training has changed. Years ago it was all about one-onone personal training and private lessons. One thing my dad was able to create for the company was a focus on group programming in tennis. We’ve taken that idea to fitness and the rest of the world has followed that pathway. Our spaces are designed to take advantage of the group class experience.

GW: How would your dad and grandfather react to what you’re in the process of creating?

SS: Always. This is an operation, the scale of which is highly unusual for any club company. I think there will be things that we learn over time and we will adjust. Frankly, this is the most dynamic period in the health club business for the 30 years I’ve been in it. I expect a lot of changes to occur and I’ve tried to build the building in a way that will accommodate these changes.

AS: That’s a key point that Steven brought up. There are trends in this business. There was a time when racquetball was a hot item. Now spinning rooms, yoga rooms, hot yoga and boxing are “in.” Your building has to have ability to

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AS: I think he would have reacted very favorably, excited as a matter of fact. He would have wanted to pitch in and be part of the action. He holds a number of patents in the chromium plating field. He was an inventor and something new would always excite him. I think most importantly he would have been very proud of Steven because when he died in 1974, Steven was still quite young. Steven was a very promising youngster and it would have been very exciting for my dad to see that he lived up to that promise. I think my dad would have been delighted with it, rooted us on, participated with enthusiasm as he did with the original Midtown.

SS: As a kid, I remember Grandpa being a very focused guy, extremely concerned with how every piece of the company and operation worked. Hopefully we take that kind of focus seriously as we go forward. In honor of him, we have named the restaurant Chromium. We have a great picture of him playing basketball in college that you can find in the Club today.

club expansion by the numbers

650,000 total sq ft in the new Midtown Club, including the hotel and retail spaces.

230,000 gallons of water

to fill our pools…35’x100’ indoor pool on level 1 and a 35’x75’ outdoor recreation pool with attached 19’x25’ kid’s pool on level 2, plus indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools.

460 sun loungers and pool-side chairs.

24,000 sq ft outdoor pool deck that converts to a 6,000 sq ft ice rink in the winter.

10 tons of Black Stone quarried from the mountains

of southern India and carved into desks, benches and fireplaces.

1 acre of Italian flooring and wall panels...

5,200 pavers from Germany...

15 tons of granite cladding at interior walls… ...377 pieces of wood

make up a custom tree sculpture in the yoga room. 377 is a number in the fibonacci sequence of numbers which is considered to be nature’s numbering system.

Life-size Buddha statues

for Mind Body spaces were imported from India, carved by stone carvers from the historic 7th century cultural site of Mamallapuram in southern India. They were hand-selected by project architect, Kavitha Marudadu, a native of that region.

55 guest rooms,

The hotel will have including three Deluxe Suites and a Penthouse Presidential Suite.

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construction progress Photography by Rhonda Holcomb | www.rhondahphoto.com

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DESIGNED LIKE NO OTHER P L AY S L I K E N O O T H E R

MXG 3

MXG 5

POWER UNDER CONTROL

.COM/TENNIS

exerciseyourmind Across

1. Clear the blackboard

53. Marisa of”Crazy, Stupid, Love”

6. Winter accessory 11. Oversized 14. Door 15. Run the show 16. Lennon’s lady 17. 2008 & 2010 Wimbledon champ

55. Not that 57. Stimpy’s cartoon pal 58. Of the liver 61. Rocket launch site 63. El Al destination: Abbr.

64. 1992 Wimbledon champ

19. Campaigned

70. RR stop

20. Jacuzzi

71. Enjoyed immensely

21. End of a real-estate deal

72. ___-Unis

23. Tourist’s aid

73. D.D.E.’s two-time presidential rival

26. Río contents 29. Rhinoplasty targets 30. “___ My Heart…”

74. Big gulps 75. Lure

32. Foot-long sandwich option Down 35. Room under a roof

1. Always, to a poet

36. Ghostbuster Spengler

2. Genetic initials

37. Emergency PC key

3. Org. that monitors gun sales

40. Baby’s ring 42. Only Hitchcock film to win Best Picture 45. ___ gratia artis 46. Humdinger 48. Wine barrel descriptor

Created exclusively by Midtown member Josh Reynolds, a syndicated weekly puzzle writer. Josh’s work has been published in USA Today and was included in Simon and Schuster’s latest crossword series.

4. Sp. ladies 5. Pirate costume feature 6. D.C. V.I.P. 7. Nashville-based awards org.

49. Steers

8. “For Those About to Rock” band

52. Good, in Guatemala

9. Bona fide

10. Mug shot subjects

31. In shape

53. “Is ___ joke?”

11. 1985, 1986 & 1989 Wimbledon champ

33. “Take your time”

54. 90 degrees from sur

34. “Wheel of Fortune” purchase

56. Hoppy brew, for short

12. Absurd 13. Percussion instruments

38. Part of an act

18. Fall behind

39. Religious law

22. Former French coin

41. ___ Lilly & Co.

23. Sporty Mazda

43. “How I Met Your Mother” narrator

66. Asner and Begley

44. ___ de Cologne

67. “Casablanca” pianist

47. Court call

68. Popular oil additive

27. First home?

50. Narc’s org.

69. Believer’s suffix

28. Summer mo.

51. Blood pressure, body temperature, etc.

Answers on page 39.

24. Change 25. 1993-1995, 1997-2000 Wimbledon champ

59. “___ pronounce you…”

60. Roman 406 62. Go out with 65. Gas station abbr.

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alittlehistory…

A warm hello to all Midtown members.

Long-timers, thanks for your years of loyalty.

New members, I am delighted you have joined the Midtown community.

For the past l8 months, my son Steven and I have been overseeing the completion of Midtown Chicago’s newest transformation. Throughout the process, we’ve peered into the future using virtual reality technology, seeing what Steven envisioned Alan Schwartz long before it came into existence. There are no backward-looking glasses, however, to show how he and I got to this place. With just a little prodding from Steven, the role of historian has fallen to me. I welcome the opportunity to share the Midtown story with you.

The history of Midtown is a father-and-son story, though at its inception I wasn’t the father. I was the son. My dad, Kevie, was a chemical engineer. He held a patent on chromium plating earned during his graduate studies at Columbia University. In 1926, he traded ownership of the patent to a division of General Motors in exchange for becoming president of a new GM company, formed to license the patent to parties entering the chrome plating business. In the process of identifying licensees, he gained extensive experience in evaluating industrial sites, dealing with zoning issues, and helping to design and construct industrial buildings.

Fresh out of business school in 1954, I turned down conventional job offers and chose instead to work with my father, which we did successfully for 14 years. Then,

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yearby

year...1968

Tennis Corporation of America founded by Kevie and Alan Schwartz; construction begins on Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago

1970

Midtown opens October 1st with 14 indoor courts

1973

Midtown expands to 18 indoor courts

Alan was tennis team captain at Yale.

in 1968, the doctor told my dad that his medical prognosis was not good, and he could anticipate living only another 3-5 years. Hearing this news, he and I decided we wanted to create something together that would follow our combined passions, tap into our combined strengths, serve as a community asset, and be grand in scale.

Tennis was already a passion in our family. Dad played as a youth, taught my two sisters and me to play, and along with my mother, tennis became the family sport on Sundays during my childhood, weather permitting.

As a nationally ranked amateur tennis player, tennis was clearly my passion. I played competitively at the junior age bracket tournaments, captained Yale’s tennis team, and won several state and national tournaments. I served as a volunteer instructor in underserved areas through the Youth Action Program, helped coach the Midwest Junior Davis Cup, and had a high profile in the Chicago tennis community.

1974

Kevie Schwartz dies; 2nd location in Rochester, NY opens

1975

Added 2 Boston clubs; Added Evansville club

1975-8

Added 7 racquetball clubs in metro-Chicago

1980

Fitness added in Rochester

highlights…

Together, Dad and I set out to build the world’s largest indoor tennis club. Using his business skills, my dad located Midtown’s present site, helped write the Chicago zoning code for indoor tennis, and was active in the design and building of Midtown. Tapping into his proficiency as a chemical engineer, Dad also developed an innovative cushioned tennis surface called Tennis Turf.® The present U.S. Open surface evolved from Tennis Turf.

Beyond tennis, my work experience included real estate and finance. This meant the job of securing financing and developing a welcoming tennis program for beginners fell to me. As for the mortgage, 17 bankers turned me down.

It was my wife, Ronnie, who spotted an article in Time magazine featuring a maverick banker in Detroit. “lsn’t Don Parsons your prep school and college friend?” she asked.

Yes he was, and Parsons, banker #18, made the loan. As for the challenge to introduce newcomer adults to tennis, I developed and trademarked Tennis in No Time® (TNT).

To date, over 100,000 people have taken and graduated from Midtown’s TNT program. One of the big innovations was to include take-home drill suggestions that could be practiced in a house or apartment with both practitioner and furniture remaining safe.

Setting out to build what was then the world’s largest indoor tennis club was our dream. The opening of Midtown Chicago in 1970 marked the realization of that dream. With 14 indoor courts, Midtown set the standard for the tennis community.

The number of tennis luminaries who have competed here is unmatched. Our commitment to the game included everything from serving as the go-to place for local enthusiasts to hosting national tournaments. Midtown’s commitment to the sport extended beyond the club. Two weeks after opening, Midtown began teaching and supporting young athletes from the South and West sides of Chicago, many of whom went on to earn college scholarships.

1982

Added Willowbrook club; Began managing fitness centers and clubs for corporations and hospitals

1985

Added Palatine club

1987

Steven Schwartz joins the company; Sells, leases or converts to fitness all racquetball clubs; Added Pittsburgh club

Technical lnnovations • • • •

Developed Tennis Turf® lntroduced 4 inch Baseline Pioneered Indirect Lighting Created National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP)

Tennis Luminaries on “Court 5” Andre Agassi* John Newcombe Arthur Ashe Ken Rosewall Andy Roddick**1 Steffi Graf Pam Shriver Billie Jean King Fred Stolle Illana Kloss Serena Williams Rod Laver John McEnroe* Venus Williams Patrick McEnroe* Stan Smith Martina Navratilova * Won 1st National Championship on Court 5 ** Won 2nd and 3rd National Championship on Court 5 1 Alan

presented Roddick his Boy’s National 14 and US Open trophies

Celebrity Luminaries on “Court 5” Ernie Banks Tony Bennett Barbara Eden Harrison Ford Charlton Heston

Elton John Luciano Pavarotti Renee Richards 4 Members of the Led Zepplin Band

USTA National Championships • Boy’s 14 & Under National Indoor–Hosted 30 times • Women’s 35, 40, 45 National—Hosted 12 times • NCAA Indoor Collegiate—Hosted 2 times Community Outreach • Tennis Opportunity Program (TOP): provide academic support and tennis instruction to economically disadvantaged children • Scholarships and Financial Aid: identify and support gifted young athletes, providing financial aid for their tennis training • Youth Action: provided pro-bono tennis instruction to underserved communities • Multi-Language Instruction: taught tennis in 7 languages (Czech, French, German, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, …and English!)

• Public Parks: ran the Chicago Public Parks tennis program pro-bono 23

1974 was a bittersweet year for Midtown. Just after opening the second club, in Rochester, New York, my father died.

Kevie had been instrumental in helping to design and oversee construction of Midtown Rochester. The general manager and first head pro he hired stayed with the company for a combined 43 years. During the years following my dad’s death, Midtown’s tennis presence expanded, adding clubs in 13 states. He would have enjoyed those years, and I missed him as both a father and a partner.

To my great delight, Midtown again became a father-son family business in 1987. That’s the year my son, Steven, left his position as Hyatt’s Director of Development and joined me. During his undergraduate years at Cornell, where he studied hotel management, Steven had captained the Water Polo Team. His expertise in the hospitality industry, along with his strong athletic passion, served as natural complements to the company’s focus on tennis.

Steven influenced the direction of the business immediately.

He sharpened the focus on fitness, and dramatically expanded its reach and importance in all of the clubs. In 2004, he was invited to become a member of a formal round table of 10 leading club CEOs from around the world. The group meets 3 times a year in countries ranging from Brazil to Denmark to Singapore to France, enabling the CEOs to see firsthand the latest fitness and club trends. In this capacity, Steven has had the chance to observe various architectural features as well as the opportunity to curate international boutique experiences, many of which will be incorporated in the “new” Midtown.

In 2001, secure in the knowledge that my son, along with his management team, were in full command of Midtown, I was able to take what amounted to a ten-year sabbatical.

As a volunteer, I became a board member, officer, and later president and CEO of the United States Tennis

1993

1997

2001

1996

1998

2006

Added Bannockburn club

Added Montreal club

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Added Atlanta club Steven becomes CEO

Association (USTA). I also extended my services as the U.S. representative to the International Tennis Federation (ITF). There, I served on the Davis Cup committee, the ITF’s Foundation & Grant Committee, and for 2 years as ITF vice-president.

During my sabbatical, Steven added clubs, rebranded all the large, multi-sport clubs to the name Midtown, and greatly increased the fitness and outdoor resort offerings while retaining the clubs’ “tennis mystique.” ln addition, he created a Midtown Health division, which manages clubs and corporate fitness centers for companies and hospitals.

Just as my father and I had a vision to build something on a grand scale 49 years ago, Steven came to me with a vision to rebuild Midtown into the Sports Resort that it is today. The seed for his idea was planted as much from his experience at hotel school and at Hyatt as it was by the city’s decision to reconfigure the intersection at Fullerton and Elston. Instead of viewing the disruption as a hindrance, Steven saw it as an opportunity to do exactly what my father and I had done before him: create a business that would follow our combined passions, tap into our combined strengths, serve as a community asset, and be grand in scale.

Midtown 2017 sets the standard for health clubs in the 21st century. It will be the first in the world to feature a range of exercise boutiques, a rooftop pool that morphs into a rooftop ice rink, and a hotel atop the club. Though this iteration owes its existence primarily to Steven, it is the history of father-and-son working together that created the foundation on which he could build his dream.

It has been a privilege to have worked and partnered with both my father and my son for 37 of Midtown’s years. As much as I take pride in the history that led to this point, I’m even prouder of where the company is today, and feel excitement about the prospects for its future.

Added Weston club Re-branded all major clubs to Midtown Athletic Clubs

2007

Created Midtown Health division to manage corporate fitness centers

20I7

Steven’s 30th Anniversary at Midtown; Grand Re-Opening of Midtown Chicago

memberprofile terrygallagher Are you a Chicago native? I’ve lived in the Chicago area most of my life with short stints in California, New York and Maryland.

I am the youngest of nine—seven boys and two girls—my poor mother! Most of us are still in the Chicago area.

When did you become a Midtown member and what motivated you to join? I had just ended my membership with another club in 1999 and a friend who played tennis at Midtown recommended it to me.

You have made a real transformation in your health and fitness—what are the most important factors that helped you achieve this? I worked closely with Jenny Maloney, Registered Dietitian/Trainer. I had never worked with a trainer before and was at my all-time highest weight (240-plus). She helped me develop a full body approach combining diet and exercise that worked for me. I lost over 50 pounds while gaining strength and flexibility. With her practical approach to nutrition, I never felt like I was starving myself or eating food I didn’t like. She’s not big on eliminating total food groups or jumping on the latest fad diet.

Since working with her, my nutrition-related lab results have all been brought into healthy ranges. I couldn’t have done it without her! Jenny has also been excellent at adapting our sessions to complement my other activities like tennis. Sessions with Eric Cochran and Scott Hopson helped eliminate some pain areas and stabilized certain movements going forward. She also introduced me to Amanda Houde and something completely new: Pilates.

Thanks to Amanda I am now a fan and recommend Pilates to others.

How long have you been playing tennis? Jenny encouraged me to take lessons and try Midtown’s cardio tennis classes, and introduced me to tennis pro Gabi Bobrowski about two years ago.

I am by no means a real player, but I’m very thankful for Gabi’s instruction and the improvements I’ve made. Gabi does a great job running the cardio tennis program and all the instructors consistently make it a great, fun way to get an intense workout.

What are your ongoing fitness goals? Most importantly, to maintain my weight and strength, so I don’t lose any of the gains I’ve made. I hope to stay injury-free, improve my tennisgame, and continue a healthy diet.

Above: Terry with (left to right) Amanda, Pilates Director; Gabi, Cardio Tennis Director; Jenny, Registered Dietitian/Trainer.

Tell us about your career path and how you chose it?

I’ve spent most of my time in business development and sales, primarily in the packaging industry. I received my BS in Finance from the University of Illinois, but went back to school to get an MBA in Marketing from Indiana University when I decided to start down a new path.

Tell about some of your volunteer/philanthropic endeavors and why you are passionate about them? It is most meaningful to me to support organizations/fundraising events where I have a personal connection, such as Misericordia, Cara, Williams Syndrome Association, and Pat Mac’s Pack that supports pediatric brain tumor research.

Is there a particular person, place or thing that inspires you each day? There are many who inspire me; I look to those who are honest, considerate, dependable, hard-working, personally responsible, gracious, and have a good sense of humor.

What do you like most about living in Chicago? Chicago has just about everything you could want—some of the best in museums, schools, healthcare, restaurants, sports, the arts, entertainment, diversity of people, the lake, architecture/skyline... but first and foremost, it’s where most of the people I care deeply about live. The rest is icing on the cake.

What is your favorite historical building or landmark in Chicago? I have a favorite area/intersection with two historic buildings: where Michigan Avenue meets the river with the old Tribune Tower and Wrigley Building. Buckingham Fountain is a favorite as well, it has a great view of the city.

What is your favorite way to spend a day off? A good day would be to play some type of a sport, and have a great meal and a couple of drinks with family and/or friends. I don’t care so much what I do, as with whom I do it.

Midtown is ‘The place to be’ because…of the great people.

You can have all the latest and greatest equipment/facilities/offerings but if the people aren’t competent, conscientious, and enjoyable to be around, then a place can fall short.

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juniortennisprograms

programdescription Velocity is Midtown’s junior tennis program, designed to provide players with everything necessary to become the best tennis player possible. From instructional programs to play opportunities, competitive events to parent informational sessions, Velocity will have players moving on the path to success.

The 10-week session runs from Friday, June 23-Thursday, August 31. No credit given for missed classes. Make-ups are offered but not guaranteed. All make-ups must be completed by end of session.

To register for any of the programs or if you have any questions, please contact Aidan Koross – aidan.koross@midtown.com, 773.687.7396 for Velocity Development and Vasiliy Guryanov – vasiliy.guryanov@midtown.com, 773.687.7607 for Velocity Competitive. For additional information concerning the junior tennis programs, go online at http://www.midtown.com/tennis-lessons.

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Mike Insko, Tennis Director mike.insko@midtown.com, 773.687.7606

velocitydevelopment [tennis explorers] Ages 3-4. A preschool tennisprogram that establishes a foundation for motor skill development, as well as an introduction to general, basic movement and coordination skills. Micro court and foam balls are used. [level 7] Ages 4-5. Games are an important part of the program, and the children are exposed to games that are both fun and tennis-related to increase their movement, balance and basic coordination. Children will work tactically to initiate and build points by directing the ball to different targets over a short distance. Technical skill development will include better balance and the use of short swings and consistent contact points. Micro court and foam balls are used. [level 6] Ages 5-7. This is a program of movement, balance, coordination and motor skill development. The focus is on self and partner rallying skills on a smaller court to start the foundation of the child’s future tennis development. In this level, children will work tactically to initiate and build points by controlling the ball with a partner over a short distance. Technical skill development will include receiving the ball on balance and controlling simple swing shapes with consistent contact points. 36’ court and red balls are used. [level 5] Ages 6-8. This program will see players using the full demands of the red court. Children will work tactically to initiate and build points by directing the ball away from opponents and into open court spaces. Technical skill development will include arriving to the ball on balance, controlling swing length based on intention and a greater ability to control the racquet face to impart spin. 36’ court and red balls are used. [level 4] Ages 7-10. Children will learn basics of tactical play for singles and doubles on the demands of a larger court. Children will work tactically to build and counter points by directing the ball to all areas of the court and will begin to create more open space. Technical skill development will include more dynamic movement to arrive at the ball on balance and changes in swing length and racquet face based on intention. 60’ court and red and orange balls are used. [level 3] Ages 8-11. Children will work to refine their skills while learning greater concepts of offense and defense in both singles and doubles. Tactically, players will work on

taking time away from their opponent by hitting earlier and developing pattern play. Technical skill development will include dynamic movement, longer swing shapes and grip and stance changes based on intention. Full 60’ court and orange balls are used. [level 2] Ages 10-12. This program will see players transition to a larger court and will focus on the development of skills necessary to handle its demands. Tactically, children will work on using strengths to take away and gain time to exploit opponents’ weaknesses. Technically, a more dynamic balance is required that will involve greater strength and leg loading. Swing lengths and speed will vary greatly based on intention. Full 78’ court and green balls are used. [teen 1 and teen 2] Ages 12-18. The Teen 1 program is for teenagers who are relatively new to tennis.

Learn to rally and play is the theme of each class. The students will be exposed to all the basic skills of tennis including groundstrokes, volleys, overheads and serves.

The class will stress cooperation and competition in many of the drills and play situations. Teen 2 students will experience the five play situations and will refine their tactical/technical skills. Concepts of offense/defense will be introduced in both singles ad doubles. Ball control exercises that enhance consistency, direction, depth and spin will be stressed.

velocitycompetitive [level 1] Ages 12 and up. Players will work to continue developing offensive, defensive and neutral skills on the larger court. Students will work tactically to continue pushing opponents into defensive positions and creating offensive opportunities for themselves. Technical skill development will continue with increased strength demands as an even more dynamic balance is required. Full 78’ court and green and yellow balls are used. [tournament level] Ages 10-18. This level is for tournament players or high school tennis players. Students will improve mechanics for all strokes, footwork and conditioning, develop consistency and improve shot selection. [open level] Ages 12-18. This level is for tournament players who have earned a sectional or national ranking.

Students will improve match play performance with emphasis on footwork and conditioning, match play tactics, technical skills, mental toughness and sportsmanship.

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meet your associates... bradhoux

joelleberanek

generalmanager-athletics

eventsdirector

brad.houx@midtown.com 773.687.7423

joelle.beranek@midtown.com 773.687.7614

Brad Houx, Midtown’s General Manager of Athletics, has been with Midtown since 2002. Born and raised in Missouri, Brad started out as a tennis coach at Midtown in Kansas City and quickly realized he loved the industry. He continued to teach tennis as he expanded his role in other facilities, such as reception and sales, and eventually moved into a role focused on new membership acquisition and overseeing Midtown’s sales team. In 2015, Brad relocated to Chicago and accepted the position of Regional Manager of Midtown Health, which he held until taking his current position as General Manager of Athletics at Midtown Athletic Club.

Joelle Beranek joined the Midtown team in March of 2017 as Events Director. In this new role, Joelle will oversee the planning and execution of all Midtown special events. She will continue to build on the robust member events calendar, while also supporting private events that can be hosted in the new club.

In his new role, Brad will be introducing many amenities, departments, associates and programs to Midtown in Chicago. Passionate about team sports, he intends to build teams within each department that parallel attributes of high performing teams across athletics and sports.

“When Midtown does something,” Brad explains, “their expectation is that they do it better than anyone.” He says “I was just that his greatest challenge will be to ensure telling my son he puts the right people and programs in the other day place to deliver the best, and that they, as that I wanted a team, never stop adapting and improving.

to be an archeologist when I was a kid. Not like a boring one though but more like Indiana Jones.”

“Our

Brad loves working for Midtown because of the culture and people. He made the move to Chicago because he believes in the Midtown team “from top to bottom,” and takes pride in the culture and strategy of the company. Brad and his wife, Tara, enjoy living in Chicago because of the amazing energy of the city and everything it offers their children, Ty (8) and Bristol (4). He tries to tell them he never got a chance to go to such cool museums, restaurants and zoos when he was growing up, but he’s not sure they believe him. When he’s not at Midtown, Brad enjoys listening to “dorky true crime podcasts” and loves watching and supporting his kids in sports that interest them.

Brad believes in holding himself to the highest of expectations, celebrating every win and coaching like hell!

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Joelle holds a B.A. from Northwestern University, where she studied Costume Design and Art History. Her background in theater prepared her for a career in producing special events. She has been a wedding planner for eight years and loves being with people on their happiest day. Joelle says she enjoys working at Midtown because “fit people guests’ are more fun!” She’s an active person and finds it “Our motivating to be time will really around similarly “wellness-minded” people.

be their time.”

Joelle is a people person. She brings a big smile to every day, whether it’s meeting a new member, creating an excel sheet or finishing a long treadmill session. Born in Lemont, Illinois, Joelle has lived in Chicagoland her whole life and wouldn’t go anywhere else. She loves everything about her city, especially the world-class theater, die-hard sports and warm Midwestern friendliness.

“I want to When she’s not at Midtown she loves to bake make it to for her three kids and tackle long outdoor runs.

When asked what might surprise us about her, Joelle shared that her mother taught her to sew, and throughout high school she made homecoming and prom dresses for herself and friends.

Her favorite guilty pleasure is belting out show tunes in her “not so good” singing voice while in the shower, laundry room, or in her car with the windows down.

at least 100 years old, and I plan to dance at my greatgrandkids’ weddings.”

The single-most influential event in Joelle’s life has been motherhood. “Becoming a mother,” Joelle explains, “changes so much about who you are.” When she had her daughter, she felt “so much love she could burst,” and saw the world differently.

stephenderose

daniellecrawford

generalmanager—hospitality

theshopdirector

stephen.derose@midtown.com 773.687.7342

danielle.crawford@midtown.com 773.235.2300 ext.167328

Stephen DeRose joined Midtown Athletic Club as the General Manager of Hospitality on May 1, 2017. Because he places a high priority on health in his life, Stephen appreciates the opportunity to work at Midtown to help others adopt healthy behaviors in their individual wellness pursuits. Joining a team of quality managers and employees who hold the same values as Stephen is another reason he is thrilled to have joined Midtown.

Danielle Crawford joined Midtown Chicago’s team on April 3rd as The Shop Director. Her role is to create an engaging shopping experience for members as well as hotel guests. She has a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in Economics and Management, because, although she knew she wanted to be a buyer from the time she was 16, she chose a more encompassing degree to learn the business end of the job. During her first job out of college as a menswear buyer, she met a wonderful mentor and has since worked on “both sides of the table” as a sales rep and a buyer.

Growing up, Stephen was very close to his uncle who owned and operated restaurants in Chicago. This sparked an early interest in the hospitality industry and he worked as a busser, food runner and server throughout high school and college. He graduated with a BS in Operations Management and has been a Certified Club Manager since 2006. Stephen has worked in hotels, restaurants and private clubs throughout his career, which has given him a good handle on how to deliver quality service in a variety of “I enjoy the facilities. Having worked his way up from hustle and an entry, line-level position, Stephen is able bustle of the to develop strong and respectful working big city but relationships with employees of all levels.

appreciate getting away in the wilderness to rest my mind.”

Growing up just 20 miles north of Chicago, Stephen has enjoyed what he calls “the cleanest, most beautiful and easy to navigate large city in America.”

After spending 11 years in Kansas City, Missouri, Stephen returned to Chicago and lives here with his wife of 24 years and their two daughters. He likes the variety of events and activities Chicago offers, particularly sporting events and the theater. Although Stephen enjoys the hustle and bustle of the big city, his wildlife photography hobby draws him to National Parks and other similar destinations as frequently as possible. He says that one vacation day in the wilderness is equal to three vacation days anywhere else.

Stephen is excited by the opening of the “spectacular” new Midtown and the many opportunities and challenges it presents. He looks forward to providing Midtown members with the exceptional service and quality they have come to expect from Midtown products and facilities.

Danielle has lived in Chicago for the past 20 years and loves the big city vibe, Midwest hospitality and the “lake escape.” She moved here to start a career and also started a family. She lives with her three daughters and her husband. When she’s not at Midtown her favorite thing is hanging with her “three monkeys.” She also finds “My favorite time to volunteer at her daughters’ school.

season is fall… the colors, the smell of the air and the temperatures.”

A perfect day for Danielle is at the beach, enjoying 80 degree weather, friends, family and good food, which would probably include her favorite guilty pleasure: ice cream. If she could have dinner with any one person from the past, present or future, she would dine with her dad. Danielle shared that she lost him early in life and would love the opportunity to speak to him as an adult.

Danielle is thrilled to bring her experience in the industry as well as passion for fashion and fitness to Midtown. She’s inspired by what she sees as her biggest challenge: balancing the wants and needs of everyday members as well as hotel guests. Her favorite thing about working at Midtown is the energy and talent of the team she joined and the excitement for what’s to come.

Photography by Rhonda Holcomb | www.rhondahphoto.com

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claireschaal

kellieayres

mindbodydirector

aquaticsdirector

claire.schaal@midtown.com 773.687.7381

kellie.ayres@midtown.com 773.687.7336

Claire Schaal joined Midtown Chicago as the new Mind Body Director on April 10, 2017. She received her BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. As a dancer, Claire used Pilates and yoga for cross-training and to de-stress. When she was performing, she needed to work with repetitive actions on one side of her body, which led to imbalances and injuries. Yoga always helped her with rehab and to stay strong throughout a season. Yoga’s transformative powers became especially apparent to Claire after she retired from dance and began to teach. Working with many people, she saw firsthand the benefits of the practice of yoga in all areas of health and wellness.

Claire received her certification in Yoga from Dharma Yoga Center in New York City as well as advanced barre training from Exhale.

Kellie Ayres joined Midtown Chicago on May 3, 2017. As Aquatics Director, she will be building the aquatics program and will hire, schedule and supervise all aquatics personnel. Kellie’s originally from Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. She was a collegiate swimmer at Bloomsburg University. After graduating from college, she took an assistant swim coaching position at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where she coached for two years before becoming the full-time Assistant Men’s and Women’s Swim Coach at Carnegie Mellon University.

Claire is excited by the incredible energy and team spirit of everyone at Midtown. She brings many strengths to the team, including over 20 years in the yoga industry, during which she discovered best practices in cultivating community and driving education and integrity in the Mind Body arena. She is a team player who can spot leaders and educators in their field.

“I want to grow a small, relatively underdeveloped yoga program to a world class sanctuary for all levels of yoga student.”

Claire is originally from Cornwall, a town in the Hudson Valley just outside New York City. She moved with her husband to Chicago in 2011. She loves Chicago’s beautiful lakefront and delicious food. When she’s not at Midtown, Claire loves making meals for people. She also loves to travel and says that snorkeling in St. John after her engagement was truly magical and memorable. Last year, she completed her first triathlon and will participate in both the Chicago and Grand Rapids triathlons this summer.

Claire is passionate about the integrity of yoga teachings and advocates strongly for greater awareness of safe sequencing, inclusive teachings, and experienced and smart instruction. She hopes that during her time at Midtown she can build the yoga program into a world-class sanctuary for all levels of yoga student.

In 2014, Kellie received her Master’s Degree in Sport Management with a concentration in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration from California University of Pennsylvania. After working for a year as Director of Aquatics at the Jewish Community Center in Pittsburgh, she relocated to Chicago with her fiancé for her most recent position as Aquatics Director at the YMCA of Metro Chicago.

Kellie looks forward to bringing her aquatics and programming knowledge along with strong organizational and communication skills to Midtown. In her new role, one of Kellie’s goals will be to develop programs for Midtown’s specific members, as well as taking on the challenge of remaining a strong competitor against the surrounding competition, including other clubs and swim schools. She is excited by the opportunity to sit down and develop programs from scratch and loves how invested Midtown employees are in the members. After only a week, Kellie says it became “The opportunity clear to her that Midtown employees to sit down and do everything they can to make the Midtown experience nothing but the develop a program from scratch is best for its members.

Kellie enjoys living in Chicago, particularly being on Lake Michigan and the endless opportunities it provides to eat, drink and play.

Kellie is most passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes it’s important to take care of yourself by exercising regularly, eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep. These are rules she lives by to ensure she’s her best self each and every day.

incredible.”

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midtown

news&notes

s

moved to Chicago from New York with their children, Ruben and

Serge, in August, 2016. They joined Midtown based on a recommendation from “Yonkers Tennis Center” and have had a great experience so far.

s

Anush and Ara Hayrapetyan

Abby Jacob and Max Lindell playing a round at

Pebble Beach

s Mitchell Yates recently took some time off from tennis and

“Elephant Whispers” went to South Africa, to

an elephant farm near Kruger National Park, where they educate people on the dangers elephants deal with, especially poachers looking to take their tusks.

s s Mary and Barry Marks

Palm Desert Club

s

at their

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Brian Bolholst and David Baumgartner at the Round 2 men’s singles match between

Coric and Laaksonen

s Robin Sloan, Dana Baer and Aurea Chambers

Masters Tournament at Indian Wells

s

Jeff, Krystyna and Kyla Farlander traveled to Zakopane in southern Poland and

climbed the Tatras Mountains.

Karen and Andy Gershon at

s

Indian Wells

Andy Gershon with Tennis Legend

Rod Laver

s Stephani Perlmutter watched Milos Raonic defeat Juan Martin del

Negril, Jamaica

Delray Beach Open Potro in the

s

Larry Garner at the Cliffs in

semifinals on February 25, 2017.

Susie Krentz and Scott Williamson at the Roman Forum (Colosseum).

They had designated one sightseeing day as the

s

s

Cinque Terre, Italy

s

Laura Prusik and Eric Williams hiking the coastal trails in

“wear your Midtown shirt� day.

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Jen Hanna with Andy Roddick (left) and Samuel Cutinho with Mark Philippoussis (right)

“PowerShares Challenge” at the UIC Pavilion.

s

at the

James and Laura

new puppy Archer

Dee’s

s

s

news&notes

2017 APTA league champions L-R: Kristin Davin, Ainhoa Iglesias Diaz, Sara Aldinger, Cheryl Imo, Irene Moore, Nancy Gaspadarek, Kathy Covek, Suzanna Dulin.

sporting his Midtown pride

s Cheryl Cutinho, LorRhonda Miller, Elizabeth Burns, Laurie Gillman and Cheryl Imo

s

enjoying the patio after tennis,

s

which served as the interim lounge during construction

34

WERQ Masterclass led by its founder, Haley Stone

@

arou

midtown d n

Share photos of your travels, successes, and significant life events while sporting Midtown apparel. Photo submissions may be featured in an upcoming issue of Spirit magazine.

All photos will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Midtown Gift Certificate.

Pick up your complimentary Midtown t-shirt or hat at the front desk.

Email submissions to Joelle.Beranek@midtown.com Include photo, names, and brief description.

35

Spirit F a l l

advertise withspirit!

You can become a Midtown marketing partner through advertising in Midtown’s Spirit magazine.

Here are a few reasons to join us...

Spirit is Midtown Athletic Club’s quarterly activity and program magazine, reflecting the quality and upscale image of Midtown’s members.

Spirit is THE magazine/program booklet that remains a staple in members’ homes and is referred to again and again over a 3-4 month period.

Your ad stays alive in Spirit magazine!

Spirit will be found not only around the Club and on the family coffee table, but also at places of business and other addresses within a similar demographic.

Spirit full-page ad partners are provided additional in-club visibility and face-to-face opportunities to connect with members. We will discuss ways to customize these opportunities for your business.

Advertising space is limited. Contact us soon to discuss how you can benefit from our partnership!

Michael Mahoney, General Manager Michael.Mahoney@midtown.com | 773.687.7401

or Joelle Beranek, Events Director Joelle.Beranek@midtown.com | 773.687.7614

2 0 1 7

Billie Jean King Interview Expansion Q&A with Alan and Steven Member Profiles Fall Events

memberprofile susannakrentz&scottwilliamson terrygallagher Are you Chicago natives?

Are you a Chicago native? I have lived in Chicago areatomost of my withlooking short Susie: I grew up in St. Louis.

I moved Chicago in life 1980, for a job after college. stints in California, New York and Maryland. I am the youngest of 9 —seven boys and two Scott: I grew up outside girls—my Philadelphia, andmother! came out to Chicago poor Most of us are still for law school in the early met Susie, in 80s, the Chicago area.and the rest is history.

When didyou youlike become a Midtown member and in what motiWhat do most—or least—about living Chicago? vated you to join? In 1999 when I had just ended by membership Scott: This is a great, livable city. I love the passion of Chicagoans at another club, a friend who played tennis at Midtown recommended for their sports teams, politics and institutions. the club and it was a convenient location for me.

Susie: I like the walkability of the city, the great restaurants, the You haveand made a real transformation your lakefront, the stunning architecture. WhatinI like thehealth least isand the fitness—what are the ofmost important helped terrible financial position the city and state,factors and the that violence that you achieve this?

I worked closely with Jenny Maloney, a peris plaguing certain communities. sonal trainer who is also a registered dietitian. I had never worked with before was atpaths my all-time highest Tell austrainer about yourand career and why youweight chose(240them. plus). She helped me develop a full body approach combining diet Susie: I have been a consultant to hospitals and health care systems and exercise that worked for me. I lost over 50 pounds while gaining for over 35 years, helping them with their overall business strategy strength and flexibility. With her practical approach to nutrition, I and planning. For the last nine years, I have had my own, small never felt like I was starving myself or eating food I didn’t like. She’s (two-person) practice. My initial start in the field was unplanned. not big on eliminating total food groups or jumping on the latest My sister’s college roommate worked at a consulting firm that was fad diet. My nutrition-related lab results have all been brought into looking for entry-level associates and she suggested I apply. The healthy ranges. I couldn’t have done it without her! work is challenging and always changing, so I had no reason to ever Jenny has also been excellent at adapting our sessions to find something different. complement my other activities like tennis. Sessions with Eric Scott: I’m an attorney with the Commodity Futures Trading Cochran and Scott Hopson helped eliminate some pain areas and Commission (CFTC), the smallest independent agency in the federal stabilized certain movements going forward. She also introduced me government. I head a group of attorneys and investigators who to Amanda Houde and something completely new: Pilates. Thanks to investigate and prosecute violations of the federal commodity laws.

Amanda I am now a fan and recommend Pilates to others.

We’re always busy.

How long have you been playing tennis? Jenny encouraged Aretoyou in any philanthropic endeavors? me takeinvolved lessons and try Midtown’s cardio tennis classes, and introduced me to tennis pro Gabi Bobrowski about two years ago. I Susie: I have been very active in my college’s alumni activities, am by noonmeans a realassociation’s player but very thankful forchair, Gabi’salong instruction serving the alumni board and as and the improvements I have made.

Gabi does a great job running with a number of other university-related volunteer activities.

I feel the cardio tennis program andwith all the instructors consistently it’s important to give back time, talent and treasure. I make had a it a great, fun way to get an intense workout in while playing tennis. wonderful experience and hope others can benefit the way I did.

What are recognized your ongoing Most conferred importantly, to Scott: Yale Susiefitness with thegoals?

Yale Medal, solely maintain my weight and strength,service so I don’t lose any of theI am gains to honor outstanding individual to the University. alsoI

38

have made. I hope to stay injury- free, improve my tennis game, and continue a healthy diet.

The family on a recent trip to Italy.

Tell us about your career path and how you chose it?

Iengaged have spent most Yale of myalumni time inactivities, businessprincipally development and sales, in many as head of primarily in theprogram packaging industry. Iand received my BS in Finance from Yale’s alumni for recruiting interviewing Chicago-area the of Illinois, but returned a MBA in Marketing from highUniversity school students applying to Yale.toInteracting with talented, Indiana University when I decided to startadown a new path. to me enthusiastic, and engaged kids provides constant reminder that ifabout I applysome myselfoflikeyour thesevolunteer/philanthropic kids, I, too, can do whatever I want.

Tell endeavors Iand alsowhy currently serve on the board of directors for Montgomery you are passionate about them? It is most meaningPlace, a continuing retirement communityevents in Hydewhere Park.I It’s ful to me to supportcare organizations/fundraising haveana intellectually challenging business that provides great service personal connection, such as Misericordia, Cara, Williams Syndrome to a segmentand of our that we’re all someday goingbrain to join.

Association, Patsociety Mac’s Pack that supports pediatric tumor research.

When did you become a Midtown member, and what Is there a particular person, place or thing that inspires motivated you to join? you each day? There are many who inspire me, and they share Susie: I became a member in the early 80s as part of a group of common characteristics: honesty, consideration, dependability, work women who played doubles every Wednesday night from 8 to 10 p.m. ethic, personal responsibility, graciousness.

Scott: Susie was already a member, and I decided to learn to play What do you most about Chicago? so I would havelike something I could living do withinher.

I did TNTChicago or the has just about everything you could want…some of the best in museums, equivalent in the late 80s. schools, healthcare, restaurants, sports, the arts, entertainment, diversity lake,family. architecture/skyline. But first and foremost, Tellofuspeople, aboutthe your it’s where most of the people whom I care deeply about live. The rest Susie & Scott: We have two children, Claire (22) who will graduate is icing on the cake. from college this spring, and Peter (19) who is a sophomore. Claire What your to favorite way to with spend a day off? A good will be is moving Japan for a job Nitori this summer, and day Peter would to play some type sport, have meal and a couple of will be be home completing an of internship withgreat NextCapital. drinks with family and/or friends. I don’t care so much about what I do, as with it.

What was whom it likeI do watching your kids grow up at Midtown?

Susie: was again, great forwhat’s our kids.the Thefirst nursery a wonderful If you Midtown were a kid thingwas you would amenity when the kids were small, since it made coming to thebackClub do? Wedge myself into the inside of a giant tractor tire in our simple. theyone gotofolder, both kidssend played a lotofofcontrol tennis down in the the yard andAshave my brothers me out junior program.

They also started working out with a trainer hill until I crashed into our neighbor’s garage – tough being when a neightheyofwere eachwith around years old, which meant they learned how bor family nine ten kids… to do things correctly. When they come home for vacations or the Midtown ‘Thefamily place to be’Often because…of people.

You summer, weisplay doubles. women vs.the men, and while can have all the latest and greatest equipment/facilities/offerings but the women still lead in matches, the men are catching up. if the people aren’t competent, conscientious, and enjoyable to be Scott: The staff at Midtown were like parental surrogates, always around, then a place can fall short. looking out for our kids.

Flashback photo: The family working out at Midtown in 2007.

What athletic activities do you participate in at Midtown and outside of the Club?

Scott: I play once a week with Susie, and twice a week with doubles groups, and get in some regular training.

Susie: At Midtown, I still play tennis in a group on Wednesdays, and with my husband, Scott, every Saturday morning. If the kids are home, we’ll play family doubles. I also work out twice a week with David Kidd. Outside of Midtown I mostly walk.

How long has David Kidd been your trainer? What’s your favorite thing about one-on-one training?

Susie: I have worked with David for almost ten years. One-on-one training is great, since it means that I will get a balanced workout (arms, legs, balance, core) with great variety. I also like having someone push me to do more, e.g., increase weight or number of reps. If my daughter is home, we will do a joint training session with David. It’s good to keep up with a 22-year-old.

Scott: David also is attentive to injury rehab needs, and is an engaging conversationalist who makes the time (and exercise) fly.

How long have you been playing tennis?

Susie: I have been playing tennis since my post-college years as I looked for something that would keep me active. I played basketball and volleyball in college, which were more difficult to play once out of school.

Scott: I’ve been playing tennis since age 30. In some respects, my game has gotten better over the past almost 29 years, though I’ve lost a step or two.

What is your favorite way to spend an evening or day off?

Scott: One where I get to play tennis and work out at Midtown.

Susie: I like to read and cook. We have been Bulls season ticket holders for 30 years. I also like to attend performances at the Steppenwolf and the Chicago Symphony.

puzzleanswers E R A S E N T R R A F A S M A P I L E F A T T I T E E T A R S A D T O M E H E P A I S R S T A A E S

E Y E P A T C H V I T A L S

S C A R E M C E L N A D A A C L G U A T U N A E G O N R E E R L U L U I S E S T H I P I C N D R E A O V E D W I G S

F B E O R L O S I N O S S U B E B E C O A K B U E S R A D G A S E T A T E M

I N A N E

G O N G S

S C E N E

C A N O N

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Puzzle on page 21.

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familychangingroom The family changing room is for children and parents accompanying children only. Adults not accompanying children must use the adult locker rooms.

Children 10 and under must be supervised at all times while in the family changing room.

Aquatic Associates are responsible for the safety of all members and guests using the pools. The following rules are not meant to be exclusive and are subject to change. Any questions about the following rules should be brought to the attention of the Aquatics Director or a Manager on Duty.

Children 13 and under are not permitted in the men’s and women’s locker rooms.

Immediate attention must be given at the sound of the lifeguard’s whistle.

Please use discretion while changing your child. Under no circumstances should adults be changing in public areas of the family changing rooms.

Parents or guardians must supervise their children at all times.

Family lockers are for daily use only. Contents being kept in lockers beyond one day will be removed.

Swim wear and pool attire are not appropriate in the front of the club. Shirts, cover-ups, shorts and suitable footwear are required past the front entrance of the family locker room.

Please remember that swim diapers must be worn in the pool and should be put on in the locker room before entering the pool deck.

There is no cell phone usage allowed in the family changing room.

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poolrules

The club is not liable for lost or stolen items. Please safeguard your valuables.

The use of the pool will be denied to any person having evidence of any contagious disease, skin infection, severe burn, or to anyone wearing adhesive tape, casts or bandages.

For more information contact kellie ayres, aquatics director kellie.ayres@midtown.com 773.687.7336

Lap lanes are for lap swimming only. No standing or talking in the lanes. Please do not hang on the lane line or safety rope.

Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult when there is no lifeguard on duty.

14 and 15-year-olds may use the pool while a lifeguard is on duty as long as a parent is on the premises. Children under 14 must have a parent present at the pool at all times.

Adults have priority for the use of lounge chairs.

Appropriate swimming attire is required to enter the pool.

Shoes and tops are required to re-enter the Club.

Food shall not be consumed in or around the pools.

Food may be consumed in designated dining areas.

Beverages are not permitted in the pool. All glass containers are prohibited.

Patrons who appear to be under the influence will not be allowed in or near the pools.

Midtown is a non-smoking facility. This applies to all outdoor areas as well.

Music must be kept personal. Please wear ear phones.

No running on the pool deck.

Adult Swim may be offered for approximately 10 minutes throughout the day. Children 15 and under must exit the pool during adult swim.

Toys and floats are not permitted in the pool. Ball playing is allowed only at the lifeguard’s discretion. During busy time periods, ball play is not permitted.

Only properly fitting US Coast Guard approved floatation devices will be permitted for non-independent swimmers.

Bubbles, back floats and swimmies will not be provided or allowed.

Children must demonstrate swimming proficiency. A swim test will be admitted when deemed necessary by a lifeguard.

No jumping backward, spinning or flips off the sides of the pool, lifeguard chair or diving blocks. Diving from a block is only permitted during competitive events, lessons or practice.

Ladders are for exiting the pool. Do not sit, swing or hang on the metal railings or ladder.

Parents must always be within arm’s reach of their non-swimmers.

Only approved swim diapers are allowed in the pool. Swim diapers are available for purchase at The Shop.

Additional Illinois State Swimming Pool and Spa Rules and Regulations regarding bather health and safety must be followed at all times.

YOUTH POOL RULES The youth pool is designed for children 6 years of age and younger.

Parents are responsible for their children in this area. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

No running in the youth pool or sitting, swinging or hanging on the metal railings.

No chairs allowed inside the youth pool.

All other general pool rules will apply.

OPENING & CLOSING The pool will close immediately if thunder, lightning or tornado warnings are issued. In such cases, the pool will reopen at the discretion of the Aquatics Director after a minimum of 30 minutes.

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eventscalendar july–october 2017 Events, dates and times are subject to change. For detailed information and to register, please visit www.midtown.com.

Drill and Play Program Friday, July 28, 7:00–9:00 pm Those who recently graduated from TNT or are 3.0 level or below are invited to join us for Drill and Play throughout the summer for friendly competition and practice. Ages 18 and up.

Adult Tennis Mixer Saturday, July 29, 7:00–10:00 pm All levels welcome. Join us for a fun evening of social and competitive rotating partner mixed doubles. Ages 21 and up.

Little Lollapalooza Thursday, August 3 and Friday, August 4, 5:00–8:00 pm [musical performance at 5:30 pm] Little ones in Kidtown get a chance to sing on a microphone and listen to a kid-friendly musician.

Tennis Tournaments at Midtown featuring PlaySight Friday, August 11–Sunday, August 13 Level NTRP Men 3.5 and 4.5. All tournament participants will have the opportunity to access the revolutionary technology of the PlaySight system—the ultimate visual training tool to track and analyze every aspect of your performance on the tennis court. Tournament participation requires USTA membership. To register, visit tennislink.usta.com.

Pie/Lattes—Pilates Sunday, August 13, 9:00–10:30 am This workshop will feature Mat Pilates, followed by a brunch of savory and sweet pie and a variety of beverages.

Live Yoga Jam Wednesday, August 16, 7:00−9:00 pm Feel the pulse of Midtown’s live DJ spinning the best hip-hop jams in this featured yoga class.

Throwback Thursday Thursday, August 17, 6:30−9:30 pm Kick back at the pool and listen to a band play some throwback songs.

Take a chance by entering a Throwback Trivial contest and win prizes.

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Tennis Tournament at Midtown Boys’ and Girls’ Mixed Red and Orange Ball Friday, August 18–Sunday, August 20 Tournament participation requires USTA membership.

Visit tennislink.usta.com.

Alo Trunk Show Friday, August 18, 10:00 am–2:00 pm Visit Midtown’s shop and browse through the expansive collection of Alo clothing, including a special feature of their leggings, at this exclusive event. Special order hard-to-find colors and enjoy a complimentary mini acai bowl.

DJ Takeover Day Saturday, August 19 We are thrilled to have a complete DJ takeover this day as we showcase Midtown’s new group fitness facilities on the second floor.

Les Mills Feature—Master Trainers Saturday, August 19−Sunday, August 20 Experience the highest quality instructors in Les Mills classes with Midtown’s guest master trainers. Select classes throughout the weekend with this top talent will push you harder than ever.

Swag Bag Day Monday, August 21 Anyone who books a treatment today at The Spa will receive a goodie bag filled with new, unique product samples (while supplies last).

Pediatric Sleep Seminar Tuesday, August 22, 11:00–11:45 am Kelly Murray, a certified pediatric sleep consultant, discusses tips to help your family achieve a peaceful night sleep. Need an extra boost? Attend this seminar while sipping Midtown’s cold brew coffee.

Blackstone Shoe Trunk Show Wednesday, August 23, 10:00 am–6:00 pm Lifestyle footwear brand Blackstone will offer special selections of men’s and women’s shoes. Craft brew samples available for shoe shoppers.

Dive-in Movie Night Wednesday, August 23, 8:00–10:00 pm Have a splash at an outdoor movie screening and watch the movie from in the pool.

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Baywatch Night Thursday, August 24, 8:00–10:00 pm It’s time for the adults to have a little fun. Celebrate the new Club, Baywatch style, with specialty cocktails, red suited fitness coaches, and other surprise games. Ages 21 and up.

Junior Showcase Friday, August 25, 5:00–8:00 pm [family Cardio Tennis and Velocity class from 5:00-6:30 pm] Interested in Midtown’s junior tennis program? Members are encouraged to join the fun and participate in a class. Following the classes, highperformance junior players will showcase their techniques and talents.

Wrap up the evening with an open meet and greet with coaches over light fare and beverages.

Wilson Tennis US Open Demo Day and Promotion Saturday, August 26, 9:00 am–1:00 pm Kick off the US Open with us in the Tennis Lounge. We suspect Roger will be busy that day, so in his absence our Wilson reps will be on hand with a full range of demo racquets, including the new line of Ultra’s.

Purchase a racquet during the US Open and receive a free can of Premium Federer Tennis Balls, complimentary string, and a chance to win a signed Roger Federer Pro Staff 97 Racquet. Promotion runs the full length of the tournament, August 26–September 10.

US Open-Themed Tennis Mixer Saturday, August 26, 7:00–10:00 pm All levels. Enjoy a fun evening of social and competitive rotating partner mixed doubles. Dinner included. Ages 21 and up.

Inflatable Races Sunday, August 27, 4:00–5:00 pm Family members go toe-to-toe in Midtown’s inflatable races. Sign up for a slot to race against a family member and the opportunity to win bragging rights as the fastest alligator speeder or shark cruiser.

Head Trunk Show Monday, August 28, 10:00 am–4:00 pm Stop by the pro shop to learn about the latest technology from Head, including the new MXG and Extreme racquets. Spin the prize wheel to win great gifts: strings, visors, backpacks, and more. Purchase any racquet during the event and receive two complimentary sets of strings.

Summer Concert Theme Ride Tuesday, August 29 and Wednesday, August 30 Miss out on your favorite artist’s concert this summer? Want to relive your epic festival weekend? Drop into a cycle class on either of these days and listen to some of the top songs featured by artists that played at Chicago concerts this summer.

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Chromium Burger Slider Sample Tuesday, August 29, 3:00–5:00 pm Sample Midtown’s delicious Chromium Burger at the restaurant and listen to some acoustic music.

Shave and Tonic Thursday, August 31, 5:00–8:00 pm An evening featuring the Men’s Barber Shop experience. Stop by to see the straight razor experience! Men who book a service this evening receive a complimentary gin and tonic. Ages 21 and up.

Lavazza Coffee Experience Friday, September 1, 10:00–11:30 am Midtown is thrilled to offer a new coffee experience at the Club, with the Italian coffee tradition of Lavazza. Visit Chromium for a sample of Lavazza specialty coffee beverages and listen to some piano music.

Kidtown Welcome Party Saturday, September 2, Noon–3:00 pm [music performance at Noon] Break the ice in Kidtown at an ice cream and popsicle party. Families are invited to explore Kidtown and socialize.

Velocity World Tour: USA International Saturday, September 2, 7:00–9:00 pm Levels 1, 2, 3, Open, and Tournament. Supervised round-robin match play for junior tennis players. Ages 11-18.

We love our members! Love Boat Pool Party Sunday, September 3, 11:00 am–5:00 pm Join us poolside for a day of fun. Our own “Julie McCoy” directs this party, with special games, contests, cocktails and more. Don’t forget your captain’s hat and white attire!

Happy Labor Day Monday, September 4th, 7:00 am–7:00 pm Special hours and programming for Labor Day. Old School vs. New School Thursday, September 7 Is your cycle jam a blast from the past or the newest tracks? We’re clashing two schools against each other in the cycle classes all day to battle out Old vs. New School.

Tennis Tournaments at Midtown featuring PlaySight Friday, September 8–Sunday, September 10 Men’s NTRP 4.0. All tournament participants will have the opportunity to access the revolutionary technology of the PlaySight system.

Tournament participation requires USTA membership.

Visit tennislink.usta.com

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Cardio Tennis Games (Green/Yellow) Friday, September 8, 7:00–9:00 pm We pair you with a partner as you compete in seven high-energy, fun cardio games. Open to all players NTRP 3.1 and above.

Ages 18 and up.

Dance Day Saturday, September 9 Get ready to shake it! We’re bringing out some of the top talent in dance fitness to rock out our Werq, Zumba, and other classes. Even the little ones in Kidtown will have a special chance to move. You don’t want to miss this!

Monday Mimosa & Massage Monday, September 11, Noon–2:00 pm Midday relaxation outside The Spa, with complimentary chair massages, live music, and a mimosa.

Cocktails and Cupcakes in the Spa Tuesday, September 12, 3:00–7:00 pm Check out what The Spa at Midtown has to offer. Members can stop by for a mini cupcake, champagne cocktail sample, and a sample of the ColorWow hair cocktail. Ages 21 and up.

Tennis Tournaments at Midtown featuring PlaySight Friday, September 15–Sunday, September 17 Club Tournament Men and Women Singles 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5. All tournament participants will have the opportunity to access the revolutionary technology of the PlaySight system.

Paddle Mixer Friday, September 15, 7:00–9:00 pm Adult players of all levels are invited for a fun evening of round-robin platform tennis, followed by a social hour with drinks and appetizers.

Ages 21 and up.

Paddle Drill and Play Monday, September 18, 7:00–9:00 pm Join us for paddle drills, followed by mixed paddle play. Ages 21 and up.

Yoga Jam Party Tuesday, September 19, 7:00–9:00 pm Party night to celebrate you and your yoga routine! One hour of live music yoga. Henna artist and refreshments available.

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Tennis Tournaments at Midtown featuring PlaySight Friday, September 22–Sunday, September 24 Club Tournament Men & Women Singles 3.0, 4.0 & Open. All tournament participants will have the opportunity to access the revolutionary technology of the PlaySight system.

Beyoncé Bonanza Monday, September 25 All hail Queen B in this booty-bumping all Beyoncé theme day.

Adult Tennis Mixer Saturday, September 30, 7:00–10:00 pm Join us for a fun evening of social and competitive rotating partner mixed doubles. All levels welcome. Dinner included. Ages 21 and up.

Les Mills Relaunch Sunday, October 1–Saturday, October 7 Celebrating a week of the newest group exercise classes from Les Mills.

Paddle Drill and Play Monday, October 2, 7:00–9:00 pm Join us for paddle drills, followed by mixed paddle play. Ages 21 and up.

Tennis Tournaments at Midtown Friday, October 6–Sunday, October 8 BG 10s Green Dot Ball Youth Progression. Tournament participation requires USTA membership. Visit tennislink.usta.com

Tennis, Pizza & Movie Saturday, October 7, 6:00–8:30 pm Junior players are invited to join us on the courts for a fun tennis gamebased class, followed by pizza and a movie. Levels 4-6. Ages 5-10.

Junior Match Play Saturday, October 7, 7:00–9:30 pm Supervised round-robin match play for junior tennis players. Levels 1, 2, 3, Open, and Tournament. Ages 11-18.

Tennis Tournaments at Midtown featuring PlaySight Friday, October 13–Sunday, October 15 Club Tournament Doubles. All tournament participants will have the opportunity to access the revolutionary technology of the PlaySight system.

Cardio Tennis Games (Green/Yellow) Friday, October 13, 7:00–9:00 pm We pair you with a partner as you compete in seven high-energy, fun cardio games. Open to all players NTRP 3.1 and above. Ages 21 and up.

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眀眀眀⸀瀀攀琀猀昀椀爀猀琀挀栀椀挀愀最漀⸀挀漀洀

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King, Queen, Prince Theme Ride Saturday, October 14 The royal calorie burning trifecta: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Prince. You can’t go wrong cycling to the best of the best! Ages 18 and up.

Paddle Mixer Friday, October 20, 7:00–9:00 pm Adult players of all levels are invited for a fun evening of round-robin platform tennis, followed by a social hour with drinks and appetizers.

Ages 21 and up.

Bob for Apples Family Fall Day Saturday, October 21, 1:00–4:00 pm Fall is here and we’re celebrating our indoor pool! Join us for pool games like bobbing for apples and splash contest.

Paddle Drill and Play Monday, October 23, 7:00–9:00 pm Join us for paddle drills, followed by mixed paddle play. Ages 21 and up.

Corpse Pose: Halloween Yoga Thursday, October 26, 8:00–9:00 pm Spook your Samadhi with our Halloween Yoga class. Wear your all black yoga gear and socialize after class with cider. Ages 21 and up.

Fear Ride Friday, October 27 Do you peddle faster when you’re being chased by a zombie? Or stalked by a serial killer? We are featuring horror movie soundtrack clips during this spine chilling theme ride. Just be careful of what might be behind the shower curtain afterwards…. Ages 18 and up.

Kidtown Trick-or-Treat Friday, October 27 Children in Kidtown will have the chance to trick-or-treat around the Club with a Midtown team member. Don’t forget to wear a costume!

Adult Tennis Mixer Saturday, October 28, 7:00–10:00 pm Join us for a fun evening of social and competitive rotating partner mixed doubles. All levels welcome. Dinner included. Ages 21 and up.

Hallowerq Sunday, October 29, 9:00–10:00 am Dance your workout to spooky tracks.

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Midtown velocity player Jonathan Seder reached finalist at the USTA Green Dot Ball Tournament at Midtown on March 18, 2017.

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Way to go, Paola Almeda, champion, and Eva Bonanno, finalist, in the USTA Girls Green Dot Tournament at Midtown on January 14, 2017!

Midtown’s Chicagoland Indoor Tennis Association Team earns the honor of Women’s 3.0 CITA Champions. L-R: Grove, Clark, Hanks, Hutchings, Hobart, Lehrer, Sharif, Coach Andy, Hughson, Buckley and Coach Joe the Pro.

Champion Stefan Karatosic and finalist Walter Szulczewski smile after the USTA BG Boys Green Dot Tournament on January 14, 2017.

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tennis achievements

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At the Boys 12s tournament on February 12, 2017, champion Matthew Carioscio poses with Kiran Carapati, finalist.

A celebration is in order for Women’s 4.0 CITA Champions.

L-R standing: Coach Joe the Pro, Sawin, Gibbs, Coach Andy, Lewry, Berry, Yule, Antunovich, Sinha, Stellar, Grodzins, Livings. Kneeling: Alvarez, Starshak, Yudelovitch.

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Congrats to Midtown member Ava Sartin for winning the sportsmanship award in the USTA Orange Ball Tournament at Midtown on March 25, 2017.

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General Manager Michael Mahoney was a finalist alongside champion Mark Exner at the March 2017 USTA Men’s 55’s tournament at Midtown.

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Midtown coach Joe Lyden serves at the Men’s 55’s tournament.

Great smiles from the USTA Women’s 4.0 Early Start Champions, who qualified for City of Chicago Playoffs in August. L-R: Kelsey, Rothman, Miller, Bacote, Hilb, Burns, Naiditch, Imo, Cutinho.

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memberprofile erinbyrne Are you a Chicago native? I’m not a Chicago native; I grew up in a suburb of Boston during my younger years, and lived in a suburb of Milwaukee during my middle school and high school years. I’ve been lucky enough to live around the world for my career (Paris, Barcelona, Nashville, and NYC). I recently moved back to the midwest to be closer to my family and to enjoy this great city. My parents, my brother’s family, and most of my extended family live in Wisconsin, which is an easy drive from Chicago.

and Composition from NEC, and have been teaching and performing ever since. I enjoy giving private piano and voice lessons to children as well as adults. I hope Midtown members will be in touch if they would like lessons or need music for an event!

When did you become a Midtown member and what motivated you to join? I joined Midtown about three months ago.

I joined this club primarily because of the amazing tennis program, although I also try to fit in some weight training and group classes such as yoga, tennis performance class, and dance aerobics. It’s a wonderful club, and a great way to meet people when you’re new to the city.

Is there a particular person, place or thing that inspires you each day? Person: Rafa Nadal. Place: a tie between France and Spain. Thing: a great song!

What’s your go-to machine at Midtown? The curve machine!

Do you have a workout buddy, or do you prefer to fly solo?

I have a workout buddy for tennis warm-ups.

What songs can we expect to find on your workout playlist? Coldplay “Something Just Like This”, Sheryl Crow “Steve McQueen” How do you feel about the Midtown facility as it continues to evolve? I’m excited for the outdoor pool, the hot tub, and the new yoga studio.

Midtown is ‘The place to be’ because…the members and staff are so friendly, the tennis program is incredible, and the new club will be gorgeous.

Tell us about your career path and why you chose it?

I think music actually chose me. I’ve been singing and participating in music groups from an early age, and I’ve always been passionate about music. I received an undergraduate degree in Vocal Music Education from Northwestern, and a Master’s degree in Performance

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Tell about some of your volunteer/philanthropic endeavors and why you are passionate about them? I’ve worked with Reach Out and Read, which involves reading to children in need, and providing them with free books. I’ve also done some pro bono music teaching for gifted children, which is very rewarding.

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods with each one having such a unique personality. What’s your favorite and why?

I can’t say that I have a favorite, because they are all so unique! I love my area (Roscoe Village/North Center) because it’s very leafy, and there are a lot of great restaurants and local shops. I also love walking around Lincoln Park and Bucktown to see the historic homes, and Logan Square for the music scene.

What do you like most (or least) about living in Chicago?

What I like most: the people. What I like least: the weather.

What is your favorite historical building or landmark in Chicago? This would be a tie between the Art Institute of Chicago and Symphony Center.

What is your all-time favorite restaurant in the Chicago area? Tarantino’s in Lincoln Park. Great food and beautiful outdoor patio.

Do you have a favorite Chicago Festival/Annual Event?

Lollapalooza and all summer outdoor concerts, especially Grant Park and Ravinia.

Cubs or Sox? Why? Cubbies! I have a soft spot for Wrigley Field.

virtualrealityparties Our club expansion was brought to life through virtual reality technology, and members were treated to viewing parties to explore the VR tours. With this technology, members were wowed by a sneak peek into the new spaces, even during construction.

The following pages show a sampling of still images from the 3-D renderings.

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envisioningthenewmidtown‌

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homebuyingtips

L E G E N D A R Y

by Eric Morrison Broker and Certified Negotiation Expert Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group 312.622.0517 | emorrison@KoenigRubloff.com

Take the first step to finding your new home.

Navigating a hot housing market can be intimidating, especially with rents increasing and mortgage rates remaining low. This can result in a competitive situation for homeowners and buyers and create challenges in negotiating multiple offers. According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends report, 88% of all buyers and 9 out of 10 home sellers worked with a real estate agent. The report also indicated the final sales price was a median 98% of the final listing price.

In today’s market, what key factors should a buyer or seller look for in a broker and real estate team? The answer is simple: an award-winning team that believes in integrity and has outstanding buying, selling and negotiating skills. This is a must to avoid failure in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing market. This is true especially when you have found your dream house and seven buyers are bidding on the same property.

How do you win?

10 tips to win in a multiple bid situation: 1—Get pre-qualified rather than pre-approved.

2—Provide a strong pre-approval letter.

3—Make a large down payment to show you are a serious buyer.

4—Make an offer with few contingency items however always get a home inspection.

5—Select a broker with strong connections to third party vendors: inspectors, contractors, mortgage sources, attorneys, architects, etc.

6—Consider an escalation rider to automatically keep your bid active.

7—Include a cover letter explaining why you are the best candidate for the purchase.

8—Select a strong financing team with various options and a known track record.

9—Be aware of timing. Be ready to move. Sellers do not want to wait around or may need more time to move.

10—Offer a generous, earnest dollar amount upon presenting the contract.

Consider your finances in advance. Look around your desired market and know what you want. The market is turning over houses in as little as a few days so you need an edge. It may seem romantic to rush into the first house you love and cross your fingers, however nothing is a substitute for preparation and a little flexibility. Knowing in advance what you’re willing to change, forgive, or ignore will save time for you and the seller.

Working with the right experienced broker is crucial.

It is really important NOW, more than ever, to have a winning edge. This is our specialty and why we are top performers in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices President’s Club. We understand your needs, wants and budget, and craft a plan that gives you the perfect buying, selling and negotiating power. We know our neighbors, our neighborhoods and how to negotiate terms and conditions, recognizing that price isn’t everything.

Representation can be the difference between success and failure. Our team knows the ins-and-outs of the local industry and can ensure a fast purchase or sale to put you head and shoulders above the rest! © BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates,LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.”

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Š BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates,LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.Ž Equal Housing Opportunity

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