Chicago Spirit Magazine Winter 2019

Spirit W in ter

2 0 1 9

Midtown Member Miguel Cervantes Shines in the Title Role as “Hamilton�

Also inside: Venus Williams Visits Midtown World Ranked Players Practice at Midtown

SOUND ON. VOLUME UP. PLAY YOUR HEART OUT. If you want the tennis world to listen up, then make noise when it’s time to play by putting your whole heart into it. It’s how you go from good…to great…to rock-star status. And it doesn’t hurt to be armed with the most classic of instruments: Roger’s legendary new Pro Staff RF97.

WILSON.COM Pros often customize the rackets they use, including string patterns. Consumer racket specifications may vary from models customized by Pros for match-play. © 2018 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Trademarks advertised other than those of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. are properties of their respective owners. 17-2599

table of contents

november 1 – january 30

club hours

[unless otherwise indicated]

racquet sports and fitness

monday – thursday friday saturday sunday

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

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

aquatics

monday – thursday friday saturday sunday

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

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11:00 pm 10:00 pm 9:00 pm 9:00 pm

kidtown

monday – friday saturday & sunday

7:45 am 7:45 am

– –

8:15 pm 6:15 pm

chromium hours

restaurant monday – thursday friday, saturday & sunday

grab & go counter monday – friday saturday sunday

bar monday – thursday friday, saturday & sunday

7:00 am 7:00 am 5:00 am 5:00 am 6:00 am

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10:00 pm 9:00 pm 10:00 pm 9:00 pm 9:00 pm

11:00 am 10:00 am

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11:00 pm 10:00 pm

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

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8:00 pm 7:00 pm 5:00 pm

notes from michael

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venus williams visits midtown

5

an interview with miguel cervantes

6

a sunny marketer

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exercise your mind puzzle/answers

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members out & about

13

midtown’s first wedding

15

world ranked players practice at midtown

16

spa & salon: ’tis the sea-zen

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the shop: a dozen holiday gift ideas an interview with natalie martinez

20 22

postcards from the brink

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junior tennis highlights

25

tennis achievements

31

photos of summer happenings

32

aquatics fun

36

where in the world is charles webb? triathlon club

38 40

live better in an eco-friendly home

45

meet our team

47

two great opportunities...one great resort

49

winter events calendar

50

you told us...we listened

60

usta foundation brunch with chris evert

61

remembering sonny

63

feed your spirit: the non-diet diet

64

the spa and salon

monday – thursday friday saturday & sunday

the shop

monday – thursday friday saturday sunday

Vol.2, No. 2, Winter 2019

8:00 am 8:00 am 9:00 am 9:00 am

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

6:00 am 5:00 am 7:00 am 5:00 am 7:00 am

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9:00 pm 6:00 pm 2:00 pm 6:00 pm 2:00 pm

holiday hours

thanksgiving christmas eve christmas day new year’s eve new year’s day

Spirit MIDT O WN

© 2018 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 and Chief Editor michael.mahoney@midtown.com Glenn William, Publisher glenn.william@midtown.com Joelle Beranek, Events Director, Editor and 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 D’Amanda, Contributing Writers Rhonda Holcomb, Principal Photographer www.rhondahphoto.com Dates and prices are subject to change without notice.

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notes from michael

Tennis Love Affair What an exciting week at the Club in September hosting many of the world’s top players as they prepared for the Laver Cup. As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one week, we also enjoyed appearances by current and former champions.

Venus Williams and Chris Evert were both in town for different reasons: Venus, to promote her design businesses, V Starr and EleVen, and Chris, to support the work of the USTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the USTA. I don’t think I’ve ever watched in a single sitting as much tennis of any caliber as I did during the Laver Cup. The players’ tennis skills and athleticism were, to say the least, superb. What a three-day treat for all tennis fans! What really got my attention during the fifth hour of tennis on Sunday afternoon was the level of concentration required for a threehour match. I asked several friends if there is another sport that requires such deep focus for a continuous period of time.

The best we came up with were marathons or triathlons. I’m interested in your opinion.

Over 96,000 attendees watched the three-day Laver Cup. I’ll venture to say everyone, fans and players alike, loved the competitive play, the energy, and drama. My daughter Keely is a senior in high school who plays on the girls’ tennis team.

She’s in the midst of writing essays for college applications.

What she wrote for one school hit home for me:

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I have always enjoyed playing tennis because of its competitive and challenging nature. Tennis is a game that encourages you to demonstrate love toward your opponent. There is joy in the score 40-Love. Could it possibly be that Keely and Dad we’re excited with at the Laver Cup the anticipation of winning a game, or is it because we are encouraging our opponent to play on? The use of love in tennis scoring has several potential origins. One claim suggests that the term love comes from the colloquial phrase “for love”, and suggests the idea“without stakes being wagered.” This use of love truly deepens the sportsmanship and etiquette of the game.

I choose to look at the word love this way: a feeling of deep affection and compassion. In tennis, one offers love to their opponent as a sense of etiquette, but it also recognizes the fact that both players are engaged in an event that is truly exciting.

Keely when she was an Explorer Okay, okay, I’m a biased Dad, but I thought Keely’s perspective was somewhat profound. We are fortunate to have so many Club members who love to play tennis. We ask all members to be mindful and respectful and to “demonstrate love” toward one another when observing our tennis court protocol. Midtown court etiquette includes the following: —Enter courts in the Main building through the primary walkway between courts 5 and 9. As a courtesy to fellow players, we do not walk across a court to gain access to another.

—We remain in the tennis lounge until it is time to play.

Please do not wait for your scheduled reservation in the corridor behind your scheduled court.

—Be mindful of the time. Players departing the court should leave on time and free of any tennis balls, towels, trash or equipment as a consideration to fellow players beginning their court time.

—We resurface the tennis courts annually; help us maintain their quality of play and appearance. Enjoy your soft drinks and coffee in the tennis lounge.

a true multipurpose club. However, I want to assure everyone, we remain dedicated and passionate about tennis. We are the largest indoor tennis facility in Chicago with the most indoor courts.

We employ many of the most accomplished and dedicated tennis coaches and administrators in the club business. Our desire to introduce tennis to non-players and support tennis play at all levels hasn’t wavered, and our interest to create new, fun and challenging tennis events and activities is ever present.

We look forward to hosting premier tennis events which include the Boys’ National 14 Indoors in November, and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s Team Championships in February.

I encourage our tennis playing members, if you haven’t already, to venture into the variety of fitness studios we offer and experience new Midtown exercise activities to compliment your tennis play. I equally enthusiastically invite our nontennis playing members to enroll in our Tennis in No Time beginner tennis program, and experience firsthand the joy of playing tennis.

Taking a cue from Keely’s essay, in short, we love tennis.

I receive comments from time to time suggesting Midtown has lost its tennis focus. It is true, we have dramatically diversified our athletic and fitness options; we have become

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venus williams visits midtown september 21, 2018

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Miguel Cervantes:

A Lightning Strike

“There is something about this show that’s like a lightning strike. So you know when you’re a kid, and you’re thinking, “I want to do this or that when I grow up.”

I wanted to be an actor. The other thing I wanted was a show like this.”

Midtown member Miguel Cervantes went into his final audition for Hamilton worried, but not about what you might think.

In an interview with The Today Show’s Al Roker, Miguel explained that only half his brain was in the theater. The other half was with his daughter, Adelaide. She had a seizure at just seven months old, and was in the hospital for a spinal tap that doctors would use to try to understand what caused the seizure. Doctors later told him and his wife, Kelly, that their daughter has epilepsy, which affects one in 26 Americans. Many of us would have had trouble just getting through the audition. Miguel credits his daughter for giving him “the fire and the passion” he needed to land the titular role in the Chicago production of Hamilton. He has been starring in this Tony and Pulitzer award-winning musical since 2016, and uses the platform to raise awareness about epilepsy. Miguel released an original song, “’Til the Calm Comes” to express how it feels not knowing how to help his child. Proceeds from downloads of the song, which has a music video starring himself and fellow cast members, go to research for epilepsy.

In front of a stage many people have waited years to see, Spirit sat down with Miguel to talk about being a father of two, an avid golfer, and Chicago’s Alexander Hamilton.

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Photography by Rhonda Holcomb | www.rhondahphoto.com

“Our favorite thing about Chicago is what we didn’t Spirit: What brought you to Midtown?

Miguel Cervantes: We’re friends with our neighbors who joined, and it looked like a really cool place. They told us we should come check it out, because we were looking for someplace close by that was family-oriented. It was a slam dunk.

Spirit: What do you like to do at Midtown?

MC: I have a go-to workout machine and then I do weights.

I keep telling my wife and myself that we need to check out these scheduled classes, maybe a boxing class, especially with the winter coming. Hamilton keeps me active. I sweat a lot, but— and you probably know this if you’re a runner or do any other repetitive exercise—the more you do something the less and less toll it takes on your body. I should probably be changing it up.

Spirit: Are performances and rehearsals less difficult now from a physical perspective?

MC: All I do is performance. My day starts at 6:00 am and ends at 10:30 pm. I come in for the show and I come home. I remember, in the beginning, it was very strenuous. It took a while to work on my voice and my body. I do all the same things to warm up before every show. It just doesn’t feel as hard anymore.

It’s like if you do 100 pushups every day. It’s never easy, but it’s never going to be as hard as the first time. That’s the beauty of having a long show run.

Spirit: Do you have a favorite costume in the show?

MC: The green outfit is kind of iconic, and I do so many cool things in it. But I also like the white jacket that I wear “We were looking for someplace close at the very beginning of the show when everybody is all by that was familyin white, even though it’s oriented. [Midtown] only on me for about 90 seconds!

Spirit: Were you in the New York Hamilton cast?

MC: I started in New York when my wife and I were living in New Jersey. They gave me two options: Broadway understudy or the lead in Chicago. My agent asked me after the audition,

realize it would offer us...we can be both in the city, but also live in a neighborhood in a house where we park

“What do you think you our minivan in a got?” After a pause, he said, garage.This is “You got both!” I started exactly the right in New York for a month as an understudy and then mixture.” moved to Chicago after that.

So, I said, “Well, we’re moving to Chicago and I’m going to be Hamilton.” May of 2016 was a crazy month.

Spirit: Now that you’ve been here a while, what are your favorite things about the city?

MC: Our favorite thing about Chicago is what we didn’t realize it would offer us. We lived in New York City, and then in the suburbs. We kind of missed being in the city, but we also really liked being out of it. In Bucktown, we can be both in the city, but also live in a neighborhood in a house where we park our minivan in a garage. This is exactly the right mixture.

Spirit: What are your favorite places in Bucktown?

MC: Toast! Even if I’m not hungry, I can’t walk by that restaurant without getting something. Coast Sushi is an amazing place. And my son started playing baseball at Hamlin Park.

Spirit: How old are your children?

MC: My son is six and my daughter is three.

was a slam dunk.”

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“ People don’t understand what an impact epilepsy has on people’s lives. My wife, Kelly, and I don’t know how much we can do for our Spirit: We understand that your daughter’s epilepsy got you involved with CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy).

daughter, but we know we need to

People’s stories of epilepsy are as varied as the individual people raise not only money for research themselves. I can’t tell you how and treatment, but awareness. many people have said they had a Hamilton has given me the best child with seizures who grew out MC: Epilepsy is such a of it. Maybe she’ll grow out of it. job ever, along with a pulpit to say, misunderstood term. People think There isn’t one silver bullet that epilepsy is the diagnosis of a “Hey, epilepsy needs to be talked can fix this. They give us options problem, and in a way it is, but it’s about. It needs to be worked on. to try, many of which have terrible mostly a symptom. Epilepsy is the side effects. The medication and It needs to be acknowledged.” name they give seizure disorders, the seizures have taken a toll on which all come from other issues her life. It’s a pretty terrible existence for a parent to not be able like brain injuries or brain malformations. We don’t actually to fix it. know why she has epilepsy. The biggest thing we’ve learned over the last couple years is that, regardless of what’s causing My wife, Kelly, and I don’t know how much we can do for our the seizures, the most important thing is stopping them. No daughter, but we know we need to raise not only money for other growth or development can happen if the brain is having research and treatment, but awareness. People don’t understand seizures all the time. what an impact epilepsy has on people’s lives. The folks here at CURE in Chicago gave us an outlet for this. Hamilton has given me the best job ever, along with a pulpit to say, “Hey, epilepsy needs to be talked about. It needs to be worked on. It needs to be acknowledged.”

Spirit: That’s not the only pulpit Hamilton has offered people. How do you navigate the politically charged message of the show in our current political climate?

MC: I always tell people there’s no way to dissect or understand the timing of all of this. The creator of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel

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Miranda, knew how he wanted it to look, how he wanted it to sound and how he wanted it to be. And then the 2016 election happened and the political climate changed dramatically. After the election, the same words meant something different. The songs were something different.

I was very aware of how charged things were just after the election. During the lullaby “Dear Theodosia,” this guy starts screaming about politics from his seat in the balcony in the dark. It was pretty scary in the moment.

We just kind of kept going. Later, Jeffrey, our producer, said he was not afraid to say we are going to stand up for this and for each other.

Spirit: Who are your mentors?

MC: I don’t have any family members who are actors, but my parents always supported me. I’ve only gotten this far because they always said, “You do it, and we’ll do what we can.”

Spirit: If you could take another role right now, in any show across the world, what would you want to do?

MC: When people ask me, “What will you do next?” I want to say, “I’ll do Hamilton next.” There is something about this show that’s like a lightning strike. So you know when you’re a kid, and you’re thinking, “I want to do this or that when I grow up.” I wanted to be an actor. The other thing I wanted was a show like

“...Hamilton has become a beacon for people to care about what we say we care about beyond just the theatrical part.The social commentary we’re making is an added responsibility.

What Hamilton is to the world gives us a responsibility to use our pulpit. It’s part of what makes it a dream job.”

this. It’s good. It’s moving, and people like it. It seems like it will last for a while. Some days are harder than others, but it doesn’t matter because you’ve got 2,000 people in this building who are just where they want to be. They’ve waited a year, maybe two, and come from wherever they’ve come from to see the show.

I can’t think of what else I would want to do. I mean, that’s the magic sauce.

Spirit: What do you do when you forget a line?

MC: I panic! I have a lot of words together, they’re all very automatic and everything is in my bones and muscles. If something wrong comes out of my mouth, I have to stop and calibrate. The panic isn’t about what’s happening in that moment.

I start thinking about the next line. Why did I mess it up? What did I actually say? I’ll try to think of something completely unrelated like working out at Midtown or my golf swing.

Spirit: Bet you’d love yoga for that muscle memory!

MC: I keep telling my wife we should go to one of Midtown’s yoga classes. Stretching would probably help my golf game!

Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), is the leading nongovernmental agency fully committed to funding research in epilepsy. CURE’s mission is to find a cure for epilepsy, by promoting and funding patient-focused research. If you would like to learn more about the good work they are doing, please visit www.cureepilepsy.org.

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WE MAKE OUR BOURBON CAREFULLY. PLEASE ENJOY IT THAT WAY. Maker’s Mark® Bourbon Whisky, 45% Alc./Vol. ©2018 Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc. Loretto, KY

a sunny marketer rebecca messina Tell us about how you came to live here in Chicago?

I was born in the small town of Batavia, NY, and spent 22 years with The Coca-Cola Company in various marketing roles and living in various countries. I met my husband, who is a Dutch native, while living in France over 15 years ago. We ended up coming back to the USA together in 2007, both working for Coke in Atlanta. In 2016 I was offered an opportunity to work for Beam Suntory, and moved to Chicago with my cool husband and our two children, ages 10 and 8. We are truly just beginning to explore the different neighborhoods, and love the food scene. One of our favorite restaurants is Blackbird.

When did you become a Midtown member and what motivated you to join? We became members in mid-2017. My husband works from home and was looking for opportunities to engage with other folks in Chicago. We are also both athletic (take that lightly!) and enjoy the facilities. We love to work out together.

The kids take swimming lessons and love the pool.

What role does fitness play in your life? I have always prioritized fitness. I don’t need a ton of sleep but I have to work out regularly. In my job there is a “work hard, play hard” culture, so staying fit is a must.

As Beam Suntory grew from a family company to an international one, what qualities remained the same?

At its core Beam is an agile company with an entrepreneurial, humble mindset. They are very committed to responsible marketing and adhere to strict guidelines. Beam is now well underway with a global growth trajectory, and those qualities have remained. In fact, they are proving to be some of its greatest strengths.

People seem to be taking a heightened interest in specialty drinks. That is definitely true. People are looking to drink less, but drink better. They want to experiment, they want to know the people behind the beverages they are enjoying—how they are made and by whom—and are even looking for options for drinks with low to no alcohol.

Most recently, you were hired by Uber as its first global chief marketing officer. What do you anticipate will be most challenging, and in turn most rewarding, about

your work? Hands down, people management, leadership and development. I am passionate about mentoring young talent and rising leaders, and deepening trust and meaning for this brand around the world.

Where do you get daily inspiration? I lean heavily on the grounding of my parents who gave me great roots and my husband and kids who have put wind in my wings. If I never lose sight of that I will always have the energy and inspiration to keep moving forward.

What is your favorite way to spend an evening or day off? Eating and drinking with family and friends!

How do you feel about the Midtown facility as it continues to evolve? It has something for everyone, cool people, great spaces. I believe in staying modern and progressive, but never losing a sense of where you came from.

What book are you reading right now? Born a Crime

by Trevor Noah.

If you could have dinner with any three people in the world (from past or present), who would they be?

My favorite three people are my husband and children. But my bonus three people would be Barack and Michelle Obama, and (separately) Guiseppe Garibaldi who played a key role in the unification of Italy and Sicily.

If you found a hundred-dollar bill in the street, what would you do with it? Work with the kids on what is the best use of this money—what is the greatest change we could make in someone’s life?

Tell us something about you that would surprise most people? That our 8-year-old son is my same height (slight exaggeration!)

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exercise your mind

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.

Goal Oriented Groups Across 1. Make ___ at

47. Gets fresh with

6. Ending with wilde- or harte-

48. “The West Wing” actor

11. Old Testament book

50. Bill Gates locale

14. “Little” girl of old comics

52. Fantasize

15. Lafayette’s forces

54. Big pan

16. Prefix with dermis

58. Stethoscope sound

17. Mighty Morphin halloween costumes?

60. Cabinet dept.

19. Uncle, in Argentina 20. Former U.S.S.R. member 21. Last name in fashion 22. Vaults 24. Mornings, in Madrid 27. Holy ___ 29. Aimed 31. D.C.’s National ___

62. Battery size 63. Ad ___ 64. George V & VI, technically 68. Inquire 69. ___ same mind 70. Leg joint 71. Director Craven

8. Newly developed, as technology

72. Lock of hair

9. Spanish 101 verb

73. Looked (around)

10. Thompson of “Selma”

34. Pollution concern

11. Gas stove starter?

37. Coding molecules

Down

39. One of the Three Stooges

1. Wedding keepsake

40. Organic compound

2. Oktoberfest music

41. Mouse catcher

3. Take ___ for the worse

42. Directors Ethan and Joel

12. Mayberry boy 13. Life stories 18. “Time is money,” e.g.

30. Start of a refrain

51. Cease-fires

32. “The ___ Ranger”

53. Disney World park

33. Minus

55. Places for fuel

34. It’s a long story

56. Top scout

35. Biographer Ludwig

57. Leveled, in London

36. Feral mallards?

58. Take out of the freezer

38. Milan’s La ___

59. Gardener’s need

41. Hall-of-Fame Pirate

61. “Obviously!” remarks

4. Jeanne d’Arc, e.g.: Abbr.

23. Order between “ready” and “fire”

43. Sugar suffixes

65. It’s south of Eur.

44. Hodges of the Dodgers

5. Patriotic men’s org.

25. “It’s ___ state of affairs”

46. “This ___ test”

66. Where Dodge City is: Abbr.

45. Small stream

6. Send away

26. Neighbor of Chad

47. Nasdaq offering

67. Odysseus’ rescuer

7. “Cogito, ___ sum”

28. Nutritional fig.

49. Escort’s offering Answers on page 62

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u t o

s

members

Amsterdam

Amy Chasse posing at

Long Lake, Maine

s

Mark Hines with students at the Terracotta Warrior Factory in

Xi’an

s

Joelle Beranek in

@

and about

Switzerland

St. Lucia

s

Bryan and Marjorie Freund in Danielle and John Beaubrun in

s

s s Shannon Adams flying over the

US Open

Justin, Harper, and Kennedy Wallace in

s

Naresh, Joanna, and Norah Koka near the

Baltic

Sea

s

Playa Mujeres, Mexico

kissing the Blarney Stone

s

Chicago waterfront

David Baumgartner, Laurent Tao, Brian Boholst, Todd O’Gorman and Nam Nguyen at the

Stephen Bradley

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Amy Lawhorn, Banquet Events Director amy.lawhorn@midtown.com 773.687.7568

Contact Amy to learn more.

Plan your next party or event at Midtown!

A variety of unique spaces in the Club are available...

LOGAN & LINCOLN This flexible, contemporary space is adaptable to various size groups. With beautiful Chicago skyline views from our 5th floor, Logan & Lincoln is the perfect setting for an intimate celebration or corporate gathering.

THE OUTFIELD Entertain your group on our spacious outdoor turf sundeck.

This is the ideal location for sipping cocktails and mingling under the Chicago summer sky—the possibilities for the space are endless.

THE BOARDROOM Midtown’s Boardroom is multi-functional with well-appointed furnishings and built for private meetings.

THE THEATER A dynamic setting for a large celebration or interactive conference. We’ll set the stage for an incredible event with custom lighting trusses, a beautiful floor and city street views.

SIX Our rooftop is available to host small groups or exclusive buy-outs for large events.

PRIVATE DINING ROOM AT CHROMIUM An intimate setting overlooking the pool for groups up to 20.

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midtown’s first wedding

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n Saturday, August 11th we had the privilege of hosting our first wedding with Midtown Chicago members Lauren & Jeff. They had a stunningly beautiful day, accompanied by some of the best weather of the summer.

Their family and friends enjoyed an incredible dinner by Chromium and dancing under the stars next to a perfect view of the skyline. We celebrate them, and thank them for the honor of being part of their special weekend!

Photographs by NAKAI Photography

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world ranked players practice at midtown september 18, 2018 Roger Federer Alexander Zverev Jack Sock David Goffin Grigor Dimitrov Photographs by Rhonda Holcomb

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spa & salon ’Tis the Sea-Zen for a Body Quench

As we approach what will likely be another long, cold, and dark Chicago Winter, we thought

we should warm things up in the Spa for everyone. More importantly, we would like to take care of your hydration needs for the season and keep your skin quenched.

We are introducing a new partnership with a company that is near and dear to our heart and has taken treatments to another level across the globe. ZENTS is an internationally recognized body treatment line that was founded by owner Cord Cohen through a remarkable survival story.

ZENTS began with a lifechanging car accident.

Founder and owner, Cord Cohen (right) underwent two years of rehabilitation due to chronic pain, intense migraines and almost complete loss of the ability to smell. When his healing plateaued, doctors told him he wasn’t going to get any better. Cord decided to take a new path. He left his home in Boulder, Colorado and went to India. With the support of his parents, and his caring Indian host family, he spent a year doing yoga, getting massages and internal herbal treatments, as well as practicing pranayama and meditation for up to eight hours a day. His pain subsided, his ability to smell and taste returned, his body healed, and the idea of ZENTS was born.

Cord felt lucky to be given a second chance, and wanted to pass on the gift of healing to others. The ZENTS collection brings his vision to life with powerful ingredients that transform the skin. His background as a cranial sacral therapist and Reiki master helped guide the creation of spa routines that lift the mind and spirit along with the body. Each treatment is intended to bring the whole self to a place of healing and connection.

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ZENTS began with a life-changing car accident. Founder and owner, Cord Cohen underwent two years of rehabilitation due to chronic pain, intense migraines and almost complete loss of the ability to smell. When his healing plateaued, doctors told him he wasn’t going to get any better. Cord decided to take a new path.

Kelly Gasspari, Spa & Salon Director kelly.gasspari@midtown.com 773.687.7323

The ZENTS collection brings his vision to life with powerful ingredients that transform the skin. His background as a cranial sacral therapist and Massage therapists, estheticians and nail professionals use ZENTS organic quench treatments and ultra-hydrating formulas in spas around the globe.

ZENTS only uses gentle scents. When Cord regained his sense of smell in India, he found that his sensitivity to scent was dramatically heightened.

Strong perfumes that once only mildly bothered him, now trigger migraines.

Cord realized he was not alone, and began testing his scents on himself, his friends and his family. If a scent caused a reaction it didn’t make the line. As a result, many people who typically don’t like or aren’t able to wear scents and aromas are faithful to ZENTS.

Reiki master helped guide the creation of spa routines that lift the mind and spirit along with the body. Each treatment is intended to bring the whole self to a place of healing and connection.

Every ZENTS product is infused with their Zen Blend. Organic flower essences act like “happy juice” for the mind and body, bringing happiness, relieving stress and calming a racing mind. The ZENTS Collection is available in ten gentle, unisex fragrances: Earth, Fig, Fresh, Mandarin, Oolong, Ore, Pear, Petal, Sun and Water, as well as a brand new UNZENTED collection. UNZENTED was created for the people who prefer scentfree products as well as those with chemical sensitivities, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, and for people going through medical treatments like chemo and radiation. Each scent represents something cherished. They consider their scents a type of “liquid memories,” because they draw upon the brain’s powerful ability to connect scent to memory. ZENTS allows you to relive and reconnect with your favorite moments.

ZENTS believes that healing should deepen with time. With their organic family farm and Seva giving program, they are able to be a part of healing in so many more lives. Love, abundance, and gratitude flood over us as we explore new ways to uplift individuals, communities, and families. All ZENTS products are free from phthalates, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, propylene, glycol, parabens and are always cruelty-free.

The Spa will be offering the Custom Quench Massage and Custom Quench Body Treatments through the month of December to help you alleviate that holiday stress and rehydrate you on another level. These treatments deepen hydration to the body and improve the elasticity of the skin in a warm cocoon wrap, infused with opulent anti-agers, probiotic peptides, and clinically active hydrators. You can continue all of the relaxing benefits with a dose of biodynamic flower essences to help calm the nervous system, using a proprietary blend of six flower essences known to boost happiness and promote a calm mind. A deeply healing experience for all guests, including those with sensitivities, pregnancies, health challenges, those who don’t like aroma, or for discerning guests looking for a result-driven line that won’t clash with their favorite scents.

We look forward to quenching you soon!

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the shop A Dozen Holiday Gift Ideas

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2. Swell Bottle

1. Hammit Handbags Hammit Handbags are the perfect gift to be worn, handled, loved and passed down. Designed and made in California, Hammit combines quality, function and beautiful design. $145$395.

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Sleek.Stylish.

Sustainable. Swell’s ongoing mission to create products that are both beautiful and eco-friendly, that infuse innovation with inspiration and continue to give back to communities in need. With their expanded product line, you are sure to find the perfect Swell for everyone on your list. $30-$60 4

4. Skull Cashmere 3. Capri Blue Candles Where fashion meets fragrance­— Capri Blue Candles wrap your space with long lasting fragrance and add a pop of style to your décor with bold vessels. $14-$85

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Unique designs, unmatched style.

Accessories and sweaters for the skull lover on your list. $160-$385 5. Suunto Watches Suunto 3 Fitness is a beautifully robust fitness watch with smart features, designed for those who lead an active lifestyle and value health and wellbeing. The watch creates a personal training plan that adapts to your fitness needs. You’ll get real-time guidance while exercising to help you at the right intensity. 24/7 activity tracking with steps, calories and sleep, together with stress and recovery monitoring, provide a holistic view of your day and help you to maintain a healthy balance between activity and rest. $229

6. Travis Mathew Founded in 2007, Travis Mathew draws its inspiration from all aspects of Southern California culture and lifestyle. Making premier men’s apparel for work and play has cemented a foothold in the sportswear world. On the green, in the office, lounging or lunging, Travis Mathew has the perfect pieces for all. $34.95-$129.95

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7. VYPER 2.0

8. Tory Burch

The VYPER 2.0 is the next generation of the world’s most powerful vibrating fitness roller. The award winning VYPER 2.0 features 3 speeds of high-intensity vibration and a dual-zone smooth and grooved German engineered exterior. The VYPER 2.0 allows you to warm up, activate and recover faster and more effectively than any other roller.

Used daily by the world’s best athletes. $199

Inspired by the grace and strength of athletes, Tory Burch balances style with substance.

Tory Activewear is designed to reflect the beauty of the game and the empowering role that sports play in all aspects of a woman’s life. $95-$395

9. Moji’s PRO Massagers Moji’s PRO Massagers relieve muscle pain and stiffness. These massagers feature stainless steel massage spheres that can be put in the freezer for an ICE massage! These spheres dig deep into muscle and tissues to relieve pain and break up scar tissue. They are the perfect muscle maintenance and recovery tools. $29.99-$49.99

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10. On Running Born in the Swiss Alps with one goal: to revolutionize the sensation of running. It’s all based on one radical idea. Soft landings followed by explosive take-offs. Just like running on clouds! On Running has managed to change the sensation of apparel as well. Explore the collection, and share the phenomenon with the runner on your list.

12. Manduka GRP Mat Bring the heat. Lose the towel.

No matter how much you sweat, The Manduka GRP delivers supreme traction with no slip.

From the leather-like surface to the charcoal-infused rubber core, this is our most innovative mat to date.$98

11. The Limited Edition RF97 Box Set Listen up. Fed and world-renowned DJ Money Mark just dropped a limited edition box set. The set features Roger’s new Pro Staff with authentication and one-of-a-kind keepsakes that include a tennis ball blue tooth speaker, photobook, a vinyl record from the “Play your Heart Out” campaign as well as an MP3 download.

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Natalie Martinez Reporting In Midtown member Natalie Martinez has been reporting and anchoring for over two decades, and has been with NBC Chicago since January of 2001. Natalie is an active member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and is also passionate about working for LGBTQ rights and supporting nonprofits who work to protect and empower survivors of domestic violence. Natalie married the love of her life, Flavio Gama, who moved from Brazil to marry her in 2013. They recently welcomed a little girl into the world. Natalie found a few minutes to share thoughts about her workouts, her new baby, and her job.

Spirit: How does it feel to be going back to work after being on maternity leave?

Spirit: Has your extended family come to visit Chicago often since Sailor was born?

Natalie Martinez: I started working when I was 16 years old and have never had more than five days off at one time.

I graduated in 1994 and got a phone call from the local radio station (WGR news radio 55 in Buffalo) the day of my graduation party. I started right away and went to TV a year and a half later. My professional career in TV doesn’t offer holidays for six months out of the year. Before I had my daughter, Sailor, I used to avoid taking time off during the holidays because it left other coworkers scrambling. Now we’ll be thinking about things like Spring Break.

NM: It’s funny you ask, because we were just laughing about that. We have invited them many times over the years and have been met with resistance. My husband and I have been married for five years and his sister has come to visit a few times. It took Sailor coming into the picture though for everybody to come here from Brazil. Even my husband’s dad, who has to have his doctors’ permission to fly internationally, now has an incentive to get healthier and walk more so he can come see his granddaughter.

Spirit: Do you have a following of viewers gushing over your baby?

NM: Yes! I hate not getting to everyone’s social media messages, so I’ll do 100 at a time while I’m pumping. Chicago really embraces you. It’s amazing.

Photograph by Allison Rosati

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Spirit: Will you have guests stay at the hotel at Midtown?

NM: We are obsessed with this place! My brother-in-law owns gyms in Brazil, and my husband said, “Why don’t you come to our gym? It has a hotel attached to it.” He stayed for 17 nights and his 12-year-old daughter loved the pool.

Spirit: What brought you to Midtown initially?

NM: My husband Flavio is a personal trainer. It was very important to him to find a place where he could work out that was separate from his work. Midtown is now his sanctuary.

It’s really convenient for us, too. It’s only about a mile from our house and we plan to use Kidtown.

Spirit: Has working out always been important to you?

NM: It has always been one of my favorite things to do!

I had the opportunity in summers to train with the NYC ballet companies. I also trained with a Moscow instructor in Omaha, Nebraska, six days a week. I was one of the few only-children I knew, and the girls in ballet became like my family. I also liked volleyball, swimming and cheerleading.

Spirit: What brought you to Chicago?

NM: I grew up in upstate New York and Omaha. Before moving to Chicago, I was the main anchor in Albany, New York. It was a wonderful job with wonderful management, but it became a lot like Groundhog Day. I was looking for more of a challenge, and coming to NBC Chicago seemed the right fit.

fitness were really important during my pregnancy, and he did train me throughout. He designed state-of-the art workouts for me with modified planks, which kept everything really strong.

He’s the best!

Spirit: What is one of your favorite activities at Midtown?

NM: I usually swim once a week, which has been really beneficial to my health. When I was pregnant, the baby was originally breach and I did many exercises to try to get her to turn, but I think it was my flip turns during swimming that really made a difference in changing her position!

“ I fell in love with the city, and I fell in love with my husband, which gave me every reason to stay.”

Spirit: What do you like or not like about living here?

NM: I just love this engaging city. There are so many different cultures. Chicago is a melting pot—and that’s coming from a woman whose mom moved to the US from Ukraine when she was three, and whose dad moved from the Dominican Republic when he was nine. It’s important to me that Chicago be multicultural, because our daughter will be multicultural.

My husband only speaks Portuguese to her, and I speak to her in English. She’ll be bilingual, and then hopefully trilingual with Spanish. I’m thinking Grandma will also teach her a little Ukranian. Ultimately, I fell in love with the city, and I fell in love with my husband, which gave me every reason to stay.

Spirit: Do you train with your husband at Midtown?

NM: Even when it’s his specialty, it’s very hard to have your husband tell you what to do! But I realized that training and

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Escape the cold and pamper yourself this holiday season with a luxurious spa treatment from The Spa. For a full list of services, visit midtown.com/amenities

postcards from the brink tony brink You are one of our most avid exercisers. What drives you?

Years ago, a random slip on the ice left me with a traumatic brain injury and in a near-vegetative state. The doctors told me it was unlikely I would make a full recovery. I am here to tell you that exercise saved me—both my brain and my body—and I am now 99% recovered from the accident. It did leave me with neck and spinal issues, however, so I continue paying attention to my body and I concentrate on exercises that straighten my spine for better posture and to reduce stress and pain. I also worked with a dietitian to help me understand what is good for brain recovery.

How did you come to join Midtown?

I joined in September of 2017 just before the grand opening.

Living just down the street, I had often driven by and wondered what was inside. I was in need of a second living room, and it turned out to be this mind-blowing health club.

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

I am a Major Accounts Executive at a local payroll company, and also run my own international ecommerce business to keep me extra busy.

I think I’ve always been a salesman. It was in 3rd grade that I made my first sale. Good students who were on good behavior received Jolly Ranchers from the teacher. Poor students became discouraged—I saw a gap in the market and exploited it by selling candy to them!

Eventually I took up a real sales position post-grad at an advertising company in Minnesota, utilizing my background in marketing. Bored with my hometown of Minneapolis, I decided to find a new industry in a new city. Stratex HR fell into my lap and I couldn’t be happier.

How does fitness play a role in your ability to perform optimally at work or life in general?

5:30 am workouts get the day started on the right foot. I’m awake, energized, clear-headed, and feel accomplished before the day has even started. This also allows me to strategize my tactics around the bumps of everyday sales life. Relieving tension in my neck has alleviated overall stress that was impacting my everyday life. Selfdiscipline in the health club can be applied to many other areas of life.

Do you have any upcoming goals for bringing your fitness to a new level?

My fitness has always been focused on the weight room. I’m working on straightening out my stride when I run so I can go longer distances without pain.

Do you have any volunteer or philanthropic passions?

What’s your current exercise routine?

Morning exercise helps jump start my day and has always been healthy for my noggin post-recovery of the TBI. I’ve found that consistency throughout the core rather than becoming top heavy helps me stay loose and well-rounded for support of the whole body. I followed my chiropractors’ recommendations for exercises and experienced phenomenal results that changed my posture, mood, and life: lighter workouts—done correctly—and using each part of my body. I participate in group fitness classes in the Theatre, weight lifting and cardio, and solo jogs outside of the club (typically along the river of the 606). You can’t go wrong with cables. There is usually one open and you can use them to work any muscle group for that day. If I am traveling for work, I’ll go for a 5k outside before starting the day.

A close friend hired me onto his Non-Profit Organization out of Sierra Leone to locate resources and volunteers to work abroad. I merged the world-health NPO with another organization out of Minnesota to do just that. He would later become the lead doctor in the alleviation of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. I witnessed the impact this friend was creating, and it was truly inspiring.

What do you enjoy about living in Chicago?

I like that it is nearly impossible to experience the entire city. There is always something to do. Sushi, scotch, and being outside are a few of my favorite things. I admit to disliking the winters though.

What inspires you each day?

All of you guys! Seeing familiar faces at Midtown getting the job done on a consistent basis gives me the fuel to do the same— in exercise and everything that follows.

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junior tennis highlights

Our High Performance Juniors are the Epitome of ‘Student-Athlete.’ Managing a busy academic calendar, they also must balance the demands of a busy tournament and training schedule, often making decisions about their tennis future months in advance. Summer circuit starts in June with the District Qualifier. Players who do well in this tournament qualify for the Midwest Closed at the end of June. From there, players look to compete on the National Circuit such at the National Clay Court Championships and the National Hard Court Championships. Join us in recognizing our national level juniors for their achievements!

< Chris Ackerman, 12

Chris won 4 rounds at the B12 CDTA Qualifier. At B12 Midwest Closed he reached round of 32 in the main draw in singles. Chris won 2 rounds at the National Clay Court Championships.

He represented Midwest at the USTA Zone National Team Championships. At the B12 National Hardcourts he won 4 rounds in singles. Chris finished his summer by winning both singles and doubles titles at the B12 Midwest Level 3 event.

James Albarracin, 14 > James took 2nd place at the B14 CDTA Qualifier. He continued the hot streak by winning 2nd place at the B14 Midwest Closed. James represented Midwest at the USTA Intersectional (one of only four players from Midwest selected to do so). At the B14 National Clay Courts, James won five rounds in singles and reached quarterfinals in the doubles. He qualified for and competed in the B14 National Hard Courts.

< Piotr Andrzejewski, 12

Piotr won five singles matches at B14 CDTA Qualifier. At the B14 Midwest Closed he reached round of 16 with three victories in the main draw. He competed at the B14 National Level 2, where he went 2-2 in singles. At the B12 National Clay Court Championships he reached round of 32 in the main draw and went 5-2 in singles play. At the B12 National Hardcourts he reached round of 16 with 3 main draw victories.

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Vasiliy Guryanov, Junior Competitive Director vasiliy.guryanov@midtown.com 773.687.7607

< Arjun Asokumar, 16

Arjun reached quarterfinals at the B16 CDTA Qualifier. He won three rounds at the B16 Midwest Closed. Arjun followed that up with three victories at the B16 National Level 2 in singles. He competed in the B16 National Clay Courts where he went 2-2 in singles play. Arjun reached semifinals of doubles at the B18 Midwest Open Level 2. He capped his summer by competing at the B16 National Hardcourts where he won two rounds.

Sophie Baker, 13 > Sophie finished in 3rd place at the G12 CDTA Qualifier. She represented Chicago District at the Midwest District Cup - Chicago finished in 1st place! She reached round of 16 in singles at the G12 Midwest Closed and won 2nd place in doubles. Sophie competed at the G12 National Clay Court Championships. She represented Midwest Section at the USTA Zone Team Championships. Sophie capped her summer by competing at the G12 National Hardcourts where she won two rounds.

< Emma Baker, 15

Emma won three rounds in the G16 CDTA Qualifier. She represented Chicago District at the BG14 Midwest District Cup where she went 4-1 in singles and 2-0 in doubles and helped her team to the 1st place finish. At the Midwest Closed she went 2-2 in singles. She reached round of 16 G16 National Clay Courts with three straight set victories in the main draw.

Emma represented Midwest at the BG16 USTA Zone National Team Championships where she went 5-0 in singles play. She finished her summer at the G16 National Hardcourts where she went 2-2 in singles and 2-2 in doubles play.

Anastasia Goncharova, 19 > Anastasia competed on the ITA College Tennis Circuit. She started by winning ITA events at Northwestern and Western Michigan. She finished as finalist at the ITA event at Indiana University. Based on her performance throughout the summer, Anastasia qualified for the National ITA finals event in Texas, where she competed in August in singles and doubles. Anastasia will be starting her college career this fall at the University of Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Santa Barbara.

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< Olivia Manson, 12 Olivia won G12 CDTA Qualifier. At the G12 Midwest Closed she reached round of 16 in singles and quarterfinals in doubles. Her summer continued at the G12 National Clay Courts Championships, where she won four singles rounds. Olivia took 3rd place finish at G14 Midwest Level 3 in singles and 1st place in doubles.

Will McHugh, 13 > Will reached round of 16 at B14 CDTA Qualifier. He represented Chicago District at the BG14 Midwest District Cup where he went 3-1 in singles and 2-1 in doubles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Chicago took 1st place. At the Midwest Closed, Will reached round of 32 in the main draw. At the B14 Midwest Open Level 2 he went 5-1 in singles.

Will represented Midwest section at the USTA North Zone Team Championships. He competed at the B14 National Hardcourts. Will capped his summer with 5-1 record at B14s Midwest Level 3 event.

< Belen Nevenhoven, 15 Belen won 1st place in G16 at the Norther Illinois Qualifier. She represented Northern Illinois District at the Marian Wood Baird Cup at the #1 spot.

Belen earned 3rd place in singles at G16 Midwest Closed and reached round of 16 in doubles. At G18 Midwest Open Level 2 she took 3rd place in singles.

Belen capped her summer by competing at the G16 National Hardcourts.

Quinten Nevenhoven, 18 > Quinten won 1st place at the B18 Northern Illinois Qualifier. He represented Northern Illinois District at the District Cup at #1 singles. Quinten went 2-2 in singles play at the B18s Midwest Closed. He reached semifinals at the Summer ITA event in University of Illinois. Quinten competed at the B18 National Clay Court Championships and capped his summer off at the B18 Midwest Open Level 2 event in Rockford where he competed in singles and reached semifinals in doubles.

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< Brooklyn Siegel, 14 Brooklynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comeback story is so inspiring. Last year, she sustained a broken leg in an unfortunate car accident. It took her several months to heal and rehab, and she was so determined to come back. Since getting back to the tournament circuit in November of last year, she worked hard to get herself back in contention in the top events. This summer, she won three rounds at the G14s CDTA Qualifier. She then competed in the Midwest Closed in singles and doubles. All her hard work came together at the Midwest Level 3 event in July, where she captured the singles title. Way to go, Brooklyn!

Natan Spear, 18 > Natan finished in 3rd place at the B18 CDTA Qualifier. He represented Chicago District at the Midwest District Cup, where he went 4-1 in singles and 5-1 in doubles and helped Chicago take the first place. At the B18 Midwest Closed, Natan reached round of 16 in singles and took 2nd place in doubles. At B18 Midwest Open Level 2 event he took 3rd place in singles and 1st place in doubles. Natan competed in B18 National Hardcourts, where he upset #15 seed on his way to a 4-2 record in singles.

< Mia Thomann, 14 Mia went 4-1 at the G14 CDTA Qualifier. She reached round of 32 in the main draw at G14 Midwest Closed, where she went 3-2 in singles play. She competed at the National Level 2 and National Clay Court Championships events. In July, Mia represented Midwest at USTA North Zone Team Championships, where she went 3-2 in singles play.

She capped her summer by winning G18 CDTA Level 4 singles title hosted by Northwestern.

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www.norconinc.com 312.715.9200 661 west ohio street | chicago, il

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tennis achievements

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1—Maxwell Zhao, Sportsmanship Award Winner–Boys 10s

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2—Vadim Khavinson, Finalist and Emmanuel Sobong, Champion–Men’s NTRP 4.5 3—Adrian Ciuca, Champion and Jason Heine, Finalist–Men’s NTRP 3.5 4—Stephen Lutzkanov, Champion and Ryan Chernawsky, Finalist–Boys 10s

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fourth of july on SIX

summer happenings

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fitness on SIX

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summer camp

music and movies on the pool deck

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aquatics fun from the minton family...

Kerryann Haase Minton and Josef “Joe” Minton My wife, Kerryann, had been a long-time member of Midtown.

I joined Midtown in 2011, just after we were married. The kids were born in 2014. Teaching them to swim has been a priority for us for two reasons: First, we knew they would be around water quite a bit even when they were just toddlers and we wanted them to be safe. And second, we wanted them to have fun in the water. When Midtown announced as part of its renovation that two pools were to be added, we immediately contacted Mike to inquire about swim lessons. He confirmed lessons were part of the plan and introduced us to Aquatics Director, Kellie Ayres.

Kellie took note of our needs and we signed up for parent/ child lessons when the indoor pool opened.

Over the past year, Coach Kim, Coach Jack and Coach Julia have provided caring instruction through both group and private lessons.

On a weekly basis, we have watched our kids’ skills advance and their water confidence soar.

Every day the kids ask, “Are we swimming today?” As soon as we enter the Midtown gates after preschool, they run to the swim office, push open the door and give Coach Kellie and Coach Kim big hugs (whether they are prepared for an embrace around the knees or not).

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The aquatics staff is approachable and thoughtful in teaching both swim safety and technique. The coaches are always smiling and genuinely enjoy being around and teaching small children.

They are patient, quick with a hug when needed and in tune with the needs of new swimmers. The results from their consistent approach are remarkable.

In less than a year, our children have advanced from having an iron grip around our necks when in the water to jumping off the end of the pier at the lake on their own!

from the szczepanek family...

Nicole and Michael Szczepanek We are a family of four. My husband and I and our two daughters, Heidi (4 years old) and Lark (3 months old) live in Roscoe Village. Our family has lived in Chicago for 16 years and this past fall we joined Midtown. Heidi is in her third Preschool Swim session this summer and loves every minute of it. Heidiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first swim lessons were at Midtown at the age of three. After getting comfortable in the water during her Preschool Swim 2 sessions, Heidi has transformed into a little fish under the instruction of Coach Kim in Preschool Swim 3. Not only does she have a wonderful time, but she receives one-on-one instruction, allowing her to progress at her own pace while learning the safety rules of the water. Coach Kim is able to maintain the attention of a group of high-energy preschoolers with her warm and encouraging approach.

Heidi is often at the Midtown outdoor pool practicing her backfloat, underwater glide, and crawl.

She makes a bee-line to Coach Kim every time she sees her at the pool. We LOVE Coach Kim!

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Where in the World is Charles Webb?

Midtown member Charles Webb, aka Chef CW, is in constant motion. An insatiable traveler, he searches the world for the most interesting adventures in food and friendships. His dynamic personality shines through his creativity as well as his friendly presence and intense workouts at the Club.

Spirit: How did you go from wearing a business suit on Wall Street to an apron in the kitchen?

Charles Webb: In the early 2000s, I was working in an investment firm in New York City that was transforming from traditional stock brokering to asset management, and I was becoming disenchanted with the new model. Then an event came that changed my perspective dramatically: I watched the towers fall on 9/11 from just 18 blocks away.

That very day, I decided life was too short, and it was time to do what I was passionate about.

Spirit: To say you’ve had a lot of jobs is an understatement. Tell us about a few of them.

CW: 92 jobs to be exact—and yes, that is a true number.

Some for a week, others for a month, and a few for years.

I’ve lived in nine different countries. I sold real estate in Buzios, Brazil. I worked as a private chef on mega yachts in the Mediterranean (Côte d’Azur) for some of the quietest but most powerful people in the world. I also scrubbed floors with a toothbrush—we do weird things when we are in love! At that time, I was living with my then wife in Copenhagen and working at Noma, once the best restaurant in the world. On Sundays, we cleaned office buildings since we needed extra money.

Spirit: There are many choices of gyms and clubs in Chicago, what motivated you to join Midtown?

CW: I was feeling the need to be motivated again. I wanted to transition out of my former club. Some friends were whispering ‘Midtown’ and I’d heard the renovation was big, so I decided to come in and check out the facilities. I was very impressed with the space, the flow, the energy, but above all it was the people. From people like Jeneva who gave me my first walk-through to Shahin “Hawk” Pakdaman who became my trainer and now friend. They both have an attitude of positivity and being here just felt like family. It’s clear I have been through a lot in life, so that feeling is something I value more than simply a machine or a pool. It’s a magical feeling when you say to yourself, “Yes, this is a place where I want to spend time.” A home away from home.

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Spirit: How has your belief in exercise and nutrition enabled you to pursue your passions?

CW: It is true that you are what you eat, and your habits define the level of success you will have. Exercise can extend the mind, body and soul. Exercise allows me to focus more deeply, especially through yoga practice. Midtown’s yoga program is on point, I’ve never seen one so comprehensive in a club, anywhere in the world. Nutrition goes hand in hand. I’m always searching for energy because I am always doing something new. I don’t drink coffee and have a low intake of sugar, so it is important that I keep a high level of intensity naturally. A healthy life leads to healthy outcomes in many things I strive for.

Sadly, I do have a constant battle between tacos and wine vs. Açai and acerola juice!

“A healthy life leads to healthy outcomes in many things I strive for. Sadly, I do have to watch the

Spirit: What fuels your passion for travel?

balance between tacos

CW: The best education I have had in my life has been achieved through my travels. It just helps me grow, to see things differently and think creatively, to push my boundaries and to help me appreciate what I have all in one breath.

and wine vs. Açai and acerola juice!”

Spirit: What’s your next adventure?

CW: I am currently working on a digital series about culture, community and food wrapped up into travel. We are filming 64 food and beverage experiences in 32 cities in the world. Next up will be China and thereafter a whole new group of cities such as Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Marrakech and Tehran.

Spirit: How does your commitment to exercise enable you to maintain your adventurous and busy travel schedule?

CW: I used to be a person that stayed out late. I still do if I am in Spain because it’s a cultural nuance, but overall my schedule is very different now. The same is true for my deeper focus, and that is the correlation between exercise and energy. My stamina has to be high and without exercise and being on the road, I have to find a balance that keeps me aligned and focused. I wish there were a Midtown in every city.

Spirit: Speaking as someone who has dined in restaurants all over the world, do you enjoy Chromium?

CW: I love the flow, the light and the layout. Chef Amanda Barnes has put together a balanced menu that speaks to the diversity of Midtown members’ needs. I love the smoked pappardelle, it is a dish I could eat year round. It is reminiscent of an Italian nonna’s dish, so it makes me feel like I’m walking through the winding roads of San Gimignano. I will admit that I do sneak in for a peanut butter cup protein shake upon occasion!

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triathlon club

Rafael

Rafael Franca I joined Midtown about a year ago and I love it! It’s been the best experience for my wife, Glauci, and myself. We wanted to share our experiences with the rest of the Midtown family and encourage you to join us in a fun and challenging program.

Midtown: It’s my life. It’s everything to me and my wife. Especially during the winter months, it’s the place we like to go and stay the whole day.

We love sports and the Club offers everything: great facilities, amazing people and all anyone can need. I am an economist working with business development and M&A, which can be very stressful. We go to the Club at least once or twice a week and nearly the entire weekend to relieve stress and get re-energized for the week ahead.

We also joined the Triathlon Club, training with Coach Ted, and it’s been fantastic. He constantly pushes us to our limits. Members of our group who have never been athletes are now swimming a half or full mile in Lake Michigan! Our group—myself, Glauci, Matt, Don, Katie, Scott, Dave, Kath, and Naveenn—have supported one another all along the way, and we have become like family. The TriFamily.

My personal next challenge is the Ironman 70.3 in 2019 in Madison, WI and the Full Ironman in 2020. I always believe that anything is possible.

You just have to believe in it, be constantly positive, be committed—and the results will come.

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Glauci

Glauci Fernandes Let me just start by saying I never thought I would be able to accomplish a triathlon. When Midtown launched the program, I decided to sign up to challenge myself by doing something different. Don Brown, Naveen Jethwani and I were the first members in Session I. It’s amazing to see the difference from that first day to the day of the first race!

Coach Ted was very supportive with everything. Early on, when I expressed that I was unable to run faster than I was running at that time, he told me, “We need to work to break those barriers.” From that moment on, I faced training differently. I stopped thinking that I was not capable. Session II brought more participants, and we challenged ourselves even more, while creating a very positive and fun environment.

The Chicago Triathlon was for me an incredible experience of overcoming personal challenges, including my fear of open water. I couldn’t have done it without the support of Coach Ted, my colleagues, and my husband, Rafael. I can’t thank Midtown enough for this opportunity and am looking forward to the next program!

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Don

Don Brown I joined Midtown in October of last year with the intent of training for this year’s triathlon, now past. What specifically drew me to Midtown was the availability of a pool for training for the swim portion of the race. When Midtown offered a group training program in May, specifically targeted at Triathlon training, I jumped on-board for the extra guidance and accountability.

I wasn’t expecting a huge improvement but some decent guidance that might shave a little time off of what I expected to do was well within my realm of expectation. Then I met Coach Ted. I was able to do the full distances for all three events just from my own training but Coach Ted helped catapult my performance to the next levels. I am 43 and my fitness level exceeds that of my 20s. Plus, Coach Ted cares about our performance, our health and is willing to go the extra mile to answer questions, give advice, help us tweak our form, and give nutrition advice.

And let’s not forget my triathlon family. The team we have has been a great encouragement to me and to each other. We push each other, we celebrate our little and big victories together and genuinely want each other to do our best and be our best.

My next event is the Xterra Fort Custer Off-Road Triathlon and I have already registered for next year’s Chicago Triathlon. If Rafael gets his way, I may be doing the 70.3 with him as well.

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Matt

Matt Jackson My wife Hannah and I joined Midtown because we were moving to Logan Square. We heard the Club had great childcare for our young son, and, it being mostly a tennis club at that point, nice exercise equipment nobody used.

Obviously, things have changed.

In the few years since we joined, Hannah and I have welcomed a daughter to our family, and we were both looking for more motivation (and competition) in our exercise routines. Hannah decided to start playing tennis and I signed up for the Chicago Triathlon. My goal was to try something new, stay focused on the gym during the winter, get back into shape, and end the summer with the unique experience of swimming, biking and running around downtown Chicago with thousands of other people.

I promptly started focusing on my swimming workouts and, for the first time, experimented with Midtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ride studio. I convinced my sister, who lives in Brooklyn, and one of my brothers, who lives in Seattle, to make the Chicago Triathlon a Jackson family competition.

With family pride on the line and a sneaking suspicion my routine could use more structure, I leaped at the opportunity to join Midtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training group.

It ended up being a huge success for me. The focus was on the fun and challenging workouts designed by Coach Ted, who also provided valuable advice regarding what equipment and supplies we would need and how to mentally prepare for race day. Our training group also jelled in an amazing way, resulting in opportunities for open water swims, rides outside of the organized workouts, and an unanticipated group of new friends.

The Chicago Triathlon also ended up being a success.

I felt well prepared, and was able to meet my goals and, most importantly, earn family bragging rights over my siblings. With my first triathlon under my belt, I am looking forward to participating in additional events and improving on my time next year in Chicago!

about coach ted...

Coach Ted is a certified Level 1 USA Triathlon Coach, a Level 2 USA Cycling Coach as well as Youth and Junior Certified with USAT. He has experience working with all types of athletes, men and women from youth level to senior citizens and everything in between, coaching athletes in triathlon, swimming, running and cycling.

Ted began his coaching career when he coached the Oak Park Masters swim team for 3 years. He started coaching triathlon when he coached a youth clinic at USAT Junior Nationals.

His strengths include providing a detailed training plan that will prepare his athletes for the conditions they will face on race day, providing positive reinforcement to his athletes, giving thoughtful answers to their questions, and preparing athletes with strategies for a successful race day.

Triathlon Pre Season Training begins November 2018.

Contact Claire Schaal for more information: Claire.Schaal@midtown.com

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Register now for winter programming AQUATICS • PILATES • TENNIS SMALL GROUP TRAINING • YOUTH FITNESS Visit midtown.com/programs for class details.

Live Better in an Eco-Friendly Home

Karen Schwartz, Residential Consultant, The Laura McGreal and Karen Schwartz Group of Dream Town

Why You Should Buy a LEED-Certified Home Today, green is the new black, especially when it comes to owning a home. Green residences have a whole range

of benefits, from protecting your health to lowering your utility bills, and savvy buyers are taking notice. In fact, eco-friendly living is becoming the new standard for luxury residential developments in Chicago.

Norweta Club is a new and exciting environmentally-friendly development located at 2633-2643 North Hermitage Avenue in Lincoln Park. These homes are being built by Broder (www.broder.com) to achieve the highest level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, LEED Platinum. The collection of three and four-bedroom homes and penthouses incorporates the most forward-thinking aspects of residential design to help homeowners live better, healthier lives. Norweta Club buyers will enjoy a luxurious life living green. Visit NorwetaClub.com to find out more about the sustainably-designed homes and amenities people like you are enjoying at the Norweta Club.

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meet our team... kate conway

megan drabant

reception manager

pilates/fitness/ groupex instructor

kate.conway@midtown.com 773.235.2300

megan.drabant@midtown.com 773.687.7576

Kate Conway joined Midtown in January of 2018 as a Hotel Front Desk Agent, and was recently promoted to Co-Reception Manager. She graduated from Kendall College with a Bachelors of Hospitality Management with a Hotel and Lodging concentration. She has been in the hospitality industry for the past 11 years in a variety of positions in restaurants and on a cruise ship. She has always been passionate about serving others and was interested in working in hotels because it offers a unique way to meet fascinating people. Her goal as a front desk manager is to help her team feel empowered and continue to create a sense of teamwork at the front desk.

Megan Drabant became a Midtown associate five years ago. She is a Pilates Instructor, Fitness Coach and Group Exercise Instructor. She is known as the “Hybrid,” because she sees her main role as helping people become the best version of themselves through movement. It is both her greatest joy and greatest challenge to help members feel they are learning, growing and closer to achieving their goals with “I knew I wanted each class and session. Her favorite to help people thing about Midtown is the people. She feel better either loves her teammates, and the members through dance, who become “regulars” in her classes. movement, or If Megan can help ease your stress, fitness.” make your body feel better, and make you laugh, she feels she’s done her job.

Kate grew up in Naperville with her mom and dad and two younger brothers. She moved to the South Loop to attend Kendall College. When she’s not at Midtown, you’ll find Kate looking for new restaurants to explore in Chicago. A selfproclaimed “part-time foodie” she loves checking out the breakfasts, sushi and rooftop options the city has to offer. She likes to take her one-year-old Bulldog-Beagle mix with her on these explorations and to the dog beach. She loves living in Chicago because it has “an energy that never ends, especially in the summer.” Summer is her favorite season because she gets to spend time with friends and family on the beach and on rooftops and patios. If she weren’t in Chicago, Kate would be living near the ocean, where “there’s an abundance of life, great activities and amazing food.” One of her favorite traveling adventures was her trip to Key West, Florida, where along with her Dad and brother, she parasailed, snorkeled and jet-skied with dolphins.

Kate describes Midtown Athletic Club and Hotel as “unlike anything else out there.” Her favorite thing about working here is being able to offer unique amenities and luxuries to guests and members that they won’t find anywhere else in the nation.

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“I have always had a love for serving others and hotels are a unique way to meet a lot of fascinating people. ”

Growing up in Fair Haven, Michigan, Megan always knew she wanted to dance professionally. She followed her passion to college and received a BFA in Dance from Wayne State University. She studied Kinesiology and Movement Analysis along with her dance studies. It was then that she discovered her passion extended beyond dance to human anatomy and movement. She moved to Chicago after graduating to further her professional dance career and joined Midtown where her love of fitness grew.

She has been mentored and encouraged by the many department heads to pursue her certifications and education in Pilates, Personal Training and Group Exercise and is thankful every day for their support.

Megan is a Full STOTT Pilates Certified Instructor, Personal Training Academy Global Certified Personal Trainer, and a Certified AFAA Group Fitness Instructor. She is 3DMAPS and CAFS certified from the Gray Institute, as well as being certified in Peyow Aqua Pilates, LES MILLS BODYCOMBAT, and WERQ Dance Fitness.

When Megan’s not at Midtown, she’s dancing, sailing, or spending time with family and friends. Megan is inspired by her parents’ strong and positive attitudes, saying, “I look up to both of them and hope to emulate all of their amazing qualities.”

stacy brown

chase koenig

teams & season court director

reception manager

stacy.brown@midtown.com 773.687.7608

chase.koenig@midtown.com 773.687.7572

Stacy joined Midtown in September of 2013 and is currently the Season Court Time and Teams Director.

Stacy graduated from Ferris State University first in her Professional Tennis Management class. She is USPTA Certified. Stacy started playing tennis when she was ten years old and fell in love with the sport. During her junior year of high school, she heard about the program at Ferris and realized she could turn her passion for tennis into a career. The greatest strengths she brings to her role at Midtown are her organizational skills and her attention to detail. The new club has brought new expectations, and one of her challenges ahead is trying to find creative ways to promote the programs she oversees to the new members.

Chase Koenig joined Midtown’s team in July of 2017 as Spa Manager and has since become Co-Reception Manager. Chase graduated from Roosevelt University with a degree in Psychology. He started working in a spa part-time when he was going to community college. He later moved to Chicago where he got a job at Trump Tower and has been in hospitality ever since. Chase is dedicated to providing service both internally to colleagues and externally to members.

The greatest challenge he’s presented with in his role at Midtown is developing reception. His goals include running the front desk like a well-oiled machine and providing seamless service to members and their guests.

His favorite thing about working for Midtown is the work/life balance and the energy of the Club.

“I am a cancer survivor of 13 years. It was an intense part of my life, but I would never change that. I’m so much stronger because of it!”

Stacy grew up in Michigan City, Indiana, and moved to Chicago six years ago to work at Midtown. When she’s not at Midtown, Stacy enjoys playing paddle, playing golf, spending time with her friends and relaxing at home. Her nieces are a favorite part of her life. She shared, “They are amazing little girls. They light up my world.”

It may surprise people to learn that Stacy is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 17. After receiving three months of chemo and three days of radiation, Stacy was cured through a stem cell transplant just three months after being diagnosed. Despite this being a difficult time, Stacy says she wouldn’t change it because it made her stronger.

Stacy is an avid traveler. She has visited Disney World nearly 30 times and describes it as her favorite place. She loves EPCOT, especially in the fall...she’s been “around the world” at least 500 times! She has also traveled to Hawaii, Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands. She hopes to go to Ireland next summer.

When asked who she would dine with (past, present or future) she said Lucille Ball and Audrey Hepburn. She loves the idea of sharing a meal with them because of how quirky, hilarious and genuine these two inspirational women were during their lives.

Originally from Geneva, Illinois, Chase moved here seven years ago for school and because he always loved visiting Chicago. His favorite thing about living here is the delicious food the city offers. His favorite time to live here is during the summer. He enjoys going to outdoor concerts, playing volleyball and going to all the amazing summer fests. His parents and two brothers live nearby in Chicago suburbs. When he’s not working, you’ll find Chase working out or eating, or possibly (and very surprisingly) riding a unicycle. Chase is inspired every day by his grandma. She always taught him to be the best person he can be, to be young and loving at heart, and the importance of the people who love us in our lives.

“My grandma taught me to be young and loving at heart.”

Photography by Roark Johnson | www.roarkjohnson.com

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TWO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES...

One Great Resort

MIDTOWN TENNIS WEEK January 8–13, 2019 Some of the best of Midtown’s tennis coaches will lead dynamic, fun-filled days. Contact your club’s head professional or Midtown’s National Tennis Director, Butch Staples at 954.821.6622 or at butch.staples@midtown.com for more information and to reserve your spot.

YOGA RETREAT April 9–14, 2019 Support and guidance will be provided as you delve deep into your practice in this inspiring place. Contact Randi Lattimore, Mind.Body Director, at 585.512.2799 or at randi.lattimore@ midtown.com for more information and to reserve your spot.

Curtain Bluff Resort Antigua, West Indies Curtain Bluff has been regularly recognized by Condé Naste and Travel & Leisure as one of the top three resorts in the Caribbean. Nestled in a cove between two beaches, it is truly a beautiful and magical place.

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events calendar november 2018—february 2019 Events, dates and times are subject to change. For detailed information and to register, please visit www.midtown.com.

Miles for Meals Thursday, November 1—Friday, November 30 Throughout the month of November, make a difference with every mile you run! For those who register for the challenge, when you log into the precor treadmills with your wristband, every mile you run earns points.

Midtown and BMW are partnering up to convert those points to dollars as a donation to The Chicago Food Depository. We will check in each week of November to award BMW prizes to those who earn top points throughout the month. Make those workouts mean more! Keep earning miles by attending our test drive event on Saturday, November 10 from 1-4 pm. The miles driven that day will also go towards our donation to Chicago Food Depository.

MYZONE Partner Challenge Thursday, November 1—Friday, November 30 Take your MEPS to the next level with this month-long partner challenge.

Double Trouble: LIVE VIBE Monday, November 5, 6:00–6:45 pm Join us in this co-taught live DJ vibe class and get double the motivation.

Wine Down Wednesday Wednesday, November 7, 5:15–6:15 pm Celebrate the middle of the week with beats, breath, and a blend of wine. Take the integration of music, yoga, and wine to the next level by enjoying a glass of wine and celebrating the yoga community following the carefully crafted and musically aligned jam class.

Live Better Series: Empowerment and Body Image for Girls Wednesday, November 7, 6:00–7:30 pm How do you raise a powerful girl with social media, peer pressure, and the unrealistic expectations society puts on them? How do we make sure our preteens are developing healthy eating habits? This workshop for pre-teens and their parent/caretaker will address these tough topics with role playing, open discussion, and fun activities.

Join Marla Vendor, LCSW and Jenny Maloney, Registered Dietitian for this free workshop. Youth age recommendation 9-13 years.

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National S.T.E.M. Day Thursday, November 8, All Day in Kidtown Join us as we explore all the fun that science, technology, engineering and mathematics has to offer! Special activities and crafts throughout the day.

Cardio Tennis: Level 2.6+ Friday, November 9, 7:00–9:00 pm We pair you with a partner as you compete in seven high-energy, fun cardio games. Open to levels 2.6 and above. Ages 21+.

On Running Event Saturday, November 10, 9:00 am–1:00 pm Gear up for Fall/Winter running with On Running Apparel. Shop an extended collection plus new shoe colors.

Miles for Meals: BMW Test Drive Event Saturday, November 10, 1:00–4:00 pm The miles driven at the test drive will also go towards our donation to Chicago food depository.

Tennis, Pizza and a Movie Saturday, November 10, 6:00–8:00 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, November 10, 7:00–9:00 pm Supervised round robin match play for junior tennis players.

Level 1, 2, 3, Open and Tournament. Ages 11-18.

Candlelight Yoga Live Sunday, November 11, 6:00–7:30 pm A special vinyasa class set to a backdrop of illuminating candlelight and inspiring, soulful music played by a live musician or DJ. In this 90-minute well-rounded practice you’ll move through a fun and dynamic flow, ending with a guided meditation and a deep, sweet savasana.

Babolat Pure Aero Launch Wednesday, November 14, 12:00 noon–3:00 pm Join us on court to demo the new release of this #1 frame.

Turkey Shootout: Paddle Mixer Friday, November 16, 7:00–9:00 pm Social mixer of mixed paddle play followed with appetizers and drink.

Special twist for Thanksgiving where you protect the turkey (and the net) to avoid opponent points.

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Yoga Lab: Alignment 101 Saturday, November 17, 1:30–3:30 pm This workshop is perfect for beginners as well as more seasoned yoga practitioners who want to review the basics. By learning safe and proper alignment, you will lay the foundation for a yoga practice that serves you for a lifetime.

Date Night: Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 17, 6:30–9:30 pm Attitude of Gratitude Sunday, November 18—Thursday, November 22 Samadhi holds a coat drive—please consider donating gently used coats and outerwear when you take Yoga or Pilates classes through this week.

FYD + Total Body Burn Monday, November 19, 7:30–8:30 pm Not your classic FYD class! We are introducing a next level FYD dance cardio class that will incorporate toning inserts throughout your dance experience! It’s time to set your body and mind on fire just in time for the holidays! Come burn off a little extra fluff while still getting your dance fix in!

Universal Children’s Day, All Day in Kidtown Tuesday, November 20 Friday, November 23—Sunday, November 25 USTA Tournament: Boys 14s National Indoors Singles and Doubles Black Friday Shopping Event Friday, November 23—Sunday, November 25 Get your holiday shopping started with amazing deals in The Shop.

Giving Tuesday Tuesday, November 27, All Day in Kidtown Learn about ways to give back today in Kidtown.

Winter Program Launch Saturday, December 1, All Day New season begins for group exercise classes, programming, and tennis.

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National Sock Day Monday, December 3—Friday, December 7 In Kidtown we’ll be collecting new socks to be distributed at local shelters throughout the winter. For every pair you bring in your kiddo will get to design a crazy sock for our wall.

Wednesday, December 5, All Day in Kidtown International Ninja Day! Join Coach Julian for our first ever Youth Martial Arts classes.

Holiday HIIT Thursday, December 6, 7:00–8:00 pm Keep it festive all week in your H2O HIT classes. Stick around for the Thursday evening class for a holiday beverage.

Adult Paddle Mixer Friday, December 7, 7:00–9:00 pm Social mixer of mixed Paddle play followed with appetizers and drinks.

USTA Tournament: B&Gs 10s Green Dot Ball Youth Progression Friday, December 7—Sunday, December 9

Cardio Tennis 3.1+ Friday, December 7, 7:00–9:00 pm We pair you with a partner as you compete in seven high-energy, fun cardio games. Open to levels 3.1 and above Holiday Blues Theme Ride Tuesday, December 11, All Day Does the holiday season have you feeling down, or have the celebrations drained you? Join us all day in RIDE with songs that will knock out those holiday blues!

USTA Tournament: Men’s NTRP 4.0 and 4.5 Friday, December 14—Sunday, December 16 ’Tis the Sea-Zen Event in The Spa Saturday, December 15, 12:00 noon–4:00 pm Complimentary product testing with our new Zents Quench Treatment.

Stop by The Spa for complimentary champagne and to try the Quench product, receive samples and enter to win the Ultimate Zents Gift Basket you can gift to someone for the Holidays or keep for yourself!

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Winter Splash Saturday, December 15, 2:00–4:00 pm Join us in the indoor pool for winter holiday games. This parent and child event will have fun for all ages, and a prize for the little ones to take home.

Winter Wonderfest!

Saturday, December 15, 4:30–6:30 pm in Kidtown Join us for our annual winter party! Parents are invited to join us for an afternoon of winter themed crafts and games! Complimentary.

Followed by Date Night from 6:30–9:30 pm.

Family Cardio Tennis Saturday, December 15, 6:00–8:00 pm Family Cardio Tennis (for 2.6+ adults and level 3 and 2 juniors).

Candlelight Yoga Live Sunday, December 16, 6:00–7:30 pm A special vinyasa class set to a backdrop of illuminating candlelight and inspiring, soulful music played by a live musician or DJ. In this 90-minute well-rounded practice you’ll move through a fun and dynamic flow, ending with a guided meditation and a deep, sweet savasana.

January Spa Promotion Tuesday, January 1—Thursday, January 31 Tan and Extend through the month of January—receive 20% off all Spray Tans and Lash or Hair Extensions appointments!

January and February 2018 Two Person Better Ball of Pairs Competition TPC Scottsdale, 9 holes In this competition, you and your partner will play a best ball game for 9 holes (during your sim time). You play your own ball through the round and the computer will automatically take the best score on each hole and record them into the competition.

Winners and runner ups will receive prizes including a beautiful Ice Prints Glass Award and a free golf lesson from PGA Professional Pat Dorgan or Don Morris.

Camp Midtown: Winter Break Wednesday, January 2—Friday, January 4 Resolutions Week in Kidtown Wednesday, January 2—Friday, January 4

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National Technology Day Sunday, January 6, All Day in Kidtown Help us celebrate National Technology Day with our friends from Power UP Tech Academy! Check online for registration information for these afternoon classes.

Candlelight Yoga Live Sunday, January 6, 6:00–7:30 pm A special vinyasa class set to a backdrop of illuminating candlelight and inspiring, soulful music played by a live musician or DJ. In this 90-minute well-rounded practice you’ll move through a fun and dynamic flow, ending with a guided meditation and a deep, sweet savasana.

Midtown Tennis Retreat in Antiqua, West Indies January 8–13 Join Pros Mike Insko and Butch Staples for a luxurious retreat at the Curtain Bluff Resort. Play the game you love and enjoy all the amenities of water sport and fine dining as you get away from it all. Contact butch. staples@midtown.com for more information.

Adult Paddle Mixer Friday, January 11, 7:00–9:00 pm Social mixer of mixed Paddle play followed with appetizers and drinks.

Cardio Tennis Friday, January 11, 7:00–9:00 pm We pair you with a partner as you compete in seven high-energy, fun cardio games. Open to levels 2.6 and above. Ages 21+.

Swing Clinic Friday, January 11, 7:00–8:00 pm Come out to learn some of the secrets to ball striking from our PGA Professionals Pat Dorgan and Don Morris. Open to all experience levels.

Date Night: Foodie!

Saturday, January 12, 6:30–9:30 pm We’re rolling out the dough for this one and enjoying a screening of Ratatouille.

Wilson Demo Day Friday, January 17, 12:00 noon–1:30 pm and 1:30–3:00 pm Join us to experience the new UCT, as well as the full Wilson racquet line. Drills and prizes with Midtown pros and company experts.

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80s Theme Ride Friday, January 18, All Day Flash back your Friday to the most extravagant decade—Rock out to 80s music all day in RIDE. Lash Extension Event Monday, January 21, 4:00–8:00 pm Lash extension demo and consultation with Jay! We will do a live demo on the lash extension application at 4:30 pm then offer complimentary consultation immediately afterward.

Camp Midtown: Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 21 If you have the day off school, join us at Midtown for half or full day camp full of active play.

Build Muscle, Lose Body Fat Wednesday, January 23, 6:00–7:30 pm Becoming leaner does not always require losing weight. Building muscle and losing fat can be synonymous with the right training style. Learn how to improve your body composition, whether you’re female or male, during a mini workout with fitness coaches Sandy Seitz and Michael Ghanayem. Registered Dietician Jenny Maloney will discuss your diet, what supplements you should consider, and which supplements to stay away from in order to achieve a leaner physique.

Date Night: Inventors’ Night!

Saturday, January 26, 6:30–9:30 pm Use your imagination in Kidtown and brainstorm your best invention.

Les Mills Relaunch Thursday, January 24, All Day Launch of the new Les Mills choreography with a focus on informational content.

Adult Tennis Mixer Saturday, January 26 7:00–9:00 pm Mixed round robin tennis play for adult members of all levels, followed by dinner and drinks.

February Spa Promotion Friday, February 1—Thursday, February 28 Spa Love, through February, receive a complimentary glass of wine and a $10 retail credit with a His & Hers booked service— His & Hers haircuts, His & Hers pedicures and/or manicures.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in The Shop!

Friday, February 1—Thursday, February 14 15% off anything red or pink in The Shop.

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Battle of the Sexes Sunday, February 3, 8:45–9:30 am Join us for a man vs. woman fun-filled battle class. Remember Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs? Channel that competition and gather up your same-gender battle buddies in this throwdown.

Chinese New Year Celebration Tuesday, February 6, All Day in Kidtown Babolat Demo Day Wednesday, February 6, 12:00 noon–1:30 pm or 1:30–3:00 pm Join us on court to experience the new, complete, Pure Aero line from Babolat. Work with pros and company expert to find the perfect fit.

Firehouse Games Saturday, February 9, 1:30–4:00 pm You’ve trained, you’ve put in the work, it’s now time to compete!

Challenge yourself in the first annual Midtown Firehouse Games, where athletes come together to compete in a series of workouts designed by our Firehouse Coaches. Compete in divisions of male and female over and under 40.

Daddy/Daughter, Mother/Son Dance Swim Saturday, February 9, 2:00–4:00 pm Join us in the indoor pool for a special day to swim with your son or daughter and play Valentine’s Day games in the pool. Each family will have a water-proof flower corsage to give to the lady of the pair.

Date Night: Frozen Saturday, February 9, 6:30–9:30 pm We will be watching the movie Frozen and doing an igloo art project!

Bring your sibling.

Candlelight Yoga Live Sunday, February 10, 6:00–7:30 pm A special vinyasa class set to a backdrop of illuminating candlelight and inspiring, soulful music played by a live musician or DJ. In this 90-minute well-rounded practice you’ll move through a fun and dynamic flow, ending with a guided meditation and a deep, sweet savasana.

PINK Theme Ride Wednesday, February 13, All Day in RIDE Leading up to the day of pink and red and hearts and teddy bears.

Join us for an energetic theme day tributed to the ultimate strong female singer: PINK. 58

Couples Massage Workshop Wednesday, February 13, 6:00–8:00 pm Learn special hands-on techniques from our talented massage therapists for couples to massage one another.

Thursday, February 14 Valentine’s Day will be heartfelt in Kidtown all day with kid-made valentines to share with loved ones.

Cardio Tennis Friday, February 15, 7:00–9:00 pm We pair you with a partner as you compete in seven high-energy, fun cardio games. Open to levels 3.1 and above. Ages 21+.

Camp Midtown President’s Day Monday, February 18 If you have the day off school, join us a Midtown for half or full day camp full of active play.

Winter Skin Health and The Gut— Immunity Health Connection Wednesday, February 20, 6:00–7:00 pm Is your skin dry and cracking in the winter? Do you want to improve your immune system this winter? Your daily skin and diet routine could be hurting you instead of helping you. Learn what skin products to use

during the winter months and do a mini facial with Midtown Spa esthetician, Jay Stoutenburg. Learn what foods and supplements can help with winter skin and immune and gut health with Registered Dietitian, Jenny Maloney.

Makeup Factory Event Thursday, February 21, 2:00–7:00 pm Complimentary makeup application with celebrity makeup artist Lindsey Ebbin.

Academy Awards Theater Class Friday, February 22, 5–6:30 pm Ages 5-12.

Adult Tennis Mixer Saturday, February 23, 7:00–9:00 pm Mixed round robin tennis play for adult members of all levels, followed by dinner and drinks.

Date Night: Superhero Night!

Saturday, February 23, 7:30–9:30 pm We will be watching Incredibles 2, followed by a cape making craft. Bring your super powers!

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Amy Chasse, Member Experience Director amy.chasse@midtown.com 773.687.7386

You told us... we listened

action...

and took

We value members’ suggestions and opinions to ensure we are exceeding expectations. We view feedback as a

gift and encourage you to help us identify ways to improve. In order to achieve this goal, we maintain a database of member feedback and suggestions. We collect this information through conversations in the Club, your phone calls and emails. We also distribute surveys daily to members, and we review each closely. Then as a team, we discuss this information as we make decisions to create club etiquette.

What we’ve acted upon…

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Recycle 24 cubic yards of waste each week (our waste management service separates recyclables from garbage) Completed construction of basketball court and launched basketball programming Offered Peloton bikes and multiple virtual Les Mills classes in RIDE and The Theater daily Added more equipment to 3rd floor, including additional BOSUs, Hex bar, resistance bands, steps, and weights Built a full service bar for the outdoor pool deck and for SIX Added a variety of healthy and flavorful salads to the Chromium menu, as well as updated several other items Installed a stop sign near the Fresh Thyme intersection

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Hosted multiple outdoor classes on SIX Added prenatal yoga classes bi-monthly on Saturdays

Indicated heated classes on Samadhi schedule

Added singles and adult only music series events

Hosted monthly parent with child yoga classes and added new Gymprov, dance and soccer classes

Added water dispenser on the Chromium counter near Samadhi Installed ice machine near tennis lounge

Made nutritional information available at Chromium for menu items

Added coconut milk and almond milk as options for coffee and smoothies

Please keep an eye out in your email for a survey as we’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, you can send feedback to Amy Chasse at amy.chasse@midtown.com.

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Launched new group fitness programming, including IGNITE, FYD, and ELEVATE classes

1

2

USTA Foundation Brunch with Chris Evert Friday, September 21 1—USTA President, Katrina Adams 2—Former USTA CEOs Jon Vegosen and Alan Schwartz with Midtown’s Michael Mahoney 3—Dave Martin and Alan Schwartz 4—Katrina Adams interviews Chris Evert 3 4

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alexander hamilton...

puzzleanswers

...was born on the remote Caribbean island of Nevis in 1757 and rose from an impoverished upbringing to become one of the founding fathers of America. ...was the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury, and laid the foundations of the National Bank and the US Mint. ...established the Revenue Cutter Service to protect the country’s coasts from smugglers; the service later became the US Coast Guard. ...launched the New York Evening Post, now the New York Post, America’s oldest continuously published daily newspaper. ...was fatally wounded in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804. Burr was charged with murder in the states of New York and New Jersey, but neither case was ever heard. The vice president of the United States got away with murder... literally. ...has been on the face of the $10 bill since 1928, but in the new millenium was targeted for replacement by a prominent woman in US history. Then the monster Broadway hit Hamilton came along and enhanced his reputation; heated public debate ensued. In 2016 it was announced that he would remain where he had been, and that Harriet Tubman would appear on the $20 bill (sorry, Andrew Jackson!)

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Puzzle on page 12

remembering sonny

Gladstone Sonny Connell February 3, 1935 — June 1, 2018

Sonny was Midtown’s very first employee. His helping spirit, wonderful personality and infectious laugh made him a staple at the Club.

The oldest son of ten children born to the late Albert and Maybel Connell in Negril, Jamaica, he was one of the patriarchs of the Connell family, taking pride in being a Jamaican and supporting his family. Sonny’s warm spirit and strong work ethic were recognized at an early age. While visiting Jamaica, Don Kerbis, a well-known owner of a Chicago tennis club, met Sonny and extended an opportunity for him to work as an apprentice in the US. He was the first of his siblings to travel to the US for employment in 1967. Through Sonny’s selfless decision to travel abroad and accept this position, he was able to establish a career and facilitate the opportunity for his siblings to also become US citizens.

“Stringing a racquet to me is like a work of art to a painter.“

Sonny stayed on when the club was founded as Midtown Tennis Club, and continued to work there until he retired. He loved his job and always went to work full of enthusiasm. Sonny perfected the craft of stringing racquets. To quote Sonny: “Stringing a racquet to me is like a work of art to a painter.” He was featured in several local Chicago newspapers for his accomplishments and mastery of his craft. Sonny put his heart and soul into stringing rackets for some of the most renowned tennis players including Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Tim Mayotte, Pam Shriver, Billie Jean King, Tracy Austin, Chris Evert, Author Ashe, Stan Smith, John Newcombe, Zina Garrison, and Guillermo Vilas. Hollywood celebrities including Charlton Heston were also among Sonny’s prominent clients.

Sonny was a resident of Chicago’s north side for several years. After retirement, Sonny relocated to the south side of Chicago to allow for increased family support.

He passed away peacefully with Heartland Hospice at Manor Care Nursing Home.

He will forever be remembered by his devoted sisters Leacey, Gertie, Rose, Joyce and brothers Ken, Burl, George, Vernet, along with his adoring God children Shanae and Mario, several beloved nieces and nephews, and many countless friends who were blessed to know him.

Sonny touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and managed to maintain his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end. At his memorial service guests were asked to wear vivid colors and share fond memories along with their best Jamaican reggae moves. We at Midtown were lucky to have had him touch our lives for many years in such an inspirational way.

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feed your spirit

Jenny Maloney, Registered Dietitian/Trainer jenny.maloney@midtown.com 773.687.7571

The Non-Diet Diet Do you feel like you are always on a diet? The holidays are coming up so you better go on a diet, right? Why not try not going on a diet. Studies show that when you go on a diet, you can’t stick to it long term, so you gain the weight back and sometimes more weight then when you started. Wait, so I can eat whatever I want and not gain weight?

Well, not exactly.

Change your lifestyle this holiday season and then keep doing it. Instead of setting an unrealistic New Year’s resolution in January, set your new lifestyle goals now starting with these healthy tips: Portion control— Are you eating too much at one time? Get out your measuring cups and spoons when you are home and use your hand as your guide when dining out.

Watch your beverage calories— We know alcohol can make the calories creep up but take a look at your other drinks like lattes, juices, vitamin drinks, and flavored waters as well. Check the label for added sugar and added preservatives.

Eat clean— What exactly is clean eating? Clean foods mean real whole foods like vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, and seeds as well as healthy fats and lean protein. Cut back on processed and refined foods.

Cheat— but make them small cheats and less often. Aim for about two or three small cheats per week. We tend to blow it on the weekends so don’t let yourself go crazy for more than two days in a row.

Be consistent— if you are eating healthy for five days and then not eating healthy for another five days, it will be hard to reach a goal. Try to eat 85% clean and healthy and 15% cheat foods.

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Exercise more— Instead of working out every day hard for a month, keep a consistent workout routine that’s more realistic and something you can stick to.

Change up your workouts and make sure you are including resistance and strength training in your routine.

Deal with stress and emotion— For many of us, eating can be a response to our emotions. We are always going to have stress in our lives, so work to find a better way of managing stress, such as meditation or keeping a food and mood journal.

Be accountable— many of us know what to do, we just aren’t doing it because it’s hard to continually source: fitfluential.com deny ourselves foods we desire.

Hold yourself accountable by keeping a food journal or talk to a dietitian to help you get started.

It takes 21 days to make something a habit—so be patient and stick to the plan. You may not get the quick results that happen when you go on a restrictive diet, but you will certainly feel better and it can become a lasting, life-changing solution.

Spirit

PLAY YOUR HEART OUT.

advertise withspirit!

Find the beat. Create the melody. Fine-tune, re-listen and re-invent as you go. And when it’s time to play, put your whole heart into it with the most classic of instruments: Roger’s legendary new Pro Staff RF97.

F all

Happy Anniversary, Midtown!

The Year In Review An Interview with Thomas Wilson Healthy Food at Midtown

WILSON.COM Pros often customize the rackets they use, including string patterns. Consumer racket specifications may vary from models customized by Pros for match-play. © 2018 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Trademarks advertised other than those of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. are properties of their respective owners. 18-1074

18-1074_US_Midtown_Spirit_Fall_Magazine_TE_AD.indd 1

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!

Contact:

Joelle Beranek, Events Director, Editor and Content Coordinator Joelle.Beranek@midtown.com | 773.687.7614

or

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

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5/14/18 4:01 PM

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