This month, we’re featuring Rachel Gitlevich’s workout playlist! Rachel is a personal trainer at FFC Old Town. She loves helping people feel empowered in their mind, body and soul. Outside of the gym you can find her spending time outdoors, practicing yoga and attending live music events.
Despite the crazy fact that only two U.S. states actually produce coffee (Hawaii and California, in case you were wondering), you can bet U.S. citizens drink a LOT of coffee. An average of 3.1 cups per day, in fact! We’ve rounded up a list of all the best coffee spots you should check out in Chicago’s Boystown below. Happy caffeinating!
Okay, maybe we just wanted to include Aje Café because of its stellar sandwich list, but rest assured, they DO serve coffee and their drinks are delicious. With a cozy vibe, free wifi for customers (they just kindly ask that you make a purchase) and a plethora of places to sit, this spot is ideal for your morning coffee or your afternoon pick-me-up.
Aje Café is locally owned and a great way to support small businesses. Additionally, they love to highlight art from local creatives, which never hurts if you’re looking for a place to work and get your creative juices flowing!
Related: Looking for lunch spots in Boystown?
Maison Parisienne – 3307 N Clark St
Sometimes you just need a quick getaway (especially when it comes to winter in Chicago, eek!). Look no further than Maison Parisienne for a jaunt across the Atlantic. With chic vibes and traditional French faire, you can be sure to find something that will pair well with your caffeine fix. Plus, this shop is eco-conscious and uses compostable and biodegradable cups, lids, water cups and straws.
If you happen to stop by in the warmer weather, you can sip your cappuccino on ‘La Terrasse’ – a spacious outdoor garden in the middle of Lakeview. Fun fact: you can also rent La Terrasse for events – birthday parties, baby showers or even reunions!
Osmium Coffee Bar – 1117 W Belmont Ave
Dark Matter Coffee has been a staple of the Chicago coffee scene since 2007. They built their foundation on the ethos of sustainability and social responsibility; they work with aligned organizations and directly with farmers in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico to cut out the middle man and support fair business practices.
Osmium is one of six Dark Matter locations in Chicago (fun fact: a number of FFC clubs actually carry Dark Matter coffee!) and a great destination for your coffee needs. Dark Matter roasts their own beans (lots of floral notes) and has been pioneering a barrel-aging program that lends a unique flavor to the drinks. Try a barrel-aged agave latte for extra complexity!
Pick Me Up Café – 3408 N Clark Street
Pick Me Up Café has been supplying Chicago with delicious drinks and food since 1997 and was one of the first locations in the area to offer vegan/vegetarian-centric dishes! Another unique attribute? You can get your java in frozen form: try the Cappuccino or Mocha shakes.
If you’re looking for a little pizzazz in your pick-me-up, try one of their seasonal concoctions. Some recent offerings include a latte spiked with Jameson and a chai latte spiked with spiced rum. Another bonus? Breakfast all day!
The Coffee & Tea Exchange – 3311 N Broadway
Are you starting to pick up a theme here? When it comes to good coffee, Boystown is one of the best for historically rich java. The Coffee & Tea Exchange dates back to 1975, when Steve (the original owner) roasted his beans right in the shop and displayed them in barrels to help inspire and educate customers on different types of coffee from around the world.
While they may love selling the beans (wholesale, in bulk or even in gift boxes), you can definitely get a good ole cup of joe to-go, too. Want something a little fancier than your basic black? Don’t worry – they have an extensive specialty drink menu. Past creations have even included riffs on your favorite FRIENDS/Central Perk drinks!
Related: The Best Bars on Halsted
Whatever time of day you’re looking for a java jolt, you’ll definitely be able to hit the spot at one of these best coffee shops in Boystown. From lunchtime coffee cafes to breakfast-all-days, this should be all the convincing you need to keep this list handy!
Post written by FFC Contributor Megan Zink.
FFC Union Station Pilates instructor Nicole Gibson shares her commentary on a great article from IDEA Health & Fitness Association.
Article: The Science of Pilates: Research Update via IDEA Health & Fitness Association
Article Summary:
This article is from the perspective of a star collegiate tennis player who, after becoming injured, sought advice from a doctor/Pilates researcher. After just four weeks of Pilates exercises, he was off the injured list, played #1 his senior year of college and his shoulder never bothered him again! He credits most of his progress to his improved abdominal strength and its role in offloading stress on his shoulder.
Related: Find Out If You Have a Muscular Imbalance & How Pilates Can Help
This article explains how Pilates was initially developed for conditioning and therapeutic purposes and helps its participants develop the body uniformly. The article then dives into modern Pilates and how it has evolved to incorporate evidence-based principles with time-honored training techniques.
My Thoughts:
This article is a great reflection on how strengthening your core can support the rest of body to avoid overcompensating elsewhere. It also shines a light on how Pilates is a wonderful way for athletes to cross-train. Athletes are able to strengthen their smaller, stabilizing muscles in order to support their larger muscles during performance. This leads to fewer injuries and improved athletic performance. Through Pilates, this is achieved by finding the proper organization of the muscles around the bone and/or the bone within its socket/joint. From there, we find stability and range of motion. After we have established the proper function and mobility of that muscle or joint, we then work towards flexibility and increasing range of motion. This process ensures longevity by practicing healthy movement patterns.
This article then goes on to explain “modern Pilates” and the benefits of consistent practice. Consistency is key in order to see results. If you practice Pilates 2-3 times per week, you will see results in just a few short weeks! Consistent Pilates practice results in improved muscular endurance and strength, reduced body fat, increased flexibility/mobility and improved posture. Pilates also aids in active aging. Through functional fitness, you are able to improve balance which means fewer falls, improved bone mineral density and improved brain fitness. This includes improved concentration, attention span, body awareness and more.
Pilates is also beneficial for special circumstances such as prenatal, back pain, osteoarthritis and neuromuscular degenerative issues. For prenatal women, Pilates can lower blood pressure, improve flexibility and spinal curvature, and add significant improvements during labor such as fewer caesarian births, episiotomies or instances of obstructed birth. As for people with neuromuscular degenerative issues, Pilates aids in improving balance, core strength and provides stress relief as well as practicing muscle control.
Overall, this article is extremely descriptive on the countless benefits Pilates has to offer.
Sweet, nutty and tangy, this vegan, gluten-free salad hits it all. The ingredients in the salad work double-duty as the ingredients for the oil-free dressing. Walnuts provide healthy fats. Apples and raisins add natural sweetness, and Dijon adds a tangy kick. This will win over any veggie skeptic. Serve with Butternut Squash Bisque, Mushroom Soup with Barley and Leek or Farro Vegetable Soup for a satisfying dinner.
Level: Easy
Servings: 6
Ready In: 15 minutes
Ingredients
Directions
To prep ingredients:
Soak raisins in about 1/4 cup warm water, to soften. Toast walnuts in a 375 degree oven, 10-13 minutes, until golden and aromatic. Remove and let cool.
To make salad:
Strip kale from stems and thinly slice.
Place half of the celery, apples, walnuts and raisins in one bowl with the kale. This is your salad.
Place the other half in another bowl, along with the raisin soaking liquid, and mustard. This will become your dressing.
Place dressing ingredients in a blender with a couple tablespoons of water. Puree. Dressing should be a pourable, creamy consistency. Add water as needed to reach this consistency. Taste for salt and pepper.
Add dressing to salad ingredients. Use your hands to mix well.
Serve and enjoy. Gets even better after a day.
Related: 10 ways to increase your veggie intake
Chef Tips:
Yield: 9-10 cups
Post written by FFC group fitness instructor Katie Simmons. Some photos provided by Katie Simmons.
More about Katie: Katie is a group fitness instructor at FFC and is also a personal chef based in Chicago. She specializes in creating delicious, healthy recipes for those with special dietary concerns like gluten-free, oil-free, plant-based, and low-residue. You can see more at www.plants-rule.com. You can also see more recipes at www.facebook.com/plants-rule and follow her on Instagram at @chefkatiesimmons.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size:
About 1/6 recipe, 1 – 1 1/2 cups
Amount Per Serving:
Calories 134.17
Calories From Fat (44%) 59.35
% Daily Value
This month, we’re featuring Victor Virgilio’s workout playlist! Victor is the Operations Manager for FFC Park Ridge. After working in hotel management, Victor decided to follow his passion and work in the health and wellness industry. He has now been with FFC for 5 years, working at Gold Coast, Old Town and West Loop before landing at Park Ridge.