The international hit STOMP returns to Chicago with all new surprises! April 27 – May 2 at the Bank of America Theatre.

SAVE $15!*
Click here and use the code TEMPO when ordering to save $15 on Tue-Thu and Sun eve performances. Put TEMPO in the Promotions and Special Offers Sections!
Tickets also available by calling 800-775-2000 or at any Broadway In Chicago box office or Ticketmaster retail location.
*Discount available on select sections to Tue-Thu and Sun eve performances only. Not available with any other offer or on previously purchased tickets. Normal ticketing fees and other restrictions apply. Subject to availability.

By: Kristen Holub

Are you feeling stressed-out? Are you in need of some restoration, relaxation or rejuvenation? Then you should check out Soulistic Studios & Spa on Milwaukee Ave just North of Chicago Ave! Soulistic is a calm haven in the urban hustle and bustle that offers all kinds of classes and services sure to get you in the right state of mind.

I found Soulistic Studios and Spa while searching for a pre-natal yoga class in my area, but what I found was so much more. Open since Summer 2006, they are an eco-friendly business from the paint on their walls to the all-organic and water-soluble spa products they use. The treatments themselves are holistic in nature and include Thai Yoga Massage Therapy, Reiki Therapy and Reflexology, as well as Ayurvedic Therapies which focus on creating balance in the body and its systems for optimal function. More mainstream spa treatments like facials and waxes are also offered in an array of choices. They even have a sauna that uses “infrared radiant energy”. This was really interesting to me because instead of the air in the room becoming hot and uncomfortable for some to breathe, the air stays cooler while the light only heats your body. And it only uses about the same amount of electricity as your hairdryer! I’d definitely like to check that out after my baby arrives (pregnant women are generally told to avoid high body temps).

Soulistic also has two beautiful, large classroom studios that are used for fitness classes such as Pilates, Yoga, Cultural Dance, Boxing and more. They offer the prenatal yoga classes I was looking for on a weekday, a weeknight or over the weekend, so it was easy for me to find one that fit my schedule. The class was based on poses that will help keep the back strong, the body flexible and build strength in the legs, all in preparation for childbirth. The prenatal yoga class is open to all levels of students so you can feel comfortable if it’s your first yoga experience or you’ve been practicing seriously for years. I was also excited to learn that they also offer a Mom/Dad & Me Yoga class for 2 age groups; infants to 1 year olds and toddlers ages 2 to 5. This class is perfect for bonding with your baby or getting your toddler into yoga (most love to show off their poses!), and can be attended with Mom, Dad, Nanny, Grandma, or any other caregiver. Along these lines, Soulistic also offers a workshop in infant massage every other month with a nationally certified massage therapist, perfect for new parents and their babies.

Another thing I really liked about Soulistic’s comprehensive approach is that they have offerings for people of all ages, from babies to seniors. Other than the yoga (in the Mom/Dad and Me setting) that goes up to age 5, they also offer Children’s Creative Movement Ballet for children ages 3 – 8, teen yoga perfect for after school, all types of programs for adults, and a Gentle Yoga class for older adults or people with physical limitations. Check out all their class offerings here.

If you want to check out Soulistic Studio & Spa for yourself, they are offering our readers a special discount of 10% off your first group class package, steam/sauna, or personal training package purchase. All you need to do is identify “Chicagonista” as how you learned about Soulistic on the client package all new clients are asked to complete! Saving money and getting healthy sounds good, right?

Soulistic Studio & Spa
805 N Milwaukee Ave., Suite 200
(just steps away from the Chicago Blue Line stop)
312.226.SOUL (7685)

This is an Original Chicagonista article.

By Kristen Holub

OK, call your babysitter. After reading this, you’ll have to carve out some alone-time* for you and your partner to check out The Bristol!

This past weekend, my husband and I were resigned to celebrating our Valentine’s Day by taking our 2 year old son to the Art Institute (which, btw, is free all month in February) and then just chilling at home. I was contemplating scrounging up some candles for an attempt at a romantic dinner after putting the little man to bed, but being pregnant and a bit low on energy, there were no guarantees. It was looking a bit bleak.

Then, my mom and dad agreed to babysit for us after their own downtown lunch date! Thank goodness for grandparents, our night was suddenly looking a lot better. I opened the laptop and started checking out local options and we decided to call The Bristol to see if they could fit us in on such short notice. As luck would have it, we squeezed in on the early seating, and everything fell into place. Neither of us had been there since The Bristol opened in September, 2008, so we were looking forward to checking it out. And the verdict? … Phenomenal!

The Bristol, located at 2152 N. Damen, is just south of the expressway. In that hip Bucktown area, street parking is at a premium, but they do have valet service which is always a plus. The decor is laid back and warm, with exposed brick and the menu on a chalkboard wall at the end. Edison bulbs hang from the ceiling, and soft lighting and candles on the tables add to the relaxed vibe. After gladly handing off our coats to their complimentary coat check, we settled in to peruse the drink menu.

The Bristol has a penchant for interesting, hand-crafted cocktails, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that many of their wines and beers are organic, made sustainably, or bio-dynamically grown.  None of this “green” philosophy is flaunted or in-your-face, but then we spoke to our server and found that it doesn’t end with the drinks either. It’s just the way they do things around The Bristol. Executive Chef, Chris Pandel and Co-Owners and Co-Managers John Ross and Philip Walters bring an understated elegance to the idea behind a sustainable restaurant. They recycle, buy their seasonal ingredients from local farms and are even starting their own farm in WI this year to grow produce specific to their needs! Pandel buys whole pigs, goats, lambs, fish and chickens, and since his aim is “no waste” but to use as much of each animal as possible, they are able to keep the prices reasonable while executing amazing fare.

For the vegetarian customers out there, they also buy “whole vegetables”…seriously though, they do try to use the entire vegetable as well. Last season they had a radish dish where the leaves and root were left intact, making for a lively presentation and a new culinary experience for many diners who might not have known that it’s all edible, and delicious.

For dinner my husband and I had the prix fix Valentine’s Day Menu. It was lovely with a trio of appetizers tastes followed by our entrees (from a choice of three…I had the seared scallops with grapefruit and celery) and then ending with a plate of five rich truffles with very intriguing flavors like pancetta, or olive oil and sea salt. The flavors of the meal were as much an experience as a dinner.

But though they were proud of the special menu, the owners are even more excited about their nightly menu which really showcases their style, ideas and speaks to what the restaurant is all about. The menu changes regularly, giving frequent diners new dishes to try, but it also affords Pandel room for creativity and choice. They usually have a few seasonal items on the menu as well.  Some of their signature dishes right now include a “bar-snack” of a savory version of Monkey Bread with dill butter and sea salt ($4), an heirloom apple salad with hazelnuts and manchego cheese ($9), the house-made raviolo with ricotta, egg yolk and brown butter ($11), and next on my list to try is the  egg sandwich served on house-made Texas toast with grilled pork belly and a bechemel sauce ($10). Click here to see the full dinner menu.

If you are up for going to brunch on the weekends, theirs is rumored as fantastic and I’m hoping someday to make it over (but an almost 2 year old who wakes at 6:30 doesn’t usually lend himself well to brunch these days)! The egg sandwich described above is on the menu, as well as their own elegant versions of staples like eggs benedict, waffles, and biscuits with gravy. Check out the full brunch menu here.

The Bristol doesn’t take reservations, but does have a comfy area upstairs where your party can wait while enjoying a cocktail. If you’re famished, they do have a selection of the bar-snacks available upstairs as well to enjoy while you relax with your beverage.

The Bristol is also offering an exclusive discount to our Chicagonista readers, so head on over! Print out this page for $10 off your purchase of $30 or more. (This offer is good through March 31st, 2009, 1 discount per visit/table, and has no cash value.)

The Bristol www.thebristolchicago.com
2152 North Damen, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 862-5555

Hours:
Sunday   5:00 – 10:00
Monday – Thursday   5:30 – 10:30
Saturday – 5:30 – 12:00
Brunch – Saturday & Sunday  10:00 – 2:00

* if you feel guilty enjoying a delicious night out without the kiddos, you can always pick them up a little something at The Red Balloon right before you hit your dinner date!

This is an original Chicagonista article.

Kristen Holub is an artist and business owner turned stay-at-home-mom, Kristen  stays busy running around town with her son, and doing her best to keep the household eco-friendly and under control while jotting down and sharing great finds in Chicago.

By Cathy McNulty

Recently my husband and I, in an attempt to shake those winter blues, took our two sons (ages 4 years and 18 months) to the All Aboard Diner located in Downers Grove just off of I-355.  After spending all of winter “dining” in various places geared toward children, we walked into the place expecting a terrific atmosphere for the kids, okay service and mediocre food.   I am happy to say we were pleasantly surprised.

As a diner that focuses on providing a family orientated atmosphere, All Aboard pulls out all the stops to make families feel welcome.  High chairs and booster seats are fixed to help kids sit right up at the counter, where a train will soon deliver their meal.  There are coat hooks towards the back of the diner so that you don’t have to have all that bulk crowding your own seat.  This might be something that only a mom would notice, but you can relax while using the toilet with your little one in the room, because the lock is high up on the door.  There’s no need to worry about your child unlocking the door before you are ready!  Also, there’s a step stool by the sink to make it easy for your child to wash their own hands.  Of course, besides these family friendly amenities, the entire diner is decked out with trains!

As soon as your child enters the diner he can watch and interact with a train set right at their own level.  There are a ton of buttons just calling out to children to be pushed.  One will move the train, another the tree swing, another will sound the whistle, and so much more!  There’s also a train track set up high, near the ceiling, with a train constantly circling around the diner.  Of course, let’s not forget the train that circles the counter.  The most important train of all, delivering meals and desserts!  These trains managed to keep my 18 month old occupied while we waited shortly for our food and while we were eating.

My husband and I were surprised by the selection offered on the menu.  Wraps, burgers, salads, soup, sandwiches, and dinners geared towards adults filled two and a half pages of the menu.  All Aboard Diner also has a beer and wine bar.  I ordered the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wrap and a Miller Lite.  The wrap, served with my choice of fries, fruit, or chips, was delicious.  Just spicy enough to keep my mouth watering, but not too spicy I couldn’t eat it.  My husband order the Chopped Steak dinner and before I had a chance to ask for a taste, his plate was cleared.  The children’s menu offered a wide variety of choices, surely the most picky eater could find something they like there.  The menu included: cheeseburger, burger, cheese pizza, hot dog, corn dog, chicken nuggets, chicken fries, macaroni and cheese, mac and cheese bites, and popcorn shrimp!  My oldest son order his usual – a cheeseburger.  He was pleased because the beef wasn’t bigger than the bun, the bun didn’t have seeds on it, and it didn’t fall apart while he was eating!  We ordered the macaroni and cheese for my younger son.  He was pleased because it looked and tasted very similiar to the stuff I make at home.  All of our meals were prepared in their peanut free environment!  Overall, we were so surprised by the quality of the food – delicious!

The service here was excellent.  From the time we entered the diner until the time we left we were all made to feel very welcome.  The servers were attentive to our needs.  There were a few people there celebrating birthdays – what fun that was!  The “food train,” as my son called it, would deliver a birthday ice cream treat while a birthday song was played over the intercom.  The staff would all sing along and clap for the birthday person (both birthdays were adults!).  All children get to pick out a train whistle (it’s not that loud) and a ring when it’s time to go home, which makes getting out and to the car just a little bit easier when your little ones don’t want to go home!

All Aboard Diner also has a party room and is available for birthday parties.  The guests will first eat their meals at the counter, then adjourn to the party room for cake, ice cream, and presents.

I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone with children (girls or boys) and to any adult train buffs!  Chicagonista readers can enjoy 10%  off of their meal just by mentioning this article! Discount available only for meals and cannot be applied to parties.

This is an original Chicagonista article.