Except for a year in Florida, I've lived all of my life in Chicago and today was the first time I'd…read moreever set foot in the city/town of Riverside. This may very well be the best kept secret in Chicagoland. Well, it has been for me, anyway. A few fellow Yelp runners and I were looking for a centrally located race where we could all meet and run together for the first time. For some, this was their first organized race EVER! This Riverside event was the first one suggested and after checking out the website, we all agreed it would be perfect. It all started with the price. Only $25 for registration, which included electronic timing, bib and free T-shirt (VERY nice, by the way). An early start (7:30AM) ensured the temperature will be cooler than the predicted high for the day, and the tree lined streets on the route insured it would stay that way. Plenty of winding curves along the way kept us focused on our pace and ample water stations kept everyone well hydrated. Heck, even a few of the residents were out with their hoses spraying us down as we ran by. A very welcome gesture, to be sure! But for me, the best part of this race was the plethora of incredibly stunning homes that lined the course...each one, more beautiful than the last. I think I spent so much time in awe of the architecture and gardens here that the race was over before I knew it, much to my chagrin. After meeting up when our last member crossed the finish line, it seemed we all had the same experience and will definitely be back next year to do it again. Who knows? Maybe even sooner just for a visit! It's hard to imagine another 5K in Chicagoland that's better that the Riverside Independence Day run. This one is sure going to be tough to beat...but I'll keep looking!

The 4th of July 5K in Riverside is my favorite. So far, I have ran it two years (2013 and 2014) and…read moreI plan to run it every year as long as I'm a resident of this lovely town. Race goodie bags are generally pretty good, including items like lip balm and a voucher for a free frapp from McDonalds. Last year, I got a really great coupon that got me $20 a purchase from Sports Authority for items I needed to purchase anyway (biking shorts and a triathlon waterproof watch), so entry into the race practically paid for itself. Every year, the moisture-wicking t-shirts are of high quality. If you're small like me (5'2", 105-110 lbs), I recommend choosing the youth large size shirt. Last year someone else picked up my packet + t-shirt in too big of a size. The volunteers were awesome about letting me exchange for a different size. The course is scenic. You get to run through beautiful Riverside, which has a number of stunning Victorian homes. The course brings you on winding roads, which are characteristic of the architecture of this town (the first planned community)! There are always people sitting in lawn chairs (waiting for the parade) who cheer on runners, which will help you get through it. There are runners of all ages, shapes, and sizes. A decent number of runners with jogging strollers go through every year, which I think is great! For the end, be sure that you're running over the proper finish line. Some people get confused and think they've finished. Watch carefully for signs. There should also be volunteers guiding you to be sure you make it to the finish. Upon finishing, find your supporters in the crowd, eat a bagel and some Gatorade, and stick around for the 4th of July parade and Guthrie Park festivities that will immediately follow!

UPDATE: after posting the email exchange, Georges reached out to me directly via messages and…read moreapologized for his reaction to my original post and invited us to his gym. He was out of the country during the time of my visit and had volunteers open/close his gym. Writing is not my profession nor do I desire to become a storyteller. I prefer reading non-fiction. All of my reviews are based on my personal experiences. I'm just not imaginative enough to create fibs. I chose not to be descriptive of your colleague b/c I don't want to shame him. I will keep it at that. You know best as to who has access to the gym. I didn't see in the fine print a reservation was needed, also I bought the Groupon back in January of this year, so that fine print could've been revised after my purchase. In any case, what about the 5 people that were there on the same day waiting to get in? Did they also not make a reservation? If that's the case, maybe it wasn't obvious to any of us? Or, they made a reservation and you made all of us wait. As mentioned in my review, I emailed you. Since you flat out called me a liar, I traced back to the email I sent on the day of which was Tuesday, 5/16/2017 at 5:58pm. Hey, turns out the person I was communicating with was you! To make things easier, I posted a screenshot of our email exchange under photos.

Great experience today because a fellow climber took us under his wing…read more To be fair, the initial instruction was minimal. We got bored within an hour; all I knew was to move up the wall.

Excellent My Son love it he loved playing soccer. He wants to play all day every day. It's a good…read moreexperience for him because he wants to be a soccer player when you get older grown. and the people there is very lovely and some days when he had practice his coach will bring him home love that about his coach Stan.

Love the AYSO soccer program. Our son has been playing for many years and we would recommend the…read moreprogram to anyone looking to get their kids exposed to soccer. Great value, games are in a great location, and coaches and volunteers create great engagement. AYSO offers opportunities for all levels, including their travel program Northwind. Check it out. Enrollment usually starts in May for the upcoming season.

My 2.5 yo and 1 yo love Learning Loop! We go on Wednesdays for the Tot Hop class and then stay for…read moreopen play. The space is great, small enough where you never worry about losing track of your child but big enough for the kids to run around and get energy out (especially important for winter months!). Kendra, the owner, is so nice and always introduces herself to new moms/caregivers. As an added bonus, they supply kids tables for byo snacks and have free coffee for moms! I hosted my son's first birthday party here and it was a huge success. We had a lot of adults at the party and there was plenty of space for them to chat and for all the kids to run around and play. Kendra even supplied a bubble machine for the big party finale! I am very thankful this space exists so close to our house!

We love Learning Loop Academy! We take the Tot Hop class with Sarah Jean (who is awesome) and my…read more3yo + 1yo have the best time. We stay after for Open Play, which has tons of space to run, great toys and art supplies. I recently hosted a party there for daughter's third birthday and Kendra, the owner, made it simple, seamless and so much fun! Great option to get kids out of the house and active - and free coffee is a nice perk too!

Overall, a great race and I recognize it was their first time. My only point of feedback:…read moreespecially in the Lincoln Park area - paths are very narrow and it is very hard when people are walking on the course. I would just encourage them to be a little more organized with the corrals and ask walkers to either stay to the right or be in the back so people who are actually running the event can run. Other than that, for a first time event, it was actually amazing. I loved all the women in costumes. There were a few guys here and there, but mostly women, so it was very empowering. Love Wonder Woman as a character and obviously the symbolism of female empowerment. The swag and medal were absolutely beautiful. Very nice for the price point!

I participated yesterday in the Chicago Wonder Woman 5k and it was the most fun and woman-…read moreempowering race I've ever been. Met lots of wonderful gals with incredible stories making them real-life Wonder Women! Their swag was worth it alone!! Great volunteers who were happy to be helping. Just a wonderful environment! I was not planning to be home in Chicago October next year, but gonna need to alter my plans! I don't want to miss next year and bringing more Wonder Woman friends to add to the fun! Gawd!! I'm still on a high from it all!!!!

My son was in the play "The looking Glass". Not only was I impressed with the amazing skills they…read moreare teaching these kids, but eveyone who attended had nothing but nice things to say. If you are looking for something different that will keep them busy, grow their character and confidence look no further than Mudlark. I live 30 minutes away from this location, and with that being said, I would never try another theater company for my kids. Mudlark does amazing things.

The kids at Mudlark Theater Company are amazing! Their passion for what they are doing is evident…read morein their work, and they are always so excited at the end of each show. If you have kids (elementary through high school) and live in or near Evanston, this is definitely a program you should check out. I think they do 4-5 shows a year now (2 in the fall/winter, 2 in the spring and 1 in the summer). Anyone can audition, and scholarships are available. Even if your child isn't interested in acting, they can be on crew. And if you don't have kids, their plays are still worth seeing. As I overheard someone say last night: "This is the best children's theater I have ever seen." Last weekend was This Is Just To Say, and I was moved by the performances. Yesterday was the opening night of Sleepy Hollow and, which runs for 2 more nights (Dec. 11 and 12). Check their web site for details. NOTE: THE ADDRESS LISTED IS WRONG. That is the rehearsal space. Performances take place at the McGaw YMCA Children's Center Auditorium at 1420 Maple Avenue (Lake & Maple). See their web site for details: www.mudlarktheater.org

Hands down the best fencing club in IL. My son has been training here for years and we love it so…read moremuch, I recently started lessons and classes myself. No matter what your level is, there is a class for you--from tiny beginners to national champions and everyone in between. The coaches are amazing career professionals with world titles themselves. The whole team is very supportive and the kids enjoy working together and competing locally, nationally and internationally. My son has learned so much beyond the sport--discipline, teamwork, focus on goals, self-care. We are grateful for every hour he spends in the club. If you ever though fencing may be something you or your child may want to try, call the club. If you are relocating and looking for a new club to join, WCF is your place!

I grew up playing tennis here and I have such fond memories of Centennial! I would come here once…read morea week for lessons, for probably abour 7-8 years. The instructors were great and I think some of them are still there! For those who are not 10 years old, you can reserve court time throughout the day. I wish I could do that but too bad I have a job. In addition to the courts, they have a tennis shop and they sell nice rackets and cute outfits. I haven't been back in about 10 years so not sure how much has changed but they have plenty of courts and if you are in the area and want to hit, stop by!