My 16 year old son visited from NY for their summer jazz intensive, and it was the most incredible…read moreexperience for him! He was challenged with working with the best choreographers, and can't stop talking about it. He really felt like he was part of a family after the first day! He's already looking forward to next summer!!

My girls (now 8 and 4) absolutely LOVE dancing at Gus! They both started a little over a year ago…read moreand have learned so much and have so much fun in class. They like to have their own dance classes at home where they put on their shoes and practice what they learned in class with each other. My older daughter is now a company dancer and is there twice a week. The teachers are wonderful with the little kids and keeping their attention, which I just got to see first hand during parent observation week. I also like that Gus gives back to the community and puts on so many free performances for families and other members of the community throughout the year. They are family owned which you can truly feel in all aspects of their interactions and communication with the children and parents. Highly recommend!

I would rate this a zero if I could. Do not waste your time…read more The plays are not funny or interesting. There are so many better venues in Chicago where performances are intelligent and entertaining. There really is just nothing good to say, only again to advise , do not waste your time.

Who doesn't love theater? This was a delight, a crazy spectacle of 5 individuals who truly loved…read morewhat they did, in the most passionate way. They yelled, cursed, ran, sang, and jumped, in what could only be described as array of curiosity performace and some obscurity. Having to travel from PDX for work, this was on my list of must dos and I am happy to have had the chance. Power to these performers, they truly love their art. And it shows.

After attending a student showcase one of our friends was in, my maid of honor organized a private…read moreclass for my bachelorette party here! It was a blast! We went to their studio Saturday afternoon around 12:30 and brought in mimosas before we began at 1pm. The class was about an hour and a half from what I can remember. We opted to learn a mini routine for fun. Our group had about 8 girls in total. Red hot Annie led the class, she was full of energy, positive, kept a great pace, and did an excellent job explaining the various dance moves. We would learn portions of the dance and then practice the whole thing to music. We really liked the song selected and the routine! It was prefect for a bachelorette party. Overall it was a fun unique activity to do to get everyone out of their comfort zones. A few girls were worried about feeling uncomfortable but everyone was able to quickly get really into it and feel open to fully embrace it! It was a great activity to start the day and get everyone talking! I would highly recommend for bachelorette parties!!! I'm definitely going to look into taking workshops since I'm tight on time right now but I'd also look into taking classes with Red Hot Annie again!

JEEZY'S JUKE JOINT, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN BURLESQUE SHOW…read more Loved Jeezy's Juke Joint, an all African-American Burlesque Show!. So much fun, not to mention somewhat educational. :) I enjoyed the MC, Jeez Loueez'. Got a kick out of her crazy humor and her ability to roll with the punches. The eclectic styles of burlesque that the ladies performed were very entertaining and some were more unique than others. I had never seen an all African-American cast of performers of burlesque and this was a real treat. I liked some more than others, but they all did their "thang" and did it in a way that made me feel they loved their craft. Can't be shy here. This is a very sexy show. I loved the campiness of some of the performers and it quite cool seeing slender and "healthier" ladies perform. There was something for everyone. MC Monty and his dancers did a dance number to his rap. Holliwood Monroe can really blow. She has a great set of pipes. Loved her voice. There was a male and a female drag performer, Shea Coulee and Switch the boi wonder. I've been around the block, but I was still enlightened. Among my personal favorites were Coco DuPree's interpretation of Isaac Hayes' song, "Do Your Thing". Her hot 1970's "Foxy Brown/Pam Grieresque" costume, complete with black faux fur jacket and train covering her red with black zebra stripe hotpants ensemble, topped off with a big red fan pick in her "fro" was so "right on" point. Reminiscent of Angela Davis. That girl knows she CAN move! Make no mistake, she did her thang. The girl was "baaaad" and her moves were tight. Praline DuPree's 1950's poodlelicious outfit and spirited dance routine were big fun. She was classy, spunky and coquettish all rolled into one. She had great charisma with a lovely hint of southern Louisiana charm. Horchata Dentata is one strong, tall woman who had some intense control on "the pole". She made it look easy. I expected to see a more petite woman, but I was so impressed with her strength and confidence. I ain't mad at her, no sireee. Foxy LaFeelion did a wonderful 1920's style dance and her costume was beautiful with its many layers. Marz Timms, the comic, was very funny. He cracked me up. I enjoyed Star Dixon's incredible tap dancing and the talent of "Shea Coulee", the rather rhythmic and stylish female impersonator. He definitely worked it for us. All in all, there were about 17 performers and they were all marvelous. They came in all shapes and sizes, which was refreshing to see. It was plain to see that everyone in the theater was having a good ol' time and tappin' their feet. Lots of whoopin' and hollerin' was goin' on. After seeing this show, I wanted to run out and buy some pasties and a red "Wonder" bra.

We've been to the Old Town School many times, but not for several years now. A close cousin was…read moreplaying, who teaches at the school. We had tickets to see him play. Not reviewing his music (which was fantastic), but the venue. The room we were in was like a black box theater. The room was fairly small and intimate. It was open seating and when we arrived it was pretty full. We were very fortunate that there were two seats open in the third row. The room is acoustically sound (pun intended)... Seriously, being small, they really don't need to amplify the sound, even though they did have a microphone set up. As we were leaving, we got to roam the halls around the school. There were a lot of fun, vintage posters that were a lot of fun to look at. We met quite a few people who either had been students there, or were current students who had nothing but good things to say about the caliber of the educators and the Old Town School. Based on the performances we've seen there of students and faculty, I'd say we agree.

This is a great place to catch a concert as the acoustics are amazing and the price is low compared…read moreto bigger concert venues. Be sure to look at the address on your ticket though as I just put "Old Town School of Folk Music" into my direction app and I landed 20 minutes away at a different place. I'd paid to park before I realized it was the building where lessons are given, not concerts. I drove across town and went into another "Old Town School of Folk Music" on Lincoln Avenue, only to be told I was still in the wrong place. Ran across the street and found my concert, up a flight of stairs, but was 25 minutes late. Prices for a concession stand Coke and a candy bar were wildly high, but I was hungry so I paid for it, plus tip. Seats were small and uncomfortable, like a school assembly hall. But again, stellar acoustics, so a really good experience overall. I'll return, but I'll be more careful with driving directions so as to arrive on time.

I would see anything by this company. Caged Dames at the Wit was hilarious The use of puppets was…read moreinnovative and endearing

I have a degree in English Literature. I took opera lessons as a child. I have been to the Prado…read moreand the Musee D'orsay. Yet somehow Hell in a Handbag Productions knows JUST what trashy and tacky pop culture button to press for my maximum lowbrow pleasure. I just attended their fourth annual screening The Poseidon Adventure at the Music Box for NYE. Best NYE ever! Great crowd, charmingly smarmy host (sloppy smooches to the one and only Dick O'Day), and signature outbursts of drunken public irreverence. My favorite part of the evening was the fact that the audience was encouraged to yell "Shut the f*ck up!" whenever a particular character said his lines. For some reason, bellowing "Shut the f*ck up!" at the top of my lungs with a bunch of other classless moviegoers cracked me up everytime. I also will say without a trace of irony that attending their "Sing Along Xanadu" was one of the greatest nights of my life. Say what you will, scoffers and haters, but Xanadu is AWESOME. The soundtrack is like sugar-spun clouds of sassy sunshine with a twist of fabulousless. And screeching the lyrics along with other inebriated Xanadu enthusiasts gave my life purpose and meaning. You deign to disagree? Shut the f*ck up! Other notable productions include an interactive Mommy Dearest (can you imagine the sheer joy of howling, "No wire hangers, EVER!") , as well as a staged version of The Poseidon Adventure. It's not Shakespeare, but so what? The HIAH crew hustles like a one-armed paper hanger to ensure everyone has a good time. And that, dear reader, is more than good enough for me.

Best customer service ever! Are fast friendly and generous! I was just there looking for a yoga…read moremat and they bent over backwards finding one for me and they were so very nice! If I was going to join a gym - this would be it!

I've been checking out classes here and everyone has been so friendly. One of the dance teachers…read morecame up to me after class and introduced herself. I'd highly recommend if you're looking for an inclusive environment

This is a review of the gift shop considering the museum was closed when we visited…read more But overall, it was such an enjoyable experience that I wanted to go ahead and write about this great spot -- with hopes of coming back to see the museum some day as well. My family and I made the trip to see the St. Lucia celebration that the Swedish American Museum puts on. My husband's family is part-Swedish, and it's been something we've always wanted to attend. Unfortunately, a snow storm on our way from Kentucky to Chicago added a few hours to our road trip, so we missed the processional. But we did get to check out the gift shop and ended up spending a lot of money there. We got my daughter, who is also named Lucia, a St. Lucia crown -- though with fake candles, not real ones. We also got my son a Star Boy hat and star scepter. This shop had a great selection of books and housewares, and we picked up some as gifts. It also had some lovely ornaments and food. We got some delicious bread, cheese and crackers. The clerks were very nice and patient as we browsed. We want to make attending the St. Lucia celebration and visiting family in the area an annual tradition. Next time, we'll check out the museum too!

I decided to visit the Swedish American Museum with my toddler one afternoon when we were looking…read moreto get out of the house. I've heard so many great things about Brunk's Children Museum and we were excited to check it out! We live down the street so it's been on our list to check out for a while now. When got there on a Saturday afternoon and it was really quiet inside. We paid $6 for admissions and I can confirm it was totally worth the 6 bucks! The children's museum is located on the third floor. We were the only ones there for the first 30 minutes or so, and had fun exploring the space. The museum focuses on the journey of immigration from Sweden to the United States. It starts in a farmhouse in Sweden compete with a cow, hens, and lots of fun old-timey home items like a butter churner. That leads you to the ticket booth to board the large steam boat, which takes you to a log cabin in the US! There was a pretend garden, fishing rods, and lots of interactive fun for the kiddos. My son is only one and a half, but still had so much fun! Some older kids (around 6-7) came and also had a blast. It's the perfect place to come on a rainy day and you want to get out of the house.

Another Sunday afternoon wasting 45 minutes going to the club, changing, showering, and entering…read morethe pool only to be told that even though the schedule states open swim at 3:30 pm, the pool has been reserved until 5 pm. No prior notice and no signs before entering the pool today,

I got introduced to Edgewater Athletic Club via a swim program they host…read more Pros: - They have a nice sized pool that has several swim lanes for beginner swimmers and more advanced swimmers. - The staff member at the entrance was very nice. He was always willing to loan me a towel every time I visited. - The swim program is setup every well! It took me a few rounds to land a spot because it's very competitive but it was worth the wait. The instructors are very knowledgeable and helped me feel more comfortable in the water. Cons: - The pool is cleaned monthly and you can really see the difference of it being recently cleaned vs collecting whatever in the pool. - The locker rooms could use an update and a deep cleaning. I wish they had a mix of short lockers with the full sized lockers so we don't have to stuff all of our items into multiple lockers when it gets colder outside.

It has been super cold for the last week or so and a friend and I decided we needed to get our kids…read moreout so they could have fun and run wild. I've seen Fit City Kids, having lived fewer than two miles away, but this was our first visit and it was great. The entrance fee wasn't bad, especially since one can stay for the full open play time. They have several different areas for play. There is a basketball court area, a play soccer field, gymnastics space, and an indoor playground. There's also a small area that is specifically designed for children aged three and under, although we were told that kids can play in any section (except for the bounce house, which is for the private parties). Our one year olds mostly played in the soccer area, having fun just running around. There's one half of the place where you can wear shoes or not (the basketball/soccer areas) and then in the other half you may not wear shoes. There are one or more party rooms in the back of the facility. (I'm not sure if they overlap parties or not; there were four happening on the day we were here.) Food is not permitted in the facility except for in the party rooms or in the front "lobby" area. They have a few snacks for sale, and based upon the water I bought for my babe the prices don't seem ridiculous. I really appreciate that they don't appear to have any restrictions on bring your own snacks and water, just asking that you respect the areas in which you can eat them. They don't have a water fountain (unless I just wasn't looking in the right places) so bring your own drinks. One downside is that I found only one changing station in the entire place. Don't look for it in the women's room (or probably the men's room, either, I'd expect) but in the individual gender neutral bathroom. With the number of children who might be here at any time and the age ranges they welcome, I was really surprised to see just the one. On the other hand, it was an actual changing table rather than a station that is bolted into the wall and folds down, which always make me a little nervous. They also don't have much space for parents to sit. There are some tables in the "lobby" and a few benches outside the various play areas, but it might be difficult for someone who needs a chair/seat, or someone who's disabled, especially if they want to be closer to the activity areas and keep an eye on their children. Another thing they need to work on is the parking lot. Their parking lot is really large, especially for Lincoln Square--and it's free!--so that's all to the good. Ideally they'd have straight parking spaces since that allows for the most spots; the lot is a bit narrow, so they've opted for diagonal with a few straight. But they need to paint the lot! Driving through this lot was difficult because people parked like they've never parked before. We will definitely return. There are several indoor playgrounds around and I'd like to try the different ones that offer entrance to kids as young as mine in part so we can figure out which are our favorites. But after my experience here I imagine we may be purchasing a membership in the future.

We had the opportunity to visit Fit City Kids for a private birthday party. The facility is…read morespacious, sectioned off by activity, and has a nice party room. At the entrance, they have tables/chairs and many cubbies for shoes/coats. Make sure you have socks as shoes must be removed in most of the play areas. A waiver needs to be filled out in order to participate. I liked that you could do a paper version, use a tablet, or scan a QR code and do it on your phone. That helped the line move fast! They have a little toddler section, a basketball court, soccer area, gymnastics area, and slides! So, there's something for littles and the big kids...and they are sectioned off. There are benches in between all areas for parents/grownups to sit. The party room has an area to set up food and then the area with tables. I loved that it was a private event. I'm assuming this is an available option after hours, as this party was at 7PM. My daughter had so much fun and wants to have a party there now. If we were in the area, we'd love to check out their classes and other offerings. They also have a free parking lot which is a huge plus in the city!

Swift is remarkably special place. If you are looking at schools in the area, I strongly recommend…read moreyou reach out to Swift to learn more and maybe even take a tour! Its a specialty school. Pre-K through 8th grade with an integrated Fine and Performing Arts Magnet program. The fine arts program integrates music, art, dance and drama into the regular school day. The facilities include a pool and swimming lessons during PE. They are a school in good standing, and take tremendous pride as being one of the most diverse schools in all of CPS!

The staff are amazing and very professional. the principal…read moreand his assistant are great responsible people . our 2 boys are lucky to be there . just they need to control more seriously and strongly some bad behaviors from some kids so the school will be IDEAL. the school deserves to get 7 or 8 out of 10 . or 4 out of 5