From about 1975 thru 1981 I attended the Off The Street Club (OTSC). I was also a student at St…read more Mel Grammar School which was located about four blocks away. The OTSC was situated between my home and St Mel. My siblings and I would walk there most days right after school. I participated in the Jessie Owens track & field events and later joined the Chicago Zephyrs track club through the OTSC. My siblings and I also regularly attended a sleep away summer camp via OTSC. The neighborhood was though when I was growing up. I don't think we thought of it that way at the time. For a while there was a kid a few years older who would try to rob me of any money I might have who must have lived near the club. But once we were in the club we were safe. By traveling in groups of three or more we felt safer. The OTSC was a great place to play. There was a supervisor named Bo Rogers who I admired. Bo was an outstanding basketball player. He was 6 feet 7 inches tall and clearly had played high level competitive basketball for many years. He ran the gym, organized tourneys, it was great. On Saturdays we would roller skate in the gym. I became a pretty good skater. There was an administrator named Ms Holmes who was a real sweet heart and beautiful too. She would be tough if the situation required but mostly she was nice. She seemed to keep the whole operation in check. About 12 years ago, upon returning to Chicagoland area from NYC, somehow I walked into the OTSC briefly and saw Ms. Holmes. She was busy as always so we didn't say much. I kinda regret that now. I recently learned there's an annual fund raiser, most recently it was at the Art Institute of Chicago, named the Flyer Fly Ball. I will plan to attend the next one. There was an extended period when the OTSC was the funniest part of my life! I loved meeting the other kids, competing and just playing in a supervised and safe setting. Every child should have that place. I've done a lot since my time at OTSC. It's great to see that the OTSC is still doing well and meeting a tremendous need for the community! My very best to the people who have helped to make it so, Paul Burton, JD, MBA Chief Executive Officer ResQ Pharma, Inc.

I wish that there were more stars to give this review. This has been my most difficult review to…read morewrite. I'm just caught up in my emotions and can't find enough gracious words to put into writing. OTSC has touched my heart in so many ways. I have met the most polite and kind hearted kids to be around. Off The Street Club is a boys and girls club that provides a safe haven for kids who are living in the most dangerous neighborhoods. The boy's and girl's club provide many different programs for kids to enjoy while providing a safety net surrounding them. Including a mentorship program, sports and other athletic activities, music, art, woodshop theater and a computer center for afterschool to finish up school work. OTSC even has a program doing the summer camp Mathieuv where kids can go and enjoy being kids. Lots of fun and laughter. I'm just grateful and honored to give my time by volunteering here at OTSC. The smiles on these kids faces is priceless. For each warm hug and beautiful smile that I see on these kids faces makes my day. Great place to volunteer, well mannered kids and the atmosphere is always full of warm hugs and love.

I was very, very impressed with this race. One of my goals this year is to sign up for races I have…read morenot done before. I now live in the burbs southwest of Chicago, so I still try to get all around in the city to experience new neighborhoods. The race was a small, neighborhood race. The course was not crowded. It started on Argyle in the heart of the Chinese community, right by the Chinese Mutual Aid foundation. Packet pick-up and parking on race day was super easy. The race started with some speeches and Chinese traditions. From start to finish, I felt it was so welcoming. It seemed that the people hosting the event were very proud of their neighborhood and so hospitable. This made me love the race even more. The race headed east along the lakefront, then south, back north and then back west to where we started. Beautiful path. A local restaurant, Furama, provided some snacks afterward. There was some kid's karaoke playing on the speakers and tables and chairs were provided to sit down and relax and eat the snack. There was also a local dance troupe performing a traditional Chinese dance. Very impressed. Glad I headed out north to the city to experience this one! Will do again!

This is an annual event run in Elmhurst and it was it's 30th year this year. This year…read moreapproximately 8600 folks ran or walked the annual 5K through the streets of downtown Elmhurst and surrounding neighborhood on Thanksgiving day. Sign up online and pick up at the Knights of Columbus was a breeze. This is a non-chip timed event, but they do have clocks at the start, midway and finish so you can approximate your run/walk time if you don't have a timer on yourself. I was really surprised with the turn out of this event. Not just the runners, but spectators and business owners coming out and cheering the runners on. I felt like I was on a major run with people shouting encouragement and holding up funny/encouraging signs. The BEST was the group of folks in the neighborhood dressed like the Duck Dynasty family tooting their duck call whistles and cheering us along. WOW. We were fortunate to have Jim Cornelison (from CHI Blackhawks fame) sing the National Anthem prior to the start of the race. Also some WWII planes (replicas or real, I don't know) flew overhead the same time. SO VERY COOL. Elmhurst is a great community and I loved the fact that so many people come out for this. The route is fairly flat except for the hill under the viaduct/train tracks that you have to run up. They did change the route this year so most of it ran through the downtown area which I liked. They do offer shuttle buses that will pick up/drop off at certain locations. But I decided to drive and found parking easily in the blocks close to the start/finish. The website doesn't say this, but I guess it is pet and running stroller friendly. Although some of those poor dogs seemed to just want to lie down in the street and not run with their human. Awwww, well, it was pretty darn cold this Thanksgiving.

The Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot has been an annual event in Elmhurst, Illinois for over 37 years. It's…read morea fantastic fun run/walk for the whole family on Thanksgiving Day with proceeds going towards feeding the hungry in DuPage County. Our family has participated since the event's inception and as our family grows, we continue to keep the event as part of our Thanksgiving Day tradition.

Like Andrea H, I have a soft spot for the RnR half because it was the first half marathon I ever…read moreran; it's also why I'm rounding this 3.5 star experience up to 4. Last year, despite a primarily positive experience, I had three main complaints - unisex shirts, plastic cups at water stations, and not enough port-a-potties. They seemed to remedy the plastic cup issue, but I'm not so sure about the other two. Here are some things worth mentioning about the race: + Music along the course keeps it entertaining. - Expensive entry fee - $80-110 for a half marathon isn't cheap and there are definitely better deals to be had. + Scaled back goodie bags. While this is a negative for most, I throw 90% of my bag's contents in the trash anyway and felt less wasteful. - The finish line layout was awkward, almost maze-like. -Unisex shirts, booo! At this price point, they should offer separate sizing; many smaller (cheaper) races are able to accomplish this. Even the smallest mens size isn't that small. + Shirt exchange at the expo - unlike last year, if your shirt was ginormous, you could exchange it on the spot for a smaller, less potato sack like size. - The medals don't list the race year; the cynic in me says this makes it easier for them to reuse next year. - Not enough people/organization at water stations. Many of the early water stations were completely overwhelmed, not being able to pour fast enough to meet demand. Some of the later ones weren't directing people further down the station causing backups. + New, more interesting course. I like the changes and since I didn't really review the course in advance, it was nice surprise. All in all this is a fun race series and I would recommend doing it at least once. However, the more races I run, the more discriminating I become and I'm not sure this is one worth the high price tag.

This was my first RnR race and I was pleased with the event…read more The downside for me was that the 5k path was also part of the 10k the following day. But, we were able to do the 5k and the 10k and get the Remix medal, which brought my broke-pieces much joy.. since a half marathon might not have been do-able. Race organization seemed put together well. The expo was large, which is always awesome. The medical tent after the race was busy, but everyone was being helped. Despite the rain for the 2018 race, volunteers were in good spirits.

One of the Abbott Marathon Majors which I ran as part of attaining my 6 Star achievement the…read moreChicago Marathon was a fun run for 26.2 miles. The course of very flat, fast, and getting PR's on this route are very attainable. The marathon expo is large and has everything there. If staying in the downtown area the start line is east to get to. You're basically running through all the neighborhoods. The year I ran it was sunny and cool, and even though there were many spectators cheering us on I felt on many parts of the course were sparse and a bit quiet. Still, it's a fun marathon and a great day. Plus, you get an ice cold real beer at the end! Beer and a medal is a win! It's a terrific race course to attempt if you're a first time marathoner since there are few hills and it's considered one of the easier ones. 50,000 runners on average and it was easy to get in through the lottery at the time. Plus, there are many pop up events and marathon related things to attend around town.

This event has a spectator was very well ran. How was mainly upset they closed areas that had…read moreaccess to parking garages but for a large scale event I will say that the organizers did great and they have this event to a T year after year. Everyone here was happy,supportive and motivational to all of the runners involved! If you are coming here as a spectator I highly recommend learning where the public restrooms are at because this city lacks public restrooms and there are about 100,000 people watching this event on top of the 52,000 people that run this event every year! My thing that I will learn for next year is that I will take the METRA instead of driving. Driving to the city wasn't even that bad it was actually very easy because it was Sunday but it's navigating through all the people. Please download the app too that allows you to track your Runner or runners. The one thing that bothered me a lot was seeing a good variety of spectators run on the path when runners are in the middle of the race. People need to be a bit respectful. Thankfully nothing interfered with the race astronomically. Overall, i wouldn't mind coming back next year! I just wouldn't bring lawn chairs but I will stack up on drinks and snacks prior.

The Ed Rudolph Velodrome is one of only two short, banked tracks for official bicycle racing in…read moreIllinois and one of just 28 in the entire country. For over 50 years, this distinctive venue has been a hub for cycle racing, training, and entertainment. But for me, it is more than just a racing track. It is a place filled with joy, memories, and a sense of tradition. Nearly every Independence Day, my family and I gather here to watch the Northbrook fireworks. Decades ago, before I got married, I loved taking leisurely walks from our home to the velodrome with my parents. Sometimes my grandmother would join us when she was visiting. At that time, spectators were only allowed to sit on the bleachers behind the track. Before the fireworks show, the infield would host inter-school marching band competitions, which we always enjoyed watching. The fireworks were launched from inside the velodrome, bursting spectacularly overhead, sometimes raining sparks over the infield, where some bold attendees would rush to sit despite the warnings. Today, the setup has changed. The marching band performances are no longer part of the event, and the fireworks are now launched from outside the velodrome, making them visible across Meadowhill Park and Techny Prairie Park and Fields. Still, we prefer to watch from inside the velodrome, our favorite spot. While my family still lives in town, we no longer live within walking distance of the velodrome. But we've kept the tradition alive. Each year, we park around downtown Northbrook and enjoy the pleasant 15-minute walk to the velodrome. It adds to the festive spirit and brings back a bit of the feeling from those days long ago. Now, spectators are welcome on the grassy infield. When we arrived this year, a DJ was entertaining the crowd before the fireworks. Families and children were fully immersed in the festive atmosphere. We brought lawn chairs, settled in, and enjoyed the energy of the evening. The fireworks were spectacular as always, a dazzling end to a perfect night. My parents and grandmother have since passed on, but each year as the fireworks light up the sky, I like to think they're watching from above, smiling with us, still a part of this beloved family tradition. I love the velodrome. This tradition is a celebration of family, community, and the simple joy of gathering under the stars. I hope it continues for generations to come.

It's amazing to think that this place is free and open to the public! It's a quarter-mile track…read morewith 18-degree banked turns (steep enough to notice but not so steep as to affect your balance), and it's the smoothest surface I've ever ridden on. The website asks that you only ride with a track bike (fixed gear) and helmet, but there are pictures of people riding bikes with gears, so I'm not sure how strictly they enforce that rule. They do also insist that you wear a helmet, which is only common sense. I loved riding even when there were only two other riders on the track. It's a lot of fun to have someone to chase or outrace, even if they're not really in on the competition. The track has plenty of seating for spectators, and they have races open to various ages and skill levels. The addition of lighting allows for riding well into the evening. I rode on a sunny Saturday at around noon and was on a homemade fixie that I built; the other two riders were on more-professional bikes, and a few other riders showed up with what looked like some pretty high-end bikes and clothing--but the overall feel is of a track that's open to anyone. As you can see in the photos, there are painted lines to separate the faster riders (closer to the inside of the track near the thicker blue line) from slower riders (further out to the edge, outside the think blue line). If you want to have the feel of being a "cutter", or if you want your kids to feel like they're racing, this is a great place to go. (Bonus points if you know the "cutter" reference).

To my knowledge, this was the first year this event took place in Chicago. This was a seriously fun…read more5K! It was held at night and started at around 8pm. There was a huge storm so it was delayed a bit. I was so excited that they waited the storm out and we were still able to run. They planned out this route really well. There was dance music at almost every single point in the race. Some races, you run and it's totally quiet for an entire mile. With this race, it was a cool blend of light show, effects, glow in the dark and all out dance party. Then, after you finished, there was this crazy big rave-like dance party in Soldier Field! I could not believe how much fun I actually had. Even though I'm an "old fogie" ...I even managed to work my way up close to the stage, just to get the full effect. Ahhhh, I remember my club days. I highly recommend this event if it returns next year. Super fun time -I'm inviting a boat load of people!

This race had potential to be a 4 or 5 star race but it fell a bit flat for me. I think if they…read moretake a lot of feedback that they got on the Facebook event page and improve these areas next year, I would probably give it another shot. It was rainy and dreary the night that we ran. Luckily, it did eventually stop however it pushed the race back awhile. I won't blame them because they were trying to wait it out, but we did end up not starting until a lot later than we were supposed to. Pros: -Soldier field! I've never even been to a Bears game, so getting to walk on the field and see where the Bears play was pretty cool. -It was at night, which I liked. We didn't have to get up super early to make it there. -It was an untimed race, so there was no pressure to hurry up or worry that you wouldn't finish in time. -Volunteers were all really friendly and encouraging. -Glow tunnel.. sooo cool and probably the best part. What's not to love about jogging through a tunnel made of Christmas lights? Cons: -Since it practically flooded the day of the race, it was really slippery during certain parts of the race (namely when we ran underground at McCormick place.) I'm super uncoordinated, so I had to walk most of that and probably didn't do as good as I could have. -SWAG bags were a bit lacking. They promoted a "super awesome glow kit" but it was nothing more than two glow necklaces. That and a black drawstring bag were the only SWAG that we were given. I wish we would have got shirts for free instead, but you had to buy them. -The "after party" was cool-ish but you were stuck with stadium priced drinks and food. We got a hot dog, hamburger and bottle of water and ended up dishing out almost $20. I would have liked if we got a coupon for something free or even lower priced items. -LOTS of walkers and it was hard to get around them sometimes. I wish they had separated runners and walkers or at least had the walkers start later. I also read online that other cities were throwing washable paint at certain mile markers, but they didn't do that at our race. I'm wondering if they had too many complaints about it and decided it against doing it anymore. The race wasn't horrible -- in fact, we did enjoy ourselves -- I just think that they could improve it if they decide to do another one.

Impact Field is a pretty good time and affordable for families. The field is close to O'Hare in…read moreRosemont Illinois and offers covered parking for $3. The baseball itself was not thrilling, the home team lost badly, but the stadium, atmosphere, Helpful staff and field activities kept everyone in high spirits. We went on a fireworks night. They actually paused the game to do the fireworks because the game was going long, and there is strict timing for fireworks as the field is close to the airport. Our group had a box upstairs, so we had unlimited food, beer and wine. The price was right and the food was good! Not a huge spread but a good one. Pasta and pork tenderloin were stand outs. Also a hot dog bar because it's a baseball game.

A Chicago Dogs game is an A+ family outing, super fun and great value…read more It's a small stadium, so easy to get around and no bad seats. You can walk the entire concourse in five minutes. There's no shade, so day games in summer can be brutally hot. Night games are delightful. + Parking in the adjacent garage for THREE DOLLARS. If that's full, you can park for free across the street, a 5-10 minute walk from the gates. + Solid concessions: hot dogs, burgers, bratwurst, grilled chicken, tacos, pizza, chicken tenders, fries, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream...enough variety for everyone to find something. I learned about something called a bosco stick, which I regret not getting. Next time! + Entertainment between every half inning: trivia, fan interviews, numerous types of wacky races. This really keeps kids engaged. + Cheap and flexible ticket options. Games don't seem to sell out (or come close), so you can buy tickets on short notice and still get to pick your seats pretty much anywhere. About 85% of the seats range from just $10 to $17.