November 2021: Explore Theater in Chicago this Fall
November starts bringing a chill to the Chicago area, making us all anticipate cooler-weather activities such as warm apple ciders, snuggling up under fleece blankets, and preparation for the upcoming holidays. While the weather is starting to get quite cold, it is one of the best times to plan to go see events. Often the most common Chicago attractions are less crowded, and many of the indoor events are a great warm escape from the chilly weather. From theater and art events to fall and winter-related activities, there is so much to do in Chicago in November!
Explore the Theater Scene
Court Theatre
As the cooler months are approaching, theater and the arts scene in Chicago are continuing to ramp back up! From the classics to more modern pieces, there is plenty of arts and culture to explore regardless of your preference.
From October 8th to November 21st, Court Theatre will be running The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. A Shakespearean tragedy, this piece is co-directed by Charles Newell and Gavrielle Randle-Bent and places the audience either onstage or in the banks of the auditorium to create an immersive, engaging experience.
- Location – 5535 S Ellis Ave, 60637
- Tickets – Here
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Looking for something with a modern twist? The Chicago Shakespeare Theater adapted the classic Shakespearean piece As You Like It to fit a ‘60s theme, setting the story to over 20 musical numbers set to classic Beatles music. They describe the play as an “exuberant celebration of love and connection. Catch this show before it leaves the stage on November 21st.
- Location – 800 East Grand Avenue, 60611
- Tickets – Here
Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf is re-hosting Bug from November 11th to December 12, a story about unexpected love, anxiety, drugs, paranoia, big government conspiracies, and yes – bugs. If you are looking for a complex, skin-crawling play that will certainly leave you surprised, this is an amazing event for you. Appropriate only for adult audiences.
- Location – 1650 N Halsted St, 60614
- Tickets – Here
Cirque du Soleil
Another event to keep an eye on is ‘Twas the Night Before by Cirque du Soleil at the Chicago theater playing from November 26th through December 2nd. An acrobatic twist to the classic story, the show talks about the importance of friendship, sharing, and love. If you are looking to celebrate the holiday season through the amazing feats of this company, grab some tickets!
- Location – 175 N State St, 60601
- Tickets – Here
Other Events this October:
National Museum of Mexican Art
Looking for some elevated live music? The National Museum of Mexican Art is hosting the Día de los Muertos: Love Never Dies Ball with culinary samples, drinks, live music, and dance. The attire theme is Creative Cocktail, and the even will be happening on November 6th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM!
Hot Chocolate 15k/5k
If you want a creative, seasonally-appropriate way to get some exercise in, check out the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k! The event starts in Grant Park (301 S Columbus Dr.), and ends with a mug of fondue, dippables, and hot chocolate of course! Learn more on the event’s page here. (November 7th, 7:00 AM)
Stay safe this November! To stay updated on the latest and most accurate information related to COVID-19, please refer to https://www.cdc.gov/
Gardens & Street Art: October Order of Events 2021
October is the perfect time to visit Chicago! It is a temperate climate with beautiful foliage. Often, even the most iconic of attractions are a bit less crowded. It is recommended to come well prepared as the weather can switch on a dime. Every day could be a new season. Sometimes, a fall morning, a summer afternoon, and a wintery evening allows all of them in just a day! It is the perfect time to gather outside or see outdoor exhibits. There are also plenty of fun events in the area! From festivals and architecture cruises to gardens and street art, take a look at what is happening in Chicago this October! Because of the generally gorgeous weather, it can be a wonderful time to stroll around Chicago. Classics like Millennium Park and the Chicago Riverwalk will be less packed and great places to see the autumn colors. Places like the Morton Arboretum, which boasts 4,000 different types of trees, or the Chicago Botanical Garden with its 385 acres of immaculately landscaped parks, are amazing places to take in the fall splendor. At the time of writing, the Arboretum requires visitors to reserve their spot ahead of time on their website. If you do find yourself wandering the streets enjoying yourself and the views, keep your eyes open for Chicago’s famous street murals. And check out the Banksy Exhibit running through October. It is the largest touring collection of Banksy’s works in the world. The Banksy Exhibit is just a couple blocks from the Chicago Architectural Museum. Besides being a great place to visit on its own, for two days (October 16-17), the museum allows the public access to a great deal of architecturally significant buildings and spaces that are generally closed off from the public. If architecture is your thing, you can follow up with a trip to the museum via the Chicago Architecture River Cruise. These cruises are narrated by the architecture center’s own guides and are open as long as the river isn’t frozen. These cruises as a must as there is no better way to get such a widespread glimpse of the city. Additionally, they are often much more pleasant in October due to smaller crowds and pleasant temps. On top of those listed above, there are a great many other events happening as well. Whether it’s gardens & street art, music festivals & architecture, or beer & wine — for whichever part of October you find yourself in Chicago, The Windy City always has something to catch your sail. Stay safe this October! To stay updated on the latest and most accurate information related to COVID-19, please refer to https://www.cdc.gov/
Spend Some Time Outdoors
Explore Local Architecture
Other Events this October:
Fiber: How (and Why) To Incorporate More Into Your Diet
Does thinking about fiber conjure up ads for supplements for constipated old men? It might seem like it isn’t something you, a healthy, active young person, needs to worry about. However, fiber is critical to your digestive health, lowers cholesterol, supports weight loss, and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Unfortunately, chances are: you’re not getting enough of it.
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults eat 22-34 grams of fiber per day, but only 10% of women and 3% of men are actually meeting the standard. The average American adult eats 16 grams of fiber a day. If you don’t eat as many vegetables as you should, if you eat out a lot, or if you eat a lot of processed foods, you are very likely not getting enough. Here are a few simple swaps you can make to help increase your fiber intake.
Vegetables
- Focus on getting enough vegetables. Adults should be eating two to four cups per day of vegetables. A cup of broccoli contains about 3 grams of fiber, while a cup of kale contains about 1.5 grams. Total gain: Up to 12 grams.
Beans & Lentils
- Swap out some animal proteins for legumes. Beans, peas, and lentils are great sources of protein and fiber. One cup of beans contains anywhere from 12 to 19 grams of fiber! A cup of lentils contains about 15 grams, and a cup of peas about 9 grams. Try burritos, a side of peas at dinner, or make a delicious vegetarian lentil curry to really boost your nutritional intake. Total gain: Up to 19 grams.
Bread
- Switch to high-fiber, whole-grain bread. Whole wheat bread tends to have several more grams than white bread, and it’s much more filling because of it. You can use it to boost your sandwich’s nutritional value. Total gain: 2-5 grams per slice.
Oatmeal
- Try bran cereal or oatmeal for breakfast. That will give you at least 5 grams, depending on how much of it you eat. Total gain: Up to 10 grams.
Fruits
- Snack on high-fiber fruits. Skip the sugar-laden cereal bars and eat a cup of blackberries (7 grams), raspberries (8 grams), a pear (6 grams), or an apple (4.5 grams). Total gain: Up to 8 grams.
Eating fiber is crucial to maintaining long-term health. And as you can see, it’s not that hard to get enough. Making just a couple of these changes in your diet can significantly increase your fiber intake and boost your nutrition.
Meal planning: An easy way to watch your health and your wallet
If you’re a busy professional, you probably don’t have a lot of time to cook healthy meals for yourself. Maybe you find yourself ordering take out, or going out to eat more often than you’d like. In that case, your bank account may be feeling the crunch. But there is a simple way to fix both of these problems: meal planning.
Planning your meals and grocery shopping on a weekly basis helps you eat healthier by ensuring you have on hand everything you need to cook a nutritious meal. It helps you save money by reducing your excuses to eat out—and limiting the amount of food that goes to waste in your refrigerator.
Not sure how to begin? Here’s a quick get-started guide to meal planning:
- Make a master list. For ease of menu-planning, create a master list of go-to recipes that you can refer to when you’re out of ideas. As you come across meals you’d like to try, add them to the list. Then each week, making your menu is as easy as opening up your master list and choosing a few options.
- Plan your menu. If it feels overwhelming, you can start by just making a dinner meal plan. Add in lunch and breakfast in a week or two. Then, create your grocery list. Group like items together (produce in one column, dairy in another, dry goods in a third) so that it’s easy to find everything once you’re in the store.
- Cook extra and use your leftovers. If you cook a double portion on Monday, you won’t have to cook again on Wednesday or Thursday. If you prefer not to eat the same thing too often, you can also freeze the extra for the future. Leftovers also make excellent lunches.
- Make grocery shopping part of your routine. Carve out a day and time to grocery shop each week and make it a habit so you’re not tempted to skip it.
- Build in a break. If you enjoy trying new things and eating out, you don’t have to give it up altogether. By cooking more often, you can save your money for truly special meals that you won’t feel guilty splurging on—money-wise and calorie-wise.
Now start making your list and enjoy the health benefits and money savings that come with meal planning!
5 Keto Hacks to Keep You On Track When Eating Out
If you’re on the keto diet, you already know that eating more healthy fats and fewer empty carbohydrates can help you lose weight and feel great. The fat helps you stay full, which keeps you on track for your weight-loss goals.
That is, until you go out to eat.
It is really difficult to find a keto meal at a restaurant, which stinks if you enjoy eating out.
But with a little preparation, you can enjoy eating out without wrecking your diet progress. Here are five easy ways to do it:
Eat a bit ahead of time
This is the most important tip. Arriving hungry is a recipe for regret. Making sure you’re not starving is the best way to avoid bad choices.
Choose the restaurant
Weigh in and choose a keto-friendly place. A sushi restaurant can be a good choice if you stick with sashimi and vegetables. You can also put together a keto meal relatively easily at a steakhouse.
Plan ahead
Most restaurants post their menus online, so plan your meal in advance! In this way, you can eliminate bad choices associated with ordering on an empty stomach.
In some cases, you might luck out with ready-made, keto-friendly options. If not, though, you may find that you can cobble together a meal that meets your needs by ordering an appetizer and a side dish. For example, at a barbecue restaurant, order braised pork belly—hold the sauce—and a side of broccoli.
Come prepared
If you know your destination is not keto-friendly, pack key ingredients that will help you change that. Take along a low-carb wrap if going to a sandwich shop. Then you just order the fillings and assemble your own sandwich. Or, just eat sandwich fillings without bread.
Bringing your own salad dressing or sauce is another great way to stick to your goals. Make sure you are carrying it in a container with a secure lid.
Give yourself a break
If all else fails, remember that one splurge won’t derail you completely. Denying yourself is much more likely to result in your spiraling out of control. So if you really want some pizza, eat a small slice. If dessert is your thing, split one with someone, or ask if you can sneak a bite.
Your diet shouldn’t keep you from enjoying an evening out with friends and loved ones. So follow our tips to make good choices while staying connected.
4 Easy Ways to Boost Your Nutrition
The pandemic has kept us mostly at home for a year now, and your body probably hasn’t received it’s much-needed nutrition. According to a new study published in March 2021, you’re not alone. The study found that, on average, people gained 1.5 pounds per month from February to June 2020. It concluded that the weight gain was a result of a more sedentary stay-at-home life with an increase in snacking and overeating. If your diet has been more Uber Eats than uber-healthy lately, we’ve got some easy-to-implement tips to boost your nutrition.
Note: These are general, common-sense tips. For a more detailed weight-loss or nutrition plan, it’s always best to consult a physician and/or registered dietitian.
4 Easy Ways to Eat Better
Eat a salad
One salad. Every day. Make it a side, or make it your meal. There are so many different types of salads, from leafy greens dressed simply with lemon juice, to Asian-inspired bowls with crunchy seeds and salty, umami-rich dressings. You’re bound to find one that you like. And the proliferation of mix-and-eat bagged salads in the grocery store means that making a salad need only take a minute or two.
Drink more water
You already knew you should be doing this, but are you? The absolute minimum should be eight cups a day, more if you drink caffeine or alcohol, or if it’s hot out. Don’t like the flavor of water? Steep an herbal tea bag in your bottle or squeeze in some citrus for a refreshing twist.
Try new produce
Stuck in a rut? Make a point of trying a new fruit or vegetable a couple times a month. International grocery stores are a good place to find something new to you. You might find a new winner.
Eat fewer animal products
Commit to eating a plant-based meal once a week. Use it as an opportunity to try new recipes and ingredients. Swapping out chicken for chickpeas reduces your carbon footprint, saves money and calories and ups your intake of fiber. You can eat that burger tomorrow.
These are small changes but they can add up in a big way. Following them will help increase your energy level, improve your digestive health, & overall boost your nutrition! Make 2022 your healthiest year yet.
3 Vegetables That Are Easy To Grow — We Promise
Dreaming of harvesting your own vegetables this summer, but have a poor track record when it comes to keeping plants alive? Don’t despair. Gardening is easier than you think. Building a garden is also a great joint project to do with your partner. And with spring just around the corner, the time to get started is now! To help encourage a budding green thumb (pun very much intended), we’ve made a quick list of three vegetables that are easy to grow. Check them out and then get yourselves out to the garden center!
3 Herbs and Vegetables You Won’t Kill This Spring
Mint
Mint is so easy to grow that it can overrun your garden if you’re not careful. You can weed it—or not. Put it in the sun, or don’t. It also won’t hold a grudge if you forget to water it for a few days. Easy-going mint will just keep growing.
Plant it in a container so it doesn’t take over your whole yard. Then enjoy mojitos and fresh tabbouleh all season, and beyond. Mint is a perennial, so it will return year after year.
Lettuce
If you love salad, you’re in luck. From nutritious spinach to trendy kale, spicy arugula or fresh young lettuce, greens are some of the easiest things to grow. They are also ready to harvest more quickly than the other things on this list, making them a great crop for quick gratification.
Lettuce needs partial sunlight, which means that you can grow it even if you don’t have a garden plot that’s in full sunlight. It also does very well in containers, so you can grow it on a balcony or even in a sunny apartment window.
Carrots
Carrots take a little longer than lettuce, but they are really fun to pull out of the ground. And homegrown carrots are much more delicious than their grocery store counterparts. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll never want to resort to bags of uniform baby carrots again.
They come in a rainbow of colors and varieties. Try purple carrots or white carrots for a fun twist on the classic.
Growing your own vegetables is an addictive hobby that will give your weekends purpose and impress your friends. So get out there and start planting these vegetables that are easy to grow!
Traveling as a Couple: 5 Communication Musts
We know it feels like you’ll never get to travel again, but the truth is, the world is slowly starting to open back up. If you’re like most of us, this pandemic probably made you swear that from now on you are definitely making traveling as a couple a priority.
Hence, you probably already have your 2021-2022 vacations up on your vision board, complete with visuals of the exact outfits you’ll be wearing along with a jam-packed itinerary.
For that we say… (#same) and, Fabulous! When done right, there is truly something so magical about traveling with friends. You strengthen your bond, you feel safer in a distant land, and oftentimes, there are group traveling discounts involved. I mean…it’s an all-around win. Or is it?
The short answer to that is: it can be- but it takes some planning ahead. When traveling with friends, the most important thing to remember is to…
Communicate
It’s normal to get excited about hanging with people we totally vibe with, but we also need to remember that they probably live their lives completely differently than ours. Before even setting up the vacation, always get the technicalities out of the way by communicating:
- Budgets- You don’t want to set up at a Five Star hotel while your friends can only afford a hostel. Make sure to plan for activities that can be enjoyed by all couples involved.
- Travel Styles- Are you a schedule everything ahead of time in the itinerary traveler? While your friends are the “let’s wait until we meet the locals to find out what’s good” type of people? Talk about it beforehand and be communicative about things that are important for you to experience.
- Boundaries- Does someone have health issues that impedes long walks. Are they afraid of trains? Do you hate trying new food? Always make boundaries super clear.
- Time- Are you expecting to do all activities together? Or will you and your partner be doing your own thing at some point?
- Don’t over plan – We’re looking at you with the itinerary. Remember to remain flexible. Something always happens on vacation, someone drinks a bit too much wine, plans run late, someone loses something…etc. You have to plan for the unplanned.
These are very real scenarios that when left “up in the air” have been known to cause rifts in friendships. But when tackled head-on, can almost guarantee the best trip ever! These communication musts are bound to optimize your experience!
Need a Break? Getting Away as the Pandemic Drags On
Do you need a break?
That’s probably a silly question. We all need a break. Whether you’ve spent much of the last 12 months holding your breath, or you think you’re fine, the reality is that you could probably do with a getaway.
So we’ve got a few suggestions for spring and summer getaways. No matter your current comfort level with being out and about, you’re sure to find an idea that suits you.
1. Go camping
This is probably the most pandemic-friendly getaway option—and the most budget-friendly. As spring spreads through the country, what better way to recharge than to pitch a tent in the great outdoors and cook your dinner over a fire? Leave the electronic devices at home (or in your glove box) and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of nature.
And as a bonus, this type of getaway is scientifically proven to lower your stress levels. Here’s a list of the best campgrounds in the country, organized by state.
2. Rent an RV
If you’re concerned about staying in hotels, renting an RV might be the way to go. Recent CDC guidance suggests that you’re not likely to get COVID from touching the same surface that an infected person touched, so there’s really no risk of traveling via RV.
So grab your favorite people and hit the road. This country is beautiful and there are so many places worth exploring. From the western national parks to the eastern shores and all the landscape in between, the destination possibilities are almost endless. Here’s a list to get you started.
3. Rent an Airbnb
Given that aforementioned CDC guidance, staying at a private vacation home is low-risk as well. And there are so many amazing private homes for rent.
Check out this list of the most incredible Airbnb’s in the United States for ideas. From a Hobbit-themed Oregon abode to South Carolina houseboat, there are so many whimsical options.
It’s time you had a break. So what are you waiting for? Get planning!
Tropical Tiki Bars: Chicago's Most Popular
Does the chilly Chicago weather have you wishing that you were somewhere a bit more tropical? While a faraway vacation may not be possible immediately, you can always find some refuge in one of the many tropical tiki bars within Chicago! Tiki bars are retro-Polynesian-inspired themed drinking locations that often focus on rum-heavy drinks. Luckily, Chicago has a collection of very high quality tiki bars for you to visit on chilly nights! Here are two of them:
Lost Lake
Lost Lake is a self-described “tropical oasis-meets flotsam strewn island hut” that you can find in the Logan Square neighborhood. This establishment has won a plethora of accolades, including Time Out Chicago’s Bar of the Year, one of Esquire’s Best Bars in America, and Imbibe’s Cocktail Bar of the Year. Additionally, it has been a three-time James Beard Foundation Outstanding Bar Program semifinalist among other awards.
If that impressive list isn’t enough to convince you, maybe their impressive cocktail menu will. It includes rum and fruit juice heavy cocktails but has other options for the more tequila and whiskey inclined. Their menu also contains non-alcoholic craft drinks, as well as large tiki drinks for sharing in a group. Their food menu is impressive, including a fun array including a tofu banh mi and a general ‘tso boy. They also have the availability to host private events in their special stranger in paradise bar, where they often explore more non-traditional cocktails.
Three Dots and a Dash
Three Dots and a Dash is a clever name that references one of the classic tiki drinks from the 1940s. …_ is the morse code for V, a symbol for victory during World War 2. This bar is located in River North and received one of the World’s 50 Best Bars awards by Drinks International. The cocktails at this bar consist of classic and modern tiki cocktails. The menu also includes some extravagant group cocktails, as well as a list of reserve cocktails made with top-shelf liquor. Their food includes Hawaiian-inspired baby back ribs and tuna poke. The Bamboo Room is a unique experience only open during events, pop-ups, and private reservations. There they host exclusive guided experiences that sometimes include guest bartenders and interactive rum tastings.
