“That combination allows you to get very personal with yourself,” Walton says. “All day you’re pulled in different directions, but here you can reconnect with yourself and your path. I think of myself as sort of your tour guide in that way, helping you find how you can best succeed in the class.”
Rose Phillips City Guide
will be your go to spot to see what's trending in Chicago. This week I'll be trying on gorgeous jewelry, having a healthy snack and learning to make a Chicago style hot chocolate.
The sound of a saxophone rises mournfully into the night. The soft tsk tsk tsk of a cymbal keeps the beat, and the piano joins back in to finish off the song. Patrons sway softly to the smooth styling’s of jazz musicians as they pour their heart into their music. Because that’s why they’re all there anyway: for the love of jazz. No matter what jazz club you might frequent, and Chicago is rife with them, you can be guaranteed that everyone is there for the love of the music.
By Rebecca Holland
Rise, Sweat, and Shine
Jeremy Walton and Shred415 bring high-intensity interval training in a unique environment to Chicago, helping people connect with their bodies and themselves.
By Rebecca Holland
Jeremy Walton, Co-Director of Training at Shred415 in Chicago, has worked as a trainer since 2001, moving from California to Arizona to Colorado, and back to California before finally settling in Chicago six years ago. “This is a great city, and it’s the longest time I’ve spent anywhere since I was growing up. You have to take the cold weather to enjoy the warmth,” he says. His job, pushing people to their full potential in intense Shred415 classes day after day probably helps keep him warm. Walton has been with Shred415 for four years, and says the community environment really stood out to him when he was first starting, and is still one of his favorite things about the studio today. “I previously worked in big box gyms like Equinox, but this is a boutique studio. The fitness class environment, where people are supported by others, was previously reserved for things like yoga and pilates classes. This was the first interval training class I had experienced at a boutique gym,” he says. “People are able to connect with this small community, and they’re ready to push their boundaries individually while also benefitting from the group setting.” In the time Walton has been at Shred415, it has grown from one studio to seven, with three more on the horizon. “It’s really nice seeing that what we’re doing is working,” he says. “People feel supported when they bring their goals to this environment.”
By Kelly Daly
The roaring ‘20s might be a thing of the past, but the jazz clubs of Chicago are as popular as ever. Take Andy’s Jazz Club & Restaurant (andysjazzclub.com), one of the most famous clubs in the city. Located a few blocks north of the Loop, it was founded in 1951 by Andy Rizzuto, a lover of jazz and good food. This mainstream jazz haven hosts regular, low-key patrons as well as some of Chicago’s most respected jazz elders, such as Ernest Dawkins and Mike Smith.
Best Chicago Jazz Clubs Old and New
Support, Walton says, is one of his main roles as a trainer.
“When it comes to their bodies, people are looking for guidance. There’s a sense of pride I get when people are succeeding, or when they’re on the breaking point of success or failure and we push them to trust themselves and find that success,” he says. “I’m passionate about people finding the best of themselves.”
The class combines cardio intervals, weight work, loud music, dim lights, roaring machines, and a lot of sweat.
Chicago’s Best Spa Services for Men
From facials to soothing massages, Chicago’s best spas aren’t just catering to women anymore. In fact, some of them specialize only in treatments for men.
Sir Spa
Sir Spa bills itself as the "ultimate Chicago salon for men," and with their wide array of services it's easy to see why. From detoxifying mud wraps to hot lather shaves, a neck and shoulder focused massage to a men's skin assessment, they have men covered from head to toe (literally). They're best known for their signature “sir scrub” body treatment, which involves the application of lavender and mint salt scrub (which smells refreshing but not at all girly) in order to create healthier and smoother looking skin.
Wax Man Spa & Salon
For men who are looking to find an exceptional esthetician, Wax Man is the place to go. Offering more than 30 waxing combinations in addition to a variety of “manscaping” options, Wax Man provides extensive services and guarantees an experience that is “free from awkwardness,” for men and women alike.
