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By funsherpa, June 29, 2009 8:00 am

The private chef putting together a hearty meal

Sometimes the cure for hunger can be found in the comforts of your own home.  Chef Chris Tong talks to us about his private chef service and some of his latest creations.  If you are a food lover like us, then you will surely enjoy this feature…if nothing else, it will force you to make something good for dinner tonight.

F:  Can you describe Chicago cuisine?  What are the major influences to the food we eat?

C: Chicago does not really have one cuisine.  The flavors are as diverse as the ethnic neighborhoods. Chicago cuisine is influenced by its multicultural landscape, seasonal ingredients, and the latest culinary trends.

F:  Chicago has a lot of great chefs and good food. How are your creations uniquely yours, what are some key differences between you and the local talent?

C: Every chef develops his or her own style based on background and training.  I was born and trained in Europe and I think that all my experiences have influenced my dishes.  After 25 years in kitchens at fine restaurants and hotels in Chicago, Los Angeles and Florida, I have adapted my skills to the world of private entertaining.  With my service, I have the flexibility and luxury of customizing menus for my clients – allowing me to prepare an elegant dinner in the comfort of our clients’ homes leaving them free to relax and enjoy the meal!

F:  Any ingredient you can’t live without? Why?

C: Butter, fresh herbs, and extra virgin olive oil are my staples.  They give my dishes great flavor. If possible, I like to use an olive oil from the country associated with the dish I am preparing.

F:  Do you still do much experimenting with different ingredients? Has there been anything you’ve created and never did again?

C: I experiment all of the time.  First, I visualize the dish and then develop the appropriate ingredients.  I always keep in mind what is in season.

One ingredient that I probably won’t cook again is calf’s liver. It’s not my favorite.

F:  How has your food evolved? What was the first meal you ever cooked? Knowing what you know now, how would you do it today?

C: I never stop learning and trying new ingredients and combinations.   That is the excitement of gourmet cuisine.  The more familiar I am with tastes, the more I am able to create interesting and delicious dishes. I don’t recall the very first meal that I cooked but I am sure it was simple like grilling a chicken breast. I was a teenager at the time. So today, I might stuff the chicken breast with baby arugula, colorful peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and Brie cheese.

Looks delicious...

F:  What does your own kitchen look like?

C: It is very modern and very efficient.  I have a marvelous pantry that I custom designed myself.

F: Let’s say you showed up on the Iron Chef, and the special ingredient was Wisconsin Cheese Curds, what would you create with it?

C: Roasted red and yellow vine ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese curds, balsamic syrup and crispy basil leaves.

F:  Where do you usually shop for your ingredients?

C: I have developed excellent relationships with vendors that I worked with over the years at the hotels and restaurants. This allows us to create special menu items such as foie gras, exotic wild game, seasonal seafood or different varieties of caviar. We feature ingredients the public can’t buy on their own. I also visit the Farmer’s markets for fresh seasonal ingredients.

F:  Best place to sit down and eat one of your creations?

C: Right in your own home!

F: What local Chicago neighborhood has the best food? Why?

C: There are so many great restaurants in this city. Some of my favorite neighborhood restaurants are in Lincoln Square, Bucktown and Andersonville.

F:  What are your favorite things to do in Chicago that do not involve food?

C: I love to ride my bike along the lakefront and up to the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

F: Where’s the best place for us to learn how to make meals as good as yours?

C: Why not arrange for some private lessons in your own kitchen with My Private Chef?  Or, you can attend one of my cooking demonstrations and get helpful tips on shopping, preparing and storing ingredients.  For upcoming events and appearances, see our calendar.

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By funsherpa, June 24, 2009 8:00 am

Ron Potocnik breaking more records

With summer finally here, and the weather finally cooperating, we decided to do an interrogation to assist you in getting your body “beach certified”.  Ron Potocnik, the Chicago athlete and trainer behind the “Train With Ron” phenomenon, talks to us about common exercise myths and the importance of a good diet and persistence.

F: Cool last name.  What’s the origin of that?

R: The origin is Czech. My dad is 50% Czech and 50% Italian. My Mom is 100% Italian. It’s a different last name and over the years I’ve grown to like it. It was fun in school because I never had a teacher or professor who got it right. You pronounce the “c” as a soft “c” or as an “s”.

F: Help us dispel common exercise myths…

F: There are so many to cover but I’ll mention some that are brought up most often. “I don’t want to get bulky from weightlifting”. This is very common concern from my women clientele. I have do to a “Jedi Mind Trick” sometimes on this specific myth. I tell them that even if their goal was to get bulky it’s just not going to happen. First, you (as a woman) lack the catalyst for muscle growth, testosterone. Second, if you want to get bulky you would have to lift, train and diet a certain way for years to give your body that bulky look.  Another popular myth is the classic “spot reduction”. My clients will also say, “I want to lose weight right here and right here”. I tell them just as you didn’t have a choice of where your body stored the weight, you don’t have a choice of where you want to lose it.  Even if you want to lose weight in a specific area, you need to do full body work, compound lifting movements along with cardio and a good diet. The good news is your body will probably lose it where it stored it in the first place.

F: You’ve accomplished a lot of personal fitness goals, including dunking a basketball and running a 5:27 mile.  What are some of your new goals?

Now that I’ve turned 40 and will be 41 this summer I needed a new set of fitness goals. I’ve taken up competitive track and field again.  I want to finish in the top 20 internationally for 2009 in my age group for the 200m and 400m.  Next year I want to finish in the top 50 all time for the 200m and 400m. These are records that have been kept back to the 1940s’. When there aren’t master’s races to compete in (meaning racing against guys your own age) I’ve entered myself as an unattached athlete in several different college track meets this past winter and spring.  You can’t name too many 40 year old guys entering themselves in a college track meet let alone a 100m dash. I’m thinking to myself sometimes as I’m getting into the starting block, “I could be your father”. I get a “laugh out loud” moment to myself when I think how much older I am than these guys. That actually helps me relax from some pre-race jitters too. Some of my other goals are to run a 4.50 40 yard dash, rep 225lbs bench press 15 times and one time max rep 300lbs in the bench press. The last two I accomplished within the past two weeks. Lastly, I am heading to Finland for the World Masters Track and Field Championships.  It will be an honor to wear the Team USA Uniform in Finland this summer!

F: Have you ever seen the reality show, the Biggest Loser?  Do you have clients who you’ve brought into a much healthier weight?  How long does it usually take to trim down from lets say 300lbs to 150lbs?

R: Yes, I’ve seen The Biggest Loser. Yes, I have a lot of clients that have lost anywhere from 20lbs to over a 100lbs of weight since they’ve been training with me. That’s a tough question to answer, “How long does it take to lose 150lbs?” It depends on many factors such as frequency, intensity, diet and your supporting cast. When you’re on a show like The Biggest Loser, you have the 24-7 support system with training and nutritional counseling. You also, have someone standing over your shoulder telling you to put away the ice cream. That last part doesn’t happen in real life.  Over the last couple of years I’ve had a few clients tell me they want to take up dancing. I tell them I think that’s a great idea but I also ask why. They say they’ve been watching Dancing with the Stars and people have been losing a lot of weight since they’ve been on the show. What people don’t realize is that they are on their feet, moving around, lifting each other in the air for five plus hours a day. When I put it in that perspective dancing doesn’t sound like that much fun anymore. The bottom line is change can happen quickly if you want to pay the price and make the sacrifice.

F: You’ve trademarked a 30 on 30 off process.  What is that?

R: I’ve always been a runner, well actually a sprinter and would try and simulate speed training on a treadmill. I wanted to interval train

Chicago's future athletes burning calories at TWR

at fast speeds and inclines without doing the long monotonous, running for 45 minutes at speed 5.0. I decided to increase the speed as well as the incline that would give me speed work as well as get my heart rate up. For example, I would run at speed 8.0 with an incline of 8.0 for 30 seconds on and then 30 seconds off for recovery.  I try and do that for a total of 30 times for a 30 minute workout. I would not recommend 8.0 and 8.0 for someone new to the workout. I would suggest starting at a fast walk or light jog of speed 4.0 and incline 4.0. Do that for 10-12 workouts before you bring up the speed and incline. First, so you’re comfortable getting on and off the treadmill platform and second, build up your endurance to the higher speeds and angles. It’s a no nonsense, to the point, intense interval speed training. 30 on 30 off has also evolved into other aspects of training. It could be basic moves like lat pull-downs, push-ups, etc. You can break it up into three different body parts. Do a leg press of 30 on 30 off for a total of 10 rounds or 10 minutes, then a lat pull down for a total of 10 rounds or 10 minutes and finish with push-ups for a total of 10 rounds or 10 minutes. That’s a full body resistance training workout via 30 on 30 off.

F: If you had to do those workout infomercials, what would you showcase we buy for 5 monthly payments of $19.99 (but if we call now, we’d get one monthly payment off!)?

R: Well, I don’t know about another exercise machine but one product I would definitely endorse is Rank Your Workout – an online fitness tool to rank and chart personal workouts such as a five mile run or bench press session.  After two or more entries it gives you a cool line graph of your time as well as a field to make notes such as, “it was rainy or hamstrings were tight today”.

I think one of the more exciting parts of the site is something I call Rank Your Workout Signature Moves.  A strength of ours is our ability to create new moves workouts. Our clients like the fact that they never receive the same workout twice. Matt, DB and I come up with fun new moves like, The Terrible Two, The Crazy Eights, The Kilo, The Upper Body Century Club and many more.

You’ll find these new moves, as well as 100s of other videos that show other cool moves with the correct form, on the website.  Currently, the videos are only available (and free) to our clients right now, but we expect to launch RYW to the public by the middle of August. The cost is $4.95 a month or $50 for the year. We want to make it very affordable.

F: What’s in your refrigerator?

My refrigerator has been very boring the last six months.  In particular, I try and bring in a lot of spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and an arsenal of fruits such as bananas, apples, plums, strawberries, blueberries, etc. I’m looking for nutrient and energy dense foods. My workouts have been harder than they have been in a long time so I’m trying to eat food that will help me with my recovery!  Once a month I’ll allow myself McDonalds or Taco Bell. Again, that’s once a month.  Unfortunately, as people around the country eat this way once or twice a day, it becomes a nationwide problem.

Questions about Chicago

F: What’s your favorite summer activity?

When I was in my 20s and 30s I used to play 16” softball all the time. I loved the outfield. I was pretty good at robbing guys from cheap singles to a would be a home run in the gap. I hung up the cleats about four years ago. I really miss 16” softball and I’m glad I played for all of those years. It’s a Chicago classic and there are not too many other things like it in Chicago. I also like to golf, but time isn’t always on my side with this one. But I’ll still manage to make it out five to ten times a year. And despite not being a distance runner I do love getting out on the lakefront when it’s 90 and humid and going for an easy two to three miles. Of course I’ll turn it into something competitive for myself and I’ll time how long it can take me to run from the North Ave bridge to the Fullerton Ave water fountain. I’ve also played all of the Chicago social scene sports such as beach volleyball, flag football. Pretty much anything athletic and competitive you can count me in.

F: Any beach you particularly like in Chicago ?

I used to live in Lincoln Park so the North Ave and Fullerton Ave beaches always worked well for me.

F: Best place to eat AFTER a workout?  Best place to eat BEFORE a workout?

I’m pretty boring when it comes to this too especially if I’m eating for a workout it’s my house. I have control and I know exactly what I’m putting in my body. Right now, I’m strictly a function eater so I do a lot of Trader Joes and Whole Foods shopping. But if I had to pick one restaurant I would say definitely Flat Top Grill. I love that place.

F: Where can we learn to bulk up like the Hulk?

There’s only one place: Train With Ron! We are definitely tailored to people leaning out who want to feel better about themselves. When you look at my average success story on my website, we are about hitting goals. It could be passing the fitness test for the FBI, going off blood pressure meds or just staying consistent working out for the first time in years. I think another thing that helps my clients reach their goals is that we make it interesting and fun. The other guys at TWR, Matt Ulrich and Dale “DB” Barr have been with me for almost two years now. Matt is a former All Big Ten Football Player at Northwestern and a Super Bowl Champion with the Indianapolis Colts. DB is an up and coming triathlete. He also played baseball at the University of Arizona. Between the three of us and our athletic backgrounds there really isn’t another gym or facility that can match our experience and dedication to our clients.

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By funsherpa, June 22, 2009 8:00 am

Jennifer building the next Chicago super structure

In this feature, we talk to Jennifer Lynn, a model, civil engineer, and cancer society volunteer.  While Jennifer used to run NCAA Division I cross-country too, an accident 5 years ago shortened her competitive running career.  Always the glass half-full type of person, Jennifer used her downtime from the accident to begin her modeling career.   Read more below to unravel the world of modeling and also find out why civil engineers aren’t boring people.

F: We’re amazed at your accomplishments to date…why the dual track in modeling and civil engineering?

JL:  I formerly ran on cross country but post accident I was no longer able to run due to the damage to my back and leg.  Therefore, I had ample amount of free time and the modeling jobs paid well so I opted to try it out.  The jobs I had were fun, allowed me a creative outlet it my otherwise technical life, and helped me pay for school – it was a win-win situation.  I continued to pursue my engineering degree while juggling my modeling jobs and still do to this day because it has become part of who I am and more simply, just what I do.  I feel very blessed for the opportunity and ability to do both.

F: If a really strange opportunity came up for you to relive a segment of either Joseph Strauss’ (the chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge) or Twiggy Lawson’s (pioneering English model) life, who would you choose?  Why?

JL: I would choose Joseph Strauss as his work will live on much longer than the work of Twiggy and he has done more for bettering humanity than that which a model can ever accomplish, in my opinion.

F: What goes through your mind when you pose for a camera?

JL: Modeling is a little difficult because, unlike engineering, everything isn’t black and white.  It is an art where beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that which you are creating can only be as good as the worst party involved in the process.  What may be ‘right’ on one shoot might be ‘wrong’ on another.  While posing I try to concentrate on how my body is angled and shaped in reference to the lights and my facial expression for the particular pose, then I try to imagine how I look from the photographers point of view.

F: Out of all the photos taken of you, which one is your favorite?

JL: My favorite photos are those which I perform all duties (makeup, hair,

Jennifer, the junk yard warrior

etc) aside from that of the photographer.  Of all the photos I have taken to date, the ‘Junk Yard Warrior’ and ‘Steel Siren’ photos are my favorites because I poured so much of myself into it as I did everything besides take the photo, and the final product met and exceeded my expectations.

F: If you could build something, anything, what would it be?

JL: A time machine! Then I would meet myself in 20 years and take my own advice, my own version of ‘Back to the Future’! I think I would need an electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering degree for starters, so my civil engineering background really wouldn’t help.

F: We like geocaching too!  Have you found a geocache in any place interesting?

JL: I found one in some sort of military box.  The box itself was what I wanted to take rather than something inside the box.  For the difficult cache’s, I found one about ten feet off the ground in a hole in a tree.  We spent quite a bit of time looking before we were able to narrow it down to the hole we couldn’t reach then my friend put me on his shoulders and ta-da, success!

F: What’s the sexiest piece of infrastructure you’ve seen?  Why?

JL: Argonne National Laboratory is in my neck of the woods and one of the most impressive buildings I have been in to date.  The amount of research that goes on there, the security they have to protect it, and the actual layout of the building is beyond impressive.  They first came to the forefront from their participation in the Manhattan project aka developing the atom bomb (some of the remains from the project are buried in the surrounding forest preserves through which I run in Palos called Red Gate Woods, markers are there if you wanted to check it out).  My favorite part of the building is the electron storage ring.  It is a radiation proof ring inside the experimental hall that houses magnets through which electrons are sent.  When all is said and done, it creates the brightest x-ray beams in all of the Western Hemisphere!

Few questions about Chicago

F: Who are your favorite clothing designers in Chicago?  What are your favorite clothing stores?

Tatyanna Merenyuk is an up and coming designer, she makes some really cute dresses.  Veronika Kotlakic makes sexy couture wear.  Another designer/store would be Akira by John Cotay.  His following has grown with leaps and bounds over the past few years.  For mainstream brands, I love to shop at BCBG, Guess, Bebe, and Marciano!  I love their designs and the way their clothing fits my body!

F: What is the best place to enjoy nature in Chicago?

I am a suburban girl so I rarely go to the city to enjoy nature; I go to the city to enjoy the city!  In the burbs there are several amazing nature trails that are part of the Cook and Dupage Country Forest Preserves you can find me running through on a regular basis.  One of my favorites is called Waterfall Glen in Darien, Illinois.  It surrounds Argonne National Laboratory and has several waterfalls, ridges, and amazing trails that will show you nature at its finest and only 30 minutes from the city.   Bring your bike, your running shoes, your dog and make a day of it! The largest trail is a 10 mile loop and you are free from cars, shaded from the sun, and don’t have to run on the concrete or pavement!

F: What do you recommend people do this summer?

If possible, take some lazy summer days and fill them with sailing and boating on Lake Michigan.  You can bask in the glory of our skyline and listen to the sounds of birds from above and the water hitting the boat below.  I had a new appreciation for the city once I saw it from the lake.  It epitomizes the beauty of Chicago and all it has to offer.

F: Favorite buildings in Chicago?  How about favorite green structures?

JL: My favorite building is the Trump Tower.  It is the second tallest building on our skyline, the largest concrete-reinforced building in all of North America, has some amazing views of the city, the location is superior to that of the Sears Tower (more recently known as the Willis Tower), their restaurant sixteen is simply delicious, and I was there when they finally put the spire on the top in January!

The residential building 340 on the Park (340 East Randolph St) was the first silver level LEED certified building in the Midwest and it is right here in Chicago! One of my friends lives there and I love all the measures the designers and engineers took to reduce their environmental impact so it is by far my favorite green structure, and the view of Millennium park from the building is also amazing.

F: Where can we find civil engineers in the city?

JL:  Contrary to popular belief, civil engineers are not bookworms, have social lives as well as friends, and a sense of style.  For dancing you can find us at the clubs on the dance floor dressed to the nines (I am currently a frequent visitor of Manor, Level, BonV, and Rino).  Because we love to help people, we also like to volunteer.  My NFPO of choice is the American Cancer Society; I have been assisting with their Relay For Life fundraising projects since I was in high school.  Many of us are in various organizations that specialize in what we do.  I am on the board for an energy group called the Chicago chapter of Young Professionals in Energy.  Feel free to Come to our next event!  Good food is another key to keeping a civil engineer happy and unwinding from a long day. Some of my favorite places to go for dinner are Rockit Bar and Grill, Japonais, the Oven Grinder, Tru, and sixteen for starters.  We are just your average Chicagoans that take part in mainstream activities who just happen to also love math, science, and structures in general.

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By funsherpa, June 19, 2009 8:00 am

Time travel back to a different era with Michelle (photo by Treagan Colston)

Pow! Known around the world as ‘The Ass that goes Pow’, Michelle L’amour exposes the world of burlesque dancing and the true definition of beauty.  A winner of Miss Exotic World 2005, former contestant on America’s Got Talent, and frequent performer across the US, Michelle is a star in the burlesque scene who is out to bring this age old art into the mainstream.  We recommend everyone, from young to old, go see her troupe’s upcoming shows – we’ll even make it easy for you: see the schedule at the end of the feature!

The lady behind the pow…

F: Sounds like you live an interesting life traveling the country performing.  Do you ever get bored?

ML’: Are you kidding!  I don’t have time to be bored!  I manage a production company, a burlesque dance studio, websites, costuming, travel, and 16 Chicago Starlets.  Holy crap, that’s a lot of shit!

F: It seems that being a burlesque dancer, requires a lifestyle of sexy.  Does the dancing influence who you are or do you influence the dancing?  What’s your definition of sexy?

ML’: They definitely influence each other.  It’s like asking, which came first, the chicken or the egg.  No one really knows for sure.  My definition of sexy is being a genuine person.  In order to be truly sexy, you must show that it comes from an honest place.  That lets people know that it’s ok to watch and enjoy, because it’s coming from a healthy place.

F: How have your acts changed since you first started performing?

ML’: Well, I’m certainly a lot better!  I’ve learned how to better craft my acts and put as much of me in them as possible.  I really like surprising the audience.  It’s all about finding your style and being comfortable within that.

See a clip of Michelle performing below.  Requires plug-in.

F: Why does everyone who works at your studio seem to have the most exotic names?  What’s behind the practice?  Do you read applications and throw away all the Jane Smiths?

ML’: Actually, the naming is a grueling process.  All the Chicago Starlets have been studying with me for 2-3 years.  For their first student show, they were required to come up with stage names.  Some of them would go thru many names before I granted them their wish.  I’m the burlesque fairy godmother in many ways.  Anyway, we put a ban on names like Kitty, Something Von Something, and ridiculous puns.  Girl’s gotta have standards.

F: I imagine a lot of awed faces staring at you during a show…what goes through your mind as you see the bulging eyes from the crowd or the dropped jaws?

ML’: Well, a lot of times, I just giggle to myself.  I think it’s absolutely hilarious.  I love the audience.  They’re great.  You must respect and love the audience, otherwise, why show up?  Sometimes I will single people out and play with them.  Other times, I am being strategic in my staging and dealing with certain stage environment can be super challenging!  Like, oh look, there’s a cord over there, don’t shimmy over that!

F: We’ve seen your ass go POW.  Is it insured or have you considered insuring it?

ML’: No, it’s not, so don’t get too close.  I have to protect my baby.

F: You teach burlesque dance at your studio.  Is it difficult to get your students to throw out all inhibitions?  What is your secret to developing your students?

ML’: I really encourage my students to find something they love about themselves and showcase it.  It’s all about being comfortable in your body.  Sure, the first time you feel the breeze on your naked skin, it’s a little jarring, but then you become incredibly addicted.  Look what happened to me!  Anyway, I really love watching the girls make progress.  It is such a scary and vulnerable thing, but so life changing.

F: If you didn’t do burlesque dancing, what else do you think you would have done?

ML’: Well, I did go to school for finance.  I guess that?  I don’t know.  Makes my insides itch just to think about not taking my clothes off for a ‘living’.

F: If Big Brother put you in charge of the censors, what would broadcast TV look like?

ML’: I would definitely get rid of dumbass girls on TV.  I hate it.  Why must you dumb yourself down to be sexy.  I think it’s a huge problem with the ladies out there.  I teach intelligent sexuality.  And of course there would be a burlesque reality show on TV.  I mean, I’m trying, but we’ll see.

Where to burlesque in Chicago

F: Your favorite place to perform?

ML’: I really have loved performing at the Music Box Theater.  I love historic theaters.

F: What is the best place or thing to do for locals to feel sexy?

ML’: I really recommend coming to see one of my shows with the Chicago Starlets, or perhaps come to Naked Girls Reading, a monthly event at my studio, or hey, how about taking some burlesque classes.  Wow, so glad I have things to talk about!

F: For most locals who tend to keep their clothes on all day, especially during the winter, what’s the best way to learn burlesque and say bye to inhibitions?

ML’: You should come to Studio L’amour and we’ll take care of you.

F: What’s the city’s sexiest restaurant?

ML’: I really love Marche.

F: If you could perform anywhere in the city, where would you do it?

ML’: The Chicago Theatre.  It’s one of my many dreams.

Enjoy our feature? Fill out the funsherpa survey (if you haven’t already), get a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Avec and help us help make the world more interesting!

Notable events coming up

June 20 (8pm -- midnight, Studio L’Amour) -- L’amour Couture Launch: features performances by the starlets and the premiere of sexurious headpieces; also the one year anniversary for Studio L’amour

June 26 (8pm, Gene Siskel Film Center) -- Summer Student Showcase

July 10 (7-10pm, Studio L’Amour) Naked Girls Reading: Watch the L’amour team read your favorite bedtime stories.

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By funsherpa, June 17, 2009 8:00 am

A turtle's best friend

Dan Daly’s motto is “run like a turtle….smooth, steady, and strong”, however his life is anything but turtle-like.  Not only is Dan a cross-country coach, parent, Chicago Area Runners Association president, and financial planner, he is also one of the faces behind the Bloomingdale trail development.  We sit down with Dan and get some good tips on running and living a health lifestyle this summer.

More about the man who does everything (almost)…

F: You are a financial planner, runner, CARA president, and Cross Country coach.  How do you manage to do all of this?

D: By keeping it fun.  Don’t forget husband and father also! I’m fortunate that I make my own schedule and like to be active.

F: George Carlin once said that running isn’t a sport because anyone can do it, even his grandmother.  What words of wisdom can you share to people who say running isn’t a sport?

D:Give it a try!  I’d suggest anyone who doesn’t think running is a sport come to a youth race and watch the finish line. There is  such a range of emotions as kids cross the line that you can’t help but be moved by the effort and determination of the athletes.

F: In your opinion, has running (as a sport) changed much since you started?  Fast forward twenty years from now, what’s your image of the future of Chicago running?

D: When I first started it was mostly about running hard and improving your time. Now there is more attention to the benefits of the activity both physical and mental. I see that aspect of the sport continuing to grow and I hope more and more people will embrace those benefits of running

F: Your wife is a pilates instructor and you are the President of the Chicago Runner’s Association…do you compete against each other in your respective sports (ie does she make a contest out of a pilates workout?)?

D: We don’t compete against each other in our sports as we both know the other can kick our ass in it.  We try and encourage and support each other in our specialty. I try and work on my core and my wife runs much more now than before we started dating.

F: Running appears to be a solitary sport that can take a really long time to complete.  What goes through your mind when you run for 3 hours?

D: Lots. If I’m out for a training run then it’s mostly day to day stuff or some random thought that triggers a range of memories. During a marathon I think of the race and my race plan relative to how I’m feeling and where I am on the course. Sometimes you find ways to amuse yourself like observing the passing scenery, but the best way is by running with someone and sharing the experience.

F: What motivates you to run in an indoor track for 20 miles in the winter?  Do people think you are crazy for doing so?

D: Mostly very cold weather! I only have run indoors in Jan/Feb. It may seem boring but I usually have company for portions of the run, and there are always women in shorts on the track, which is a nice distraction.

F: What is the craziest thing you’ve seen at a race?

D: During the 2004 Stockholm Sweden marathon a guy passed me in pigtails, a bra, and a thong. The worst part was that he was in my sight line for another 2 miles.

F: If we lived in an alternate universe that banned running, you would…

D: Be sad and cry then find a way to covertly run, or switch to another endurance sport.

Where to live healthy in Chicago…

F: What do you do or where do you go in Chicago to live a healthy lifestyle?

D: I love our lakefront, I really enjoy being near the lake for any activity.  I also enjoy the Boulevard system and the parks they connect to and like to kayak on the lake or on the river.  A great place to run is near Lane Tech H.S. and go north where it’s quiet and tree lined, or South into the industrial section that leads to the city.

F: What neighborhood do you live in?  Favorite things to do out there?

D: We live in Logan Square…I love running along the boulevards into Humboldt park.

F: Where are your favorite running paths in the city?  Worst places to run in the city?

D: Lakefront, Boulevards, and the Bloomingdale trail.  Worst place to run is on any of the main streets with traffic, noise, congestion, and litter.

F: Best meal to eat before a run?  Where to find it?

D: I like oatmeal at home.

F: Any advice that you can share for first time Chicago runners?

D: 1) Get out there and explore, don’t just stick to the main path on the lakefront, take  some detours off that path.  2) Look around when you run in the neighborhoods, don’t miss checking out the architecture. 3) Join a group and make some friends, 4) Enjoy the journey, 5) Have fun!

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By funsherpa, June 15, 2009 8:00 am

Thinking about words with Bob

Poets are quite difficult to find, good ones even harder, and funny ones almost impossible. We find ourselves lucky to be able to chat with Bob Archambeau, a professor of poetry and literature at Lake Forest College about his inspirations and thoughts on Twitter. An avid Notre Dame fan, Bob still waits, along with the other hundred million loyal Fighting Irish, for a real bowl appearance.

Things a poet does out in Chicago

F: Favorite place to read a book in the city?

B: Best place? Is it summer or winter? In summer, the bit of Millennium Park furthest to the east, across the bridge, is quiet and has great views. In the winter I like to hole up in the Classics Coffee Shop at the University of Chicago.

F: Where do you go when you need to relax?

B: My hammock. Unless it’s right after a faculty meeting, in which case I hit The Lantern, the sole virtue of which is that it’s the closest bar to Lake Forest College.

F: Your favorite poetry readings occur at…?

B: Danny’s Tavern. Myopic Books is good, too. And there’s a great series at Woodland Pattern Books in Milwaukee.

F: To learn more about poetry, one should check out:

B: Ron Silliman has a blog that offers two kinds of posts: his opinions on poetry, which I disagree with about half the time (that’s not a bad thing, I think), and sets of links to stories about poetry on the web. The links are great.

F: What is your favorite drink and where can you find it?

B: I like Duvel, a beer you can get here and there, notably at the Hop Leaf.

F: Who are your favorite writers in Chicago?

B: I think Simone Muench is one of the best poets of her generation, and she’s in town.

F: What neighborhood do you live in? What are your favorite things to do around there?

B: I live in Highland Park, and my yard abuts the Green Bay trail, a bike path that runs from Chicago to Wisconsin. You can take a spur off of it to the Chicago Botanic Gardens, and south of that to the Skokie Lagoons. It’s a great ride. Just north of us is Highwood, which has my favorite dive bar (The Silver Dollar) a Cuban/French place called Miramar that makes a mean Cubano sandwich and a meaner mojito, and will give you a little plate of sausage and peccarino if you ask for it. Closer to home there’s a hole-in-the-wall Israeli joint called the Mizrahi Grill. You want shawarma? They got shawarma you wouldn’t believe.

Learning more about Bob

F: What were the defining moments in your life that made you go down this path?

B: I suppose there were two defining moments. First, there were the short films I made as a student: I realized when making those that I really wanted an art form I could work on alone, without needing a lot of funding or equipment. My film prof was a guy named Steve Snyder who worked with the incredible filmmaker Guy Maddin, and from listening to him I realized how rare it is for someone making movies to find a group of people with whom one could really collaborate. I used to be a moody bastard (maybe I still am), and I thought that if I ever found a group like that, I’d probably end up alienating half of them. So I wanted a solo art. Then, ironically, I fell in with a crowd of poets: some established figures on the local scene in Canada, and some people my own age. And I ended up with exactly the kind of crew of co-conspirators I thought I wouldn’t find.

F: You teach “Creative Writing – Poetry”. What do people need to know about poetry to understand and appreciate it appropriately?

B: Good question! Most people who arrive in the course are pretty appreciative, but those who have a hard time with it are generally people who don’t like to think of poetry as an art: that is, they don’t like to think that there are techniques to be learned, just as there are in, say, calligraphy or figure drawing or in playing music. It’s not necessarily bad to get yourself a musical instrument and sort of noodle around on it without taking lessons or reading up on how it works, but you can get a lot more out of it if you see the learning of technique as a means to expression, rather than an impediment to it. Poetry’s like that, too.

F: After you publish a piece or a book, do you ever read through it again and wish you could change certain sections or words? Why?

B: Always! I think it was W.H. Auden who said that poems are never finished, only abandoned, and I feel the same way. Sometimes there’s a line or a turn of phrase I know I could do a better job of, now, but more often I just want to work variations on the old piece of writing. Most of my poems are reworkings of found texts (sometimes other people’s poems, sometimes something that was never intended to be literary), and I like nothing more than to pick up a piece of writing and sound out its other possibilities by playing with it. My own published poems are no exception, but of course there are better things to work with than those!

F: What do you think about Twitter?

B: I blog, and I post to Facebook all the time, so I haven’t felt the need to work with Twitter yet myself. It seems to be something people like, and I’m skeptical of its skeptics: every new technology generates a bunch of cranky people who claim it will bring about the end of civilization. So far they’ve been wrong.

F: If you were to Twitter a poem in under 140 characters what would you say?

B: I think I’d wait to get a tweet I really liked and then rework it somehow. That’s my m.o.

F: What was it like growing up in Canada? Are there any Canadian stereotypes that you think are false?

B: Cold. It was what meteorologists refer to as ass-bitingly cold for about half the year. Eliot was wrong about April being the cruelest month. In Winnipeg, it’s February. As for stereotypes? Well, I suppose the idea is that Canadians are polite. I think it’s mostly true. They also have better donuts.

F: We understand that you are a fan of the Fighting Irish. How difficult is it to be a Notre Dame fan given its current struggles?

B: Awful! Terrible! I can hardly stand it! I mean, I was at Notre Dame during the Lou Holtz years, when Rocket Ishmael used to sail down the sidelines at the speed of sound and land a touchdown about every fifteen minutes. There have been good things to watch since then: Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija were a great combination. I think Charlie Weiss is a good, hard-working, honest man, and not a bad coach, but the guy can’t recruit and develop talent the way you need to in the NCAA. I suppose it was different with the Patriots. Anyway, as a Cubs fan I used to look forward to college football season as the time when I could finally see a team I support rack up some wins. Now, not so much.

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By funsherpa, June 12, 2009 12:44 pm

Surfs up Chicago!

Kathleen Neuman just sent us this note, updating a feature we did on Vince Deur – This weekend marks the first time in Chicago history that surfing the waves of Lake Michigan will be pronounced legal, just in time for International Surfing Day on June 20th.

WHAT: Surfing in Chicago is legal

WHERE:   Montrose and 57th St. beaches during the summer

Montrose, 57th St., Rainbow and Osterman beaches during the off-season.

WHEN: Surfing in Chicago becomes legal 6/13/09

HOW: In early summer of 2008, Vince Deur, the Co-Chair of the Surfrider Foundation Lake Michigan Chapter, decided he would try to reverse a city-wide ban on floatation devices, a law that ultimately put Chicago surfer Jack Flynn behind bars overnight when he attempted surfing a cold and stormy December day. The letter/email campaign was stepped up when Pro Surfer James Pribram joined the ranks. Together with Surfrider Foundation Member/Surfer & Attorney Todd Haugh and local Kitesurfer Mike Urban, the four went to meet with officials at the Chicago Parks District to make their case for surfing in Chicago.

Nearly seven months later, after several proposal revisions, dozens of phone calls and hundreds of emails, a deal was made to open two beaches for summer (Montrose & 57th St) and four beaches for off-season surfing (Montrose, 57th, Rainbow & Osterman).

“We are very please with decision of the Parks District to allow surfing in the city of Chicago, although limited, we feel it is a great opportunity to prove ourselves to the CPD and the community that we are respectful stewards of the beaches and we hope to potentially open more beaches in this great city in the years to come.” Vince Deur, Co-Chair of the Surfrider Foundation: Lake Michigan Chapter said. “Surfing is a sport that definitely teaches you respect, especially when the waves get big, so we appreciate the privilege to have the opportunity to surf on freshwater and to be able do it in this great city, makes it even better!”

For more information on surfing in Chicago please contact: VINCE DEUR – 616-402-3638 or JAMES PRIBRAM – 949-355-9814

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By funsherpa, June 10, 2009 8:00 am

Anna scheming to take over the Chicago fashion scene

Fashion designer and entrepreneur Anna Hovet shares her thoughts on her style, Patty Blagojevich, and the best designed food in Chicago. Voted recently as the Chicago Reader’s best clothing designer for 2009, Anna is on her way to transforming the local fashion scene and making her mark in it. A native of North Dakota, and graduate of the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, she now lives in Bucktown with her dog, Danny.

About Anna from the designer’s mouth

F: What did you want to be when you were a kid? Why?

A: When I was a kid I wanted to be the first female president. As a child I dreamed about changing the world and I still do. Using fashion as a platform to influence the world deeply inspires me. Not by starting trends and having celebrity clients, but by putting meaning into my special collections and using fame and profits to support worthwhile causes.

F: You mentioned in a previous interview that over-stylized outfits on music videos got you started in fashion design…can you walk us through your style evolution?

A: When I was young, watching music videos was my gateway from a small city in North Dakota to an ultra cool fantasy land filled with super cool people and crazy fashion. The clothing was ridiculous and the trends were over exaggerated (think 1997 Missy Elliot, Gwen Stefani, Spice Girls, and Puff Daddy), but they were the trendiest styles for youth. My favorite group was TLC, unique and sexy, with a tomboy attitude. By the time I got to high school I was bored with music videos and haven’t watched them much since. I’m not sure I can really define the evolution of “my style” because it is continuously changing with what inspires me, what is trendy, and what is going on in my world. Overall my style is always very youthful, edgy, and feminine.

F: Who do you think would look better on Patty Blagojevich, Maria Pinto or John Galliano? Why?

A: As a politician’s wife one would expect to see her in Pinto, but with her wacky family and thirst for attention, maybe Galliano would be more suitable.

F: In an ideal world, funsherpa would have a TV show similar to the Iron Chef, except it would be a battle between fashion designers. If we gave you copper wire as the special ingredient to create something out of, what would you create/design?

A: Copper wire would be awesome to work with! I would create a strapless dress that sculpted the wearer’s body into an exaggerated hourglass shape. The wire would be twisted and braided in different ways to create a intricate texture. It would be dope!

F: 30 years from now, what do you see people wearing?

A: I think by 2039 consumers will want sustainable fabric, so much of the clothing will be organic cottons. Americans love comfort and designers will have to adhere to these demands with stylish clothing that is wearable and easily washable (example: my cotton jersey convertible dresses, which are unique and stylish yet easy and comfortable). Also be because of globalization people will be able to get their clothing online from anywhere in the world, so people will have more access to their own individual style.

High fashion low maintenance convertible dress

F: As a fashion designer, what frustrates you the most?

A: It frustrates that people think what I do is easy and that I make money. As a start-up company I do everything by myself: design, finances, marketing, sourcing, etc. With the start-up costs and the poor economy I will make very little profit this year so I’m living on unemployment from my previous job for now. Plus I manufacture all my garments in Chicago, which is important to me but minimizes my profit margins.

F: Your perfect model would look like…

A: Size 4, 5’10″, pouty lips, piercing light-colored eyes, huge eyelashes, and something very unique about her, maybe a cute tattoo, beauty mark – something that makes her special.

F: When you need to escape away from Chicago, where do you travel to?

A: I love to visit Grand Forks, ND. I grew up there and my family still lives there. It is a quiet and peaceful with friendly people. While I am there I spend time eating a lot, at hockey games, snowmobiling, or relaxing at the lake.

Secrets of Chicago from the eyes of Anna

F: What neighborhood do you live in and what do you do out there in your spare time?

A: I live in Bucktown and spent a lot of time in my backyard with my dog Danny. I love the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood because there are so many things to do and the people are all so interesting.

F: Best designed food in Chicago?

The Chicago-style hot dog is not only delicious but aesthetically pleasing. The color palette is great, especially the neon green sweet pickle relish. Plus the design is very convenient to hold and eat!

F: Lets say you had $10,000 to finish in a day, where would you spend it in Chicago? How about $100?

A: I’m very practical when it comes to money so I’d probably buy industrial sewing machines and fabric with $10,000. But I also love throwing parties, so maybe I’d throw a huge runway show/party! I’ve always wanted to go on a tour of Chicago in one of those double-decker buses, so I think I’d use the $100 for that, along with a map, fanny pack, and some SPF90 sunblock (I have very pale Norwegian skin that hates the sun).

F: Where do the best dressed people hangout in Chicago?

A: Wicker Park, I get most of my inspiration from the young artists in the neighborhood who invent their own style. Musicians like The Cool Kids, Flosstrodomus, Kid Sister, and Hollywood Holt attract the most creative and youthful crowds.

Hovet's blueprint to take over the world

F: Is there anything unique in Chicago’s style that you wish the rest of the world would catch on to?

A: Mens Streetwear in Chicago is very unique – Leaders1354, St. Alfred’s, and Fashion Geek are all influencing streetwear fashion on a national level. I wish there were similar stores for the ladies in Chicago. The American Midwest in general is more practical than stylish, so Chicago could always be more style conscious.

F: We like your stuff. Where can we buy it?

A: One-of-a-kind pieces will be available this summer through my website. My fall ready-to-wear collection will be sold at AKIRA starting in September and through my website in October.

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