Illinois Events Archives

Yoga pants are my favorite around-the-house attire.

If you're one of those people who is sitting around thinking, "I need to lose weight" or "I want to tone up," the Chicago Park District wants to help you out. I just found out yesterday that they are having free workout days at 66 Chicago Park District Fitness Centers. The last day to sign up for in-person registration is Sunday, Jan. 10.

I can't even count the number of hip hop and aerobics class I've been in--including hip hop, Video Vixen, lap dancing, belly dancing, pole dancing, hardcore hip hop, boxing, pilates, yoga, breaking (aka breakdancing) and weight training. I'm one of those folks who finds joy in working out, but considering I'm a freelance reporter, blogger, reviewer and transcription editor, it's hard to even get in the time to work out these days.

My idea of working out now is running from my car to my interviewee's location and trying to dodge Chicago cold sucker-punching me in the face. This fall and winter, I managed to not lose (or gain) any weight eating one or two meals a day even though I cut out fast food tremendously and never keep junk food in my home. (I'm not purposely avoiding meals, but I wake up around 3 p.m., and go to sleep around 6 a.m., so my eating clock is way off.) If you think being a vegetarian means you automatically lose weight, not likely. Exercise is still mandatory to stay in shape.

In this film publicity image released by Disney, Princess Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose, left, and Prince Naveen, voiced by Bruno Campos, are shown in a scene from the animated film, "The Princess and the Frog." (AP Photo/Disney)

On December 11, Walt Disney Animation Studios presents "The Princess and the Frog," and Diamonds & Lace EventScaping plans to honor more African-American princesses next Friday too with their Princess Coronation Weekend in Chicago.

"'The Princess and the Frog' was more or less the inspiration for the Princess Coronation Weekend," said Relana Johnson, co-owner of Diamonds & Lace EventScaping. "An affiliate of ours is handling the private screening of the film, and we felt that this was just too historical of an event to just limit it to the private screening. Everyone in the community is excited about it."

The film, "The Princess and the Frog," is about an African-American young lady named Tiana who meets a frog prince trying to become human again. Their chance encounter and a kiss lead them into the lively Louisiana bayous.

"The Disney princess franchise is a billion-dollar franchise, and for them to take note that the African-American buying power of women, children, parents, grandparents is worth giving us a princess that people in our community can identify with makes it a big deal," Johnson said.

Are you ready for Halloween? Six Flags Great America and Halloween enthusiast Message from Montie are helping Halloween lovers get into the creepy spirit of October 31. Check out this Six Flags Fright Fest slideshow and quick links for details on getting your Halloween into gear.

Photo courtesy of Six Flags Great America

Halloween is coming. Why not scare yourself silly and drop 147 feet on the American Eagle, speed through six 160-degree turns or have random "dead" people jumping out at you at Six Flags Great America? Chicago is already giving Illinoisans the gloomy weather for nearby Gurnee, IL's Six Flags location, but don't let the cold weather stop you. The water park is closed, but the rides are still zooming like crazy. Over 75 rides (including 13 roller coasters, 35 kids' rides and 22 family ride in addition to other water rides), two haunted houses, two "scare-thru areas" and the "Thrill the World" Michael Jackson tribute with thousands of people re-enacting the "Thriller" scene sounds like a lot of fun.

Brooke Gabbert, Six Flags' Director of Communications, took time out to talk to ChicagoNow.com blogger Message from Montie about how Chicago's B96 deejay Jerzy is handling living in the Sky Trek Tower (since Oct. 10) until the Raging Bull gets 1.5 million riders, what's new this year for the Fright Fest and why people should spend their weekends at Six Flags.