MAST APPEAL FROM MOONLIT PADDLES TO BEER CAN RACES, OUR PICKS GET YOU ON THE WATER By Sandra Langeneckert July 12, 2004   Are you envious of all those sunbaked folks living a Jimmy Buffett-like existence out on the water, but you don’t have the Warren Buffett bucks to buy a boat? Whether you’re a…

A COOLER BY THE LAKE   Softball and hardball rec leagues are as Chicago as it gets as long as you don’t forget the beer. Bladder up! By Mark Sinclair Although not always evident at Wrigley Field or in the parking lots at U.S.Cellular Field, there is more to baseball in Chicago than heckling umps,…

Chicago Scene April 2005 – Sets on the beach… and so much more!

Chicago Scene May 2005 – Shift Into Spring!

CHICAGO SETS, SPIKES! THE SECOND CITY COMES IN FIRST WITH FITNESS OPTIONS. UNSUSPECTING TRAVELERS MAY ENCOUNTER THE MYTH that Chicago is called the Windy City because of the strong breezes. Don’t fall for it. It was so named in 1885 in reference to the hot air blown by grandstanding politicos. But say what you will…

BEACHY KEEN Whatever your beach-bum inclinations, one of our favorite lakeside lounges will be worth your sand dollars July 14, 2005 We love our beaches, but when they’re covered by snow six months out of the year, it’s hard to tell which ones are worth a visit during our fleeting summer days. Picking one to…

CRAIN’S 40 UNDER 40 Nov. 21, 2005 JASON ERKES 36,  President  Sport & Social Clubs Inc. Why him? With friend and nightclub business partner Marc Bortz, Jason Erkes took the Lincoln Park meet-and-greet from bankruptcy to solvency. Like many young urban professionals, the two had played in the club’s sports leagues, but they had no…

PRAISE THE ROOF At indoor facilities, athletes can play summer sports all winter long By Mark Sinclair and Joel Reese January 26, 2006 Sure, it’s been a mild winter. For weeks, the temperature has only rarely dropped below freezing, and the mercury has even soared all the way up into the 50s. If you’re like…

YOUNG INVESTORS FACE THE LIFESTYLE DILEMMA BY JANET KIDD STEWART | CHICAGO TRIBUNE March 26, 2006 Like other thirtysomethings navigating their careers today, Jason Erkes is no stranger to job volatility. Early in his career, his television-producing job was eliminated. Then he dabbled in a few small entrepreneurial ventures. Today, Erkes, 38, is president of…

ROCK STARS Climbing the walls at home? Hit these gyms instead. By Jessica Herman April 6, 2006 Rock climbing might look like innocent, healthy fun, but if you’re thinking of giving it a try, proceed with caution. If you’re not careful, you might end up hopelessly hooked on scaling. “I first got into climbing when…