This place is absolutely phenomenal. We have been members for several years and my kids have grown…read morefrom the baby classes to older kids tumbling classes. They love free play and everything Fit City has to offer. Both of my kids also attended the preschool program, Learn and Play PreK, at Fit City Kids and we have been so happy with the early childhood educational experience the preschool offers. The unique program blends creative play with age-appropriate academic learning. Students make friends while learning in a safe, fun, and creative environment. Ms. Daye and Ms. Vanessa provide outstanding structure, guiding students to burn off their energetic wiggles and teaching preschool academics that prepare them for pre-k 4 and kindergarten. My 3-turning-4-year-old has mastered all her letters and numbers, can do basic addition, and writes her name and other words. My first-grader, who attended the preschool there several years ago, was more than prepared for elementary school. The unique environment lets students release their toddler- and preschooler-level energy in the indoor play space during cold Chicago winters. In warmer weather, students enjoy the outdoors at a local park or the outdoor field right at the school. You should check this place out! Next year, they will offer a full-day option, and you can customize morning, afternoon, or full-day attendance to create a schedule that works for you. So much more to offer than a traditional daycare.

It has been super cold for the last week or so and a friend and I decided we needed to get our kids…read moreout so they could have fun and run wild. I've seen Fit City Kids, having lived fewer than two miles away, but this was our first visit and it was great. The entrance fee wasn't bad, especially since one can stay for the full open play time. They have several different areas for play. There is a basketball court area, a play soccer field, gymnastics space, and an indoor playground. There's also a small area that is specifically designed for children aged three and under, although we were told that kids can play in any section (except for the bounce house, which is for the private parties). Our one year olds mostly played in the soccer area, having fun just running around. There's one half of the place where you can wear shoes or not (the basketball/soccer areas) and then in the other half you may not wear shoes. There are one or more party rooms in the back of the facility. (I'm not sure if they overlap parties or not; there were four happening on the day we were here.) Food is not permitted in the facility except for in the party rooms or in the front "lobby" area. They have a few snacks for sale, and based upon the water I bought for my babe the prices don't seem ridiculous. I really appreciate that they don't appear to have any restrictions on bring your own snacks and water, just asking that you respect the areas in which you can eat them. They don't have a water fountain (unless I just wasn't looking in the right places) so bring your own drinks. One downside is that I found only one changing station in the entire place. Don't look for it in the women's room (or probably the men's room, either, I'd expect) but in the individual gender neutral bathroom. With the number of children who might be here at any time and the age ranges they welcome, I was really surprised to see just the one. On the other hand, it was an actual changing table rather than a station that is bolted into the wall and folds down, which always make me a little nervous. They also don't have much space for parents to sit. There are some tables in the "lobby" and a few benches outside the various play areas, but it might be difficult for someone who needs a chair/seat, or someone who's disabled, especially if they want to be closer to the activity areas and keep an eye on their children. Another thing they need to work on is the parking lot. Their parking lot is really large, especially for Lincoln Square--and it's free!--so that's all to the good. Ideally they'd have straight parking spaces since that allows for the most spots; the lot is a bit narrow, so they've opted for diagonal with a few straight. But they need to paint the lot! Driving through this lot was difficult because people parked like they've never parked before. We will definitely return. There are several indoor playgrounds around and I'd like to try the different ones that offer entrance to kids as young as mine in part so we can figure out which are our favorites. But after my experience here I imagine we may be purchasing a membership in the future.

We sent our 4-year-old to this camp for the entire summer of '18 and we are pleased. There are few…read moreoptions in Chicago for a full day of summer care for kids under 5. The staff were all fantastic! There were over 200 kids at camp everyday and they knew us and our child pretty quickly. The camp is somewhat unstructured, there are not naps. There are several themed rooms the kids can choose to work/play in. If I recall correctly there was a singing/recording room, a game room, a programming room, fashion studio, cooking, and a couple others. They can also play outside. Every Friday had a dress up theme. Frequently there was a bouncy house, water apparatus, or other fun structures for the kids to play in. I think the total cost was about $2700 or $3000. Recommended!

Steve & Kate's camp is AWESOME! The camp allows the children to choose which activities that they…read morewant to engage in which, I find very creative & inspiring for children. The counselor are really cool too. They are vibrant, energetic, patient and kind. My daughter likes this camp so much that she didn't want to go anywhere else soooo, it's our 2nd consecutive year! Thank you Steve & Kate's Lakeview family, you're the BEST !!

Lillstreet Art Center is a magical place, it has a little bit of everything!…read more I've taken everything from pottery classes to jewelry workshops to textile classes here. They really have a wide selection and great time options in the evenings for those who work 9-5. 12 years later I still use the garlic grater I made in a sculpting class. Prices are expected, but reasonable for what you get. Teachers are awesome and work with you to help you learn, even if working with clay isn't your thing (I learned quickly it wasn't my thing). But it's still fun to try something new! In the heart of Ravenswood easily accessible by the el, and they do have parking if you drive. Definitely check out this gem if you haven't yet.

As described in the Lillstreet Art Center website, it was "founded in 1975, Lillstreet is a…read morecreative workspace for artists of all levels, from first-timers, to professionals. No matter how you define yourself, you belong here!" When Daughter told me that she had just registered for a "Beginning Wheelthrowing" class at Lillstreet, I did not know the art center. However, I had always been curious about wheelthrowing and wanted to finally learn about it, so I registered too! We both registered for a 10-week class that met once a week in the weekend. It had been a fun 10 weeks! Well, we had missed 2 classes for our unexpected trip to Europe, but we were fortunate that we could make up work by going to "open studios" that are available only to current students. Our teacher Jen FitzGerald has 25 years of experience in ceramics. Both Jen and the class assistant, Kim, are very kind, welcoming, and encouraging. Jen always has solutions to whatever problems that we might have. After she made a demonstration throwing on the wheel, she would go around the classroom to see how everybody was doing with her own work. It was especially helpful during the first couple of classes that Jen came by me and helped me one-on-one to overcome the hurdles that I had. After I "mastered" the techniques, wheelthrowing is relaxing and fun. Glazing pottery has been a lot of fun too! Looking for our fired glazed work on the common shelves is like Christmas! There have been nice surprises of how the glazed work turned out! Now both Daughter and I have made a bunch of cups, mugs, and bowls that we are proud of. Like a lot of the students at Lillstreet, our passion for ceramics have been ignited, this class won't be the last! Lillstreet Art Center not only offers a lot of different art classes for all levels, it also hosts private events like birthday parties, and one-time workshops that you can test the water and have some fun. There is a gallery/gift shop that features a lot of one-of-a-kind creations from teachers and students, most are really sophisticated and professional, and inspirational too! There is a small café that you can enjoy local baked goods. We had tried the almond croissants which were very good. Our teacher Jen is having a Lounge Show "Mudweaver Ceramics" in the cafe, from November 1 to 30, 2024. The show showcases some very amazing ceramic art that looks like woven baskets! Come see the show if you can! Closing reception is on Friday, November 29 at 6:00 PM.

CircEsteem was once a wonderful organization and has great potential, but that is unfortunately…read morecompletely wasted now due to terrible mismanagement. The teaching staff is amazing, talented, kind and knowledgable. However, those at the top of the administration have demonstrated a complete disregard for the working conditions of the entire staff, and pay themselves a very generous salary but constantly ask their employees to make sacrifices. As a result, the staff is constantly overworked, underpaid and underappreciated for their dedication. The turn-over rate of employees over the past several years has grown incredibly high and is a clear indication of the lack of professionalism and respect shown by upper management. Directors have frequently disregarded safety standards and repeatedly ignored the very reasonable concerns brought forward by staff and students. They also actively discourage whistleblowers from raising awareness on safety issues. This naturally creates a dangerous environment for students. For an organization who's core mission statement is to build self-Esteem, they do an incredible job of destroying the esteem of staff, and blatantly demand silence and compliance, and aggressively bully employees rather than making any effort to find understanding or compromise. This type of upper management class division, discrimination and subjugation has happened before with other nonprofit organizations, which inevitably resulted in strikes and petitions that were widely reported on the news. It is a shame that they would choose to risk this and strongarm employees into submission and lay off those who try to stand up for their rights, rather than have civil discourse. When more than half of the staff is extremely unhappy, and those that attempt to raise awareness of any concerns are fired or pushed out, that is a problem that requires consideration on how to restructure and they have taken zero steps to do so and have shown no accountability. I strongly encourage CircEsteem teachers to strike and unionize as soon as possible, or this trend of exploitation will only continue to worsen. The Executive Director also needs to resign, as it is blatantly evident that he is not qualified for the position and is clearly not upholding CircEsteem's mission of mutual respect, humility, patience, love and self-reflection. Bottomline - do not work for CircEsteem, and consider other options for circus arts.

didn't like free water tasted like shit I would rather drink trumps Blood than Their water. Other…read morethat than pretty mid place

This was terrific! Had our 6 year old's birthday party here. First they went over some rules and…read morestarted the pizza dough. Then they decorated their aprons, mixed cupcake batter, prepped the pizza dough and put on toppings. Finally they made the cupcake icing and decorated them and ate everything! Well run and the kids had a great time.

Chef Laura is great! Both of my kids (9 and 11) love coming here and have been for years. The…read moreweekly class is engaging and fun and the camps are perfect for school closure days and summer break!

Also the most expensive camp among dozens of other great options in Chicago. Communication was…read moresloppy and programming disorganized. Did not appear the staff had much training. We obviously will not be back and I cannot recommend Freda to friends.

We've sent out two older kids to Fred's for two summers now, and next year we're excited that the…read morelittle one will be old enough to join them. Every day, the kids were so excited to get to camp, they repeatedly validated our decision to choose Fred's. We couldn't be happier. They simply do everything right.

My son has gone to Steve and Kate's Camp for the past three summers (and one winter break) and we…read moreare looking to send him for this coming summer. S&K's is unlike most camps of this size in a few ways. The schedules are more inclusive for working families (7/8am - 6pm), there is a wide range of activities that there is no way my kid would be exposed to otherwise (breadmaking, SEWING, coding, making music) and most importantly, an incredibly caring and experienced staff. My child has ADHD and we struggle with focus and impulsivity that can be challenging. S&K ensure a clear line of communication with parents and provide a safe space for kids to be kids. During the pandemic, they ensured safety and adjusted their scale and offerings to ensure safety. My son has had wonderful experiences with S&K camp. I cannot recommend them more. They are fantastic.

My kids had an ok day at the Audubon Location. When I came to pick them up, it took in excess of 20…read moreminutes and 5 people to locate their epipens. this camp says it's allergy friendly but - I shudder to think what would've happened in a life or death situation. I spoke to the manager and she told me there were 300+ kids and that the hadn't anticipated so many meds. I don't feel remotely safe about leaving kids with allergies at this camp. they lacked a single point of contact for emergencies and said "everyone is trained". most camps we've attended have a single person responsible for safety one even had a paramedic. I do not recommend this location if you're managing health conditions.

Our first time here was to attend a birthday party. The activities were creative, colorful, and…read morefun. The staff was kind and silly but also in control. We had a great time. Months later, I got a marketing email about Spring Break "camp." We needed help when my preschool daughter did not have school so we sent her to camp for two days. She really enjoyed the projects that they did, brought activities home, and was very excited to go back. I am glad to know that Kids Science Labs are a great option for childcare as well. I highly recommend Kids Science Labs!

We tried this place for 2 days during the winter break. It was our 1st time trying it out. The…read moreteachers and staff were all wonderful. They had something to take home each day. They remembered my daughter's name after just the 1 day. They even had a magic show on one the days. Looking forward to trying out other sessions. Wish they had more locations.

Emily from Kidcreate Studio came out to our party room for my daughter's birthday and it was…read moreamazing! We picked out a painting that my daughter would like beforehand and Emily brought all the materials. She was so patient with the kids (ages 7-8 with some 4-5) and all the kids enjoyed the activity. It lasted an hour and it was a well spent hour. We will definitely recommend them to all our friends!

My daughters (3 and 6) had so much fun taking the Glow Art class at Kidcreate. Lindsey and Allison…read morehad them engaged the whole class, creating their art and then working on other projects, like shaving cream painting and making books with oil pastels. The space is so bright and cheery. They loved seeing the clay art projects that had been completed, so we will definitely be back! Can't wait to try out some of the camp offerings.

Brand new treadmills upstairs at the YMCA! I like the layout of the Lakeview Y - lots of space and…read morenot too crowded. They have some great group fitness instructors. This YMCA also accepts nationwide, which is what I have! Only issue is parking, but there are usually some spots nearby. Nice sauna and usually empty!

In terms of the facilities, I enjoy the Y tremendously (minus the cold pool). Great weight room,…read morelots of treadmills & cardio equipment, I play basketball there weekly with a group of great guys, I know they've got good classes in terms of Zumba or some of the other HIIT classes. What royally sucks is I've had 2 bikes stolen from this location (one locked with a strong steel U-lock, one with a strong Kryptonite lock), and one bike stolen from the elementary school just up the street. This area is a hotbed for criminals to come & steal things, even with very quality equipment to lock your things up. I've been in communication with the Y for over a year to ask for inside access to park bikes, no resolution. They have one of the perpetrators on video stealing my bike, but can't do anything about it. I emailed them politely to ask for 2 things from them: 1. Inside place to park our bikes 2. I don't expect any type of reimbursement for the bikes, but I asked if they'd take the hardship under consideration & comp a year of membership for our fam of 4 who is their weekly. Response I received from Elena Garcia, the community concierge director: Hi Kyle, Thank you for being a valued member of our Lake View Y community! I understand this is incredibly frustrating, especially this being the 3rd time. While the incident occurred in front of our hub, unfortunately the area is not our property, which limits what we are able to do directly. We are glad to hear you have already filed a police report, and we also encourage you to reach out to the alderperson's office, as they may be able to help advocate for additional safety measures in the area. We also appreciate your suggestion about indoor bike parking. At this time, we are unable to offer indoor bike storage due to limited space. Regarding your request for a complimentary year of membership, we truly understand why you asked. However, since the incident did not occur on our property and was outside of our control, we're not able to honor that request. If we can of further assistance at this time, please let us know. Not your property? You mean the bike racks, directly outside of your front door, on your sidewalk, that your staff tells us to park our bikes at, that is surveillanced by your cameras, isn't your property? Interesting. No offers of any type of resolution. No offers of any type of compensation. Just pass the buck to someone else. Deplorable display of leadership.