Well, even though we are just past thanksgiving, the end of the year looms. Many of us are working on next year’s goals which for most will include more exercise. Scientists have been studying the best timing to get the best results. So, when is the best time to exercise?

We have often been told early morning is a great time for exercise, and it does have its benefits. Moving the body early in the AM triggers a release of endorphins that uplift your mood! These chemicals, along with a few others, boost alertness, energy, and focus which can make you more productive at work. Morning exercise also helps your circadian rhythms reset. This regulates your 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. So, it can help you to sleep better at night!

Some people are different and can’t achieve peak performance early in the morning. After sleeping, and essentially fasting all night, you may not have the necessary energy. In that case, afternoons may work better for you! Studies have found that muscle power and strength all peak in the afternoon and can be as much as 15-20% better than in the morning. Metabolic effects were also slightly better, so you may burn a few more calories. 

Now we move to the evening. We’ve always been told that exercise in the later hours of the day can have a negative effect on sleep. Today, the gathered research tells us that it does not have a negative effect and can actually improve sleep; but there is a caveat! Exercise done intensively within an hour of bedtime can make it more difficult to get to sleep, so try to finish exercise 90 minutes before bed.

So, when is the best time for you to exercise? When you can, of course! Fit it into your schedule as best you can. It is better to work out at the same time every day, but it is really nothing to stress over. If you need to do it in the morning in order to get it done, fine. Afternoons work better this week? Great. Must wait until the kids are in bed? No problem. Just give yourself enough time to cool down before bed! 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

Another Thanksgiving is in the books!  It’s time to partake in the many remaining holiday celebrations that bring a magical time to Chicago for an opportunity to make lasting holiday memories.  Here are the next batch of favorite Chicago holiday traditions for you, your family and friends to enjoy the magic of the season!!

Chicagoland’s largest indoor lights experience, Light Up the Lake, returns to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood now through January 7, 2023.  Returning activities include Light Sculptures with over 600,000 lights featuring oversized sculptures with holiday and toy box themes, including a giant Teddy Bear, a 25-foot deer, a 60-foot light tunnel, and a 40-foot tree; and the regulation-size Alpine Ice-Skating Rink.  This year’s new attractions include a Stomp Light Activity (a collection of 100 interactive LED floor pads); a Light Memory Game (smart phone required); a Reflecting Pond (area for relaxing, reflecting, and taking spectacular photo ops); a Winter Wonderfest Forest (a maze of over 100 lighted, 8-foot birch trees); and more.  Plus, there’s a winter market, a beer garden, a train ride, and visits with Santa!  It’s the best way to spend the holidays in Chicago!!

Celebrating its 80^th anniversary of a beloved Chicago tradition that began in 1942 with a single tree, the Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S. Lake Shore Dr.) in the Hyde Park neighborhood welcomes you to Christmas Around the World and Holiday of Lights now through January 4, 2023.  This event features 50 elaborately decorated trees by volunteers who represent Chicago’s diverse ethnic communities and who want to share their cultural traditions.  The centerpiece for this dazzling display is the four-story, floor-to-dome Grand Tree located in the Rotunda!  In Holiday of Lights, the museum honors the traditions of Chinese New Year, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Vaisakha Puja Day, St. Lucia Day, and more.  It’s simply a whole world of holiday joy under one roof for a one-of-a-kind experience!!

It’s that special time of year when there aren’t enough hours in a day and anything that could go wrong does!  Well, put your holiday stress aside for a while at the Holidays from Hell as you watch Chicago’s best comedians and improvisers make light of guest storytellers’ horrific holiday stories at the iO Theater (1501 N. Kingsbury St.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on Saturdays from 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.!  It just may be what you need to get through this holiday season!!

If you happen to have kids in tow during the holidays, here are two possibilities to keep the little ones in awe:

Returning to the stage for this holiday season, Chicago’s beloved holiday tradition, The Steadfast Tin Soldier is a classic the whole family will treasure.  Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story about a little tin soldier who never gives up is a yearly staple at the Lookingglass Theatre Company (821 N. Michigan Ave.) on The Magnificent Mile now through January 8, 2023.  This show dazzles with a gorgeous set, whimsical costuming, and plenty of doll-like pantomime that’s surely a treat for all ages!

If your family consists of LEGO fans, then load up the car to enjoy a seasonal holiday event at Holiday Bricktacular now through January 2, 2023 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago (601 N. Martingale Rd.) in Schaumburg.  This event offers fun holiday displays in LEGO MINILAND, activities, building events, taking pictures in a life-size sleigh built entirely of LEGOs, finding all the LEGO presents throughout the center to win a prize, and more!  It’s a brick lover’s event not to be missed!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

With the US Men’s Team in the World Cup for the first time since 2014, what better way to celebrate their match against England on ‘Black Friday,’ November 25 at 1pm CT than at a sports bar dedicated to ‘futball? ‘

In Lincoln Square, The Atlantic Bar & Grillbills itself as ‘Your Authentic Irish Soccer Pub in Chicago’s Lincoln Square,’ as well as the ‘official home of the Chicago Fire.’  And, despite an ownership change due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recent reviews indicate that the quality of the food and spirit of céad míle fáilte (a hundred thousand welcomes) still lives at The Atlantic. 

For starters, try their highly touted Irish Nachos, which are crispy chips topped with shepherd’s pie filling, nacho cheese, green onions and sour cream. Or, try their Chicken Wings, tossed in your choice of buffalo, bbq, teriyaki or sriracha sauce, and served with your choice of bleu cheese, ranch or jalapeño ranch dip. Their Soup of the Day might just turn out to be their Loaded Cream of Potato Soup, topped with melted cheddar and bacon.

Move on to The Atlantic Burger, topped with sweet caramelized onions, crisp bacon slices, lettuce and tomato slices with melted American cheese, or for a British delight, Shepherd’s Pie, layered with homemade mashed potatoes, seasoned ground beef blended with carrots and peas, more potatoes topped with shredded cheese and baked golden. Beer-Battered Fish and Chips are Atlantic cod fish filets, hand-dipped and fried to perfection, and served generously with thick-cut fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce and lemon wedges.  

But save room for a sweet treat! Atlantic Cheesecake is served with chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream! 

The Atlantic Bar & Grill is located at 5062 N. Lincoln Avenue. They are open Monday-Friday from 4pm-10pm (earlier for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. games). Saturday and Sunday, they are open 11am-10pm (again, earlier for Tottenham.) 

Recent Google reviewers, despite the management change, have enjoyed the food and service. 

“My husband & I love this bar. All of the bar tenders & staff are super friendly, competent & efficient,” wrote one. “The food is really good & prices are reasonable. The servings are so big that always end up with meals for next day. They have a relatively recent, but experienced cook who has really improved the food in the last year, although it was always pretty good. They have specials all the time. They make typical bar food, but it’s delicious. My favorite are the Irish Nachos. I don’t often crave food from a bar, but I often do now. They usually have live music on weekends with great acts & have a back area for comfortable sitting during acts, or hosting parties. We go here almost every weekend. It’s cozy with a big fireplace & lots of TVs for games. My favorite bar of all time.”

“Great local pub!” wrote another. “Friendly bartender, fast and delicious food. We got Irish nachos and they were bomb! Excited to come back for a traditional Irish breakfast and a soccer game.”

Go, USA! And Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Whether your family is growing, or your home simply isn’t meeting your needs in terms of space, you’ve got a couple of options: either move to a larger home with more square footage, or add it to your existing home in the form of an addition. Both are viable options, but the choice you make should only be done after careful consideration.

Many homeowners choose to stay put and go the home addition route. But while this option offers the obvious advantage of adding more space to your home, there may be some downsides to it as well.

Before you decide to add more space to your home through an additional room or even a completely new level, weigh the pros and cons of this option first.

The Pros

You don’t have to move.

If you love your current neighborhood and don’t want to have to go through the hassle of moving your family and all of your belongings, an addition could be a great solution. This is especially true if you’ve got kids and don’t want to uproot them from their current school, unless you’re able to find another home in the same school district.

Create just the right amount and type of space that your family needs.

Rather than depending on what’s available on the market, you can have the addition tailored specifically to your needs and tastes that will match your lifestyle perfectly. You have the freedom to build the right amount of additional living space that you require, and can customize the home addition design, as long as your lot size and city by-laws permit.

You can control the costs associated with the work.

Depending on the scope of the work, you can complete your addition in stages in order to ensure the project complies with your budget. For instance, you might choose to build the home addition and move your family into it while holding off on finishing up smaller yet expensive components of the project, such as crown molding or trim work. Once your budget is capable of supporting this additional work, you can then continue. You might even want to pitch in with your own elbow grease to cut down on the costs.

The Cons

It’s disruptive.

You and your family could be living through a ton of noise, dust, and disruptions for weeks or even months if you choose to remain in the home while the construction is going on. Depending on exactly what the project entails, you might be stuck having to do without certain important components of the home. For instance, if the addition involves extending the kitchen, you might have to go without that critical space for a while.

Your other option would be to temporarily relocate while the work is being done, but this also comes with its own set of consequences. If you stay in a hotel or other similar accommodations, this could end up costing you a pretty penny when it’s all said and done, not to mention the fact that living out of a hotel can get old after a while.

If you choose to stay with family or friends, you might be saving money but you’ll also have to put up with living in someone else’s house in the meantime, which can get pretty frustrating and burdensome as time goes by, both for you and the family who graciously put you up. 

It could be more expensive than just moving.

Moving comes with the costs of real estate brokerage commissions and fees, moving company costs, land transfer taxes, lawyer fees, and other closing costs, which can certainly add up. But these expenses could actually be cheaper compared to an addition. If you don’t plan properly, the addition could cost you more than you anticipated. The last thing you want is to have to make last-minute change orders to the design while it’s under construction, as contractors will charge you a great deal for these. In addition, not only will you have to cover the costs of material and labor, you will also be responsible for paying for permits and site inspection fees from the city, which can all add up.

You might be negatively affecting the value of your home.

An addition might suit your needs, but it might transform your home to the point that your neighborhood real estate market value won’t support it. For instance, if all the homes on your street are 3-bedroom bungalows and you add a second story addition that brings your bedroom count up to 4 or 5, you run the risk of “over-improving” and not recouping the money spent on the addition come sale time.

You’re compromising your yard space.

If you’re building out, you’re encroaching on your yard space. As a result, you’ll need to be ready to accept a smaller yard when the addition is done. Not only will this potentially compromise your own enjoyment of your yard, you could also be negatively affecting the value of your home if buyers in the area are looking for more yard space. In addition, you also have to confirm with the local building inspector is see if there are any setbacks and restrictions when it comes to building an addition on your property.

The Bottom Line

A home addition could very well be a fantastic solution for your family’s needs, but considering the cost and scope of such a large project, you need to cover all the bases to make sure that you’re making the right decision. Before you call your contractor, speak with your trusted real estate agent to help you explore all of your options and ensure that the decision you make doesn’t negatively impact your current home’s value or your budget.

Every Thanksgiving morning, Chicago’s official holiday season gets a super sized start with the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, bright and early. While your Thanksgiving turkey roasts, from 8am-11am on CW26 Chicago (check your local listings) it’s an opportunity, besides dinner and football, to share a holiday tradition with all the generations gathered together to witness Chicago area marching bands, floats, giant balloons, equestrian acts, performances and more. 

“A Tradition 88 years in the Making”

As told by Wikipedia sources, in 1934, the United States had been in the Great Depression for six years, and Chicago’s leaders  needed to boost the economy as well as public spirit. Enter Walter Gregory, President of Chicago’s State Street Council, who proposed a Christmas parade to Mayor Edward Kelly. 

The ‘Christmas Caravan,’ Chicago’s first Thanksgiving Day Parade, marched down State Street on December 7, 1934. Gregory and a costumed Santa Claus led the caravan, which was filled with toys and various merchandise from State Street businesses. As hoped, the parade contributed to desirable growth in the local economy and the city’s largest holiday buying period since 1927. 

The parade continued through World War II and the rise of the Baby Boomer era in post-war America. 

in 1968, the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, under the leadership of Mayor Richard J. Daley, took over producing the holiday parade when the State Street Council determined that it could no longer afford it. In 1969, an estimated 1.5 million people lined State Street, a record at the time. 

Corporate sponsorships, surprisingly enough, didn’t start until 1984, when Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities began a five-year sponsorship, followed by Brach’s, Marshall Field’s, and Target, among others. 

Teddy Turkey

One thing remaining constant is the presence of the parade mascot, Teddy Turkey. “Teddy, according to Wikipedia sources, is also is known to make appearances throughout the city, helping to spread the holiday spirit – year round – to everyone he meets.” And, he has his own Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts! 

Thursday, November 24: ‘Where Grateful Hearts Gather’

In 2022, Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade is themed ‘Where Grateful Hearts Gather.’ The parade steps off at 8am on Thursday, November 24, on State Street (that great street!) from Ida B. Wells  Drive (formerly Congress) north to Randolph. If you’re roasting the turkey the morning of November 24, you can watch the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade live on CW26 from 8AM – 11AM.

This year’s Parade will be co-hosted by actors Jen Lilley (Days of Our Lives, Royally Wrapped for Christmas) and Jesse Hutch (Batwoman, Dream Wedding).

As Choose Chicago says, “Gaze upward as the skyline fills with giant helium balloons, led by Teddy the Turkey, the parade’s official mascot. You’ll see a cast of familiar and much-loved faces, from Garfield the Cat outfitted as a pilgrim to Bullwinkle J. Moose looking sharp in his suit.

Wave at the entertainers as the decorative floats cruise by. And don’t miss fan favorite Santa Claus as he ushers in the holidays.”

Topping it all off are incredible performances throughout the day within the main stage area between Washington and Randolph Streets. Among those performing will be the Marist High School marching band, Jesse White Tumbling Team and dance group Renacer Boliviano. 

Local Chicago-area marching bands include: Bishop Noll (IN) Institute; Bloom Township High School; Kankakee High School; Lake Zurich High School; Marist High School; Merrillville (IN) High School; Southland College Prep Charter High School; and Thornwood High School. Other local parade entries feature: American Sidesaddle Association, Escaramuza las Monarcas, Herder Holiday Horses, SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program, the 501^st Legion Midwest Garrison; Aztec Dance-Xochitl-Quetzal; Bloom Township High School Choir; Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team; Chicago Spirit Brigade; Cirque Experience; Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline; and the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago. 

For more information on Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, check out Block Club Chicago’s feature here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago