By Lia Langworthy additional reporting by Amy Tara Koch

Once known for vicious gangsters and notorious scandals, Chicago has evolved into an optimistic and gracious town, encompassing all the variety that one might expect from America’s third largest city. From breathtaking natural beauty to a rich cultural legacy, Chicago abounds with opportunities for locals and visitors to foster a lifestyle of wellness. Ground yourself in the Windy City’s history by taking an informative and relaxing architectural boat tour or enjoy a moment of private meditation on the shores of Lake Michigan. Lunch at a vegetarian soul food restaurant or treat yourself to a luxury spa on Michigan Avenue. Submerge yourself in culture in the city’s very own Chinatown. After reading the following list of uniquely Chicago experiences you’ll be singing a different tune about the city nicknamed “Paris on the Prairie.”

Best Holistic Spa

Nestled above Prada on Oak street, OM for the Home is a spa for the spirit, a veritable oasis featuring a sleek, white sun-drenched interior. Om offers soul renewal in the form of guided meditation, massage, acupuncture, feng shui, affirmations, Reiki, and raindrop therapy to clear those clogged chakras. The courses are available in either private sessions or a group environment. Contact (312) 397-9181 or visit www.omforthehome.com

Best Place to Get Your Grounding

Despite several tour companies offering any kind of itinerary imaginable, from typical bus tours to wacky gangster and ghost tours, none ground you with a sense of Chicago’s history and pathos better than the Architecture Foundation River Cruise. After the great fire of 1871, Chicago was rebuilt just as new technologies (like the elevator and steel skeletons) were making it possible to build taller and more interesting buildings. Chicago’s building boom attracted the country’s greatest architects and encouraged them to experiment with form and function. Led by local architects, this ninety-minute open-air boat tour not only provides facts and trivia about famous buildings, but also offers insights into Chicago’s culture as well as amazing water views of the city. Contact (312) 922-3432 or visit www.architecture.org

Best Free Activity

With dozens of parks, beaches, funky neighborhoods, and magnificent churches to explore, Chicago offers a variety of free activities. If you don’t mind crowds, most major museums host one free day a week while others are always free. Free festivals, however, such as the Chicago Blues Festival in June, the Chicago Jazz Festival in September, and the summer-long Outdoor Film Festival, remain the pride and joy of most Chicagoans. From sipping wine in the sun and listening to great jazz and gospel to watching movies in the dark as the city’s skyscrapers light up the sky, it’s easy to understand why these events are popular. Free your mind (and your wallet) in beautiful Grant Park – home to all the above mentioned festivals. Visit www.ci.chi.il.us/SpecialEvents/Festivals.html

Best Cultural Immersion

From ethereal festivals to quiet historical plazas, Chinatown offers an introduction to Chinese customs and culture while fostering an inviting environment for self-reflection and contemplation. Ornate Chinese gates covered with hand-painted tiles from Taiwan welcome you to this small cultural oasis. Visit during one of the many annual festivals and you’re in for an unexpected treat. During the Lantern Festival, parades of children carrying lanterns take to the streets hoping to guide ancestral spirits home. The Autumn Moon Festival, another spellbinding tradition, honors family and friends who are far away; people walk the streets of Chinatown in the moonlight reuniting in spirit with distant family members who are gazing at the same moon. Contact (312) 326-5320 or visit www.chicagochinatown.com

Best Natural Resource

Landlocked yes, but who would know? Lake Michigan which resembles more of an ocean than a lake, offers Chicagoans more uninterrupted public coastline than any other major U.S. metropolis (Californians eat your heart out). The water and open sky give one room to breathe, think and dream. Bring a blanket, a yoga mat, or a bathing suit and enjoy the endless possibilities of Lake Michigan. It will certainly clear your head and maybe even calm your soul. Contact (312) 742-PLAY or visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

Best Spa Splurge

Start at the top… the top of the Peninsula Hotel if you want the ultimate in spa luxury and tranquility. Perched high in the sky, like an urban tree house, the two-year-old Peninsula Spa offers views of Chicago as spectacular as their Asian-inspired treatments. The signature Peninsula Massage incorporates deep-breathing and guided imagery for a truly centering experience. Contact (312) 337-2888 or visit www.peninsula.com

Best Healing Arts School

Try a music or dance lesson to soothe the soul at the internationally recognized Old Town School of Folk Music. In 1957, late folk musician Win Stracke began the school hoping to create an institution where teachers and students would be partners in learning, empowering students with the tools to create their own music. The school’s mission still remains true to Stracke’s vision, offering a broad range of classes in guitar, banjo, fiddle, percussion, song writing, as well as dance classes in tango, salsa, tap, Mexican folkloric dance, and African dance. Contact (773) 728-6000 or visit www.oldtownschool.org

Best Place to Strike a Yoga Pose

From free weekly meditation classes to heart-warming classes for kids, Moksha Yoga offers more than instruction and guidance into an ancient and sacred practice – it also inspires the soul. Advanced yogis can practice Mysore style, (at one’s own pace with the assistance of a teacher), while beginning yogis can master the fundamentals and experiment with several styles in a fun and non-competitive environment. Namaste! Contact (312) 942-9642 or visit www.mokshayoga.com

Best Exotic Massage

The soothing Southwestern design and ever expanding range of exotic services have enabled Kiva to maintain it’s reigning status as the best urban retreat in Chicago. Relaxing on my back with a heated pillow on my tummy, I indulged in an hour of powerful reflexology which opened up chakras, stimulated digestion, and even energized my spine so that I exited without my signature hunch. Also offered are Tibetan Abhyanga massage, Hot Stone Massage, and the healing Ayurvedic Shiro Dhara. Expecting women take note, Kiva offers incredible pregnancy massage integrating tangerine oil, pillows, and long soothing strokes to relax the back and spirit. Contact (312) 840-8120 or visit www.kivakiva.com

Most Decadent Pedicure

Calling upon the powers of chocolate, tangerine ice, coconut milk, and sugar, Channings pampers the feet and legs with decadent masks and potions before trimming the tootsies into a state of perfection. Owner Cheryl Renella is known for skillfully blending foods and spices into her spa treatments. Also on the menu you’ll find the new Avocado Wrap, Caviar Facial or Chocolate Truffle Body Wrap. Contact (312) 280-1994 or visit www.channings.com

Best Health Club

Size evidently matters in Chicago, home to two of the worlds tallest buildings (the Hancock Building and Sears Tower), the largest urban zoo (the Lincoln Park Zoo), and many of the largest chain stores in America (Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, and Ralph Lauren). In this tradition, Chicago proudly boasts one of the nation’s largest and finest health clubs, the East Bank Club. This titanic-sized club (450,000 square-feet) offers four swimming pools, an indoor golf range, ten tennis courts, two restaurants, a full service spa, and even a dry cleaners. So come for the workout, the scene, or to quiet your mind on the 60,000-square-foot rooftop sun deck and soak in the spectacular Chicago skyline. Contact (312) 527-5800 or visit www.eastbankclub.com

Best Healthy Soul Food Restaurant

The legacy of Chicago’s African-American community is apparent in the the city’s music, sports, and of course food. When Chicagoans crave hearty soul food sans the meat they head straight to Soul Vegetarian for an order of vegan macaroni & cheese, deep-fried protein tidbits (served with a down home barbecue sauce), or a hearty jerk “chicken” burger. A smorgasbord of low-fat entreés with just enough “soul” to fool the taste buds awaits patrons of this vegetarian hangout. Although the menu lists BBQ Roast among the choices, absolutely no animal products are used in any of the dishes. Contact (773) 224-0104

Best Restaurant with a Conscience

Designed to assist individuals who are homeless, unemployed, mentally ill, as well as recovering substance abusers, Inspiration Café provides meals, housing assistance, culinary skills, job-training, and even yoga and massages for the homeless. This non-profit organization’s goals are clear, “to help men and women escape homelessness with dignity and respect while fostering self-sufficient and independent lives.” The cafe recently opened its dining room to the public for lunch on Fridays and all proceeds go to the many Café programs. Where else can you help yourself to a meal and help humanity at the same time? Contact (773) 878-0981 or visit www.inspirationcafe.org

Best Indoor Place to Commune with Mother Nature

Mother Nature and all her glory summons you to the Garfield Park Conservatory, one of the world’s largest gardens under glass with four-and-a-half-acres of indoor landscaping. From lush rainforest to dry cactus, Mother Nature dazzles you with her endless variety and majestic beauty at every bend. Inhale the fresh air in the moss covered Fern Room, watch kids beam with delight in the enchanted Children’s Garden, or take one of the many informative workshops on the Healing Properties of Herbs, Bees-wax Gift Making, or Holiday Wreath Making. The most popular activity remains sitting and soaking in the stillness, serenity, and glory of the different gardens. Contact (312) 746-5100 or visit www.garfield-conservatory.org

Best Bookstore

From a Buddhist reading group to all day workshops led by renowned authors, Transition Bookplace & Cafe offers a plethora of self exploration opportunities. Owners Howard Mandel and Gayle Seminara-Mandel have a fiercely loyal customer following who have been learning and discovering with them since the store’s inception in 1989. Today the store has evolved into a 6,000-square-foot sanctuary complete with cherry wood shelves, comfortable chairs, and an inviting cafe. When customers thank Gayle and Howard for their lovely store they often respond by saying, “It’s not our store, it’s God’s. We only hold the keys.” Contact (312) 951-7323 or visit www.transitionsbookplace.com

May/June 2003

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