CrossTown Fitness Re-Opens June 8 Under Phase 3 Guidelines

June 4, 2020

CrossTown Fitness will open its three studio locations in the West Loop, NorthSide and Roscoe Village this Monday as Phase 3 is underway. The high intensity interval training gym has conducted free workouts over Instagram the past ten weeks but beginning June 8, CTF will launch In-Studio Personal Training, Equipment Lending, Zoom Live Classes and Outdoor Group Workouts.

“We are ready to open CrossTown Fitness and couldn’t be more excited to welcome back our members and trainers,” comments CTF owner Charlie Graff. “The health and wellness of our clients and staff is our first priority so we are taking all of the proactive and preventative measures to protect against exposure of the virus within our studios.”

Phase 3 Plans for CTF include-
In-Studio: Personal Training, Equipment Lending, Zoom Live Classes. 70+ classes will be offered per week per studio.
Outside: Group Classes of up to 10 people (meet at location near studio and bring your RuckSack and facemask).

CTF encourages clients to bring their own RuckSack, including a mat, weights, water bottle and facemask. For those who don’t own these items, CTF has them covered with Equipment Lending for 3-hours between 9am and 1pm everyday. Never worn a facemask while working out? CTF Trainer Tom Ledwidge demonstrates how to train while wearing a mask here.

Beginning this Monday, CTF will have top-grade disinfectant with electrostatic distribution on-hand. This new disinfectant is proven to kill COVID-19 and will be used on surfaces in all common areas before and after classes with special attention to equipment, machines and weights. Each location will be temping staff and members, sanitizing shoes, washing hands before entering and hands-free check-in with the CTF app. For all of CTF’s cleaning procedures, visit here.

For more information, new membership options and re-opening details, visit Crosstown Fitness’ website or on Facebook and Instagram @ctfchicago.


Restaurateur Joey Morelli of Max’s Deli Prepares for Re-Opening & Celebrates Essential Workers with FREE Food, May 15

May 11, 2020

Third generation owner, Joey Morelli, of Max’s Deli, located at 191 Skokie Valley Rd in Highland Park, is planning next steps to open his popular North Shore deli next month. Morelli already has in place facemasks for sale, paper menus printed, contactless free delivery and more. Until Chicago restaurants can officially open their doors for dining, Max’s Deli has teamed up with Atria Senior Living to provide FREE food for all essential workers this Friday, May 15.

“I am thrilled to team up with Atria Senior Living so we can show our appreciation to all essential workers,” comments Morelli. “We welcome those who are the front lines every day to enjoy our scratch-made Italian Jewish food and bring them smiles with our frosted mask cookies.”

Essential Workers Appreciation Day at Max’s Deli in Highland Park
Friday, May 15, 9am – 7pm
Free Beverage, Bagel & Cream Cheese, Smiley Mask Cookie
Curbside Pickup

Morelli is also looking to the future of restaurant dining especially when it comes to his deli open 7-days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the state confirms the dine-in parameters slated for June, Morelli will incorporate these fundamental items at the restaurant:
1. Facemasks with restaurant logo available for $5 each
2. Paper menus
3. Thermometers to temp customers
4. 25% of restaurant open heading towards 50%
5. New online ordering platform for easy ordering/pickup/delivery arrangements
6. Continue to offer contactless Curbside pickup at the restaurant
7. Contactless free Delivery

“I speak on behalf of myself and other restaurateurs- we are looking forward to return to normalcy in the restaurants,” says Morelli. “Our staff is on the front lines every day making food for hospital personnel, essential workers and our customers. We can’t wait to see everyone back at Max’s, with a few changes likes masks and social distancing, but with the same mind-blowing Jewish food.”

Max’s Deli is open for curbside pickup, catering and delivery Monday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 8:30
p.m. For more information, visit the restaurant’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages.


Highland Park Restaurateur, Joey Morelli of Max’s Deli, Spreads Joy via Funny Cookies at Local Suburban Hospitals

March 24, 2020

Third generation owner, Joey Morelli, of Max’s Deli, located at 191 Skokie Valley Rd in Highland Park, is taking care of hospital workers so they can take care of those in need during this demanding time. His message is to spread love and smiles through the Chicagoland area by creating amusing masked frosted cookies and sharing his scratch-made Jewish deli food with those on the front line.

Morelli is working closely with Highland Park Hospital and its nearby NorthShore affiliates, Evanston, Glenbrook and Skokie Hospitals, to provide food for the staff while the cafeterias are taking precautions to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Max’s Deli has created humorous and animated custom cookies decorated with doctors and nurses wearing protective masks. Morelli has already delivered over 200 cookies to the Highland Park Hospital employees. Max’s delivered lunch to the Glenbrook Hospital Emergency Room and dinner to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville including the deli’s well-known corned beef, pastrami, matzo ball soup, noodle kugel, bagels and challah.

“Myself and my unbelievable staff are proud to be a part of all that is good in the world right now,” comments Joey Morelli. “Our goal is to get food to the hospital workers and our customers and spread all of the love we can with our funny cookies and the best Jewish comfort food.”

Max’s Deli is also selling the masked cookies along with other bakery items like masked cupcakes at the Highland Park restaurant. The proceeds from the small ($2) and large ($4) masked cookies will go towards the food prepared for the hospitals and the hard-working Max’s staff. The restaurant is also offering free delivery and curbside service.

“One of my 87 year old customers called me yesterday and that’s all she wanted was her favorite Max’s dishes without leaving her home. I personally cooked her food, packed it up and delivered everything right to her door,” says Morelli. “If I can show up and bring smiles to people’s faces during this problematic time, then I’ve done my job right.”

Max’s Deli is open for carryout, catering and delivery Monday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Local hospitals can reach out to Joey Morelli directly to setup cookie/food deliveries at joey@maxs-deli.com. For more information, visit the restaurant’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages.


Get a Taste of Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday at Hey Nonny

February 20, 2020

On Tuesday, February 25, Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights will host a party to rival Bourbon Street itself, featuring New Orleans-inspired food and drink specials plus live entertainment.

Mardi Gras is all about the music and at Hey Nonny, J-Livi & The Party, a Chicago-based brass band, will kick off the festivities with funk and hip-hop. The song list will include tunes by Chicago, EWF, Jean Knight, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, CeeLo Green, Kanye, and Macklemore. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The biggest New Orleans’s festival in Chicago wouldn’t be complete without a Mardi Gras feast. Chef Tony Hernandez has created a special menu with all of the Cajun and Creole staples accounted for, including:

Classic Gumbo chicken, shrimp and Andouille sausage in a dark roux over rice $10

Cajun Crabcakes spring mix salad with jalapeño remoulade $10

Braised Escarole bacon, Roma tomatoes, red onion, and balsamic soy dressing $12

Shrimp Po’ Boy crispy shrimp on a French roll with Cajun remoulade and tomatoes $14

Cornbread Muffins $2

Louisiana BBQ Ribs slow-cooked ribs in a bourbon barbeque sauce, with home made French fries and New Orleans cole slaw $17

Shrimp and Grits Cajun shrimp on stone ground smoked cheddar grits $17

Bananas Foster $8

Hurricane Hey Nonny’s twist on the classic Mardi Gras cocktail $10

*Reservations for dinner will begin at 4:30 p.m. Tickets for J-Livi & The Party can be purchased here.

Hey Nonny
10 South Vail Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
224-202-0750, heynonny.com
Facebook and Instagram @heynonnyah

About Hey Nonny
Hey Nonny is the new Chicago-favorite music venue and farm-to-table bistro, which opened in Fall 2018 in Arlington Heights. It’s already established a reputation as the best small music venue in the Midwest. Hey Nonny was awarded the 2020 “Emerging Business of the Year” award by the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce. For more information about Hey Nonny and its upcoming shows visit heynonny.com.