Weekend Diversion: Night Of The Ponies
Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37
Around Town
Around Town
Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
This one’s dedicated to those out there whose main form of exercise revolves around a slick, shiny pole. No, we’re really not talking about anything relating to Chris Nieratko. … Well, maybe in an indirect fashion. Earlier this month, a funky new health club opened up in the West Loop. This wasn’t just any club, however. This was a club for the ladies. Flirty Girl Fitness at 1325 W. Randolph offers a range of salacious yet butt-kicking classes, from cabaret to striptease to Coyote Ugly (yes, we know) to yogalates (we take ours with skim). Lots of health clubs offer such modified courses nowadays, but Flirty Girl has two immediate distinctions: 1. it’s for women only; and 2. the City Council has lifted their moratorium on liquor licenses to allow onsite martinis after workouts.
It’s that last point that’s raising a bit of a stink. Kelly Pucci was in the neighborhood and noticed the new club, which opened last Wednesday. Flirty Girl piqued her interest, but not in a good way; more like the “enemy in one’s crosshairs” kind of way. Her alarm stemmed from the fact that gyrating girls and wanton women would now be right next to the Montessori Academy of Chicago, where Pucci’s 18-month-old grandson goes to school. Furthermore, they could now get sloppydrunk and sun themselves in bikinis right next to children. Oh, won’t somebody think of the children?? Normally we'd say "Pshaw, like kids would see anything anyway. They'd be home before the bumping and grinding even began." But Montessori goes until 6:30 p.m. (!), so there's the chance for overlap of early evening classes.
Before you get all verklempt, know that distributing liquor licenses to places of business within 100 feet of a school, library or house of worship is against the law. The twist is that even the Montessori Academy’s head director, Fosca Shackleton White, doesn’t consider the establishment a school. According to her, it’s more of a day care center for kids ages 6 weeks to 6 years. Another thing is, the liquor license hasn’t been granted yet; a public forum will be called so that neighbors like Pucci can vent. Only then will Montessori’s function be discussed. White herself is supportive of the new girl in town. After all, Flirty Girl offers discounts to mothers who have children at Montessori. And not to stir the pot any more, but Pucci’s grandson is just the right age where he can really appreciate the art of pole dancing.
Image via Gizmodo.com.
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Now granted, I haven't been to Flirty Girl (although I like to think that I am one), but the Sun Times said the pool and where you can drink your "flirtinis" is totally enclosed.
So this 18 month old is looking at a fence with some ladies in bikinis drinking flirtinis. Big deal.
Awww, a young mother can drop her kid off at day care and then go train to be a stripper. Isn't that so cute.
Seriously though, unless these women are stumbling out of the place drunk, what's the big deal? Has this woman ever taken her kid to the beach?
Some people get way to worked up over the stupidest things.
Nothing says girl power like learning how to ride the pole.
Wait a minuter, I think we're all missing the point here: What kind of fucked up person sends an 18-month old to school?!
(OK, even the head director says it's not a school, but obvs the people bringing their kids there think their kids are getting a head-start or something ...)
Tankboy, are you really that unfamiliar with why someone with an 18 month old might need day care? You also should familiarize yourself with the atmosphere at Montessori (it's far from being like "school" at that age) before you make assumptions and call people "fucked up".
Just sayin'.
From the article you linked to:
"Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) said he’s all for lifting a moratorium on new liquor licenses to allow Flirty Girl Fitness, 1325 W. Randolph, to serve booze during weekend bachelorette parties and quarterly bashes."
Now as far as I know there's no specific "occasional party" license, and the article is vague, but if they're only going to be serving liquor on limited occasions as the article seems to imply, then I really don't see the big deal.
E, i was confused about that too. if they only serve booze on weekends or at certain times of the year, there should be no problem.. unless, of course, the montessori academy goes weekends too. the whole thing's making a drunken mountain out of a sexy molehill, but people love their quasi moral outrage.
Pole dancing and booze - is that really....ummm...exercise? I have been looking for a reason to bypass my local watering hole after work and actually sweat (and not bcs the wings are too spicy). Heard of a place called S Factor that just opened in the West Loop on Hubbard, they started the whole pole dancing workout thing. I have seen a slew of imitators (cough, cough…Flirty Girl, cough!), but only S Factor truly caters to the body and mind, focusing on empowerment over kitsch. No mirrors, no alcohol, no wild parties, tanning beds, nail salons or Coyote Ugly-esque brashness - just real women unleashing their sensual power in a private, comfortable atmosphere away from schoolyards.