We all scream for iCream in Chicago

Last week while in Chicago for a tradeshow, I stumbled upon a very cool ice cream shop called iCream Cafe. I already knew that Wicker Park was a pretty vibrant and eclectic neighborhood to visit. I went to Wicker Park on my first night there not even realizing iCream was around the corner from where I ate. So the next night I searched online for an ice cream place in that area and saw iCream listed.

From the moment I walked in I fell in love. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed with all options. It's hard for me to make a decision, especially with an overload of options. The owner was actually behind the counter and explained the process to me. Basically you choose two flavors (from a selection of 29) to mix and you can add a topping for extra. They have low fat, no-fat, full-fat, sugar-free and dairy free ice cream and frozen yogurt, as well as selection of sorbets and even hot pudding!

Everything is made directly in front of you with LIQUID NITROGEN! Yes, that is correct. The photo above shows how they make it. There is a tank and tubes that come down fill the nitrogen into a mixer that looks like a cake mixer. I chose the non-fat chocolate and almond with graham cracker crust mixed in. You can request food coloring to be added as well. So if you want "blue" vanilla you can!

iCream Co-founder Cora Shaw told me she wanted to open a place where "the kid who is lactose intolerant can have options." After getting her MBA in 2007, she used her great business insight and ideas and opened iCream in 2008 and isn't looking back. It's great to see someone going the non-corporate route after business school. The place is so popular that people in Chicago are demanding other locations to open. Also, people have inquired about franchising her store around the country. Yes, it is that good. It is that unique. I have never seen anything like this before.

I told her that she should open a location in SoCal as we love our yogurt here. It seems there is a different Pinkberry knock-off chain on every street corner. I can never look at Pinkberry the same again. Actually I avoid Pinkberry as much as possible and usually just go to the independent yogurt shops. I was so inspired when I left. Maybe someday I will own my own iCream chain.  I will definitely be back next time I am in Chicago.

Getting sick, Chicago trip, lack of running

I first got that feeling in my throat last Thursday afternoon. I knew this feeling. It's so familiar. A sore throat was approaching. It's always the same cycle when I get sick. I first get a sore throat for about a day. Then I get stuffed up. On the third day or so I then cough up a green slime substance (not pretty). Then it everything turns clear. Then I'm not sick anymore. This happens the EXACT SAME WAY each time.

I was glad the sore throat didn't last long. Thank GOD for the invention of Cepacol's Dual Relief spray. Just one spray will numb your throat for several hours. After initial discomfort, the numbing begins. You are only supposed to spray it once, but sometimes I like to live on the edge and do it twice. It comes in handy at 4AM when you wake up with the feeling that someone is stabbing your throat from the inside out. I wish you could just spray out all the bacteria at once. Maybe someday they will invent something like that - just kill it all. I did take plenty of Emergen-C as well, which I swear by. I used to promote for them for 3 years so I have tons of samples still. It's a vitamin C powder that fizzes when you mix it with water. There are also B vitamins and other minerals in it that give you energy.

I knew I would get sick since I wasn't getting enough sleep on my DC conference trip. The 3-hour time zone change killed me. I think since I never got a chance to adjust. I only got to sleep late one day and then I was up at 7AM (4AM PST) for the next two days. Not a good combination for staying healthy.

I am in Chicago for a tradeshow right now until Sept 24 (Thurs). Miraculously, today I didn't feel as sick. Stay tuned for a review an ice cream place called iCream Cafe, located in the always cool and hip Wicker Park neighborhood.


Given my sickness I only ended up running twice this week. I ran over 7 miles last Saturday even though I wasn't feeling too great. I ended up getting a fever and my head felt like it was going to explode afterwards. Below is my pitiful log:

Date	Time	Mileage	Min/ Mile	Notes	HR Max	HR Ave
Sept 16, 2009	14:13	2.12	6:41	I ran briefly on the treadmill at the gym. I wanted to do 4 but only had time for 2 and I just wasn't feeling it. I am ashamed. I didn't even wear the HR monitor.	---	---
Sept 19, 2009	54:05	7.59	7:07	I ran to Corona Del Mar and back. It was sunny and not too hot. I was sick so this run didn't feel the best. I ran slower than normal. My HR was way up but I think it was a misreading.	181 (97%)	162 (87%)
week ending Sept 20, 2009	---	9.71	---	Bad week, I was sick and traveling. I was disappointed. I will have to postpone my half marathon plans to the Silver Strand down in Coronado in mid-Nov. There's no way I can run competitively at the Long Beach half marathon on Oct 11. It's ok, it gives me another month to get my ass in gear.	---	---