Chicago Sweatlodge

You know feels good? Sitting in a very hot room until you cannot stand it. Then pouring cold water over yourself to allow you to continue. And as a reward, have a Russian beer, a bottle of club soda, salad with salami and provolone cheese, and if still hungry, a grilled skirt steak. It's a routine that's kept gangsters and politicians in fightin' shape for at least a century. Other cultures and peoples enjoy variations of this theme*. Right now in Chicago, there is pretty much one place to do this, the Chicago Sweatlodge on Cicero.

The Chicago Sweatlodge carries none of the glorious, sleazy, yet raffish history of the Division Street Baths, but makes up, for sure, with clean floors. Although, I'll always miss the poetry going downstairs for my heat, I've found this place just as hellish. The menu is broader, but my experience has been limited to my schvity classics cited above.

I've been meaning to to visit (and had to miss a chance last week due to some work commitments). Happy Stomach's remarks recently of King Spa just made me want to push more. This really is an "lth type of place" regardless of that fact that every previous effort of mine to round up some fellow travelers here has gone totally no where.

So, who's in? PM me or respond below, and also let me know if your preference is weekday, weeknight or weekend day. If there's a few interested, I'll set up a date.

Chicago Sweatlodge
3504 North Cicero Avenue
Chicago, IL 60641-3730
(773) 202-1777
www.chicagosweatlodge.com/

*Once had a marvelous experience at the Marrakesh hamman, which included someone bending my body in ways it may or may not be supposed to be bended, and yes I can handle all the bad jokes or otherwise uncomfortableness and juvenile-ness that some might want to equate with sweating with your brothers or even have them lather you up

This looks like guys only from the website. Is that the case? If so, will pass it on to DH

pairs4life wrote:This looks like guys only from the website. Is that the case?

Yup. Dudes only.

Brilliant idea for an outing. I was there yesterday morning and there was a table of ten or so gentlemen enjoying a very impressive table of food, which smelled fantastic - especially some kind of stew. The menu is here:

http://www.chicagosweatlodge.com/pics/ReHydrate%20menu%201-23-09%20REV.pdf

I agree with VI's take - the Division St. Bathhouse was a piece of work, but the Sweatlodge is a much nicer operation. My group decided to swing by nearby Smoque after our schvitz - just ten minutes away and no line at 2 PM on a Sunday.

SweatLodge is a great place. Food is always good. Kinda like at someone's house. Yo eat what they make. Always wholesome stuff.
My friends and I also go to Mirabel and Polish joints after steam.