PRESS RELEASE
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Friday Morning Swim Club Cancels All Future Swims
Chicago Park District Requirements Challenge Organization Values and Budget
CHICAGO — Friday Morning Swim Club will cease all future swims, disheartened by Chicago Park District $108,000 permit price and subsequent event requirements totaling upwards of $250,000. Historically a free, accessible event for all Chicagoans to swim and enjoy coffee, founders see additional business costs as unsustainable barriers to pursuing the event with values of genuine community and connection intact.
According to Chicago Park District attendance metrics, Friday Morning Swim Club falls within the same event category as Lollapalooza and the Chicago Triathlon, requiring founders to take on costs supporting transportation plans, maintenance plans, portable toilets, and U.S. Coast Guard permit fees, in addition to their own business expenses.
The Park District’s suggestion to relocate the event to any Chicago beach—a “designated swim area”— during the hours of 11a.m.-7p.m. impacts attendee experience and event identity. Along with the strict prohibition of floats, this leaves the event nearly unrecognizable.
Founders Andrew Glatt and Nicole Novotny see the Park District’s lack of collaborative interest as frustrating but unsurprising. Community members in Hyde Park and Rodgers Park have experienced similar communication from the Chicago Park District, their efforts and pleas ignored.
“Just because the organized event is done doesn’t mean you should stop swimming,” said Novotny. “We can’t legally host organized swims or encourage anyone to swim at a certain time of the week, but the lake is our favorite part of Chicago, and we plan to enjoy it safely several days a week—and we think you should too.”
Both Glatt and Novotny share excitement about new endeavors that echo the Swim Club sentiment and invite the support of event regulars: Novotny and Printer’s Row Coffee Co. open a second location this month, while Glatt lays the groundwork for a future community-based brick-and-mortar.
About Friday Morning Swim Club
Founded by Andrew Glatt and Nicole Novotny, Friday Morning Swim Club was formed on the premise of genuine community and connection. In 2021, the duo invited friends to Montrose Harbor to swim and drink coffee — and those friends told friends. What began as a response to coronavirus safety guidelines and encouraged outdoor gatherings, grew into an initiative to get people off their phones and into the water. A professional photographer, Glatt documented each swim and Novotny provided over 20 gallons of cold brew each week from her business, Printer’s Row Coffee Co.
Contact
Theresa Carney
tcarney@rfclaw.com
Consultant — Friday Morning Swim Club
Week 11 Recap
Your weekly dose of Friday Morning Swim Club 💘🌊
You guys make fridays at 7:00am fun and cool 🙂
Our favorite photos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 11 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt & Simeon Pratt
melanie got engaged at swim club in 2021 and on friday she brought her bridal party 🥹❤️
weekly additions to the map 📍
Valencia, Venezuela
knoxville, TN
Perth, Australia
AND MORE 👇
FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
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FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 〰️
MUG OF THE WEEK
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MUG OF THE WEEK 〰️
BIG CONGRATS TO MUSH MUG! 🍄👏
EVEN CLOSER THAN LAST WEEKS RACE—2,239 VOTES COMBINED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND PLACE. MUSH MUG HAD 47 MORE VOTES TO TAKE HOME THE WIN. WILD!
A Look at the Numbers
see you friday
😎
see you friday 😎
Week 10 Recap
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Back to sunny skies for another memorable week ☀️🌊
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 10 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt & Simeon Pratt
WE HAD MULTIPLE CALM WEATHER DAYS IN A ROW AT THE TOP OF THE WEEK.
WHICH MEANS CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER. OR AS CLEAR AS LAKE MICHIGAN GETS 😂
weekly additions to the map!
Frankfurt, Germany
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Evanston 😂
AND MORE 👇
FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
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FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 〰️
MUG OF THE WEEK
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MUG OF THE WEEK 〰️
Our closest race of the year!
Crayon Mug tops Cheeky Mug by less than 100 votes.
For reference, we receive 3,000-4,000 votes per week. a margin of less than 100 votes is a rare and exciting sight.
Shoutout to Elena’s parents
for providing this week’s runner-up, Cheeky mug. They sent elena the mug all the way from ireland along with a postcard wishing her a ‘mug of the week’ win. regardless of the l, we admire the commitment.
A Look at the Numbers
2,566 RSVPs 🤯
Ending this week’s recap with the star of the show, Kenneth. Enjoy 🙃
SEE YOU This FRIDAY 😎
Week 8 Recap
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Float day 2023!
wayyy too many amazing floats to count & one epic race 🏁
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 8 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt & Simeon Pratt
pre-race interviews & race coverage
FLOAT RACE CONTESTANTS
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FLOAT RACE CONTESTANTS 〰️
Congrats to emma on taking first place 🏆🎉
our favorite photos
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our favorite photos 〰️
our super cute map grew a bunch this week 🥹
Barcelona, spain
asheville, NC
Philippines
AND so many MORE 👇
MUG OF THE WEEK
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MUG OF THE WEEK 〰️
Scoop there it is ftw!! 👏👏
THIS WAS A BLOW OUT—NOT EVEN CLOSE!
CONGRATS TO THE OWNER OF THIS DELICIOUSLY ADORABLE MUG. 😍
A Look at the Numbers
Float day remains our favorite day. training for next years race should have already started 😜💘🌊
Week 7 Recap
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WE DID IT.
WALDO MADE AN APPEARANCE last WEEK 👀
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 7 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt & Simeon Pratt
Waldo is somewhere in all 4 of the photos below. Click to enlarge and have fun finding!
Shoutout to Aaron for being the best Waldo you could ask for.
one of our favorite things about season 3: weekly additions to the map!
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
KANSAS CITY
DRESDEN, GERMANY
HYDERABAD, INDIA
AND MORE 👇
FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
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FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 〰️
MUG OF THE WEEK
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MUG OF THE WEEK 〰️
Abby had been upping her mug game the last few weeks in an effort to take home a mug of the week.
And this week, she finally broke through.
Congrats to abby and her royal-tea set. it’s absolutely glorious.
A Look at the Numbers
2,131 RSVPs — WILD 🤯
See you guys this Friday for our favorite swim of the year:
Float Day and The Great Lake Race
Week 6 Recap
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ANOTHER GREAT FRIDAY MORNING IN THE BOOKS!
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 6 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt & Simeon Pratt
our list is going to run out of room soon 😂
Shropshire, UK
mexico city
portland, maine
AND MANY MORE 👇
FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
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FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 〰️
MUG OF THE WEEK
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MUG OF THE WEEK 〰️
Tressel won over the hearts of 2,400+ voters and cruised to the victory.
That being said, this was the most impressive week of mugs we’ve had since we started. Check out the full collection below.
We feel a redemption week coming for mugs like harry potter, pikachu, other harry potter, and the mystery machine.
A Look at the Numbers
Reel Recap
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Reel Recap 〰️
Week 5 Recap
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friday was silly. And awesome.
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 5 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt & Simeon Pratt
Our map is growing 🥹
new orleans
Malaysia
west & South africa
AND MANY MORE 👇
FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
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FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 〰️
MUG OF THE WEEK
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MUG OF THE WEEK 〰️
This was the first super close vote of the year!
Cute coups, nick cage & macaw mug stayed within 3 percentage points of each other the entire time. 😬
a major slay is awarded to nick cage for taking home the Win. nice job everyone!
A Look at the Numbers
Weather was questionable thursday night—but it held out for a cute & calm friday morning. ☺️
Week 4 Recap
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PRIDE SWIM
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 4 below 💘🌊
Photos and videos by Andrew Glatt and Simeon Pratt
$3,418.
TOGETHER WE RAISED AND DONATED OVER $3K TOWARDS THE CHICAGO DRAG TRAVEL FUND.
YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. THANK YOU.
Lots of New additions to the map this week:
JALISCO, MEXICO
Caen, France
Stockholm
AND MANY MORE 👇
FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
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FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 〰️
MUG OF THE WEEK
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MUG OF THE WEEK 〰️
THE HOMEMADE BEAUTY THAT IS ‘BEJEWELED’ ABSOLUTELY OBLITERATED THE COMPETITION TO WIN WEEK 4’S ‘MUG OF THE WEEK’. REALLY WELL DONE.
TO THE OTHERS—GOOD JOB, GOOD EFFORT.
A Look at the Numbers
YOU GUYS SHOWED UP AND MADE OUR INAUGURAL PRIDE SWIM A SMASHING SUCCESS.
THE RSVP’S MIGHT HAVE ONLY SAID 1,499, BUT IT FELT LIKE ATLEAST 2,000 SHOWED UP AND REPRESENTED. MADNESS.
THANK YOU + LOVE YOU.
💘🌊
RECAP REEL
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RECAP REEL 〰️
Week 3 Recap
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GREY SKIES BUT GREAT VIBES
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 3 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt
New additions to the map:
hOUSTON
Hawaii (we forgot to clarify where exactly 😂)
FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
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FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 〰️
MUG(S) OF THE WEEK
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MUG(S) OF THE WEEK 〰️
We had a couple sets of matching mugs this week: 2 bao buns and 2 dinosaurs.
Naturally, We decided they needed to face off resulting in something a little different: Co-Mugs of the Week.
The people have spoken and we present the winners, Cookie Monster (but make it dino) and Blissful Bao.
A Look at the Numbers
Slight dip in attendance this week due to the weather—1,700+ responded ‘No thank you’ 😂
Week 2 Recap
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NOTHING BUT GOOD VIBES FOR WEEK 2 😎
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 2 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt and Simeon Pratt
We had a bunch of out-of-staters join last week, so we made a map.
We’ll be adding to this each week. Can’t wait 🙂
FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
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FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 〰️
MUG OF THE WEEK
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MUG OF THE WEEK 〰️
This adorable mug belongs to kathleen harper.
Kathleen won 2 mug of the weeks last year and this year, she picked up right where she left off. approaching GOAT status, kathleen is.
🐐🏆
A Look at the Numbers
RECAP REEL
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RECAP REEL 〰️
Week 1 Recap
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What a way to kick off Season 3.
Our favorite photos and videos, Mug of the Week, and best moments from week 1 below 💘🌊
Photos by Andrew Glatt and Simeon Pratt
“This literally feels like Christmas morning 🥹”
- Mel Q
