2025: A Crunchy Year in Photos
An amazing year of nature and connection.
Dear Crunchy Culturists,
I’m writing this letter from holiday purgatory - those final few days of the year that bring reflection, anticipation and quieter inboxes. As I sift through the photos of all the wonderful people and places that Crunchy Culture has connected this year, it’s hard to believe it's only been five months since I brought this ‘crazy’ idea to life.
The idea for Crunchy Culture had been fermenting in my head for a while: let’s bring together naturally-minded folks in person and connect them to incredible local resources in Chicagoland. I’m glad that my heart (and perhaps my second cup of coffee) told me it was time to make some moves!
Before we dive into 2026, let’s pause and reflect on everything we experienced together this year: a crunchy festival, kids' holistic Halloween bash, sauna and cold plunge workshop, weekly nature meetups, farm-to-table brunch and more! See recaps and photos of all the fun below.
In addition to the meetups, 2025 brought the inaugural Crunchy Culture Local Gift Guide and the first line of stylish and functional Crunchy hemp hats made in collaboration with local brand Airetage.
I’d like to personally thank each and every person who came to a Crunchy Culture event, welcomed us into your space, shared your story, or supported my (maybe not-so-crazy) idea; it truly would not have been possible without you!
If all that can happen in just five months, imagine all the crunchy magic to be had in 2026! I can’t wait to see you at an upcoming event or brainstorm a collaboration. All naturally-minded folks (and crazy ideas) are welcome. Let’s get crunchy!
With gratitude,
Crunchy Jane
Crunchkin and I in our new Crunchy Culture hemp hats.
Crunchy Culture in 2025
Meet, Greet and Eat Picnic at Elawa Park: September 20
Crunchy Culture Fest at Honey House: October 4
Sauna & Chill Wellness Workshop at TFI: October 12
Holistic Halloween Bash: October 25
The Pilates PT Women’s Networking Night: October 23
Friendsgiving Farm-to-Table Brunch: November 8
Crunchy Crew Meetups: November and December
Meet, Greet and Eat Picnic
Nature enthusiasts gathered to meet and eat at Elawa Park.
The picnic that started it all! This family-friendly meetup at Elawa Park in Lake Forest brought nature-loving folks together and introduced our amazing Crunchy Culturist partners. The day was filled with al fresco dining, beautiful views, new friends and playtime for the crunchkins (crunchy kiddos).
The feel-good vibes were strong as we mingled and supported Bernie’s Book Bank, a wonderful local organization, with a kids' book drive. I am so grateful to everyone who joined us; a special thank you to the partners who spoke about their missions and donated items for our raffle.
Crunchy Culture Fest at Honey House
Honey House owner Anita and I celebrate an incredible event.
Crunchy Culture Fest was not your typical fall fest: there were no hayrides, no cider donuts, no painted pumpkins to speak of. In lieu of the norm, we transformed the beautiful garden at Honey House in Vernon Hills into a crunchy wonderland with a pop-up market and unique activities for nature-loving folks of all ages.
Only local and mindful exhibitors were invited to participate in the event, and a variety of wellness and nature-themed sessions were offered throughout the day: yoga, meditation, Pilates, kombucha-making 101, kids' art and more.
With music from talented local bands in the background, attendees browsed the carefully curated food options, natural skincare and fashion, native gardening experts, books, herbal teas, energy work and a kids’ garden play area.
A big thanks to all the “fest folks” (vendors, exhibitors and workshop leaders): Alluvium, Airetage, Aiya Functional Wellness, A-Z Landscaping, Body and Story, Daily Rise Loaf, Dhi Re Art, Dr. Kelly’s Kitchen, Find Your Niche, Fluffy Bunny, Fourth Dimension Flavors, Inner Artistry, Intentional Teas, Just Bee Yoga, “Kombucha Master” Michael, Matchmaker Bookshop, Natural Awakenings Chicago, Nourisherpa, Rundeep Cleaning, TARLI Cosmetics, The Pilates PT, The Bar Above, Tikvah Farms, Breast Thermography Center, Zelda’s Sandwich Joint.
And a special thanks to Honey House owner Anita for co-hosting this extraordinary event.
Sauna and Chill Wellness Workshop at TFI
Wellness-minded folks mingle before taking the cold plunge.
Our first Wellness Workshop, ‘Sauna and Chill’, was held at TFI Vernon Hills - a sports performance center that embodies holistic wellness. TFI offers personal and group training, Pilates, physical therapy and a recovery room with a sauna and cold plunge. I got to know TFI co-owner Brian Hansen while leading a run club out of the facility last year, and I knew we had to collaborate on this fun and energizing event!
Upstairs in the recovery room, Brian led guests through the protocol for the sauna and cold plunge before everyone had the opportunity to try it out. Meanwhile, in the gym area downstairs, special guest Dr. Jen Stotlar from Nourisherpa offered HRV (heart rate variability) measurements. Guests enjoyed mingling while tasting healthy cold and hot themed treats: acai bowls from locally-owned cafe Crisp and Green (thanks, Gina!) and handmade mole sauces from El Molecajete Sauces (thanks, Ernesto!).
Holistic Halloween Bash
Holistic Halloween Bash guests getting ready for the costume contest.
The idea to create a holistic Halloween party came from a personal place: As a health-conscious mom to a toddler, I wanted an interactive Halloween experience centered around community and creativity (without the sugar).
Fortunately, Crunchy Culturist partners came through BIG time! Three neighboring local businesses in Buffalo Grove (Nourisherpa, Therapy District and Therapy Etc. ) opened their doors to local families for an “un-haunted” house filled with festive crafts, sensory bins, a movement room with a climbing wall and ball pit, a dance party, a costume contest and more!
Thanks to local business Nuqi Soaps, kids got to create their own “magic potion” bath bomb with all-natural ingredients. The mother-daughter duo from Nuqi guided kids through the wildly popular (and pleasantly-scented) activity. Their store, Artisan Stop in Lake Zurich, is also where I discovered Free Time Treasures, a small family business that offers a variety of wooden laser-cut craft kits. The owners generously donated Halloween-themed kits for our costume contest winners.
The Pilates PT Women’s Networking Night
A group of inspiring women meet each other at The Pilates PT studio.
I met Dr. Rachel Miller, owner of The Pilates PT in Libertyville, as I was launching Crunchy Culture. I was inspired by her dedication to holistic women’s wellness and her ability to connect the community on a social and professional level.
It was an honor to co-host a Women’s Networking Night at her beautiful studio. We were joined by our co-host, Isabella, who provided delicious refreshments from her health-conscious cafe, Fluffy Bunny (locations in Highland Park and Long Grove).
The studio was buzzing with conversation among the talented group of women who work in the wellness space, have a personal interest in wellness, or simply wanted to connect with new people in a warm and welcoming environment. Dr. Miller’s speed networking format gave us an opportunity to connect with nearly everyone in attendance, and I left the event feeling energized and inspired.
Friendsgiving Farm-to-Table Brunch at Eden
New friends gather in Eden’s greenhouse for a tour with Chief Culinary Officer Devon Quinn.
I could go on and on about our Friendsgiving Farm-to-Table brunch at Eden, but I already did that in a separate story about the experience.
Here are the CliffsNotes: I teamed up with the founder of Community Dining for a private brunch at one of the top farm-to-table restaurants in Chicago; we gathered a diverse group of folks from both of our communities and enjoyed thoughtful conversation and connection; our menu included an array of flavorful and mindful dishes featuring herbs grown in Eden’s on-site greenhouse.
Following the brunch, we got a tour of the greenhouse led by Eden’s Chief Culinary Officer, Devon Quinn. We learned about all the plant varieties grown there (nearly 50) and the organic gardening practices used. I especially enjoyed hearing about Chef Quinn’s community-driven mission, his involvement in the Green City Market and the restaurant’s commitment to sourcing (and growing) local ingredients.
Crunchy Crew Meetups
Crunchy Crew weekly meetups connected nature lovers of all ages.
My family and I love exploring nature all year round, and I figured there might be other folks who would want to join us…I was right! The Crunchy Crew brought together over a dozen families this fall.
We kicked off with a weekly meetup series at beautiful nature centers around the suburbs: River Trail Nature Center (Northbrook), The Grove (Glenview), Heller Nature Center (Highland Park) and Emily Oaks Nature Center (Skokie). The crunchkins enjoyed exploring and playing together - first in the leaves, then in the snow. Meanwhile, adults got to connect and experience all the benefits nature and community provide.
The first Crunchy Crew winter series event was a special ‘Crunchy and Cozy’ story time meetup at Matchmaker Bookshop. With complimentary coffee from Fluffy Bunny and a cozy space to mingle and play, it was the perfect way to ring in the holidays. Our weekly winter meetups resume in January with even more fun and connections to be made. Bundle up and join us!
