The facts

• According to the American Cancer Society, more than 200,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer this year.

• In Illinois this year, there will be 8,078 new cases of breast cancer 8,078 and 905 new cases of ovarian cancer. There will also be 1,687 breast cancer deaths and 613 ovarian cancer deaths.

• Up to ten percent of these cases will be due to an inherited mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. These genes can be detected by a simple blood test, which then allows women to make more informed healthcare choices. Women who carry one of these gene mutations have up to an 87 percent risk of developing breast cancer and up to a 44 percent risk of developing ovarian cancer.

What you can do

October is packed full of events, promotions and initiatives to help promote breast cancer awareness and raise money for charities that support research.

For the month of October, Chicago’s Peninsula Hotel, 108 East Superior Street, (312-573-6695) and The Peninsula Spa by ESPA (312-573-6860) will be pretty in pink. The front entrance and the hotel’s name will be backlit with pink lighting to promote breast cancer awareness. The Peninsula also has many initiatives built into its everyday operation that will help fund the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation:
•   $2 for every afternoon tea sold will go to the foundation, including a pink tea sold just in the afternoon this month. While sipping enjoy a string trio and some pastries, Mon.-Sat. 3pm-5pm and Sun. 4pm-6pm.
•   October 20-24 enjoy an informal fashion show with afternoon tea as Fashion Focus Chicago features designs from some of Chicago’s best boutiques, retailers and jewelry designers.
•   $2 for every guest experiencing the hotel’s Chocolate at the Pen, which includes decadent homemade chocolate desserts and treats.
•    $5 will be donated from each guest’s check at two of the hotel’s restaurants, Avenues or Shanghai Terrace when diners mention the breast cancer awareness campaign.
•    $5 for every one-hour or more treatment from The Peninsula Spa will be donated when guest mention the breast cancer awareness campaign.
•    Guest who dine and get a spa treatment may personally donate to the charity via their guest check. The hotel will send the donation on the guest’s behalf.

On Friday, Oct. 9 Hard Rock Hotel, 230 N Michigan Ave (312-345-1000) is teaming up with Bright Pink, a non-profit organization that provides education and support to women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer to present, “The Power of Pink.” The event gets uncorked with Moet & Chandon and decadent desserts. Later in the evening, guests are invited to bid on auction items from some of Chicago’s well-known places. All proceeds of the event will benefit Bright Pink.

If you are thinking about walking for the cause, Keds has created a limited-edition Pink Ribbon Champion. 100% of the sales from this shoe benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. $40, available only at keds.com.

Tons of spas and salons are offering great services for only $31 during the entire month of October—visit prettycity.com for complete listings.

Do you have good taste? If not, Wine Discount Center and Tattoo Wines do. The two vineyard vendors have paired up to participate in the Lynn Sage Foundation’s Chicago In Good Taste, a campaign to promote breast cancer awareness. Together they will contribute $2 for every bottle of wine sold.

Several breast cancer awareness advocacy groups around Chicago are presenting Many Faces of Breast Cancer, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6:30pm-8:30pm. This symposium seeks to educate women of their risk to breast cancer, treatments and information to support the growing community of breast cancer survivors. Wyndham Chicago, 633 N. St. Clair Street. To register, call 1-877-267-2316 or e-mail ManyFacesChicago@zenogroupevents.com.

Bar & restaurant deals

Many urban and suburban bars and restaurants are taking part in breast cancer awareness by offering specials during the month of October and donating proceeds. Call ahead or check online for details from Rockit Bar & Grill, The Motel Bar, Eivissa: Pintxos, Tapas and Sangria Restaurant, Luxbar, Rise-Sushi and Sake Lounge, Shine- Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar, Tapas Valencia, Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar, Carlucci Restaurant, Durty Nellie’s, Duke’s AleHouse and Kitchen, Meson Sabika, Public Landing Restaurant and Banquet Center and Arrowhead Golf Course Restaurant.

Gadgets
Cableorganizer.com has come out with a slew of little gadgets that are practical and supportive of Pinktober, the unofficial alias of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The company is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of pink-products ($1.00 for each unit sold) to The Donna Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to meet the critical needs of women living with breast cancer.

1. Checked the forecast at Accuweather.com.
2. Refilled the water bottle you keep on your desk.
3. Checked the forecast at Weather.com.

May I suggest one more neurotic addition to your hourly routine? Check out our just-released Chicago Marathon feature package. We’ve got tons of awesome info for runners and fans. Click through our slide show of elites running for serious moolah, meet some hilarious (and nervous!) first-time marathoners, download the training tunes of the speediest American athletes, find food, drink and party ideas for your post-race celebration and drool over the sweetest new running apparel you’ll find at the expo and online. Plus so. Much. More. We’re super excited for Marathon Sunday here at TOC—and we’d love to count down to the start gun with you.

SHOES

Nike Lunar Glide+ shoes, $100 (men’s and women’s) available at Niketown (669 N Michigan)
Nike’s latest, greatest sneaker eliminates the ubiquitous runner’s quandary of having to choose between stability and cushioning by providing both in one shoe. (Bonus points for the sweet design and colorways.) The snugly fit (more slipper than sneaker) and soft (but not too soft) sole makes for a cushy ride. But lest you think you’re going to plod slowly away atop pillows, the feather-light sneaks (the women’s are a mere 8.6 ounces) make you feel like you’ve got rockets on your feet. Seeee ya!

New Balance 905 shoes, $94.95 at nbwebexpress.com
This year, New Balance 1063s turned around my running game—somehow their design gives support to my oddly shaped giant boats and has put some spring in my morning jog. I quit my gym, I lost weight—those shoes are that rad. I’m thinking of stepping up to a racing shoe (maybe even racing again) and number one on my list is the “premium lightweight stability trainer,” the New Balance 905, which can be used for both training and racing debuting in January 2010. On the techy side, these are designed to hug the foot with a custom-like fit, control moisture and reflect 360º for safety. The 905 has a brighter, more aggressive look—which I’m digging—and marks a shift for New Balance away from fairly humdrum running shoe colors of the past. These babies pop.

adiStar Ride 2, $125 at shopadidas.com
The new elite running shoe from adidas has yet to hit the streets, but its talking-point attraction is a new technology allowing the shoe to flex more naturally with your movement. Active ForMotion involves “a panel of stretch material located in the upper midfoot section of the shoe reduces overall torsion stiffness, thus supporting the foot in its natural running movement.”

SHORTS

New Balance Women’s NBX Shorts, $40 at nbwebexpress.com
At first glance, they look fairly simple. But hang on because there’s a half dozen bells and whistles humbly at work in these shorts. First, the X-Static fabric is: antimicrobial (no yucky sweat germs), eliminates odor (no nose-pinching, post-run stink), regulates temperature (perfect for an Indian summer day or steamy treadmill session), eliminates static (no lame short bunching). Then, there’s the subtle storage compartment—on the front of the shorts so you never again have to man-handle your butt as you try to grab that fiver out of the pocket for a post-run cup of coffee. Finally, the sewn-in, customizable “In Case Of Emergency” tag. Yeah, you’ll probably never need it, but it’s nice to know NB is thinking of everything, isn’t it?

Nike Pacer Women’s Low Rise Running Capris, $50 available at Niketown
Yeah, it’s just a pair of black capris, but considering they’re a staple of any runner’s wardrobe come the crisp days of October, they’d better be comfy. And cute. Nike nails both of these crucial elements with the new Pacer. Dri-FIT fabric wicks sweat, flat seams minimize chafing, the low-rise waist is super flattering, mesh hems add some style, a back zip pocket stores your cash and ID, and a media-player pocket makes it a cinch to take your tunes on the road. Ladies, you will live in these suckers!

Nike Dri-Fit Tempo Track Two-in-One Men’s Running Shorts, $50 available at Niketown
Regularly jogging men, if you are still running in sweats or basketball shorts, I have news for you—there’s a better way—a much better way. If you can’t get over the fact that strangers will see your thighs and you won’t pony up for short and proper running shorts, the 7” inseam Tempo is for you. The built in boxer keeps one dry and they’re light as air, with a media pocket for your music player.

TOPS

New Balance Women’s Tissue Knit Tank, $36 at nbwebexpress.com
At first touch, you’ll think, “comfy nightshirt that I want to wear on a lazy Sunday morning while reading the paper.” While that may not be the ideal mind-set as you suit up for a run, be assured that this shirt is just right for jogging. No tight, body-hugging lycra, no weird cutouts exposing skin, no rough seams that chafe and scratch. Just a straightforward, cotton-feel that belies the intense technical fabrics in action (hydrophobic polyester yarns move moisture to keep you dry). The mellow lavender hue just adds to the experience. So you have it both ways in this tank—read your newspaper or run in it. Or both!

NBx Adapter Long Sleeve, $60 at nbwebexpress.com
Meet the clothing of the future you can wear now. The long-lasting high-tech fabric in this shirt has a layer of silver in it and is made to cool off in summer, insulate in winter—but we just think it looks like something you wear on another planet while cruising around. You could layer it for a cold-weather workout, but that would be a bit of a shame. It’s meant to be seen.

ASICS ARD Women’s Shimimel, $55 at asicsamerica.com
Each piece in the new ARD (advanced running development) collection is made with ultra-lightweight mesh, strategically designed for reflectivity, flatlock stitch and welded seam-free back mesh for breathability and comfort. While we dig the Shimmel’s built-in shelf bra and zipper for temperature management, whatever you choose from the collection, you can pound the pavement confident that you’ve got on an A+ piece of performance gear.

Brooks Women’s HVAC Seamless Long Sleeve Shirt, $98 at brooksrunning.com
Go, go gadget, uh, long-sleeve shirt! Thanks to its thermoregulating HVAC technology, this super-smart long-sleeved top detects changes in body temperature and reacts by moving heat from high- to low-heat areas, so you stay “thermally balanced” (in other words, comfortable). Bonus points for the stripey design.

RoxyAthletix Medium Impact Support Bra, $38 at roxy.com
Hopefully you’ve got a six-pack midriff you’re dying to show off, because it’d be a shame for no one but you to see how fun this print-detailed sports bra is with its fashion-forward back cut-outs.

JACKETS

Brooks Women’s Motion Vest, $60 at brooksrunning.com
We know, it’s so cute—with its ribbed neck, wide ribbed waistband and funky quilted stitching—that it’s almost a shame you’ll be sweating in it. But please embrace its cuteness and slip into this butter-soft vest on a chilly fall evening.

RoxyAthletix Women’s Halftime Hoodie, $58 at roxy.com
The good news: You’re going to feel super stylin’ as you jog along the lake path in this hoodie. The bad news: You’re going to get stopped every half-mile by an admirer who’s desperate to know where you found it. Surprise! It’s an awesome new running line from surf company Roxy.

NBx Conduction Half-Zip, $75 at nbwebexpress.com
With a Chicago fall and winter coming up, runners will need some layering options. This New Balance jacket has X-STATIC fabric (which has a layer of silver in it) with antimicrobial, odor-eliminating and thermodynamic properties. It also has a music-friendly external storage pocket and 360 degree reflectivity, so you’ll be visible when listening to Born to Run.

My nails before the Minx Mani.

After considering my options for a few minutes, I settled on a (cheerful?…goth?) black with silver polka dots print. After all, if I was going to change things up, I was really going to change ‘em up. First, my esthetician, Amy, prepped my hands and nails by moisturizing, filing and buffing them into soft and pretty little clean slates. Next, she waved a sheet of the peel-able flexible films under a bright warm light (to activate the stickiness), then peeled them off one at a time and very carefully applied them to my nails (to match the shape of my nail exactly), folding them down over the top of each finger.

Finally, she filed away the excess sticker to leave a perfect little pattern on each of my nails. It took about 45 minutes and cost $55 (a basic Bliss hot-cream manicure is 35 minutes and $25). Amy told me the Minx mani usually lasts three to five days, making it most appropriate for a special occasion. (Basic Bliss manis famously last a week or longer.) But Minx pedis ($85 and 55 minutes compared to the basic version, which is $55 and 60 minutes)—less likely to be exposed to the elements such as rummaging through a handbag for keys, sud-sing up with dish soap and other trials of daily life—tend to last at least a month, “so pick something you don’t mind having around for a long, long time,” warns Amy.

Ta-da! A very different look for me.

In addition to always, always choosing the Mademoiselle hue, I always, always chip my nails because I’m too impatient to wait the full 10 minutes for them to dry. The beauty of Minx? It’s not liquid, so there’s no smudging, chipping or drying. Would I do it again? Definitely. I left the spa feeling totally fearless: Even though they’re meant for special occasions, my smudge-proof, slightly-rocker nails make me feel pretty badass doing decidedly un-badass tasks, like typing away on my white computer keyboard all day. 644 N Lake Shore Dr at Ontario St (312-201-9545, blissspa.com). El: Red to Chicago. Bus: 134, 135, 136.

Speaking of sales, Knee Deep Vintage in Pilsen is known for having great “midnight madness” sales, and guess what? There’s one tonight. From 6pm to midnight, everything in the store is up to 50% off. And, as always, refreshments will be served. While you’re in the ‘hood, stop by the new workshop/studio/storefront space at 818 West 18th Street by Frei Deigns (the designer, Annie Novotny is featured in this week’s issue). The opening party is tonight from 6–9pm.

It pays to follow local shops on Twitter (it doesn’t hurt if you follow The Get, either). SHE Boutique (483 Central Ave, Highland Park, 847-926-0150) announced today that it’s giving out free hangers at its Highland Park outpost. I made a quick call to the shop, and it has about three giant boxes of plastic hangers (it carries only wood ones in the shop) that are free for the taking. You’ll have to hurry, though; they’ll be pitched by the end of the day.

And finally, today’s deal at Groupon should have you saying “aaahhhh.” Fifty bucks will get you $125 worth of services at Ruby Room. You have only a couple of days to scoop up this deal, and then you’ll have to redeem the coupon by the middle of December. Ruby Room offers a variety of services, including haircuts, massages and healing services, so the only stressful thing about the experience will be trying to figure out which treatment to book.

Kick off your weekend grabbing a drink at the dana hotel and spa and you could be in for a treat. In honor of its one-year anniversary, the hotel is offering 3,000 “acts of kindness”  to random guests now through July 1; think anything from a complimentary overnight stay to ajasteak gift cards to cocktails at Vertigo Sky Lounge (who knows, it just might stop raining one of these days so you could actually enjoy an alfresco drink).

Remember the amazing work that Sephora pro Emily Massa did showcasing the 2008 makeup trends last fall? Now’s your chance to take advantage of her expertise yourself. This Saturday, she’s offering free makeovers from noon–6pm by appointment only at the Water Tower Place location (845 N Michigan Ave). Call 312-335-9391 to reserve a spot. Bring your camera and a notebook and pen so you can remember how to replicate the look at home.

Sunday, run over to Wicker Park for a last-minute gift grab. Think Dad would like a buttery soft throw or cassette tape–adorned mirror for Father’s Day? Stop by Zella Brown and mention today’s e-mail to receive 15% off your purchase. Then go home and actually sign up on its mailing list so you see the deals for yourself.

Here’s how it works. Call the lovely ladies at the Fresh counter (312-781-3699) and find out what days facialist extraordinare Ezzat will be on-call in the coming weeks. Pick a date and time that works for you (she arrives as early as 8am, works through lunch, and stays until the evening). Show up. Get led to a private, candlelit treatment room where Enya-esq music plays softy. Enjoy a soothing, customized 30-45 minute facial performed with a plethora of the awesome Fresh goodies. If there’s time, get a quickie rundown on the products used on you and why. No—repeat, no!—pressure to make a purchase. (But just a word of warning: You will be tempted. I found it particularly hard to resist the Soy Cleanser, a.k.a. spa in a bottle.) That’s it! One more thing: Make an appointment for next month on your way out. Freebies like this are waaaay too good to pass up.

“Bring in a friend tomorrow for any first time service at Ruby Room and you both receive your services for half price. If you are due for a facial, massage, energy healing, intuitive reading, haircut, highlights or wax…tomorrow is the day to do it! Call us today to reserve your appointments before 6pm @ 773-235-2323. You must mention this email to receive this promotion. Spaces are limited and based on availability.”