On a breezy April Saturday morning, Ravenswood’s Side Practice Coffee is bustling with activity. The indie coffee shop fills with small groups of twentysomethings enjoying their lattes and solo customers glued to their laptops. In one corner, a pop-up from a local baker has attracted a small line of eager patrons.
As the hour approaches, the atmosphere shifts slightly as fathers carefully bring their child-filled strollers down a short flight of stairs. Outside, a similar scene unfolds, with kids playing on the sidewalk, presumably accompanied by their dads.
Look closely and you’ll notice a trend among some of the fathers: baseball-style hats emblazoned with the word “broskis” on the front and “dads club” on the back. This quirky fashion statement is part of a local initiative known as Broskis, designed to foster community for fathers and their children. Launched in February by friends Francis Almeda and R.J. Ricalde, the group has quickly gained popularity, aligning perfectly with their tagline: “Where Dadskis become Broskis.”
The term “broski” holds special meaning for Almeda, 42, and Ricalde, 38, as it reflects their friendship that blossomed over the past five years. When deciding on a name for their no-strings-attached fatherhood club, they had the perfect term at hand. Almeda, a creative entrepreneur, is not only the founder of Side Practice Coffee but also involved in multiple ventures including Drip Collective, Novel Pizza Cafe, and Kanin. He is also an early investor in Del Sur, a popular Filipino pastry shop.
Inspired by an Instagram post about Brooklyn Stroll Club, a New York-based organization for dads and their children, Almeda texted the information to Ricalde, who also has young kids. Ricalde, a ramp trainer for a major airline, responded with curiosity, asking Almeda if they would collaborate on a similar initiative.
Without skipping a beat, Almeda replied, “You.”
Thus, three weeks later, the Broskis group was officially born.
“If there’s an idea and I believe in it, trust me, it will be born,” Almeda said, emphasizing the importance of community in their ventures.
Their inaugural Broski event took place at Sunny Village Café in Jefferson Park in February. By renting a room in the child-friendly café for two hours and charging $20 per dad to cover costs, they posted an Instagram flyer to spread the word. To their surprise, fifteen dads and their kids showed up, exceeding their expectations.
“I always think it will just be me and R.J. hanging out together, which would be cool,” Almeda reflected. “But then all these dads show up.”
Since that first event, Broskis has flourished, hosting three more gatherings with two already planned for the future. On a recent Saturday, they met at Pilsen’s Novel Pizza at 11 a.m., followed by a stroll around Harrison Park, concluding at the playground. There were even talks of pizza making an appearance. Additionally, a 2.5-mile dad-and-child run/walk event is scheduled for June 29, starting at Montrose Beach. Running strollers, traditional strollers, and wagons are all welcome.
By 11:30 a.m. on that April day, the group, mostly unfamiliar with one another and united through social media, made their way across the street to Winnemac Park. As the dads, with strollers in tow, approached the playground, they caught the attention of passersby, many of whom offered encouraging thumbs-ups.
With ages ranging from 26 to 45, the conversations among these fathers turned to the challenges and joys of parenting. Topics ranged from techniques for managing tantrums to discussions about preferred snacks for little ones.
“It’s nice to see other dads’ perspectives on how they are handling being a dad and balancing life,” Ricalde remarked, reflecting on the camaraderie.
Cory Morris, 43, who serves as director of community impact at Meals on Wheels Chicago, shared how Broskis brought him a sense of belonging. “Being a dad is amazing, but it can also feel isolating sometimes. Broskis offered a space to connect with other dads who understand the chaos, joy, and fatigue that comes with parenthood.”
Twenty-six-year-old Andrew Dagulnsin, who works in music production, echoed these sentiments. “I’m a young dad, and many of my friends don’t have kids. Since having my son, I’ve felt a bit lonely, to be honest.”
Tony Chan, 38, employed in the tech industry, conveyed the value of fellowship that Broskis offers, particularly to new fathers like himself. “The more we can get together to discuss our challenges, the better we can be as fathers for our children.”
After enjoying an hour of connection and camaraderie, the group ventured back to Kanin, just a few doors down from Side Practice Coffee. Here, those interested sampled the grab-and-go Filipino and Hawaiian cuisine for which the new establishment has gained recognition.
Almeda admits that while promoting his businesses is a perk, it simplifies logistics since he doesn’t need to seek approvals from multiple venues for accommodating large groups of kids. He hopes that in the future, other local businesses will step forward to host Broskis gatherings.
The core message Almeda and Ricalde wish to convey through Broskis is simple yet profound.
“For me, it’s about being present with your kids,” Ricalde emphasized. “Just enjoy these moments because, one day, we will be gone. At least they’ll carry the memories forward when they start families of their own.”
“Embrace fatherhood and be a dad that cares,” Almeda added. “For dads to show up in our group speaks volumes about what kind of fathers they really are.”
image source from：https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-culture/2025/05/27/chicago-broskis-dads-and-kids-community-based-group
