The Chicagoland Guide

Episode 146: Exploring Hyde Park Through the 57th Street Art Fair In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, Aaron Masliansky sits down with Cate Slighton, longtime volunteer and leader of the 57th Street Art Fair, for a conversation about Hyde Park, neighborhood identity, public space, art, history, and one of Chicago’s most enduring cultural traditions. As the 57th Street Art Fair approaches its...

Aaron Masliansky sits down with Mayor Nancy Rotering of Highland Park at City Hall for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, housing, placemaking, and the future of one of Chicagoland’s most distinctive communities. Mayor Rotering, now serving her fourth term, shares the story of how a neighborhood stop sign issue first brought her into public service, and how that journey eventually led t...

Aaron Masliansky sits down with Johanna Nyden, Community Development Director for the Village of Skokie, to explore how local government navigates housing, infrastructure, and development in a built-out suburban community. This conversation goes beyond headlines and breaks down the real-world constraints that shape housing supply, affordability, and the built environment. In this episode, we cover...

In Episode 143 of The Chicagoland Guide , Aaron Masliansky visits Youth Conservation Corps in Waukegan to explore a critical but often overlooked part of the housing conversation: workforce development. As Lake County and the broader Chicagoland region face a persistent housing shortage, rising construction costs, and a shrinking skilled trades workforce, solutions must go beyond zoning reform and...

In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide , Aaron Masliansky sits down with Adrian Brizulea of CoStar to unpack the Chicago real estate outlook for 2026. They discuss multifamily rent trends, housing supply, downtown office recovery, industrial and logistics markets, data centers, suburban redevelopment, and the major development projects shaping Chicagoland’s future. Adrian shares data-driven insi...

In one of the most forward-looking episodes of The Chicagoland Guide to date, host Aaron Masliansky sits down with Kyle Schulz, Deputy of Strategic Advancement at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). This conversation breaks down where Chicagoland is heading over the next decade, and what it will take to stay globally competitive. Aaron and Kyle originally connected through the Chi...

Licensed clinical professional counselor and board-certified dance/movement therapist Erica Hornthal (“The Therapist Who Moves You”) joins Aaron to explain how changing the way we move changes the way we feel. Recorded on November 3, 2025, the conversation grounds movement therapy in the realities of Chicagoland life: financial pressure, screen-driven immobility, community trauma in Highland Park,...

How can celebrating cultural traditions strengthen a community? In this episode, host Aaron Masliansky is joined by Diana Gran — Founder of Diana Gran Portraits and Director of Día de los Muertos (DDM) Week in Highland Park — to explore how honoring heritage can create unity, healing, and connection across generations and cultures. Diana shares her journey from Acapulco to Highland Park, how recla...

Episode Overview In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide , host Aaron Masliansky sits down with Jeff Haydon , President & CEO of the iconic Ravinia Festival in Highland Park — America’s oldest outdoor music festival. Jeff shares how Ravinia began as a railroad amusement park over a century ago and evolved into one of the nation’s leading cultural institutions. The conversation covers Ravinia’s de...

In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide , host Aaron Masliansky visits one of the last working farms in Cook County: Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview, Illinois. Joined by Director Jonathan Kuester, the conversation covers the surprising depth of history, education, and innovation happening just off Lake Avenue. Jonathan shares how Wagner Farm blends historic preservation with modern agriculture,...

In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide , host Aaron Masliansky interviews Chef Mona Sang, the visionary behind Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood. More than a restaurant, Khmai is a deeply personal tribute to Mona’s mother—a survivor of the Cambodian genocide—and a celebration of Cambodian culture through food. Mona shares how cooking helped her mother heal, how th...

In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, host Aaron Masliansky interviews Karla Koziura, co-owner and Marketing Director of FRÍO Gelato, an Argentinian-style gelato company with storefronts in Evanston, Navy Pier, and Wilmette. What started as a craving for authentic flavors turned into a beloved local business known for its commitment to artisanal quality, allergen-friendly options, and a welcom...

In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, I sit down with my longtime friend Rabbi Jeremy Fine. Jeremy is the Rabbi of Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Deerfield, Illinois, and the founder of 2econd Wrestling, a fast-growing independent wrestling promotion based right here in Chicagoland. We’ve known each other since high school, so it’s especially meaningful for me to share this conversation with you...

In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, Aaron Masliansky is joined by Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Real Estate Research at the National Association of Realtors®. They explore how global trade dynamics, tariffs, and macroeconomic shifts are impacting the U.S. housing market — and what that means for Chicagoland. Nadia shares insights from her latest research, including a clos...

In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide , host Aaron Masliansky sky introduces Inside the Skev listeners to the Chicagoland Guide,  reconnects with longtime friend, scientist, and conservationist Dr. Becky Barak of the Chicago Botanic Garden to explore how native plants can play a key role in the future of urban and suburban living across the region. Becky will be speaking at Skokie Public Librar...

Welcome to The Chicagoland Guide ! I’m your host, Aaron Masliansky. This podcast is for anyone who wants to explore what makes Chicagoland one of the most vibrant, diverse, and fascinating regions in the country. In this kickoff episode, I share what to expect in Season 2—from local business spotlights to neighborhood tours, cultural insights, interviews with community leaders, and real estate upd...

In this captivating episode of Inside the Skev, we welcomed Dr. Eric James, a stalwart in international development and humanitarian aid, to discuss his extensive career and the innovative approaches he's championed in the field. Hailing from Evanston and a proud alumnus of Evanston Township High School and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Dr. James brought his unique blend of local...

In this enlightening episode of "Inside the Skev," host Aaron Masliansky engages in a deep and inspiring conversation with Dick Peach, a pivotal figure in the Skevanston and Evanston communities. Known for his extensive involvement in various facets of community life, Dick shares his rich experiences, from growing up in a rural-like Skokie to leading significant community initiatives. His roles as...

Welcome to Inside the Skev, the podcast that explores the important stories shaping our community. In this episode, host Aaron Masliansky speaks with Matt Poole and Margaret Isaacson, dedicated professionals at the Evanston Ecology Center. The Evanston Ecology Center is an integral part of the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Evanston, fostering environmental awareness and promoting...

This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down Jennifer LaMell Goldstone from Horwitch, Goldstone & Shaw, Deanne Cooper from Fidelity National Title Insurance and Beth Lewis from CrossCountry Mortgage. We speak about the work of attorneys, title companies and lenders, how these industries support real estate investments here locally in Chicago and the United States. We also discuss the current state o...

This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down with Tosha Wilson, Tiffini Holmes and Jaqui White, who are co-developers of the Aux, which is a planned commercial hub dedicated to racial equity and wellness in Evanston. The Auxiliary Cord LLC (the “Company”) has purchased a 16,000 square foot warehouse located at 2223 Washington Street in Evanston, IL 60202. The Company plans to fully renovate the buil...

Today, I am releasing a podcast with my plans for 2023.  First, I talk about the events I have planned for the month, especially the first event on January 19th at Ignite Gaming Lounge which is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Evanston's charitable foundation. This is the event for the who's who of Skokie and Evanston to hear from the leaders of the community of what to expect, and for everyone...

This week, on Inside the Skev, we sit down with Len Joy, the author of the new book, Dry Heat .   Dry Heat , is a crime novel about a young man who loses everything but his heart. Len is an author of several novels, a Skevanston resident and a nationally ranked triathlete and competes internationally representing the United States as part of TEAM USA.  More information about Len can be found on hi...

This week on Inside the Skev we meet many members of Girls Playing Sports (GPS). GPS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering leadership skills and confidence in girls through participation in a wide variety of sports. The program engages girls, grades 3-8, in multiple sports without a long-term or expensive commitment. GPS engages girls in meaningful conversations about current topics t...

This week on Inside the Skev we meet Sabrina Ehmke, the founder of the Skokie Swifters Run Walk Club. Skokie Swifters is a run/walk club for anyone from beginners to experienced distance runners. Whether you just want to get moving outside, are looking to make some new friends, or are looking for a little motivation while you train for an upcoming race, you'll find a welcome community in the Swift...