Sip With Me

Here’s a puzzle for you: what do Settlers of Catan, Cowboy Caviar, and the Enchanted Forest have in common? Well, nothing in the outside world, but everything at Chicago’s premier Board Game Bar & Restaurant! At Snakes & Lattes, the gamers game, the foodies eat, and the worries of the world melt away in the background of its immersive environment. With over 800 games in their wood paneled game vau...

Summer might be nearing an end but we’re feeling electric about all the fun things ahead! This week, we meet Ron Silvia, President & Founder of Chicago Electric Boat Company. Famous for their year-round boating opportunities, Ron and his team have been innovators in Chicago’s aquatic tourism field for over a decade. Their notable boating experiences include last year’s viral Hot Tub Boats, Donut B...

Grab your favorite color yarn and let’s craft for spooky season! We are so excited to feature Chicago’s Pop Craft Studio. They offer a variety of crafts including Tufting, Cream Glue, Mosaic, Lipstick, and more! We talked with Manager Elvina Malkoc about the founding story, the insane crafting experiences they offer, and why crafting is having its moment. She discusses what cream glue is (check ou...

Meet the most extraordinary musical artist of our generation! Morgan St. Jean has been releasing hits for years now and continues to climb the charts and our hearts. A genius songwriter, she is credited on several Chappel Roan hits. Morgan joined us in early 2022, prior to she had released her iconic hit “Not All Men” and shortly after did it again with her single “Do it Like A Girl” which blew up...

It's time to eat Chicago! And what a better selection for us to choose from than the award winning Boka Restaurant Group!    Ioanna and I have been to many of their restaurants in Chicagoland and always celebrate with them on New Year’s Eve! Examples include Boka, Swift and Sons, Girl and The Goat, and more.   Founded by Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm in 2002, Boka Restaurant Group is one of the premier...

All aboard the Big Bus! One of the most moving experiences we’ve had in the city, the “Sunset Live Tour” by Big Bus Tours explores Chicago while the city’s architecture, historical landmarks, and lake are draped in the velvety shade of golden hour. This tour takes tourists and locals on a 90-minute journey around the Chicago loop and surrounding neighborhoods. Atop their iconic red, double-decker...

Did you know Chicago's Adler Planetarium was the first open to the public in the entire western hemisphere? This week, you’ll learn how the iconic lakefront planetarium came to be nearly 100 years ago and the story behind some of its space artifacts. Plus, Michelle Nichols, Director of Public Observing at Adler, tells us about the Doane Observatory, which is quite literally on the lakefront and a...

Join us in celebrating National Hot Dog Month with our favorite dog, Portillo's!  In this episode, you'll learn the story behind Portillo's Chocolate Cake Shake, whose dog was the inspiration for the iconic hot dog logo, and what Portillo's is doing to celebrate National Hot Dog Day on July 17th! A Chicago legend, Portillo's has been serving up Chicago-style street food since the company first ope...

With a crystal blue backdrop and a river running through its veins, Chicago is our aquatic queen! Shedd Aquarium is our favorite destination in Chicago for sea otters, penguins, and all things aquatic. We spoke with Senior Director of Marketing LaToyia Strickland-Ledbetter about the century worth of Shedd history, its famous lakefront architecture, and all the adorable creatures that call Shedd ho...

The best food we’ve ever eaten? Quite possibly! Streeterville Social is the place to be during Chicago’s famous summer rooftop season! Chicago’s “go-to outdoor rooftop terrace serving up alfresco dining, libations, and a celebration of all things summer”, this is the rooftop of rooftops and has year-over-year been voted so by various publications and tastemakers. We sat down with Loews Chicago Exe...

It’s a Blue Man’s World and we’re just living in it! This week, we’re thrilled to be featuring the iconic Blue Man Group! This immersive and transportive show has been around since 1987, but it’s gone through many changes and of course, several Blue Men! You can also see the show in numerous cities around the world, including right here in Chicago! After seeing the show, we sat down with a real li...

Ioanna and I love to leave a meal feeling satisfied. What we often forget to take into account though are the elements of dining at a restaurant that extend beyond the meal itself- the environment, the energy, and even the education you receive on the food you're eating. If you want to feel elevated after a night out, look no further than Loews Chicago O’Hare’s Sip & Savor Dinner Series at The Ash...

Soldier Field is one of the most recognized and iconic Chicago landmarks. And many of you have likely been to a Bears game there, or perhaps a Taylor Swift concert! What you might not think about when you visit is that the stadium has hosted numerous historic figures like MLK Jr. and NATO, and has had a far reaching impact on the Chicagoland economy for decades. We sat down with Luca Serra, Direct...

Take a Shot of Art with us! We all remember the creative days of our childhood when we could color outside the lines and make mud soup in the back yard. Now, there is a super unique experience that will remedy the creative void in anyone’s life and give you a boost of art therapy! This week, we ventured to “Shot of Art” in West Town to try out their wildly unique art experiences. Perfect for date...

To celebrate Pi-Day, we’re taking a deep dive into pizza pie history with Chicago’s famous Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta! (look how many pi’s we got into that sentence alone) A Chicago classic, deep dish was created to make a meal out of pizza, which historically had just been seen as a snack. Opened in 1991 by Rudy Malnati Jr., Pizano’s has become a staple deep disher, and their equally amazing thin cru...

We’re SUPERdawg delighted to have Chicago’s famous Superdawg family on the show! At 75 years old, the family owned drive-in located at Devon, Nagle, and Milwaukee, remains a quality classic on the Chicago food scene. With its iconic blue tower and signature Superdawg recipe, there’s something to love for everyone. Not to mention, they just made the cover of bon appétit magazine! We talk about food...

Fueled by sugar on the daily, Ioanna and Aaron are fun dippingly excited to learn more about their favorite candy shop, IT’SUGAR! Founded in 2006, IT'SUGAR calls itself one of the largest specialty candy "retailtainers" in the world, and at 100+ locations, there’s no sugar coating that! IT'SUGAR is an experience, known for absurd sugar innovations. They also have the world’s first candy department...

Start your engines folks, we’re going to the Chicago Auto Show! There’s been nothing like it for Chicago- from the people it attracts to the impact is has on a global market, this is the place to be every February! First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. If you’re into cars,...

Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, joins us for our first episode of 2024! We were pumped to talk about the topic that brought Ioanna and I together ten years ago- DANCE! While a student at Julliard, 19 year-old Linda-Denise was invited to join Hubbard Street Chicago Dance by the company's founder, Lou Comte. After three seasons, she went on to become a...

Today, we’re cooking up some Voodoo magic, not around a traditional cauldron though, more like a burning hot cauldron filled with delectable fried dough! Started in Portland twenty years ago, Voodoo Doughnut is known for its unique flavors and signature pink boxes. The company offers a sea of freshness and fun in a food and beverage  market that has seen a rise in “sameness”. The brand is national...

Candle Castle & Co. is the most magical and best smelling place in Chicago- especially during the holidays and in winter when we all need a little brightness in our lives! Enter Sunshine- the teacher of our class who led us on our journey of what Ioanna and I would call “therapeutic refined childhood crafts with an elevated twist”. She made the night special as Nathan and Aaron celebrated their 8t...

Merry Pinkmas! Pink Wonderland is a very merry pink Christmas bar with locations in Chicago and New York. It seeks to “break from traditional Christmas bar norms, aiming to offer a fresh, unique take on the holiday season”. The pop-up has everything pink and opens December 1st! We chat with King Inesse and Miriam Paz from V5 about what you'll experience and what it takes to make a pop-up come to l...

Nutcracker returns once again to Chicago’s Lyric Opera! A part of many folks' holiday traditions, Ioanna and Aaron are so excited to learn about the show from Joffrey Ballet Company Artist, Victoria Jaiani! In her 20th year with the company, Victoria will fill the role of “The Mother” in this year’s Nutcracker. We chat with her about the timeless beauty of the show, and what it means for her to co...

Raise your hand if Garrett Popcorn or Frango Chocolate are part of your Holiday traditions? Everyone should have a hand raised! The Holidays are here, so that means Ioanna and Aaron dedicate every waking thought to food.   Two timeless Chicago classics that are especially relevant during Christmastime are these two iconic delicacies. Family-owned by Garrett Brands, the company is responsible for d...

The Chicago Botanic Garden is the place to be, especially during their holiday “Lightscape” experience. Their 385 acres of pristine natural beauty in northern Cook County are transformed into an immersive journey that utilizes light, color, and sound to transport guests into realms of holiday beauty. Ioanna and Aaron went and said it gave “Disney nighttime fireworks show meets virtual reality meet...