Sip With Me

What’s better than one jack-o’-lantern? How about 1,000!

Exclusively at Chicago Botanic Garden, Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns features professionally carved pumpkins hand carved with a whole host of designs, from album covers, to Chicago icons, and even some TBT cartoons like Courage The Cowardly Dog!

Jodi Zombolo joins us for her 2nd appearance on Sip with Me to discuss this year’s Jack-o’-Lanterns! Find out about how their team chooses designs and carves 1,000 pumpkins, not once, but twice each Halloween!

Hear behind the scenes facts and find out what kind of Halloween goodies & cocktails are available each night!

We end with, you guessed it, jack-o’-lantern themed rapid fire!

The second installment of this event runs October 23-27 from 6:30-10:30pm. Tickets are already selling out so get them NOW!

*We also recommend you listen to our 2023 interview with Jodi about Holiday “Lightscape” and buy your tickets now! Both linked below!

Event Tickets: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/halloween

CBT: https://www.chicagobotanic.org

Social: https://www.instagram.com/chicagobotanic/?hl=en

Holiday Lightscape Tickets: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/lightscape

Quick Links: https://linktr.ee/sipwithme_

2023 Lightscape Holiday Interview with Jodi: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sip-with-me/id1522224564?i=1000634625687

Podcasters get lost in the world’s largest corn maze read the headlines! Don’t get cornfused- this is indeed the World’s Largest Corn Maze! Meet Richardson Adventure Farm!

Located north of the city in picturesque northern Illinois, this is not your typical family farm! Richardson is home to the largest corn maze anywhere.

We meet George Richardson who runs the farm with his family. He tells us about the fun farm history (dating back to the 1830’s!) and he talks about how you actually design and make the world’s largest corn maze (it’s a very high tech process)!

On top of the corn maze, they have everything else you could dream of at a fall farm. The farm also boasts an impressive Christmas tree operation, sunflower fields, tulip festival, and craft beer festival!

And, the best apple cider donuts we’ve ever had (literally we don’t know how they made it so fluffy).

Visit the corn maze through October 27th!

VISIT: https://richardsonadventurefarm.com

SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/richardsonadventurefarm/?hl=en

CORN MAZE PHOTO: https://richardsonadventurefarm.com/AdventureFarm/CornMaze

QUICK LINKS: https://linktr.ee/sipwithme_

Hey Pumpkins! At October Cafe, everyone deserves to feel the love of fall ALL YEAR LONG!

We meet Audrey Borden & Michelle Gonzalez, owners of the year-round fall themed cafe. A LGBTQ+IA, Latina operated cafe, they’re serving something special that usually only exists for a couple days each year as the Pumpkins glow and the apples crisp.

We chat about how the idea came about and what it’s like operating a themed cafe year round. Plus, we walk through their menu of delicious fall drinks & food- literally your mouth will be watering and you’ll be on your way faster than the leaves fall from the trees.

Audrey & Michelle are married IRL and it is so fun to hear them discuss opening and operating a small business in Norwood Park.

We end with rapid fire, finding out their favorite fall drinks, Halloween movie, and more!

Located at 6046 N Avondale Ave

WEBSITE: https://octobercafe.com

SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/octobercafechicago/

QUICK LINKS: https://linktr.ee/sipwithme_

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Tony Durpetti, longtime Owner of Gene & Georgetti. Tony passed away shortly after our conversation with his daughter, Michelle Durpetti. It is folks like him who make Chicago special and whose stories are the guiding light of what we do. We thank Michelle for sharing some of his story with us in this episode.

Chicago’s Famous & Original Tuscan Steakhouse since 1941, there are a lot of special ingredients that make this family business work. Michelle, Gene’s granddaughter, shares some of those ingredients, including rich family history, stories of her father, and some fun tales behind famous dishes like “Chicken Joe” and their award-winning steaks!

From the Frank Sinatra Booth to the Chicago Mural Room, there’s chi-town legend seared into every detail. We answer questions like “who were Gene & Georgetti” and “what makes their steak so special”. From the food quality to the warm family embrace, there’s a reason all the who’s who have dined at this Chicago classic.

We end with rapid fire, in which Michelle tells us what Italian dish Ioanna and Aaron should order and who the coolest person she’s ever met at the restaurant is

This week’s cocktail, a Beefeater Gin Martini, on the rocks & with a twist, is dedicated to the memory of Tony Durpetti. Cheers, to Tony.

RESERVATIONS/MENU: https://geneandgeorgetti.com

SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/gene_georgetti/

Quick Links: https://linktr.ee/sipwithme_

Cheers!

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Tony Durpetti, longtime Owner of Gene & Georgetti. Tony passed away shortly after our conversation with his daughter, Michelle Durpetti. It is folks like him who make Chicago special and whose stories are the guiding light of what we do. We thank Michelle for sharing some of his story with us in this episode.

Chicago’s Famous & Original Tuscan Steakhouse since 1941, there are a lot of special ingredients that make this family business work. Michelle, Gene’s granddaughter, shares some of those ingredients, including rich family history, stories of her father, and some fun tales behind famous dishes like “Chicken Joe” and their award-winning steaks!

From the Frank Sinatra Booth to the Chicago Mural Room, there’s chi-town legend seared into every detail. We answer questions like “who were Gene & Georgetti” and “what makes their steak so special”. From the food quality to the warm family embrace, there’s a reason all the who’s who have dined at this Chicago classic.

We end with rapid fire, in which Michelle tells us what Italian dish Ioanna and Aaron should order and who the coolest person she’s ever met at the restaurant is

This week’s cocktail, a Beefeater Gin Martini, on the rocks & with a twist, is dedicated to the memory of Tony Durpetti. Cheers, to Tony.

RESERVATIONS/MENU: https://geneandgeorgetti.com

SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/gene_georgetti/

Quick Links: https://linktr.ee/sipwithme_

Cheers!

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 vault (it’s actually an old bank vault) and a menu worthy of a Michelin Star, this place is poppin with vibes and energy every night of the week.

We sat down in the game vault for a live interview with Anaïs Guilbert & John Eiswerth to discuss board game trends and how the industry changed after the pandemic. Plus, hear about their private rooms, including Enchanted Forest, Starship, and Haunted Study (we think the haunted study is actually haunted btw the vibes are there).

Anaïs discusses the history of the brand which has locations around the country and in Canada. John shares how Chicago game designers bring their new products to test with the crowd- you never know, you might get to the play the first version of the next global best seller!

Plus, their calendar is full of events like Taylor Swift Trivia & Drag Bingo.

We also discuss the impact of games on our mental health during COVID and Aaron announces that he actually designed a board game once!

We finish with a game of rapid fire to find out their favorite games and items on the menu!

RESERVATIONS & MENU: https://www.snakesandlattes.com/chicago

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/snakesandlatteschicago/?hl=en

BROWSE THE GAME LIBRARY: https://www.snakesandlattes.com/library

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 Boats, Retro Boats, pedal-powered Cycle Boats, and everything else from Pontoons to Duffys and Yachts!

We chat about how his days in Cape Cod influenced his vision for Chicago’s river and lake. Hear how he used new tech to bring Chicago’s most unique boating experiences to life, and learn about how everyone over 21 (including Ioanna and I) can learn to captain one of their vessels!

On top of the already instagramable opportunities, they have dog-friendly boating options for Aaron’s corgi!  Plus, Ron tells us about how much promise lies in the continued growth of Chicago’s vibrant aquatic scene.

We end with rapid fire to learn Ron’s favorite boat, his go-to snack when on the water, and his dream person to have on a boat ride (hint: it’s Katy Perry)!!!

SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/chicagoeboats/?hl=en

BOOK A BOAT: https://www.chicagoelectricboats.com

See you on the water!

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 our insta for our adorable phone cases) and she tells us about some of the designs she’s seen at the studio. Plus, Ioanna and Aaron debate what we should gift!

We end the episode with a round of rapid fire where we find out Elvina’s favorite craft supply, favorite season to craft, and her favorite cocktail!

Pop Craft is the perfect indoor activity for the fall and is ideal for dates, a night out with friends, or when we went there was a whole bachelorette happening (congrats to the bride)!

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/popcraft.studio

BOOK AN EXPERIENCE: https://popcraftstudio.com/

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 on social media. She also released powerful anthems like “Right” and 2023’s viral Pride hit “Skin And Bones”.

Morgan is back to discuss her latest EP “My Mind And I” and her tour, which she completed earlier this year and, due to popularity, added a second leg that stops across the country in the coming weeks. She’ll tell us the meaning behind some of her new songs and discuss the creative process behind writing her hits and preparing for a national tour.

We end with rapid fire and discover Morgan’s tour snack must haves and her favorite artists right now.

Morgan comes to Chicago September 11, we’ll see you there ;)

TOUR DATES/TIX: https://www.morganstjean.com

FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/morganstjean/?hl=en

STREAM: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4kAyoGhVlC6PFg0FvMqmFB?si=Thzu4MLrT_m7ITcu3UuBNA

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 chef-driven restaurant groups in the country. Anchored by partnerships with several of America's great chefs, Boka offers distinct culinary experiences, each of them individually crafted and conceptually unique. You'll feel it in the ambience of their spaces and you'll taste it in the food and drinks.

Kevin joined us to discuss the history of their group, what some of their restaurants have in store for 2024 & beyond, and why they value Chicago so much as a place for fine food and beverage. Plus, Kevin pitches his upcoming book “The Bottomless Cup” which comes out in 2025 with Abrams Press!

Kevin was even featured on FX’s “The Bear” as he is one of Chicago’s greatest foodtrepreneurs! This is a must listen episode!

We end with rapid fire, learning about Kevin’s favorite meal, neighborhood in Chicago, and one non-Boka restaurant he’s enjoying this summer!

FOLLOW BOKA: https://www.instagram.com/bokachicago/?hl=en

FOLLOW KEVIN: https://www.instagram.com/kevinboehmboka/?hl=en

RESERVATIONS & RESTAURANTS: https://www.bokagrp.com