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 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

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 buses, you’ll see the city above even our CTA buses.

We chat with John Curran, Senior Vice President & General Manager at Big Bus Tours, about the Sunset Live Tour and the company’s traditional hop on & off experience.

John shares some of the facts you’ll learn on the tour, including that Lincoln Park used to be a huge cemetery and how there is a piece of burnt debris from the Great Chicago Fire you can visit. Highlights for us included driving down Lakeshore Drive with the wind in our hair and pulling over on Fullerton for a one of a kind view of the city.

We end with rapid fire and learn John‘s favorite Chicago restauraunt/neighborhood, and he brings us to tears, describing the one person in the world he would want to take on a big bus tour.

Sunset Live Tours run through October 19. They currently depart at 7:30 PM, but this time moves progressively earlier as the sun begins to set sooner.

TICKETS/INFO: https://www.bigbustours.com/en/chicago/chicago-sunset-live-night-tour-ticket

SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/bigbustours/?hl=en