Sip With Me

And when I’m back in Chicago, I feel it, and I stop at Transit Tees for all my holiday shopping!

Transit Tees takes visuals from Chicago’s metropolitan landscape, iconic brands, and cultural landmarks and turns them into the most epic products, clothing, and decor!

We chat in-store with Tim Gillengerten, Owner and Creative Director, who in 2001, founded the business and is still creating local treasures to this day! We hear the founding story, which includes inspo from Chicago’s “L”. Plus, discover how he and his team of 23 create stunning products, like a map of all our Chicago neighborhoods and a Malört drinking game!

Hear what it’s like to collab with famous brands like Portillo’s and discover the stories behind their most popular products! Tim also shares some great advice for other entrepreneurs and small businesses!

We take the express train to end with rapid fire, learning Tim’s dream collab and his favorite holiday gift ever!

SHOP: https://www.transittees.com/

SOCIAL: http://instagram.com/transittees

Wicker Park

1371 N. Milwaukee Ave

Andersonville

5226 N. Clark St

Tucked away in Chicago’s Chocolate Temple is a wonderland of tastes, sights, and indulgent delicacies. Vosges Haut-Chocolat is our sweet treat pick for the 2025 holiday season!

Known for truffles, iconic flavor pairings, and an absolutey HUGE advent calendar, Vosges has been treating Chicago & the world to sumptuous crafted treats for almost three decades!

We dipped into the chocolate world of wonder with Ash Mishler & Jen Hockey, learning the history of Vosges, what makes their chocolate unique (they have their own proprietary blend cacao, so cool), and we heard about how they land on some of their exotic flavor pairings! From olive oil, to curry, to ginger, customers can travel the world by chocolate!

Discover the newly released collaboration with ‘The Smashing Pumpkins’, which includes vegan chocolate bars crafted to pair with specific songs for an experiential tasting- a “sensory symphony” as they call it! We discuss what it takes to pull off an epic collaboration like this!

To end, we bite into rapid fire, discovering Ash & Jen’s favorite Vosges chocolate of all time and what they didn’t expect when they signed up to work with chocolate!

Gift Vosges now, including their signature “Exotic Truffle” box, The Smashing Pumpkins collab, and their 2025 Advent Calendar now at the links below!

SHOP/GIFT: https://www.vosgeschocolate.com/

ADVENT CALENDAR: https://www.vosgeschocolate.com/products/a-chocolate-calendar-of-advent

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

We’ve got a lot to be frankful for this holiday season! And it all starts with our love for Chicago Icon, Vienna Beef! Today, we hear the story behind the Chicago-style Hot Dog and more from this absolute Windy City beast!

We’re joined by Maizy Lind, Marketing Coordinator, who serves up the bunbelievable history of Vienna Beef and the Chicago Style Hot Dog! Hear about its roots to the Chicago World’s Fair and the poppy seeded popularity boom that came from the Maxwell Street Market.

Maizy talks about how their dogs are made, why so many ma & pop joints trust Vienna Beef, and what’s in their catalog of products beyond hot dogs!

We end with “Let’s Be Frank” where Maizy tells us her favorite hot dog topping, how she likes her french fries, and what she most loves about Vienna Beef!

Serve up Vienna Beef this holiday season! Order delicious snackies & treats at the link below!

We also want to thank everyone at Vienna Beef for welcoming us into their family on a tour of their manufacturing facility! It was truly impressive to see Chicago eats being made!

SHOP & SHIP: https://www.viennabeef.com/

VIENNA LOCATOR: https://www.viennabeef.com/find-vienna-beef/

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

HOT DOG UNIVERSITY: https://www.viennabeef.com/hot-dog-university

Get ready for a spooky stroll through time! In this episode, we dive into the fascinating history of Halloween! From ancient Celtic roots to modern-day trick-or-treating, we uncover the origins of pumpkins, the story behind Halloween’s iconic colors,and the sweet legacy of Reese’s, and candy corn! Plus we learn a few fun spooky facts about Halloween!

**THIS SCARY EPISODE WAS FILMED LIVE ON LOCATION AND MAY CONTAIN HORRIFYING SOUNDS OF WITCHES BREWING, MONSTERS MUNCHING, AND DEMONS DRINKING**

Brew up something scary tasty at this horror-themed coffee shop in Chicago

The Brewed is located in Avondale and features spookily delicious coffee/tea and decor featuring tons of horror movie posters, memorabilia, and frightful vibes!

We meet Co-Owner Jason Deuchler, who tells us the founding story, what they do special for spooky season, and why they went with a horror theme!

Plus, we find out about their Halloween Block Party on October 12th, 11am-8pm! BYOB (Bring Your Own Bones)!

Visit them at 2843 N Milwaukee Ave

MENU/INFO: https://www.thebrewedcoffee.com/

HALLOWEEN BLOCK PARTY: https://www.thebrewedcoffee.com/events/halloween-block-party

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

This spooky season, we’re casting a glow on all things magical & mystical!

We sit down with Liz Frazier, Founder & Owner of Witch City Wicks, Salem’s spellbinding premier gothic and witchy candle company. From the spark that started her business to the inspiration behind her enchanting scents, Liz shares how she’s built an incredible brand, what inspired some of her scents, and how she handles the busiest time of year in Salem/ Halloween!

Light your favorite candle, settle in, and join us as we chat about entrepreneurship and Salem’s witchy legacy! We end with spooky rapid fire where Liz shares her favorite candle scents, dream collaboration, and more.

SHOP CANDLES: https://www.witchcitywicks.com/

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

VISIT: 302A Essex St, Salem MA

This week’s episode is full of good spirits and ghostly fun!

We sit down with Katie Stuck, Chicago’s Lead Tour Guide for Nightly Spirits, to uncover the haunted history, ghostly legends, and spirited nightlife woven into the streets of the Windy City. From eerie encounters in historic pubs to bone-chilling tales that lurk behind Chicago’s most iconic landmarks, Katie shares stories even locals don’t know!

Learn about the tour company, which focuses on smaller, intimate group sizes and offers a tour with booze (of course, the one we went on)! With tours in cities nationwide, you are sure to have a hauntedly good time no matter where you go!

We end this haunting episode with a special round of rapid fire covering everything from the most haunted place in Chicago to Katie’s favorite ghost movie of all time, and MORE!

BOOK A TOUR:  https://nightlyspirits.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nightlyspirits/

We’ve got something for you to sink your teeth into! In honor of National Twighlighters Day and to kick off our 2025 Spooky Season, we sat down with Trey Plutnicki, one of the leading cast members in TWIHARD! A Twighlight Musical Parody.

Originating at Chicago’s Otherworld Theatre, the show’s current run takes it to the historic Apollo Theatre, where we sat down with Trey to talk all things Twighlight, fandom, and what audiences can expect when they come for a howling good time.

Known for appearances on Squid Game: The Challenge, Netflix’s Battlecamp, and his many Chicago Theatrical roles, Trey dishes on how he brings parts of himself into the show, including an iconic tap battle, and shares how the show has evolved since it first premiered. As an original cast member, Trey speaks to why the fandom is so strong and how the show perfectly blends actual Twighlight plot with modern comedic relief.

We end with rapid fire, discovering  Trey’s favorite line from the show and that Aaron is neither Team Edward not Jacob, but instead pledges allegiance to Team Trey!

See Twihard now through September 28th at The Apollo Theatre.

Use code TIX25 to get 25% off all ticket types, valid for shows through September 21

TICKETS: https://www.twihardthemusical.com/tour

FOLLOW TREY:

https://www.instagram.com/choochootreyn/?hl=en

STREAM THE ALBUM: https://www.twihardthemusical.com/media

IT’S A BIG F*@KING PODCAST EPISODE!

We sat down at Maple & Ash with Chef + Managing Partner, Danny Grant, and National Spirits + Brand Director, Christina Demas, to talk all things food and drink!

Danny shares the founding story of the hospitality group and how they found their flame. Christina walks us through her cocktail menu and talks about what’s trending right now, including zero proof!

As a first timer, Aaron is introduced to the menu and their “I DON’T GIVE A F*@K” option. Danny dishes their iconic seafood tower and what’s called “beefed up butter”. Plus, the reason why cooking with fire is a difficult art worth mastering.

Danny and Christina also give us a taste of what’s cooking behind the scenes, including what’s ahead for this culinary icon.

We end with a round of wood flamed rapid fire, learning their go-to order at the restaurant and what they would cook for us if we came in to eat!

Dine at 8 W Maple, Chicago, IL.

RESERVATIONS + INFO: https://www.mapleandash.com/

SOCIAL:

https://www.instagram.com/mapleandash/?hl=en

Music I Use: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

License code: GEPYSO2SVDRLELQ2

Artist: : Sound EGO

A canopy of comfort in the hustle & bustle of Chicago’s central loop, Canopy by Hilton is located in the former Chicago and North Western Railway headquarters! This historic building is located next to Willis Tower and is centrally located for all your Chicago fun!

We chat with Complex General Manager & Chief Enthusiast, Liz Kraft, about the luxurious property and the fascinating history behind the building. Learn about the hotel’s iconic decor and how they pay homage to the city’s rail history. Discover the seasonal flavors showcased at its 16th floor Mediterranean inspired restaurant, Seville. Plus, Liz shares some of her favorite facts about the Canopy brand at Hilton and what makes a stay here unique.

We end with rapid fire, learning Liz’s favorite spot in the hotel and her favorite drink to get at the hotel bar.

226 W Jackson Blvd.

BOOK A STAY: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/chijbpy-canopy-chicago-central-loop/

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/canopychiloop/