Sip With Me

Right in Chicago’s backyard is a corridor of history, beauty, and endless local charm. Home to the first 100 miles of Route 66, the I&M Canal, and the famous Starved Rock- the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area spans multiple counties going south and west of the city. In fact, it’s the very first National Heritage Area in the country!We sat down with our friends at Heritage Corridor Destinations to discover all the area has to offer, including great road trip ideas, summer fun, and of course, food for Aaron and antiquing for Ioanna!Discover the history of Route 66 and how the I&M Canal shaped so much of the development in and around Chicago.Plus, we talk about why towns in the corridor offer so much charm and hear all about some amazing food, beer, and shopping options!We end with rapid fire, during which we discover their favorite season in the corridor and what kind of day trip they would plan for us!PLAN A TRIP: https://www.hcdestinations.com/ROUTE 66: https://www.hcdestinations.com/route-66DINING: https://www.hcdestinations.com/Canal-Food-and-DrinkSHOPPING: https://www.hcdestinations.com/Canal-ShopVISITORS GUIDE: https://www.hcdestinations.com/Request-Info

Vintage is the vibe these days, and this Chicago business owner does it with a pop of color! Welcome to Vintage Frills, the color-coordinated vintage store that’s got treasures galore!We sat down in-store with Owner/Operator, Jennifer Kelly, to hear her founding story, which includes a pink school bus and a lot of estate sales!Hear about why she color-coordinates, how she sources pieces, and what’s trending this year.She gives estate sale tips, talks how to tell what’s quality, and shares her dream of doing a Lollapalooza Pop-up!We end with a round of rapid fire, learning one of her most memorable finds and one piece she’s always on the hunt for!VISIT: 2846 N MilwaukeeSHOP ONLINE: https://www.vintagefrillschicago.com/INSTAGRAM: @vintagefrills

If Disney World’s Epcot had a Greek pavilion, this would be it 🇬🇷Since Ioanna is from a Greek island, and also lived on the island of Manhattan, and Aaron married a New Yorker, we have high standards when it comes to our Greek food! This is the spot that never disappoints and will transport you out of the concrete jungle and into a Greek oasis.We sat down with first-generation Greek-American Co-Owner, Tina Plagos, to hear the incredible founding story of her NYC restaurant. Learn about their iconic blue doors and what makes their pita special!Hear how they created the “Souvlaki Pitza” and why they still get they get their meat from the butcher every single day. Tina shares what loyal customers can expect ahead for the restaurant & menu- they are at 3 NYC locations, a location in Florida’s Boynton Beach, and one in Panama City! Combined with their food trucks, there’s Greek food for everyone! We also pitch her on opening in Chicago!We end with rapid fire, during which Tina shares one of her favorite menu items, cool people she’s met dining, and what kind of Greek wine she likes!MENU & RESERVATIONS: https://www.souvlakigr.com/

Welcome to the Sip with Me Awards! In honor of our 200th episode, we are celebrating some of our favorite guests, businesses, and brands! Listen to find out our best behind-the-scenes story, who is most likely to become an A-List celebrity, and what brands we think will be the next big thing by 2027! Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported us over the last six years. We could not have made it to 200 without each of you. Cheers & Happy Sipping! Aaron & Ioanna AWARD WINNERS Best Behind-the-Scenes Story: Interviewing Carole Baskin in NYC Most Likely to become an A-List Celebrity: Artist Morgan St. JeanBest meal: Gibsons Bar & SteakhouseGuest Who Could Host the Show: Melissa AndreGuest Who Surprised Us the Most: Chicago Literary SalonMost Unfiltered Guest: Corinne Olympios from ABC’s The Bachelor & Holly NicholsRising Star Brand: Local Style Chips & Years beer Most Mind-Blowing Conversation: HarvardSmithsonian Astrophysicist Jonathon McDonald Small Business to watch: October CafeMost Replayed Episode: Lauren Paley Most Viral Moment: Sheena Melwani Rising Star Brand: Local Style Chips & Years beer Best New Discovery: Penguin Foot PotteryBest Advice Given: Noreen Heron- always be authentic and honest with your audienceBest experience: Camp WandawegaBest show: Paranormal Activity at Chicago Shakespeare TheatreBest drama: Kimbyrleigha and the Anti-MLM MovementEach of our favorite episodes to do: Affy Tapple & Muriel Fahiron (Creator of Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears)

Find your 2026 Aura with us at Aura Candle Bar!Founded in 2020 by Tom and Linda Pendrey, this transformative candle bar has differentiated itself and garnered a loyal following of repeat customers from around the world. Featuring over 100 fragrance options and scent consultants who will teach you the science behind fragrance and fire, you will leave this experience, literally feeling enlightened!Tom shares their founding story, including how they landed on Chicago and what some of the entrepreneurial milestones have been. Kristen, who is Tom and Linda‘s daughter, guides us through what a candle making experience is like and how the team of consultants helps you to discover the meaning behind the scents you choose, and how to blend them into the perfect original fragrance!We end with what’s trending in the world of candles, including sweet scents and their changeover to a new type of wax! Tom also highlights exciting additions to the business, including an e-commerce platform and the ability to customize your own sugar scrub and some new vessels!BOOK: https://auracandlebar.com/SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/auracandlebar/2:40 Intro & Founding Story7:30 The Magic of Fragrance12:00 The Candle Process- What’s Unique at Aura and a discussion of fragrance options23:50 The Science of Fragrance26:30 What’s trending in candles & what’s ahead in 2026 for Aura Candle Bar

It’s Christmas of long ago, your house is covered in fresh snowfall, and the bright, warm glow of your incandescent Christmas lights peaks through to light up the winter cold.In this festive episode, we meet Tru-Tone Christmas Lights, the company bringing back the nostalgic glow and timeless magic of vintage Christmas lights.Learn how partners David Andora & Sean Hunt created their bulbs to capture that vintage glow so prominently featured in your most nostalgic Christmas movies and memories. A heartfelt founding story inspired by childhood memories and Christmases in Chicago!Dive into what’s trending in holiday lights and hear some of the science behind Christmas lighting!We end with a lit round of rapid fire, learning their favorite Christmas light color and the best gift they’ve ever received! SHOP: https://tru-tone.com/SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/trutonebulbs/CHICAGO VENDORSFESTIVE COLLECTIVE​5 N Milwaukee AveINSIDE HOME1942 W. Chicago AveDISTRICT CHICAGO5430 N Clark St

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/transitteesWicker Park1371 N. Milwaukee AveAndersonville5226 N. Clark St

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

**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 ChicagoThe 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 AveMENU/INFO: https://www.thebrewedcoffee.com/HALLOWEEN BLOCK PARTY: https://www.thebrewedcoffee.com/events/halloween-block-partySOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/thebrewed/?hl=en

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/

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=enMusic I Use: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: GEPYSO2SVDRLELQ2Artist: : Sound EGO

In our five years of podcasting, we have worked with dozens of PR agents and firms. Today, we have the unique privilege of chatting with one of those firms, Heron Agency. A list of past episodes with their clients are below!Noreen Heron founded the firm in 2000 and has built it into one of the nation’s leading lifestyle communications agencies. We chat about her many PR adventures, including how she came to found her own firm and some of the amazing projects and clients she has had along the way.We discuss the Chicago market and what trends she sees in local businesses and social media. We end with PR rapid fire, learning if she has a dream client and who the coolest person she’s ever met is (besides us, of course)!HERON: https://heronagency.com/FOLLOW NOREEN: https://www.instagram.com/noreenheron/Sonny Acres Farmhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sip-with-me/id1522224564?i=1000712259676Vacations by Railhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sip-with-me/id1522224564?i=1000710876602Randolph Street Markethttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sip-with-me/id1522224564?i=1000629066714

In this special episode, we celebrate five years of Sip with Me with our 180th episode! We give you a behind-the-scenes look at our friendship, spill the tea on some of our podcast drama, and discuss the impact some of the episodes have had on our lives. As always, thank you for listening and allowing us to share so many stories with you! Cheers to many more.xoxo,aaron & ioanna