NowYouKnow

10/26/2020

“𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿, 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿.” ♡ 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗮 𝗬𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶 - Last week I decided to go on a solo adventure to Batavia, St. Charles, and Geneva Illinois to run the virtual Crypt Run 5K, explore, and treat myself to ice cream! I loved every stop I made (trails, forest preserves, parks, restaurants, bakeries), but I especially enjoyed my final stop to indulge in my most favorite treat, soft serve ice cream, at .geneva. It’s seriously the cutest, cheekiest shop with so many great treats and the sweetest employees. They currently have a lavender soft serve for a limited time and its sooooo good. They also make some really fun over the top hot chocolate concoctions and lots more delicious soft serve combinations! If you ever find yourself in the area, definitely check them out. And if you want to know the other places I visited feel free to message me or ask in the comments. 📷: .geneva Chicken & Waffles: Vanilla soft serve, salted maple syrup, chicken skin, caramel, and honey in a waffle cone. Also pictured as you shuffle thorough the photos are their pumpkin and red velvet cupcakes. 🍦 🧁

10/13/2020

“𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱.” – 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮 Is it Taco Tuesday or Paco Tuesday? Try something different! These sweet and savory pancake tacos were the perfect brunch on my quick visit to Minneapolis! 📷: Pacos - Pancakes stuffed with Cheese, Hashbrowns, Eggs, and Bacon. #🌮

10/12/2020

“𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝘀𝗮𝘆, 𝗲𝗮𝘁, 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄.” – 𝗞𝗼𝗶 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗼 - Finally got to check out for brunch with my good friend . You all know by now I’ve been on a successful weight loss journey and now I’m working on finding the balance so I enjoyed a delicious protein bowl and Alyssa and I split a side of delicious pancakes! - You need a pancake flight so I can try all your pancakes because these were some of the best flapjacks I’ve ever tasted. Need some of your pumpkin cakes before the fall season ends! 📷: side of Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Pancakes and Cauliflower Rice Bowl with Cucumber, Cabbage, Avocado, Spinach, Chicken Sausage, and Egg (It also comes with squash but I asked them not to include it).

09/29/2020

“𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵.” - 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 - For those of you that have been following my stories I’m sure you know I have been extremely focused on losing weight and have been closely monitoring everything I consume while also pushing myself to be active with workouts, gym time, walks, etc. Needless to say, I have been very hard on myself and this past weekend I decided I needed to show myself some compassion. I decided to give myself a little bit of a break and enjoy some rest and relaxation plus a little treat. So I got a small latte with almond milk from the Coffee and Tea Exchange in my neighborhood while on one of my daily walks. I only drank about a third of it and then tossed it. It’s all about balance, right? Besides, I have made tremendous progress and have lost 20 pounds in just a few months. I lost just over 10 pounds in the month of September! And I feel great. This latte sure was delicious and I’m glad I treated myself. I’m loving all the Schitt’s Creeks references everywhere and can I just say I cried every time the show won an Emmy from . They swept the whole comedy category and they so deserved it!!! I have watched the entire series thrice and it is one of the wonderful things that have helped make this pandemic tolerable. ❤️P.S. Happy National Coffee Day!
“𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲.” - 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲
📷: iced This Wine Is Awful, Get Me Another Glass (Blueberry, Shortbread, Toasted Marshmallow) from the Schitt List that was so popular they kept it for two months. It was of course inspired by my favorite show, . Back in August I tried an iced A Little Bit Alexis (hibiscus, pomegranate, French vanilla, white chocolate sauce). Both were delicious! I was hoping to get an Ew, David but looks like I’ll miss it. Tomorrow is the last day to enjoy these fun lattes! I have a feeling their October menu will hace some tasty pumpkin options. 🤷‍♀️

09/22/2020

“𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮.” - 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠 - It’s NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY! Please make sure you are registered to vote! This year’s election is critical! http://www.nationalvoterregistrationday.com You can also request a mail-in ballot. Also, if you’re concerned about the late great RBG’s Supreme Court Justice seat, you can text ‘RBG’ to 50409 to command that there be no confirmation of the SCJ seat until after Inauguration Day. "𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲." - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐁𝐆 - It’s time for us to do our work and to keep the legacy of the incredible Ruth Bader Ginsburg alive! 📷: My Notorious RBG Halloween costume 2019!

09/21/2020

**𝙂𝙄𝙑𝙀𝘼𝙒𝘼𝙔** 𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱. has just released its restaurant guide and charity partner, working to support the hospitality industry one great meal at a time. This great little book offers BOGO deals for dine in and carry out at some of Chicago’s best restaurants including some of my personal favorites which I’ve tagged in the photo and shared in my stories. Also, you can get your own book for just $37 (instead of the usual $50 price) with code: KCAHNMANN20. Just click the link in my bio for purchase. I’m also GIVING AWAY one discount book, a $50 gift card to & a $10 gift card to to one lucky follower. ➡️ Simply like this photo, follow all 4 of us, and tag friends in the comments. Each tag is an entry. Enter as many times as you like. Winner randomly selected on Friday, October 2. ⬅️ Want to BOGO with me? Let me know and we’ll plan it. 📷: Apple Cider Donut & Vegan Pumpkin Donut!

09/08/2020

𝗣𝗶𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝘆.... 𝗜 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗲! CHICAGO: Listen up! There’s a new unique boutique pie shop coming to our city and it’s already making its mark, by ! 📷: THE PERFECT PEAR is a decadent bourbon poached pear pie elevated by a bourbon caramel sauce and finished with a ginger sour cream crumble. It’s absolutely delightful! It‘s a fresh & tasty treat that’s not too sweet. And can we talk about the perfect flaky, buttery pie crust and absolutely gorgeous layered pears!!! I cannot wait for Darian to officially open La Maison Pie! So glad I got to taste this delightful pie. He’s continuously experimenting in the kitchen and creating some of the most delicious pies I’ve ever laid my eyes upon! Once I hit my weight loss goals I’m ordering some Rhapsody in Blueberry and a Main Squeeze from Darian to celebrate! And of course I’ll share! Now, do yourself a favor and follow him and order pie! 🥧

09/03/2020

“Even on the darkest days I will stand tall and find the sunlight.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CErvA1zjQEa/?igshid=sef76pi1qond

09/01/2020

“𝗕𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗿, 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”
I’m sure by now if you are in the Chicago area you’ve heard of Beacon Doughnuts, the ever popular vegan donuts sold out of an Instagramable-worthy window in an alley off of Armitage just west of Halsted that opened amidst the global pandemic while we were all sheltering at home shining a beacon of light on an otherwise dark time. The owner Andrew Catrambone is only 30, a former Do-Rite Donuts employee, and grew up just outside the city in Crystal Lake. These donuts have become so popular that they sell out every weekend! My personal favorite was the orange pistachio followed by a tie between the blue lavender vanilla and blueberry pancake. Now, go... and get you some vegan donuts! 📷: half dozen vegan donuts - orange pistachio, blueberry pancake, blue lavender vanilla, birthday cake, samoa, and s’mores! 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗣𝗘 ➡️ to see some close-ups of these beauties! #🍩

08/26/2020

“𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚, 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐢𝐫.” — 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐡 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐨 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 — This summer heat is getting to me and all I’m thinking about is cooling off in a pool and enjoying one of these delicious, refreshing watermelon martinis from . These pics are from a delicious brunch I enjoyed on Father’s Day back in June. Everything was so delicious and I highly recommend checking Drews out. They have a nice patio out back and an excellent happy hour menu with different deals every day of the week! Now, who has a pool that I can use? 🏊🏼‍♀️ 🍸📷: Watermelon Martini, Gazpacho, Brie Cheese Pizza w/ Grapes, White Truffle Honey, Petite Salad, and Bread Pudding Dessert! @ Drew's on Halsted

08/15/2020

“𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤.” — 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧 (𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐡) — One year ago today I underwent surgery to remove a cancerous mole (melanoma stage 2) and 6 lymph nodes under my left armpit where the cancer had spread. I am officially 1-year skin cancer free. I now take extra measures to protect myself from the harmful UV rays of the sun wearing quality, natural, cruelty-free sunscreens, donning rash guards with SPF, finding shade whenever possible if outdoors for extended periods, and packing sunglasses and a hat or visor everywhere I go. I celebrated a little early (last month) with this insanely delicious and gorgeous cake from the talented ! It’s a 2-layer 4-inch white chocolate passion fruit vanilla cake with hibiscus white chocolate bark and delicious white chocolate passion fruit truffles! When I tell you this cake was unbelievably delicious you have to believe me. Seriously, if you’re in the market for a cake for any occasion Sarah is the absolute best. There’s really no theme she can’t execute and she loves a good challenge!🎂🙌🏻🍰
@ Lakeview Chicago Il

08/12/2020

“𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧.” ― 𝙄𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙝 — For all of you who have been following me or know, understand my LOVE for and obsession with ICE CREAM! It’s the perfect treat and oh so satisfying on a hot summer day but don’t think I won’t enjoy this delicious creamy treat on a cold winter day, too, because I definitely will. Imagine how excited I was to discover two incredible ice cream shops with some of the most unique flavors of ice cream I’ve ever tasted while on a little road trip to Minneapolis! I was in pure ICE CREAM heaven!!! Swipe for all the 🍦🍦🍦
📷: Ice Cream Flight (in a boat):
UMA THURMAN: greek yogurt w/ passionfruit lychee swirl
CEREAL KILLERS: orange coriander milk w/ candied fruity pebbles
PILLOW TALK: strawberry sorbet w/ cardamom meringue
PB VS EVERYBODY: peanut butter banana w/ oreo chunks
🍦🍦🍦🍦zito double scoop in a fun cone: LEMON PARTY & award-winning TRES LECHES WITH STRAWBERRY CHURROS
@ Milkjam Creamery

07/28/2020

“𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧.” Thank you for nominating me & ! Women, let’s lift each other up.

07/27/2020

"𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. 𝐈𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞." — 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧 — Given our current state of affairs my initial plans to escape to paradise this summer have been sidelined and though I was disappointed initially, I’ve learned to enjoy the small moments, cherish all the little joys, and remember paradise is a state of mind. So, thanks to ice cream sandwich contest I decided to create my own little Summer Paradise in the form of my favorite food... ice cream. The rules simply stated to create an ice cream sandwich using five Trader Joe’s products or less. Challenge accepted! I wanted to think outside of the box and do something a little unique and different from the typical ice cream sandwich. Additionally, I wanted it to look like an ice cream cone! I also wanted it to scream summer! Nothing like combining exotic and citrus fruits to create the perfect ice cream sandwich. My creation includes mango, lemon, orange, and just a tad bit of chocolate. And let me tell you… This is delicious and refreshing and small enough to enjoy without any guilt! Now for the specifics: I used crepe wafer cookies, mango sorbet, lemon baton wafer cookies, sweetened dried orange slices, and candy coated chocolate drops. Swipe to check out my creation as well as a photo of all the ingredients I used.
@ Trader Joe's- Chicago

07/20/2020

“𝐀 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.” — 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐉𝐫. — Enjoyed one of the best chicken sammies a few weeks ago at . I’ve honestly never eaten anything else there except their tacos and enjoyed some cocktails but when I read the description of this chicken sandwich I knew I had to give it a go. Weeks later and I’m still thinking about it because it was that MOTHER CLUCKING good! And the fries were also incredible! Definitely need to go back for both. 📷: Mother Clucker Chicken Sandwich: it's dangerously addictive! Secret recipe fried chicken, honey mustard, pickles, lettuce on a brioche bun served with a side of attitude and seasoned corkscrew fries.

07/06/2020

“𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.” — 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐧 — I don’t know about everyone else but this year I didn’t feel much like celebrating the Fourth of July, Independence Day, America’s “ birthday.” I’ve been so caught up with everything going on in the world and trying to do what I can to make somewhat of a difference. I’m continuing to listen more and have more in-depth conversations regarding the state of our world and the injustices all around us. I’m also continuing to make a point of supporting black owned businesses. So instead of watching fireworks this year I enjoyed a beautiful bike ride out of the city followed by treating myself and some friends to these incredible ooey gooey fudgey delicious bourbon brownies made with by the incredible . And then I took my daily walk and watched on . Swipe ➡️ to see my first bite and the wonderful owner of IntoxiCakes, Kamilah.
“𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.” — 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐫 (𝐌𝐋𝐊) @ Chicago, Illinois

06/18/2020

𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL! BLACK LIVES MATTER! Matter is the minimum. Black lives are worthy. Black lives are beloved. Black lives are needed. Without black lives our world would be bland and lacking and we would miss out on so much talent and knowledge. My life is so much richer, brighter, and joyful because of all the beautiful black lives that are part of it including friends, colleagues, students, etc. Black Lives Matter is not a trend and I promise I won’t stop fighting, speaking up, educating myself, supporting black lives, and doing everything I possibly can to ensure necessary changes happen! @ Chicago, Illinois

06/02/2020

05/30/2020

“𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙨.“ It’s Five Squared Friday and I finally got my hands on ‘za! They scratch make 5” Detroit-style pizza squares, and desserts using only high quality ingredients which are mostly organic! Pickup is every Friday and you MUST preorder! They sell out EVERY week! So get your orders in ASAP! I tried the Cubano, Pesto, Mac, and Buffalo. #🍕

05/27/2020

“𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐧.” — 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐡 — Last night I tried some very unique and tasty vegetarian empanadas from a fairly new place, . They use a variety of vegetables, jackfruit, beyond meat, and cheese to create tasty meatless empanadas inspired by cuisines around the globe. They are delivered pre-heated and frozen so you can freeze them or heat them up in the oven or an air fryer. I used my air fryer, of course. I ordered 6 empanadas (good size) - 1 of each flavor - for $17 with delivery. They are filling and flavorful. My favorites were the smoky mushroom and corn followed by the margherita. Tinga has a nice chipotle kick and is made with jackfruit. There’s also roja vieja & Andean flavors. Give them a try.

05/16/2020

“𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙙.“ — 𝙅𝙤𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙨 — HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! This one’s for you. I miss the f**k out of you! It’s only been a year and a half since you left us but it feels like forever! I wanted to do something extra special tonight to honor you because it’s your birthday and because the world is in a crazy place right now. I’m so grateful to & for this impeccable dinner to celebrate their 15th year anniversary. Tonight was a night of celebrations. I wantedmore than anything to celebrate Donna‘s life in a special way and I knew she would’ve loved dining at Alinea! I didn’t do the plating justice but I did my best and more importantly the wine was flowing which also might explain why my plating wasn’t the best. Tonight‘s dinner was one of my two favorites since we’ve all been sheltering at home. I appreciated the instructions included with the dinner but even more so the stories behind each dish. And a huge thank you to & for inspiring me to order this anniversary special and putting the pressure on in the plating! TGIF! I’m happy and I think Donna would’ve loved this celebration. P..S. Thank you for helping me find the perfect ice cream to pair with dessert! I love your spirit line. The Rosé & Cream + Irish Cream Brownie flavors were perfection! “𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮…𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀𝘿. 𝘽𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙮, 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙮, 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮, 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙡𝙮, 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮, 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀𝘿.” — 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙚 —
@ Alinea

05/06/2020

“𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬.” I may not be able to go out and support my local favorites but I can stay in and celebrate with them! Delicious dinner and drinks tonight from & .make.it.happen. 📷: Pozole, Al Pastor & Steak Tacos, Honey Rose Margarita, & Paletitas con Chamoy.
#🌮

04/24/2020

“𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.” I saw this quote painted on the side of a truck during my daily walk earlier today. I think it’s perfectly fitting for what is going on in the world today. 2020 has been an interesting year, especially the last 5-6 weeks! I am trying to focus on the positive, be productive, and do what I can to support others during this very challenging time. I miss going out and seeing people but I keep reminding myself this is temporary and for the good of all. So while we are sheltering in place I am finding ways to support local restaurants, bars, and hospitality workers. Here are some of the incredible eats and drinks I’ve enjoyed over the last month and a half: , , , , .make.it.happen (picking up another order tomorrow), , The Tamale Guy, , , , , , & ! If you have any questions on what I’ve ordered please ask away. Everything has been absolutely delicious! @ Chicago, Illinois

04/01/2020

“𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐮𝐩.” — 𝐓𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐬𝐨𝐧 —

03/25/2020

Good Morning. I know I am not very active on this account due to other projects and responsibilities. I started NowYouKnow now only to provide a comprehensive resource for Chicago locals and visitors to discover great events and activities but also to support local businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals offering great services and products around the Chicagoland area.

Right now, we are all experiencing a tumultuous time in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Some of us are suffering more than others. I am blessed to still have job security during this challenging time but that is not the case for many.

I am trying my best to support some of my favorite businesses during this time and you can, too, if of course, you have the means to do so.

I have ordered food from some of my favorite eateries including Eddie V's Prime Seafood (Chicago, IL) and Shiawase Restaurant. I am also planning on ordering from Wrigley BBQ, Bolivar & Lincoln, Naansense, and more. I encourage those of you that can to also order from some of your favorite spots.

My brother has temporarily moved his bar trivia to FB live and offers two games every night which you can find at Brain Bash Trivia Live. While there is no cost to play, donations are very much welcome. Information on how to donate can be found on the Brain Bash Trivia page. Each night, he will donate the money raised from one game to the Four Corners Restaurant Group.

If you are getting a little stir crazy at home and are in need of some ideas of how to stay busy and/or entertain the kids, I have created this document: bit.ly/VirtualReality2020.

I also created a fun Spotify playlist to get through this dark time and have nightly dance parties for one in my apartment well I am self-quarantining solo! bit.ly/SocialDistancingTunes

Know that I am thinking of everyone and sending good vibes. Please feel free to share resources or businesses that could use our support in the comments below. I'll start!

Staying Engaged and Active During Social Distancing We are currently experiencing a worldwide pandemic that is affecting everyone globally. This is a challenging time for all. Action, expectations, and regulations are changing minute-by-minute. Officials have stated that the best way to slow dow...

03/16/2020

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭, 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.” — 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐭 — I’ve always measured my riches by my life experiences, travels, and adventures! Right now the world is experiencing a pandemic and each of us have our own responses. My optimism, positive attitude, and hope always carry me through the toughest of times. I know many of us will be holed up for the next few weeks at least so I can’t help but reminisce back to the beginning of this year when I ventured to Bali, Indonesia for the first time. If I had to describe it in one word I would say: MAGICAL! I had the most magnificent time visiting such a beautiful country! I wish I could share all my photos from that trip because every moment was out of this world! My favorite spots and experiences included hiking up Mt Batur (an active volcano) to see the sunrise, relaxing in the hot springs after a long hike, a full spa day, gates of heaven tour, Tirta Empul water temple, monkey forest, snorkeling in the blue lagoon, bird park, eating at incredible restaurants like & , rice terraces, coffee plantations enjoying Luwak coffee, cooking with a Balinese family in their home, relaxing beach side in Seminyak, staying in the jungle in Ubud, receiving a beautifully hand carved talisman from a mystic carver/talisman, and the list goes on! So during these challenging times I am going to close my eyes and transport myself back to all the beautiful places around the globe I’ve had the honor to visit and know that one day soon I’ll be able to hop a plane and see more of this incredible world we live in! @ Bali, Indonesia

03/12/2020

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰! Spring is in the air and that means new beginnings. And I know right now we can all use a new beginning! A great way to start is at one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago, . just rolled out his new spring menu and just like everything he’s ever served it’s absolutely delicious! Sweet to check out all the new menu items! My favorites are the South African lobster tempura, misoyaki halibut, and the heavenly key lime pie (the perfect balance of sweet and tart and not overly done on either side). Bon Appétit!
📷: Chef Gonzalez’s Key Lime Pie, Blackberry Cobbler, Colorado Double Chop Lamb Chop, Misoyaki Halibut, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Prime Steak Tataki, Fuji Apple Salad, South African Lobster Tempura, Oysters, and Mango Mule

@ Eddie V's Prime Seafood

03/09/2020

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐞.” Be great! Speaking of great… just might be the G.O.A.T of the restaurant industry. I’m definitely a fan of hers from .and.the.goat to , , , & now which I must return to ASAP!!! 📷: Soft Serve Swirl w/ mango, lucuma, gooseberries, pickled mango, pomegranate seeds, & mango caramel (my heaven!), Shrimp Tacu Tacu, Chicken Thigh Anticucho, Papas Huancaina, Goat Empanadas, Hot Chorizo & Queso Dip, Pulpo con Olivos, Salmon Ceviche, Shrimp Ceviche, Moves Like Jaguar with glenmorangie highland scotch, Passionfruit honey, lime, & ginger ale. @ Cabra Chicago