I’m excited to be part of the first ever Zagat Chicago Blog Hop!  In honor of the 2012 Chicago Restaurants and Nightlife Survey, Zagat reached out to me to write a post about a special night out in Chicago.  Just one? I’m stumped!  After ten years in Chicago, I have a long list of “best nights out” cross referenced by categories including: date nights, pretty parties (aka girls night out), and family visits (and what parental visit does not entail eating out at all of your favorite places in one weekend?!) then factors like cuisine, celebrity chef and BYOB.  Needless to say I have too many favorites to single out one best night – so I made a mash-up.

For starters – the foielipop at Graham Elliot! Pop Rocks are an instant flashback to my childhood, a classmate’s grandpa invented them and he spoke to our class during 4th grade invention week!  A lollipop of Foie gras covered with watermelon pop rocks sets the mood for a playful night.  Another bonus at Graham Elliot is the deconstructed Caesar salad with brioche Twinkie – two awesome things that you would never think could go together.  Playing with your food is A-OK in my book since I love all things interactive!  I rank any night spent with family and fun food among my tops, and Pop Rocks rock.

Tables full of friends, tapas and sangria are always blast. I’ve recently had a few great group dinners at Chilam Balam in Lakeview, which sources locally and serves shared Mexican with a farm fresh twist. Co-owned by Top Chef Texas contestant Chuy Valencia, it’s eclectic and offers big flavors on small plates!  Some favorite bites at Chilam Balam include: seared scallops with roasted sweet potato and chorizo in a tomatillo sauce, duck breast with red peanut mole, butternut, and bacon; and for dessert chocolate chile mousse with spiced goat cheese and a sweet peanut butter empanada to top off the night.  If “sharing is caring,” than I can’t think of a better place to celebrate with friends!

For my birthday dinner this year I had an awesome meal at Roots, a newcomer on Chicago’s pizza scene and a definite new favorite!  So good in fact, that I returned a second time in one week (after having so much fun there with my girls my man was jealous so we came back!)  Grilled salami and granny smith apples on a pizza is an incredible mix of sweet and savory.   And with the rectangular shaped “quad city style” pizza, you get crust on every slice!  I always love m birthday dinners, but it was especially fun to be feted at a casual kick back place, that still counts as trendy – and most importantly had two back to back great meals with my besties and my beau.

It’s your turn! Time to share your best nights out by voting for your favorite local spots in the 2012 Chicago Restaurants and Nightlife Survey, which is open until January 16^th, 2012.  It’s really empowering to share your opinions where it actually counts!

But wait, there’s more: by participating in the survey, you will be eligible for either a free copy of the 2012 Chicago Restaurants and Nightlife Guide or an entry into our $500 “Night On The Town” Sweepstakes.

Not satiated yet – bounce on over to my fellow Zagat Blog Hopper’s posts to read about their favorite Chicago eating and drinking experiences:

• 312 Dining Diva
• Baconfest
• Paige Worthy
• The Local Tourist
• Foodie Chat
• The Chicago Foodie
• Emphasis Added
• Chicago Verse United

Sill reading? Go ahead, get your vote on – if the restaurants and nightspots you select get Zagat Rated, you get bragging rights for a whole year!

No related posts.

A few week ago I was called by the Tribune while they were researching a profile piece on Ramon De Leon for the business section, it published today – on the front cover of the Chicago Tribune Business section!

Ramon and I go way back, to that fateful videoapology in April 2009 and it was an honor to be included in this article about a social media guy who gets it!

Here’s the videoapology if you haven’t seen it in a while.  Congratulations, Ramon! Keep up the great work.

Related posts:

1. Ramon De Leon takes the interactiveAmy story to Harvard’s Gravity Summit & CNN.com!
2. Cupcakes and Crain’s Chicago Business…Buckle up for 2011!
3. There is No Such Thing as a Blind Date Anymore, And There is No Such Thing as a Blind Meeting!

Save the Date – Tuesday December 13 from 5:30 – 8:30pm for the Social Media Club Chicago Holiday Party at the Chicago Tribune Museum.

“Sugar & Spice” Join Social Media Club Chicago for our largest event of the year, and arguably, the most fun. To spice things up, we sweetened the pot by inviting several of Chicago’s finest when it comes to social media. Panelists: Todd Carpenter, Mari Luangrath, Ernest Wilkins and Amy Guth

Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2011  Time: 5:30 pm- 8:30pm

Location: Chicago Tribune Museum (445 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL)

After Party at Bull & Bear 431 N. Wells (inlcudes 1 Free Drink)

Tickets: $20 Advance/$25.00 at the door. Includes: program, food and drinks.

Food: Domino’s Pizza from Ramon De Leon, Hot Aisan Buns from Wow Bao, and catered appetizers from Cafe Bella and ROTI Mediterranean Grill.

Drinks: Beer, wine, water and specialty mixed cocktails to match our sugar and spice theme, thanks to Google Places (disclosure: I am the Google Places Chicago Community Manager!)

SMCChicago is proud to be once again partnering with TweetDrive this holiday season. How can you help? Bring a toy or clothing item to the event! Learn more about the Chicago Tweet Drive or on twitter @CHITweetDrive.

Related posts:

1. Tonight is the Social Media Club Holiday Party
2. UnMarketing’s Superiffic Stop at Social Media Club Chicago
3. Happy Social Media Week, Chicago!

Exciting news! We’ve decided to extended the Reality Check video contest until December 15th!

YAY!  If you know a teen girl, please let her know that she has more time to share her reality in the Reality Check video contest, (a campaign by the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana that I am proud to be working on!) It only takes two minutes to film your video and seconds to upload… so enter now!

Prizes include $250 gift cards from Best Buy and this phone from Motorola Mobility Foundation to be awarded to the entry that best uses Social Media in their video. The winner will receive a $250 Best Buy Gift Card AND a fun Motorola Mobility RIVAL phone ($100 value) and a very cool Bluetooth headset ($130 value)!

Just share your reality before December 15th, 2012! Grab your cell phone or video camera and show what makes you real.  Follow Girl Reality Check on facebook and twitter too!

Related posts:

1. Reality Check: The Truth About Reality TV
2. interactiveAmy is now Video Blogging!

Do you watch reality TV, do you know a teen girl who does?  Watch the LIVE Launch of Our Reality Check Campaign Via Streaming Video today (October 13th) at 4pm!

If you or someone you know loves watching reality TV, join us for the LIVE launch of our Reality Check campaign and video contest by tuning in to the Internet this Thursday at 4 p.m. CST! Go to www.girlrealitycheck.com to watch the live event hosted by former America’s Next Top Model contestant Kasia Pilewicz and Maria Wynne, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Together they will reveal findings from a national research study about the influence of Reality TV on girls today.
We will be discussing new research released today about the impact of reality TV on girls, you can see a preview in today’s Chicago Tribune!

** We have room for a few more in the studio audience at Columbia College Chicago’s Department of Television, so please let me know if you are interested in attending and I’ll add you to the guest list. If you can’t come, check out the live stream, we’ll be taking audience questions via facebook and on twitter.

Related posts:

1. Reality Check Video Contest Deadline Extended!