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Zagat Chicago Blog Hop: My Best Night Out

Amy — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:33 +0000

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:

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!

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I’m quoted in the Chicago Tribune Business Section re: Ramon

Amy — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:15:35 +0000

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.

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Best Birthday Cake Ever!

Amy — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:23:11 +0000

Thank you Andrew J Stone and Ali Montag for surprising me with the most perfect birthday cake ever! And, THANK YOU to all of you who wished me a happy birthday this week!

Not only does this cake make me happy because I am celebrating the start of another fabulous year with friends, it is a sweet reminder of what it means to embody your personal brand. Sappy, but true.

I am wishing for another great year ahead, and am thankful for building a successful business, and most importantly living, breathing (and eating!) my personal brand.

Photo cakes are the coolest. It is so much more fun to have your face on a birthday cake than cake on your face, don’t you think?!

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Social Media Expert in Training – Tips to Getting Started on your Career Path

Amy — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:49:30 +0000

Last week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Linda Konop, a student at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy, where she profiled me on her blog, Social Media Expert in Training (SMEiT). Linda is enrolled in the Chicago Career Tech Social Media Marketing Program, which is a six-month course for a limited number of adult learners preparing them to become social media experts.

I love working with students of all ages, and was thrilled to discuss my career path, and some key learnings I’ve had along the way. You can watch us talking shop below.

interactiveAmy getting interviewed by Linda Konop at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy in Chicago, IL.

Have any questions about my career path, or how you can get started working in social media? Let me know, this is a subject I can talk about for hours!!

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Social Media Magic: A Woman’s Touch, Chicago TechWeek Panel Recap

Amy — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:37:45 +0000

Many thanks to Meagan Lopez for inviting me to join the Social Media Magic: A Woman’s Touch panel at Chicago’s Tech Week on Saturday, July 23rd, 2011. As a late addition to the lineup, my name didn’t make the program, but I’ve got photo proof that I was there!

Social Media Magic: A Woman's Touch panel at Chicago Tech Week: Shira Lazar, Amy Ravit Korin, Meagan Lopez, Herimone Way, Hope Bertram

Thanks to Michael O’Donnel, of ZatPhoto for capturing more Tech Week day 2 on film! Here I am, animated when discussing my passion for social media.

Photo credit: ZatPhoto

In fact, when asked, “What is social media magic, and why are women the reigning Queens?” my answer was all about passion! I truly believe that when you are excited about something you’ll want to shout it from the rooftops, but as we all learned in Social Media 101, SHOUTING at your target audience about a sale, or hocking a product is not what gets people excited. It’s all about conversation, and engagement. Luckily, my fellow panel mates were also blessed with the gift of gab, and we could have easily discussed this subject all day!

The hour flew by as we discussed our favorite social media campaigns, and what it takes to build a personal brand and an online persona. All of the ladies on the panel, (from left to right) Shira Lazar, Hermione Way, Amy Ravit Korin (me!), Hope Bertram and moderator, Meagan Lopez have merged our personal and professional personas by keeping the information we share meaningful, informative and relevant.

Photo credit: ZatPhoto

The panelists weren’t the only ones sharing and caring about the subject of social media, the fact that this was on a Saturday didn’t keep the crowd away. The audience was a sea of familiar faces, and lots of new ones too, as Tech Week drew an audience of nationwide influencers and enthusiasts, all learning from each other! Check out my view from the stage. Do you have a great example of how you’ve worked your social media magic and what you’ve learned along the way? Feel free to share here, along with other Tech Week highlights! I hope to see you at future Chicago Tech Week events running through July 29th.

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