Introducing #ChicagoInfluences:

Alex Linardos, known as MrSouthLoop, is a Chicago-based flight attendant and content creator with a passion for showcasing the best of the city. While he calls the South Loop home, his love for adventure takes him all across Chicago, highlighting hidden gems, local favorites, and can’t-miss experiences. Give him a follow and explore the city through his lens.

Q: What neighborhood do you call home and what do you love most about it?

A: South Loop has been home for me since 2017. Kyle, Addison, and I have built our life here, and I truly can’t imagine being anywhere else. I love being so close to the heartbeat of Chicago — just steps from the lakefront, Museum Campus, and the Loop. Everything I love about this city is right outside my door

Dino and Miss Coretta, also known as The Black Foodies, are a married couple with over 450K followers. They create content that focuses on the amazing, delicious food and restaurant scene in Chicago with an emphasis on black-owned restaurants. From Chicago street food to fine dining The Black Foodies leaves no stone unturned in finding the best cuisine the city of Chicago has to offer.

Q: Why does it matter to you to live in a city that is authentically rooted in community?

A: Chicago is a city of vast cultural diversity. With so many different global influences it’s a city where you can find any kind of cuisine. We travel all 77 different neighborhoods seeking and sharing our foodie experiences. And on our journey throughout Chicago, we’ve learned that our diversity is our strength. Chicago has many different plates but we are one Chicago!

Jonathan Zaragoza is a Chicago-born chef and cultural storyteller known for his bold, live-fire cooking and deep-rooted Mexican heritage. Raised in the kitchens of his family’s restaurant, he built his craft in neighborhoods across the city, blending tradition with fearless creativity. Today, through his cooking and digital platform @goatboyintl, he honors the stories and recipes that shaped him while continuing to push Chicago’s food culture forward.

Q: How does Chicago culture shape your cooking and how do you wish to shape Chicago’s culture with your cooking?

A: Chicago culture shapes my cooking through its immigrant roots and neighborhood pride. This city is a map of where people came from — and in Mexican food alone, you can taste the specific regions and traditions families brought with them. Growing up here taught me that honoring those roots while continuing to learn, travel, and share culture is how you keep it alive. Through my cooking, I want to celebrate the traditions that built Chicago while contributing my own chapter to that story.

Julia Hagen is a local artist working in acrylic paint to capture both iconic and niche Chicago scenes. From her well known Chicago hot dog stand series to intimate scenes of Chicago house parties and bars, her work evokes a glowing, cozy sense of nostalgia. Her art can be viewed and purchased via her website.

Q: How does Chicago shape your identity as an artist and why is this city in particular your muse?

A: I believe It’s Chicago’s urban Midwest charm, both gritty and inviting, that strikes a sweet spot for my work. Chicago specifically sings during dawn and dusk when the city lights and neon signs are glowing. It’s a fleeting time of day that feels like the backdrop to a nostalgic dreamscape, and when paired with a sentimental Chicago spot it just feels like I’m capturing a slice of home.

Kaylee Jo Chicago fell for this city head over heels in white Converse and never looked back. Not being born here became her superpower, giving her fresh eyes to uncover the small businesses, hidden doors, and neighborhood gems that locals sometimes overlook. With 400K+ engaged followers, she turns every wrong turn and “how is this not famous?” find into story-driven content that fuels real-world exploration. Backed by a foundation in marketing and an MBA from DePaul, she blends creative strategy with genuine curiosity to spotlight Chicago the way it deserves.

Malik Zambezi, known as Malik Shot You, is a 26-year-old self-taught photographer from Chicago who picked up a camera in 2023 and has since captured celebrities, built a loyal 238K+ following, and racked up 10 million monthly views with his cinematic street and lifestyle visuals. His lens tells the story of Chicago. Raw, authentic, and unapologetically real.

Q: How do you think the city inspires creativity?

A: Chicago inspires creativity through its resilience, culture, and authenticity. There’s a grit and elegance here that fuels my work. Through my lens, I aim to capture the soul of Chicago and create platforms that bring creatives together, elevate their visibility, and strengthen the city’s artistic community. Chicago doesn’t wait for validation. It creates its own lane, and I’m proud to help document and build that movement.

Renee Koontz, known as Chicago By Ren, is a 27-year-old content creator who shows you how to live life to the fullest in Chicago. From keeping you up to date with all the fun events and restaurant openings to highlighting neighborhood gems, she's your Chicago bestie. Since she first started filming her Chicago adventures in 2021, she has gained a following of 284K on Instagram and 208K on TikTok. Whether you're a tourist or a local, you can always count on her to give you the best recommendations all year long.

Q:If you had to spend one perfect day in Chicago, what would your itinerary be?

A: My perfect day in Chicago: I would spend the morning picking up a bagel from R&A Sourdough and an iced coffee from Levant. Then, I'd go to the Lincoln Park Farmers Market and spend the afternoon walking the Lakefront Trail. For dinner, I would enjoy pizza and drinks on the patio at Bungalow by Middle Brow. To wrap up my day, I'd enjoy a night cap at The Meadowlark.

Skinbone is a standout social media sensation, best recognized for his dynamic presence on Instagram. He's celebrated for his distinctive sketch comedy and engaging meme content. Crafting videos with a group of his close friends, Skinbone embodies a unique and absurdist comedic style. Beginning his Instagram journey in January 2016, his comedic genius has since garnered a following of over 1.6 million on Instagram and an impressive 600,000+ subscribers on his "Skinbone" YouTube channel.

Q: What is your favorite season in Chicago and why?

A: My favorite season in Chicago is summer because it truly shows off how beautiful the city is, from the lakefront buzzing with people to neighborhood street festivals and sunsets over the skyline. The energy shifts, patios open up, and you really feel the city come alive.

Sohrab Forouzesh is a Chicago based comedian and writer gaining national attention. He's a StandUP NBC finalist, a contributor to The New Yorker and Complex, and recently lit up the stage at the Netflix is a Joke festival. His comedy has been spotlighted by Vanity Fair, The Los Angeles Times, and The Chicago Tribune, and you can hear him on the Netflix Sirius XM channel. You can catch him at clubs and theaters across the country, but he proudly calls Chicago his home.

Q: How does chicago’s culture shape your stand-up sets and humor in general?

A: They say a hard winter builds character; that's why Chicago is occupied by so many hardworking, talented people. This city demands greatness. As a comedian I've learned that Chicago audiences are no joke. They will let you know when something isn't funny. So you better be funny. I proudly represent Chicago whenever I travel for comedy, because I owe her that debt. This city made me who I am. So I urge you to remember: the next time you're waiting for a bus in below-freezing weather, you're not cold; you're building character.

Trevor Fahnstrom is a social media content creator from Chicago. After starting his pages in late 2019, he rapidly grew a community of nearly 1 million followers through his sports comedy videos, athlete interviews, and gameday experience vlogs. The lifelong Chicagoan has creatively collaborated with many of the city’s teams, including the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, and Fire, hoping to ignite the same love and passion for Chicago sports that shaped him growing up.

Q: How does Chicago stand out from other cities when it comes to sports teams, culture, and community?

A: Chicago is a sports town unlike any other. From iconic dynasties like the ‘90s Bulls and 2010s Blackhawks, to Hall of Fame legends like Michael Jordan and Walter Payton, to packed summers at Wrigley Field and electric nights at Rate Field, this city lives and breathes sports. I’m forever thankful to have grown up within the electric energy of Chicago sports culture, as it helped me find my passion and build my career as a sports content creator in the greatest city on Earth!