What’s New

Best Sugar Daddy Websites For Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies To Meet (2022)

Sugar daddy sites have risen in popularity over the last several years as society becomes more comfortable with unconventional relationships. As more and more people seek either companionship or financial security, sugar arrangements have become very attractive.

Unfortunately, the popularity of sugar relationships has caused an influx of sugaring sites to pop up. Some sites do their part in vetting the members, but others invite scammers, leeches, flakes, and fakes.

We’ve done the leg work for you and have found the best sugar daddy sites where a sugar daddy can meet a sugar baby and vice versa. These sites strike the delicate balance between safety and fun. We review what’s best about a site for daddies and what’s best for babies.

These are our brand new rankings for 2022.

The Best Sugar Daddy Sites and Apps in 2022

RankSiteBest For1.SugarDaddy.comOne of the oldest and more reliable sites2.Seeking ArrangementBest reputation3.Secret BenefitsBest mix of daddies and babies4.SugarDaddyMeetVerified income feature5.SugarDaddyForMeQuickest way to find an arrangement6.Ashley MadisonJudgement free sugar dating site7.What’s Your PriceBest for women to set their own price8.Sugar SearchBest database of local sugar daddies9.R/SugarBabyFree way to find sugar babies10.Elite SinglesMeet intellectual sugar babies and daddies11.Established MenBest for daddies seeking a long term arrangement12.RichMeetBeautifulMost secure and discreet site13.Miss TravelBest for sugar babies who like to travel14.Wealthy MenMost straightforward sugar dating site15.AgeMatchFind younger women16.SudyBest sugar dating app17.SugarBookBest sugar app for babies

1. SugarDaddy.com – Best overall site

Sugardaddy.com is one of the most reliable sugar daddy sites around and has been around for quite some time. The site is hailed as one of the greats because it verifies all of its members (daddies and babies) and there are almost 10 million members and counting. At any given time, the site is active with several thousands of users and nearly 2/3rds are babies looking for someone to take care of them.

Free members can actually enjoy tons of features (like sending kisses, using the advanced search feature, and responding to paying members), but a membership is well worth it and pretty affordable compared to its competitors. It’s a credit-based system and costs around a quarter per credit. Privacy is a top priority on Sugardaddy.com, making it easy to discreetly enter into relationships.

What it’s like for daddies:

70% of the users on sugardaddy.com are babies looking to be spoiled. With millions of users, this makes being a daddy on the site extremely easy and entertaining. Credits can be used to get in touch with the babies and they won’t cost you much. Because privacy is taken so seriously on this website, there’s no need to fear your identity being revealed. Furthermore, daddies can rest easy knowing they won’t be scammed by any members given that they are all verified.

What it’s like for babies:

Sugar babies tend to love the ease of this site and how slick it is. Other sugar baby sites tend to look shady or seedy, but sugardaddy.com is slick and modern. It makes it easy to layout exactly what you’re looking for in a daddy. One drawback is the fact that most of the users are babies, so there’s some stiff competition out there. But with millions of daddies online searching, finding the right one shouldn’t be too difficult.

2.  Seeking Arrangement – Most popular sugar daddy app

Seeking Arrangement is the largest, most successful, and most referenced sugar daddy site available. There’s a large possibility that you’ve heard of it. If you aren’t already signed up and are wondering if it works, the answer is yes. Seeking Arrangement boasts over 10 million users in over 130 countries. The website itself is very discreet and the Seeking team works tirelessly to protect its members from anything that might jeopardize physical or financial safety. Read our full review here.

What it’s like for daddies:

Seeking has one of the best female-to-male ratios for sugar daddies. There’s also an understanding on the site that relationships are no-strings-attached, and women are both very sexual and extremely beautiful. Maintain anonymity by putting revealing photos or face pictures into private galleries that you grant access to. This is not a free sugar daddy site for the daddies, but it is for the babies.

What it’s like for babies:

Seeking Arrangement makes it easy for young women to sign up. There’s a way to check out each daddy’s net worth, so you can be better informed of what type of arrangement they’d be able to handle. The site is also 100 percent free for babies!

3.  Secret Benefits – Best gender ratio

SecretBenefits.com is one of the most popular and stylish sugar daddy dating websites. It has a modern and fresh look along with an easy-to-use interface which has encouraged millions of attractive and wealthy individuals to join and search for a positive sugar dating experience on the site. Due to its popularity and stellar reputation among the site’s members, there is a constant flow of new hopeful sugar daddies and sugar babies as well as a very active member base.

Anyone can signup, create a profile, and search for free. Sugar babies can enjoy the site and its features for free. If a sugar daddy finds a sugar baby of interest, they need to purchase credits to open a chat with them. There should be no lack of potential candidates among the millions of members as the gender ratio is about 50/50.

What it’s like for daddies:

Signing up as a sugar daddy is very fast and painless. You can also choose to start a very basic profile to search for potential sugar babies in your area before committing too much time or money. Another great feature if you’re looking for a discreet relationship is you can hide your profile at any time as well as go invisible for 24 hours and browse profiles in secret. These features help maintain your privacy while discreetly allowing you to find your perfect sugar baby.

What it’s like for babies:

Sugar babies love using Secret Benefits not only because it’s free, but also because the site’s outstanding support team keeps the riffraff out which provides a safe platform full of serious and active sugar daddies that are not looking to waste anyone’s time. Getting your profile verified via a short intro video also encourages daddies to reach out once they see that you are the real deal. The success rates for legit, happy, and ongoing sugar daddy relationships are extremely high on SecretBenefits.com, so it’s really just about getting signed up and putting yourself out there to find exactly the type of daddy you’re looking for.

4.  SugarDaddyMeet – For rich men who can spoil

SugarDaddyMeet, one of the original sugar dating sites, doesn’t sugarcoat its true intentions. According to the site, it’s only available to men who live in the 20 richest countries in the world. By attracting affluent men, it also attracts beautiful young women. Verifying income and wealth are two major features on SugarDaddyMeet, making it one of the best sugar dating sites for the ladies.

What it’s like for daddies:

For one, you’ll need to actually be rich to get approved for SugarDaddyMeet. Those who meet the requirements are introduced to a world of beautiful females. The platform itself feels like other social media sites that you may already be familiar with. It’s very casual and generally a breeze finding a mutually beneficial arrangement.

What it’s like for the babies:

This site has plenty of features that make women feel safe using it. You can verify income and let the site know what you’re looking for in a sugar daddy. Using a handy algorithm, it’ll match you up based on your preferences. A free membership is all you’ll need!

5.  SugarDaddyForMe – Speedy matching process

This chic site is slick in design and even better in matching capabilities. It doesn’t hide the fact that it’s a tried and true sugar daddy site designed for arrangements. This is made clear for both the women and the men who join SugarDaddyForMe.

What it’s like for daddies:

You should know first that the payment structure is unique. The membership tiers are based on how much time you want to buy rather than what you have access to. SugarDaddyForMe will want to verify your income, but there’s not much to it after that. You’re essentially brought into the SugarDaddyForMe world within minutes, making this platform one of the fastest ways to find a date.

What it’s like for babies:

This is a free sugar daddy site for you! Signing up takes only minutes and you’ll be glad to know that SugarDaddyForMe will want to know what your ideal arrangement would be. This can all be altered later if you change your mind.

6.  Ashley Madison – Find a casual companion

Ashley Madison is the site that people hate admitting they love. Sure, it’s received some shady press over the years, but it works marvelously. Though linked to affairs, it’s a perfect site for those in open-relationships to find fun arrangements with other folks. It’s a completely open-minded and judgment-free space for people to explore sensual relationships.

What it’s like for daddies:

Ashley Madison can be used as a sugar site. It follows a credit-based payment structure that allows men to communicate with women. There’s nothing on Ashley Madison to weed out the sugar babies from the rest of them, so you’ll need to use the age preference feature to find the ladies and chat to see if they are interested. Women are free to join, making it a great breeding ground for relationships with younger college-age women.

What it’s like for babies:

Men on Ashley Madison are usually looking for excitement, and sugar babies know how to have fun. There are a lot of wealthy men looking for younger women on the site, so if you specify that you are looking to set up an arrangement, you’ll have no problem finding a handsome catch.

Want even more about Ashley Madison? Check out our full review.

7.  What’s Your Price – Bid on dates

On many sugar sites, the idea of an arrangement is implied but not always enforced. In other words, SDs don’t feel like spending or SBs ask for too much. On What’s Your Price, the intention is clear. It’s about an agreement or arrangement that works for both parties. What’s Your Price will set everyone up with their ideal situation so that the minutiae of finances don’t cloud the fun! And it was created by the established folks behind Seeking, so you know it’s legit.

What it’s like for daddies:

You will feel like you are shopping for gorgeous women through an online marketplace. We hate to boil it down to an online shopping experience, but that’s kind of how it works! You will be shown tons of ladies who have a price in mind. Then, you can bid on anyone you find attractive or worth your time. You can also send virtual gifts and make bids as low as $10. You don’t have to be “wealthy” to join.

What it’s like for the babies:

What’s Your Price puts you in total control, which is a nice alternative to the chaotic free-for-all approach that other sites have. The only negative to What’s Your Price is that there is a lot of competition. There are 3 million members and counting, which means that your ad is going to have to be competitive.

8.  Sugar Search – Check out “Members Currently Online” before chatting to avoid flakes

It’s just as it sounds. Sugar Search is an easy to use search engine to find a local sugar daddy.

Sugar Search only operates in a few cities. Sorry babies and daddies, if you’re not in NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, or Philadelphia, this isn’t the site for you.

Sugar Search goes to admirable lengths to ensure all the accounts are legit. Some slip through the cracks, but the moderation team is pretty on top of it.

Best of all, the site has great customer service and makes it easy to cancel a membership if you’re over it.

What it’s like for daddies:

It’s a super simple sign up process for daddies. Fill in a few fields, verify some personal info, and you’re set. Sugar Search has a great daddy to baby ratio, so it shouldn’t be too hard to meet a baby. The chat feature is slick and easy to use. If you want your profile to appear toward the top of search results, opt for the Diamond Membership. It really does increase the amount and quality of matches.

What it’s like for the babies:

Babies, you won’t be disappointed. Sugar Search is the ultimate sugar daddy search tool if you’re in one of their cities. Sugar Search requires daddies to verify their personal information, so you won’t encounter too many fraudulent accounts. Do your own due diligence by chatting with a prospective daddy first. The sheer volume of options means you’ll likely connect with someone shortly after you sign up.

9.  Reddit (r/SugarBaby) – Top sugar forum

Reddit is a site that gets a ton of volume. As a general forum for a huge range of topics, people come to Reddit to get information about virtually anything you can think of. It works for sugaring, too, on the subreddits that are related to the subject. If you don’t already know, a subreddit is a specific message board. For the best sugar daddy action, visit the /r/SugarBaby board. We should also warn you that sexy photos flood the page!

What it’s like for daddies:

This subreddit has over 80K users, making it more intimate than most but still giving you a ton of options. The best part is that it’s one of the only free sugar daddy sites on this list. Men aren’t allowed to post, but you can browse through the photos and proposals of the women on the page.

What it’s like for the babies:

You can post on this forum photos and a description of your ideal relationship. If a guy sees you on the page and is interested in pursuing you, he will direct message you through the platform! To post, you will need to go through a verification process, but it’s not complicated.

10.  Elite Singles – Dating site for educated daddies and babies

Elite Singles was not designed specifically for sugaring. It’s a premium dating site that caters toward educated and successful individuals looking for someone who is like-minded. As a baby, you should be seeking something serious when you join Elite Singles. This site is made for real relationships, not a one-time hookup. A majority of the people on this site are college-educated, regardless of age, so that’s another thing to keep in mind.

What it’s like for daddies:

Elite Singles is ideal for the man (or woman) who is interested in meeting an intelligent, independent person to shower with affection or anything else. One of the best things about Elite Singles is that nobody is flakey. People are genuinely searching for their other half and they aren’t greedy for cash because they are successful themselves.

What it’s like for the babies:

This is an app best suited for the baby who isn’t just in this for the money. You don’t need to be wildly successful to get on Elite Singles, but you should have a semblance of independence and perhaps a college degree (or working towards one). This isn’t the quickest way to find a sugar daddy, but it is a place where you’ll meet successful people.

11.  Established Men – Great for long-term sugar dating

If you couldn’t gather from the name, Established Men is a dating site created for successful men looking for a relationship. Men who are established and wealthy often don’t find much time to date around. This site makes finding a partner very simple. It’s not a hookup site but rather a place that caters directly to wealthy guys who want a relationship. Though not exclusively for sugar relationships, women aren’t charged for a membership, making it feel like a free sugar daddy site for them.

What it’s like for daddies:

Established Men is not a free sugar dating site for men, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you are, in fact, established. Through the platform, you are able to send gifts and interact with the beautiful ladies that this website attracts. There are new members daily, so you’ll never run out of options!

What it’s like for babies:

Step into the world of Established Men. These are individuals who know their worth, so they might be tough to please. What’s nice about the site is that these guys aren’t expecting you to come to them with a set arrangement. They just want to spoil someone special with bags, shoes, and more.

12.  RichMeetBeautiful – Encrypted sugar daddy site

Contrary to popular belief, RichMeetBeautiful is not just for rich men. Anyone who is reasonably well off can still engage with beautiful men and women through the platform. It’s also one of the most secure sugar dating sites because it uses encryption security.

What it’s like for daddies:

RichMeetBeautiful claims to be rich in several ways: experience, romance, passion, style, and so on. It also explicitly says “no sugar dating” on the homepage. You’re probably asking yourself why it even made the list. It’s a site for successful individuals to meet one another through a scientific matchmaking algorithm. If you want to find a younger woman to spoil, you will absolutely be able to.

What it’s like for babies:

RichMeetsBeautiful is not explicitly for sugar dating. It is a site where you can converse with men who enjoy spoiling their significant others. It’s built for long-lasting relationships, so be prepared to meet people who want to find real love.

13.  Miss Travel – Best for the adventurous

Miss Travel puts an exciting spin on sugar dating. Rather than finding a companion locally, this site encourages people to find partners from places they’d love to travel to! It adds a whole new element to the fun of sugar dating, and women can join this site for free.

What it’s like for daddies:

SDs in open relationships or looking for fun outside of a relationship love to use this site while they travel for business. However, it’s also convenient for men who want foreign women to come to them. There are a ton of beautiful women who use Miss Travel because they are looking for an adventure with a well-to-do man.

What it’s like for babies:

Ever wanted to travel the world? This is one of the best ways to make that happen. The daddy you find will likely pay for the entire trip. There’s also an exciting “Create a Trip” feature that allows you to plan a wonderful vacation right there on the site.

14.  Wealthy Men – A no-frills approach to sugaring

Wealthy Men is the most straightforward sugar daddy website available to users, and it’s very reliable too. It promises young women that they will meet the wealthy man of their dreams. And, it has a guarantee for its paid members that they’ll find someone in three months. Members can rest assured that Wealthy Men will absolutely work for them.

What it’s like for daddies:

We’ll be honest: Wealthy Men does not make it that easy on the guys initially. You will have to prove that you make at least 85K by providing documentation stating so and comment on how much you’re willing to spend on a baby. While this is annoying, it maintains the integrity of the site.

What it’s like for babies:

This is one of the best sugar daddy sites out there. The financial aspect works in your favor. But you’ll want to pay for it, as the free version doesn’t allow for messaging.

15.  AgeMatch – Best for relationships with significant age gaps

AgeMatch doesn’t market itself as a sugar website. Instead of sugar daddies and young models, it pins itself as a dating platform for people with a very large age gap between them. This works for arrangements because most of the companionships on this site are between successful older men and stunning younger women.

What it’s like for daddies:

Some men don’t want arrangements and prefer the idea of spoiling someone who enjoys their company. For those types, AgeMatch is perfect. You will feel like you are on a real dating site and not a shady or seedy arrangement site, which is a nice alternative to the normal setup.

What it’s like for babies:

The expected age gap works in your favor, but the fact that sugaring is more implied than explicit does not. You won’t be asked about your preferred arrangement. However, there are plenty of wonderful successful older men at your disposal and you are welcome to present them with your terms.

16.  Sudy – A sugaring mobile app

Sudy is a fantastic app in terms of usability. It functions really well and is set up in such a way that makes it easy to meet someone new. There are some things about Sudy that aren’t perfect, which is why it’s at the bottom of our list, but it’s certainly a great option for someone who would rather use their phone than a desktop to find a date.

What it’s like for the daddies:

To join, you’ll need to make over 200K. Once you verify this, you will be introduced to the world of beautiful ladies (there’s a 4:1 male to female ratio). Gorgeous women like to know that you make enough to entertain them, so the verification works in your favor. Sources report having trouble deleting their profiles though, so that might be a turn-off for you.

What it’s like for babies:

There are more women than men, which means it’s competitive. But at the same time, Sudy is also very safe. The Sudy staff work tirelessly to moderate the platform and remove suspicious or fake profiles.

17.  SugarBook – Great for alternative arrangements

Sometimes arrangements aren’t all money-based. There are ambitious women (or guys) out there who desire connections, advice, opportunities, and financial help. Sources say that SugarBook is ideal for that type of relationship with a sugar mama or sugar daddy because each interaction begins by laying out expectations for one another.

What it’s like for daddies:

You will need to verify your income before getting accepted to SugarBook. This is technically a free sugar daddy site for men, but the premium option will show you many more profiles. We’ll admit that it’s limited on the free side.

What it’s like for babies:

You can join for free or pay for more features, that’s totally up to you. Try the free version first, though, because the features just include access to more daddies and a more specific search. You might find what you’re looking for on the free version alone. You’ll have a chance to create a profile where you can explain what you’re interested in.

Read More

Best Sugar Daddy Websites For Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies To Meet (2022) Read More »

‘Brutal prog’ maestro Weasel Walter debuts a Chicago lineup of the Flying Luttenbachers

Guitarist and drummer Weasel Walter, the “brutal prog” purveyor best known as longtime leader of the Flying Luttenbachers, left Chicago in 2003 for San Francisco and later moved to New York—but he sure has been popping up around here an awful lot lately. This wolf is starting to suspect he’s living in our town once again! In March, a new lineup of Walter’s ripping avant-glam-rock band, Cellular Chaos, debuted in furiously fine fettle at Elastic Arts. And on Tuesday, June 7, Walter will introduce a brand-new Luttenbachers lineup at Burlington Bar, where he’ll play guitar backed by two similarly formidable Chicago talents—bassist Alex Perkolup (who’s also played in Cheer-Accident, Greg Jacobsen’s group Lovely Little Girls, and the early-2000s lineup of the Luttenbachers) and drummer Charlie Werber (from Lovely Little Girls, prog-metal squad Guzzlemug, and black-metal explorers Murmur and Surachai). In April the New York incarnation of the Luttenbachers dropped a scabrous and delightfully menacing new album, the fully improvised Terror Iridescence, and it’ll be released on LP via Austrian label God Records this fall. 

Weasel Walter has assembled new Chicag0-based lineups of both these bands.

Rapper Saint Icky and electronic producer Please (and the labels they run, Bad Luck Records and Issa Party, respectively) have done a lot to help Chicago’s underground music communities thrive and sprout new offshoots. They’ve often worked together too, and this Friday, June 3, they’re dropping a collaborative EP called Green New Deal. On the single “Designed Up,” Icky’s flow mirrors the sharpness of Please’s skittering beats, and they both contrast with the hazy synths that waft through the song. The rest of the project isn’t streaming yet, but here’s hoping it’s loaded with the same sort of eerie thrills. 

Green New Deal is the latest of several collaborations between Saint Icky and Please.

Underground Chicago art-pop experimentalist Zango the Third is one of this wolf’s favorite emerging artists. The clattering, bluesy sound of “Symptom, Admirable Skill,” off Zango’s new full-length, Dog Tooth, captures the same kind of outré exuberance that made Beck a sensation in the early 90s. If that description makes you want to hear the whole album booming out of a big sound system, you’re in luck—on Thursday, June 2, Golden Dagger hosts a free Dog Tooth listening party starting at 8 PM.

The listening party for Dog Tooth is free, but you do need to be at least 21.

Got a tip? Tweet @Gossip_Wolf or e-mail [email protected].

Read More

‘Brutal prog’ maestro Weasel Walter debuts a Chicago lineup of the Flying Luttenbachers Read More »

Kedai Tapao returns to kick off a summer of Monday Night Foodballs

Annnnd we’re back . . .

Last January when the couple behind Malaysian pop-up Kedai Tapao took an extended winter break to visit the folks back in Kuala Lumpur, Jennifer Pou-Alesi spent her first week quarantined in the comfort of her old bedroom, eating home cooking and tapao (“takeout”) of her street hawker favorites (roti canai, curry mee, kai san hor fan). Meanwhile, Mike Alesi had to wait it out on the island of Langkawi, where foreigners do their time before going loose in the rest of the country.

At least he was free to roam, sampling every variety of nasi lemak he could find on the island. That all changed when the couple reunited for two months of intensive eating and low-key R & D. “There were no notebooks,” says Pou-Alesi. “We were just trying to be present for family.”

Nasi lemak ayam berempah, Kedai Tapao

I wish I could say I’ve eaten as well in the last three and a half weeks, but it’s been a lot of dispiriting keto-friendly energy bars from the Sweets and Snacks Expo. That’s how long it’s been since we took a spring break from Monday Night Foodball, the Reader’s weekly chef pop-up at the Kedzie Inn.

It was a dark time, late May, the memory of which I’m looking forward to erasing over a steaming bowl of siew yok curry mee when Kedai Tapao returns to the Kedzie to inaugurate our summer season this Monday, June 6.

Jenn and Mike, who are both back at work at Lula Cafe, were our second guests last August when Kedzie owner Jon Pokorny and I launched MNF. But apart from fish crackers (always), and their signature curry puffs, they’re throwing down a whole new menu, headlined by the aforementioned double noodle curry soup with crispy roast pork belly (and add-on cockles!), and nasi lemak with sticky fried chicken. There’s also a calamansi-dressed bean sprout salad, and to finish, ice cream conjured from the Aussie malted chocolate beverage Milo, topped dinosaur-style with a shower of powdered malt, just as it is in any self-respecting kopitiam.

Place your pre-orders now—unless you plan to dance with danger and walk in beginning at 5:30 PM this Monday.

Either way, it’s just the first Foodball of a thrilling summer, featuring the return of more veterans such as Mike “Ramen Lord” Satinover and Oskar Singer (formerly Rye Humor Baking); along with Keralan food from Thommy Padanilam of Thommy’s Toddy Shop; fermented magic from Vargo Brother Ferments; made-to-order roti from Dawn Lewis of D’s Roti & Trini Cuisine; Asian stoner snacks from SuperHai; and more.

As always, I’ll catch up with each chef the week before Foodball and tell you how and what to order. For the latest updates, follow the chefs on Instagram (see below), me, and/or @chicago_reader.

Tickets are already on sale for week two, Monday June 13, when Galit pastry chef Mary Eder-McClure (formerly of Limon y Sal) and Kat Stuehrk Talo of Butter Bird Bakery join forces for a four-course, family-style Lebanese-Armenian feast (vegetarian option available).

More on that next week. Until then, scroll down and gaze upon the full Monday Night Foodball summer schedule below:

Milo Dinosaur ice cream, Kedai Tapao

6/6: Kedai Tapao

6/13: Lebanese-Armenian with Mary Eder-Clure and Kat Stuehrk Talo of Butter Bird Bakery

6/20: Jordan Wimby, aka The Melanin Martha

6/27: Chinese-Viet-inspired barbecue from Charles Wong of Umamicue

7/4: Off for Independence Day

7/11: Dawn Lewis of D’s Roti & Trini Cuisine

7/18: Mazesoba from Mike “Ramen Lord” Satinover

7/25: Asian stoner snacks from SuperHai

8/1: Keralan food from Thommy Padanilam of Thommy’s Toddy Shop

8/8: Oskar Singer aka Whole Grain Hoe (formerly Rye Humor Baking)

8/15: Dylan Maysick of Diaspora Dinners

8/22: Vargo Brother Ferments

Kedzie Inn
4100 N. Kedzie
(773) 293-6368
kedzieinn.com

Read More

Kedai Tapao returns to kick off a summer of Monday Night Foodballs Read More »

‘Brutal prog’ maestro Weasel Walter debuts a Chicago lineup of the Flying LuttenbachersJ.R. Nelson and Leor Galilon June 1, 2022 at 3:20 pm

Guitarist and drummer Weasel Walter, the “brutal prog” purveyor best known as longtime leader of the Flying Luttenbachers, left Chicago in 2003 for San Francisco and later moved to New York—but he sure has been popping up around here an awful lot lately. This wolf is starting to suspect he’s living in our town once again! In March, a new lineup of Walter’s ripping avant-glam-rock band, Cellular Chaos, debuted in furiously fine fettle at Elastic Arts. And on Tuesday, June 7, Walter will introduce a brand-new Luttenbachers lineup at Burlington Bar, where he’ll play guitar backed by two similarly formidable Chicago talents—bassist Alex Perkolup (who’s also played in Cheer-Accident, Greg Jacobsen’s group Lovely Little Girls, and the early-2000s lineup of the Luttenbachers) and drummer Charlie Werber (from Lovely Little Girls, prog-metal squad Guzzlemug, and black-metal explorers Murmur and Surachai). In April the New York incarnation of the Luttenbachers dropped a scabrous and delightfully menacing new album, the fully improvised Terror Iridescence, and it’ll be released on LP via Austrian label God Records this fall. 

Weasel Walter has assembled new Chicag0-based lineups of both these bands.

Rapper Saint Icky and electronic producer Please (and the labels they run, Bad Luck Records and Issa Party, respectively) have done a lot to help Chicago’s underground music communities thrive and sprout new offshoots. They’ve often worked together too, and this Friday, June 3, they’re dropping a collaborative EP called Green New Deal. On the single “Designed Up,” Icky’s flow mirrors the sharpness of Please’s skittering beats, and they both contrast with the hazy synths that waft through the song. The rest of the project isn’t streaming yet, but here’s hoping it’s loaded with the same sort of eerie thrills. 

Green New Deal is the latest of several collaborations between Saint Icky and Please.

Underground Chicago art-pop experimentalist Zango the Third is one of this wolf’s favorite emerging artists. The clattering, bluesy sound of “Symptom, Admirable Skill,” off Zango’s new full-length, Dog Tooth, captures the same kind of outré exuberance that made Beck a sensation in the early 90s. If that description makes you want to hear the whole album booming out of a big sound system, you’re in luck—on Thursday, June 2, Golden Dagger hosts a free Dog Tooth listening party starting at 8 PM.

The listening party for Dog Tooth is free, but you do need to be at least 21.

Got a tip? Tweet @Gossip_Wolf or e-mail [email protected].

Read More

‘Brutal prog’ maestro Weasel Walter debuts a Chicago lineup of the Flying LuttenbachersJ.R. Nelson and Leor Galilon June 1, 2022 at 3:20 pm Read More »

Kedai Tapao returns to kick off a summer of Monday Night FoodballsMike Sulaon June 1, 2022 at 2:58 pm

Annnnd we’re back . . .

Last January when the couple behind Malaysian pop-up Kedai Tapao took an extended winter break to visit the folks back in Kuala Lumpur, Jennifer Pou-Alesi spent her first week quarantined in the comfort of her old bedroom, eating home cooking and tapao (“takeout”) of her street hawker favorites (roti canai, curry mee, kai san hor fan). Meanwhile, Mike Alesi had to wait it out on the island of Langkawi, where foreigners do their time before going loose in the rest of the country.

At least he was free to roam, sampling every variety of nasi lemak he could find on the island. That all changed when the couple reunited for two months of intensive eating and low-key R & D. “There were no notebooks,” says Pou-Alesi. “We were just trying to be present for family.”

Nasi lemak ayam berempah, Kedai Tapao

I wish I could say I’ve eaten as well in the last three and a half weeks, but it’s been a lot of dispiriting keto-friendly energy bars from the Sweets and Snacks Expo. That’s how long it’s been since we took a spring break from Monday Night Foodball, the Reader’s weekly chef pop-up at the Kedzie Inn.

It was a dark time, late May, the memory of which I’m looking forward to erasing over a steaming bowl of siew yok curry mee when Kedai Tapao returns to the Kedzie to inaugurate our summer season this Monday, June 6.

Jenn and Mike, who are both back at work at Lula Cafe, were our second guests last August when Kedzie owner Jon Pokorny and I launched MNF. But apart from fish crackers (always), and their signature curry puffs, they’re throwing down a whole new menu, headlined by the aforementioned double noodle curry soup with crispy roast pork belly (and add-on cockles!), and nasi lemak with sticky fried chicken. There’s also a calamansi-dressed bean sprout salad, and to finish, ice cream conjured from the Aussie malted chocolate beverage Milo, topped dinosaur-style with a shower of powdered malt, just as it is in any self-respecting kopitiam.

Place your pre-orders now—unless you plan to dance with danger and walk in beginning at 5:30 PM this Monday.

Either way, it’s just the first Foodball of a thrilling summer, featuring the return of more veterans such as Mike “Ramen Lord” Satinover and Oskar Singer (formerly Rye Humor Baking); along with Keralan food from Thommy Padanilam of Thommy’s Toddy Shop; fermented magic from Vargo Brother Ferments; made-to-order roti from Dawn Lewis of D’s Roti & Trini Cuisine; Asian stoner snacks from SuperHai; and more.

As always, I’ll catch up with each chef the week before Foodball and tell you how and what to order. For the latest updates, follow the chefs on Instagram (see below), me, and/or @chicago_reader.

Tickets are already on sale for week two, Monday June 13, when Galit pastry chef Mary Eder-McClure (formerly of Limon y Sal) and Kat Stuehrk Talo of Butter Bird Bakery join forces for a four-course, family-style Lebanese-Armenian feast (vegetarian option available).

More on that next week. Until then, scroll down and gaze upon the full Monday Night Foodball summer schedule below:

Milo Dinosaur ice cream, Kedai Tapao

6/6: Kedai Tapao

6/13: Lebanese-Armenian with Mary Eder-Clure and Kat Stuehrk Talo of Butter Bird Bakery

6/20: Jordan Wimby, aka The Melanin Martha

6/27: Chinese-Viet-inspired barbecue from Charles Wong of Umamicue

7/4: Off for Independence Day

7/11: Dawn Lewis of D’s Roti & Trini Cuisine

7/18: Mazesoba from Mike “Ramen Lord” Satinover

7/25: Asian stoner snacks from SuperHai

8/1: Keralan food from Thommy Padanilam of Thommy’s Toddy Shop

8/8: Oskar Singer aka Whole Grain Hoe (formerly Rye Humor Baking)

8/15: Dylan Maysick of Diaspora Dinners

8/22: Vargo Brother Ferments

Kedzie Inn
4100 N. Kedzie
(773) 293-6368
kedzieinn.com

Read More

Kedai Tapao returns to kick off a summer of Monday Night FoodballsMike Sulaon June 1, 2022 at 2:58 pm Read More »

Best Sugar Daddy Websites For Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies To Meet (2022)Corvelay Mediaon June 1, 2022 at 9:00 am

Sugar daddy sites have risen in popularity over the last several years as society becomes more comfortable with unconventional relationships. As more and more people seek either companionship or financial security, sugar arrangements have become very attractive.

Unfortunately, the popularity of sugar relationships has caused an influx of sugaring sites to pop up. Some sites do their part in vetting the members, but others invite scammers, leeches, flakes, and fakes.

We’ve done the leg work for you and have found the best sugar daddy sites where a sugar daddy can meet a sugar baby and vice versa. These sites strike the delicate balance between safety and fun. We review what’s best about a site for daddies and what’s best for babies.

These are our brand new rankings for 2022.

The Best Sugar Daddy Sites and Apps in 2022

RankSiteBest For1.SugarDaddy.comOne of the oldest and more reliable sites2.Seeking ArrangementBest reputation3.Secret BenefitsBest mix of daddies and babies4.SugarDaddyMeetVerified income feature5.SugarDaddyForMeQuickest way to find an arrangement6.Ashley MadisonJudgement free sugar dating site7.What’s Your PriceBest for women to set their own price8.Sugar SearchBest database of local sugar daddies9.R/SugarBabyFree way to find sugar babies10.Elite SinglesMeet intellectual sugar babies and daddies11.Established MenBest for daddies seeking a long term arrangement12.RichMeetBeautifulMost secure and discreet site13.Miss TravelBest for sugar babies who like to travel14.Wealthy MenMost straightforward sugar dating site15.AgeMatchFind younger women16.SudyBest sugar dating app17.SugarBookBest sugar app for babies

1. SugarDaddy.com – Best overall site

Sugardaddy.com is one of the most reliable sugar daddy sites around and has been around for quite some time. The site is hailed as one of the greats because it verifies all of its members (daddies and babies) and there are almost 10 million members and counting. At any given time, the site is active with several thousands of users and nearly 2/3rds are babies looking for someone to take care of them.

Free members can actually enjoy tons of features (like sending kisses, using the advanced search feature, and responding to paying members), but a membership is well worth it and pretty affordable compared to its competitors. It’s a credit-based system and costs around a quarter per credit. Privacy is a top priority on Sugardaddy.com, making it easy to discreetly enter into relationships.

What it’s like for daddies:

70% of the users on sugardaddy.com are babies looking to be spoiled. With millions of users, this makes being a daddy on the site extremely easy and entertaining. Credits can be used to get in touch with the babies and they won’t cost you much. Because privacy is taken so seriously on this website, there’s no need to fear your identity being revealed. Furthermore, daddies can rest easy knowing they won’t be scammed by any members given that they are all verified.

What it’s like for babies:

Sugar babies tend to love the ease of this site and how slick it is. Other sugar baby sites tend to look shady or seedy, but sugardaddy.com is slick and modern. It makes it easy to layout exactly what you’re looking for in a daddy. One drawback is the fact that most of the users are babies, so there’s some stiff competition out there. But with millions of daddies online searching, finding the right one shouldn’t be too difficult.

2.  Seeking Arrangement – Most popular sugar daddy app

Seeking Arrangement is the largest, most successful, and most referenced sugar daddy site available. There’s a large possibility that you’ve heard of it. If you aren’t already signed up and are wondering if it works, the answer is yes. Seeking Arrangement boasts over 10 million users in over 130 countries. The website itself is very discreet and the Seeking team works tirelessly to protect its members from anything that might jeopardize physical or financial safety. Read our full review here.

What it’s like for daddies:

Seeking has one of the best female-to-male ratios for sugar daddies. There’s also an understanding on the site that relationships are no-strings-attached, and women are both very sexual and extremely beautiful. Maintain anonymity by putting revealing photos or face pictures into private galleries that you grant access to. This is not a free sugar daddy site for the daddies, but it is for the babies.

What it’s like for babies:

Seeking Arrangement makes it easy for young women to sign up. There’s a way to check out each daddy’s net worth, so you can be better informed of what type of arrangement they’d be able to handle. The site is also 100 percent free for babies!

3.  Secret Benefits – Best gender ratio

SecretBenefits.com is one of the most popular and stylish sugar daddy dating websites. It has a modern and fresh look along with an easy-to-use interface which has encouraged millions of attractive and wealthy individuals to join and search for a positive sugar dating experience on the site. Due to its popularity and stellar reputation among the site’s members, there is a constant flow of new hopeful sugar daddies and sugar babies as well as a very active member base.

Anyone can signup, create a profile, and search for free. Sugar babies can enjoy the site and its features for free. If a sugar daddy finds a sugar baby of interest, they need to purchase credits to open a chat with them. There should be no lack of potential candidates among the millions of members as the gender ratio is about 50/50.

What it’s like for daddies:

Signing up as a sugar daddy is very fast and painless. You can also choose to start a very basic profile to search for potential sugar babies in your area before committing too much time or money. Another great feature if you’re looking for a discreet relationship is you can hide your profile at any time as well as go invisible for 24 hours and browse profiles in secret. These features help maintain your privacy while discreetly allowing you to find your perfect sugar baby.

What it’s like for babies:

Sugar babies love using Secret Benefits not only because it’s free, but also because the site’s outstanding support team keeps the riffraff out which provides a safe platform full of serious and active sugar daddies that are not looking to waste anyone’s time. Getting your profile verified via a short intro video also encourages daddies to reach out once they see that you are the real deal. The success rates for legit, happy, and ongoing sugar daddy relationships are extremely high on SecretBenefits.com, so it’s really just about getting signed up and putting yourself out there to find exactly the type of daddy you’re looking for.

4.  SugarDaddyMeet – For rich men who can spoil

SugarDaddyMeet, one of the original sugar dating sites, doesn’t sugarcoat its true intentions. According to the site, it’s only available to men who live in the 20 richest countries in the world. By attracting affluent men, it also attracts beautiful young women. Verifying income and wealth are two major features on SugarDaddyMeet, making it one of the best sugar dating sites for the ladies.

What it’s like for daddies:

For one, you’ll need to actually be rich to get approved for SugarDaddyMeet. Those who meet the requirements are introduced to a world of beautiful females. The platform itself feels like other social media sites that you may already be familiar with. It’s very casual and generally a breeze finding a mutually beneficial arrangement.

What it’s like for the babies:

This site has plenty of features that make women feel safe using it. You can verify income and let the site know what you’re looking for in a sugar daddy. Using a handy algorithm, it’ll match you up based on your preferences. A free membership is all you’ll need!

5.  SugarDaddyForMe – Speedy matching process

This chic site is slick in design and even better in matching capabilities. It doesn’t hide the fact that it’s a tried and true sugar daddy site designed for arrangements. This is made clear for both the women and the men who join SugarDaddyForMe.

What it’s like for daddies:

You should know first that the payment structure is unique. The membership tiers are based on how much time you want to buy rather than what you have access to. SugarDaddyForMe will want to verify your income, but there’s not much to it after that. You’re essentially brought into the SugarDaddyForMe world within minutes, making this platform one of the fastest ways to find a date.

What it’s like for babies:

This is a free sugar daddy site for you! Signing up takes only minutes and you’ll be glad to know that SugarDaddyForMe will want to know what your ideal arrangement would be. This can all be altered later if you change your mind.

6.  Ashley Madison – Find a casual companion

Ashley Madison is the site that people hate admitting they love. Sure, it’s received some shady press over the years, but it works marvelously. Though linked to affairs, it’s a perfect site for those in open-relationships to find fun arrangements with other folks. It’s a completely open-minded and judgment-free space for people to explore sensual relationships.

What it’s like for daddies:

Ashley Madison can be used as a sugar site. It follows a credit-based payment structure that allows men to communicate with women. There’s nothing on Ashley Madison to weed out the sugar babies from the rest of them, so you’ll need to use the age preference feature to find the ladies and chat to see if they are interested. Women are free to join, making it a great breeding ground for relationships with younger college-age women.

What it’s like for babies:

Men on Ashley Madison are usually looking for excitement, and sugar babies know how to have fun. There are a lot of wealthy men looking for younger women on the site, so if you specify that you are looking to set up an arrangement, you’ll have no problem finding a handsome catch.

Want even more about Ashley Madison? Check out our full review.

7.  What’s Your Price – Bid on dates

On many sugar sites, the idea of an arrangement is implied but not always enforced. In other words, SDs don’t feel like spending or SBs ask for too much. On What’s Your Price, the intention is clear. It’s about an agreement or arrangement that works for both parties. What’s Your Price will set everyone up with their ideal situation so that the minutiae of finances don’t cloud the fun! And it was created by the established folks behind Seeking, so you know it’s legit.

What it’s like for daddies:

You will feel like you are shopping for gorgeous women through an online marketplace. We hate to boil it down to an online shopping experience, but that’s kind of how it works! You will be shown tons of ladies who have a price in mind. Then, you can bid on anyone you find attractive or worth your time. You can also send virtual gifts and make bids as low as $10. You don’t have to be “wealthy” to join.

What it’s like for the babies:

What’s Your Price puts you in total control, which is a nice alternative to the chaotic free-for-all approach that other sites have. The only negative to What’s Your Price is that there is a lot of competition. There are 3 million members and counting, which means that your ad is going to have to be competitive.

8.  Sugar Search – Check out “Members Currently Online” before chatting to avoid flakes

It’s just as it sounds. Sugar Search is an easy to use search engine to find a local sugar daddy.

Sugar Search only operates in a few cities. Sorry babies and daddies, if you’re not in NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, or Philadelphia, this isn’t the site for you.

Sugar Search goes to admirable lengths to ensure all the accounts are legit. Some slip through the cracks, but the moderation team is pretty on top of it.

Best of all, the site has great customer service and makes it easy to cancel a membership if you’re over it.

What it’s like for daddies:

It’s a super simple sign up process for daddies. Fill in a few fields, verify some personal info, and you’re set. Sugar Search has a great daddy to baby ratio, so it shouldn’t be too hard to meet a baby. The chat feature is slick and easy to use. If you want your profile to appear toward the top of search results, opt for the Diamond Membership. It really does increase the amount and quality of matches.

What it’s like for the babies:

Babies, you won’t be disappointed. Sugar Search is the ultimate sugar daddy search tool if you’re in one of their cities. Sugar Search requires daddies to verify their personal information, so you won’t encounter too many fraudulent accounts. Do your own due diligence by chatting with a prospective daddy first. The sheer volume of options means you’ll likely connect with someone shortly after you sign up.

9.  Reddit (r/SugarBaby) – Top sugar forum

Reddit is a site that gets a ton of volume. As a general forum for a huge range of topics, people come to Reddit to get information about virtually anything you can think of. It works for sugaring, too, on the subreddits that are related to the subject. If you don’t already know, a subreddit is a specific message board. For the best sugar daddy action, visit the /r/SugarBaby board. We should also warn you that sexy photos flood the page!

What it’s like for daddies:

This subreddit has over 80K users, making it more intimate than most but still giving you a ton of options. The best part is that it’s one of the only free sugar daddy sites on this list. Men aren’t allowed to post, but you can browse through the photos and proposals of the women on the page.

What it’s like for the babies:

You can post on this forum photos and a description of your ideal relationship. If a guy sees you on the page and is interested in pursuing you, he will direct message you through the platform! To post, you will need to go through a verification process, but it’s not complicated.

10.  Elite Singles – Dating site for educated daddies and babies

Elite Singles was not designed specifically for sugaring. It’s a premium dating site that caters toward educated and successful individuals looking for someone who is like-minded. As a baby, you should be seeking something serious when you join Elite Singles. This site is made for real relationships, not a one-time hookup. A majority of the people on this site are college-educated, regardless of age, so that’s another thing to keep in mind.

What it’s like for daddies:

Elite Singles is ideal for the man (or woman) who is interested in meeting an intelligent, independent person to shower with affection or anything else. One of the best things about Elite Singles is that nobody is flakey. People are genuinely searching for their other half and they aren’t greedy for cash because they are successful themselves.

What it’s like for the babies:

This is an app best suited for the baby who isn’t just in this for the money. You don’t need to be wildly successful to get on Elite Singles, but you should have a semblance of independence and perhaps a college degree (or working towards one). This isn’t the quickest way to find a sugar daddy, but it is a place where you’ll meet successful people.

11.  Established Men – Great for long-term sugar dating

If you couldn’t gather from the name, Established Men is a dating site created for successful men looking for a relationship. Men who are established and wealthy often don’t find much time to date around. This site makes finding a partner very simple. It’s not a hookup site but rather a place that caters directly to wealthy guys who want a relationship. Though not exclusively for sugar relationships, women aren’t charged for a membership, making it feel like a free sugar daddy site for them.

What it’s like for daddies:

Established Men is not a free sugar dating site for men, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you are, in fact, established. Through the platform, you are able to send gifts and interact with the beautiful ladies that this website attracts. There are new members daily, so you’ll never run out of options!

What it’s like for babies:

Step into the world of Established Men. These are individuals who know their worth, so they might be tough to please. What’s nice about the site is that these guys aren’t expecting you to come to them with a set arrangement. They just want to spoil someone special with bags, shoes, and more.

12.  RichMeetBeautiful – Encrypted sugar daddy site

Contrary to popular belief, RichMeetBeautiful is not just for rich men. Anyone who is reasonably well off can still engage with beautiful men and women through the platform. It’s also one of the most secure sugar dating sites because it uses encryption security.

What it’s like for daddies:

RichMeetBeautiful claims to be rich in several ways: experience, romance, passion, style, and so on. It also explicitly says “no sugar dating” on the homepage. You’re probably asking yourself why it even made the list. It’s a site for successful individuals to meet one another through a scientific matchmaking algorithm. If you want to find a younger woman to spoil, you will absolutely be able to.

What it’s like for babies:

RichMeetsBeautiful is not explicitly for sugar dating. It is a site where you can converse with men who enjoy spoiling their significant others. It’s built for long-lasting relationships, so be prepared to meet people who want to find real love.

13.  Miss Travel – Best for the adventurous

Miss Travel puts an exciting spin on sugar dating. Rather than finding a companion locally, this site encourages people to find partners from places they’d love to travel to! It adds a whole new element to the fun of sugar dating, and women can join this site for free.

What it’s like for daddies:

SDs in open relationships or looking for fun outside of a relationship love to use this site while they travel for business. However, it’s also convenient for men who want foreign women to come to them. There are a ton of beautiful women who use Miss Travel because they are looking for an adventure with a well-to-do man.

What it’s like for babies:

Ever wanted to travel the world? This is one of the best ways to make that happen. The daddy you find will likely pay for the entire trip. There’s also an exciting “Create a Trip” feature that allows you to plan a wonderful vacation right there on the site.

14.  Wealthy Men – A no-frills approach to sugaring

Wealthy Men is the most straightforward sugar daddy website available to users, and it’s very reliable too. It promises young women that they will meet the wealthy man of their dreams. And, it has a guarantee for its paid members that they’ll find someone in three months. Members can rest assured that Wealthy Men will absolutely work for them.

What it’s like for daddies:

We’ll be honest: Wealthy Men does not make it that easy on the guys initially. You will have to prove that you make at least 85K by providing documentation stating so and comment on how much you’re willing to spend on a baby. While this is annoying, it maintains the integrity of the site.

What it’s like for babies:

This is one of the best sugar daddy sites out there. The financial aspect works in your favor. But you’ll want to pay for it, as the free version doesn’t allow for messaging.

15.  AgeMatch – Best for relationships with significant age gaps

AgeMatch doesn’t market itself as a sugar website. Instead of sugar daddies and young models, it pins itself as a dating platform for people with a very large age gap between them. This works for arrangements because most of the companionships on this site are between successful older men and stunning younger women.

What it’s like for daddies:

Some men don’t want arrangements and prefer the idea of spoiling someone who enjoys their company. For those types, AgeMatch is perfect. You will feel like you are on a real dating site and not a shady or seedy arrangement site, which is a nice alternative to the normal setup.

What it’s like for babies:

The expected age gap works in your favor, but the fact that sugaring is more implied than explicit does not. You won’t be asked about your preferred arrangement. However, there are plenty of wonderful successful older men at your disposal and you are welcome to present them with your terms.

16.  Sudy – A sugaring mobile app

Sudy is a fantastic app in terms of usability. It functions really well and is set up in such a way that makes it easy to meet someone new. There are some things about Sudy that aren’t perfect, which is why it’s at the bottom of our list, but it’s certainly a great option for someone who would rather use their phone than a desktop to find a date.

What it’s like for the daddies:

To join, you’ll need to make over 200K. Once you verify this, you will be introduced to the world of beautiful ladies (there’s a 4:1 male to female ratio). Gorgeous women like to know that you make enough to entertain them, so the verification works in your favor. Sources report having trouble deleting their profiles though, so that might be a turn-off for you.

What it’s like for babies:

There are more women than men, which means it’s competitive. But at the same time, Sudy is also very safe. The Sudy staff work tirelessly to moderate the platform and remove suspicious or fake profiles.

17.  SugarBook – Great for alternative arrangements

Sometimes arrangements aren’t all money-based. There are ambitious women (or guys) out there who desire connections, advice, opportunities, and financial help. Sources say that SugarBook is ideal for that type of relationship with a sugar mama or sugar daddy because each interaction begins by laying out expectations for one another.

What it’s like for daddies:

You will need to verify your income before getting accepted to SugarBook. This is technically a free sugar daddy site for men, but the premium option will show you many more profiles. We’ll admit that it’s limited on the free side.

What it’s like for babies:

You can join for free or pay for more features, that’s totally up to you. Try the free version first, though, because the features just include access to more daddies and a more specific search. You might find what you’re looking for on the free version alone. You’ll have a chance to create a profile where you can explain what you’re interested in.

Read More

Best Sugar Daddy Websites For Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies To Meet (2022)Corvelay Mediaon June 1, 2022 at 9:00 am Read More »

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: It’s okay to get hyped about Kevin Alcántara; Devers and Assad continue to quietly record outs; Jordan homers and continues to loudly abuse AA pitching; Hill homers in first Iowa plate appearance

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: It’s okay to get hyped about Kevin Alcántara; Devers and Assad continue to quietly record outs; Jordan homers and continues to loudly abuse AA pitching; Hill homers in first Iowa plate appearance

Kevin Alcántara (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)

AAA

St. Paul 13, Iowa 3

Game Recap

Darius Hill made a good first impression in his new locale by hitting a leadoff homer to give Iowa an early lead.

Darius Hill makes an immediate impression at Iowa. pic.twitter.com/A1ODSHjTsE

— Itsacon (@thats_so_cub)

June 1, 2022

Matt Dermody was okay through the first three innings of the game (3 runs on 5 hits), but he was replaced by Sean Newcomb to open the 4th and the game quickly got out of hand. Newcomb could not find the plate, walking three and allowing a hit while retiring just one batter. Aneuris Rosario replaced him and looked like he might stop the bleeding, but an error by David Bote at 3B extended the inning and St. Paul would break the game open when the next batter hit a three run homer. A 3-3 tie heading into the inning was now a 10-3 disadvantage and Iowa never recovered.

Top Performers

Darius Hill: 2-5, HR (1), R, RBI (.400)John Hicks: 1-3, HR (5), R, RBI (.198)Dixon Machado: 1-2, R, 2 BB (.291)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Outfielder Darius Hill has been promoted to Iowa. He’s a solid hitter with a good approach, who has begun to flash a tad more power this season (486 SLG in 2022 after posting 370 and 359 figures his first two pro seasons). That’s important because he is a borderline defender in CF and his previous power output would not play in a corner. Hill is in a similar boat as Levi Jordan. They know how to hit, but are not great physical specimens or great defenders, so the Cubs will never make way for them in order to give them a shot in the Majors. Explosive athletes like Christopher Morel, Nelson Velázquez, and Alexander Canario will always be given priority over them, and superior defenders at key positions like Andy Weber and Luis Vazquez often will as well. Any chance they get will likely be due to injuries ahead of them on the depth chart, and those are often short lived and so they often aren’t afforded the opportunity adjust and work through struggles. They’ll likely have to bide their time in AAA, and sometimes the opportunity doesn’t come along for years, or at all.

A Smokies teammate will be joining Hill in Des Moines. After his successful MLB debut, Anderson Espinoza will not be returning to AA, but has instead been promoted to Iowa.

Iowa activated lefty Conner Menez from the IL so the org does now have another healthy arm available on the 40-man roster beyond Espinoza to be the 27th man for the next doubleheader on Saturday.

Adrian Sampson, who was DFA by the Cubs a couple of weeks ago and claimed by the Mariners, has returned to Iowa. Seattle also designated him for assignment and was able to run him through waivers, but the MLB veteran chose his right to free agency. Sampson has had success in both Iowa and Chicago and no doubt sees the opportunity for more MLB time with a Cubs team that figures to continue its roster churn all season.

Nick Madrigal completed his rehab stint in Iowa and returned to Chicago last night.

AA

Tennessee 4, Birmingham 2

Game Recap

I’m really not sure what else Levi Jordan (344/439/688 between AA/AAA) needs to do in order to get another shot in Iowa. He’s done nothing but rake since returning to Tennessee and now that Nick Madrigal is finished rehabbing I hope they promote Jordan soon. He hit his 6th homer and raised his average with the Smokies to .372 with a 2-for-4 day yesterday. And it’s not like he was struggling in AAA when he got demoted (2 HR in 6 G), he just got squeezed out but the number of veterans the Cubs had in Iowa to open the season. With Madrigal back in Chicago, Estaban Quiroz on the 60-day IL, and Ildemaro Vargas no longer with the organization, that roster crunch no longer exists.

LEVI JORDAN WITH A 2 RUN BOMB TO TIE THE GAME IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH!!! pic.twitter.com/aeYq6o0U3u

— Tennessee Smokies (@smokiesbaseball)

June 1, 2022

Levi Jordan has put up cartoon numbers in 22 games/94 PAs since being sent down to AA. Needs to be back in Iowa. pic.twitter.com/iivF8xLMDx

— Brad (@ballskwok)

June 1, 2022

The Smokies also got another good start out of Javier Assad. His breaking stuff is tighter this season and he too has spent well over a season in Tennessee and really has nothing left to prove at that level. Danis Correa got the win with two lights out innings to close out the game. With Eury Ramos getting the call to Iowa yesterday, Correa is likely next in line for promotion out of the Tennessee pen. He’s not a big guy, but he’s got a big arm with lots of carry on his fastball. I’ll be very curious to see if one or both of Ramos/Correa earn 40-man spots by the end of the season as they will both be Rule 5 eligible again in the offseason.

Top Performers

Levi Jordan: 2-4, HR (6), R, 2 RBI (.372)Alexander Canario: 1-4, HR (5), R, RBI (.195)Matt Mervis: 2-3, 2B, R (.302)Bryce Ball: 2-4 (.291)Luis Vazquez: 1-3, BB (.194)Javier Assad: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K (2.91)Bryan King: IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (0.00)Danis Correa: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (W, 1-1, 3.38)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

I mentioned yesterday that with the news of PCA getting promoted to South Bend that we would likely see a cascade of OF promotions up the ladder to make room for him. It included Hill to Iowa, and also Cole Roederer to Tennessee. The young centerfielder opened the season in EXST while he continued to recover from the elbow injury suffered last season, but joined Myrtle Beach on rehab in April and hit the ground running. His success did not carry over much once he was promoted to South Bend, but he’s a prospect the team has aggressively promoted throughout his career, and with PCA pushing hard below him Roederer will likely need to step up his game a bit in the coming months, otherwise there is the chance he gets bypassed. He’s made himself into a solid defender in center, but his bat remains inconsistent. There is pull power in his bat and gap power the other way, but at times he gets into ruts where he rolls over a lot of pitches. Hopefully some good health and consistent at bats at one level over the next couple of months will be just what he needs to find his groove.

High-A

Dayton 4, South Bend 2

Game Recap

Jordan Wicks continues to get slayed by the BABIP dragon in South Bend as he took his second loss of the season. He’s still working to improve his breaking ball and his velocity still fluctuates a bit, so he’s still a work in progress, but he did carve up one hitter with three straight changeups:

Jordan Wicks at his best ⁦@cubprospectspic.twitter.com/YPBV8wxOYK

— Todd ⚾️
Advertisement:
Advertisement:

Welcome to ChicagoNow.

Meet
our bloggers,

post comments, or

pitch your blog idea.

Subscribe by Email

Completely spam free, opt out any time.

Recent Comments

In reply to John57:
or B Davis could be the starting CF next year.
Read the story | Reply to this comment
In reply to bleachercreature:
or Morel could be your starting CF and lead off hitter next year.
Read the story | Reply to this comment
In reply to bleachercreature:
18%k rate 12% walk rate 7 homer 13 stolen bases .354/.480. A great defender. If Pete Crow Armstrong has similiar…
Read the story | Reply to this comment
In reply to cubbustible:
I am definitely heading over to south bend in june maybe a couple of times.
Read the story | Reply to this comment
In reply to cubbustible:
I’ve mentioned it before but I think there are good odds Bote gets DFA. No team is going to claim…
Read the story | Reply to this comment

Latest on ChicagoNow

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: It’s okay to get hyped about Kevin Alcántara; Devers and Assad continue to quietly record outs; Jordan homers and continues to loudly abuse AA pitching; Hill homers in first Iowa plate appearance

from Cubs Den by Michael Ernst
posted today at 9:24 am

BARNSDALL ART PARK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PLANTING OF 40 OLIVE TREES AS PART OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO RESTORE HISTORIC OLIVE GROVE

from The Good Life by Eraina Davis
posted today at 7:27 am

The baby formula and feral pig edition of The Month in Review

from I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes by Howard Moore
posted today at 6:11 am

Chicago comedy spotlight on 14 shows: Tuesday, May 31- Sunday, June 5, 2022

from Comedians Defying Gravity by Teme Ring
posted Tuesday at 5:21 pm

The Spectator: “The stench from the Sussmann verdict”

from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor by Dennis Byrne
posted Tuesday at 3:23 pm

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

Cubs Den

Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends

Pets in need of homes

Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area

Hammervision

It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Advertisement:

About ChicagoNow

FAQs

Advertise

Recent posts RSS

Privacy policy (Updated)

Comment policy

Terms of service

Chicago Tribune Archives

Do not sell my personal info

©2022 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

Read More

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: It’s okay to get hyped about Kevin Alcántara; Devers and Assad continue to quietly record outs; Jordan homers and continues to loudly abuse AA pitching; Hill homers in first Iowa plate appearance Read More »

When to expect the Chicago Blackhawks making the Stanley Cup Playoffs againTodd Welteron June 1, 2022 at 1:00 pm

The Chicago Blackhawks are in the middle of a Stanley Cup playoff drought. Ever since being swept out by the Nashville Predators in their 2017 first-round playoff series, the Blackhawks have made the postseason just once.

That was only because the NHL had an expanded playoff in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Goalie Corey Crawford played brilliantly to help the Hawks win their play-in series over Edmonton. Still, that Blackhawks team was not good enough to make a postseason run and was disposed of quickly by the Vegas Knights.

Outside of the pandemic year, the Chicago Blackhawks have now missed out on playing in one of the best playoffs tournaments four times.

Despite the missed time, the Blackhawks are still ranked in the top-5 of the most playoff series wins over the last 16 years.

Will the @TBLightning climb into the top spot this year? ? #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/nLmGKavXAT

— NHL (@NHL) May 31, 2022

This year’s playoff run has been frustrating to watch as many former Blackhawks are thriving.

Instead of cheering on the actual Chicago Blackhawks in the playoffs, Hawks fans were forced to cheer for the Minnesota Wild to get into the Western Conference Finals. They failed and now the Blackhawks come away from the Marc Andre-Fleury trade with a second-round pick instead of a first had the Wild advanced that far.

Hawks fans now need the Oilers to make the Stanley Cup Finals. If that happens, the Chicago Blackhawks get a second-round pick as part of the Duncan Keith trade-and also a chance to see the Hawks legend get a chance at a fourth Stanley Cup.

From 2009-2017, this used to be a time Hawks fans watched glorious moments on the way toward winning three Stanley Cups. Sure, there were heartbreaking exits in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014 but it was still fun to watch the Hawks compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Poor personal decisions by previous general manager Stan Bowman and a decline in production to the Hawks’ Stanely Cup core have led to this playoff hiatus.

New general manager Kyle Davidson is overseeing a full-out rebuild the Blackhawks should have done five years ago. He plans on not making the same mistakes his previous boss did.

Kyle Davidson has asked his scouts to look for a different type of player than Stan Bowman did as general manager. This is why Davidson’s changed the Blackhawks’ scouting philosophies: https://t.co/oVt7588gTG

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) May 23, 2022

A rebuild is desperately needed but maybe looking at the four remaining teams in the playoff is how long can Blackhawks fans can expect to wait before Chicago is back in the playoffs.

Edmonton Oilers

Current postseason streak: 3Longest playoff drought before contention: 2007-2016 and then missed playoffs in 2018 and 2019Biggest moves that got them moving towards playoff contention: Drafting Connor McDavid first overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and hiring Ken Holland as general manager in 2019.

Colorado Avalanche

Current postseason streak: 5Longest playoff drought before contention: 2011-2013 and 2015-2017 when they were real bad.Biggest moves that got them moving towards playoff contention: Drafting Nathan MacKinnon first overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and hiring Joe Sakic as general manager in 2014.

New York Rangers

Current postseason streak: 1 (but they have made the postseason 13 times since 2006)Longest playoff drought before contention: Missed postseason in 2018, 2019, and 2021.Biggest move that got them moving towards playoff contention: Naming Igor Shesterki starting goalie.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Current postseason streak: 5 and they have won the last two Stanley Cups.Longest playoff drought before contention: 2008-2010 (and they were also bad in 2012-2013)Biggest moves that got them moving towards contention: They followed this plan and drafted really well.

Rebuilds can last two to three seasons or almost 10 years depending on well the plan is executed. One thing these teams have in common is they drafted their cornerstones players and developed them properly.

Drafting and patient development is something Davidson hopes to do in this rebuild. That is something previous leadership did not do and that is why the Blackhawks have missed the playoffs all these years.

Read More

When to expect the Chicago Blackhawks making the Stanley Cup Playoffs againTodd Welteron June 1, 2022 at 1:00 pm Read More »

How Nikola Vucevic can still be a crucial Chicago Bulls pieceAnish Puligillaon June 1, 2022 at 12:00 pm

The Chicago Bulls are in an extremely interesting position as a team this summer. With a combination of players in different stages of their careers, they are currently riding the fence between trying to win now and developing their young talent to construct a perennial juggernaut.

They’re spearheaded by their vets in DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. Zach LaVine is the young star that was brought to Chicago to support. Waiting in the wings to take over are the likes of Patrick Williams, Lonzo Ball, and Ayo Dosunmu.

However, the Bulls have a problem. The mismatch of talent and experience across their roster makes free-agent and other front office decision-making even more difficult as AKME has to weigh the promise of the future with their goals today.

No one player speaks to this conundrum more than Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic, who was brought to the Bulls via trade at the all-star break in 2021, was said to be the prolific and dominant big man Zach LaVine has never had in Chicago.

Coming off back-to-back all-star seasons, he was a sure-fire member of the big 3 and a player that kicked off the process for Chicago to land Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan.

Unfortunately, and by his own admission, Vucevic did not play up to his usual standard in 2021-22. While he still averaged around 17 points per game and pulled down double-digit rebounds, he was a liability from three-point range.

It was a shot that opponents began willingly giving up to him as the Bulls began their tumultuous fall down the Eastern Conference standings in March.

He additionally isn’t the greatest defensively but gets way too much criticism for his play on that end of the floor when a good portion of it should be directed to those on the perimeter letting themselves get beat consistently.

While he did bounce back in the playoffs with a decent showing against Milwaukee, where the Bulls go from here and how they see Vucevic’s role going forward are major unknowns especially as he is set to enter a contract year in 2022-23.

Nikola Vucevic’s future role for the Chicago Bulls in 2022-23 is unknown.

While Vucevic is only 31 and likely has a couple of years of his prime left, one role I could see him thriving in and helping the Bulls be even better is in an ‘Al Horford’ type role.

One thing most Chicago Bulls fans should be picking up on, if they’ve been following the eastern conference playoffs, is that the now Eastern-Conference champs Boston Celtics are a final form version of the Bulls roster.

With a deep bench of defensive wings and guards, two prolific scorers in Tatum and Brown on the wings, and an all-defense point guard in Marcus Smart they have a tough, sound championship-level team.

However, in addition to all that they also have a rotation of big men with Robert Williams, Al Horford, and Daniel Theis who all contribute in some way offensively and defensively.

If the Chicago Bulls were able to figure out a way to land someone like Mitchell Robinson (who can be that defensive anchor) and let Vucevic work in that ‘Horford’ role, the Bulls would all of a sudden have an extremely formidable frontcourt.

They’d still need another ‘big man’ who can rotate in with them but the Bulls’ frontcourt would become a major strength for this team.

A lot is yet to be seen with what the Bulls want to do and even if they did want to do this, it’s tough to know whether or not Vucevic would accept this role.

Being that he is 31 and Horford is 35, he may feel insulted at the prospect of playing a lesser role. However, should everyone opt-in, this type of scenario could resolve the Chicago Bulls’ frontcourt problems.

Read More

How Nikola Vucevic can still be a crucial Chicago Bulls pieceAnish Puligillaon June 1, 2022 at 12:00 pm Read More »

BARNSDALL ART PARK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PLANTING OF 40 OLIVE TREES AS PART OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO RESTORE HISTORIC OLIVE GROVE

BARNSDALL ART PARK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PLANTING OF 40 OLIVE TREES AS PART OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO RESTORE HISTORIC OLIVE GROVE

Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell Joins Barnsdall Art Park Foundation and Los Angeles Parks Foundation for A Tree Planting Ceremony on June 16 at 8am

 On June 16, Barnsdall Art Park Foundation (BAPF) in partnership with the Los Angeles Parks Foundation, Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and Department of Cultural Affairs will plant 40 olive trees currently missing from the Historic Olive Grove at Barnsdall Park (4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027). 

The planting takes place from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM and a ceremony will be held from 8-9 AM, marking the next phase of a bold collaborative effort to restore and sustain Barnsdall Art Park’s historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed landscape, the cornerstone of which is the grove of olive trees that first gave Olive Hill its name back in the 1890s.

The world-renowned 11.5-acre park and cultural destination in East Hollywood includes Hollyhock House, created by Frank Lloyd Wright for Aline Barnsdall, which is Los Angeles’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. As part of this ambitious undertaking, which began in 2021, the Olive Grove’s irrigation system was improved while the 463 existing olive trees were fully pruned and dead stumps removed, making way for this new planting to occur, bringing life and beauty to Olive Hill.

BAPF has raised and contributed $33,000 to plant and maintain 40 new olive trees, which includes 2 years of follow up care, through the Los Angeles Park Forest program, created and managed by the Los Angeles Parks Foundation (www.laparksfoundation.org). Los Angeles Parks Foundation’s mission is to enhance and preserve public parks for the City and their Los Angeles Park Forest initiative adds trees to city parks to offset the carbon footprint, cool surface air temperatures, and educate the public about climate change. The Barnsdall Olive Grove Initiative will improve the air quality of the East Hollywood community and support the ongoing tree planting goals of L.A.’s Green New Deal.

“Barnsdall Art Park is a unique and priceless gem in the City of Los Angeles, and this Olive Grove Initiative is yet another reminder as to why,” said Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell. “Preserving the existing trees and propagating new, healthy olive trees into the campus’s landscape is an essential step in preserving this historically significant grove that is an essential contributor to this cultural resource we all cherish, Barnsdall Art Park, and UNESCO World Heritage Site Hollyhock House.”  

A number of individuals have donated trees in honor of loved ones. Nathan Miller, CEO of Miller Ink, will be donating and planting a tree as part of the event in memory of his late grandmother, Harriet Miller, who worked as a trailblazing Director of the Barnsdall Park Junior Art Center for many years. 

Planting trees is one of the most important investments we can make in our communities and this initiative is both an environmental justice and a climate action program. Barnsdall Art Park Foundation invites Angelenoes to support the ongoing revitalization of the Barnsdall Olive Grove through donating at www.barnsdall.org

Filed under:
Uncategorized

Advertisement:
Advertisement:

Welcome to ChicagoNow.

Meet
our bloggers,

post comments, or

pitch your blog idea.

Meet The Blogger

Eraina Davis

Eraina Davis is a writer and entrepreneur. She has written for “Healthy Living” magazine as well as several academic publications. She opened one of the first pop-up shops in downtown New Haven, Connecticut called The Good Life, where she gave advice to entrepreneurs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, an M.Ed in Education and an MAR in Religion from Yale.

Subscribe by Email

Completely spam free, opt out any time.

Latest on ChicagoNow

BARNSDALL ART PARK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PLANTING OF 40 OLIVE TREES AS PART OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO RESTORE HISTORIC OLIVE GROVE

from The Good Life by Eraina Davis
posted today at 7:27 am

The baby formula and feral pig edition of The Month in Review

from I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes by Howard Moore
posted today at 6:11 am

Chicago comedy spotlight on 14 shows: Tuesday, May 31- Sunday, June 5, 2022

from Comedians Defying Gravity by Teme Ring
posted Tuesday at 5:21 pm

The Spectator: “The stench from the Sussmann verdict”

from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor by Dennis Byrne
posted Tuesday at 3:23 pm

New York Times in a lather about Trump’s “election conspiracist” to monitor the next election. Shame!!

from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor by Dennis Byrne
posted Tuesday at 2:29 pm

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

Cubs Den

Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends

Pets in need of homes

Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area

Hammervision

It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Advertisement:

About ChicagoNow

FAQs

Advertise

Recent posts RSS

Privacy policy (Updated)

Comment policy

Terms of service

Chicago Tribune Archives

Do not sell my personal info

©2022 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

Read More

BARNSDALL ART PARK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PLANTING OF 40 OLIVE TREES AS PART OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO RESTORE HISTORIC OLIVE GROVE Read More »