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College basketball: Transfer portal treasures, where the 10 best locals are headed

The busy, active and heavily talked about transfer portal in college basketball this spring has included dozens of former Illinois prep products who are on the move.

Many of those former Illinois high school stars are impact players and almost all of them have found a new home for next season.

Here are the 10 best transfers and where they’re headed (listed alphabetically).

Darius Burford, Bolingbrook (Elon to Illinois State)

A huge addition for first-year coach Ryan Pedon at Illinois State. The jet-quick guard is dynamic in the backcourt and fresh off averaging 13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and three assists as a sophomore this past season.

Bryce Hopkins, Fenwick (Kentucky to Providence)

A fresh start for the former top 50 player in the country as a senior in high school. Hopkins played sparingly as a freshman at Kentucky, averaging just six minutes a game. The 6-6 forward will have a great opportunity to establish himself in the Big East this season.

Connor Kochera, St. Viator (William & Mary to Davidson)

Kochera hit the ground running in his first year of college basketball. As a freshman he averaged 13.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. Those numbers resulted in being named the Colonial Rookie of the Year.

As a sophomore this past season the skilled 6-5 Kochera put up 10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He upped the number of three-pointers made from 25 as a freshman to 44 as a sophomore.

Now he makes the big step up from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Atlantic 10 Conference champions.

Dante Maddox Jr., Bloom (Cal-State Fullerton to Toledo)

The strong, athletic 6-2 guard put together a heck of a freshman season two years ago. Maddox averaged 11.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 43 percent from three and 90 percent from the line. This past season he averaged 6.8 points a game.

Now Maddox heads to a program where several Illinois products have thrived over the years.

Javon Pickett, Belleville East (Missouri to Saint Louis)

Following four years at Missouri, where he started 84 games and scored 950 career points, the hard-nosed 6-4 guard is heading even closer to home for his final college season. Last season Pickett averaged 11.1 points and 3.1 rebounds for the Tigers.

Xavier Pinson, Simeon (LSU to New Mexico State)

The smooth point guard has been productive at both of his high-major spots.

In his junior season at Mizzou, his last season there prior to transferring to LSU, Pinson averaged 13.6 points and 2.9 assists.

This past season for fired LSU coach Will Wade, Pinson was a starter in the SEC and averaged 9.8 points while upping his assist and steals numbers to 4.8 and 1.9, respectively.

Antonio Reeves, Simeon (Illinois State to Kentucky)

Following a season where he averaged 20.1 points and a three-year career where he scored nearly 1,200 career points, Reeves was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal.

The shooting he provides is a premium in the game today, and Reeves made 76 three-pointers as a junior while shooting a very respectable 39 percent from beyond the arc.

Terrence Shannon Jr, Lincoln Park (Texas Tech to Illinois)

The physical attributes are off-the-charts. A lengthy 6-6 gazelle who can run with guards in the open floor and elevates off the floor as well as anyone.

Shannon has a vast amount of high-level experience, including 21 starts for the 2020 Final Four team as a freshman. He put up modest numbers this past season, averaging 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and two assists.

Illinois and coach Brad Underwood will welcome all that Shannon brings to the table next season.

Malachi Smith, Belleville West (Tennessee-Chattanooga to Undecided)

A late entry into the transfer portal just a few weeks ago, Smith is working out for NBA teams while still zeroing in on a potential landing spot in college.

The 6-4 guard blossomed into a star who led Chattanooga to a NCAA Tournament berth this past season. He averaged 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and three assists. He’s a two-time All-Southern Conference performer and has scored over 1,300 career points in his three years.

Jeremiah Williams, Simeon (Temple to Iowa State)

The 6-5 Williams is a stat-sheet stuffer and as versatile as they come, capable of playing and defending multiple positions.

In years at Temple, where he started 37 games, Williams proved to be an elite defender.His two-year career numbers of 9.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists show his overall productivity.

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Well-rested White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech set to face Blue Jays

It’s been 10 days since Michael Kopech pitched, 10 days since he pitched seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball at Yankee Stadium in that riveting 5-0 White Sox victory capped by Tim Anderson’s three-run homer.

For the White Sox, it was an emotional win the day after Anderson and Josh Donaldson got into it. In the nightcap of a Sunday doubleheader beamed on ESPN, Kopech was also floating about the birth of his second child.

After retiring the last 13 batters in his previous start against the Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field, Kopech retired the first 14 Yankees in New York against one of baseball’s most feared lineups, lowering his ERA to 1.29. After nine days of rest Kopech will face another tough one in the Blue Jays Wednesday (6:07 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM). Lefty Hyun Jin Ryu (5.48 ERA) starts for Toronto.

What comes Wednesday with the Sox’ plan to monitor Kopech’s innings in his first year as a starter is the challenge of shaking rust and maintaining feel for his pitches.

Kopech is a creature of routine, so he has basically gone through his normal regimen between starts twice.

“Sometimes it’s nice to ride a positive start into the next one,” Kopech told the Sun-Times Tuesday. “Sometimes you have a rough one and you don’t want to carry that into the next one. It’s almost as if I have to flush a start and kind of start over. But I feel fresh, I feel good.

“It’s a positive thing — the team’s way of looking out for me since I haven’t thrown so much in the past few years, but I feel good and I feel ready.”

After pitching mainly out of the bullpen last season, Kopech made four starts in each of the first two months, throwing 42 innings. That pace would probably give him 24 starts and about 130 innings, but it could pick up a bit.

“The notion of an innings limit has always been soft,” general manager Rick Hahn said last week. “And by ‘soft,’ I mean it can go up or down. We entered the year with an expectation of generally where we would like him to finish. But over the course of the year, we have to adjust based on what we’re seeing with our eyes, how the ball’s coming out of his hand, what the metrics are showing us, mechanically [if] there are any issues and what he’s reporting.”

The big picture goal is having Kopech feeling strong in the postseason — should the Sox get there.

So Kopech still expects to get extra rest days intermittently throughout the season.

“I want to be to the point where I can be consistent on a five-day,” he said. “I’m not hoping I want to do that again but for their sake they might want to do that.

“I don’t want to have a limitation on me. I want this year to be as close to a normal year as possible. I try to go out there and make as many innings as I can, make as many starts. It’s great that they’re trying to loosen the reins a little bit but there are precautions they’re going to take.”

On a team that fell below .500 with their loss to the Jays Tuesday, the first of a tough stretch that has the Sox playing at the Rays next and then coming home to play the Dodgers, Kopech is first on the Sox in wins above replacement, a notch ahead of Anderson per Baseball Reference.

“First and foremost, I’m grateful for the position I’m in,” Kopech said. “Coming into the year I didn’t really know what I was. I had that late start in the spring [due to illness], the innings were very limited and when I got going I got in the groove again. I wasn’t sure how it was going to be getting back into a normal five-day but I’ve been fortunate to have some good starts and maybe some lucky ones sprinkled in there.

“Some games I’ve given the team a chance to win and that’s all you can ask for. I’m hoping to have a lot more of those.”

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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.

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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

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‘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].

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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.

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

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

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‘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 »

Inside Fine Arts Building, 125-year-old Studebaker Theater is reborn

Brittle scraps of Scotch tape stick to the marble walls, chipped and gouged from decades of comings and goings — and if it were any darker in the lobby of the Fine Arts Building on South Michigan Avenue, a flashlight might come in handy.

On the lobby’s west wall in small, tarnished lettering, it reads: “The Studebaker” above papered-over doors — a reminder of the building’s earlier life, stretching back to the late 1800s when it housed Studebaker buggies and wagons.

But then, a wafting odor of epoxy and the muffled growl of a drill, and it’s clear something is happening on the other side of those doors.

Inside, hidden almost in plain sight, is the newly renovated Studebaker Theater. With its glittering mirrored walls and ice-white lighting, the grand old theater once again radiates a kind of frosty warmth.

It held about 1,300 people when it opened, though some of those people were crammed in up to the rafters. These days, the Studebaker Theater will have a more comfortable 600 seats.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

“It’s unique. I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I don’t know that I’ve found a true comparison [in Chicago] because there are few theaters that are this grand but of this size,” said Jacob Harvey, the theater’s managing artistic director, leading a tour last week of the all-but complete multi-million dollar, two-year renovation.

By “this size,” Harvey means the relatively small capacity. It has 600 seats now, though when the theater first opened back in 1898, it could seat about 1,300 people. That’s back when patrons were jammed in up to the rafters. It opened only five years before the Iroquois Theater went up in flames during a performance, killing 602 of the 1,700 attendees.

“This was also the very early years of theater technology. There were still early experiments in terms of lighting and sound,” said Tanya Palmer, a Northwestern professor and Chicago theater historian. “A lot of what people would go to see were music-hall kind of experiences. … It was quite an event to go to this space.”

The spiffed-up Studebaker Theater is the new home of the NPR quiz show “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” The show is produced at WBEZ-FM (91.5).

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Though The Studebaker, 410 S. Michigan Ave., has hosted live events in recent years, it hasn’t been “fully functional” since the early 1980s when it was chopped up and converted into an art-house cinema. It closed in 2000, Harvey said.

But in its heyday, some of Hollywood and American theater’s biggest names appeared on stage, including Yul Brynner, Henry Fonda, Peter O’Toole, Louis Gossett Jr., and a young Martin Sheen.

Other somewhat less illustrious entertainers also performed there, including “Dr. Harlan Tarbell,” an illusionist famed for his “eyeless vision.”

Chicago native Mike Nussbaum, still acting at 98, remembers working at the Studebaker when he was a kid.

“If you went downtown to the Studebaker and wore a white shirt and dark pants with a tie, then they let you work in the upper balcony as an usher — and you got to see the show free,” said Nussbaum.

Nussbaum, who grew up in the Albany Park neighborhood, remembers seeing Hamlet there in the 1930s, with Ian Keith, a well-known Broadway and silent film actor.

“It was heaven,” Nussbaum said. “The opportunity to do that kind of work [as an actor] struck me even then as something I wanted desperately to do.”

On a recent tour, Harvey was keen to emphasize the state-of-the-art technology embedded, mostly unseen, within the theater. Where clunking metal levers once controlled the stage lighting, now it’s mostly done with computer touch screens.

“Basically everything is new, with the exception of the physical architecture itself,” Harvey said.

The mechanical and production systems may be the latest tech, but the grand architecture of the Studebaker Theater, which opened near the end of the 19th century, is unchanged.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

What hasn’t changed, Harvey said, is the expectation the theater will return to its 125-year-old theater roots, offering locally produced shows and those coming from out of town.

This month, a new musical, “Skates,” opens, billed as “‘Grease’ meets ‘Hairspray,’ with a dash of Xanadu!'”

The Studebaker is also set to become the new home of the Chicago-based NPR quiz show, “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”

Despite the pandemic and the theater’s history of sometimes struggling to find audiences, Harvey said now is as good a time as any to reopen.

“There is something incredibly ephemeral and uniting about being in the theater and having that shared community experience that people have been craving and are continuing to crave,” Harvey said.

The renovated Studebaker Theater will have 600 seats.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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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 ⚾️
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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.
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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…
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In reply to cubbustible:
I am definitely heading over to south bend in june maybe a couple of times.
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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…
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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 »