TikTok, Selfie Mirrors and Other Restaurant Gimmicks That Work
Restaurants, especially after a year of being partially or completely closed, need all the tools in their arsenal to get customers back. Social media is one of those critical tools, but a Facebook page is not going to cut it. Restaurants, cafes and stores across Chicago have tapped into the influence of TikTok to stand out. At Wake ‘n Bacon in Lakeview there’s a “selfie mirror” when you walk in, just one of the opportunities to document your experience under a ceiling of colorful hanging flowers while drinking a Purple Haze iced latte. Host Jacoby Cochran heads to Wake n’ Bacon to see it for himself. But first, the sisters behind the popular Explore Chicago account offer some ideas on how to reach many followers.
Guests: Leen and Yasmeen Alqaissi, TikTokers, @explorechicago
Gabriel Ayala, Co-Owner, Wake ‘n Bacon (@eatwakenbacon)
Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago
Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Want to know what's happening in Chicago? Sign up for our free newsletter, Hey Chicago. Packed with local news, curated event recs, local life hacks, and more, it's your daily toolkit for getting the most out of the city you love.
Latest Episodes
Why Fall Is Still Camping (and Glamping) Season
It’s the final day of our Fall Getaway Guide. This week we’ve pitched road trips in every direction and autumnal stops off the Metra. But it...

Hop Aboard Metra for Quick, Cheap Fall Day Trips
We’re back with the second day of our Fall Getaway Guide. Yesterday we gave you all the tips and tricks for the best road trips near Chicago...

There's a Perfect Fall Road Trip in Every Direction from Chicago
It’s officially fall, and the City Cast team is going road tripping! Host Jacoby Cochran, lead producer Simone Alicea, newsletter editor Sid...

Why Student Loan Repayments Scare The Hell Out of Us
Federal student loan payments start back up in October following a pandemic pause. This is a huge deal in Illinois where more than 1.5 milli...

Migrant 'Base Camps,' Future of Tipping, and Soccer at Soldier Field
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is defending the decision to sign a one-year, nearly $30 million contract with controversial private ...

'Do You Remember' Why It's Earth, Wind & Fire Day?
Today is Earth, Wind & Fire Day. Founded in Chicago by the late band leader Maurice White in 1969, the legendary group has sold over 100...

‘Young Love’ Is TV’s Newest Chicago Love Letter
Matthew Cherry’s short film “Hair Love” won an Oscar and became a New York Times bestselling children’s book. Now the writer, director, and ...

Obama Center Housing Protections, Your Fav Chi Dates, Say Goodbye to Summer
Last week, Fifth Ward Ald. Desmon Yancy introduced the South Shore Housing Preservation Ordinance to City Council. The measure would provide...

How Will Mayor Johnson Close Chicago’s Budget Gap?
Budget season has officially begun! Mayor Brandon Johnson released his first budget forecast last week, kicking off his first budget process...

New Migrant Shelter Plan, Riot Fest Weekend, and Celebrating Mexican Independence Day
Mayor Brandon Johnson has outlined a plan to relocate nearly 1,600 migrants and asylum-seekers from Chicago police stations to what he calls...
