Past Potlucks

Potluck 51.0, Tuesday, 2/13/18  photos ‘Nice, Single Lady’ Edition (LGBTQ)

Mac & Cheese is partnering with Center on Halsted for this event in an effort to support programming for our shared communities. Center on Halsted is the Midwest’s most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. A portion of ticket proceeds will go to the Center.

• Alex
• Emily
• Analisha
• Conway
• Starza
• Deb
• Anita
• Jera
• Jocelyn

Potluck 50.0, Tuesday, 10/24/17  photos

• Ines Bellina, Writer, Translator, and Performer
• David Rabie, CEO and co-founder of Tovala | Twitter: @daviderabie
• Sami Ari, Digital Strategist & Nomad | Instagram: @SamiAri
• Michelle Goeppner, Life Change Champion
• Marya Spont-Lemus, Writer, Interdisciplinary Artist, and Educator | Twitter: @maryaspontlemus
• Hillary Johnson, Photographer | Twitter: @hillaryjphotos & Instagram: @hillaryjohnsonphotography
• Mary Kesinger, Marketing Analyst (Accenture) and Fitness Trainer (ENRGi Fitness) | Twitter & Instagram: @itsmaryk @itsmaryk
• Emily Lonigro Boylan | Twitter & Instagram: @limeredstudio @emilylimered

Potluck 49.0, Tuesday, 9/19/17   photos 

• Seth Austen Larson, Technology Troubleshooter
• Frank Shapiro
• Kendra Chaplin, Founder, Chicago Woman magazine | Twitter & Instagram: @chiwomanmag @kendrachaplin
• Jenn Bane, Cards Against Humanity | Twitter: @JennDangerous
• Joanne Worden
• Kelsey Taylor
• Jason Bell, Sales Guy, Photographer, Global Adventurer, Foodie, Speaker | Instagram: @jasonbell82
• Boots McCann, Ph.D., Purveyor of Inspirational Clapbacks

Potluck 48.0, Tuesday, 8/22/17   photos 

• Hassan Ali, Creative Marketing Director at The Onion | Twitter & Instagram: @hassanisms
• Andy Bolduc, Comedian 
• Burrell Poe
• Liz Traines, Career and Lifestyle Coaching and a Conscious Entrepreneur | Instagram: @Liztraines
• Erica Bauer, PhD | Director of Student Engagement at Walter Payton College Preparatory Academy
• LaTanya Lane, Writer & Storyteller
• Billy Banks, Entrepreneur, Professor, Father of triplets whose achilles heel is Cool Ranch Doritos and went from rocking the fast car to hustling his troops in a minivan | Twitter: @billybanks99 Instagram: @billybanks9

Potluck 47.0, Tuesday, 7/18/17   photos 

• Nikki Nigl (rhymes with eagle) – EmpowHERment Coach & CreateHER of ABOUT WOMEN | @IAmNikkiNigl
• Lisa Zimmer, Beer Culture and Community Manager, MillerCoors | Twitter: @Zimmerino @MillerCoors
• Morlie Patel
• Laurie Hillman
• Val Groth, Executive Life Coach, Speaker, Author of The Power of the Possible: The Dire State of Inner City Education and One Woman’s Revolution to Fix It, Founder of Ryan Banks Academy | @valeriegroth
• Brian Fitzpatrick, founder of Google’s Chicago engineering office circa 2005, current Founder and CTO of Tock | @therealfitz
• Stephanie Anderson
• Jared, Artist/Creator behind Chicago Birch/ChirCh | @chicagobirch

Potluck 46.0, Tuesday, 6/20/17   photos  ‘Nice, Single Guy’ Edition (Straight)

• Matt
• Arnold
• Eric
• Brian
• Fadi
• Ying
• Jeremy
• Duo
• Brett

Potluck 45.0, Tuesday, 5/16/17   photos

• Steve Gadlin – Serial Silly Projects Guy and Host of Steve Gadlin’s Star Makers | Twitter: @CatDrawingGuy
• Stephen Kummer
• Sue Koch – Owner, Soaring Solutions | Twitter: @sue_kochInstagram: @suekoch 
• Jenn Dieas – Founder of Glowout Salons | Instagram: @jennthegoldengirl
• Stacy Ratner – Social Entrepreneur for Literacy, Open Books / Chicago Literacy Alliance | @stacyjratner
• Danny Black
• Kandy Christensen​ – Meandering Design T: Meander_Design I: @meanderingdesign
• Shannon Noll | Twitter: @snapplegate87

Potluck 44.0, Tuesday, 4/18/17   photos

• Jo Feldman – Performer, actor, and head writer of Cards Against Humanity | @hellojofeldman
• Karen Hawkins – Founder & Rebelle in Chief of Rebellious Magazine for Women | @RebelliousMag
• Jerry Nwosuocha – Jack of all trades | @nyc_mouse
• Shawn Smith – Shawnimals and Resketch | Twitter: @shawnimal Instagram: @shawnimals
• Bobby Evers – Volunteer writer/producer/dj with CHIRP radio | @ohbusiness
• Susan Glynn
• Colin Davis
• Miranda McClendon – Curious Human | Instagram: @frooojojojo

Potluck 43.0, Tuesday, 3/21/17   photos

• Nicole Vasquez, Founder of The Shift, Co-Founder of Second Shift, Writer, and Community Builder | T: @NicoleRVasquez
• Shery LaRue Johnson
• Bonnie Hillman Shay, Founder and Owner of Mariposa Creative Solutions | T: @bonniehshay
• Vanessa Beck
• Bill Stern, Comedian
• Desiree Barr
• Vitaliy Vladimirov
• Kris Simmons, Stand-Up Comic and Medical Editor | T: @krissimmons

Potluck 42.0, Tuesday, 2/21/17

• Soli Santos, Stand-Up Comic and Storyteller
• Joseph Martin, CEO/Designer at Pikaia Digital | T/I: @hiJoeMartin
• Kate Englund, Program Director, Safe Families for Children | T: @KateEnglund
• Tracy Samantha Schmidt, Host, Socially Authentic | I: @TracySamanthaSchmidt
• Carma Nibarger, Chicago Comedian | T: @carmanibarger
• Brandon Brooks, HR Guru and Mostly Likeable Guy
• Parvathi “Parv” Santhosh-Kumar, Director of Network Learning, StriveTogether
• Jeff Murdoch, Writer and Member of Comedy Duo Seriously Unprepared | T: @jsmurd

Potluck 41.0, Tuesday, 1/22/17 — photos  ‘Nice, Single Guy’ Edition (Straight)

• Sean – Twitter: @espeekayyo
• Tom
• Will
• Joey
• Benjamin -Twitter: @benjaminritter, Instagram: @ritterbenj
• Barry
• Daniel – Twitter and Instagram: @musicinthehall
• Reuven
• Kevin – Twitter and Instagram: @kdaspeaker

Potluck 40.0, Tuesday, 10/18/16 — photos

• Scott Winterroth, Co-Founder, Content Academy | Twitter: @swinterroth @contentacademy
• Angie Garbot, Owner, Angela Garbot Photography | Instagram: @angelagarbot @angelagarbotphotography Twitter: @PhotosByGarbot 
• Toni Husbands, Financial Coach, Debt Free Divas | Twitter: @debtfreedivas
• Jeana Anderson Cohen, Founder of a SweatLife.com and the host of #Sweatworking events across Chicago | Instagram and Twitter: @asweatlife
  
• Eileen Boyes, Former Teacher and Recovering Pessimist | Twitter: @eileen91582
• Rachel Pokay, Humorist | @OkayPokay
• Hobert Thompson
• Claire Lew, CEO of Know Your Company | Twitter: @cjlew23

Potluck 39.0, Tuesday, 9/20/16 — photos

• Adrienne Brust, Owner & Principal Creative of studioLIFTED
• Steve Delahoyde, Filmmaker & Owner of Delahoyde Projects | @thehoyde
• Emily Drake, CEO, Flank 5 Academy + Career Therapist | @emkdee & @flank5academy
• Lucas O’Neil, Writer/Comedian | @loneilz
• Alison Monette, Coordinator of a Brain Surgery Program in the ‘Burbs
• Chandrea Brown, Explorer | Data Enthusiast | Information Broker
• Fuzzy Gerdes, Producer and Performer | @fuzzy
• Lily Be, Creator of The Stoop | Storyteller | Educator at Second City | @queenlilybe

Potluck 38.0, Tuesday, 8/16/16 — photos

• Jason Williams, Marketer. Innovator. Connector. | @jawbrain
• Kelly O’Connor McNees, writer and founder of Word Bird Editorial Services | @komcnees
• Camille Virginia, Founder, Master the Art of OFFline Dating
• Kelly Bolton, Comedian
• Katie Call | @lilyripper
• Kim Swift
• Mollie Ottenhoff, Mother of Monsters, writer at MeetTheOtts.com
• Nicky Martin | @PissMistress

Potluck 37.0, Tuesday, 7/19/16 – photos

• Mona Aburmishan, International Comedian; producer of The Comedy Bowl | @monadoesfunny
• DeLonda from the House of Dowling, First Born, First of Her Name, Princess of Purple
• Make It Up Media | @makeitupmedia
• Nick Puglisi, product designer, co-owner of Potluck Products | @potluckproducts
• Dani Davis, Connnector
• Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune Columnist | @maryschmich
• Steve Nelson, Writer and Performer
• Caitlin Neal, Sexuality Strategist

Potluck 36.0, Tuesday, 6/28/16 – photos

• Saleem Hue Penny, Introvert + Daydreamer, Future Owner of Crayonsonthebackporch | @huedotart
• Claire Zulkey, writer at Zulkey.com, author of An Off Year, producer of Funny Ha-Ha | @zulkey
• Tocarra Mallard, Comedian + Arts Adminstrator |@TocarraElise
• Christina Marshall-Valdez, Founder, CEO, Visionary of Elu | @YourEluGirl, @YourElu_Boss
• Jason Silver, Dating and Love Coach, We Just Match |@jason_silver
• Sonia Gonzalez, Educator | @ripus7
• Nancy Graham, Technical Project Manager, Cat Herder | @nancygraham001
• Shuling Yong, Documentary Filmmaker and Founder of Media For Social Change | @yongshuling

Potluck 35.0, Tuesday, 5/17/16 – photos

Potluck! 9.0: Tuesday, 11/5/13 – all proceeds to the Chicago Women’s Health Center!

• Christine Cikowski and Josh Kulp, Chefs & Owners, Honey Butter Fried Chicken | @honeybutterchi
• Maria Woijeowski | @riawojo
• Magister Freud, Magician and Owner, Ice Cream Team Party Entertainment | @magisterfreud
• Jeff Hannan,  Debate coach, Author-ish, Somewhat Tall Guy
• Sonia Denis, Comedienne | @sonideni
• James Green, Designer and New Media Artist | @onthefirefly
• Janna Sobel, Performer, Writer & Director, Here’s the Story

See all photos (Photographer: Matt Altstiel, MBA Photography, @MBAPhotography1)

Potluck! 8.0: Tuesday, 8/6/13

Complimentary libations courtesy of Twisted Hippo Brewing!

• The Shock Ts | @shockts
• Chad Allen (sweaty Chicago artist who may very well be crazy pants), Owner, Back Off Mustache | @backoffmustache
• Melissa Harris, Chicago Tribune Business Columnist | @chiconfidential
• Lauren Harper
• Kerrie Blazek, Pleasure Catalyst + Life Strategist, In Her Element | @kerrieblazek
• Allie LeFevere, Healthy Living Expert | @AllieLeFevere
• Gary Gulley, Owner/Founder and CPO (Chief Panic Officer), Panic Brewing | @PanicBrewing
• Becca George, Comedienne | @becca_oneal
• Brett Meyers, Program Director, Next Door State Farm Cafe | @bmyers2o9

See all photos

Potluck! 7.0: Thursday, 6/25/13

• Justin Massa, Founder & CEO, Food Genius | @justinmassa
• Don Hall, Events Coordinator for WBEZ | House Manager of NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” | Host of The Moth | @dray4255
• Nadine Warner, Principal Partner, The Bricolage Group | Busy mom and entrepreneur | @nadinecwarner
• John Greenfield, Editor of Streetsblog Chicago | @streetsblogCHI
• Amber Harnen | @AmberPaige74
• Pat Kent, CEO, Nike* [*falsehood] | @hhpatrickkent
• Martin McGovern, Co-Founder, Idea Lemon | @martinmcgovern
• Emma Pope | @emmerpope
• Ali Karbassi, Founder, Coderdojo | @karbassi, @coderdojochi

See all photos (Photographer: Matt Altstiel, MBA Photography, @MBAPhotography1)

Potluck! 6.0: Thursday, 8/23/12

• Becky Eldridge, co-writer of Band Geeks, a Halftime Musical, teacher at Second City Training Center, lover of Chicago
• Julie Hochstadter, director, The Chainlink, @thechainlinkorg
• Ever Mainard
• Nick Stocking, principal of Design Cloud Chicago, @designcloudchi
• Pete Aiello, TeamPete, @goteampete
• Scott Whitehair, creator of Story Lab Chicago and producer of This Much Is True
• Jewels, @JewelsEmpower
• Homer Marrs, musician, actor and writer, @HomerMarrs
• Whit Nelson, Brew Camp, @brewcamp

See all photos (Photographer: Adam Daniels)

Potluck! 5.0, Monday, 7/16/12

  

• Andrew Huff, Editor and Publisher of Gapers Block, @me3dia, @gapersblock
• Chloe Ditzel, Comic Receptionist, @chloeditzel
• Lennie Rose, CEO at Big Ooga, @bigooga
• Shannon Cason, Winner of The Moth Grand Slam, @shannoncason
• Steve Reed, Professor at Northwestern University School of Law, @reedingisfun
• Drew Michael, @drewmcomedy
• Leah Marshall, Director of Development for Chicago Ideas Week // Leaper, @EdEquity4All
• Nik White, Co Founder of Chicago Beer Geeks, @nkosio
• Amy Sumpter, @amy_sumpter
• Robbie Abed, Founder of rawdesignr and CTO of Technori, @robbieab

See all photos (Photographer: Jen Swanson)

Potluck! 4.0, Monday, 5/21/12

• Mike McGee, co-founder, Code Academy, @michaelmcgee/@codeacademy
• Dan Buchner, co-founder, The Poet’s Way, @dcbuchner
• Colleen Doyle, performer and teacher at iO Chicago and staff writer at The Paper Machete, @AnyangHello
• Matt Wexler, coach/consultant/dad, @mjwex
• James Fritz, comedian, @jamesfritzcomic
• Stella Fayman, co-founder, Entrepreneurs Unplugged, @startupstella
• Jason Schwartz, board member, Chicago Design Museum, @chidm/@jaycrimes
• Joe Avella, @joeavella

Potluck! 3.0, Tuesday, 3/13/12 

• Natasha Tsoutsouris, Writer and Performer
• Mig Reyes, Designer, 37signals, @migreyes
• Mark Bazer, Host of The Interview Show, @markbazer
• Jason Pritzker
• Andy Crestodina, Strategic Director of Orbit Media, @crestodina // Google+
• Jill Peters, Chicago’s Social Guinea Pig
• Lindsay Muscato, @lmuscato
• Jarrad Apperson, Uncommon Ground bartender, @jarradapperson
• Carly Mandell
• Jessica Murphy, Beer Blogger, @grlslikebeertoo

See all photos (Photographer: Christopher Murphy)

Potluck! 2.0, Wednesday, 11/30/11

• Chris Piatt, Executive producer and Editor-in-chief, The Paper Machete, @thepapermachete
• Samantha Irby, Blogger, Bitches Gotta Eat, @wordscience
• Rick Desai, Builder of Companies, Lover of Pizza, @rickdesai
• Kelsie Huff, Comedian and Founder of the Kates, @kelsiehuff
• Sondra Morin, Writer. Poet. Bicyclist. New Englander By Trade, @sondramorin
• Dawgelene Sangster, Think Royally, @dawgelene
• Heidi Massey, I.C. Stars, @heidiekmassey
• Bill Stern, sftwr dev, abrvtn spclst

See all photos

Potluck! 1.0, Wednesday, 8/24/11

• Sarah Jindra, Reporter, WBEZ Traffic and Founder, INSPIREme Chicago
• Griffin Caprio, Uber-Mench
• Heather Van Benthuysen, Teacher
• Arnie Niekamp, Head Writer, ‘You Don’t Know Jack’ game
• Drex Drexler, Litigation paralegal
• Megan Redfearn, Academic and leadership development, Northwestern  University
• Marcy Capron, Founder/CEO, Polymathic

See all photos

How can I speak at Potluck?

There is no application to be a Potluck Dish.

We have a long list of potential Dishes whom we’ve witnessed being awesome in real life. So if we’ve seen you out and about, doing your thing, sit tight; you might hear from us.

If we haven’t seen you being awesome, well, insert yourself in our world! Not by asking to be a Dish, but at the very least, coming to a Potluck to see the structure, the vibe, the awesomeness; intro yourself to us if you do! There are tons of other ways to be in our world besides Potluck as well, via other Mac & Cheese and TeamPete offerings. Come on out!

Please don’t ask us to be a Dish though. “Don’t call us, we’ll call you…”