Mariah Neuroth is the Director of Programming and Production at Young Chicago Authors. Mariah has made extensive contributions to youth-focused arts programming through various groups and programs. She’s also been a longstanding leader and ally for various organizations like Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation and RefugeeOne. Mariah has been critical mentor and supporter of many of Chicago’s young artists, musicians, poets, writers and creatives. Follow Mariah on Twitter at @Chi_Riah.

Paulie Gee’s

I am from New York.  I am from New York in the way one is from New York, having been born there, but never lived there; I care very deeply about pizza and my pizza-identity. I grew up in New Haven, CT and anyone who is also from New Haven, CT can attest to our deep obsession with pizza. We will fight you for the title of “first pizza place in the U.S.” and we will mean it.  So, when my doctor told me that my life of gluten was over, I entered into a dark pizza-related depression.

Segue.

I have never been to Detroit. I would never have associated good pizza with Detroit but apparently there is Detroit-style pizza and people are nuts for it… I’m nuts for it! Long story short, Paulie Gee’s has saved my pizza-loving gluten-averse ass. Not only do they have an amazing gluten-free Detroit-style pizza but they have pepperoni cups. Cups my friends! Little pepperoni bowls that sit atop the perfect pizza to hold the cold tomato sauce… yes, cold… just go with it.  

I was sitting at Paulie Gee’s with a friend the other day when she closed her eyes (clearly savoring a tiny perfect pepperoni cup) when she described it to a T, “it’s like child me is back at Pizza Hut but with adult tastebuds and it’s amazing.”

Suffice it to say, this NY<CT<Chi pizza snob highly recommends it.

YCA Gallery

In true self-aggrandizing art-world style, I’m gonna drop a pin on the Young Chicago Authors gallery space, a street-art gallery I happen to help run. Sometimes the art world can get a little precious, IMHO. And in many cases the art world has perfected their side-eye at young people who attempt to enter museums, galleries, and the like. YCA stands in firm opposition to that exclusionary culture and, this past year, opened a new gallery at 1180 N. Milwaukee Ave.

YCA is known for hosting space for young artists to come explore and master their crafts, historically poetry and lyricism, in a loving, accepting, and rigorous environment. Each week, 100+ young artists gather on Tuesday nights for the longest-running youth open mic in Chicago, Wordplay. Now, thanks to the gallery curated by our Artistic Director, Kevin Coval, the performers at the open mic experience their stage time surrounded by some of Chicago’s greatest street artists.

Come see us any Saturday from 12 – 4 p.m. for gallery hours and check us out on IG @youngchicagoauthors for exhibition announcements.

TITLE Boxing Club - Wicker Park

Boxing makes me feel like a badass, it’s as simple as that. When I first walked through the doors of TITLE Boxing Club on Milwaukee in Wicker Park I was sure I’d find a bunch of meat head dudes bro-ing around but what (or rather, who) greeted me was such a welcome surprise.  Veronika was perched at the front desk not just as a beautiful greeter but as one of the tough and technically sound boxing coaches at Title. She was quick to make me feel at home, give me the lay of the land, and coach me through my first class without injury or incident (although we aren’t gonna talk about how sore I was the next day LOL).

I want to be the kind of person who only eats organic produce, never forgets my reusable bags for the grocery store, and never joins a chain gym, but by the time I was done with my first class I was a member of the club. I box a couple of times a week and I’ve continued to find my own strength, inspired by both the workouts and the examples of amazing women like Veronika. Their motto involves the idea of training your body and your mind and as cheesy as that sounds, I’ve actually found that to be true at TITLE.

Come box with me!