Amy Bizzarri on Muck Rack

Amy Bizzarri

Chicago, New Orleans, Rome
As seen in: Medium, Yahoo Life, BBC, Business Insider, Yahoo Canada, Yahoo News, Yahoo News Malaysia, Aol, Los Angeles Times, Allrecipes and
Chicago-based freelance writer

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Amy Bizzarri’s Biography

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I’m Amy Bizzarri, a Chicago-based storyteller and educator. I'm also an armchair historian, PADI-certified scuba diver, yogini (and certified yoga instructor), mom, and mermaid (proud graduate of Weeki Wachee Mermaid School), not necessarily in that order.

My deep Chicago roots trace back to an extraordinary family legend: my great‑great‑grandparents met on the night of the Great Chicago Fire, when volunteer firefighter Walter Daker mistook young Catherine’s flowing ginger hair for flames and …

Amy Bizzarri’s Journalist Portfolio

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Breaking good: Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul celebrate success of Dos Hombres Mezcal in Chicago v...

Breaking good: Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul celebrate success of Dos Hombres Mezcal in Chicago v...

Beyond winning prestigious awards, their ultra-premium mezcal - which began as an excuse to keep hanging out …

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From Sprites to Schnapps, Take a Spirited Trip Through Germany's Black Forest

From Sprites to Schnapps, Take a Spirited Trip Through Germany's Black Forest

On the scenic Oberkircher Brennersteig trail, home of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, travelers won't go thi…

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The black cowboys of Chicago's South Side

The black cowboys of Chicago's South Side

Most Americans don't realise that one in four cowboys was black - and they didn't just live in the Wild West.

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Italy's rare, surprisingly bitter honey

Italy's rare, surprisingly bitter honey

Obtained from the autumnal flowering of the strawberry tree on the island of Sardinia, corbezzolo honey isn't…

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It's time to pop a Midwest-made pét-nat as Illinois winery embraces ancient sparkling winemaking ...

It's time to pop a Midwest-made pét-nat as Illinois winery embraces ancient sparkling winemaking ...

Pét-nats have been popping up on wine lists across the city. Simple, fizzy, fresh, these crown-capped sparkli…

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The Ultimate Insider's Guide to Visiting Chicago

The Ultimate Insider's Guide to Visiting Chicago

This Chicago travel guide outlines the best architecture tours, neighborhoods and restaurants-all from a life…

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Articles

Chicago Sommelier Marie Cheslik Makes Wine Make Sense in How to Read a Wine Label

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By Amy Bizzarri
| Edible Chicago
Have you ever actually looked at a wine label? Not just glanced at the price tag or picked the bottle with the prettiest font, but really tried to make sense of all those mysterious words, regions, numbers, and symbols? If your answer is a sheepish “not really,” you’re in excellent company. Understanding a wine label can feel intimidating, even for seasoned wine drinkers. Enter Marie Cheslik, a Chicago-based sommelier.
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Chicago road trip ideas: 5 adventures worth the drive

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By Amy Bizzarri
| Choose Chicago
Every great road trip begins with a spark, and in the Midwest, that spark is Chicago. Spend time immersed in the city’s museums, lakefront, and neighborhoods, then set out to see what lies beyond. These five inspired routes all start with Chicago’s energy and unfold into memorable long‑weekend escapes. And each destination sits within an easy half‑day drive, offering history, nature, wine country, and small‑town charm just beyond our skyline.
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Where to stay on Route 66 in Chicago: historic hotels and more

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By Amy Bizzarri
| Choose Chicago
Beginning a Route 66 journey in Chicago means stepping into nearly a century of American travel history. The Mother Road officially debuted in 1926, envisioned as a single continuous roadway linking the Midwest to the Pacific. Their goal was simple but revolutionary: create a highway that connected rural towns to major cities, opening the American West to everyday travelers, not just rail passengers or the wealthy.
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See all 359 licensed articles (401 Total)

Interview

Have you ever used a typewriter?

yes

What story are you most proud of writing or working on?

I'm so proud of my widely syndicated story on my adventure at Weeki Wachee Mermaid School: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2018/12/12/florida-camp-turns-mom-into-mermaid-after-bout-with-cancer/

When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?

Riding my bicycle along Chicago's lakefront!
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