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Raf Miastkowski

As seen in: Amazon, Medium, HuffPost, Thrillist, Eater, AskMen, InsideHook
Bulls fan, UXer, road tripper. Currently writing the Texas Dive Bar Guidebook, out in 2024. Big on Insta:

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Raf Miastkowski’s Biography

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Raf is a Chicago-based copywriter whose words have appeared in Thrillist, AskMen, The Huffington Post, Time Out Chicago, The A.V. Club, Orbitz Travel, Not For Tourists, Gogobot, Foursquare, and Gapers Block. He was an early employee at Groupon, where he witnessed the editorial department transform from a tiny seed into a deal-chomping Venus flytrap. In his free time, he prints Alley Connoisseur, an alley-centric zine, and runs the Hypelocal app, which guides users to offbeat locales around Chic…

Raf Miastkowski’s Journalist Portfolio

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15 famous Chicago movie locations you might have missed

15 famous Chicago movie locations you might have missed

While Chicago doesn't produce nearly as many movies (or smog clouds!) as LA, it still boasts a rich film hist…

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The 10 most corrupt Illinois politicians of all time, ranked

The 10 most corrupt Illinois politicians of all time, ranked

It's been a veritable debauchery pageant trying to narrow down the 10 most corrupt Illinois politicians who w…

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The top 10 fireplace bars in Chicago, ranked

The top 10 fireplace bars in Chicago, ranked

Winter in Chicago isn't just a great time to see the Bears' season go up in flames -- it's also a great time …

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Rain Machine Concert Preview

Rain Machine Concert Preview

The harmonically rich, rhythmically jerky act teems with hypnotic vitriol, the Brooklynite’s alternately boom…

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Chicago Cocktail Bars: 10 Spots Reinventing the Nightcap

Chicago Cocktail Bars: 10 Spots Reinventing the Nightcap

Today, Chicago remains home to a number of renowned cocktailing hotspots, some of which attempt to redefine t…

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Discover Somewhere New In Logan Square

Discover Somewhere New In Logan Square

It was a brisk Saturday evening in September of 2012, and I was shuffling down Milwaukee Avenue with my hands…

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Articles

Best Chicago Speakeasies and Secret Bars to Go for Drinks Right Now

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By Raf Miastkowski
| Thrillist Verified
From celebrity chef-backed cocktail dens to bonafide Prohibition-era holdovers. By Raf Miastkowski, and Jay Gentile Updated on 8/31/2021 at 5:28 PM While the term "speakeasy" has arguably been so overused it’s devolved into little more than a marketing ploy, feeling like you’re in on a boozy secret remains undeniably irresistible.
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7 Chicago-Made Print Shops That Won’t Break the Bank

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By Raf Miastkowski
| InsideHook Verified
Debatably authentic da Vincis notwithstanding, buying art for your home doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, we prefer a mix of high and low. We also prefer supporting local artists — a house is not a home without its roots, after all. Which is why we made a handy cheat sheet to our seven favorite Chicago printmakers. From abstract watercolors to hot-dog-stand memorials, we guarantee you’ll find something you like.
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The 9 Best New Private Dining Spaces in Chicago

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By Raf Miastkowski
| InsideHook Verified
It’s t-minus “sooner than you think” until the holidays, which means it’s time to start considering your end-of-year entertaining plans. Because let’s be honest: booking a table for anything bigger than a party of 10 is a pain in the haunches. Which is why a wise man books private, and books early. So we went ahead and rounded up the nine best new private dining spaces in Chicago.
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