Smoking Hot Dads on the Street Chris McCasland and Michael Opalaski are lighting up outdoor adventures across the country with their new business venture. Read on to learn all about them and City Bonfires.
Meet Chris and Michael
COVID-19 impacted many industries across the globe and hit many families hard. Chris McCasland, a sports and concert industry broker, and restaurateur, and Michael Opalski, a senior restaurant industry salesman, both saw their incomes plummet during the pandemic.
Michael and Chris both found themselves at home with their children. Chris has a son named Brooks, who is 4. Michael’s son Alex is 12, and his daughter Anna is 9.
While at home, Chris started teaching himself e-commerce and searching for cool product ideas to keep his family afloat. He came up with the idea for City Bonfires, a portable, reusable mini bonfire that you can take on all of your outdoor adventures. He enlisted the help of Michael, who came up with the design, a 4 inch by 2 inch round metal tin filled with non-toxic soy wax. Unlike other soy wax-based products, City Bonfires’ entire surface becomes the flame – creating a mobile heat source – a mini bonfire!
Thus, City Bonfires was born! Each City Bonfire is handmade in Maryland, where Chris and Michael live. All City Bonfires are made with American-made materials.
Chris and Michael don’t just make City Bonfires – they believe that bonfire nights are the best nights. They hope that families all over the country will gather around City Bonfire and make memories!
Chris and Michael believe that Covid-19 has taught us, life is best spent making memories with our family and friends. They want everyone to get outside, light up the starry sky and make lasting memories!
Smoking Hot Dad Style
How would you describe your style?
Chris: Black, Grey, Chrisomfortable
Michael: Comfy chaos
What are your favorite places to shop?
Chris: Amazon
Michael: Nordstroms
Who’s your favorite style icon?
Chris: Jerry Garcia
Michael: Lenny Kravitz
What’s your best style advice?
Chris: Don’t take advice from me
Michael: If you like it, buy 3
What trend did you love at the time but now cringe when you see old photos?
Chris: Shell necklaces
Michael: Rolling Jeans
What’s your dad superpower?
Chris: Grilling
Michael: Keeping it fun
Facial hair or clean-shaven?
Chris: Hair
Michael: It’s 5 o’clock somewhere
Smoking Hot Families
What’s your favorite way to spend time with your family?
Chris: Around the City Bonfire!
Michael: Getting outside and making memories
What’s been your best family vacation?
Chris: Mallorca
Michael: Beach
What’s your favorite family activity?
Chris: Watching the Nationals
Michael: Making dinner and watching a movie
Best parenting advice:
Chris: Laugh
Michael: You’ll get better; keep trying
Parenting true confession:
Chris: It’s me who eats all the goldfish!
Michael: I’m worried it won’t be long before I can’t help with their homework
What’s your go-to family dinner?
Chris: Pizza
Michael: Pasta
What’s your favorite family restaurant?
Chris: Quincy’s South Bar and Grille
Michael: Quincy’s Potomac Bar and Grille
Smoking Hot Dad Life
What’s your favorite show to binge-watch?
Chris: Entourage
Michael: Big Bang Theory
If you could pick anyone to star as you in a movie based on your life, who would it be?
Chris: Zach Galifianakis
Michael: Vince Vaughn
What’s your favorite sport and why?
Chris: Baseball – Thinking man’s game
Michael: Football – Tailgating and the full experience
What’s your favorite family dance party song?
Chris: We Will Rock You
Michael: Lizzo – Truth Hurts
If you could hang out with anyone from history, living or deceased, who would it be?
Chris: Kobe
Michael: Bob Marley
What’s at the top of your travel bucket list?
Chris: Alaska
Michael: Tokyo
What’s your favorite way to unwind at the end of a long day?
Chris: Making dinner
Michael: Hang out in the neighborhood playing with the kid
Crank up the Heat
We love how Chris and Michael took their love of spending nights around the bonfire with family and used the time they had during COVID-19 to help more families make great memories. Be sure to check out their grills, and follow them on social @citybonfires.
And for more smoking hot and stylish dads, be sure to check out FamilyApp’s Dad on the Street Channel!
