 |
 |
 |
| Professional/Personal Overview |
|
|
|
| |
A highly creative and versatile writer, I've covered everything from slow travel in Italy to DIY karaoke parties on New Year's Eve. Food, travel, and the arts are my strong suit, and with a knack for the intellectual and otherworldly I deliver fresh ideas and compelling, engaging copy. I also tackle restaurant reviews and profiles.
My work has appeared in The Daily Herald, Timeout Chicago, The Onion A.V. Club, UR Chicago Magazine, The Legal Record News Bulletin, Newcity Chicago Magazine, Today’s Chicago Woman, Citysearch.com, and Centerstage Chicago (The Sun-Times Online City Guide), and many others. I have excellent skills in interviewing people and getting them to open up about taboo topics. I have interviewed Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker, Chef Michael Shrader, Juliana Hatfield, designer Margo Ten Eyck, Jason Pierce of Spiritualized, actor John Lehr, and Chicago musicians such as Flosstradamus, DJ Major Taylor, and the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir.
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Work Samples |
|
|
|
| |
Food/Wine |
|
(Citysearch, 11/25/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 11/25/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 11/11/2008)
|
|
(The Daily Herald, 10/28/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 10/21/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 10/16/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 10/16/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 10/16/2008)
|
|
(Centerstage Chicago, 10/15/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 10/5/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 10/2/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 9/10/2008)
A roundup of Illinois wineries and vineyards.
|
|
(Daily Herald, 9/9/2008)
|
|
(Centerstage Chicago, 8/29/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 8/18/2008)
|
|
(Centerstage Chicago, 8/15/2008)
|
|
(Centerstage Chicago, 8/15/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 7/21/2008)
Where to get local and organic cuisine, organic cocktails and eco-friendly out-of-doors activities.
|
|
(Centerstage Chicago, 7/17/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 7/10/2008)
Where to get your fill of Belgian-style (heavy on the hops) beers, from Framboise to Trappist Ale.
|
|
(Centerstage Chicago, 7/1/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 6/1/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 5/22/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 5/12/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 5/1/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 4/8/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 4/7/2008)
|
|
(Citysearch, 4/7/2008)
|
 |
(The Onion A.V. Club, 1/31/2008)
Cheese 101, from stinky and beyond.
|
|
(Gapers Block, 1/31/2008)
Review of Uncommon Ground on Devon
|
|
(The Onion A.V. Club, 11/22/2007)
Why is Pinot Noir the perfect companion to this iconic American holiday meal?
|
|
(Timeout Chicago, 6/21/2007)
The best of the best, with nocciola as a qualifying standard.
|
Features |
|
(Today's Chicago Woman, 10/5/2008)
Chef Michael Shrader brings seasonal quality to N9NE Steakhouse.
|
|
(Today's Chicago Woman, 9/5/2008)
Sansapelle owner Margo Ten Eyck’s secret for success is a combination of old world service and devotion to accentuating her clients’ best features.
|
|
(Today's Chicago Woman, 9/5/2008)
Zwecker draws a line of appropriateness when it comes to writing about celebrities and enjoys meeting the Madonnas and Angelina Jolies of the world.
|
|
(UR Chicago Magazine, 9/1/2008)
Non-traditional schools like Flashpoint Academy and Kendall College's School of the Culinary Arts are the new big boys on the block.
|
|
(Legal Record News Bulletin, 6/18/2008)
America's fourth sport is not soccer but the U.S. Air Guitar Championships.
|
|
(UR Chicago Magazine, 6/1/2008)
Temptation Soy Ice Cream tempts and poses no cruelty to animals.
|
|
(The Onion A.V. Club, 12/27/2007)
What to do on the most overrated evening of the year if you're low on cash yet in the mood for creative fun.
|
|
(Gapers Block, 9/11/2006)
|
Arts and Culture |
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 10/13/2008)
|
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 9/22/2008)
|
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 9/22/2008)
|
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 9/17/2008)
|
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 9/3/2008)
Galleries pushing artists not profits.
|
|
(UR Chicago Magazine, 9/1/2008)
|
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 8/15/2008)
|
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 8/15/2008)
|
|
(UR Chicago Magazine, 7/1/2008)
|
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 6/26/2008)
|
|
(UR Chicago Magazine, 6/1/2008)
|
|
(Newcity Chicago Magazine, 5/1/2008)
|
|
(Gapers Block, 10/1/2007)
Artist Mike Segawa creates community through his LiveJournal F-List (Friends' List).
|
|
(Gapers Block, 7/5/2007)
|
|
(Gapers Block, 3/15/2007)
|
|
(Gapers Block, 3/5/2007)
|
Travel/Tourism |
|
(Centerstage Chicago, 10/8/2008)
|
|
(Matador Trips, 9/2/2008)
|
|
(Matador Trips, 6/11/2008)
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Work Info |
|
|
| |
Expertise |
| Writer |
4 Years |
| Reporter |
4 Years |
| Copywriter |
5 Years |
Specialty |
| Lifestyle |
2 Years |
| Food |
2 Years |
| Entertainment |
2 Years |
Total Media Industry Experience
5 Years |
Media Client List (# assignments
last 2 yrs)
Gapers Block (11+), Citysearch (11+), Newcity Chicago Magazine (6-10), UR Chicago Magazine (6-10), Chicago Center Stage (6-10), The Onion A.V. Club (3-5), Today's Chicago Woman (3-5), The Daily Herald (3-5), Legal Record News Bulletin (1-2), Timeout Chicago (1-2), Matador Trips (1-2) |
Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)
DDB Advertising (1-2), Mess Marketing (1-2) |
Other Work History
Copyeditor, Hawwa Journal, Georgetown University, September 2006-present.
Gapersblock.com Contributor, September 2006-present.
Flavorpill Chicago Contributor, 2006-2007
Copywriter, Metropolitan Planning Council (Taproot Foundation), January-June 2007.
Tornado Insider Media Newsletter Editor, June 2001-August 2002.
Project Manager (PR and event coordination), Ad:Tech Europe Awards 2000. |
Computer Skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and InDesign. |
Technical Skills
Proficient in photo editing and Web design. |
Equipment
Macintosh Powerbook, cell phone, Nikon D50 digital camera, digital audio recorder. |
Foreign Language Skills
Fluent in Dutch with Italian conversational ability. |
Awards
U.S. Fulbright Fellow, Netherlands (1998-99)
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Alpha Theta |
Other
Although Illinois is my home state, I have extensive international experience. A former Fulbright scholar, I hold an M.A. degree in European Studies (history and culture) from the University of Amsterdam. Following completion of my M.A. degree I worked as a writer and editor (in the industries of new media, research, and marketing communications) for 5 years in Amsterdam. My undergraduate degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies (history and English) from Hofstra University, where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude with honors.
|
Freelancer Availability
I freelance full-time. I live near Chicago, IL. I am willing to travel anywhere. I have a driver's license. I have access to a car. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
