The Career Climb

Feb 3, 2012 by Emma Dutton    Comments Off    Posted under: gen.y/beta

Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster

Entering the job market in these economic times is no easy task. Even the highly-educated young Americans are struggling. How can prospective hard workers stand out from the crowd? What if that still doesn’t lead to jobs? Chicago Loopster is offering a leg-up with advice, potential solutions and a look at the current state of the job market.

Beat cabin fever: gather around the fire

Jan 20, 2012 by Emma Dutton    Comments Off    Posted under: Bone Cold

Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster

“We’ll conspire, as we dream by the fire…” To face unafraid, the plans that we’ve made, I’d recommend some good beers. Looking to warm up and get out of the house? Look no further – here are a few Lakeview bars with fireplaces to fit each situation, whether you want to sing your heart out, get to know a new date or hustle some locals in a game of billiards. Still too cold to venture outside but want some ambiance from the comfort of your computer screen? Check out the videos of each bar’s fireplace.

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   Friar Tuck

   3010 N. Broadway St., Lakeview

   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster
   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster

   I walked into Friar Tuck on a Monday night around 11 p.m. to find only the bartender. The cozy dive bar is decked out with holiday lights, and the round, wooden door makes it clear that you’re stepping into another (possibly hobbit-filled) world. Stop in to warm up, because the Friar Tuck world includes a big fireplace surrounded by stools, $5 mini-pitchers, free munchie popcorn, a jukebox, crazy hat Mondays, trivia Tuesdays and karaoke Thursdays.

   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster

   The place isn’t usually dead, but even if it is, when you stop in to satiate a late-night beer craving, Grant will be at your side (er, behind the bar). He sat down to chat with me that Monday, because he sure wasn’t closing early. He said the regulars usually sit on the other side of the bar, so I’m proposing we start a regular crowd that sits by the warmth (but only until we’re wobbling, because I don’t want anybody falling into the fireplace on my watch).

   Check out more reviews and info on Yelp

   Do you have a favorite memory from Friar Tuck? Is your picture up on their wall? Tell us on Twitter! @ChicagoLoopster with #friartuck or post your comments below.
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   D.O.C. Wine Bar

   2602 North Clark Street, Lincoln Park

   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster
   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster

   Whether you’re out with the girls or with a date you need to impress, D.O.C. wine bar is the perfect place to warm up on a cold night. The bartender told me they’re busy almost every night in the winter. The dark wood vaulted ceilings make it feel like a ski lodge, where you can sip wine and munch on cheeses (or other delicious, wine-friendly menu items) from the couch and comfy chairs in front of the fireplace. Waiters and bartenders groove to the funky, Motown date music with a welcoming attitude.

   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster

   The wine list is so long I got bored before making it to the end, and on Monday, bottles under $100 are half price. On Tuesdays, wine flights feature three samples and are only 10 bucks. The menu has cheese flights, too, if you need some sustenance. The bartender said it’s common to find some “no school on Friday” DePaul kids at D.O.C. on Thursdays, but it’s cozy enough that I’d go on any night. The semi-mod entrance, the round windows and bar overhang are a bit odd, but it almost feels as if the bar is hugging me when I walk in, and everybody needs more hugs during winter.

   Check out D.O.C.’s website, or more reviews on Yelp.

   Do you have a favorite memory from D.O.C. Wine Bar? What’s the best on their menu? Tell us on Twitter! @ChicagoLoopster with #DOCWine or post your comments below.
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   Ten Cat Tavern

   3931 N Ashland Ave, North Lakeview

   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster
   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster

   Ten Cat Tavern looks more like an art gallery from the outside than a bar, and the interior decorations, too, are much more beautiful than I expect from a dark little spot like this one. Walking past the art in the window display, the bar, a mermaid booth, a few pool tables and some old school pin ball machines, I arrive at the back room. Reminiscent of old smoking rooms with red, regal chairs and dark wood, the room has a fireplace and can be rented out for private parties. It seats about 15 comfortably, and Charles, the bartender, mentioned plans for Sunday game nights in the future. Maybe Candy Land, he said.

   Emma Dutton/Chicago Loopster

   During week days, the bar is host to a couple of pool leagues, and locals and their cute pets play unorganized games with a few bucks out on the table, too. The older crowd was very friendly, and I even met Comet, the dog who lives upstairs. The tap hosts a wide, delicious range of beers including Anchor Porter, Guinness and Half Acre’s Over Ale, plus Stella Artois if you’re looking for something lighter. If this is a dive bar, it’s the most elegant I’ve ever seen, and I wouldn’t hesitate to get some friends together for drinks by the hearth.

   Click here to see more reviews and info on Yelp.

   Do you have a favorite memory from Ten Cat Tavern? Are you there right now? Tell us on Twitter! @ChicagoLoopster with #tencat or post your comments below.

Can’t stop, won’t stop in the windy city

Jan 19, 2012 by Emma Dutton    Comments Off    Posted under: Bone Cold

Yeah, we know the term originated because the politicians are chatty. That doesn’t change the fact that there’s nothing more painful than a windy Chicago day. Really, there’s no avoiding it, because we only have so many “sick” days to use hiding from winter. Here are some tips for dealing, since we all can’t have that luxury.

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   A warm, furry tactic from the tundra

   Library of Congress/public domain

   If it works in the Arctic Tundra, it’s a good place to start for protection from a windy winter Chicago day. Fur (faux, please) hoods aren’t just fashionable, they’re practical. Good luck finding a faux fur hood as awesome as her’s, though. They just don’t make things like they used to. Pretend you’re a sled dog, well-equipped for the elements with your face hidden by warm, insulating fluff. Mind over matter, right? If you’re having trouble using brain power to defeat the cold, wrap a scarf around the front of your face, leaving just a slit for your eyes.

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   Umbrellas aren’t just for rain

   Duncan Rawlinson/Flickr

   Don’t wind up like this guy with your umbrella this winter. Block that frigid wind and sleet and snow from your face with a double-layer umbrella instead. When shopping, look for the style that doesn’t fold up and has air slits in the middle – it’s definitely worth the bulk. These umbrellas let the air flow through instead of warping and ruining the often-flimsy wires. Warning: Carrying an umbrella will slow you down and strengthen your arms in this town.

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   Help your friends help you

   Mary and Angus Hogg/geograph.org.uk

   Drafting isn’t just for the race track (or minor bouts of road rage). Allow your friends to lead the way and break the wind as you walk down the sidewalk. This is an especially useful tactic for the height- and width-challenged, who are less insulated anyway, so it’s only fair. If you don’t believe it works, offer to take a turn as the human wind-breaker. I’ll tell you one thing for sure – the geese in the middle of the flock are just chillin’ compared to those out front.