Claire Young Freelance
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Health & Fitness

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Alcohol Use Disorder: 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Attending a Holiday Party​

If you decide to go to any festivities this holiday season, having a plan for how you’ll turn down alcohol is crucial, experts say. Here’s why.
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Everyday Health
November 2022
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5 Ways to Say 'I'm Not Drinking Tonight'

There are plenty of reasons you may pass on alcohol at your next social event, but these handy statements will help you deflect intrusive questions.
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Everyday Health
October 2022
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Kyle Lybarger Wants to Save the Planet (And Kill Your Lawn)

As the effects of climate change accelerate and people wonder what they personally can do, Lybarger offers a simple solution: Kill your lawn and rebuild the native ecosystem. 
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InsideHook
August 2022
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9 Podcasts to Boost Your Mood and Brighten Your Day​

Looking for ways to improve your mood? An act as simple as listening to a podcast could decrease feelings of anxiety and depression. But not all podcasts are good for you...looking at you murder fans.
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Everyday Health
August 2022
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7 At-Home Sunburn Treatments to Save Your Vacation

Get a little too much sun on your beach vacation? These treatments, from hydration to cool compresses, can help salvage the rest of your trip.

Everyday Health
July 2022
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7 Ways to Practice Breath Work for Beginners
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From deep and controlled breathing to a shallow and present style, learn different techniques to help you achieve soundness of mind. The health benefits of diaphragmatic breathing are staggering, so take a deep breath, it actually helps. ​
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Everyday Health
June 2022
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9 Skin-Care Resolutions Dermatologists Want You to Make in 2022
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The new year is the perfect time to check in with your skin-care routine and reassess how your habits may be helping (or harming) your skin. For healthier, gorgeous skin, abide by these dos and don'ts in the new year.
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Everyday Health
January 2022
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What Do Freezing-Cold Temperatures Do to Your Body?
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In times of extreme cold, learn how to reduce the risk of frostbite, hypothermia, and any complications from chronic disease management. (When the windchill is below 0 degrees F, lung damage can happen in as little as 15 to 30 minutes.)
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Everyday Health
January 2022
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How To Get Better Sleep
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​Hitting the pillow is as important as hitting the gym. This story is the opener for Subaru Drive's online package all about the latest in sleep science, tech and tips
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Subaru Drive
February 2021
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The Best Day Hikes for Chicagoans to Tackle Before Winter Hits
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Before you batten down the hatches for the season, enjoy a final foray into the great outdoors.
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InsideHook
November 2020
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A Brief Guide to Outdoor Fitness in Summer
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That lockdown breadmaking finally starting to get to you? Warm weather putting you in the mood to unshelter in place? No matter your motivations, it’s time to work out … outside. 
​Gyms? Who needs 'em.
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InsideHook
June 2020
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How to Safely Work Out Outdoors During the Summer of COVID-19
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Gyms are reopening. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t avoid them.
​Here's six rules for a safe summer from an epidemiologist.
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InsideHook
June 2020
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The Chicago Gyms Where You Can Try All the Biggest Fitness Trends for 2020
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The 2020s seem poised to be a decade defined by an abundance of choice. From float tanks and cryotherapy to the inexplicably en vogue Versa Climber. To help you cut through the noise, we tried all the latest fitness trends in gyms around Chicago and compiled a quick guide on what you need to know.

InsideHook
January 2020
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Kohler’s New Chicago Spa Is a Temple to Water, Warmth and Relaxation
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The perfect remedy to Chicago winters has arrived.

InsideHook
October 2019
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The New Face of Triathlon Wears A Watermelon Speedo
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Justin Lippert is a five-time national champion in triathlon...and he only started three years ago. His star status in the sport is about more than the wins though, he's trying to change the attitude.
​#FullSend

OZY
October 2019
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5 Women's Health Issues Every Man Should Know
(And The Perfect Date To Show Her You Care)

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With Valentine's Day coming up, men would do wise to remember that sometimes the most romantic thing a man can do for a woman is support her. And support begins with understanding, especially when it comes to her health. Edify thyself, with this brief guide to womanhood on the fritz.

InsideHook
February 2019
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Women Are Sharing Photos of Their Bloated Bellies to Reveal a Little-Known Symptom of Endometriosis
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They're calling it #endobelly—and it's emotionally and physically painful.

Health
January 2019
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This Chicago Startup Wants to Personalize Men’s Skincare

Custom, no-BS grooming regimens for dudes, via Bottlecode.
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​InsideHook
December 2018
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The 8 Cold-Weather Skincare Rules Every Man Should Know
It’s that special time of year when skin flakes off, cuticles are so dry they start to bleed and you find yourself slinking through Walgreens aisles looking for max-strength anti-dandruff shampoo. The good news? Bad habits tend to be the culprit, and with a little intel, you can fix that.

InsideHook
December 2018
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What Happens When You Visit Chicago's First Sleep Studio
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Naptime: All the cool kids are doing it.

InsideHook
January 2018
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Are Crunches Hurting Your Sex Life?

Bad news if you've still got crunches in your workout routine: not only could the de facto ab workout be the reason you're not seeing the toning you want, but crunches can also strain your pelvic floor, causing women to experience pain during sex. ​​And you thought you were being healthy AF...

Marie Claire
March 2017

Travel & Entertainment

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Five Ways to Experience Fermilab, The Nation's Premier Particle Physics and Accelerator Laboratory

An unbeatable scientific field trip is just an hour outside Chicago.

InsideHook
September 2022
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Enjoy Your Next Happy Hour on a Boat That Sailed Around the World

This Maryland tech entrepreneur made a big pivot — and now he’s skippering crabbing trips and sunset sails. His menu of excursions is interesting. The story behind the company is extremely interesting. 

InsideHook
July 2022
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10 Perfect Airbnbs for Escaping Chicago This Holiday Season

If the thought of spending the holidays at home after nine months of being cooped up by a pandemic makes your chest tighten, it might be time to take a vacation. “What’s a vacation in 2020?!” you scream. Well, it looks a lot like what you’re doing now, but in someone else’s house.

InsideHook
October 2020
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For $100, You Can Rent Out an Entire Movie Theater in Chicago

Finally something from the COVID era that’s better than the pre-pandemic version.

InsideHook
October 2020
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What to Expect at Open House Chicago’s “No-Entry" 2020 Edition

Ah Open House Chicago, a unique architectural event that invites people into the homes and workplaces of some of Chicago’s most stunning buildings. Unfortunately, it’s 2020 and we can’t have nice things anymore. Fear not, dear reader! The annual event has been reimagined for the current era – where entering private spaces in crowds is borderline criminal.

InsideHook
October 2020
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Chicago Now Has a Giant Outdoor Jungle Gym for Adults

The Forge in Lemont is the COVID-approved entertainment space we all need right now

InsideHook
October 2020
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How and Where to Responsibly Rent a Summer House Near Chicago

In the age of COVID-19, can summer vacation be salvaged? Hopefully. Can you ethically vacation this summer? Probably, but we need to establish some ground rules to be realistic about what it will look like. 


InsideHook
May 2020
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Glamping in America's National Parks

Now, spending the night in the wild and sleeping under the stars can include a king bed and working toilet.

ASMALLWORLD Explorer
March 2020
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7 Luxury Wellness Retreats in the US

Wellness tourism is on the rise and projected to grow by 43% between 2015 and 2020. But it isn’t one-size-fits-all, and as hotels rush to meet the trend, the idea of wellness tourism is expanding. Whether traveling solo, with the family, gathering the ladies for a girl’s trip or even a gentleman's getaway, there’s a perfect option for everyone. 

ASMALLWORLD Explorer
December 2019
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The Best Holiday-Themed Hotels in Chicago

Stash your in-laws in one of these seven holiday-themed Chicago hotels. Egg-nog shots, curling and a “milk and cookies hotline.” Let’s review.
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InsideHook
December 2019
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A Guide to the 2019 Open House Chicago Lineup

6 secret, private and otherwise noteworthy buildings to see during Open House Chicago. This year, take a look inside the city's coolest private spaces, including a bank vault and a basilica.
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InsideHook
October 2019
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The Four Hour Rule: Laguna Beach

The home of LC, Kristen and Stee-Fen is an artist’s refuge, a surfer’s paradise and a burnt-out Angeleno’s respite. There’s amazing food, breathtaking views, a lively art and music scene and beaches, beaches, beaches. 
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InsideHook
July 2019
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The Four Hour Rule: Minneapolis​

​The weather's great, and it's far more hip and worldly than you think. Use my itinerary to enjoy a weekend in Minneapolis, possibly the Midwest's ideal summer city. 
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InsideHook
July 2019
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24 Hours in the New Hoxton Chicago
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The world's buzziest hotel brand lands in the Windy City. Curious to see whether the hotel stands up to the hype, we recently spent 24 hours inside. Here’s what we learned.

InsideHook
June 2019
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The Four Hour Rule: Sand Valley
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America's next great golf mecca is Sand Valley. Midwesterners! Get there before everyone else does. Golf puns and geology lessons abound in this round up. 

InsideHook
May 2019
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The Four Hour Rule: San Luis Obispo
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Superior hiking, beaches and California BBQ await Los Angelenos. 

InsideHook
April 2019
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24 Hours in Detroit's New Shinola Hotel
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Shinola is trying to save Detroit. From watchmaker, to household oddity purveyor, now to hip hotelier it's Shinola (and Detroit) vs. everybody. 

​They claim their 129-room hotel in downtown Detroit isn't "just a space — it’s an experience,” so we headed east for a breathless 24 hours to see if the new hotel is worth the hype. Spoiler: it is. 

InsideHook
February 2019
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The Four Hour Rule: Kalamazoo
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Classic cars, food, craft beer. In that order.​

InsideHook
February 2019
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The 5 Best Rentals Near Chicago For Learning A New Winter Sport
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As winter drudges on, it’s easy to fall into a rut of going to work in the dark and returning in the dark. ​Friends, there is a better way. From snowmobiles to ice fishing to — yes — curling

InsideHook
February 2019
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The Perfect Chicago Valentine’s Getaway For Every Budget and Timetable
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Sure, Valentine’s Day is an extravagant marketing ploy, but they picked the right month: these Chicago winters demand cuddling up. Lean in with something special — like, say, a surprise getaway for two, five of which I've compiled here today.

InsideHook
January 2019
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Celebrate NYE Twice By Jetting From Chicago to Shanghai And Back Again
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Ready to become a goddamn time traveler? Pack a tuxedo. We're going time-zone hacking.
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InsideHook
December 2018
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Our 18 Favorite Chicago Hotels, And The Best Use Case For Each
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Calling a hotel “the best” is a subjective endeavor, but there’s no need to choose a favorite here. We’ve compiled a list of 18 superlatives to celebrate Chicago’s top hotels for a variety of predilections and use cases. Looking for value? Square footage? Instagrammability? Excellent robes? We’ve got the best for each and more, in no particular order.
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InsideHook
November 2018
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The Four Hour Rule: Kohler, WI

The land of cheese and brats might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think luxury getaway, but Kohler, Wisconsin, is a true gem hidden in the Badger State. Foodies, golfers, nature lovers and art enthusiasts can all find respite in the quiet town, which is less than three hours from Chicago.

InsideHook
August 2018
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The Die-Hard Chicago Sports Fan's Guide to Single Game Box Suites
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Root, root, root for the home team, in luxury.

InsideHook
September 2017

Food & Drink

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A Brewery Tour of Chicago's Northwestern Burbs, an Underrated Beer Haven

Ah the suburbs: plentiful parking, more green spaces and … really solid beer. We've set out a three-brewery itinerary that will take you to some of the best beer in Illinois.

InsideHook
January 2019
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10 Chicago Booze Experts Name the Bottles They’ll Be Drinking on NYE

New Year’s Eve celebrations are synonymous with the singular beverage, and if Chicago Champagne Week taught us anything, it’s that there are a lot of good bubbles out there. So don’t let your selection be absentminded, or worse, an afterthought. 

InsideHook
December 2019
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The 11 Most Festive Holiday Bars in Chicago

Christmas-themed pop-ups are taking over the city. Here are the ones you don't wanna miss.
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InsideHook
December 2019
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The 6 Best Ways to Celebrate Chicago’s Inaugural “Champagne Week”​

When we heard about Chicago’s latest weeklong celebration we were elated — effervescent, even. Champagne on a Tuesday night? Refined. Champagne on a Friday night? Jubilatory. Champagne for $15 a glass every night of the week for 10 days in a row? Sip, sip, hooray. 

InsideHook
October 2019
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Three Tasty Summer Cocktails That Are (Sort of) Good For You​

​Chicago barkeep Devin Kidner teaches us how to “detox while you retox”. These delicious drinks will help prevent hangovers, combat allergies, meet your Vitamin A fix and taste wonderful.

InsideHook
July 2019
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What One Chicago Pitmaster Thinks You Should Be Grilling Right Now
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Holy shit, it’s been a rough winter. And if last weekend was any indication, one that’s yet to end. But someday soon, you will head outside, get some fresh air and reacquaint yourself with your grill. Perfect time for a little BBQ 101 with the Pitmaster of Logan Square's Flat & Point. 

InsideHook
April 2019

Tech

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Yes, Your AI Can Be Racist

AI has quickly become a must-have tool for organizations looking to streamline a variety of processes. Although AI is helpful, it isn’t perfect, and it can actually carry some of the same biases that are inherent in humans without having the ability to discern those biases. Why does this happen and how do we stop it?

Adage Ideas
February 2021
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How to Get Stated with Content Strategy

A comprehensive content strategy is vital to ensure that content is relevant, timely, meaningful, and well-coordinated across an organization. Whether hoping to be more effective with content goals,
or trying to prioritize content, a content strategy is a critical piece to sustainable success. In this guide, we will explain why organizations need a content strategy, what they include, when is the right time, and how to start.

Adage Ideas
February 2021
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How to Conduct Remote User Research

When face-to-face data collection is not an option, look to remote user research techniques to get in touch with your audience and drive your organizations’ decision-making. In this whitepaper, you’ll find five research methods you can do in-house right now to learn about your users remotely. ​

Adage Ideas
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December 2020
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Five Tips for Using Timed Entry to Reopen Responsibly During the Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in America, timed entry passes offer a helpful way for arts, entertainment and culture organizations to safely reopen while maintaining capacity limits and social distancing rules.
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Adage Ideas
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August 2020
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Automating Social Distancing in Your Venue

For the performing arts sector, reopening is a multifaceted issue: older patrons make up the majority group of supporters, performers can’t social distance on stage, without funds the already aching sector hangs in the balance. Can these venues ethically reopen? If they don’t, will they be able to recover?
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Adage Ideas
April 2020
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Being a Woman in Tech

This International Women's Day, the females at Adage Tech reflected on what it's really like to be a woman in the tech industry and how their reality compares to the industry's (male dominated) standard. 

Adage Ideas
March 2020

Chicago Culture

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As “A League of Their Own” Turns 30, Revisiting Chicago’s Key Role in the All-American Sports Story

Plus: The All-American league you never heard of — the one where players could wear shorts, not skirts!
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​InsideHook
July 2022
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Cook County’s Got a Brand New Flag, Designed by a High School Student

​You might not have even realized Cook County has a flag, but you’ll certainly notice the new one when it hits the flagpole at the end of August. Symbolism abounds in this new iteration, and every stripe, star, color — even the name — is dripping in Chicagoisms. 
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​InsideHook
July 2022
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Is Da Chicago Accent Disappearing or Just Evolving?

​I talked to two linguists to find out da predicted future of da Chicago accent (and uncover it's surprising origin story)
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​InsideHook
March 2022
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5 Alternatives For Arlington Park, In Case The Bears Don't Bite 

What happens to the for-sale racetrack if the Bears don’t follow through on their Arlington Park deal?
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​InsideHook
February 2022
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Chicago’s Biggest TikTok Sensation Is a Dad Who Works for the Electric Company

Finally a TikTok star you can be proud to follow. Sherman "Dilla" Thomas's history lessons on Chicagoland are attracting eyeballs from everyone — including Netflix.
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​InsideHook
January 2022
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How Citizens and Companies Can Support Antiracism in Chicago

“Not being racist” is simply no longer enough.
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​InsideHook
July 2020
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100 Black-Owned Businesses to Support in Chicago

As anti-racist sentiments ring out across the globe, never forget the power of the almighty dollar. Money talks.
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​InsideHook
June 2020
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How Well Do You Really Know Chicago’s New Cannabis Laws?

You can now legally get high in the great state of Illinois — provided you know a few simple rules. If you’re a bit green to the cannabis game, we’ve got you covered. There’s jargon to learn, laws to consider and the logistics of where/when/how to dip your toe into an, ahem, budding industry. 

​InsideHook
January 2020
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How the City of Broad Shoulders Came to Embrace the Megastore

Starbucks just opened its biggest store to date in Chicago, and they’re not the only brand in town who can claim that distinction
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​InsideHook
November 2019

Style

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How to Turn the Dead Tree in Your Yard Into a Wooden Heirloom

Chicago's Wood Urban Design won't just remove your tree, they'll help you convert it into a literal treasure. This is late-stage pandemic hobbying at it's finest.
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InsideHook
September 2021
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Add These Four Iconic Looks From “Christmas Vacation” to Your Holiday Rotation

Thirty years later, Clark Griswold and company still look as dapper as ever

InsideHook
December 2019
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Chicago's Newest Men's Shop Redefines 'Custom' Gear

CONSORTIUM is 100% bespoke, from clothes to bags to cologne. 

InsideHook
October 2018
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The Design Secrets of 5 Stylish Chicago Hotels, Decoded

​Best way to find some inspiration for your home? Leave it.

InsideHook
August 2018
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STATE Optical's 5 Rules For Finding the Ideal Pair of Sunnies

​We rang the experts at Chicago’s STATE Optical to outline how to best frame your face and avoid making a spectacle of yourself. Follow these five rules from our optical experts and you’ll look like a vision.
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​InsideHook
July 2018

Money & Career

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5 Ways Making (and Sticking With) a Budget Can Be Good for Your Health

Did you know that getting your finances in order can be good for you? 
Feeling sick with financial worries? Budgeting could be a key tool in reducing your stress and improving your health.

Everyday Health
January 2022
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I Split My Time Between Chicago and LA for My Job — Here’s How it Works

When a husband and wife both get great jobs, but in two different cities, they cook up a remote work scheme so they can have the careers and marriage they want. Learn how to ask to go remote, when it works best and the pro tips for making it work year after year.

LearnVest
September 2018
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The Travel Mistake That Almost Ruined My $2K Trip

​In the "Money Fails" series, real people share how they bounced back from financial slip-ups, and what they learned along the way. Here, a meticulous planner overlooks one crucial detail just weeks before a trip to Iceland. 

LearnVest
August 2018
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How to Be More Charitable Year-Round

Half of not-for-profits receive the majority of their donations between October and December. While it’s easy to equate the holidays with giving, having an all-seasons strategy can be better for your finances and help ensure you’re not accidentally overlooking the causes you care about.
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LearnVest
April 2017

Politics

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The Biggest Challenges Facing Chicago Over the Next Decade

With a new decade ahead of us, we decided to ask eight thought and business leaders around the city for their opinion on the single biggest challenge facing the city, and what we can collectively do to fix it.​

​InsideHook
February 2020
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Lyin' Cheatin' Bastards

​SEX, MONEY, POWER: THE DARK SIDE OF POLITICS
The most wickedly entertaining scandals from America's elected officials since 2000.

From Anthony Weiner’s wiener to Larry Craig’s infamous bathroom toe-tap, we’ve come to expect nothing less than complete and total dishonesty from our elected officials. But it’s getting hard to keep track of who’s done what— so we have created this handy compendium.

In Lyin’ Cheatin’ Bastards, no political office is sacred, no party is immune, and no
sin that’s been punished goes unrecognized.

Published by Assassin Bug Press | Available on Amazon
September 2012

Web Content Writing

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Ballou Skies Website Redesign

Created new website, including all copy, graphic design and web development for Ballou Skies, a Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy charity. Included core focus workshop and brand updates as part of larger strategic transformation. ​

​The mission of Ballou Skies is to provide funds for groundbreaking DMD research.
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BallouSkies.com
​August 2018
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SmartSeat Product Writing

SmartSeat is a software product built by Adage Technologies. It is a mobile seat selection tool used by top performing arts and entertainment venues in the world.

The next generation of seat selection is here.
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  • Automating Social Distancing in Your Venue
  • Summer of SmartSeat
  • SmartSeat at TLCC 2018
  • Tailor SmartSeat SYOS Configurations to Your Organization
  • A Truly Mobile SYOS Increasing Mobile Ticketing Revenue

adagetech.com
2017 - 2020
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6 Top Home Improvements Projects

In a tough housing market, it makes sense to stay put in your house and just make the best of it. 

CBS Moneywatch
April 2011
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HUD 2012 Budget Highlights: You're Screwed

​A solemn HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan unveiled the 2012 yesterday and delivered a most fitting quote: "We can do more with less." 
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"We must do more with less" might have been a more appropriate way of putting it.

CBS Moneywatch
May 2011

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Finding An Apartment Series
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Series aimed at the recent grad, or first-time renter. Research and color from my experience renting my first apartment in Chicago, Illinois.
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  • Your First Steps
  • The Cost of Renting
  • Use The Internet to Find An Apartment
  • Do I Need a Real Estate Agent?
  • Bullying Realtors
  • The Property Management Company

ThinkGlink.com
November 2010 - December 2010
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The 10 Spookiest Cities in America

If you like haunted houses and getting spooked, you might want to visit these Top 10 Spookiest Cities in America cities. Several cities on the list offer overnight hotel packages at places where guests have heard voices and encountered ghosts.

CBS Moneywatch
October 2010
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Live Blogging: Conference on the Future of Housing Finance
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The Conference on the Future of Housing Finance is a forum held in Washington D.C. aimed at gathering public input as the Obama Administration continues to develop a housing finance reform proposal for delivery to Congress by January 2011.

ThinkGlink.com
August 2010
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