Stealth fighter gets fueled. (Photo by Associate Press)

The first attack reported happened at 2 a.m. According to Chicago Police, a man was robbed and beaten in the 600 block of West Fullerton Parkway. The next six attacks all happened in the Wrigleyville area.

The seventh attack is unclear if it is related to the other muggings. Police are investigating the situation. A 21-year-old man had his wallet stolen by 3 attackers, near the 400 block of W Deming Place.

Over the next several days each attack reported, the victim was robbed and beaten. Investigations are still being processed to see if all attacks are related. The last attack was the only one reported that had several attackers involved.

Patrons wandering the city at late hours should be aware of their surroundings and the environment. Extra caution should be taken when alone and in unfamiliar areas. With that being said, individuals should be cautious at all times.

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Andrew Huff, the Editor and co-founder of the creators of Gapers Block was a guest speaker at DePaul University on April 4^th, 2011.

  A whole lot of technology and skills comes with being a great journalist. “Think beyond journalism,” said Huff.

Huff touched on a few main points; the redesign of his site, sites elsewhere using the same model as Gapers Block, how Chicagoist is their biggest competitor, and he also included wisdom and advice to DePaul journalism students.

Gapers Block is a Chicago-based site that encourages readers to slow down and check out Chicago, Huff said.  The site has links that include; arts, book club, food, music, politics, sports, archives and newsletter.  According to Huff the food link is the most clicked on.

Each link has a creative and clever title that revolves around vehicles.  For example, the food link is titles “Drive-thru,” and the sports link is titled, “Tailgate.”  The site is user-friendly and laid out easily for viewers.

Huff claimed that other sites have asked to use the same model as his.  He said he does not plan on branching out of Chicago but, is happy to help other communities and cities with a model like Gaper Block.

Huff doesn’t claim to compete with other newspapers.  Gapers Block is unique and readers find it user friendly.   As I mentioned before, Huff has been asked to share his model with other communities.

Huff gives a lot of advice for graduating students who are interested in the journalism, public relations, and advertising field, “find a niche for yourself,” said Huff.

Huff suggests being a successful journalist you need to be skilled. He advises a certificate program can help with job success.

He also states that, “jobs all over the country are looking for journalistic styles in applicants,” said Huff.

Huff best advice was, “write whatever you are passionate about,” said Huff.

According to Huff, Gapers Block is successful due to the 300 various writers over the past eight years, the 250,000 visitors each month, and the grant given from the Chicago community.

Two readings, Mashable: 8 Must-Have Traits of Tomorrow’s Journalist by Vadim Lavrusik and EmediaVitals: The Contentious Relationship Between Hyperlocal and Newspapers, focus on practicing  journalist and future journalist.

Both readings brought back memories to when I first started the journalism program.  I remember thinking I was headed in the wrong career path.  As I continued the program it became apparent that journalist could not just pick one niche and stick with that.  Journalist need to be well rounded and very skilled.

According to Lavrusik, “Journalist of tomorrow will have to understand the value of content and how the business model is changing.”  Lavrusik gives in great detail 8 must-haves to be an eligible journalist today.  This includes; Entreperneurial and business savvy, programming, open-mind and experimenting, multi-meida storytelling, social and community building, blogging, having multi skills and fundamental journalism skills.

Lavrusik gives valued points how journalist need to be prepared to go above just writing.  Especially in the job market today, a journalist needs to have these 8 steps to even be considered a position.  Being a student, I can see through each course where we build these different skills.

EmediaVitals’ article only lists three qualifications journalist need to be aware of, however the article makes valid recomendations that Lavrusik did not point out in his article.  Knowing the enemy is emphasized  in EmediaVitals’ article.  ”Huffington Post, AOL, Google, and ESPN have all made overtures to building local content businesses’.”

Another point EmediaVitals’ brings up is wiring services.  ”Newspapers could pay a small wire fee to the hyperlocal websites.”  In other words, picking the best stories for a small fee and emphasizing those stories in the paper could help immensely.  Washington Post is a good example of this.

In conclusion, journalist must be skilled and aware that the paper will not die if handled correctly.  These rules and requirements apply to practicing journalist as well as future journalist.

Located at 1934 w Irving Park By Cassandra Bowman

Roaring fans sit at the front while cheering on the Blackhawks as they sip their Carlsberg beer surrounded by the sound of five other televisions playing a soccer game from half way across the world. This is a typical scenario at The Globe Pub, a soccer bar located at 1934 W. Irving Park Road.
The Globe Pub can have people that live two blocks away and someone who lives 1,000 miles away sitting at its bar.
The Globe Pub regulars are both American and from various countries, according to Aubrey Miller, The Globe Pub manager.
“You can see the whole crowd speaking different languages,” Patrick Stanton said, a Globe Pub employee.
While the pub caters to soccer fans, it also televises American sports. The Globe Pub makes sure it plays most, if not all, soccer games from around the world.
It was the only bar to play the African Cup Nations, according to Stuart Johnston, The Globe Pub owner. The bar not only supports global soccer, but it also is the official bar of the Chicago Fire.
When The Globe Pub opened its doors in September 2004, it was a one-room bar with four televisions that had only one window that measured 3 ft. by 6 ft. Stuart Johnston, The Globe Pub’s owner, recalled the night before opening the bar before a major a soccer game, the kick-off of the English league.
“We were up all night wiring the TVs and finished a half-hour before kick-off,” Johnston said. “People were coming in and there were still ladders up.”
Johnston, a former accountant born in the west coast of Scotland, always knew he wanted to open a bar or a dive shop.
“So the retirement plan is a bar or a dive shop in the Caribbean somewhere,” Johnston said.
Johnston wanted a neighborhood bar feel and wanted his employees to make people feel at home. He looked for happy bartenders and waitresses to fill his pub. Johnston also knew the bar’s niche was going to be a soccer bar.
“Although soccer is niche, you can’t survive on one thing alone,” Johnston said.
It was tough the first year for Johnston to create new ideas for the pub, Johnston explained, but he learned and experimented with new ideas.
Johnston experimented with different theme nights for the week. The first experiment was doing a quiz night that was run by one of its regulars. It was voted best pub quiz in the city in 2007 and 2008 by Chicago Magazine.
Today, The Globe Pub has theme nights every week that include Comedy Night, open-mic acoustic night, live bands on Fridays, and a DJ on Saturday. “Stinky Fingers”, Rolling Stones cover band plays there most often.
Chris Costello, a Globe regular, hosts Wednesday’s acoustic night. Costello lives just two blocks away from The Globe Pub and hosted his 40th birthday there.
The pub is separated into two sections. The front part of the bar has windows that open up to a patio. The Globe Pub added a back bar, new booths, and 25 new televisions. It added a new martini list as well that is all Globe Pub themed. The pub also offers 20 beers on draft and at least 200 bottled beers from around the world. The Globe Pub was the #1 seller of Carlsberg beer in the world.
The Globe Pub has generated fans from across the world including, David Beckham and Rod Stewart. It was voted best Soccer bar in 2008 by usssoccer.com according to Johnston.
Fans donated the scarves that cover the wall from front to back over the years Johnston recalled. Before the scarves there were mirrors and beer signs.
Since The Globe Pub is the official bar to the Chicago Fire, it makes sure its fans can get to the game. For every home game, the Globe has at least one bus that takes Fire fans to the games there and back for $20 a ride that includes free beer. The Globe had the owner in last month for a live Q&A session.
Patrick Stanton, a recent DePaul graduate, hasn’t missed a Chicago Fire game in five years. After Stanton lost his job, Stuart offered him a job at The Globe in October 2009 and he still works there today.
Stanton believes The Globe Pub has been instrumental in helping fill the Chicago Fire’s Toyota Park stadium. When Toyota Park opened, there was that big question on how they were going to get there he recalled.
The Globe Pub started off using school buses to the games, and now it has upgraded to coach buses. At least half the fans that started going on the bus four years ago still go to every game recalled Stanton. The rides are boisterous, loud, and passionate he recalled. The Chicago Fire fans who can’t make it to the game often go to The Globe.
“Gets just as passionate as if you were there,” Stanton said.
The main event at The Globe Pub this summer is the World Cup. The Globe staff was very excited about the World cup that goes on for one month starting June 11. This year will be RSVP only because The Globe Pub wants to be able to have all their regulars here. Aubrey Miller, The Globe Pub for four years, expects the bar to be over capacity at 11 a.m., the first game starts at 1:45 p.m. the first day.
The Globe Pub staff created a special food menu so it will be easy for people to eat standing up because of the large crowd. The pub will be airing every single game on its 25 screens throughout the bar.
“The World Cup is going to be a zoo,” Johnston said.
The Globe Pub has a book launch that will kickoff the night before the World Cup on June 10. It is a coffee table book of photographs of different soccer fans from The Globe Pub.
Most of The Globe Pub’s patrons are its regular customers, or “the regulars”. There are a lot of very loyal customers according to Miller.
“It’s the regulars that make this place,” Johnston said.
There are people that come to The Globe three to five times a week.
“They are like The Globe family, like our extended family,” Miller said, “They are the heart of the bar.”

Stuart Johnston the owner of The Globe Pub with friends By Cassandra Bowman

Stationed at Grand Central, 950 W Wrightwood Ave. in Lincoln Park. Daryl Misrac, 29, is hoping to have at least three hours of sleep before she starts her Saturday job at a boutique, Lululemon, on Michigan Avenue.

As she brushes the hair away from her face she smiles and said, “I’m ready for a long shower and a book.”

She laughs and walks away to gather her belongings from the back. The bouncer walks her out to her car. She hops in her car and drives to her home to have a few last moments of peace till the day starts over.

Misrac has been working at Grand Central for more than two years.

“I’ve been working in the restaurant industry since I was 15 years old”, said Misrac.

The fast-paced environment makes time go quickly while Misrac works. But, her days are filled with studying stenography at the College of Court Reporting, working at Lululemon, helping out her family, and teaching yoga. So when does Misrac sleep, eat, and have a healthy lifestyle?

“I try to not work on Sundays, so I generally sleep late, take a yoga class, watch football with friends if it’s the season, or go for dinner and catch up on homework,” she said.

It’s the simple things that Misrac looks forward to. She also has Wednesday mornings off. She usually spends this time with her grandparents and homework. She sighs and says, “Not too exciting right now.”

Around 5 p.m., the bar is not too busy. Misrac rolls silverware as she talks about her life. Her calm mannerisms make those around her wonder how Misrac will respond during the rush of individuals who come in late-and usually drunk.

Around 6:30 p.m. a crowd comes in.

“The Apollo Theater is down the street, so a rush at this time is common,” she said.

She attends each table as if those were the only customers in the whole bar. Her attentiveness to each person and table shows her dedication to the business. Misrac has been in this business for more than 14 years.

The crowd dies down around 8 p.m. and the rush comes and goes. By 10:30 p.m., the pace picks up quickly. While people are coming in, pushing through the crowd to get drinks from the bar, Misrac is opening tabs, closing tabs and rushing drinks to her assigned section.

“Being sober in this environment is an interesting piece of the job,” said Misrac.
Throughout the night, patrons buy her shots. She takes a few and declines a few.

“This is the first job that I have worked at that we are allowed to drink if the customer wants to buy us shots or drinks to have with them,” she said. “In all honestly, it helps to get through the night.”

By 2 a.m. the lights come on and the music stops. The staff tries to get some drunk customers out the door. Closing time is 3 a.m., and in order to get a large crowd out, the door they must start early. The crowd slowly disappears. By 3 a.m., the place is empty.

“When people are wasted, they forget to pay their bills, don’t tip the appropriate amount, can become very demanding, and are just jerks sometimes,” she said.

“Lately my patience for drunk, irresponsible college students has really started to decrease,” she said. “In the past, I would never say anything about a lousy tip, or a rude person, but I find myself speaking up more often to get what I deserve.”
“It’s just kind of insanity. When it’s busy, tons of people there, people are drunk; it’s just an [expletive] show.”

As the night winds down, one can see the sun will come up soon, and all those that work in the dark need their rest. The last three standing people are ready to lock up and start it all over again.

“It’s time to decompress,” Misrac said.

Today, the employment challenges have increased due to our economy. However, most organizations are looking for individuals with a variety of skills. If you have them you might be in luck. “Technology skills include, shooting and editing photos and video, as well as Web design, computer programming, and even some knowledge of using wireless technology.” Wilkinson, Grant, and Fisher.

According to Wilkinson, Grant, and Fisher you should be prepared before the interview and figure out where you want to work. Some key elements to keep in mind when conducting a successful interview include; life planning, goals, professionalism, and make sure you are a multi-skilled journalists.

Giving examples of your work in various ways shows your skills, knowledge, and dedication. Having these traits makes you more marketable. Since, the competition is high it is important to show why you will be the best option if hired. “When you interview for a job, it is important to keep these points in mind because negotiating your career can be a central point in your happiness with life.” Wilkinson, Grant, and Fisher.

Another thing to keep in mind is to always keep your portfolio up to date. Have fresh copies of articles, Web pages, and video packages. In addition, having contacts and references are always important.