With summer coming to a close, our summer intern Brooke Vogel has to head back to college to finish her degree! It has truly been a pleasure working with Brooke, and she’s gotten to experience working street festivals, writing local publications, helping us with our social media, and growing our Tiktok account to over 1000+ Followers! We sat down with Brooke on her last day to discuss her favorite things about the neighborhood & everything she loved doing this year!

What inspired you to pursue a marketing internship with the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce?

As a public relations and advertising major at DePaul University, I have always known that I wanted to work in social media. As I was searching for internships, there were not many social media internships that I could find. I stumbled across this internship listing on Handshake, and I knew that this was the internship for me. From the description, I knew that this internship would give me many opportunities to learn, and I was right about that! I have learned so much about creating and planning content, writing guides, and event planning. I am so thankful for everything that I have learned and for all the people that I met!

What have been some of your favorite projects or events that you’ve worked on during your internship?

I loved working on the Beauty Guide! Learning how to write content, as well as how to design an entire guide was extremely beneficial. It was extremely fulfilling to see my hard work get published on the website.

I also loved working on the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts Instagram. I learned how to plan and schedule content. This is a skill I will be taking into my real world, as I will be working with social media for my position as the VP of Public Relations for DePaul PRSSA. Being given the luxury to take the reigns on the FOTA Instagram was a huge show of trust, and I learned a lot while working with it.

What’s your favorite local business in Lakeview East, and why?

I absolutely love Pure Green’s acai bowls!! They are absolutely incredible. Some acai bowl places can be extremely expensive, and Pure Green is not. Their prices are reasonable, and their food is delicious. Their employees are also extremely kind and they have a fantastic playlist going all the time!

What’s your go-to coffee shop, restaurant, or place to unwind in Lakeview East?

My absolute favorite restaurant in Lakeview East is Yellowtail Sushi. Their food is incredible, truly some of the best sushi in the city. The vibe of the restaurant is also incredible, especially if you are sitting towards the back. The projected jellyfish are so fun! Yellowtail is also BYOB, so you can bring your own wine or liquor. Bring your favorite wine and watch the jellyfish!

My favorite coffee shop is definitely Cafe Deko off of Diversey. Their coffee is some of the best in the city. The 30’s-inspired decorations make this coffee shop stand out. Although they have limited seating, when you can get a seat, doing homework or reading a book is a super relaxing experience. Did I mention their coffee is the best in the city??

Can you recommend a hidden gem or underrated spot in the neighborhood that you think people should check out?

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ is so fun and also delicious! Their food is incredible, and they offer bundles for groups. Making your own food can be scary, but that’s part of the experience! Each meal is never the same. Gyu-Kaku is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood!

What surprised you the most about working in marketing for a local chamber of commerce?

I never realized how many small business owners I would meet! Learning everyone’s stories and seeing them succeed was incredible. I never realized how social this job would be (Even though it is a social media job, LOL.). This was something I had to get used to, but I learned to love all of our grand openings! I loved seeing people’s hard work pay off.

Is there a local business or event that made a lasting impression on you during your time here?

I had a lot to do with the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts, so that definitely made an impression on me. I ran the Instagram and I helped plan where each of the booths would be for the festival with Maureen our Executive Director. It was extremely fulfilling to see all of my hard work pay off. It was an incredible festival! I learned a lot about event planning, which went along with my event planning minor.

What’s next for you after this internship?

I graduate from DePaul University in March! After I graduate, I will still be involved in DePaul PRSSA.

Right now, I am focused on finishing my last couple of quarters strong! I am also currently working at Ragstock, so I will be working there these last couple of quarters. After I graduate, I will be looking for either full-time work or another internship, likely at a PR or Advertising Agency.