Chicago Area

[neelyjr1]

Alright, first off this isn't a beer post, but a more general post. I have found out that I need to move to the Chicago area in the next couple months, and being that the total time I have spent there is around 7 hours (most of it in an airport) I need some living advice. In particular, I need some advice on where to live. My job is such that I will be working out of my home, and I can live around 30 miles outside the city if I wish. So all that being said, please help this poor Pittsburgher/DCer figure out where the best place to live is.

[brewcrew76]

My advice would be in the city. I have been in the city for 8 years and love it. I think most of the Chicagoans on the board live out in the burbs though. As far as where in the city, I guess that depends on your age and what you are looking for.

[Vienna Lager]

First off go to the employment office in your home town and interview for any job that allows you to stay in your neck of the woods. A window job at Taco Bell would be a nice compromise to going to Shy-town. Hehe

If you must come to the upper mid- west get a good set of long johns as they don't call Chicago the 'Windy City' for nothing. Also a set of sno-mobile boots with the felt liners and a down or thinsulate filled parka would do nicely as wood a fur lined 'bomber hat'.

Get a good set of jumper cable for your car, ice scraper and couple bags of rock salt in the trunk for weight and traction.

Live to the North West or West of the city proper and remember you home football team in the future is call "Da Bears".

[MikShau]

I was born and raised there, now I live in Florida. Should tell you something.

Take the Wisconson boy's ( Vienna Lager's) advice on clothing, he knows what he's talking about. ( I almost used "Cheese Head" but I resisted the urge).

As to where to live, I lived in a place called Dearborn Park, just south of downtown when I was single. It was great, short cab ride to the best watering holes, walk to work down town, didn't have to travel too far in the blizzards and could stop at any number of "warming stations" ( bars) on the way.

I also lived in a place called Wriglyville (1 block from where the Cubs play). It was a bit more eclectic. a wierd mix of gays, gang bangers, yuppies, and Lithuanianians. It was OK, except when they held the gay pride parade on the same day as a Cubs game.

If you're married with kids. The burbs are you're best bet. The best deals are at least 25 miles from down town. Pick a direction.

[brewcrew76]

Originally posted by MikShau

I also lived in a place called Wriglyville (1 block from where the Cubs play). It was a bit more eclectic. a wierd mix of gays, gang bangers, yuppies, and Lithuanianians.

How long ago was this? I would say Wrigleyville is mostly recent college grads now with some yuppies and gays thrown in. I lived there for the first few years I was in Chicago. There are 4 times the bars around Wrigley than when I even lived there 5 years ago and they are mostly yuppie/frat boy type.

[neelyjr1]

Thanks for all the help so far. I am originally from Pittsburgh so I hope the weather doesn't bother me too much. Alot of the places I have been looking at so far have been in the burbs, although the city does seem appealing as well. Dearborn park sounds interesting, I think I will look into that as well. Also, while I am on the general topic of Chicago life, how is the traffic there?

[MikShau]

To brewcrew,

early 90's in Wriglyville. so it must have changed. I remember the Latin Kings putting on reflective vests and charging Cub fans $5 to park them in tow away zones. I'm glad it's a little more gentrified.


As I recall, traffic sucked. Rush hour was 3 1/2 hours long both morning and night and would almost double your travel time. Recent visits have not changed my opinion, though I don't head into the city that often.

Good luck, In the summer, Chicago is a great place. The lake front, Navy Pier, the museums, the Blues ( Buddy Guys, on south wabash), and the ribs. It's a mustache freezer in the winter though.

[brewcrew76]

I didn't get to Chicago until 98 but I hear the gang thing about a lot of the neighborhoods. You would not even recognize the Wrigley area now. The gym I go to is in Cabrinie (sp?) which was one of the nations worst neighborHOOD's in the early 90's. Now there are condos mixed in with the projects.

The traffic in Chicago is absolutely terrible. I would plan on public transportation as much as possible for work. They have what they call the Metra to get from the burbs to the city and the CTA within the city. Look either up online to see what routes are near where you are looking. I don't go to the burbs much but I constantly hear horror stories from people that drive to work. The city is bad most of the time but I have found enough shortcuts to typically cut my travel time in half.

I am from WI originally and the only weather shock for me is walking downtown in the winter. I swear the tall buildings create a wind tunnel. The temp feels 10-20 degrees colder downtown.

MikShau is right. Chicago is a great place. Speaking of blues, I just saw Buddy Guy at his Legends club on Friday. The 6th time I have seen him in the 8 years I have lived here and the best show yet. He played Voodoo Child, Strange Brew, Boom Boom Boom, Mustang Sally, etc.

[steveh]

Boy, there are too many great areas you could live - very difficult to pick a favorite. I enjoy Bucktown and Wicker Park in the city - but it's pretty pricey. Wrigleyville is nice, but sell your car -- no place to park. Look into Andersonville too or even Lincoln Square. Of course, there are many great 'burbs around too - depending on what you like.

Good luck, let us know when you hit town and we can arrange another Goose Island rendezvous. Oh, and don't let these guys scare you with talk of the cold, it's a character builder -- anyone can live in San Diego or Florida -- it takes moxie to tough out a Chicago winter...uh, except maybe *this* winter! ;)

S.

[studentofbeer]

if you like the burbs, i really like oak park out west. up north, evanston, skokie, wilmette etc. are fine.

in the city steveh gave some great ideas. one of my favorite places is andersonville. lincoln park and gold coast are also nice (and expensive).

you can try using housingmaps.com to see what's out there (basically pulls listings from craigslist).

yes, i miss chicago.

[GooseIslandFan]

As a former DC local and now a Chicago local, I can tell you that the traffic is almost the same. Long waits to get out to the burbs and horrible parking problems in the really trendy neighborhoods. I think that goes with any major city in the US. I live up in the far north part of the city and love it. Plenty of parking and I can be down where the action is in 20 minutes via the "L" or driving.