So... Chicago...

[MaeveoSliabh]

What does one need to know to survive living there?

 

[Dar~]

Best Pizza in the world. Not the windiest. Humid!!!

 

[rgraham666]

Best Pizza in the world.

Agreed. I had some when I was there for the Lit-together. it was wonderful.

Thanks, zoot.

 

[Dar~]

Agreed. I had some when I was there for the Lit-together. it was wonderful.

Thanks, zoot.

I have never been, but a friend had one frozen on dry ice and shipped back to him when he got done with Vacation. DaYUM!!!

 

[cricketbug]

Whatcha wanna know? Let me know basics and I'll ask Dina.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Whatcha wanna know? Let me know basics and I'll ask Dina.

All of it. Was a serious question.

 

[S-Des]

What does one need to know to survive living there?

The question is, the city or the suburbs? Living in the city is an entirely different animal because of parking and mass transit concerns. The suburbs are very spread out and are basically self-sufficient. There are tons of jobs, depending on where you go, but housing is pretty expensive (and if you buy, property taxes can be a nightmare). It is VERY cold in the winter, and completely unpredictable the rest of the year (except that it does get very hot and humid in July/August). There is always tons of stuff to do, no matter what your interests are.

I love it and would hate to leave. I don't know anywhere else that's quite like it.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

The question is, the city or the suburbs? Living in the city is an entirely different animal because of parking and mass transit concerns. The suburbs are very spread out and are basically self-sufficient. There are tons of jobs, depending on where you go, but housing is pretty expensive (and if you buy, property taxes can be a nightmare). It is VERY cold in the winter, and completely unpredictable the rest of the year (except that it does get very hot and humid in July/August). There is always tons of stuff to do, no matter what your interests are.

I love it and would hate to leave. I don't know anywhere else that's quite like it.

uuuummmm... don't know yet?

I'm not so worried about things like parking because I don't have a vehicle, and finding a job will be no problem. I'll be a licensed massage therapist before we go up, and will just transfer my license there.

We're planning on just renting (only going to be there a few years, according to current plans)...

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

It's a helluva town. It's my kind of town. You'll like it.

If you won't have a car and don't need to worry about kids and schools then you'll want to be in-town, downtown, near north, Wrigleyville, etc. The further out you get in that direction the more important to be on an El line.

The people combine the politeness of Midwesterners with the cosmopolitanism of a big city - that's a good combination. The place has a practical, "get the job done, do it right but most of all get it done" mindset. Da Mair has ordered "make it beautiful" - plant flowers, clean the streets, etc., and they do. (Zade's town needs their attitude.) The people are very proud of their city. (The don't really speak like "dese and dos," only some ethnic communities. The main accent feature is a very hard short-A sound, almost nasal. "Baaack aaat'cha.")

I guess I don't have any more specific advice, because I haven't lived there for many years. I have family there and visit several times a year.

Best wishes.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Rox - That's the type of stuff I'm needing to know! Good places to look for housing and employment, things like that... Tips on getting good public transportation (average price for an all-city bus pass, things of that nature)...

Now, where is Skokie in relation to Chicago proper? Honestly, the sheer size of this place is hugely overwhelming, and is scaring the piss out of me. Anything to make it easier would be a good thing.

 

[OneLustyWench]

Hi, I have several links for you that might help.

Metromix: www.metromix.com
Tell you what's happening in and around the city (you know the fun stuff, art, theater, cultural heritage, etc, etc)

CTA: Chicago Transit Authority
Tells you prices of passes, train line maps, schedules, and more

Metra lines: http://www.metrarail.com/
If you are thinking suburbs, here's how to get in and out of the city

Jobs: A couple of links
Chicago Tribune
Sun Times
and of course Monster


Weather is unpredictable here, be prepared and do check out weather stations. Can be cold until May but very warm in Dec/Jan and then a deep freeze. While humid in the summer, I don't find it near as bad as Florida in the summer. But almost any cultural, art or theater you could want as well as fantastic restaurants and a good mix of people.

Wenchie

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Hi, I have several links for you that might help.

Metromix: www.metromix.com
Tell you what's happening in and around the city (you know the fun stuff, art, theater, cultural heritage, etc, etc)

CTA: Chicago Transit Authority
Tells you prices of passes, train line maps, schedules, and more

Metra lines: http://www.metrarail.com/
If you are thinking suburbs, here's how to get in and out of the city

Jobs: A couple of links
Chicago Tribune
Sun Times
and of course Monster


Weather is unpredictable here, be prepared and do check out weather stations. Can be cold until May but very warm in Dec/Jan and then a deep freeze. While humid in the summer, I don't find it near as bad as Florida in the summer. But almost any cultural, art or theater you could want as well as fantastic restaurants and a good mix of people.

Wenchie

You rock!

 

[neonlyte]

The question is, the city or the suburbs? Living in the city is an entirely different animal because of parking and mass transit concerns. The suburbs are very spread out and are basically self-sufficient. There are tons of jobs, depending on where you go, but housing is pretty expensive (and if you buy, property taxes can be a nightmare). It is VERY cold in the winter, and completely unpredictable the rest of the year (except that it does get very hot and humid in July/August). There is always tons of stuff to do, no matter what your interests are.

I love it and would hate to leave. I don't know anywhere else that's quite like it.

Just curious as to what you mean by 'expensive property tax'. In UK the equivalent tax - Local Council Tax - for our property is about $3,000 p.a. In Portugal, my apartment is about $80.00 p.a. but that is offset by relatively high Income Tax (32.5%).

 

[OneLustyWench]

You rock!

If you need more, PM or IM me on Yahoo.

Does this give me credits for a free massage?

 

[OneLustyWench]

Just curious as to what you mean by 'expensive property tax'. In UK the equivalent tax - Local Council Tax - for our property is about $3,000 p.a. In Portugal, my apartment is about $80.00 p.a. but that is offset by relatively high Income Tax (32.5%).

Out by me (suburbs), our annual property taxes are about 9000 USD per year. Chicago locations for condos can easily be 500,000 and up and property taxes, while it varies by property values and tax area can be over 20,000 per year. Gold coast property means you have to have a lot of gold to live by the coast (of Lake Michigan), lol

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

If you need more, PM or IM me on Yahoo.

Does this give me credits for a free massage?

Only if you catch me before the license is official.

 

[OneLustyWench]

Only if you catch me before the license is official.

Does that mean I have to go there to get it now?

 

[neonlyte]

Out by me (suburbs), our annual property taxes are about 9000 USD per year. Chicago locations for condos can easily be 500,000 and up and property taxes, while it varies by property values and tax area can be over 20,000 per year. Gold coast property means you have to have a lot of gold to live by the coast (of Lake Michigan), lol

My sincere apology for reminding you

That is incredibly expensive !!!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Skokie is a northern suburb of Chicago, close in, as they say. It is directly north of the city just up I94 (The Edens Expressway). It's a fairly small suburb as suburbs go. It is surrounded by other suburbs like Glenview, Evanston, Morton Grove and Lincolnwood.

There is train service to the city from Morton Grove just west of Skokie. Or from Evanston just east of town.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Skokie is a northern suburb of Chicago, close in, as they say. It is directly north of the city just up I94 (The Edens Expressway). It's a fairly small suburb as suburbs go. It is surrounded by other suburbs like Glenview, Evanston, Morton Grove and Lincolnwood.

There is train service to the city from Morton Grove just west of Skokie. Or from Evanston just east of town.

OK, cool... Thank you!

About how far is it from all the big corporations and stuff?

 

[cricketbug]

All of it. Was a serious question.

*nods* I figured as much...just wanted to know more...but based on the above replies, will ask and see what I can find. May be a day or 2 tho.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

*nods* I figured as much...just wanted to know more...but based on the above replies, will ask and see what I can find. May be a day or 2 tho.

That's cool. The move is still kind of iffy, but looks likely, and won't happen until after I graduate in December.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Skokie's getting toward the boonies, but not the super-boonies. When I live there there was transit service (the "Skokie Swift" and a commuter train, but that was a long time ago. It's not far from Evanston, which is the home of Northwestern U, and a pretty cool place. Evanston would be better than Skokie, but is probably quite pricey. Closer in would be better than either.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

OK, cool... Thank you!

About how far is it from all the big corporations and stuff?

The big corporations are spread out all over the Chicago Area (approx. 400 suburbs). Most of the big banks are downtown but a lot of big corps have withdrawn to the suburbs. Motorola is out in Schaumburg, Sears is out there somewhere too. UAL is in Elk Grove Village, etc. Downtown is for the new big corps in town who think having a downtown address gives them prestige.

Any big corp you want to know about - go to their web site and go to the contact page were the headquarters will have an address listed.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

The big corporations are spread out all over the Chicago Area (approx. 400 suburbs).

Oh. My. Fuck.

*insert heart attack*

I am SO not going to survive there...