Moving to chicago, advice
- Thread starter GoSTATE71
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I lived in Chicago for many years, good for you, it's a pretty amazing city to live in, especially in your mid 20s. You have a place figured out? Curious what neighborhood you may end up in. We started out in Ravenswood, around 4400 north, then moved down to Roscoe Village, around 3200 north, then to River North. There's a great neighborhood bar/grill in River North called Twisted Spoke, great hangover place, great bloody marys and the best fried egg sandwich I've ever had, and on Saturday nights after midnight they used to show porn on all the TVs, not sure if they still do. Extra bonus.
Where will you be working and what do you like to do? Chicago in your mid 20s is hard to beat. Especially from May to September. Halter top day will be upon us soon!
ISUAA Club of Chicago with gamewatch sites and other events would be a good way to meet some people in the area that you would have something in common with.
Their web page: http://www.isualum.org/index.cfm?nodeID=7720&audienceID=1
Their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/10288906239/
Their web page: http://www.isualum.org/index.cfm?nodeID=7720&audienceID=1
Their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/10288906239/
If you're living in the city there are 2 gamewatch locations, one in Old Town & one in Lakeview. There are a few in the burbs as well but I don't know how well attended they are. Do you know where you'll be living/working yet? I've been in the city for 9 years on the north side so I'm happy to answer any questions you have
I lived in Chicago from '03-'14. Just moved to LA.
I lived in Lincoln Park from '03-'07, then Wicker Park/Bucktown, eventually bought a loft in Bucktown. Moved for some career opportunities and weather (I was a wuss about winter for 36 years and finally gave up).
I absolutely love Wicker Park/Bucktown. It becomes cleaner and more expensive by the year but it's still an incredible neighborhood…so much better than Lincoln Park that is just as, if not more, expensive. Only neighborhood where there is lively stuff going on all year, you're right next to I90/I94, right next to downtown, right by the blue line which is AMAZING if you travel a lot. Most convenient urban location going in Chicago.
Logan Square is basically what Wicker Park was a decade ago but a little further away away from downtown. Still right on blue line.
There are other great neighborhoods so not slamming anywhere, but Wicker Park/Bucktown with Logan square as a nearby cheaper option is my choice by a mile.
*Also: prepare to be completely raped by parking meters and parking tickets, especially the parking tickets given out for absolutely no reason when you are following all laws perfectly. I went from 2 cars, to 1 car, to owning my own place with a garage having no car. Parking in that city is like mob warfare, living in LA now I laugh at how easy and cheap it is to park, the meters here still take nickels, a nickel is like .005 seconds of a meter in Chicago if they even accepted nickels. I loved living car free in Chicago the last 2 years. End rant.
I lived in Lincoln Park from '03-'07, then Wicker Park/Bucktown, eventually bought a loft in Bucktown. Moved for some career opportunities and weather (I was a wuss about winter for 36 years and finally gave up).
I absolutely love Wicker Park/Bucktown. It becomes cleaner and more expensive by the year but it's still an incredible neighborhood…so much better than Lincoln Park that is just as, if not more, expensive. Only neighborhood where there is lively stuff going on all year, you're right next to I90/I94, right next to downtown, right by the blue line which is AMAZING if you travel a lot. Most convenient urban location going in Chicago.
Logan Square is basically what Wicker Park was a decade ago but a little further away away from downtown. Still right on blue line.
There are other great neighborhoods so not slamming anywhere, but Wicker Park/Bucktown with Logan square as a nearby cheaper option is my choice by a mile.
*Also: prepare to be completely raped by parking meters and parking tickets, especially the parking tickets given out for absolutely no reason when you are following all laws perfectly. I went from 2 cars, to 1 car, to owning my own place with a garage having no car. Parking in that city is like mob warfare, living in LA now I laugh at how easy and cheap it is to park, the meters here still take nickels, a nickel is like .005 seconds of a meter in Chicago if they even accepted nickels. I loved living car free in Chicago the last 2 years. End rant.
I moved there at the age of 23 and lived there for 13 years. Lived in Lincoln Park then Roscoe Village. Met my wife and had my two kids at Northwestern downtown. I'm 45 now and live in Urbandale now. I wish I could go into the stories from 1993 to 1997. Ahhhh... but I don't know who is on this board. I digress. Prepare to have a really good time. Hopefully you are working downtown and can live on the Northside for starters. Burb life isn't the same. You've sparked a smile on my face.
If you ever come across the Burwood Tap, have one for me.
If you ever come across the Burwood Tap, have one for me.
Sounds almost identical to me except just relocated out west instead of back to Iowa.
St Patrick's day in Chicago can hang with Mardis Gras in New Orleans…if you happen to get nice weather for those days it probably trumps it. Some REALLY wild 3-4 day St. Pats weekends in my early to mid 20s. If the OP gets there in time for St. Pats…live it up.
Love it man. Wife and I lived around Burwood Tap. Met and married. Bought the 3rd floor of a 3 flat on North Damen. Then a kid and a townhouse at 3852 North Milwaukee. Then another kid and out to Elmhurst. Then after a few years back to Iowa. Great time in my life, just couldn't keep commuting and I was burned out in my consulting job. So glad I moved there. For all the reasons I can't divulge and of course for meeting my wife and having 2 great kids.
I lived 3 blocks down from Burwood Tap from about '02-05. Moved in right when that huge porch collapse happened next door to me and killed all those people…my family happened upon the story and worried. I had a brutal commute for a year from the city to Vernon Hills, got out of it for city to Niles which was pretty manageable (20 min drive or 40 min cta).
As I recall an offensive lineman (or former) from NIU died, is that right? I lived across the street from the catholic church about a block from the Burwood to the east. Sunday night pool tournaments - Bad bad Leroy Brown (fact) would usually win.
I moved here for my first job after college a couple years ago. Lived in Uptown for a while before I moved to South Loop, which is where I work. Chicago is great, though spring, fall, and summer > winter x 100.
Corcoran's in Old Town has a small building past a patio from the main building that is all Iowa State fans during game watches, though for the most part it is pretty tame. Haven't been to Fizz during a game yet, but not during a game it is pretty fun.
Advice: live in Lakeview/Wrigleyville, you'll have fun there. Try not to go south of Sox 35th, unless you're taking an uber to Hyde park. Bike to work. Go to Maria's Packaged Goods. Take advantage of the parks. Find a friend with roof access, bonus points if you find a friend with a boat. Take the megabus back to Iowa for Cyclone games.
Feel free to PM if you have any questions.
Corcoran's in Old Town has a small building past a patio from the main building that is all Iowa State fans during game watches, though for the most part it is pretty tame. Haven't been to Fizz during a game yet, but not during a game it is pretty fun.
Advice: live in Lakeview/Wrigleyville, you'll have fun there. Try not to go south of Sox 35th, unless you're taking an uber to Hyde park. Bike to work. Go to Maria's Packaged Goods. Take advantage of the parks. Find a friend with roof access, bonus points if you find a friend with a boat. Take the megabus back to Iowa for Cyclone games.
Feel free to PM if you have any questions.
Live in Chicago right now, took a job right out of college here. Awesome city. I live in lakeview/wrigleyville. Definitely the place to be if you're in your 20's. My biggest piece of advice I can give you, wherever you decide to move make sure you are next a train station. Absolutely crucial if you wanna explore the city outside of the area you live.
The only cyclone bar I've been to for games is corcorans. Really fun bar during game days and it gets packed pretty quickly. Ironically enough, there is a Hawkeye bar right next door which makes for an awesome tailgate/gamewatch during rivalry games. They essentially share the same patio/beer garden so there's a whole lot of friendly banter.
The only cyclone bar I've been to for games is corcorans. Really fun bar during game days and it gets packed pretty quickly. Ironically enough, there is a Hawkeye bar right next door which makes for an awesome tailgate/gamewatch during rivalry games. They essentially share the same patio/beer garden so there's a whole lot of friendly banter.
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Spend as little on rent as possible, you'll need your cash for beers and cubs tix. Lakeview and Lincoln park are living the dream for mid 20's and having fun.
