Posted: 9/20/2026 10:21:01 PM EDT
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I am here for work this week and staying in Lincoln Park. I love the Chicago scene where the first floor of just about every building is a business or shop. Went to an awesome Italian place for dinner and it was great. Walking down the street everyone was cool, and the vide is awesome. I don’t know what it is about Chicago, but for a city, it has a vibe all its own. Not like the New York City I have visited. Complete shithole.. |
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WE SEEK NOT YOUR COUNSEL, NOR YOUR ARMS
WE SEEK NOT YOUR COUNSEL, NOR YOUR ARMS
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 The Blues Brothers - Sweet Home Chicago (Official Audio) |
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I spent a week in NYC years ago and had a great time. I was in Chicago and found it to be extremely run down and dirty. Had a busy day on the pier with hordes of 13%'s and survived! Loved the river tour and got very very lost on lower wacker. what a trip! Even was able to go berserk in a parking garage when I had to pay twice toe exit. Will never go back but had an interesting time! |
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Originally Posted By EXCATM76: I was there earlier this week. 50 minutes to drive 16 miles. My idea of hell on earth. Yeah, not looking forward to work tomorrow. I will just Uber from my hotel to wherever the site is. I have 3 to visit while I am here. |
Pone semina in fundas ut aliquid crescat ubi morieris.
WE SEEK NOT YOUR COUNSEL, NOR YOUR ARMS
WE SEEK NOT YOUR COUNSEL, NOR YOUR ARMS
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My wife is from Chicago and I love visiting my in laws there, especially the Midwest vibe from the people. As someone would say, you get on the train and everyone minds their own business but as soon as you have an elderly person struggling to board or find a seat, everyone gets up to help them. Fantastic architecture. One of the best skylines in the US. Running along Lakeshore during sunset is very therapeutic. One of the few cities you can afford to live in and have a beach view. You can find great bars and food at every price level. |
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I’m am so torn on this. I love solitude, quiet, and simplicity. And yet, I love a happening restaurant, bar, and performing arts vibe. I guess my destiny is to live in a small town with reasonable access to a big city. Unless the latter is Seattle. That is sort of the case now, but politically and tax wise, it’s not where I want to be long term. |
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I love big cities but I'd never want to live in one. It's been a few years since I've been to Chicago, but in the summer it is a great city. The river walk is super nice. We were in NYC a month ago and had a blast. I like getting my kids out to a totally different environment. |
When faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself.
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Chicago was the first city I hated. Before that I'd only ever been to cities in New England, new York and DC. I moved to Illinois in 2000 and besides driving through it and visiting while I lived there I fucking dislike everything about it except it's airports but I generally like most airports. DC I still like but there's not another city I want to visit ever again. |
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Originally Posted By 797hp: It’s a strange place They make their pizza all retarded and their hot dog relish looks radioactive Well, then, you can call me Corky. That's because it is. That's how we got retarded enough for the pizza. |
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Originally Posted By Clarinath: I am here for work this week and staying in Lincoln Park. I love the Chicago scene where the first floor of just about every building is a business or shop. Went to an awesome Italian place for dinner and it was great. Walking down the street everyone was cool, and the vide is awesome. I don’t know what it is about Chicago, but for a city, it has a vibe all its own. Not like the New York City I have visited. Complete shithole.. I lived in Lincoln Park near Clark and Fullerton for three years in the early 2000s. 10 minutes from the lake. Had a friend who worked downtown. I’d go by her office and meet her, then we’d walk home up the lake front path (3 miles) and have dinner at a cheap favorite place. I enjoyed the time I lived there. |
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I lived there for 5 years in the 2000's in a couple different near west side neighborhoods. Loved it for the first 4 years. By year 5 I just wanted out. Sucky part was I loved my job there. I go back very seldomly, and every time it just seems to be decaying at a faster pace. I left there just before "Woke" started becoming a thing. Was it left-leaning at the time? Sure. But now just over the top. A lot of the charm it used to have is just gone, at least for me. |
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if you're in Chicago and you don't go, you're fucking up: Gene and Georgetti |
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Funny you mention this.... I feel exactly the same way. Usually nota big fan of huge liberal cities and crowds of people, but I do love visiting Chicago every couple years or so. I take the train so I don't have to deal with driving or paying for parking. Rent a hotel around the Miracle mile, and then just walk everywhere. I dig the energy. Lots to see and do, and eat, and it's all right there within walking distance. I'm used to St Louis, where you have to wade through miles of sketchy alleys and run down factories to get from point A to point B. New Orleans is another city I actually unexpectedly love. There's just a vibe you tap into, despite all the shit you normally aren't a fan of. |
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Isn’t Chicago a bit different than other cities where the downtown area is still rather nice, and most of the problems areas are in the suburbs? Usually the reverse is true. I was just comparing it in my mind against Detroit, where there is somewhat of a renaissance in the core downtown area, but really driving out of there you don’t actually hit the suburbs until you get outside of Wayne county. |
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Originally Posted By Colt1860: if you're in Chicago and you don't go, you're fucking up: Gene and Georgetti My favorite spot in the city! Attached File |
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Originally Posted By jvmcd: Isn’t Chicago a bit different than other cities where the downtown area is still rather nice, and most of the problems areas are in the suburbs? Usually the reverse is true. I was just comparing it in my mind against Detroit, where there is somewhat of a renaissance in the core downtown area, but really driving out of there you don’t actually hit the suburbs until you get outside of Wayne county. Downtown is still mostly nice. The South and west sides are the problematic areas, but depends on neighborhood. Same with the north/northwest sides. The inner ring suburbs can have issues, but again, depends on which one. Park Ridge, an immediate NW suburb, is rather expensive and very nice. |
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Originally Posted By Cobalt-60: I generally hate cities, but Wrigley Field is awesome. If you can catch a Cubs game while in town, it's worth it. I've been to Chicago once, back in 2018. The kids and I caught the train to Wrigley for a game against the Cardinals. Got off the train, turned the corner to head to the gate and passed by a bum with a sign that read "Need $20. Not gonna lie, it's for beer or a hooker." Kids didn't know what to think. |
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Originally Posted By Ewald: OP, leave Lincoln Park. Try staying in Englewood or Garfield Park. Then get back to us. What? Some cities can have really bad areas in addition to really great areas? The hell, you say! Huh, then I guess if you stay away from the bad areas then you can really enjoy yourself? Who knew? |
You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.
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I was in Chitown for IMTS last week and cant really say its much different from other big cities, not really my thing. Our hotel was in the Magnificent Mile area, some cool shops, got to check out the navy pier, everything seemed relatively clean except for the constant skunkweed stench Chicago style deep dish is fucking awful and you should all feel ashamed for it |
The last time I was in Logan Square or Wicker Park were for concerts 20-25 years ago at the Logan Square Auditorium and the Subterranean. That surrounding area was pretty run down, looks like they classed up the auditorium and it's an upscale event center now. I'm amazed at what the area looks like on Google Street View. 
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I’ve never been, but I’m looking forward to visiting in the spring. My youngest son is looking at an engineering school in Milwaukee and we’re gonna catch a Cubs game (hopefully) and the art Institute and as much shit as we can fit into four days. What else is cool there for a couple and a 16yo? |
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Originally Posted By Eroic: I’ve never been, but I’m looking forward to visiting in the spring. My youngest son is looking at an engineering school in Milwaukee and we’re gonna catch a Cubs game (hopefully) and the art Institute and as much shit as we can fit into four days. What else is cool there for a couple and a 16yo? Architecture boat tour on the river. Tons of museums, just depends on what you like. |
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Originally Posted By corpseknight: Funny you mention this.... I feel exactly the same way. Usually nota big fan of huge liberal cities and crowds of people, but I do love visiting Chicago every couple years or so. I take the train so I don't have to deal with driving or paying for parking. Rent a hotel around the Miracle mile, and then just walk everywhere. I dig the energy. Lots to see and do, and eat, and it's all right there within walking distance. I'm used to St Louis, where you have to wade through miles of sketchy alleys and run down factories to get from point A to point B. New Orleans is another city I actually unexpectedly love. There's just a vibe you tap into, despite all the shit you normally aren't a fan of. It’s the Magnificent Mile aka the Mag Mile |
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Originally Posted By jvmcd: Isn’t Chicago a bit different than other cities where the downtown area is still rather nice, and most of the problems areas are in the suburbs? Usually the reverse is true. I was just comparing it in my mind against Detroit, where there is somewhat of a renaissance in the core downtown area, but really driving out of there you don’t actually hit the suburbs until you get outside of Wayne county. It used to be that the problems were the west and south sides of the city. In the last 10 to 15 years, the problems have been spreading to the tourist areas and nicer neighborhoods. The burbs that have issues are the ones on the western and southern borders. |
Originally Posted By BustinCaps:
Shooting and riding snowmobiles isn’t as fun when your property is sporting a 70’s porno bush.
Shooting and riding snowmobiles isn’t as fun when your property is sporting a 70’s porno bush.
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Originally Posted By colklink: I wouldn't set foot in Chicago for love or money but I too love Chicago. It delivers great amusement on almost a daily basis, and it confirms my biases regularly. Chicago is the gift that keeps on giving... Thank you for the seller insight and contribution to this thread, very cool. |
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