Which Chicago suburbs are the best? (Decatur, Evanston: 2009, violent crime, mortgages)

[nanannie]

Non stop flights every day to LA,,Ba By.
I think a person who comes on a forum of locals to spew negative insults is either a bored teen or a troubled adult with ''issues''.
Just from this brief glimpse of your manner and manners to people who live here , no one would wonder why you are not being accepted.

[Justabystander]

Originally Posted by blueleo65

So I moved to the Chicago area about a year and half ago from Los Angeles. I can't wait until I go back!. The worst part is the weather. Pure misery! I have visited several areas just so I could get a feel of the place. The nice areas tend to be very conservative. The not so nice areas, are just as crime infested as in L.A. I didn't find the people as nice as everyone claims. The first thing people said when I told them I was from LA was always negative, as if somehow Chicago is so perfect and LA is the scum of the earth. There is this dellusion that the world revolves around the midwest and that the midwest is the "true" America. Now I understand why they call it the "Second" city. People in Chicago seems to have an inferiority complex and they seem to always shouting, "look at us, aren't our skyscrapers awsome? isn't our lake front just the "best" you've ever seen?" That said, I do like Evanston and the North Shore. Although it's a bit far removed, I think Crystal Lake and Cary are also nice if you have a Family. But brace yourself for the weather, and to hear how wonderful Chicago is.

I grew up in LA, and now when I go back I am floored by the graffiti and third world look of it all. California is now at 10.1% unemployement ( worse i am sure in LA) and I can say with a straight face Chicago is a gem compared with LA. Winters can be bad, but not as bad as a day in traffic in south central. Every day the same haze, ugly freeways, June gloom. You can have it, I;ll take a glorious summer day in Chicago by the lake any day of the week. By the way, how can someone in Crystal Lake judge Chicago?

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by blueleo65

Angelenos are a bunch of fruits etc. etc.

Well..........






Seriously though, you couldnt PAY me to live in L.A. I thought it was a cesspool, but thats just my opinion. If you dont like it here, leave. No skin off our teeth!

[pinkaddictm]

Originally Posted by mape1958

i,m new to the Chicago area and would like to find a nice suburban mall with Dillards bath and body sophora etc. help! thanks Maria

Unfortunately the closest Dillard's is in Moline, which is almost in Iowa, but there's definitely a Sephora at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, as well as in Old Orchard Mall located in Skokie, which is closer to the city. As for Bath and Body Works, you can find those everywhere...literally, there are some towns with two of them. If you're looking for a department store that's similar to Dillard's, I would try Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom's, or Lord and Taylor. All of which are located at both Woodfield Mall and Old Orchard Mall.

[pinkaddictm]

This is hillarious! I personally will be leaving the north completely to Florida when I settle down with kids in a permanent home for one reason only...I hate snow! But it's not like snow is exclusive to Chicago, if you hate Chicago for that then you might as well say I hate all states above the Mason-Dixon line. I personally feel that Chicago is the best city in the Midwest, and I do plan on moving back there when I graduate college in a few months. If I could stand the snow for the rest of my life I'd stay in Chicago forever, but for now I plan on singing it's praises from the sunshine state. I've spoken with people from all over and they all say that the one city that they didn't really like was L.A. I think California has it wrong, their best city isn't Los Angeles it's San Francisco. Much more culturally interesting...

[04JETTA]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Well..........






Seriously though, you couldnt PAY me to live in L.A. I thought it was a cesspool, but thats just my opinion. If you dont like it here, leave. No skin off our teeth!

amen to this especially the bolded

[04JETTA]

As to the OP it really just depends on what you're looking for

[deechee]

Originally Posted by daisysforme

We are relocating from Southern California to a whole new way of living. We want the best for our family good neighborhoods, schools (elementry, middle, and high school). What do we look forward too? Are going to fall in love with the state? How are the people are they friendly is the air quality better. Just need information on best places to live. Thank you

My answers will almost always include:

Homewood
Flossmoor
Glenwood
Mokena
Frankfort
Lockport
The Palos trio
Burbank
Bridgeview
Oak Lawn
Evergreen Park

[deechee]

Originally Posted by pinkaddictm

Unfortunately the closest Dillard's is in Moline, which is almost in Iowa, but there's definitely a Sephora at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, as well as in Old Orchard Mall located in Skokie, which is closer to the city. As for Bath and Body Works, you can find those everywhere...literally, there are some towns with two of them. If you're looking for a department store that's similar to Dillard's, I would try Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom's, or Lord and Taylor. All of which are located at both Woodfield Mall and Old Orchard Mall.

There is a Sephora in Matteson that's really nice. Bath and Body Works is in Lincoln Mall in Matteson as well. I shop there regularly as well, nice shop with very knowledgeable staff.

[lafew1]

I have lived in both Chicago and the north Suburbs. I graduated from a north shore high school. I moved to Chicago in 1986 and I never looked back except to visit my parents or visited. The reason; opportunity.

Behind the silk veil of the suburbs sometimes seems like a set of economic one upsmanship in some neighborhoods or social circles. If you have yet to be grilled by an awkward inquiry on finances, in the suburbs, I have. If living among the unsophisticated snobbery is avoidable, then there is the long commute, real estate taxes, and overvalued mortgage payment. A sparsely populated area often has less to offer, as well. Of course, this includes less spice so to speak. You learn to live in Chicago.

The key is living, working and finding a neighborhood in the City or suburbs that you enjoy. Chicago is a City that Works for us; we live in what seems like a soothing Rogers Park neighborhood. For us, diversity and proximity are priorities. When I 'objectively looked' at location, crime rates, the school systems, and value, I saw no reason to move out of Chicago.

In the nineties, we looked at three homes; one on Seward in Evanston, one east of the tracks in Wilmette, and another near Touhy, also off Ridge. The Chicago home seemed like a mansion compared to the Evanston and Wilmette homes. The Evanston home was less than a mile away from the RP Home. The Chicago neighborhood was actually better!

We found better options in the Chicago Public Schools. Strange? Not really! Look at the diversity and the manner in which classes are available for the "gifted" or "higher scoring" students. Whether in grammar school or at the selective enrollment level. Chicago parents seemed more committed at the schools that our kids attend.

Selective enrollment seems tightly regulated and a close read of the newspaper indicates the actual situation. Most of the Selective Enrollment High Schools score better and have facilities for those students who are willing to study. Another challenge is that some parents are more committed to their children's education than others.

Rogers Park is closer to the down town office. Neighbors are of different complexions, not lily white or wearing Izods, but that's the point! Is there an occasional litter bug or vulgar teen or young adult. Yes. Does it affect the overall tempo? No. The RP neighborhood that has worked for us is between Rogers Park and West Ridge, but there are many others at affordable mortgages.

We have resided in RP since 1998. We are five blocks from Evanston, but one purple line stop from Belmont and a few from Wilmette or Skokie. I have a hassle free 38 to 55 minute commute on the Red or Purple Line. The stops are less than a block from my office. If I don't want to jump on the bus that picks up 100 feet from my garage, I can park the car for $4 at the New Howard Terminal.

If I want to have dinner with the family upon arrival at the Howard Terminal, then they meet me at the Hop Haus on Clark and Howard for a burger. Perhaps, we drive to Joy Yee for Asian in Evanston. We are a dog walk away from Charmers and Degal and Beli on Jarvis for a morning coffee and breakfast. We can drop off the dog at Rogers Bark for grooming while eating breakfast on the sidewalk cafe.

Anyone who appreciates population density knows that Rogers Park likely has a lower crime rate per person than neighboring Evanston. The housing stock is affordable and distinguished. With Garden Club, Golf Course, Historical Society, Little Leagues, AYSO, Parents Groups, Zoo, Tennis Courts, and other options, Rogers Park is a hidden gem. If you believe the bloggers, then consider this, they focus upon areas and limited incidents that appear targeted.

The City is not for everyone. It is true that there may be some challenges to living in the City, but I think that the opportunity overcomes it all. The combination of employers, shopping, restaurants, beaches, bike trails, farmers markets, museums, MLB baseball, theater and other fringe benefits simply overwhelms the stodgy suburbs.

Some wish that Chicago might consider promoting and charging the suburbanites out of city resident fees for use of our beaches, pools and other park attractions. I mean Skokie does it with its nearby waterpark. I guess that Mayor Daley is more welcoming and tolerant of suburbanites who visit Chicago.

People who look down on the CPS need to look at Schools like Decatur Classical, Stone Academic, Wildwood, Disney Magnet, even Armstrong. The average parent can read between the lines. We pulled our kids out of private school once we woke up from our ignorance and have not looked back.

If you want a sparsely populated, homogeneous population, and less cosmopolitan existence, then choose the suburbs. My parents did. We didn't. It seems that, for some, the grass is always greener somewhere else. Our grass is green enough and our garden has enough butterflies for one lifetime. We also don't have the outrageous mortgage payments and real estate taxes.