Advice on Chicago (live, prices, train)

[katmoney]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I think Denver is probably not the greatest town for an urban enthusiast, though the landscape surrounding the city is beautiful and the weather is probably better than Chicago's. The downtown is dead on the weekends except for one strip--and that strip seems to be really suburban-mall in character in terms of the mix of businesses. There is a small "hip warehouse district", but once again, it's just too small to create any critical mass of things to do. However, Denver does have affordable single-family homes, so it could be a good city for families. I'm not sure what the schools are like, though.

Just moved to Denver a month ago after being in Chicago my whole life (Burbs, and then Logan Square) you can't even begin to compare the two cities, as they are quite different. Denver is definitely smaller but you still get that "urban" feel and it's not nearly as congested. I love that I can get out to the mountains in under an hour!

I miss Chicago and its food. A lot.

[prairiestate]

SUV's are more than welcome in Chicago. I just love almost having the side of my car ripped off by a giant SUV on the crowded roads in the city. The reason for the animosity towards pickup trucks, as I understand it, has to do with contractors driving overloaded and uncovered pickups, dropping nails and other debris, creating hazzards on the roads. Lake Shore Drive and the boulevards are generally the highest speed limit roads in the city, excluding the interstate highways of course. So, debris in the roads is a particular hazzard there. Also, some neighborhoods find it to be troublesome as well.

[aragx6]

I always see plenty of people with SUVs in the city, but I would probably suggest a smaller one like a Toyota Rav4 or similar as opposed to a Suburban or something. You'll have to parallel park in the city - and that would be very hard with something really large.

[nct4life]

She moved there because her husband got a job offer there and is into boating and fishing so I guess he convinced her. She misses Chicago tremendously. She doesn't dislike Tampa, but she misses the little things the city has to offer. I think someone else mentioned missing the food here, and that's her biggest complaint!

Originally Posted by husky95

I had forgotten to mention that you wrote your sister moved here I kinda wonder why? I feel that way too. I miss not living in a city. What attracted me to Chicago was that not only is it a little cheaper but it is a bit less dense than NYC. And its location is nice. I can drive to NY and out to my nature areas, Montana and Colorado. I will drive to places more these days than get on a plane. I don’t have the temperament for the crazy security measures theses days. I know its for a good cause, to keep us safe, but it does become as hassle. That's why the pickup came in so handy.

[husky95]

Now that's a bad driver if they hit other cars. Thankfully they are more welcome, I hope to not using it within the city. I would like to use the trains for work and such. I would save on gas the way the prices are today. How high have they gotten there?
I would mostly be driving around when leaving town. I would like to travel and explore around IL, which is when I'd mostlikely use my automobile. That's one of the reasons I'm looking to head back to the city. You don't need a car to get around. You can walk or use the train. traffic, even here in Florida is quite ridiculous. I read something about it yesterday americans spend about
3.7 billion hours stuck in traffic. that's just awful.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by husky95

Now that's a bad driver if they hit other cars. Thankfully they are more welcome, I hope to not using it within the city. I would like to use the trains for work and such. I would save on gas the way the prices are today. How high have they gotten there?
I would mostly be driving around when leaving town. I would like to travel and explore around IL, which is when I'd mostlikely use my automobile. That's one of the reasons I'm looking to head back to the city. You don't need a car to get around. You can walk or use the train. traffic, even here in Florida is quite ridiculous. I read something about it yesterday americans spend about
3.7 billion hours stuck in traffic. that's just awful.

Well Chicago has the highest gas prices in the nation, and the second worst congestion. So the less you can drive, the better for your sanity.

[JerryKeys]

Chicago is a very pet friendly place. In Bucktown and other parts of the city shopkeepers often leave bowls of water in front of their stores for dogs to have a quick drink. Your dog will be welcomed with open arms unlike your pickup.

The weather isn't that bad and Chicago really is a city that works so even with a really heavy snow we are not out of commision for too long.

The lake front is beautiful and downtown is cleaner than any U.S. big city I've traveled to.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by JerryKeys

The weather isn't that bad and Chicago really is a city that works so even with a really heavy snow we are not out of commision for too long.

And if you don't have to drive snow won't really affect you at all.

[aragx6]

I know this isn't the suburban forum, but does anyone know offhand if the metra gets bad in the snow?

[prairiestate]

Almost never. Trains are generally powerful enough to push through snow. An exception might be during a blizzard, but it's been decades. Ice and freezing temperatures are a bigger problem. They can cause switches to stick. Excessive heat can do the same thing, as well as warp the rails. Still, these occurances are pretty infrequent, really not worth worrying about.