Chgo/Milw: is it something? (Chicago: condos, safe neighborhoods, good schools)

[blacknwhiterose]

Originally Posted by pvande55

Many in the northern suburbs use MKE. Probably some in the City of Chicago as well. I think parking for several days is cheaper. I hear there is a flight to LA that starts there, stops at ORD, but the fare from ORD is hundreds more.
And, of course, many go for Summerfest.

Parking is cheaper at MKE, but flights are often more expensive, at least for the places I want to go!

[BOBNCHI]

From Mchenry Co. I fly out of MKE when the price is right, which occurs more often now with SWA. Quick and easy! In the early 80's there was a push for development along 94 to make a mega plex but for a number of reasons it never took off. 2008 -09 really killed it!

[svicious22]

Not a thing, not at all.

[MN_Ski]

Historically, Chicago was a suburb of Milwaukee. The reason why Chicago ended up growing to it's size was because of the railroad.

Between the two, they are very different cities. A lot of my friends like to bring up how Chicago has better restaurants and bars, but in reality, there are just more of them to choose from...and they are more expensive.

[Ace Rothstein]

Originally Posted by MN_Ski

A lot of my friends like to bring up how Chicago has better restaurants and bars, but in reality, there are just more of them to choose from...and they are more expensive.

There are better restaurants in Chicago than there are in Milwaukee and it isn't even close.

[MassVt]

Milwaukee restaurants specialize in large portions. I remember barely being able to waddle out of Maders..

[MN_Ski]

Originally Posted by MassVt

Milwaukee restaurants specialize in large portions. I remember barely being able to waddle out of Maders..

The majority of new places that have opened up in the last 2 years are small plate...which for me, I cannot stand. Milwaukee has been getting a lot Chefs from Chicago who broke off to do their own thing because it's cheaper to open a place there. I have also noticed that there are a lot of people from Illinois who come up to Milwaukee on the weekends for the food and bars...something I have never really noticed in the past. Even if it will never compare, there is a pretty significant influence from Chicago, and it's really transforming the food scene.

Just based on numbers, Milwaukee will never be able to compete, but as people keep fleeing Chicago in droves, and Milwaukee continues to grow, get ready for a great resurgence of the food/drink scene over the next few years. It's currently a better enviroment for emerging culinary artists because of the significantly lower cost.

[blacknwhiterose]

Originally Posted by Ace Rothstein

There are better restaurants in Chicago than there are in Milwaukee and it isn't even close.

Chicago has more restaurants by virtue of it's size, particularly ones of ethnic cuisine, but Milwaukee is no slouch, particularly on the East Side and downtown, it has some of the coolest places I've been to in the country.

[MN_Ski]

Originally Posted by blacknwhiterose

Chicago has more restaurants by virtue of it's size, particularly ones of ethnic cuisine, but Milwaukee is no slouch, particularly on the East Side and downtown, it has some of the coolest places I've been to in the country.

It's all subjective really.

The problem I have with Chicago is that it is so large, you generally stick to the places in your neighborhood. So even though the city might have XXX,XXX places, only a certain amount are accessible/desirable. In Milwaukee, every restaurant is accessible so you end up having more desirable places to choose from.

[blacknwhiterose]

Originally Posted by MN_Ski

It's all subjective really.

The problem I have with Chicago is that it is so large, you generally stick to the places in your neighborhood. So even though the city might have XXX,XXX places, only a certain amount are accessible/desirable. In Milwaukee, every restaurant is accessible so you end up having more desirable places to choose from.

Indeed scale is a subtle advantage that a smaller metro has. After having lived in/experienced Los Angeles, Chicago proper isn't really all that big to me, yet many residents make a big deal out of going more than 10 min out of their neighborhood and the suburbs may as well be a foreign country. I like the restaurants/bars on the west side of Chicago proper, and suburbs like Highwood and Evanston. Most of Milwaukee's attractive places are concentrated on the trendy east side, and a few other spots sprinkled throughout the city. Milwaukee suburbs are getting denser, but are still pretty lacking in original restaurants. Many Chicago suburbs have more options.