Chicago attitude (Lincoln, Washington, Oregon: quality of life, restaurant, legal)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

As much as Ramo Nashes comments sound ignorant.

This kind of statement is other extreme. People saying Chicago is probably New Yorks equal. Come on. Chicago is more comparable to Boston, D.C., San Fran, etc. its just the enormous building and centralization of its downtown that make people think its on the same level as New York.

I agree with you completely. New York is in it's own league.

Though one could argue that both cities have advantages and disadvantages over the other.

[cohdane]

Originally Posted by lhboston

I'd like to get a sense of the Chicago culture - meaning the collective attitude/vibe that is fundamental to the place and people.

I've lived in Seattle for 13 years, and I'm fed up with the people/culture. IMO the culture is painfully politically correct, polite but not warm or friendly, and difficult to break into, clique-ish, provincial etc.

After reading through several pages of arguing, I'm going to quote the OP and for the most part ignore the previous discussion. Just my straight take.

I grew up in Chicago. Lived in Connecticut. Lived in Atlanta. Lived in Boston. Moved back to Chicago (suburbs). Have an Ivy League degree. That's context (hope it helps).

Chicago is a BIG FLAT CITY much like LA in geography. Why is that important? Because just like LA and New York, there is no "one" Chicago. Lots and lots and lots of neighborhoods and most are unique since (please forgive) the city practices equal opportunity discrimination. Many of the various ethnic/demographic groups prefer to keep to their own, so there are little hidden and not-so-hidden pockets everywhere. All rich, authentic and culturally specific.

This makes for terrific exploring.

Some neighborhoods include Polish, Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Italian, Greek, Irish, Mexican, African American-- it's been a while and I'm in the suburbs now, but the list goes on. There are also Yuppie neighborhoods, artist neighborhoods, gay neighborhoods and yes--shhhhhh--even a few integrated neighborhoods.

In all of these neighborhoods the commonality I think is strong working class roots, even if the surface is no longer working class. Also, people tend to be straightforward and yes, friendly (assuming you speak the same language).

Chicagoans use turn signals and traffic rules more than Bostonians. But are more impatient in line than you'd find folks in Atlanta.

Excluding recent immigrants for cultural differences, I'd say the lifelong Chicagoans are friendly because-- well, why wouldn't you be? Until someone proves they're an *******, give them the benefit of the doubt, the time of day and a beer if you have enough money to buy a round.

Having lived out East, I know not everyone shares this philosophy. Chicagoans start warm and leave room to go cold. Easterners tend to start cold and leave room to go warm. Southerners start warm and stay warm until they shoot you. (A friend from Tennessee basically told me this. It's about being polite. I found it very disorienting.)

One thing I will say I've observed about lifelong Chicagoans, now that I've been around a bit. Many think they're cosmopolitan because they live in a big city. But their soul is that of an urbanite surrounded by cornfields. Examples....openly staring at people who have spiked hair, still lacking a familiarity and comfort level with GLBT who are out, and yes, sometimes not understanding that you dress up because it's a matter of how you present yourself in settings outside your own neighborhood.

Disclaimer on last paragraph: That's the lifelong, working class roots, friendly, sausage eating, flat footed broad shouldered Chicagoan. There are SO MANY MORE PEOPLE IN CHICAGO THAN THAT. Sophisticates, immigrants, homeless, anarchists, artists, investment bankers. You name it, you'll find them here. (And by the way, I happen to like the flat footed sausage eaters.)

Keep in mind, Chicago also has a rich art/music/theater scene. Not up to New York, but better than Boston. First Fridays are when all the galleries have their openings downtown. Jazz and blues have a reknowned home here, not to mention the CSO. In addition to big theaters, there are lots of little "living room" sized theaters with independent productions tucked in various neighborhoods around the city. (If any of this no longer applies or has expanded, someone please correct.)

Last word to the wise before you move here. It will take you YEARS to explore the city and all its neighborhoods. If you have an open mind and palate, you'll have nearly limitless fun. And outside the city there are a few destinations, too. A few. But look at a map. Once you exhaust the considerable thrills Chicago offers, you have no where to go on the weekends. You're surrounded by corn. And Milwaukee. And Indianapolis. There are no mountains. No canyons. No quaint New England towns. No national parks. So.....just something to think about if you're planning on staying 10+ years. Lots to do, but when you run out of Chicago, you've run out.

Hope this helps.

Honeymooned in Seattle.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by cohdane

...Examples....openly staring at people who have spiked hair, still lacking a familiarity and comfort level with GLBT who are out, and yes, sometimes not understanding that you dress up because it's a matter of how you present yourself in settings outside your own neighborhood...

This is not true anymore in many parts of they city. There are parts that are still like that, but I would not live in those areas.

Originally Posted by cohdane

...Once you exhaust the considerable thrills Chicago offers, you have no where to go on the weekends. You're surrounded by corn. And Milwaukee. And Indianapolis. There are no mountains. No canyons. No quaint New England towns. No national parks. So.....just something to think about if you're planning on staying 10+ years. Lots to do, but when you run out of Chicago, you've run out...

There are plenty of places to go on the weekends that are within driving distance that offer something new,fun,relaxing,etc...There just will not be any mountains,canyons,or quaint New England towns. But so what? Even areas in the Northeast do not have all three.

Btw: there is a national park basically right next to Chicago called Indiana Dunes.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

There are plenty of places to go on the weekends that are within driving distance that offer something new,fun,relaxing,etc...There just will not be any mountains,canyons,or quaint New England towns. But so what? Even areas in the Northeast do not have all three.

Galena's only three hours from Chicago and quite doable on weekends. It's not New England, but it is a quaint Civil War-era town loaded with stunning mid-19th-century architecture. No mountains as such, but it is quite hilly.

[Drover]

Believe it or not, there are plenty of places to go for weekend recreational getaways, as the Michigan and Wisconsin locals who make a hobby of grumbling about Chicago tourists will tell gladly you. Just go ask berries over on the Wisconsin forum, he'll tell you how much he loves us.

[cohdane]

I did say there are a "few" destinations, sorry if some took it to mean there was nothing.

Add to the list: Starved Rock. Madison. Dells. Door County. Traverse City. Mackinac Island. Northwoods.

My point was, and is, that eventually you run out. There are more corn fields than there are tourist towns. Living out East, there seemed to be no end to "new" things to do. And if you wanted to invest 6 hours (like it takes to get to northern MI or WI), you'd find yourself instead in a whole other major metropolis-- New York, Philly, DC-- not to mention all the seaside towns and historic sites in between.

On top of that, if you want to pop for a plane ticket, it's not a major flight to get someplace great.

Please don't get me wrong. I love Chicago. I moved back here. I like the "weekend getaways" well enough, but it seems like other areas of the country may have more to offer in that department.

PS-- Thanks for the National Park tip on the dunes. Didn't realize they were a National Park. My calves could've told me, if I'd asked them I bet!

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Galena's only three hours from Chicago and quite doable on weekends. It's not New England, but it is a quaint Civil War-era town loaded with stunning mid-19th-century architecture. No mountains as such, but it is quite hilly.

Yes. I have been there many times.

[cohdane]

So have I, it's gorgeous. If you want some TRULY unusual fun out there, check out the Raven's Grin Inn in Mount Carroll. A year-round-haunted house that is ANYTHING but Disney. Half haunted house/half performance art/half low-tech special effects farm for a 150% dose of unique that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Warning: Not for people who like "tidy" or "predictable."

[Lookout Kid]

I always feel like the big tourist spots in the Northeast, whether it's the Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard, Tuxedo, the Jersey Shore, the Adirondacks, or some Bed-n-Breakfast in New England--are kind of crowded and well-worn. It's kind of hard to really get away from the crowds. But the urban density in the Northeast is really great for a person like me who loves cities. Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and D.C. are some of my absolute favorite places in the U.S.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by cohdane

PS-- Thanks for the National Park tip on the dunes. Didn't realize they were a National Park. My calves could've told me, if I'd asked them I bet!

Well, its not technically a national park. Its a "national lakeshore", which are maintained and protected by the US National Park Service. The other three are Sleeping Bear Dunes, Apostle Islands, and Pictured Rocks.