Thinking of Chicago (apartments, home, employment)

[Nameless]

I'm only a freshman in college right now but if I have my way when I graduate from college I'd like to move to either the Twin cities or Chicago. I like cities in cold climates and Oklahoma just isn't cold enough for me

I have family that live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin so I've been to the cities a few times. Visited Chicago this summer and absolutely loved it, except for getting stuck in the St. Louis airport for two hours on the way there.

I guess what I'm asking is for anyone that has lived in both cities, which do you prefer? What's better about Chicago than Minneapolis? How feasible is it to live downtown or is it so expensive that most opt for the suburbs? You do have great mass transit which makes it nice to get downtown. Which suburbs do people seem to favor around the area?

I've lived in a suburb my whole life and enjoyed being downtown in Chicago and am thinking about living in a downtown area, but it was a novelty so I'm not for certain I'd like it all the time. The suburbs seem to be the easy way out.

Side note: Anyone have anything good to say about Milwaukee? Never been there but I kind of figure it's the little step child of Chicago. Is that the feeling around there?

[Avengerfire]

If you like cold the Twin cities are colder.

[Drover]

Even for cold weather aficionados the Twin Cities can be a bit much, with winter lasting a solid 4 weeks longer up there than in Chicago, and winters aren't exactly short here to begin with.

If you can endure an extra month of freezing temperatures, then for me it comes down to a question of which is more important to you: easy access to nature and outdoor recreation, or living in a truly world-class city. Now, you won't lack for a whole lot in the Twin Cities and and they have a lot to offer, but they just don't have the same international cosmopolitan intrigue that Chicago does. On the other hand, you simply can't beat the nearly instant access to great outdoor recreational activities as you'd have in the Twin Cities, situated as they are right at the back doorstep of the Northwoods.

There's also the cost of living factor, but it's not as disparate as you might think. Yeah, Chicago is more expensive, but unless you're looking out in the suburbs, you'd be surprised at how comparable rents are for starter apartments in decent neighborhoods in each city.

I love Chicago, but if I had a plumb job offer in the Twin Cities waiting for me when I graduate, I'd be quite tempted.

[chet everett]

I agree with Drover. I'd even go further and give an edge in Twin Cities in a few areas. The young, active people seem to get more ammenities from the state of MN/ Cities of Minnaopolis & St. Paul then anything in Chicago. There the Universities are a bit more important than in Chicago and even the bigger employers have nicer set-ups : Target, Best Buy, Pillsbury, Cargill all treat employees pretty darn well, and the State helps out too.

Not saying Chicago has nothing going for it, but given the bad economy I'd give a lot of weight to the COOPERATION that is a big part of MN vs the CORRUPTION that rules IL...

[Nameless]

I think what it's going to come down to for me is which ever city I can get a better paying job in. Since I like both of them I don't really think I could go wrong in either.

You all remember those storms in the early to mid part of August that came through the city and issued tornado warnings for the downtown area and they "evacuated" Wrigley Field, yeah...I was at that game. Made me feel right at home with the tornadoes, except the bulk of ours come in May, in August it's just hot.

[Drover]

Yeah, I can't believe they didn't call that game until a lightning bolt practically hit third base. That was silly.

[Lookout Kid]

I've never been a fan of the Twin Cities. The downtown area is quite dead, and seems like it should have more people on the sidewalks. Everything seems scrubbed clean and sterile. And the public transportation sucks there. It's just not a very urban city, and the weather is just enough worse than Chicago's to really **** me off.

The employment opportunities and cultural offerings of the Twin Cities are quite good, however. And the city does have sort of a cool vibe to it that is missing from other midwestern cities outside of Chicago. Minneapolis really wants to be a Portland or Seattle, but doesn't realize that it has a long way to go to match those cities.

[Nameless]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Minneapolis really wants to be a Portland or Seattle, but doesn't realize that it has a long way to go to match those cities.

I'm curious what exactly makes Portland so great. It's barely bigger than the city I live in but it seems to be "the place to be" these days.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Nameless

I'm curious what exactly makes Portland so great. It's barely bigger than the city I live in but it seems to be "the place to be" these days.

Great landscape, great beer, lots of Subarus, and stinky hippies.

[Avengerfire]

I love stinky female hippies.