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Ive read through and through that there is a ton of stuff to do in Chicago. I'm from Michigan, so I want to know what is different in Chicago from Detroit? I know the job market, and it is safer, those are obvious. But as far as going out and finding activities & using your leisure time, what can you do in Chicago that won't be found in Detroit?
Well, people live in Chicago. This allows for activities & leisure to be had within city limits. I'd say that's probably the biggest difference, besides the lack of abandoned buildings with trees sprouting on top of them.
Well, since there is virtually nothing to do in Detroit, my answer would be everything.
Seriously though, no one could list all the things one can do in Chicago, (and in relative safety). You might want to read the "Girls from Michigan" thread.
I, myself, am a bit of a skyscraper junky. In fact, I evaluate ratios like "skyscrapers per capita" and "tallest skyline" and "most 1000+ footers under construction" and "best bang for the buck" and "pro-business, pro-development" with a lot of weight. Granted, I am single, so I don't really concern myself with the obsession for 'burbs living and crime stats. To me, Chicago is the #1 city in the world and it's been a long time in the making, but I finally move there next week. In all seriousness, Chicago collects skyscrapers like Seattle collects Starbucks or Boston collects museums or Houston/LA collect freeways, so it would only make sense to be around a community where I would fit right in. If you like skyscrapers, you are in the right place...
- You can bar-hop across the city without having to have a designated driver because we have plenty of taxicabs & mass transit.
- Biking on a world-class lakefront bikepath with stunning views of the city can be an everyday thing here.
- Dedicated bike lanes on city streets
- We have more museums then Detroit and there are more oppurtunities for cultural enrichment here
- More variety of professional sports (multiple baseball teams, soccer, lacrosse, ect.)
Thats what i come up with off the top of my head. Detroit is not as bad as they say, there are plenty of things to do there as well, its just not as much as here and it is more spread out.
- You can bar-hop across the city without having to have a designated driver because we have plenty of taxicabs & mass transit.
- Biking on a world-class lakefront bikepath with stunning views of the city can be an everyday thing here.
- Dedicated bike lanes on city streets
- We have more museums then Detroit and there are more oppurtunities for cultural enrichment here
- More variety of professional sports (multiple baseball teams, soccer, lacrosse, ect.)
Thats what i come up with off the top of my head. Detroit is not as bad as they say, there are plenty of things to do there as well, its just not as much as here and it is more spread out.
Good post!
But by "more spread out" do you mean "not really in the city of Detroit"
Chicago hasn't suffered NEARLY as much economic devastation as Detroit. Don't get me wrong, we do have a large ghetto and many people slip through the cracks, but Chicago (the city) has large liveable swaths with relatively low crime--and Detroit does not. Also, there are many white, Latino, and Asian people living in the city of Chicago--not just the suburbs. Detroit is over 90% black these days!
Chicago's head-on competitor is LA...and both are outranked by NYC and SiliconValley in wealth creation and IQ concentration....
Detroit, even in its heyday, never had an admirable economy....even 3-4 decades ago, they were engineering/building cars that many savvy consumers knew were inferior products w/dubious safety&reliability....
Michigan's only relevance is Univ-Mich Ann Arbor, a decent institution that competes w/U-Chic and UCLA in terms of alumni career achievement...many UM alums migrate to Chic post-graduation....
Chicago's head-on competitor is LA...and both are outranked by NYC and SiliconValley in wealth creation and IQ concentration....
Detroit, even in its heyday, never had an admirable economy....even 3-4 decades ago, they were engineering/building cars that many savvy consumers knew were inferior products w/dubious safety&reliability....
Michigan's only relevance is Univ-Mich Ann Arbor, a decent institution that competes w/U-Chic and UCLA in terms of alumni career achievement...many UM alums migrate to Chic post-graduation....
- You can bar-hop across the city without having to have a designated driver because we have plenty of taxicabs & mass transit.
- Biking on a world-class lakefront bikepath with stunning views of the city can be an everyday thing here.
- Dedicated bike lanes on city streets
- We have more museums then Detroit and there are more oppurtunities for cultural enrichment here
- More variety of professional sports (multiple baseball teams, soccer, lacrosse, ect.)
Thats what i come up with off the top of my head. Detroit is not as bad as they say, there are plenty of things to do there as well, its just not as much as here and it is more spread out.
I lived in Metro Detroit for 22 of my 25 years (except when I went to college), and I can say that this quote is EXACTLY true.
The cost of living is higher here, though, so if the OP has a family (with kids) and a stable job they might want to consider staying in Detroit...the suburbs here are way more expensive as a whole...think of it is Oakland County everywhere you go (I'm from Wayne County, originally).
As a single 25 Year Old, I couldn't fathom having "Royal Oak and Ferndale" as my only nightlife/dining/hip, cool places to be. I have lived in Chicago now almost 6 months, and I am still discovering new restaurants, bars, parks, etc.
Also, not having a car is a HUGE plus! I know zero people who live in Michigan who rely solely on public transportation. While taking the CTA is not always the fastest, you cannot compare the cost of a $75 unlimited bus/train pass to the cost of owning, insuring, maintaining, and fueling a car.
So yes, even with our 10.25% sales tax, I will take Chicago over Detroit or Metro Detroit anyday!
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I couldn't agree more
