Recommend a liberal city less expensive than Chicago? (Rockford, Peoria: university, places to live)

[markbrunskill]

Originally Posted by mattywo85

If your looking to stay within the Chicago area I'd recommend:
Schaumburg, Skokie, Addison, Naperville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Joliet, Aurora. Theres more but I don't want to list them all.

Stay Away from:
Cicero, Chicago Heights and that area

Central Illinois:
Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Champaign-Urbana

I would advise aganist Southern Illinois(Edwardsville/Carbondale) because they have a Southern feel and are run down college towns.

Edwardsville feels southern?

Im not saying it doesn't, but it seems surprising since so much Saint Louis feels German Catholic

[ihynes]

I'm from Madison, Wisconsin, which is an idyllic bubble for us liberals. But they say you can never go home again . . .

[SJaye]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

In these places are many entitlement programs to pay for through high taxes and high property costs to make libs feel like they are solving problems; but in reality they are making things worse.

High levels of corruption and loads of friends and family on the city payroll that do little to no work have to be paid for also.

I would second this, as well as the recommendation that Madison seems like the right place for the OP. It pretty much matches everything he said, including trees and green space, except for being in Illinois.

[AJohnston_STL]

St. Louis is a cheap city to live in (by comparison), and has plenty of artsy/liberal areas; the Central West End neighborhood probably being the best of the selection.

[ncc]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

In these places are many entitlement programs to pay for through high taxes and high property costs to make libs feel like they are solving problems; but in reality they are making things worse.

High levels of corruption and loads of friends and family on the city payroll that do little to no work have to be paid for also.

you are DEAD ON!! when these people campaign for positions in the city, all they do is promise jobs (city or state, what else!) for help, physical or financial. All this does is make the city government bloated and hungry!! very hungry. Just look at the all these B.S special taxes on everything, let alone one of the highest if not the highest sales taxes in the country.. It's pathetic! Oh, with one of the strictest gun laws, you would think that there wouldn't be alot of murders right??? Hah, try the opposite!

[linicx]

Here is a list of a few of the offerings in Peoria, IL starting with vegan restaurants
http://www.vegillinois.com/search_re...&Region=Peoria

Not knowing how you feel about Oriental foods. Here is a list of restaurants. I like Sushi Popo
Find Something To Do - Peoria, Illinois Oriental Restaurants, Local Oriental Cuisine

Natural Foods recently expanded into a larger building; now offer bulk and frozen, too
Naturally Yours Grocery - News & Features

Herbalists
A lot about Peoria but not much else
Peoria IL - Illinois Healing Arts Directory: Alternative & Holistic Medicine - ByRegion Network

Healing Arts
MIRASPA Therapeutic - Welcome to MIRASPA Therapeutic Center of Healing Arts
Holistic Health Center 4809 N Sheridan Rd., Peoria, IL 61614 309-685-5777
LightWorker Studios
and more

Scroll to the mid list. You'll find 10 practicioners in Peoria and 2 in Pekin
Body Mind Spirit DIRECTORY - Illinois - Holistic Health, Yoga, Massage, Acupuncture, Day Spa

Metaphysical
index

Fresh Fish 100 years in Peoria and growing..
Dixon Fisheries, Inc.

This is by no means a complete list. It is a sample of what Peoria can offer.

[edsg25]

I'm not being original here. Many have already said it. Especially if you don't want to let state lines confine you.

So, to me, the obvious: the gem that is MADISON

Liberal and progressive and beautiful, it's a city that uses the power of the state capital and UW to make it a power house despite a relatively small population.

Madison "cheats" to give itself the feel of a much bigger city. It squeezes the heart of the city (capitol and university included) on to a scenic and narrow isthmus between two wide lakes, thus giving an urban presence and feel that never could have been achieved if the city could sprawl.

You know how Austin used its capital and flagship state university to become a large and delightful city? If Madison had a better climate, it might easily be twice the size of Austin today. And that caveat is actually a blessing in disguise: Madison is more like Goldilock's baby bear: just right.

[linicx]

People who do not live in Peoria know little about it. It is an old town that was formed before statehood. Many years ago, when it was young, it was highly industrialized. It has not been that way for 30 years. Peoria reinvented, as it always does. Today it is a medical, technological, and financial hub. The small park district is now largest outsize of Chicago thanks to land that was donated for park use only. A new seven acre habitat called Africa! just opened and plans are underway to renovate the main entrance to the zoo and park. I think despite the economic down turn the four private country clubs speak for the stability of the economy. We have a medical school, four times more physicians than the US average, three hospitals of which one is affiliated with IL Childrens Hospital and St. Jude, and a very good cancer center, two malls, a dozen shopping centers and few other things. Project commitments totaling about $130M are in the works. I think Peoria residents get a pretty good bang for the buck when compared to other cities of its size. It also has a low incidence of tornadic activity when compared to Springfield or Bloomington.

I should add that Peoria looks a lot like Wisconsin or Michigan with its rolling hills and heavily forested bluffs and great old trees in every area of the city including the parks and county.

Springfield is a political town. Bloomington is a conservative Insurance/real estate town. Peoria is a river town and the oldest settlement on the Illinois. it has culture, history, and a very diverse religious community much like Chicago. The weather is also more moderate than Chicago or Minneapolis.

[machstr]

Come to Green Bay Wisconsin.. nothing is better. Great people, things to do summer and winter, Green Bay Packers football and tailgating, bratwurst, cheese and beer. What more could anyone want?

[linicx]

Door County is beautiful, too, but it is still cold in May.