Possibly moving from Chicago to Kansas City (St. Louis, Liberty: employment, living in)

[The Grim Reaper]

Originally Posted by TinaMcG

Winters are milder in KC than Chicago, but believe me, we had some pretty serious monsoons in Chicago as well. Springtime was always wet. The wettest spring in my life was last year in KC, but I so work with K-State Extension, and almost everyone there agrees that last spring in KC was way wetter than usual.

As for comparing suburbs -- Overland park = Naperville. Olathe...maybe Palatine. Leawood is a lot like Inverness or older and richer areas of Park Ridge. I haven't figured out which KC suburb reminds me of Schaumburg. Hopefully, I won't.

OP.. is exactly like Naperville.. even the Crate and Barrel is in OP. I grew up here and moved to Orlando to go to college and when it was over I could not wait to move back here. This city really has just about everything that any person could want (minus the Dunkin Donuts). Oh and we do have the best baseball stadium in the world.

[TinaMcG]

I've never noticed there being no Dunkin' Donuts around here! No real loss for me though. I don't need donuts, plus -- we have more Krispy Kreme shops here than they do in the Chicago area. And I think DD coffee is HIGHLY overrated. I can't drink it.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by TinaMcG

I've never noticed there being no Dunkin' Donuts around here! No real loss for me though. I don't need donuts, plus -- we have more Krispy Kreme shops here than they do in the Chicago area. And I think DD coffee is HIGHLY overrated. I can't drink it.

There's a Dunkin Doughnuts in Lawrence; that's the only one I know of. Last time I was there I *almost* drove through to get a cup of coffee to see if it's really that good, and I didn't, and I have kicked myself about 10 times since then for not doing that. So next time I'm there I am going to definitely get a cup of coffee and see for myself if it's any good! We have Lamar's doughnuts - way better than Krispy Kreme! Although Lamar's was better before they expanded to all the locations they have now. When the only location they had was down on Linwood in midtown, I worked at Saint Luke's and I or someone else would sometimes go by there on the way to work and pick up doughnuts for everyone. They were still warm. Yum! I do love Krispy Kreme's blueberry glazed doughnuts though.

But yeah, these days I stay away from the doughnuts!

[skrazzle]

Originally Posted by TinaMcG

I've never noticed there being no Dunkin' Donuts around here! No real loss for me though. I don't need donuts, plus -- we have more Krispy Kreme shops here than they do in the Chicago area. And I think DD coffee is HIGHLY overrated. I can't drink it.

KC will get its first Dunkin' Donuts - Kansas City Business Journal:

[Chicago-Eman]

Well, the offer is "kind" of on the table, but I think they can sense a little of my reservations in terms of relocating. I appreciate the continued comments and it has made it a little easier to even think about the move. If I wasn't close to friends and family, this would be a much easier decision.

As I do make the decision, the next questions (will not be about Dunkin Donuts--j/k) will be about where to live in the city (plaza, midtown, hyde park, etc.), fitness centers and proximity to the airport as the job will require travel (mostly driving but some flying).

[skrazzle]

Originally Posted by Chicago-Eman

Well, the offer is "kind" of on the table, but I think they can sense a little of my reservations in terms of relocating. I appreciate the continued comments and it has made it a little easier to even think about the move. If I wasn't close to friends and family, this would be a much easier decision.

As I do make the decision, the next questions (will not be about Dunkin Donuts--j/k) will be about where to live in the city (plaza, midtown, hyde park, etc.), fitness centers and proximity to the airport as the job will require travel (mostly driving but some flying).

Everything you want is in those neighborhoods you listed. Gold's Gym is in Westport (midtown).. there are smaller local ones in the area too but I don't know the names of them.

The airport is about 15 min drive from downtown... at least the way I drive LOL.

[aragx6]

^^ Yeah, the airport is 20 miles from downtown, a couple more from the city neighborhoods you'll probably look at, so plan on more like 25-30 minutes to the airport.

I live in Chicago now (Wicker Park) and believe me, you'll definitely be giving up a lot of the urban feel. Even Kansas City's most vibrant, walkable neighborhoods won't have a Lincoln Park feel, but I do think you can at least in some respects capture the essence of some smaller Chicago neighborhoods. I think Westport is rather Wicker Park-esque in many respects.

[Chicago-Eman]

I love the Wicker Park/Bucktown area--although further from the Lake. If I didn't live in LP, that would be my second choice.

I will have to keep Westport on the ever expanding list.

[TabulaRasa]

Nothing is close to the airport, but since you aren't especially close to either airport in Chicago, either, I doubt you'll find it a hassle (especially since there's little traffic to jam you up getting there, in comparison to Chicago).

Visited my sister this past week in Chicago, and hung out in various "Park" neighborhoods, from Lincoln to Rogers (one of my old 'hoods) to Jefferson. Love Chicago, and had a great time, but it really does serve to impress upon me each time I go back just how much more bang you get for your buck here in KC. I honestly do think the very best thing about KC is how little "urban-ness" you sacrifice for a much more reasonable COL. Most other places you might move that are comparably cheap have waaaay fewer authentically urban amenities. Seriously, from one Chicago dweller-turned KC dweller, it does feel urban. Does it feel "like" Chicago? Nope. It feels like Kansas City, as it should. But it assuredly feels urban.

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by skrazzle

Everything you want is in those neighborhoods you listed. Gold's Gym is in Westport (midtown).. there are smaller local ones in the area too but I don't know the names of them.

There's a Scott Fitness in Westport, too, I believe. I don't know anything about gyms (don't really do my exercising in clubs, I'm a biking and walking girl) but I do like their concept. "No meatheads," etc.