Any parts of Milwaukee that remind you of Chicago? (Wauwatosa: living, beaches)

[Kraftask]

Interesting. There's no Chinatown in Milwaukee? I usually just drive thru & don't take the time to explore. But i remember years back getting stuck in traffic on the Dan Ryan & i was driving up to WI & my gf fell asleep & when she woke up we were in Milwaukee & she thought we were still stuck in traffic on the Dan Ryan lol

[Master Jay]

Kraftask, Milwaukee has Chinese restaurants all over (LOL: That's about it!). We also have several "Asian" restaurants in different parts of the city.

The closest we have to a Chinatown, in my opinion, is an area near S. 108th Street (Highway 100) and W. National Avenue, in our West Allis suburb. There, there are within a whole block several restaurants and a couple of stores.

There is also an Asian "massage" location around the corner. I went there around 2004. I remember as I walked in, my thought was: This reminds me of one of those seedy places in Chicago!.. I was right! The lady in the room with me tried to " start something going."

Welcome to Milwaukee's Chinatown! LOL

[Kraftask]

Originally Posted by Master Jay

Kraftask, Milwaukee has Chinese restaurants all over (LOL: That's about it!). We also have several "Asian" restaurants in different parts of the city.

The closest we have to a Chinatown, in my opinion, is an area near S. 108th Street (Highway 100) and W. National Avenue, in our West Allis suburb. There, there are within a whole block several restaurants and a couple of stores.

There is also an Asian "massage" location around the corner. I went there around 2004. I remember as I walked in, my thought was: This reminds me of one of those seedy places in Chicago!.. I was right! The lady in the room with me tried to " start something going."

Welcome to Milwaukee's Chinatown! LOL

Does Milwaukee have anything comparable to Greektown?

[Master Jay]

Kraftask, no, Sir.

Although even in Chicago your Greektown is a shell of what it was (from my understanding), it STILL carries the name, and rightfully so with all the restaurants that are there, Milwaukee has NOTHING close to that.

There is a Greek population, however, give some of the Greek churches (1 being a Frank Lloyd Wright marvel on our northwest side), and many Greek-owned restaurants. But nothing of a Greek TOWN that I have ever known of.

You see why I love Chicago over Milwaukee? Even if Chicago's "ethnic" neighborhoods are not as big as they once were, they still at least EXIST!

[DannFrankenstein]

Yes, Milwaukee is like the South Side. I was just exploring Morgan Park, Beverly, and Blue Island, thinking it was similar to Bayview in Milwaukee

[Master Jay]

DannFrankenstein, um excuse me but you better just: Walk this way. THIS way!!

To date, I have never gone that far south, in Chicago. But I would like to visit them.

To me, Bayview is like the Armour Square neighborhood I mentioned earlier, south of Chinatown/north of the White Sox stadium. Thoughts??

[DannFrankenstein]

Well Master Jay, while there is some similarity to Armour Square, I think the amount of foot traffic in Bayview is more at the level of Morgan Park, while Armour Square has more foot traffic. Also, from Beverly down to Blue Island, there’s like, this rise in elevation just West of the Metra tracks. In Bayview, as I approached from downtown, there is a rise in elevation as share houses give ways to neighborhoods. Both areas have similarly parks while I don’t remember Armour Square having much in the way of good parks at all, ball parks included


J/k but bottom line, exploring Milwaukee helps one to better appreciate Chicago, and vice versa. They are different metro areas but if one spends enough time going between them, they can start to feel like the same area, as if Milwaukee is just the furthest part of Chicagoland lol or if that’s too FIB, then one could pretend that Chicago is the Southernmost part of Milwaukeeland

[Master Jay]

DannFrankenstein, YES, I believe us Milwaukeeans and Chicagoans are siblings!

I went down to Highwood again tonight: My Illinois LittleItaly, without having to go as far as the city of Chicago.

Highwood is having a Pumpkin and Skeleton Fest this weekend. Go check it out. Grab a meal or a drink at Del Rio, on Green Bay Road. They have been established there 98 years! THAT'S saying something!!

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Kraftask

Does Milwaukee have anything comparable to Greektown?

Sort of. There is a large Greek population in the Menominee Falls area, but it's not inclusive as in a neighborhood or community.

The Greek Orthodox church that is there has one heck of a festival every year, for sure. I highly recommend.

RM

[Mohammad wong]

I was just thinking about this today, Googled the question and this thread was the first result.

I've spent a lot of time in both cities. Here are my thoughts as a Chicago native:

West Loop/Third Ward: Doesn't really compare with West Loop. 3rd Ward is smaller and more well-preserved. The streets feel narrower, giving it an old world feel compared to the sleek modern sheen of West Loop. I see why some people notice a resemblance, but I don't get the same vibes. Maybe if you just compare Fulton Market with 3rd ward, it works.


Someone said it earlier, but the South Side neighborhoods of Milwaukee give me more of Chicago vibe than the north. Mitchell Street in Milwaukee is very reminiscent of Pilsen to me. Walker's Point reminds me a mix between Bridgeport and Pilsen, but has its own vibe.

Prospect Ave. in Milwaukee feels just like Lake Shore Dr. north of Hollywood ave.


Overall, the vibe I get in each city is quite different. Chicago is big, busy, more modern, more brick and steel, and more developed. Milwaukee gives me much more of an old world vibe, more intimate, dare I say more charming. Chicago has basically gentrified the old-world charm out of its neighborhoods.

For example, nothing in Chicago reminds me at all of Brady Street. Brady Street is a great example of the old-world charm I'm referring to above. It just feels quaint, like it hasn't changed since the immigrants moved in.

I like both cities. For jobs and meeting new people, I prefer Chicago. For charm/mystique/relaxing, I prefer Milwaukee.