Relocating to Chicago from Las Vegas. (Lincoln, Paris: condo, home, neighborhood)

[macno0b]

I'm an Asian male in mid-20's. I like the outdoor stuffs like hiking, camping, snowboarding, chilling by the beach ... I also enjoy the nightlife, meeting new people, exploring new cultures, places and weird/bizarre things. I'm pretty outgoing and open-minded.

I'm currently living in Las Vegas. I think I am sick of the heat, had enough partying in the best clubs in the world, tried all the great restaurants the strip has to offer, watched all the great shows, fooled around with enough CA gals and tourists in Vegas , hiked most of the trails around NV and AZ. It has been very fun but it's time to go back to a big metropolitan city. I'm psyched about moving to Chicago in a few weeks. I will be working in the Loop. I will probably buy a house/condo soon. I have been to Chi-town many times and actually lived there for a very short time so I'm familiar with the area. I have a few questions.

1. How is the housing market? Stabilizing or going lower?
2. Where do the 9-5 in mid-20's professionals hang out?
3. Where to meet Asian Hotties? Are there any bars/clubs/lounges where they frequent? Are there a lot of them in Chicago?
4. Are white women into Asian guys in Chicago?
5. Where can you go for hiking or camping outside Chicago?
6. What is the best way find out everything Chicago has to offer?

Thanks.

[Jandur]

Other people can answer the rest...

But as far as 3 and 4 I don't think it's really an issue. There are a good amount of Asian women in Chicago and I've known some Asian guys with pretty attractive white girlfriends.

[soulful]

I will answer number 5. There are tons of options for hiking and camping in many of the cool state parks in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. Due to Chicago's proximity to all of those, we have a lot of great outdoor options within a few hours drive.

[RansackedMuse]

Hi macnooB,

Good questions

1. How is the housing market? Stabilizing or going lower?

I'm no expert but I believe it still going lower. It is different for each neighborhood though. The closer you are to downtown the more stable it is.

2. Where do the 9-5 in mid-20's professionals hang out?

Many do hang out in Lincoln Park but it is more of a preppy/frat crowd there. You might want to try some River North hot spots like Manor, Entourage, The Underground, Paris Studio, Bull and Bear, Sunda, etc.

3. Where to meet Asian Hotties? Are there any bars/clubs/lounges where they frequent? Are there a lot of them in Chicago?

Hmm not too sure on this one. I'm Sicilian :-)

4. Are white women into Asian guys in Chicago?

I would say yes. You will probably have better luck downtown or in Bucktown/Wicker Park than in Lincoln Park/Lakeview.

5. Where can you go for hiking or camping outside Chicago?

A. Forest preserves in the suburbs surrounding the city.
B. Great State Park in northern Indiana accessible via the South Shore train line - the Indiana Dunes State Park.
C. Tons of great state parks in Wisconsin.

It's pretty flat here so the hiking might be different than you are used to experiencing.

6. What is the best way find out everything Chicago has to offer?

The Short List:

A. Chicago Reader newspaper
B. Explore Chicago city of Chicago site
C. Time Out Chicago
D. Metromix
E. My blog: Ransacked Muse

Welcome to this wonderful city. Be sure to bring a winter coat and boots!

All Best,
Kristy

[Drover]

Originally Posted by macno0b

I'm an Asian male in mid-20's. I like the outdoor stuffs like hiking, camping, snowboarding, chilling by the beach ... I also enjoy the nightlife, meeting new people, exploring new cultures, places and weird/bizarre things. I'm pretty outgoing and open-minded.

I'm currently living in Las Vegas. I think I am sick of the heat, had enough partying in the best clubs in the world, tried all the great restaurants the strip has to offer, watched all the great shows, fooled around with enough CA gals and tourists in Vegas , hiked most of the trails around NV and AZ. It has been very fun but it's time to go back to a big metropolitan city. I'm psyched about moving to Chicago in a few weeks. I will be working in the Loop. I will probably buy a house/condo soon. I have been to Chi-town many times and actually lived there for a very short time so I'm familiar with the area. I have a few questions.

1. How is the housing market? Stabilizing or going lower?
2. Where do the 9-5 in mid-20's professionals hang out?
3. Where to meet Asian Hotties? Are there any bars/clubs/lounges where they frequent? Are there a lot of them in Chicago?
4. Are white women into Asian guys in Chicago?
5. Where can you go for hiking or camping outside Chicago?
6. What is the best way find out everything Chicago has to offer?

Thanks.

1. Rents seem to be creeping up. Home purchase prices look to still be hovering near their post-crash lows.
2. Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown, River North, West Loop, South Loop to some extent.
3. Which Asian? South or East? Pretty much any east Asian who is not an immigrant has integrated into the broader "white" culture. And no, there are not many here (as a percentage anyway), though we do have a fairly sizable Chinatown that is still solidly Chinese. Interracial dating between Caucasians and what few East Asians we have here is very common. South Asian is a slightly different story, their arrival here being more recent and so they are not quite as integrated into broader society yet. That will probably change within a generation.
4. As noted above, East Asians are basically thought of as "honorary whites" here because there never really has been enough of an East Asian critical mass to become a sub-set of broader society in any meaningful way, so by the first generation they're pretty thoroughly integrated.
5. Wisconsin if you live on he North side of the city, Michigan if you live on the South side.
6. Get here and explore the city; ask long-time residents for suggestions and guidance.