Nightlife in the winter (Chicago, Forest Park: university, club, beach)

[Duke Devlin2]

Im planing to go to Chicago in October and Im going to stay there for 6 mounths, which means that the most part of it is going to be in the winter. I really want to see snow, but do people go out when its too cold and snowing? Of course when there is a storm or something like that, people dont, but I mean when there is only coldness and snow, do people still want to go out and have fun?

And another thing: Is the area next to Dominican University good? On north of Forest Park

[Aleking]

the impact of weather on the everyday action in chicago is very much overplayed, outside less beach/park time, very little changes on the nightlife scene and many things are even more busy.

[marothisu]

Yes, people go out even when it's cold out, although they aren't going to be hanging out in the streets as much but the bars/clubs are still very much full. Area around Dominican University? That's in River Forest. I don't think directly around there is good, but there's some bars if you go a mile or so south of there on Madison St.

[Vlajos]

Yes, some of my favorite times in my younger years was bar hopping during a nice big snow.

[RH3Flatlander]

It doesn't start to get really cold in Chicago until January. Weather here in October/November is actually pretty great. But yeah, you will be missing beach season.

[Chicagoist123]

Nightlife is perfectly fine in the winter time. A little slower than in the summer? Yes, but only slightly, not really a big difference.

I really think the only difference you really see in the winter is that people are not hanging outside or lesiurely walking. Meaning in winter people are just trying to go from point A to point B. In the summer some people will just decide to go for a bike ride, walk, hangout in the park, etc. So outdoor activities it's certainly more noticeable than in the summer. But nightlife? Not too much of change.

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by RH3Flatlander

It doesn't start to get really cold in Chicago until January. Weather here in October/November is actually pretty great. But yeah, you will be missing beach season.

I beg to differ on November. November is not that great and actually really overcast. October can be splendid though.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

I beg to differ on November. November is not that great and actually really overcast. October can be splendid though.

It's all a personal opinion, but I love November and October.

[RH3Flatlander]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

I beg to differ on November. November is not that great and actually really overcast. October can be splendid though.

It is considerably more cloudy, but the temperatures are typically still in the 30s/40s/50s. I like maritime climates like Seattle's though, which is what Chicago usually feels like in November, March and April (and this year the beginning of May).

[Link N. Parker]

I actually love nightlife duruing the winter time; you come out of the club at 3am and there is a certain "magic" in the air on Hubbard street at that time. Actually that magic is in Chicago most of the time, but the cold air and the lights of the city are really remarkable.