Are there parts of Chicago where people say I'm going into the city"? (Lincoln: university, live)

[BigLake]

Originally Posted by edsg25

I'm in the suburbs and when people refer to Chicago, they overwhelmingly use the term "the city". Using "Chicago": not so much. And those with a skewed view of the city will use "downtown"....there are enough folks out there who, if going to Diversy and Clark would say "I'm going downtown."

Now here's what I'm curious about: are there fringe areas in the city, you know, places with a sububan feel that could be their own tow/village (I'm thinking of places like Edison Park, Norwood Park, Edgebrook, Sauganasg, Berveley, Mt Greenwood) who would use the term "going into the City" or even the much less likely "going into Chicago"?

And I hope I'm not muddying the waters when I add a different question: are there different degrees of "chicagoness" just like there are different degrees of "newyokness" where manhattan (particularly its lower 2/3) gets the most, Brooklyn gets a lot, Staten Island a little and Far Rockaway a miniscule part?

So does our general downtown area from North to Cermak, the lakefront to the UC and Med Ctr have the most? The powerful, eclectic, urbane areas neighborhoos north of downtown (Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown! etc) and Hyde Park have the next level of chicagoness, maybe followed by the far north side neighborhoods that are urban, but far off from the core to be related to it (I'm thinking Edgewater, Rogers Pk, WRP, Albany Park, etc) and the least amount of chicagoness to those Sububan like areas I previously mentioned (like Sauganash and Beverly) get the least?

I realize that I mostly used Norh Side areas...but only because I know them better.

I also realize I very may well have generated some truly whacky ideas here (hey, I am on to myself), but I really am interested in how people see these issues

Good grief.

[Kmanshouse]

I live in the distant 'burbs, but work downtown, like actually downtown. When I'm heading to work, I'll say, I'm going "in", or "downtown". However, we often go to other parts of Chicago for entertainment, etc. When doing that, we say we're going "to the city".

I never say Chicago. Everybody around this area knows what the city by the lake is called.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by LittleMartha

I live on the Jefferson Park/Norwood Park border and I, like Narfalicious, use intersections.

I'm so tired of these threads putting down not only suburbanites, but also those who live in fringe neighborhoods. I've lived in fringe neighborhoods all my life, but that doesn't make me less of a Chicagoan.

I grew up in North Park, which was fairly walkable in the '70's-80's. We walked to Lincoln Village as well as to Devon Ave. My mother didn't drive so we took the bus and/or El everywhere else. I grew up knowing my way around the city because of our frequent use of public transportation; I doubt I would have had that same knowledge had my dad driven us everywhere.

I guess my point is to stop being so judgy. Living within certain borders doesn't make one more of a Chicagoan, and living outside of those borders doesn't make one less of a Chicagoan either.

You are probably more of a Chicagoan than most people on here. I bet you even have the Chicago accent. Myself and many many like me are transplants. Im from Stockholm..lol
I live in Jeff Park too and i feel like people who lives here are more native...if you know what i mean.

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

I will refer to Chicago as "the city" when I'm talking to people from other parts of the Chicago metro area, because I know many of them consider all of Chicagoland to be "Chicago," and it's a way for me to be specific without getting into that whole stupid argument with them. When I'm talking to people who are actually in Chicago I just call it "Chicago."

I generally avoid using the term "downtown" when talking about Chicago, because it has so many different definitions to different people that it's practically meaningless. I'll just refer to the specific area I'm talking about (e.g. The Loop, South Loop, River North, etc.) instead, or maybe I'll say "near The Loop" if I'm wanting to give a vague sense of what I personally consider to be downtown.

[tkz4]

I don't think anyone is putting down suburbanites or those in fringe city neighborhoods. People use different terminology depending on what part of the metro area they in. Not sure how describing this is an insult.

When I lived in the far suburbs and visited cousins in Logan Sqr we would head to the city. Now I live downtown, so I when we visit them we refer to it as heading to Logan Sqr. When you are further out you tend to use broader terms.

[Alacran]

Originally Posted by BigLake

Good grief.

Why do people always hate on EDGs's posts?

His posts are interesting. He goes into details about things.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by Alacran

Why do people always hate on EDGs's posts?

His posts are interesting. He goes into details about things.

Thank you, Alacran; very kind of you.

The hating doesn't bother me insofar as it is, you know.....the internet.

[Master Jay]

edsg25, That is an interesting question you raise! I'm a Milwaukeean that visits Chicago weekly. I've been to Edison Park, Sauganash, etc. I never feel like I'm NOT "in the city of Chicago" because I realize that I'm in the CITY, yet in a more suburban-looking/feeling area. So maybe when some people say they're going into "the city", they're referencing an area that feels much more urban: buses, El train, housing with less greenery or space in between, etc....

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

Originally Posted by Alacran

He goes into details about things.

Agreed-- and not just details, but accurate and interesting details, which are often in short supply around here.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by SkylarkPhotoBooth

Agreed-- and not just details, but accurate and interesting details, which are often in short supply around here.

Appreciated greatly