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- More segregated
- More blue collar
- More affordable
- Cleaner downtown
- Much higher crime rate
- Great food variety
- Colder in the winter
- Corrupt politics
Some observations from someone who has been going to Chicago for decades. (Hey, I'm old enough to remember when Chicago bus stops downtown were in the center of the street, not on the curbs, and you had to stand between lanes of traffic to catch the bus.)
--Chicago is flat as a board. NYC isn't.
--Chicago has reasonably priced housing compared to NYC for sure.
--Our public school system is wildly uneven. Their's pretty much sucks almost all around.
--Chicago is an all-American city. New York is a world city and feels llike it. We have more international tourists, a deeper and more diverse pool of immigrants, plus Fashion Week and all those UN diplomats and consulates. Very un-Midwestern.
--Chicago FEELS more segregated than NYC. Residential patterns (black/white)actually aren't all that different. But in Chitown black people live South, white folks live North, while in NYC ethnic neighborhoods are far more intertwined and close to each other. Its Chitown's geography IMO that makes it feel much more segregated than NYC.
--Some els in Chicago stop running overnight. Our subway is 24/7.
--Crime is wildly overhyped in Chicago. The horrible stuff that makes the national news -- like Hadiya Pendleton killing or murder of Jennifer Hudson's family --is almost always confined to the worst neighborhoods. Stay away from them and crime drops drastically.
--Both cities have more cultural attractions -- high and popular -- than most people will ever be able to take advantage of. But I'd give it to NYC for having a livelier street scene in more places, partly because of size, and partly because we're a more dense city than Chicago--even beyond Manhattan.
--NYC got blessed with the Yankees. Chicago got cursed with the Cubs.
--The winters, obviously, are worse in Chicago.
But the BIG difference I have noticed is purely subjective: Chicago does not have "edge" Can't describe that excatly, but I don't mean danger or something horrible. Its just that Chitown overall seems more conventional, blander, more white-bread in a way that NYC never has been, even now with continuing gentrification. New York not only has edge, but clebrates it. I can't imagine Chicagoans ever doing that.
At any rate, I really like Chicago and could easily see myself living there.
I love Chicago - I view it as a kinder, gentler (and yes, Midwestern) version of NYC. One of the very few cities besides NYC I could see myself living long-term in, except for one thing - winter (and that wind).
Cold. Dangerous in places (moreso than NYC.)
Did I mention cold? Oh, yeah, and snowy. I spent a few years in Syracuse. I don't want to go back. Chicago has the same effect.
Quote:
Originally Posted by oak317
I'm curious what New Yorkers say or think about Chicago, whether you have been there, lived there, and never been. For example, here are a few questions -
- Is it a destination (to live/visit?)
Visit? Maybe. Live? No. I have as much cold as I want here, thank you.
Quote:
- Is it 90% of NYC at half the price?
It's 60% of NYC at 75% of the price
Quote:
- Is it a place for arts & culture?
Some. But we have more here
Quote:
- Does it have alluring opportunities?
Compared to NYC? No. Compared to Dubuque? Yes.
Quote:
- Is it overshadowed by the coasts?
It's overshadowed by cities that happen to be on the coasts.
I'm curious what New Yorkers say or think about Chicago, whether you have been there, lived there, and never been. For example, here are a few questions -
- Is it a destination (to live/visit?)
- Is it 90% of NYC at half the price?
- Is it a place for arts & culture?
- Does it have alluring opportunities?
- Is it overshadowed by the coasts?
Never been to Chicago and have no interest in going anywhere colder than New York.
I'm curious what New Yorkers say or think about Chicago, whether you have been there, lived there, and never been. For example, here are a few questions -
- Is it a destination (to live/visit?)
- Is it 90% of NYC at half the price?
- Is it a place for arts & culture?
- Does it have alluring opportunities?
- Is it overshadowed by the coasts?
I would like to take time and give a standing ovation to Garrets Popcorn, Silver Palm and Quick Bite Carry Outs in Chicago.
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