SperlingViews - Chicago, Illinois

That is all a lie. Chicagoans are in fact quite friendly for a huge city. And weather is fine in the months of May, June, Septmeber, October. And many people love hot summers in July and August! And there is miles and miles of beaches; who cares if it's on an ocean or not. What were you planning to do..drink the ocean water or something? It looks the same as an ocean beach when you are there so what does it matter? And Chicago beaches are clean, do your research. Santa Monica beaches in the Los Angeles metro area are dirty, and that's on an ocean. And Chicago, being a metro area of nearly 10 million people, has amenities that dozens upon dozens of other metro areas do not have, yet at a lower cost of living than living in New York or L.A. for those amenities. I've been to many cities around the country and Chicago is one of the best. In some ways even more desirable than NY because you get all the amenities without the price. In NY, you are just paying to say you live in New York, but you are not getting any more for your money. And just because you met someone that you felt has done you wrong is no reason, in my opinion, to dislike an entire city. Perhaps it was YOUR attitude or something you done to that person.[read more...]

Nothing bad about this remarkable city![read more...]

Crime is a almost everywhere in Chicago........[read more...]

Although there are a few wonderful people that I have met here, for the most part that is the exception. Often the people are rude, and really rude. Accidents abound galore on the overcrowded streets and highways. The winter(w/ the exception of this one) is brutal and cold and the summers are so hot and humid that your shirt will be soaked after a short jaunt outside. There us strip mall after strip mall and so much concrete everywhere you look. I've just received my tax refund and as soon as possible will head back east or to Florida. Have never wanted to leave a place so badly in my life![read more...]

Since moving to Chicago 3 years age, I have been very overwhelmed with the vast array of entertainment, recreation and cultural venues. Rarely, does a weekend go by that is void of something to do. Chicago, the city with something for everyone! [read more...]

If you want to live well in Chicago, you gotta have money. I was born and raised in Chi. I had a good paying job making about $75,000.00 I was raised on the southside but fled to the northside as soon as I was able and loved it. I was frugal because I had to be. There is so much to do and many things are free but if you want to really enjoy Chi you have to be have the money to spend. Chi is the place to be for things to do but lots of cash is necessary for the doing. [read more...]

Crime in the city is becoming very bad[read more...]

looking foward! jb![read more...]

Chicago is a great place to live! It has all of the museums, food, and culture one could ask for.. my only complaint is the weather here. It is extreme! The winters are wicked, wicked cold, and the summers pretty hot. We don't get much of a spring or a fall, but overall I like living here.[read more...]

the winters here are so brutal and the spring is way too short. I feel like I live for 10 months waiting for the weather to get nice. It's nice for the summer, then back to chilly falls and cruel winters. I'm ready for a move.[read more...]

Has anyone recently made the move from Denver to Chicago? If so, I'd like to know about your thoughts, impressions and experiences. Thanks.[read more...]

We absolutly love Rogers Park. Its located on the far north side of chicago. excellent quality of life. Rogers park has a fantastic park district that we didn't know about until we had a child. She loves it...does gymnastics, play time, swimming. Of course there is some down sides to the RP...being a city, there is violence in a very real way. most of our area is great because we are down the street from Loyola University. but if you go to far from campus, there is some sketch. all and all though, love it here. [read more...]

We absolutly love Rogers Park. Its located on the far north side of chicago. excellent quality of life. Rogers park has a fantastic park district that we didn't know about until we had a child. She loves it...does gymnastics, play time, swimming. Of course there is some down sides to the RP...being a city, there is violence in a very real way. most of our area is great because we are down the street from Loyola University. but if you go to far from campus, there is some sketch. all and all though, love it here. [read more...]

i am a nice looking girl still single never married before and also still a studenti am a nice looking girl still single never married before and also still a studenti am a nice looking girl still single never married before and also still a student[read more...]

By the time I leave Chicago, I will have lived here 32 years. I came as a young, single adult; it has definitely improved. I'm an urban person and there's just about everything here for someone like me. It's also not that expensive, certainly not as much as San Fran., NYC or even LA. But I've always wanted to live on the East Coast, so I'm moving there, I hope. (Just have to find the right city...)[read more...]

Alpha Class Global City.[read more...]

Chicago is a OK city but w/ugly,selfish,two faced,people in it! Traffic galore and people are NOT friendly because why U may ask... THE weather sucks here all year round and there is no nature to visit only made up parks and garbage hills to ski on....! Too bloody cold in winter,no spring and summers are so humid that u may think you are in Florida without the Ocean! Lake Michigan has constant pollution problems since Michigan & Indiana factories let all their S... in it & than the dumb asses swim ,what is known as,the BEACH right next to busy Lake Shore Drive ..... Rent expensive and NO parking so be sure to pay your collage tuition in parking tickets... Aggressive cops will give you ticket for anything since Chicago is so corrupt you wouldn't believe! I got a $150.00 ticket for asking a cop if I could go around them since I have been waiting for 30 minutes behind a cop car in a one way street,and nothing was happening,just Ch. cops talking and laughing. I wrote 5 letters to the mayor that Im NOT paying the fine and they kept sending bigger and bigger balance until one day ,i guess i was persistent,that they just told me to pay only the $150.00 and they will leave me alone! Thats just one example. And lets not even talk about the FACT how many people are sick here with upper and lover respiratory tracts and asthma ! i lived here for 15 Y.,don't ask why! So I know what Im talking about and Im soooooooooo happy to turn my back on this "stock up" town that has very little to offer as far as good health and happiness goes. Restaurants are diverse that I will say but who cares if the people in them are the unhappiest people I have ever seen and I have been around the World. So visit for like a year and than make your decision . I do NOT recommend Chicago nor IL to live in since there is NO jobs on top of everything. Go west or east .[read more...]

To be honest I have been here just short of a year. But there is sooo much traffic,even in the suburbs. And this is the only city I have ever had men flip me off for not moving my car fast enough out of their way or even calling out,"Are you f---ing stupid or what?" for not seeing their SUV come at me while I was walking across a parking lot to a store. I love hiking and know how to bundle up and layer but the cold and wind is truly forcing me to stay indoors for most of the winter as it blows right through everything you wear. The housing is very expensive as is the cost-of-living. I came from another city but was so surprised to find so little green space here and such an abundance of shops, strip malls and more shops. And there is more light pollution in the suburbs than I've seen in any other city. My friend says to give it time but he also says he is out of here in 2 1/2 years when is medical residency is up. [read more...]

can someone call me regarding this I have used your site Sperling's Best places -neighborhood profile for years andit is not workings as of this time . or E.Mail me Thanks 312-617-7981 [read more...]

Chicago is a dynamic "on the move city" which most recognize soon after they arrive. Metropolitan Chicago sometimes referred to as the crossroads of the nation is an Alpha Class World City(the U.S. has two others NYC & LA). Metro Chicago is a very culturally diverse area with people and cuisine from all areas of the world and the United States. Even so, Chicago still has a real 'heart of the nation' and 'down to earth' friendly feel. The core focal point of the Metro area, The City of Chicago, has a beautiful Lake Michigan lakefront setting with adjacent parks, open space. beaches and boat harbors. A stunningly scenic Lake Shore Drive runs for about 15 miles alongside Lake Michigan thru the heart of the city. Most interesting of all, Chicago has an architecturally dazzling downtown area and it is considered to be one of the three most aesthetically impressive skylines in the world(1. Hong Kong & 2.NYC). Along with this, Chicago probably has the most significant and diverse architecture of any city in the world. An asset of almost incalculable value: Metropolitan Chicago has an effective railway mass transit system which including CTA, METRA & SSL is about 700 miles of commuter rail. Then, the Gross Domestic Product of Metropolitan Chicago in term of value is 4th of all metro ares in the world. These are some of the reasons why Chicago has world class attractions, it is an Alpha class world city by definition. When compared with the few cities of comparable stature and amenities, Chicago probably has a lower cost of living than most if not all. As far as the weather, very few locales have an ideal 4 seasons, most seem too cold in the winter or seem too hot in the summer or too hot and too humid in the summer. Of course, Chicago still has its share of faults and problems and issues, but what metro area of 10 million does not? [read more...]