Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with Chicago

Chicago!

brynna — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:44:15 -0800

What can I do to make one perfect night in Chicago? Alright, I've searched through previous posts, but am looking for something very definitive. After my last post, I decided to travel to Chicago! I'll be there by myself from Sept 7th, with my SO joining me on the 9th; we're both flying back to CA on the 10th.

What can we do with that one night together that would be a classic, authentic Chicago experience OR what can we do to make it a really great night in a city we've both never been to?

Good take-out lunch in the Chicago Loop?

specialnobodie — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:54:55 -0800

[ChicagoFilter]Any recommendations for good take-out-ish lunch places in the chicago loop? I work just north of the loop, a block west of Michigan Ave. My nearby(~4 blocks) lunch choices have started to get a little boring, so I'd love to hear any suggestions. I almost exclusively do take-out and all ethnic cuisines are welcome. I'd be most interested in suggestions within that ~4 block range, but please feel free to share any other loop spots for other interested Chicago mefites. Thanks!

Forty-year-old seeks teaching position; am I kidding myself?

tzikeh — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:56:07 -0800

Can a forty-year-old woman get a job as an English teacher in the public education system when so many twentysomethings are in competition for the same jobs? I'm going to be forty this coming May, and I'll have my English BA and my Illinois Secondary Education certification in April, 2010. I already have a Bachelor's in Speech and Theater from Northwestern University (1991), and spent the time between one school and the next in the "workforce" (five years as a professional actor/opera singer, a few dismal years in advertising, and then four years as the webmaster for WTTW (Chicago's PBS station) and WFMT (Chicago's classical radio station).

I look at my co-Secondary Education in Language Arts (previously known as "English") majors, and I worry that my age will work against me.

In my favor, I'm extraordinarily unlikely to become pregnant and leave the workforce. More in my favor, UNLIKE most of my classmates, I can read, write, and spell; I know the difference between "its" and "it's", "there" "their" and "they're", "affect" and "effect", and any other number of the things you're supposed to know when you graduate high school. I'm also able to look for jobs in other states; I have no dependents and don't own a home in Chicago, and the Illinois certificate transfers to most states.

In their favor, time is on their side w/r/t staying at the job--in twenty-five years they'll be forty-seven, while I'll be at mandatory retirement age. There are many other factors in their favor (e.g. many speak Spanish fluently), and I'm sure there are plenty of others of which I am not aware.

Is this going to be a black mark against me when I start interviewing for teaching positions?

Fun Chicago Daytrips?

c:\awesome — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:55:00 -0800

What are some fun, scenic, interesting daytrip destinations from Chicago? We have a car, enjoy outdoorsy things, good food, natural beauty, quirky locales, and other interestingness. Looking for something within 1-3 hours away by car.

I need some clothes that fit.

Plug Dub In — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:45:43 -0800

Where in Chicago might skinny young fellows find properly-fitting casual pants and jeans? I'm a skinny skinny dude, and I'm freakin' terrible at shopping. Just about every pair of pants I own is crazy wide in the legs and baggy in the ass and crotch. Like genie pants. I look all hip-y, like, I've got big hips or something, but it's really just pockets and air. Bah.

I'm not lookin' for high-fashion pre-torn hipster threads or anything. Just some jeans, khakis, cords, whatever.

Get me outta here

sinfony — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:17:18 -0800

Good, cheap movers in Chicago? Or back to the Uhaul? I'm moving at the end of the month, and, having already done two self-moves in the last year, I'm really not eager to do it myself. At the same time, I'm a student and therefore don't have oodles of money to be throwing at movers.

Therefore, I'm looking for recommendations/general information about movers in Chicago. I'm going from Hyde Park to Lakeview, two bedroom apartment to two bedroom apartment, high-rise to fourth floor walk-up. Obviously, I'd like this to be as cheap as possible, but I recognize that it's cheaper to pay a little more for good movers than to replace all my stuff if bad movers break it.

How much can I expect to pay for this?

Cost of living increase for Chicago

Ponderance — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:15:19 -0800

What was the cost of living increase from 2007 to 2008 for Chicago, Illinois. I am going to pitch for a cost of living raise and am looking for some sort of data to show the cost of living increase from 2007 to 2008 for Chicago. The bigger the percentage the better of course, but I do need data to back it up.

I have had no success with google. Please point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

Should I sign a new year-long lease even though I know I'll be leaving early?

josh.ev9 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:42:01 -0800

Should I sign a new year-long lease even though I know I'll be leaving early, or try to get my landlord to agree to a shorter term? This is probably a relatively straightforward question, but I want to know if I'm asking anything out of the ordinary.

My lease ends at the end of this month, but my girlfriend and I are pretty sure we'll be leaving Chicago by the end of this year. We love our apartment, and don't want to have to move somewhere else only for a few months. Is it a reasonable request to ask our landlord if we could sign a lease that would end in a few months, rather than a full year?

Our landlord owns the condo we're living in, so it's not like we have to deal with a big association or anything. But what should we expect in this situation? Could the rent go way up based on this request?

Another possibility: perhaps we could request to go month-to-month? I'm a little averse to this because the landlord could end the contract at any time.

Any advice is helpful. Thanks

Best Chicago Souvenirs

tenaciousd — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:23:37 -0800

Can you recommend some good Chicago souvenirs? I have 10 clients coming in from various countries in a couple weeks, and I need to get them Chicago souvenirs. Here are my criteria:

• something that costs $15 – 20
• not your typical keychain, t-shirt, or magnet
• not too heavy or cumbersome to take back on the plane
• non-refrigerated food is fine too
• has to have something to do with Chicago

Thanks!

My kind of town?

jejune — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:07:54 -0800

I want to know if it'd be a good idea for me to move to Chicago. I'm going to be spending a day or two there this weekend. I know there are plenty of AskMe questions by tourists wanting to know how to enjoy their brief stay there. My question is different: where should I go / what should I do to help myself decide if a more-or-less permanent move to Chicago would be a good idea for me? Backstory: For a while I've been looking forward to ending up with a permanent job in NYC (I work in upstate NY right now). But lately I've been realizing that Chicago might be a better choice for me (lower cost of living; fewer of the NYC annoyances but still a big, exciting city; I have family nearby in Wisconsin, etc.).

The problem is that I have almost no experience actually being there, so my thoughts on whether it'd be a good idea to move there are frustratingly vague. While I know that a day or two probably isn't enough time to completely solve this problem, I want to do what I can in that time period.

I like a lot of your standard touristy stuff like museums, sightseeing, and concerts -- but I mention this to say that it's not what my question is about. I assume there's tons of great touristy stuff that I could find out about from guidebooks, etc. I'm much more interested in simply observing what everyday life is like.

More info:

- If I were to make this decision, it wouldn't be for at least a couple years (because of my current job).

- We'll be getting around by car this weekend, though I wouldn't have a car if I moved there.

- I tend to prefer funky/artsy/idiosyncratic neighborhoods to upscale ones. Of course, I'm not yet at the point of settling on a neighborhood since I don't even know if I'll move to Chicago -- but I am interested in checking out interesting neighborhoods to give myself a more vivid sense of what life would be like there.

- Since I'm primarily thinking of this as a choice between Chicago and NYC, I'd be especially interested to hear from people who have lived in both cities.

- I've been to Chicago a few times, but that was a while ago, mostly when I was too young to really absorb it.

Additional background info that might or might not be relevant: I'm a single straight white guy in my 20s. Vegetarian. Recently graduated from law school. I don't have family or close friends in Chicago. I have no interest in anything sports-related.

Where to dump mom?

Oktober — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:11:59 -0800

Where can I dump my mom for a couple of hours in the Chicago Loop Long story short, my mom's visiting from out of town, my power is still out, and I'm somewhat stuck at work. Given that she likes museums, libraries, etc, where can I dump her for a couple of hours until I can get off.

Difficulty level: She just got on the blue line leaving O'Hare

Where's the best place to watch the Chicago Air show?

nitsuj — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:08:46 -0800

Where's the best place to watch the Chicago Air show?

Need a cleaning service in Chicago

MeetMegan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:02:22 -0800

Can you recommend a cleaning company or individual in downtown Chicago? I need someone to clean my 900 sf condo (1 br/1.5 ba) every other week. I live in River North. I would be willing to provide cleaning supplies and perhaps pay for parking (depending on the cleaning charge). I currently use Sparkle Queen, and while I haven't been thrilled with the job they do, I have been appalled at the amount they charge me to clean my place, in comparison to what some of my friends pay (unfortunately they work with individual cleaning ladies who are all booked up). I am currently paying $80 plus tip, which makes it about $105. In light of what my friends are paying (about $50 including tip), I feel like I am getting ripped off.

Best way to get my stuff from Mpls to Chicago?

ictow — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:11:28 -0800

I'll be moving to Chicago from Minneapolis at the end of the month, and I'm trying to figure out the best (read: easiest/cheapest) way to get 3 people's bedroom furniture plus a living room out there. There's a lot of good advice on askme already, but I thought with ever-increasing gas prices I'd see if new alternatives have popped up. Initially I was going to rent a Uhaul, but after reading up on it it seems like that's asking for trouble. Now I'm looking at renting a 16' truck from Budget or Penske, but I wonder:

Will it hold our stuff?
It's listed as being able to transport 2-3 rooms, I'd guess our inventory will be about the following:
4 mattresses and box springs, 3-4 bookshelves, 2 dressers, tv and stand, couch, recliner, desk, misc. furniture plus some boxes.

Is there a better alternative?
With the addition of gas costs, this is going to end up being around $700. I'm fine with that if that's the best I can get, but the miser in me wonders if there's a better way. I've heard about ABF U-Pack, but I'm not quite clear on how much space I would end up renting given what we're moving. Anyone with experience doing this sort of 400-mile move have any recommendations on how to do it best?

Where to find my craft supplies in Chicago?

Teira — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:53:35 -0800

Anyone know any Chicago retail locations for jewelry supply and electronic components? Second City Filter...ers! (What exactly do you guys call yourselves?)

I'm really feeling the pain of not having a Fry's Electronics 5 minutes away anymore, even if their service was horrendous. I'm having a bit of trouble finding a fry's/old-school-radio-shackish kind of place here in the windy city (all the current radioshacks just seems to exist to sell iPod docks). While I am aware I can just order bulk from DigiKey, I really do prefer not paying shipping, shopping locally, and being able to pick and choose in person.

In addition, I've just gotten started with jewelry making, and am wondering where I can get various findings, raw silver and whatnot without the ridiculous markup of consumer-oriented shops like Beadnik's.

Bonus points on both if they're anywhere near the CTA at all. I'd really, really rather not trek into the suburbs, not owning a car and whatnot.

Chicago for Introverts

hitopshelf — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:32:01 -0800

Where do you go and where do you live? I currently live in West Lakeview and after the daily hustle/bustle that is working in the Loop, I find myself needing to unwind. I like the idea of book stores and coffee shops but the only ones I know around me are the standard Borders/B&N and Starbucks and those are usually busy.

Scenic drive from Mpls to Chicago?

BradNelson — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:42:24 -0800

Recommend a scenic travel route from Minneapolis to Chicago. I'm driving to Chicago from Minneapolis (via my parent's near Baldwin, WI) and I have an entire day to drive, so I'd like to avoid I-94 (as I've driven it way too many times). I want to see more of the state I grew up in.

I was thinking about Hwy 61 part of the way, maybe Hwy 14, perhaps through Richland Center and Dodgeville. I don't really want to go through Madison or Milwaukee, but I'll probably hop on I-94 once I get to Illinois.

Obviously, the point of taking the scenic route, is to see interesting countryside or points of interest. So, please suggest any good ones! Also, recommendations of good eateries along the way are welcome.

Because Ray's Occult is in New York

piedmont — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:46:13 -0800

Awesomeness near Grant Park, Chicago? I'm going to visit some friends that live acrossed from Grant Park. This is the first trip out there, and they suggested Lollapalooza weekend. For the few brief hours we're not at the show, what are the awesome sights/shops/eats within stumbling distance of the concert? The quirkier the better.

My DJ plays and his music stays in your mind for days

nanojath — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:28:18 -0800

What song and artist is played in this video? The key line seems to be "you don't know the way we flow in Chicago." I heard this featured in a DJ set at the Blue Nile in Minneapolis, and I think it was being sampled in another track, so bonus points if you know what that might have been. I found this video searching for the most memorable lyric, the only results I came up, so either I got the lyric wrong or it's sort of obscure. I know I could try contacting the person who made the video and I suppose I will if you all come up blank. And boo on people who don't even credit the music they appropriate for their homemade snapshot reels.

Bike parking in Hyde Park

puffin — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:34:14 -0800

Bicycle advice in Hyde Park (Chicago) I am going to be moving to Hyde Park in about a month. I'll be living near 54th and Lake Park, so I'm pretty close to a Metra stop and the Jackson Park Express bus route. But I'm about 1.8 miles from both the Garfield and 51st Green line stops.

Is locking up a bike at either of these stops during the day a dumb idea? What about around Hyde Park in general? If it makes a difference, I have a newish but cheap (downtube shifters) road bike. My seat and wheels aren't quick release, but they can be unscrewed with an Allen wrench.

How do I stop construction workers from waking me?

Elminster24 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:45:12 -0800

Noisy Neighbors Filter: The construction at the house next door is waking me up every morning and they start before 8am. How early can residential construction in Chicago begin and what can I do to bust them if they violate that start time? The house that is adjacent to my walk-up is having construction done and it is waking me up early every morning. It is driving me absolutely crazy (I'm writing this at 8:30am btw).

I am no lawyer, but someone had told me they could not begin before 8am, so I went over one morning and asked if they had an early start permit and they said no and that they would wait till 8 and were generally very nice about it (of course they didn't really speak english well so not sure if they fully understood). Then their boss came by a little later and I could hear him talking to them out my back window once I went back inside and he was generally upset with the situation and started making calls to find out what the deal was with the start time. It sounded like it was indeed 8am. I also heard the tail end of a comment about how "its not a big deal because this is the only person thats complained so far."

My question is...does anybody know definitively what the earliest residential construction start time is in Chicago? Also, if they are violating this, what steps can I take to resolve the situation with the city? I'm sick of trying to talk to these people and now want to do whatever I can to get them busted for starting early and making my morning hell. Hopefully I can either get their permit revoked or get them fined.

While I don't typically get out of bed till 8:20am and realize I probably won't get them to hold off that long if the start time is indeed 8am, I'd at least like to hassle them and let them know I mean business. And this waking me up before 8am has GOT to stop.

Also, I don't believe talking to the neighbors themselves is an option...I don't think anybody is actually living there now, just some investor who's flipping a house and has people working on it all day.

Good looking denim hemming?

crush-onastick — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:45:13 -0800

Please recommend someone to hem jeans in Chicago. I'm not that short (5'5" ish); I wear heels (2-3 inches most days), yet all my jeans are 5-6 inches too long. Have you found a tailor/drycleaner in Chicago that hems jeans without making them look disastrously altered? I have seen these two threads here at ask. My sewing machine will not handle denim and I am not skilled enough to keep hand-stitches even, so I cannot and will not do this myself.

Yeh, I worry too much about my clothes, but I'm afraid to just pick a shop at random and hope it turns out.

Good food in Chicago?

ztdavis — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:41:42 -0800

Where are your favorite places to dine in Chicago? Romance is preferred, good food is a must, and I'd like to spend less than $100 for my wife and I. We'll be in the loop, so near downtown but don't worry about that too much.

There were good answers back in February, but many of those were above my price point.

Fun 40th Birthday Celebration Idea Including Dinner?

slo — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:13:18 -0800

Chicago hive: any ideas for a 40th birthday celebration that includes dinner on a Saturday night for about a dozen people but is more fun than just doing dinner? My friend is turning 40, and we wanted to have a fun, intimate celebration that includes dinner but is more than just dinner. We tried a cooking class, but there are no openings that night. A few other things to consider:

- he does not enjoy games, so something like Whirlyball, bowling or poker night is out

- we have a decent, but not huge budget (so some of the fancier lake cruises might be prohibitive)

- it would be in the evening

Can you think of any unique venues that don't cost a fortune?

Ideally it would be something that makes it easy for the group to interact. If you've ever been to one of those birthday dinners at a long table in a loud restaurant where you talk to the same 2 people all night, you know what I mean.

Thanks!

Six hour layover in Chicago

PenguinBukkake — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:36:39 -0800

Six hour layover in Chicago. Is it feasible to take the train to O'Hare, get to the Art Institute for a quick visit (I really want to see one painting) and then get back to O'Hare and not miss the plane? This would happen on a Friday, 3PM-9PM. And, if it's not doable, what's the yummiest food at O'Hare? (I'll just have a big dinner and a nap if I have to stay inside the airport). Thanks!