Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with chicago

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!

What are the best options for cable TV + Internet in Chicago?

c:\awesome — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:43:52 -0800

What are the best options for cable TV + Internet in Chicago? Is it basically a choice between the lesser of two evils, Comcast and RCN? I'm not 100% sure RCN is available in my area, because their database says my address is unknown. But I'll be living in North Center, if that changes anything. Are there any other players in the Cable game?

I work from home so I need a good, solid Internet connection. I have an HDTV, so ideally I'd like a cable solution that offers the most bang for my buck.

Can't do Dish unfortunately.

Would I be better off doing a separate company for TV and Internet? Any benefit to that?

Help a Chicago cable newb.

Chicago loop: Where can I find a healthy daily breakfast?

Jason and Laszlo — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:31:35 -0800

Chicago loop: Where can I find a healthy daily breakfast? I eat breakfast daily before work near the Art Institute. I'm sick of muffins, bagels, even oatmeal is too unhealthy for me (it's just not tasty without sugar, etc).

Looking for something like veggie omelettes prepared fresh (and hopefully fast). Near Monroe and Michigan.

Help me look normal under my clothes.

santojulieta — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:42:42 -0800

I need a variety of good undergarments for a variety of SFW occasions. Where do I get good underoos in Chicago? I need a few different undergarments for some upcoming occasions and I'd like to buy better than Target or Victoria Secret underwear.

1. I need a proper bra fitting so I can get some well fitting bras. I have only one single style that I think works well, so I'd like someone who knows what they're talking about to suggest other options or sizes to make the best of my bust.

2. I have engagement photos coming up rather quickly, and I'd like to find some sort of something to make me look less bumpy and more smooth under regular clothing in the tummy area.

3. I will also be getting married and will need some sort of underthing for my dress to hold me in and secure my bustline.

Do you have any special places in Chicago that I can do this? I'm looking for real stores rather than virtual stores, though I'm not opposed to ordering online once I find something I like.

Also, I'm a fairly normalish size. I wear 18s in pants, and a 36D/38C in bra.

Chicago Cycling Filter: Daily distance rides?

ISeemToBeAVerb — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:05:10 -0800

I recently started working from home, so I no longer have my daily bike commute to the office. Looking for some advice on the following: - Ideal time(s) of day for a nice distance ride with less traffic. - Good routes for a distance ride in Chicago. - Good destination points. Perhaps a nice place to work with a laptop(bonus for free Wi-Fi connections). Also, I tend to like independent cafes/restaurants rather than places like Cosi or Starbucks. - Any other thoughts/advice you have. I'm flexible with distance, though I'd prefer 5+ miles. I'm starting out from my apartment in Humboldt Park if that helps any. Thanks AskMeFi!!

Someone to fix my chimney

nax — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:03:16 -0800

ChicagoMasonryFilter: A recent windstorm knocked the cover and some masonry off my chimney. My regular tuckpoint/masonry guys won't fix it-- they say the job's too small. Anyone know a reliable service that can repair this? Thanks.

Big-city livin'

showbiz_liz — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:03:31 -0800

My boyfriend is moving to Chicago from NC. I want to put together a kickass care package for him. We both go to school in Chapel Hill, and have lived in North Carolina our whole lives. He's moving to Chicago at the end of July to pursue improv, and I plan to move up there as well when I finish school in a year and a half.

I want to put together an awesome gift box for him, which would ideally include things that:

Would be useful in a big city (we've both only lived in semi-small cities)
Would be useful in a northern winter (it rarely gets below 40 degrees here)
Would be generally useful for starting 'real life' after college
Would remind him of NC
Would remind him of me (obviously this is more personal)

Some ideas so far:

Really nice gloves/scarf
T-shirts from our favorite places around Chapel Hill
Framed photo of us (obv)
Possibly two sets of the first season of a TV show we haven't seen, so that we can watch it 'together'- this is probably too expensive though
In the same vein, two copies of Guide to Getting It On
Nice pillows for his bed
Gift card for some neat Chicago/Midwest-only chain store

So, that's a start, but I could use more ideas, especially in the big-city and northern-winter areas.

I was thinking of spending $75-$125 on this. Gotta save up for plane tickets to visit him...

Additional stuff about him- he'll be living with two female friends (so he won't need dishes or throw pillows or things like that), and he's very into video games, comic books, and of course improv. And he'll be living in Wrigleyville.

Gallery-quality prints from slides.

Sreiny — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:13:07 -0800

What are my options for gallery-quality prints from slide film? I've had an inquiry in showing some of my photographs in a small gallery here in the city. All of the photos were shot with slide film. In the past I've scanned, had printed and framed these on a purely consumer level. I'd like to look into what processes (printing methods, scanning, etc), papers, framing that professional fine art photographers employ when they need to have gallery-quality photographs from transparency film produced.

For now, let's assume that price isn't the biggest factor and that the photos would be around 16x20. I'm in Chicago, if that helps. Your help is much appreciated!

fun things to do alone in Chicago?

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:31:56 -0800

What should I do alone in Chicago? I'm going to be in Chicago July 17-22 with my boyfriend. We already have plans to go to the Art Institute, bum around Michigan Avenue, go to the Signature Lounge, see Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, eat at delicious restaurants, wander through some neighborhoods, and go to some parks.

What I am looking for is something (inexpensive) to do on Saturday while my boyfriend is hipstering around the Pitchfork Music Festival and for other times when he is hanging out with some of his friends that I'd prefer not to spend too much time with (I can't handle hours of indie-rock talk!).

Suggestions for interesting places to sit and read would be nice if nothing else comes to mind. Also, I wouldn't be opposed to renting a bicycle and biking around the city but I am scared of super busy streets so bike route suggestions would also be welcome.

Seed sellers in Chicago

sk381 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:44:56 -0800

Where can I buy quality seeds, specially for herbs, in Chicago? I'm looking for sellers that are within city limits. Thanks!

What to do in Chicago?

vitrum — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:00:13 -0800

So we've got one day to spend in Chicago and we want to make the most of it... I'm going to meet up with some friends from Indiana by way of train in Chicago, and unfortunately only have one day to spend there... I've never been there and they've only gone once or twice. Any suggestions on how to best spend our time? We will be taking public transportation for the most part. We'll probably be there from early morning to late night... I drink, but they do not so any night life suggestions would have to be friendly to that. We're all geeks, in fact one idea we had tossed around was to check out Alder Planetarium if that tells you anything - so you can keep that in mind for ideas, ha. Haven't seen these guys in a few years so we're probably just looking to chill, catch up, and hang out. Ideas on great places to eat are welcome too!

Thank you!!

Looking for novel-esque non-fiction books.

melodykramer — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:39:20 -0800

I love Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City. It's a non-fiction book about Chicago in 1893 which reads much like a novel. I'd like to read other books written in the same novel-esque style about some other cities or historic events. Know of any novel-like non-fiction reads?

Microbrew kegs near Chicago?

iknowizbirfmark — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:35:59 -0800

What microbreweries within a hour or two's drive of Chicago will sell me a keg (half barrel) of a good, micro-brewed beer today or sometime this week? Great Lakes is too far, Three Floyds doesn't sell kegs to the public, and the selection at the local liquor stores never has all the things that I want (although I may do that as a fallback). I can't get ahold of anyone at Capital to figure out if they sell to the public or not. I know that I am missing some good regional breweries, but every place is either too far, I've never heard of it or they don't sell kegs to the public. Help!

Conference Room A/V Help in Chicago

moof! — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:31:26 -0800

I work for a smallish non-profit that is looking to outfit a conference room with some A/V equipment (projector, probably an additional plasma or two, presentation station, sound, etc.), and I'm having trouble finding someone in Chicago to help out with this. Google reveals a bunch of people who want to repaint my room and buy all new furniture, but I just need A/V help. Do you know any people / companies here that can help? Our budget is probably in the 25k range.

turtle in chicago

generalist — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:37:18 -0800

Turtle in Chicago I want to get a turtle. Where's a good pet shop in Chicago that sells turtles? (I promise I will be a good turtle owner. Currently researching turtle care).

Recommendations for restaurant on Devon Avenue in Chicago?

kdern — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:13:35 -0800

Recommendations for restaurant on Devon Avenue in Chicago? Going for Indian food on Devon Avenue in Chicago on July 4. Any recommendations on which restaurant to try? Buffet would be ideal as we are bringing a few Indian food newbies with us.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Battle of Chicago tickets

dzot — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:11:23 -0800

I suddenly find I am going to be in the Windy City next weekend and would love to score tix to the Friday afternoon Cubs/White Sox game at US Cell. What's the best reliable way to get tix? In the past I have had no problem getting tix from scalpers out front of Wrigley. Is it the same at US Cell? Otherwise, any suggestions? Ticketmaster is useless and I hate them.

Why are 24/7 big-box stores so rare in Chicagoland?

hitopshelf — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:54:17 -0800

Why are 24/7 big-box stores so rare in Chicagoland? I'm not talking just the downtown core or even the city itself. You have to drive nearly 30 miles from downtown to hit the first 24/7 Meijer in Schaumburg. I'm comparing this to central Illinois which has nearly a dozen Super Walmarts for 300,000 people in a 25 mile radius. Surely there is demand for 24/7 shopping in the city and the inner-ring suburbs.

Learning the Chicago L

elgalan207 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:08:21 -0800

I am planning a trip to Chicago this weekend, and my goal is to learn the L by picking fun stops across the city (my husband and I are ex-New Yorkers who love mass transit.) What are some suggestions for fun places to shop/eat/sight-see that are close to L stops? Our starting point is Diversey and N Clark, but we hope to cover a lot of territory. Please include descriptions about your recommendations and (of course) the nearest L station name.

What Chicago neighborhood should we move to?

EarBucket — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:16:49 -0800

Which neighborhoods in Chicago should we consider moving to? My fiancee and I are planning to move our family from Raleigh to Chicago next summer. We're going up there in a couple of weeks to scout out some likely neighborhoods/suburbs and get a feel for the city. What areas should we look at?

Considerations:

We have three kids, so schools and parks are something we're looking at. We're right around the median income, so nothing crazy expensive. Bonus points if there's a nearby Whole Foods, as she works for them. We'd prefer an area with some character (bookstores, theaters, museums) if possible.

Also, is there anything we absolutely have to do or see while we're there? We'll be in town July 1-3, if that matters.

Is a folding bicycle right for a train commute in Chicago?

crios — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:46:50 -0800

This is actually a two part question. First, can anybody recommend a folding bicycle? I'm going to need to travel from a train to my work and it's about 2 miles. Would you recommend one of these bicycles for this kind of commute? How do they hold up in the rain and when it gets cold? Is there anything I can do about water flying up from the front and rear wheels? 2nd, does anybody know if you can buy a monthly Metra pass that will allow you to transfer between two Metra lines? Here is my situation. I recently took a job in the western suburbs of Chicago and I live in the northern tip of Chicago. I would need to take the Union Pacific Northern line downtown, switch to Union Station and then take the BNSF route out to the western suburbs. Then from there I would still have to trek 2 miles to my work from the station. My original idea was to buy an old clunker bicycle and leave it at the station to ride back and forth. It would sit there through rain and snow and meteor storms and all that. Now I'm wondering if I should invest in a folding bicycle. I know basically nothing about these bicyles. Does anybody have any recommendations? How easy are they to fold and unfold? How compact are they? Would people hate me on the Metra trains if I got on with one? How does it handle the wet (as well as some snow, I might be willing to ride it through light snow)? How is maintenance? Is there anything I can do about water flying up from the front and rear wheels so that I can keep my nice work clothes from getting all spattered?

As a second part to my question... does anybody know if you can buy monthly passes that will allow you to transfer from one line to another? I'm going to have to transfer from the Union Pacific North to the BNSF line. I can't find anything about this on the Metra site and if I try to buy a monthly pass online I can ONLY buy for one line. Will I have to buy two monthly passes each month?