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Anybody from Chicago? I got a job offer there.

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rei101

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 24, 2011
976
1
Hi

I live in Miami and I got a job offer working in advertising in Chicago, but I have never been there. I wonder how is like. It is better than Miami socially?

here in Miami people are very show up and many latin americans with no much education. I have seen pictures of Chicago and I see a bunch of buildings in one area and then many small houses until the horizon. What are those houses? Ghettos?

Do you have mountains near by? What people does for fun? I am 39 and I like the outdoors as well as clubbing and bars. Florida is way too flat and the same landscape everywhere. Is Illinois the same or can I find different landscapes?

Thank you!
 
One of the greatest cities I've ever spent time in, and I've been in dozens of cities around the world.

rei101 said:
Hi

Do you have mountains near by? What people does for fun? I am 39 and I like the outdoors as well as clubbing and bars. Florida is way too flat and the same landscape everywhere. Is Illinois the same or can I find different landscapes?
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HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. Unless you like windsurfing, cross country skiing, or ice fishing, you won't find much mountainy or varying landscapes in Illinois until you travel east to the Appalachians or west to the Rockies.
 
rei101 said:
Hi

I live in Miami and I got a job offer working in advertising in Chicago, but I have never been there. I wonder how is like. It is better than Miami socially?

here in Miami people are very show up and many latin americans with no much education. I have seen pictures of Chicago and I see a bunch of buildings in one area and then many small houses until the horizon. What are those houses? Ghettos?

Do you have mountains near by? What people does for fun? I am 39 and I like the outdoors as well as clubbing and bars. Florida is way too flat and the same landscape everywhere. Is Illinois the same or can I find different landscapes?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Honestly, you sound exactly like the Miami type, the type you are describing.
 
Sounds like a map would be a great place to start.

As an aside, I've never lived there, but have visited several times in all seasons and have really loved the city.
 
It's a super city, not as frenzied as NYC. Lots of wonderful restaurants and bars, great parks, beaches, biking and walking trails. And you have Lake Michigan at your doorstep. If you've got experience sailing, offer to crew at any of the yacht clubs and you'll make lots of new friends.

For downhill skiing, you'll have to cross the pond (Lake Michigan) and come to my part of the country: Northern Michigan, which has some super ski areas, snowmobiling, xx skiing, good restaurants, and sparkling summers.

If you are from Miami and move to Chicago, you're in for a shock when winter hits. You want windproof and down. Cold builds character. :)

Just stay far away from the south side of Chicago.
 
I am from Chicago. Given you are from Miami, I don't think you are going to like it weather-wise as well as the landscape which is very flat.

Socially, Chicago is great. People are pretty friendly, tons of bars, clubs and restaurants to suit your needs.

Ghettos? Chicago is a big city. Generally speaking, you want to live around the Loop, to the near West, Northwest and North. There are many neighborhoods each offering a different feel.

If you do decide to move, since you are from Miami, I would recommend living near the lake. So Gold Coast, East Lake View, Lincoln Park, Streeterville and even maybe Uptown. Assuming you are working in or near the Loop, you have easy access via the Brown or Red Line.

Chicago is a great city, I get back there at least 3 times a year and every time I live I miss it more. Do your research and make sure you want to make the move, it will be quite a change from Miami.

Good luck.
 
Depending on where exactly your job is and when your hours are you could live in the suburbs and commute, which is what alot of people do. Though traffic can get terrible. Its a busy city, not as busy as NYC as said above, many attractions and parks. People are friendly and there is plenty to do.
 
Aspasia said:
If you are from Miami and move to Chicago, you're in for a shock when winter hits. You want windproof and down. Cold builds character. :)
Click to expand...

That is my biggest concern, I have a convertible and I like when the hot burns. I am originally from Venezuela and down there I used to have a Corolla without AC for about 2 years when a kid, and I got used to enjoy the heat. I once lived in Manhattan and I hated the winter so much. But Chicago looks more greener.
 
Not sure how Chicago can be better than Miami socially. The weathers better in Miami. Nightlife, beaches etc. people go to Miami on vacation all year long for a reason
 
Truefan31 said:
Not sure how Chicago can be better than Miami socially. The weathers better in Miami. Nightlife, beaches etc. people go to Miami on vacation all year long for a reason
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Miami is nice but socially is a disaster. Because is a touristic place girls are escorts/ hookers, specially since the majority of the population is cuban and in Cuba girls get laid since they are about 12 for $15 and that is more than a month of wage. So if you are into getting laid, drugs and have loads of money, Miami is the place.

Me, I am more family oriented and old fashioned and I can't find my self in here.

Then, I rather to deal with one culture instead of many. The other problem of Miami is that many people who didn't make it in their own countries moved here. So you find many people with no degrees, and those are the one who start in drug dealing and prostitution. How come a valet parking can pay a $3K a month pent house? You have people all over latin america an the scammer from Peru, Bolivia and Argentina are different than the one from Venezuela, Colombia and Panamá. You end up dealing with people from your own nationality most of the time and you get really isolated.

That is the social issue in Miami. Not to mention we have to deal with the american culture that is very square. And that is one of the reasons I am considering moving, I used to live in Arkansas, people were nice, simple and everybody the same. I really like that side of the US and I hope I can find something similar in Chicago. Just one single trend, not many half way done.
 
Oh, don't get me wrong, there's plenty of disfunction in Chicago, and plenty of areas in Chicago that are to be avoided - just like any big city.

But there's a metric crap tonne of places to go, things to see, etc.

To compare Chicago to Detroit is foolish, blind and just plain indefensible
 
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