Chicago ERA | OT | Second City to None
- Thread starter IAMtheFMan
- Start date
I'm moving to Chicago in May! What are the broadcast radio stations that have electronic music shows? Seems like Radius gets the top touring DJs, what other venues have resident DJ shows?
Smartbar | Live Music, Concerts, and Events | Chicago, IL
Smart Bar is Chicago’s independent nightclub, celebrating 35 years of showcasing new and exciting dance music and the most cutting edge DJ’s from around the globe.
smartbarchicago.com
Hey, for anyone looking to make a donation this holiday season -
Great cause that I've donated to in prior years. If you can spare it, they're great people.
Almost A Decade After Police Killed Her Son, Chicago Mom Celebrates His Birth With Holiday Toy Drive
Great cause that I've donated to in prior years. If you can spare it, they're great people.
Hi ChicagoERA! I've been enamored with the city since I got back from my trip in February. Spent 4 days there and it seems I've fallen hard for your great city.
I currently live in San Antonio and work remote and am planning on bringing my dog (and maybe a car) for a month long stay sometime in 2024 as a trial to see if I do want to commit to a more permanent move in 2025 after I pay off a home improvement and auto loan. That along with the possibility of renting my house out could provide me ample additional income to experience all of Chicago like I would want.
I'm a 40yr old straight white male and currently make around 80k a year and interested in neighborhoods that one might consider a bit quieter but with decent walking access to the L. Being close to and using transit and cycling when I get comfortable with cycling in a more urban setting is paramount to the experience.
I'd say some of the neighborhoods off the brown line are more my speed for this time in my life. I had a great day that started with eating at Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club, then spending several hours at Half Acre Brewing after bussing and walking around the areas close by and finally eating at Luella's Southern Kitchen then riding the brown line while shooting some footage around the loop and finally ending up back at my hotel room in River North.
Just looking on AirBnB I see a potential intriguing match where I could stay in a bedroom with shared space with the owner of a town home in Lincoln Park for about $1800 for that trial month after fees. They say parking permit would be provided and It's a block away from the red/brown/purple lines. Seems like a potential slam dunk to me that I might want to book sooner rather than later.
I think more permanently a rent around $2k up to the average CHI apartment rent for a 2bed/1bath or a "larger" 1 bed would probably be where I'd want to be for relative comfort.
Anyway, just really excited about this potential new adventure and open to any thoughts
I currently live in San Antonio and work remote and am planning on bringing my dog (and maybe a car) for a month long stay sometime in 2024 as a trial to see if I do want to commit to a more permanent move in 2025 after I pay off a home improvement and auto loan. That along with the possibility of renting my house out could provide me ample additional income to experience all of Chicago like I would want.
I'm a 40yr old straight white male and currently make around 80k a year and interested in neighborhoods that one might consider a bit quieter but with decent walking access to the L. Being close to and using transit and cycling when I get comfortable with cycling in a more urban setting is paramount to the experience.
I'd say some of the neighborhoods off the brown line are more my speed for this time in my life. I had a great day that started with eating at Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club, then spending several hours at Half Acre Brewing after bussing and walking around the areas close by and finally eating at Luella's Southern Kitchen then riding the brown line while shooting some footage around the loop and finally ending up back at my hotel room in River North.
Just looking on AirBnB I see a potential intriguing match where I could stay in a bedroom with shared space with the owner of a town home in Lincoln Park for about $1800 for that trial month after fees. They say parking permit would be provided and It's a block away from the red/brown/purple lines. Seems like a potential slam dunk to me that I might want to book sooner rather than later.
I think more permanently a rent around $2k up to the average CHI apartment rent for a 2bed/1bath or a "larger" 1 bed would probably be where I'd want to be for relative comfort.
Anyway, just really excited about this potential new adventure and open to any thoughts
$2000 a month is actually a lot rent-wise in Chicago. You can easily find a more than decent 1BR for around half that if you put in the effort to search pretty hard. If you WANT to spend a lot on rent, there are certainly buildings that can oblige that, of course. The apartment complexes on Lake Shore Drive are extremely bougie and a lot of them charge a lot for rent.
Lincoln Park varies widely in rent prices depending on where you are - the highest per-capita income block of the entire city is actually IN Lincoln Park - but since it's a college neighborhood, you shouldn't have a ton of trouble. My first 1BR was $570 a month and it was one block east of Clark St. just a stone's throw from the zoo. LP in general is a very "nice" neighborhood, but it's fallen a lot in the past decade due to skyrocketing business rents causing a lot of restaurants and small businesses to close up shop.
The biggest train station in LP is Fullerton Station - if you get an apartment near there, you'll have access to most of the city pretty much straight away, save for the train lines that go west, which you'll need to change lines in or near the Loop to access. You can also, if you're closer to Clark St. than the train, rely on several north/south bus lines that can get you downtown easily.
I loved living in LP - it was my first neighborhood in Chicago, and my subsequent apartments being far, far further north made it so socializing after work was a real drag due to how far I had to go just to get home.
Thanks a lot for the reply!
I made that reservation for the space in LP but the owners said they also work from home so me trying to work from home as well probably wouldn't be great for anyone. The space was also small and it would have been very tight to setup my work space in the room I'd be confined to as well as having my dog, his crate, etc.
After a lot more looking and research, I just made a May 1st-June 1st reservation through AirBnB for a 2nd floor condo in Bronzeville a little South of 35th .4 mile from the 35th--Bronzeville-IIT green line which is close to the Sox-35th red line and Metra.
Has great space for my work from home command center that I haven't seen in really any others and it was $2400 for the month after fees. Parking should be fairly easy to come by too. Close by to a Jewel-Osco and Mariano's and an Indian corner store/grocer.
With some basic common sense, I should be just fine in that area and I'm officially extremely excited for the upcoming adventure. I'm planning on going to at least 1 Sox game since I'm right down the road and likely a Cubs game and can't wait to consume so much great food representative of so many cultures and explore more of the city.
Oof, I am not looking forward to my commute tomorrow AM. We're back in the office on Tuesdays and it sounds like the snow will either still be coming down or it'll just have finished by rush hour.
Yeah, it all worked out perfectly. We got a judgement call yesterday afternoon to let everyone work from home, and then it didn't snow, after all. Can't complain.
Hope y'all are staying warm. I work from our basement and I'm covered in several blankets today haha.
In the office today. Got a federal job and haven't been approved for telework yet. Tuesday is the day that everyone is in the office and surprisingly few people called out.
Was a painful walk to and from the train.
Was a painful walk to and from the train.
Brandon Johnson Appoints Pastor to CTA Board
Really disappointed by Brandon. Any time there are setbacks to his plans he blames someone else. And his appointees are all just typical Chicago politically connected cronies. This CTA one hurts especially. The CTA is so bad now and needs people with the knowledge and care to actually fix it. Not whatever the fuck this is
Really disappointed by Brandon. Any time there are setbacks to his plans he blames someone else. And his appointees are all just typical Chicago politically connected cronies. This CTA one hurts especially. The CTA is so bad now and needs people with the knowledge and care to actually fix it. Not whatever the fuck this is
Bears Want Taxpayers To Fund Half Of $3.2 Billion Domed Lakefront Stadium
Fuck all the way off. I'm honestly still salty they're not leaving the city altogether for Arlington Heights. I'd prefer that lakefront space be used for literally anything else.
Almost 2 weeks into my month long stay in Bronzeville just south of 35th on Prairie and I'm really enjoying myself. The farthest North I have made it so far is taking the green line to Morgan when I ate at Au Cheval Sunday night. I don't feel like I'm really missing out on anything and operating like I'm going to be spending much more time here in the future because it feels like I am.
I'm immensely enjoying spending extended time in a big city with decent public transit and easily walkable areas.
My car hasn't moved other than closer to the on-street curb since I arrived. I am planning on doing a late night Lake Shore Drive.... drive and will be heading to a few places that are harder to get to by public transit in the next couple of weeks. I'll probably go to Galloping Ghost Arcade at some point and will definitely be driving there.
Restaurants/Food spots so far:
35th Street Red Hots
Ken Kee Hong Kong in Chinatown
Pearl's Place
Little Sandwich House x3 - local coffeeshop/sandwich place that is very convenient when I walk to Mariano's to pick up a few groceries
Culver's (large cheese curds) + Chicago Home Run Inn (slice of sausage and slice of pepperoni) combo meal
Ricobene's x2 - had the chicken vesuvio sandwich and a cheese pizza puff first time, had the breaded steak sandwich the 2nd time. Hot giardiniera both times. I feel a gravitational pull for another trip already.
Greek Prime x2 - delicious Greek place in Bridgeport, first time I had a beer and dessert comped, 2nd time after a White Sox game had a beer comped
Chicago Waffles South Loop
Au Cheval - single cheeseburger with egg and bacon + crispy fries with Mornay sauce. Holy hell it was fantastic and the fries were pretty much perfect. I may have to try the Loyalist's burger offering as well while I'm here... for science!
Notable experiences:
-I got the biggest grin on my face driving into town on the 1st as soon as I saw that skyline. Also first night I was here I walked to 35th street red hots and seeing the skyline walking over Dan Ryan was pretty memorable.
-Feeling like I can go out so much more because after I finish a tiring day of work at 9PM, there are still lots of places open late and I don't have to drive! This is huge for me because when I am mentally exhausted after work, I don't feel very comfortable driving.
-First lake shore trail run was EPIC. Each one since has been excellent but not as far as the first one. I walked to the trail, then made it 5.5 miles round trip heading north and coming back down to the 35th st ped bridge and walked back to the condo. I'm .9 miles from the trail.
-I've talked to so many friendly and welcoming people. From a wonderfully sweet older couple sitting next to me at a bustling Pearl's Place during Saturday Brunch, to a couple of regulars at Greek Prime that ended up giving me a ride back to my condo, to a couple at the White Sox game Saturday night that were quick to give me lots more recommendations for eats. Many more examples.
-White Sox homerun fireworks that can be seen over the houses right across the street from the condo I'm staying at and a very fine display last Friday night after the game.
-Realizing that I was so close to Trader Joe's when I was waiting on a bus after eating at Chicago Waffles Saturday morning and adding some impromptu grocery shopping to my breakfast run just because I can.
edit: The weather... it was 98 degrees one day last week at my house in San Antonio while a super pleasant overcast 65 here. The weather, even with the rain has been pretty wonderful in my opinion.
I'm immensely enjoying spending extended time in a big city with decent public transit and easily walkable areas.
My car hasn't moved other than closer to the on-street curb since I arrived. I am planning on doing a late night Lake Shore Drive.... drive and will be heading to a few places that are harder to get to by public transit in the next couple of weeks. I'll probably go to Galloping Ghost Arcade at some point and will definitely be driving there.
Restaurants/Food spots so far:
35th Street Red Hots
Ken Kee Hong Kong in Chinatown
Pearl's Place
Little Sandwich House x3 - local coffeeshop/sandwich place that is very convenient when I walk to Mariano's to pick up a few groceries
Culver's (large cheese curds) + Chicago Home Run Inn (slice of sausage and slice of pepperoni) combo meal
Ricobene's x2 - had the chicken vesuvio sandwich and a cheese pizza puff first time, had the breaded steak sandwich the 2nd time. Hot giardiniera both times. I feel a gravitational pull for another trip already.
Greek Prime x2 - delicious Greek place in Bridgeport, first time I had a beer and dessert comped, 2nd time after a White Sox game had a beer comped
Chicago Waffles South Loop
Au Cheval - single cheeseburger with egg and bacon + crispy fries with Mornay sauce. Holy hell it was fantastic and the fries were pretty much perfect. I may have to try the Loyalist's burger offering as well while I'm here... for science!
Notable experiences:
-I got the biggest grin on my face driving into town on the 1st as soon as I saw that skyline. Also first night I was here I walked to 35th street red hots and seeing the skyline walking over Dan Ryan was pretty memorable.
-Feeling like I can go out so much more because after I finish a tiring day of work at 9PM, there are still lots of places open late and I don't have to drive! This is huge for me because when I am mentally exhausted after work, I don't feel very comfortable driving.
-First lake shore trail run was EPIC. Each one since has been excellent but not as far as the first one. I walked to the trail, then made it 5.5 miles round trip heading north and coming back down to the 35th st ped bridge and walked back to the condo. I'm .9 miles from the trail.
-I've talked to so many friendly and welcoming people. From a wonderfully sweet older couple sitting next to me at a bustling Pearl's Place during Saturday Brunch, to a couple of regulars at Greek Prime that ended up giving me a ride back to my condo, to a couple at the White Sox game Saturday night that were quick to give me lots more recommendations for eats. Many more examples.
-White Sox homerun fireworks that can be seen over the houses right across the street from the condo I'm staying at and a very fine display last Friday night after the game.
-Realizing that I was so close to Trader Joe's when I was waiting on a bus after eating at Chicago Waffles Saturday morning and adding some impromptu grocery shopping to my breakfast run just because I can.
edit: The weather... it was 98 degrees one day last week at my house in San Antonio while a super pleasant overcast 65 here. The weather, even with the rain has been pretty wonderful in my opinion.
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What a god damned bummer this is...
Museum Of Science And Industry Renamed For Florida Billionaire Ken Griffin
Museum Of Science And Industry Renamed For Florida Billionaire Ken Griffin
It'll be about as successful as the new name for Lake Shore Drive - which is to say, everyone will just keep calling it the Museum of Science and Industry. Nobody's calling it "the Griffin."
OP
OP
Glad you're enjoying it! Since you're south siding it, check out Martinez supermarket… the market is whatever but their burritos in the back area are some of the best in the city. Also near Pilsen, Carnitas Uruapan is a favorite and Pleasant House pub has awesome savory British-style pies. In Chinatown hing kee has probably the best soup dumplings but QXY is the overall "other" dumpling place. For dim sum, don't go to the strip but check out Dolo. Strings is pretty good for ramen down there too.
If you head to Hyde park, Virtue is awesome elevated southern food… though you're from San Antonio so don't know how it'll be to your standards
Thanks for the recs! Martinez supermarket and Virtue were already on my radar. That's funny, Hing Kee is where I thought I was putting myself on the waitlist when I accidentally went to Ken Kee my first Friday here... I'm planning on going back to Chinatown after work tonight and trying again.
Planning to go to Galloping Ghost Arcade tomorrow after a run and breakfast. Then make it down to Hyde Park late tomorrow afternoon/early evening. Sunday will probably be a lazy rest day, if the last 2 weekend trends continue. I've been DEAD on Sundays due to drained social batteries and work helping to wear me down throughout the week.