After 24 longsighted eld in Indiana , this preceding fall , I decided it was finally clip for a big change . I quit my line of work ( OK , I got fired ) , loaded up my earthly property in a U - Haul , and determine to make the large trek NW , three intact minute and one time geographical zone change , to Chicago . While geographically pretty close , in most other regard Chicago and Indianapolis are worlds apart . I wasn’ttotallyunfamiliar with the urban center , nor did I go it alone , but I definitely could have gleaned some avail from an informal guide . total up on almost a year , here is the wiseness I have acquire in my curt time in Chicago .
1. The CTA is your greatest ally, and your worst enemy
Chicago is frequently range one of the good city in the US for public DoT . Coming from a city where public passage is much less prolific , the CTA feel like a gold rush to me . There ’s definitely a teach curve to proper bus and railroad train etiquette , but just take solace that somewhere out there is a tourist or newcomer transplant art pupil reckon even more nervous and fall behind than you .
Sometimes , though , even when you do everything right , the bus or train WILL betray you , either all choke you by or consume unexpected wait . As someone who formerly rely wholly on a gondola or bike for transport , there is a veridical solace in being capable to reconcile with the mantra “ I can only go as fast as the CTA . ” It helps that Chicago is essentially a immense grid so it is nearly impossible to get lose .
2. Summers here are transformative
When warmer conditions rolls around , it ’s like the entire city come out from a keep that it ’s been trapped in by an evil wizard for 20 foresighted years , which leads to a voracious bloodlust to party . Go to the beach , and a terrace , and a rooftop , and the park . Summer in Chicago is fun , like , really really fun . You might even get over make from the unceasing onslaught of show and block parties and cookouts and fete . Everyone talks about the weather – all the clip , just embrace it . There are worse affair to talk about , like crossfit .
3. Chicago is a great biking city
I was hesitant to start out wheel around Chicago , but as soon as I did therewas no going back . Chicago is a huge flat storage-battery grid , with tons of bike lane . If biking on streets congested with gondola and pedestrian makes you flighty , there are rafts of quiet side streets to take alternate routes . When dealings is back up , biking is often as fast or a faster way to get around than drive or theodolite . apply proper hand sign , wear a helmet , and embrace showing up to ferment really sweaty .
4. Every one of your new friends is leaving for LA or New York
Sorry in advance .
5. There is a severe lack of quality bagels
In a metropolis with nearly three million residents , you ’d think the street would be overflowing with bagels . And certainly , they technicallydo exist in Chicago , but happen a true bagel , however , in my humble opinion , is right smart too complicated a task . Chicago just just is n’t the bagel paradise you might get hold in say , New York City , where a double-dyed bagel is usable on nearly every recess ( that ’s the only sentence I ’ll trumpet NYC over Chicago , promise ) . Do n’t despair , though , Chicago is overflowing with other pastry dough , breakfast , and bread shop class . We will get through this together .
6. Having a car is convenient, but driving is miserable
The traffic law of nature enforcement in Chicago is loose , to say the least . When driving through a humble Ithiel Town in Indiana , you will get pulled over going .001 miles over the upper limit . In Chicago , the furrow paint into the street are merely suggestions . Speed limit point ? A testimonial . Turn signals ? I think you may habituate them , if you ’re some form of lame . The mental capacity I have adopted is “ other car do n’t want to strike me . ” It is the most solace I can muster . Say a prayer and drive confidently , and do n’t have road rage consume you when you ’re stuck in traffic for 30 transactions render to move one mile .
7. You can get alcohol at Taco Bell
The very firstTaco Bell Cantinain the Carry Amelia Moore Nation open up latterly in Wicker Park . The musical theme is elementary enough – do what people were already doing ( add tequila shooters into their Baja blast ) . The Taco Bell Cantina , however , earmark for the tote up atmosphere of hanging out in Taco Bellwhiledrinking , as opposed to after , perhaps in the hopes of preventing a annihilative katzenjammer through liquified high mallow . At the very least it is an experience , a truthful American landmark , a part of story itself . Bring your booster , your parents , your mentor , show them what Chicago is really about .
8. There are 2am bars, and then there are 4am bars
Back in Indianapolis , most bar near at 3 am – the consummate , most fair metre to close . If you make it all the way to 3 am , you know you ’ve done well . You ’re tired , but satisfied , and quick to take yourself home for a restful sleep , or snap up some much - needed greasy alimentation from a 24 - time of day diner .
In Chicago , most ginmill close at 2 am . For many masses , 2 am is the correct time to go to sleep . As someone who make for in the service industry , 2 am is unbearably early . For my scummy , sleepless crony , Chicago has an innovative solution known as “ 4 am bars . ” Now , 4 am ginmill are never exactlyan idealistic place to be , and they are also few and far between . The metropolis of Chicago make it pretty unmanageable to get a permission to be open until 4 am , and so the crowds from dozens of 2 am bar , all across the locality , find themselves mug up together at the only place within walk distance still serving for one last drink .
In some way it is beautiful , the path mass of all different background come together in alcoholic and sexual desperation . Other metre they are like a sink of hoi polloi who were once peaceful strangers but are now somehow all of a sudden all enemy . Just test to enjoy yourself and not get into any trouble , maybe call an Uber , and in spades get a Methedrine of water . Do n’t even imagine about an after party , you are too timeworn , go to layer , finish Tweeting .
Fotoluminate LLC / Shutterstock
9. Many places offering “deep dish” are scamming you
Historically , politically , generationally , Chicago has more than its fair share of scammers . Do n’t take it personally , eventually you will learn to put off them as you get orient . To deliver you a niggling heartbreak , if you ’re going to do recondite stunner , do n’t stop at any random , by - the - slice places you happen upon . They will likely serve you a triangle of puffy dough with a bed of sauce and tall mallow on top and tell you its mystifying dish . If you ’re going to get a true Chicago - style Proto-Indo European – which will not be that often as you think – for the making love of Goddo your research .
10. A 24-hour Korean spa is a godsend
King Spa , a luxurious and flowery Korean spa , is actually just alfresco of Chicago in Niles , IL , but it is perhaps one of Chicago ’s biggest assets . A single pass gets you ’re a full 24 - 60 minutes access to the spa , which includes public hot tub , dry saunas , a nutrient court , and more . Exfoliate your problem away .
11. The winter is going to be worse than you think
As a Midwesterner , I ’m used to rough , dusty winters . I wasstillnot quick for wintertime in Chicago . There is emphatically something about the city , be it science or God ’s wrath , that makes the winters so bad . day nest egg is also an sheer curse on the metropolis as one mean solar day you are peacefully living your lifetime , and the next matter you lie with its 4:30pm and the Lord’s Day is inexplicably missing .
Everyone you know is going to talk about their seasonal depression , and their unconstipated depression , and the futility of life itself . At times it seems like you ’re not going to make it . The Friend who you still talk to and hang out with during this long hibernation – they are your material admirer . This winter I buy an electrical cover , two humidifiers , a healing crystal , and no less than nine works . For a more cost - in force program , get a undecomposed coat and do some journaling . You ’re go to be fine .
12. Jobs are competitive, and connections go much farther than experience
Holding down a job in a competitive metropolis is baffling . For a young transplant who only cognize a smattering of people , pose a job is even hard . In my 10 months here I ’ve worked four dissimilar problem , and only one of them was catch without a personal referral . My old handler said that from one Craigslist post , she got 400 responses , and absolutely no one wants to sift through 400 applicant to get to you , no matter how good your CV is . For many hiring managers , they would rather just hire someone they know , or someone you jazz . So make some friends , you awkward introvert .
13. The beaches are like real, actual beaches
As a naïve country mouse , city beach are an anomalousness . You ’re pass to be encamp out with a cooler on a sandy shore while vast skyscrapers tower just behind you . You ’re barely a few hundred yards from cars travel rapidly down Lake Shore Dr , but there ’s something so peaceful and tranquil about these little haven on the face of Lake Michigan . When the sun descends behind the skyscrapers , it is hard to resist reveling in how favourable you are to be here , clogging your Instagram feed with slow sundown characterisation . If you time your trip right , you might even be capable to sweet talk your means into a cookout .
14. The street-food scene is a pleasant surprise
At this point of you are believably like “ why is this author so addicted to intellectual nourishment and strong drink ? ” In some ways you ’re right , I am . In other way of life , Chicago is an out-and-out monster of a city when it comes to drinking and feeding , probably this city ’s biggest pastime . I do n’t know much about mutant , but from what I understand they also heavily roll around beer and spicy dogs . The street of Chicago are littered with carts and snack stands .
In almost every neighborhood you may discover inexpensive , delicious food for thought serve to you via cart or return . There are of coursehot Canis familiaris , which people will attempt to shame you out of putting cetchup on , but you have to be strong . There are $ 1 taco . There are street carts serve elotes , sweet Mangifera indica , coke cones , and sorbet . There are polish sausage balloon handcart andItalian beef . use up a jibarito – steak or chicken , lettuce , cheese , onions , and tomatoes sandwiched between deep-fried plantain tree . There ’s a guy rope with a purse of hand-crafted Tamale that walks around measure near windup time . You did n’t even know you wanted tamales but now here you are , urgently eating them with a mound of Old Style .
15. Make your way around the city – all of it
The worst thing you could do in Chicago would be to confine yourself to a few straightforward Swedish mile . Go down to Hyde Park for a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. trip to Promontory Point , or the Museum of Science and Industry . lead to Pilsen for the best carnitas you ’ve ever had . Get off at the Argyle Stop on the Red Lineto rust in Little Vietnam . chit-chat the recently reopen Humboldt Park inland beach . Spend a day walking around Chinatown . Go to the Garfield Park Conservatory . Chicago is as thick as it is talkative , and you ’re selling yourself short by not exploring all it has to offer .
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Flickr/GCF Photography
FLICKR/JASON KOSITARUT [EDITED]
tose / shutterstock
Sean cooley/thrillist
King Spa
jessicakirsh / shutterstock
ohio st beach|Flickr/Josh Mogerman
Jim Vondruska /Thrillist