Husband is finalist for dream job in Chicago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chicago native for 30 yrs, moved to DC last August. Some thoughts below:

Fuck Chicago winters, DC is paradise in comparison
DC is much more expensive (but worth it for the weather and green space alone IMHO)

DC is much much smaller and way more sprawled out than Chicago. Therefore, car culture is much more popular out here.

Food: Chicago wins hands down. I have yet to find anything that compares to Chicago here in DC. DC does not have the authentic ethnic goods like Chicago does (sultans mkt, Oasis, opart thai, la scarola, del seoul, taco joints on every corner). DC loves its chains.

Beer Chicago wins on this one. Impossible to find 3floyds, deschutes, revolution, half acre type beers here.

Biking DC has wayyyyy more trails and drivers are very tolerant of bikes, Chicago has more on-street lanes though.

Diversity DC is black and white (with tourists and embassy workers sprinkled in). Chicago has distinct Irish, Italian, Polish, Mexican, Korean neighborhoods.

Pace of life - DC is way slower - not many street lights, fewer bars, less crowded. The "everything on every block" lifestyle does not exist here.

If you move, move close to a brown line stop.

Chicagoan who has been here 10 years. Hon, explore beyond the district. That's where they keep the "ethnic" neighborhoods out here. It is a gold mine. Remember DC proper is like 1/4 the area of Chicago proper. The fair comparison to Chicago is not DC, it's DC+bordering regions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chicago native for 30 yrs, moved to DC last August. Some thoughts below:

Fuck Chicago winters, DC is paradise in comparison
DC is much more expensive (but worth it for the weather and green space alone IMHO)

DC is much much smaller and way more sprawled out than Chicago. Therefore, car culture is much more popular out here.

Food: Chicago wins hands down. I have yet to find anything that compares to Chicago here in DC. DC does not have the authentic ethnic goods like Chicago does (sultans mkt, Oasis, opart thai, la scarola, del seoul, taco joints on every corner). DC loves its chains.

Beer Chicago wins on this one. Impossible to find 3floyds, deschutes, revolution, half acre type beers here.

Biking DC has wayyyyy more trails and drivers are very tolerant of bikes, Chicago has more on-street lanes though.

Diversity DC is black and white (with tourists and embassy workers sprinkled in). Chicago has distinct Irish, Italian, Polish, Mexican, Korean neighborhoods.

Pace of life - DC is way slower - not many street lights, fewer bars, less crowded. The "everything on every block" lifestyle does not exist here.

If you move, move close to a brown line stop.

Chicagoan who has been here 10 years. Hon, explore beyond the district. That's where they keep the "ethnic" neighborhoods out here. It is a gold mine. Remember DC proper is like 1/4 the area of Chicago proper. The fair comparison to Chicago is not DC, it's DC+bordering regions.

Truth. Best Vietnamese and Ethiopian food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chicago native for 30 yrs, moved to DC last August. Some thoughts below:

Fuck Chicago winters, DC is paradise in comparison
DC is much more expensive (but worth it for the weather and green space alone IMHO)

DC is much much smaller and way more sprawled out than Chicago. Therefore, car culture is much more popular out here.

Food: Chicago wins hands down. I have yet to find anything that compares to Chicago here in DC. DC does not have the authentic ethnic goods like Chicago does (sultans mkt, Oasis, opart thai, la scarola, del seoul, taco joints on every corner). DC loves its chains.

Beer Chicago wins on this one. Impossible to find 3floyds, deschutes, revolution, half acre type beers here.

Biking DC has wayyyyy more trails and drivers are very tolerant of bikes, Chicago has more on-street lanes though.

Diversity DC is black and white (with tourists and embassy workers sprinkled in). Chicago has distinct Irish, Italian, Polish, Mexican, Korean neighborhoods.

Pace of life - DC is way slower - not many street lights, fewer bars, less crowded. The "everything on every block" lifestyle does not exist here.

If you move, move close to a brown line stop.

Chicagoan who has been here 10 years. Hon, explore beyond the district. That's where they keep the "ethnic" neighborhoods out here. It is a gold mine. Remember DC proper is like 1/4 the area of Chicago proper. The fair comparison to Chicago is not DC, it's DC+bordering regions.

Truth. Best Vietnamese and Ethiopian food.

It really depends on the type of food you're talking about, though. Italian food in the DC area is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every single thing about Chicago is better than DC.

I honestly cannot think of one area where DC beats Chicago.

Gross. That ^ attitude is one of the million things I hate about Chicago, which, despite what its denizens will tell you, was NOT God's gift to the world.

The culture is about partying and sports and being stuck-up "citified" Midwesterners who always have a chip on their shoulder about something (the Cubs, the 'second city' status...etc. The weather blows. The traffic is just about as bad as it is here. Granted housing can be cheaper, but it's still a major city and not a bargain.

Never understood the 'gross' reaction to posts like this.

As far as 'stuck up' that may be the one thing that DC has over Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chicago native for 30 yrs, moved to DC last August. Some thoughts below:

Fuck Chicago winters, DC is paradise in comparison
DC is much more expensive (but worth it for the weather and green space alone IMHO)

DC is much much smaller and way more sprawled out than Chicago. Therefore, car culture is much more popular out here.

Food: Chicago wins hands down. I have yet to find anything that compares to Chicago here in DC. DC does not have the authentic ethnic goods like Chicago does (sultans mkt, Oasis, opart thai, la scarola, del seoul, taco joints on every corner). DC loves its chains.

Beer Chicago wins on this one. Impossible to find 3floyds, deschutes, revolution, half acre type beers here.

Biking DC has wayyyyy more trails and drivers are very tolerant of bikes, Chicago has more on-street lanes though.

Diversity DC is black and white (with tourists and embassy workers sprinkled in). Chicago has distinct Irish, Italian, Polish, Mexican, Korean neighborhoods.

Pace of life - DC is way slower - not many street lights, fewer bars, less crowded. The "everything on every block" lifestyle does not exist here.

If you move, move close to a brown line stop.

Chicagoan who has been here 10 years. Hon, explore beyond the district. That's where they keep the "ethnic" neighborhoods out here. It is a gold mine. Remember DC proper is like 1/4 the area of Chicago proper. The fair comparison to Chicago is not DC, it's DC+bordering regions.

Truth. Best Vietnamese and Ethiopian food.

It really depends on the type of food you're talking about, though. Italian food in the DC area is a joke.

Of course it is, because there is no immigrant community making it good. If you want good ethnic food in a region, you have to look at who moved there over the last 50-100 years and seek those cuisines out. It's also why Chinese and Mexican food sucks here...but the Vietnamese, Korean, and Peruvian pollo is outstanding. Do Philadelphians complain they can't get a good cheese steak outside Philly? No, because they don't expect it to be possible. People who hop between cities without understanding this dynamic are doomed to unhappiness. Learn to love what's good where you are and you can eat well anywhere. Well, anywhere big enough for immigrant populations to thrive.

[Anonymous]

I've only heard bad things about Chicago and am surprised it's getting so much praise. My friend was just offered a job there and has been on the fence, so I'll have to relay some of the praise it's received.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move to Chicago in a hot New York minute!

Millions of people survive cold winters. People on this board make it sound like OP is considering a move to the North Pole!

But that's what it feels like to some people surviving. I don't want to just survive...I'd like to have a bit of fun doing it.

Do you like theater and the arts and music and great food? Chicago is a great city for those things. I found Chicago a really fun place to live.

It's cold from November to the end of February. Summer, fall and spring are gorgeous. Summer is much less miserable than a DC summer.

Great sports, too -- 2 baseball teams, a football team, a hockey team, and a basketball team. The Cubs may not be winning, but an afternoon game at Wrigley is always a good time to drink a beer and enjoy the sunshine.

The city hosts great events if you like to run marathons or do triathlons. There's also some good open water swimming events in Chicago (Big Shoulders, Crystal Lake, Sharkfest).

If you like to boat, the lake is right there and it's wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every single thing about Chicago is better than DC.

I honestly cannot think of one area where DC beats Chicago.

Chicago native in DC here who loves loves loves Chicago, but just does not agree with that statement.

One thing that hasn't been previously mentioned is DC's proximity to other major cities / points of interest. I can drive an hour or two out of DC and be in somewhere completely topographically different for wine tasting or good hiking or a beach. Drive one to two hours out of Chicago and what do you get? Milwaukee? 4 hours out of DC and you have New York for a weekend getaway. The proximity to other places is a real draw for me.

Beach vacation in Michigan, which is pretty awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move to Chicago in a hot New York minute!

Millions of people survive cold winters. People on this board make it sound like OP is considering a move to the North Pole!

But that's what it feels like to some people surviving. I don't want to just survive...I'd like to have a bit of fun doing it.

Do you like theater and the arts and music and great food? Chicago is a great city for those things. I found Chicago a really fun place to live.

It's cold from November to the end of February. Summer, fall and spring are gorgeous. Summer is much less miserable than a DC summer.

Great sports, too -- 2 baseball teams, a football team, a hockey team, and a basketball team. The Cubs may not be winning, but an afternoon game at Wrigley is always a good time to drink a beer and enjoy the sunshine.

The city hosts great events if you like to run marathons or do triathlons. There's also some good open water swimming events in Chicago (Big Shoulders, Crystal Lake, Sharkfest).

If you like to boat, the lake is right there and it's wonderful.

Let me guess, not a baseball follower? The Cubs are a game away from the playoffs with a week more of baseball to play...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:40 I think the COL is lower in Chicago than DC, especially when you do an apples to apples comparison of neighborhoods/suburbs.

Housing is SO MUCH CHEAPER in Chicago than DC. My parents in DC like to debate me on this point, but it's ridiculous. My friends live in a trendy Chicago neighborhood brownstone, 3br and 3 ba for $600,000. WITH A GARAGE AND BASEMENT. Come on. A million bucks in DMV will buy you a shack.

Okay, but if you want to buy in the north shore, you will pay a million dollars for a pretty nice house, along with a 20-30k tax bill every year. Sounds a lot like DC suburbs, doesn't it!

[Anonymous]

I would move to Chicago in a heartbeat! GREAT food, great theater, great music, great sports, great stores and galleries. Beautiful lake and beach, gorgeous parks. Second City.

DC is a sad, poor relative by comparison. Plus the people of Chicago are so much warmer and open than DC transients.


GO!

[Anonymous]

Chicago has Harry Dresden. What more do you need?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the odes to Chicago but honestly, if we moved, we'd be a family of 4 with two small kids. We aren't going to be having regular meals at the chic restaurants, nor going to baseball/football/baskeball games, etc. Personally, I know 2-3 friends who LEFT Chicago for other places for lower-key pace of life. They lived in the city, but once they had 2+ kids, didn't want to deal with city living and schools and didn't want to start over moving to the 'burbs. I would love to hear from people with families talk about family life in Chicago.

Right now, we have a decent lifestyle by DC standards. I don't need a bigger house (we bought 10+ years ago and have re-fi'ed), our kid(s) are in very good JLKM schools, we have an easy 20-40 min commute to work. So most of the reasons people have for fleeing DC don't apply to us.

[Anonymous]

I love Chicago. I just lived there during grad school more than 12 years ago, and didn't mind the winter even. I just felt that people were down to earth, it felt like a city, I loved the different ethnic neighborhoods and the architecture of the big buildings. The houses are maybe not as nice (I live in DC proper in a row house). I think you'll meet great people there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The weather is absolutely brutal in Chicago many months of the year. I wouldn't move. I like someone's idea for your dh to commute.

LOL Oh please - it is not that bad, Princess. You bundle up.

OMG, its not the tundra, its northern Illinois. Yes, it has a winter, yes, you have to buy a winter coat, but its not like you can't leave the house.