drunk on the train to Chicago, I feel alright

[effex]

I'm seriously considering moving to Chicago at the end of the year (with the understanding that winter is a terrible time to move anywhere) - my lease will be up, I've sworn to quit my job come November, and I need to get the hell out of Texas. Chicago seems a good fit for needs both practical (a large city, not too expensive, with a good public transit system) and sentimental (I was born in Aurora, IL).

So, anyone here from Chicago? And willing to let me pick your brain? I have questions and a lack of contacts in the area.

Comments

[talitha78]

I live in Chicago. There're a lot of fangirls in this city. :)

[effex]

Ha, I thought so! I see people talk about it all the time, but couldn't remember any names.

D'you mind if I ask you a question or two?

[talitha78]

Ask away!

[effex]

Thanks! Let's see...

1) I don't drive, so access to public transit is my biggest concern. With that in mind, which neighborhoods/areas would you recommend looking for an apartment in?

2) Do you know what the job market's like right now?

3) Finally (broad question is broad), What should a newcomer know about the city?

[talitha78]

1.) Public transportation is pretty great all over the city. I don't know anything about the suburbs, though. Also, it takes a while to get from point A to point B because if the sheer size of the city, so depending on where you get a job, you want to factor in a commute time. For example, I live in the Ravenswood area and I work downtown, so my commute is about an hour each way. I recommend the North side of the city over the South side, but only because that's what I know.

2.) It depends on what you're looking for and how much experience you have. I've known people who've been looking for over a year, but they're recent grads and are looking for entry-level. If you have specialized experience, it could go much quicker. I was only unemployed about two months when I got laid off last November.

3.) It's freakin' cold in the winter. If you don't like cold weather, do not come here. Ummmm. What else? Cost of living might be a little high, depending on what part of the country you're coming from. If you have a car, parking can be a bit of a hassle, and gas prices are the highest in the nation. Other than that, it's awesome. I love it here.

[talitha78]

Oh, duh. You said you don't drive, so ignore the stuff about cars. *facepalms*

I don't drive, either, and I have absolutely no problem getting anywhere I want to go.

[effex]

Thank you! This is all very useful - I knew public transit was good, but it sounds so much better than Dallas' I've got stars in my eyes. I've got four years' experience as a designer, most of it in-house, so that's reassuring as well. And I spent five years in Iowa before moving down here and on the whole, I prefer the cold.

It does sound awesome! Thank you again :D

[thedorkygirl]

Try copperbadge. He, at least, writes a fabulous blog. But he's also just...literate about his home. I think if you contacted him, read him, whatever, you'd get a good idea of Chicago :)

[effex]

<3 Sam. I not sure if I should contact him directly (I'm mostly a lurker), but I plan on trawling his Chicago entries extensively.

[thedorkygirl]

I've been lurking him for years - he's such an interesting person! I remember first finding him when I was in high school, so wow! Must have been six, six and a half years ago!

[thedorkygirl]

Wait...make that seven! I'm older than I thought!

[effex]

Ha, it's been about that long for me - I was a college freshman and Stealing Harry was just wrapping up (I think). So, uh. 8-ish years, wow.

[shrift]

I also live in Chicago! And I will try to answer questions.

[effex]

Thank you! My main questions are:

1) I don't drive, so access to public transit is my biggest concern. With that in mind, which neighborhoods/areas would you recommend looking for an apartment in?

2) Do you know what the job market's like right now?

3) Finally (broad question is broad), What should a newcomer know about the city?

[shrift]

1) Like [Bad username or unknown identity: talitha78"] said, public transportation here is pretty extensive, and although I hear the Metra is good for getting back and forth from the suburbs, you're beholden to their schedule. I don't own a car, and I get around the city easily.

The Red and Blue L lines run 24/7 (and thus are often more crowded), so neighborhoods along them can be convenient. Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Andersonville, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square. I don't spend much time on the south side, so all I really know is that most cab drivers won't go all the way out to Hyde Park.

2) Man, I don't know. I think if you've got experience, you should do okay. Lately I've had recruiters calling me, and I haven't been in the job market since 2008.

3) Chicago has all the seasons, sometimes in one day. Sometimes the winters are mild, and sometimes you get the snowpocalypse. Although its Windy City nickname came from politics, it is, actually, pretty fucking windy. It's a big city with a small town feel, and I run into people I know frequently. Um. Tourists. There are many of them. We have a great music scene and tons of great food. The recycling system is pretty terrible.

[effex]

Thank you!

I think I'll stay out of the suburbs, I'm a city girl anyway. Good to know there's a way into them, though. The north neighborhoods along the Red line have been consistently recommended, seems like my best bet.

Ooh, thanks for reminding me about recruiters - I'll have to poke around and see if Chicago has any reputable creative types.

[colorblue]

Am in the suburbs currently, where public transport sucks, and you definitely need a car to get around. In the city, for the most part it is awesome, though if you live in certain places such as the Southside, you will probably be dependent on buses that are iffy at best. Also, no one I know has had a difficult time finding a job, but the people I know who've been looking recently are in finance & computers, and I don't know whether that would carry over to other fields.