10 Reasons Why Women Should Move to Chicago
Here Are My Top 10 Reasons Why Women Should Move To Chicago:
It is safe. How do I know this? Because every time a woman does an internet search for "Chicago," "crime" or "dangerous town," Chicago inevitably shows up on a list of "most dangerous cities." Not that the internet is all that reliable. Anyone who has ever been to Chicago knows first hand it's actually one of the safest big cities in America (it's not even in the top ten most dangerous by violent crime rate or murders ).
The cost of living is relatively low, especially if you are single.
Chicago has the second-largest theater district in the country and hosts famous plays (the Goodman Theatre) and musicals (Shakespeare, Rent).
The food scene is great. You can get amazing Italian food, world class sushi, organic vegetarian fare, kosher dining... And that's just scratching the surface of what you'll find here.
The people are cool . There are a lot of artsy people who live in Chicago because it is cheap to do so and they prefer an urban setting rather than living in a suburb with their families where their children could be exposed to drugs, gangs or other bad influences. As a result of immigration, there are people from all over the world. With so many different social backgrounds, this city has an incredible flavor.
It's a major transportation hub. You can fly into O'hare or Midway airports which gives you immediate access to the entire country. Plus Chicago is a one hour train ride from Champaign-Urbana (home of University of Illinois), two hours from Indianapolis and one hour from Milwaukee, so it's easy to get outside the city when you want some fresh air.
There are plenty of career opportunities here if you're looking for a job in publishing, fashion, marketing or advertising. And don't forget that all the big law firms are in Chicago... Just as an example there are 15,000 lawyers in downtown Chicago!
The culture is what you make it: Over 200 films were shot in Chicago last year alone thanks to heavy tax incentives that the state offers. There are plenty of classes, art shows and clubs to take part in too.
The nightlife is legendary: This is one of the best cities for parties and socializing. Unlike other big cities where people work all day then go home alone to their house or apartment, Chicagoans prefer a more adventurous lifestyle... A life where they get paid to party!
It's not as crowded as New York City (that makes it easier to find job opportunities) AND it has an awesome nightlife if you're single (in case you were worried about that).
However, there are some very serious questions that need to be asked about why women should move to Chicago: Is the great nightlife worth it if you're single? Are there enough jobs for professional women here or do they have to commute into the city? What's the long-term return on investment of living in a big city like Chicago as opposed to a suburb or other cities like Austin, Boston or San Francisco? How bad is the winter really and how much of it will an average person endure before deciding they aren't cut out for this place any longer (and leaving)?
These are all excellent questions that I'll discuss later on but first let me tell you what I love most about this fine city...
The Food Scene
Chicago has an unusually large array of restaurants that feature local, organic foodstuffs. There are also tons of ethnic restaurants so you can experience different types of cuisine from around the world if you've never had a certain type of food before. I love trying new foods and exploring new restaurants (there are always Yelp reviews available on the web to guide you), so this is a big plus for me personally.
In case it's not obvious, here's a list of my favorite places... It may vary depending on your preferences but I recommend checking out any of these restaurants if you find yourself in Chicago (I've included the name of the neighborhood they're located in):
Harold 's Chicken Shack: Located right outside downtown , Harold's is famous for their fried chicken which I really like. They also offer BBQ ribs and wings . But what makes Harold's special is all the sides they serve: mac & cheese , cornbread, baked beans and coleslaw . That alone puts them at number 1 on my list. The closest location to campus is located in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago ( map ).
First Slice Pie Cafe: This place is pretty neat if you're a lover of pie (which I am). Also it's really close to UIC, so that's convenient if you need something sweet after class. They have plenty of savory options like grilled cheese sandwiches too if you're not a pie person (which I'm not).
The Chocolate Bar: Located in the River North neighborhood , The Chocolate Bar is great for chocolate desserts and drinks. They have palmiers, croissants, brownies, cookies... And then of course there's the hot chocolate. If you're looking to indulge your sweet tooth but don't want to break your diet, go here instead of the Cheesecake Factory or other junk food restaurants.
Most people know Chicago as the best city in America for pizza . People often debate about which pizzeria is better: Gino's East or Uno's? Personally I prefer Uno's because they put corn on their crust and that makes it much tastier. But either way if you're in the mood for deep dish pizza, check out Chicago . The closest location to campus is located in the South Loop neighborhood ( map ).
La Creperie: Last but not least... A crepe restaurant. This place is famous for their Brussels sprouts crepes and that's what I usually get when I go there. When you walk in you're supposed to exclaim "Ooh la la!" because apparently it means you approve of their wonderful food (it's just a silly French thing). Don't forget to say it! Otherwise they regretfully won't let you inside.
The Weather
When compared to other big cities on the east coast, Chicago 's winters aren't all that bad. At least we don't have as much slush. And it usually doesn't snow more than a couple of inches (unless you live near the lake, then you're in trouble).
If you enjoy long walks outside like I do, then this is great news . You can walk to school and back without having to worry about stepping in slush or getting caught in the rain.
If walking isn't your thing but you still want to be outdoors most days of the week... There are plenty of places for sunshine in Chicago : Millennium Park has tons of grassy areas where people sit during sunset time; Grant Park has a large waterfront that's fun for summertime activities; Lincoln Park Conservatory offers beautiful indoor gardens and fountains ; North Avenue Beach is perfect if you want to swim in Lake Michigan and they let you walk your dog ; then of course there's always the sidewalk cafes downtown if you want to people watch .
No sidewalks? No problem. Chicago is a very pedestrian friendly city. You should be able to comfortably walk wherever you need to go without having car traffic scare you or block your way. This includes walking across the street, which I'll get into next...
Traffic, Other Drivers & Sidewalks
Since this post is all about the good stuff, I'm not going to talk much about the bad things like crime statistics (they're actually pretty comparable with other large cities) or how people who live here are unfriendly (not true).
I just wanted to take the opportunity to talk about the transportation system in Chicago and how it's really easy to get around without driving. You won't need to park a car everywhere you go because there are ways to walk/bike/bus between any two places.
Also, unlike most other cities, it's illegal for cars on the main roads to turn right at a red light . This is especially useful if you're trying to cross the street because once that light turns green, all of the drivers will be looking left for people turning right instead of watching out for pedestrians walking across. This means they won't give you so much trouble when they don't see a walk signal right away. If one isn't showing yet (it usually doesn't turn on until three or four seconds after a light changes), just cross with the traffic and drivers will let you go.
If you live or work in Downtown Chicago, there are two elevated pedestrian walkways that connect various buildings (blue line is one of them). You can use these to get around without ever having to step foot on the ground level at all. Just follow this map and it'll show you where everything is along with how many flights of stairs there are. They're great for both rainy days and hot summer months when you don't want to be outside.
Today I learned that if a driver does hit me while I'm walking across the road, then 97% of the time they won't stop afterwards because people drive fast here . In fact, only about 3% of drivers do the right thing.
Traffic is terrible in Chicago . The city was not designed with cars in mind so everything is pretty much just one-way streets that meet up at intersections with traffic lights where there isn't very much space for cars to wait. A lot of people like to honk their horns here (even if they're not mad) because there's so little room for cars to move quickly that everyone gets frustrated. If you're used to living in a city that has a grid system of roads, then this will take some getting used to.
If you don't own a car and have to rely on public transportation (like me) then expect there to be lots of random people sitting with you on the bus or train... Just pretend they're not even there . It's common for someone to sit next to others at all times of the day and never say anything. Sometimes I'll see someone doing work on their laptop while riding the train without headphones! If it makes you feel any better, most people won't pay attention if you talk as well - unless it's about them specifically.
The Cost of Living Is Low & You Don't Have To Worry About Taxes
The cost of living here is lower than in any large city, especially for things like travel. Property taxes are also pretty low if you buy a house - so they're not as bad about taking your money to live here either way. And if you're working full-time then you'll be covered by the state income tax . A bunch of other states (like Texas) don't even have income taxes so it's really easy to save up once you get a good job and move elsewhere!
(This was taken from google street view since I would never walk there again )
The Chicago River & Lake Michigan Are Within Walking Distance For Free
You don't have to drive or take public transportation to see this stuff either because it's right there in the middle of Downtown Chicago. In fact, you can just walk on over to see both of them like I did above - no charge! (This picture was taken at sunset because it's more fun that way.) And don't forget about Navy Pier & The Magnificent Mile !
Vacations Are Cheap To Go Out-Of-Town For A Few Days
There are a lot of places within driving distance from Chicago so if you ever get sick of living here then an inexpensive road trip is always an option. It's easier than ever to rent a car or find flights off-peak for cheap too which means you could easily go somewhere else every weekend for less than $100 per person!
The Public Transportation Is Really Fast & You Can Save A Lot Of Money
The rails that run throughout the city are called the "L" (short for elevated ) and they're really easy to get around on. If you're traveling from one end of town to the other, then the train will usually take less than 20 minutes. You can even use your Chicago Card Plus unlimited rides pass or buy an unlimited Metra ride ticket if you plan to come back frequently without paying anything extra! It's not as convenient as a personal car but it's definitely worth checking out at least once.
In Conclusion: The People Are Friendly Anyway
I know that living in a big city is supposed to be impersonal but I've never had any problems with people since moving here. I'm from a small town where everyone knows each other so meeting new people can be difficult sometimes - but not here! When it comes down to it, everyone wants to move someplace where they'll feel comfortable and at home. That's why Chicago has one of the largest reputations for being diverse yet open-minded (even though we're actually just like every other city...) The public spaces are safe if you want to go out alone after dark too - which isn't really the case in some other cities.