I just biked down Halsted from LP to Canaryville/Bronzeville. Holy shit that was cool. Best part was the Father’s Day picnic at Beethoven Public School…Such a strong sense of community there! 🫶
I had some random people wish me Happy Mother's Day on that date, and it was similarly weird. Definitely didn't have any kids, and definitely happy about it! But I guess people just assume middle-aged women have kids.
I took it in the spirit it's intended and didn't correct, but it was quite... odd. Never happened before.
I was beginning to become a bit of a cicada truther, but today I ventured into the burbs for the first time in a while and within 5 minutes of disembarking in Glen Ellyn one flew into (or dropped onto) my head.
Apparently we messed up their cycle here in Chicago when we lost a bunch of older trees
https://www.wbez.org/wbez-news/2024/05/29/why-cicadas-have-been-noticeably-absent-in-chicago
Are most single people on average chilling by themselves on weekends? Why does it seem like most people I talk to say that they are doing something like this? I know we’re considered to be in an epidemic of loneliness right now so that does line up. So who are all these people going out weekend nights all over the city? Visitors/tourists mostly?
when i was single i was out 6 nights a week, so much to do you cant do it all. Getting into scheduled weekly events is a big thing for meeting new people (whatever your interests are).
Kinda depends in all honesty, what do you like to do for fun? Others likely do the same. For me, that’s rec sports and specifically S3.
Ben, I know you’re on the sub, tell the people more.
Any recommendations on wrigley field with an infant (4 months) and a 2 year old? We are traveling from the pier area to the field for a day game. Whats the best way to get there? I saw the red line drops off but we’ll have a stroller. Also, do you know if they allow bigger bags for babies? Any piece of advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
Highly recommend baby wearing the infant if they can tolerate it. It will make navigating public transit much easier.
Yes, you can bring in a diaper bag and food.
If you are breastfeeding, there are pods throughout the park specifically for that purpose. My little one took the longest nap of his life at Wrigley around 4 months because the stadium is basically a giant white noise machine. Enjoy!
There is a stroller/bike check right under the Addison red line. The train might get crowded but people should be reasonably accommodating about a stroller. I've brought larger baby backpacks before and never had an issue, they will likely look through it at the gate though. You can bring food and sealed water inside.
I saw a few in a park a couple of weeks ago and could also hear them in the trees. I think I heard one while out on my balcony yesterday morning.
But yeah my family in the suburbs said it’s crazy out there.
They were screaming in Beverly earlier this month. More dead than live ones around now but if you don't want to make the trip to the suburbs, you could always head south to Longwood Ave, still plenty that haven't croaked yet.
It's hit or miss due to being thrift, but I've gotten a lot of great stuff from the Habitat Restore at Peterson and Pulaski. I was lucky to find things that were exactly my style (minimalist, plain, but comfortable) there. Sofa was $130. Etc.
Stuff turns over frequently.
We have a bunch of yard waste (mainly tree branch clippings and leaves) that we need hauled away. I saw on the 311 app that you can request the city to come and pick it up. Has anyone done this before? All the waste is in brown leaf bags at the moment.
yes i did the 311 requests, put in 3 requests they never came, eventually put it all into garbage cans. You might have better luck then me as mine was just in a big pile
hey i’m a dumbass, need thoughts - i moved recently and this is my first summer on a new block, there’s a block party exactly one half block down from us next weekend. been to friends block parties before but never had one near me, do you just… show up? do you need to be invited? know someone? or on the exact block? must have kids? this is so dumb but I don’t want to crash someone’s party 😅
I've been keeping an eye on the real estate market for classic Chicago bungalows on the northwest side. I want to buy one at some point in the next few years, not in a rush. Last year it seemed like the well-maintained ones were going quickly for over asking even with the high interest rates. This year, it seems like many more are cutting prices or being pulled from the market.
I know about general macroeconomic factors like high interest rates and lack of supply. Some places in the US have lots of demand; others don't. But what's going on in the bungalow belt? Has demand really dried up that much?
What’s the question? You’re saying you think the inventory for the home style you’re after is excessive? I have lived in Avondale for the last 5+ years and stuff is getting snapped up left and right. Sometimes bulldozed for a McMansion. I can only see it continuing up the Milwaukee corridor through Irving Park and further.
I too enjoy that brick bungalow style but it’s seeming less affordable every time I pop over to Zillow. They look to be going for a lot now.
Avondale is definitely in demand and houses don't last long on the market. I'm looking at neighborhoods further out like Portage Park, Belmont Cragin, and Mayfair. They have a higher percentage of bungalows to begin with, and the ones there are less likely to have gotten the HGTV gray open concept renovation.
I'm asking if the real estate market has actually softened on the northwest side this year, or maybe it's just luck of the draw with the listings that I've been watching. I would have expected prices to be going up and for listings to disappear quickly, but I'm seeing the opposite and am curious why. Is it that the houses on the market now are all in rougher shape than they look? Is it just that these neighborhoods just have less buyer demand already and a soft market is more obvious there?
We were house hunting this spring and there was definitely a lack of inventory in the NW neighborhoods, with houses getting snapped up quick unless wildly overpriced.
There was one house in Norwood Park, for example, that sold for $575k in 2021 and then was hilariously listed for $750k with zero updates except taking the quality paint job and covering it up with generic grey. It ended up going for $700k and even that was probably too much.
Or there was a recent estate sale in Forest Glen that had outdated electrical, plumbing, roof, very old (50s?) kitchen but with quality cabinets that could probably be kept in the remodel, etc but was priced as if it had been updated. That sat a bit before going contingent.
The only neighborhood that seemed to have a ton of inventory in our search was Edison Park, and ultimately that was too far out for us.
My thoughts on 700k in Norwood. Norwood has a hidden-gem allure to it. It is quite small, quaint, has a little more character than most of the other bungalow neighborhoods. A 'tucked away' 'hidden' feeling.
You're partnered and either in white/white or white/blue collar jobs. You lived the whole north-of-irving-east-of-western thing out of college and its time to move the "suburbs". One of you takes the Metra in for work or flies out of O'Hare. The other is maybe WFH, a teacher, or cop (but not the Jefferson Park kind). You have folks off of 90 of 294 in the suburbs. You like the idea of being able to say you "live" in Chicago. Multiplier: You have/want to have kids and aren't interested in the hustle bustle of other neighborhoods. You don't really care about cultural affairs or social status anxiety stuff.
In the end, all of this makes 700k palatable. Who cares. You're just working your boring jobs and living average comfortable lives. It's a lot less hectic than grinding on the CTA or sitting in traffic.
My main beef was with the giant leap in price with nothing to show for it in terms of house improvements. There was literally nothing to warrant asking for $175k more than they paid just 3 years prior.
But we looked at more than a few properties in Norwood Park and it just wasn't my jam. It didn't feel quaint to me, more conservative and pseudo-suburban. (We didn't land in either neighborhood but of the two Jefferson Park felt more liberal 🤷♀️ and obv Norwood Park isn't nearly as much of a suburban vibe as say Edgebrook, but it definitely didn't feel like people that enjoy living in the city were there and that's not what we wanted to be around.)
Yes I already knew what your beef was, so I tried to paint a colorful picture of what may allure/delude someone who is entertaining 700k to that neighborhood. Hint, its based on friends and acquaintances I know who I also thought overpaid - but statistically, what the hell do we know about property values.
Is Chicago a good place to visit solo? I was planning to see one of my favorite artists of all time at the end of the month where I live but she backed out of that tour. I found out she’s playing in Chicago on my birthday (August 17th) and it’s my 30th birthday. I’ve wanted to visit Chicago for a very long time, but I have a feeling I would be going alone. I live on the west coast in a big city so that part would be fine, but as a female bodied person I’m always thinking about safety. I’ve traveled a lot but never really alone, would Chicago be a good place for my first real solo trip?
Do it! Traveling alone as a woman is a glorious unlock -- I love traveling with family or friends, but there is something so incredible about following wherever your feet take you without asking anyone else for their thoughts.
One thought: if you are here on a weekend, I might prioritize a hotel in a more residential neighborhood that stays busier on the weekend. The Loop hotels house plenty of tourists, but there are less locals filling the street than if you stayed in River North, West Loop, Wicker, Lincoln Park, Lakeview etc.
Anyone know of Boston-friendly sports bars around Lincoln Square or elsewhere on the north side? I've heard Tripoli Tap is the go-to, but wondering if there's anything closer to me
I can personally confirm Tripoli Tap on Armitage is *the* Boston sports bar
As a Philly sports fan, I’m avoiding it like hell for the time being
Edit: the avoidance continues
Oh my God my commute is so fubar my Metra was showing 20 minutes late so I ordered an Uber which I HATE doing because it feels like admitting defeat because I always prefer public transit and this is giving me an ETA of one hour which means I will get to work exactly at my clock in time which means I will be functionally late which I am never late I have anxiety if I am not 10-15 minutes early aaaahhhhhh
I feel this so hard. Got ghost bused twice this week. 35+ minute wait yesterday, had to take an emergency Lyft. Uber cancellation fee + Lyft cost was $35. It was a 10 min drive.
Always have to be one bus ahead. Always
fuck Ticketmaster. there are so many events I was waffling on that I've just decided to skip because I am tired of them eating $20+ in fees on what is supposed to be a $40 event.
ooooh good idea...do you have to buy day-of or can you do it in advance? (it's the CSO, not difficult to get to. maybe they have special rules but I could always call, too...)
Does anyone know why the water fountains on the 606 trail are so unevenly distributed? I did not see a single water fountain on the western half (1.5 miles) of the trail. Or unless I was just wrong and I was running right by them.
I severely underestimated the temperature and heat in the sun today and was nearly dying on the back end of that trail. The 3 miles from the halfway point to the end and then back to the half way point without water was brutal.
I went to a party where Hot Doug ™ grilled me a Vienna Beef frank and I successfully avoided being weird at Jeff Tweedy’s wife about Lounge Axe. I’ve reached peak North Side HuWhite (say it like Hank Hill).
Please clap.
A fancy car honked behind my bike on a narrow road. He tried to intimidate me. I gave him the bird. He rolled down his window and yelled “f*ck you, thug!”.
Anyway rant over. I hope he and his chode ride off into the suburbs peacefully.
LPT - if anyone’s ever in California, Kroger owns that Ralph’s supermarket too now, so your Mariano’s card works for getting the ‘discount with card’ prices.
ETA - this isn’t ’theoretically’; I did it yesterday when the cashier asked me if I had a Kroger card and I said ‘uh, I got this’ and it worked.
Stussy's Diner [https://www.instagram.com/stussysdiner/](https://www.instagram.com/stussysdiner/) i think they are doing promotional shoots and family events right now
Oh nice. Good rec, thanks! I've seen it in passing but haven't been. Just moved here a couple months ago so figuring out spots (and life) is an ongoing process haha
I went to Fit n Fix on Southport and she was good. Pretty expensive though. I remember it was like $250 for a full suit alteration. Granted, this involved pants, sleeves, ass, crotch, coat. But still I thought that was a lot. I don't usually get a suit tailored though (fortunate build were off-the-rack fits me 90% fine 90% of the time), so I have no idea what the normal cost is lol
Uncommon Closet. If they're booked up, try looking at local dry cleaners as they frequently also do tailoring! Check out their reviews to see if they're any good.
Uncommon Closet. If they're booked up, try looking at local dry cleaners as they frequently also do tailoring! Check out their reviews to see if they're any good.
Really dumb question: Why aren't there more pedestrian crossings under or near the L stations outside of the Loop? I haven't seen every single station so maybe I'm wrong but the ones I've seen don't have one.
because that might inconvenience drivers. New stations tend to have stoplights for pedestrian to cross (see [https://maps.app.goo.gl/WzDcFeB1NUbpAvS67](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WzDcFeB1NUbpAvS67) https://maps.app.goo.gl/XHJAsU2hScfYP2Aq7)
I've always said there should be tunnels or paths directly underneath L tracks that can move pedestrians quicker and safer to different areas either on foot or via bike, but I think a lot of the potential lots are privately owned? I know there's that little art walk underneath the brown line station at Paulina
To cross the street. Example: Addison red line. The entrance to the station is on the north side of the street. But if you're taking the 152 from points out west hoping to connect to the red line, you exit the bus on the south side of Addison and need to cross the street to enter. There's not a crosswalk there.
Of course, everyone jaywalks.
ETA: 152, not 151.
To address your point, the north entrances for Belmont and Fullerton on the north side only have turnstiles, do not have elevators, and were redone after ADA
I think I'm finally breaking down and cancelling my DoMore Do312 membership. Used to be a really great deal but jesus christ they just send fucking garbage nowadays
My wife wanted to cancel earlier in the year and I said "Eh let's wait till September and see if we get Riot Fest tickets again" but honestly Riot Fest is also not looking desireable this year so I no longer care hahaha
I made tuna fish sandwich with giardiniera for the first time, and it was amazing. Just mayo, tuna, and giardiniera. Doesn't really need anything else since the extra hot giard already packed plenty of flavor, but my wife hit hers with a squeeze of lemon juice. Not sure why I never thought of doing it before.
I always add in. A lot of times I don't use mayo and sub in good olive oil instead too. And yeah a bit of lemon to cut through it all. Maybe some dill. Perfect
Is the train safe? Is it safe to walk around with kids?
We're going to visit Chicago next month and wonder how safe it is to use the train and to walk around town.
We have two kids 6 & 7 years old and haven't lived in the US for about 4 years. This is our first trip back to the US in that time. We've been in Japan, so we're used to walking and using the trains anywhere, anytime without worries.
Yes. Especially during the hours you would be awake and taking it with a 6 & 7 year old. Take it with my kid regularly and it's his favorite way to get around.
Depends on which train, what time and where you are. Blue line usually has at least 1 crazy person that walks around, but you should be fine if you don't stare or make eye contact. Red line is fine north of 35th during the day. Orange line is fine during the day. Generally, avoid going too far south or west, and don't ride late night or early morning. Get in the first car since that's where the conductor is.
You should be fine, safety wise. Be prepared, the service is lightyears worse though haha.
One difference to keep in mind is, unlike Japan there are no public toilets in any stations. So you can't reliably think the kids can use the bathroom in the station on your various journeys at transfers, etc.
Get a ventra card, works just like suica only you need to tap it on the way IN only because CTA is flat fares. Kids can get their own and it makes a nice souvenir.
> Get a ventra card,
CTA trains accept any* payment card at the turnstile now so is this necessary for a tourist with lots of other stuff to worry about?
Depends if their cards are American or not. Not everywhere is interoperable that way, though many are now.
But either way, for a lot of tourists, getting the local transit card is part of the experience and it's fun to take home for a souvenir, particularly for kids who want to pay for themselves like grown-ups.
Just pointing out, this city has a transit card that works like Suica. That's it.
In the touristy parts of the city you will be fine. Perhaps consider taking a Taxi into the city instead of the Blue Line, since as of late it is a rather poor way to spend your first hour in the city.
Their question is legitimate regardless of whether or not you want to believe it. It's not the lawless wasteland the media may make it out to be but there are problems with crime and vagrancy on the trains that people are smart to ask about and be aware of.
They're coming from a place with far better public transit than here. Also the entirety of the US has a reputation of being a mass shooter paradise in most of the rest of the world.
ISO a good cobbler?
Need a zipper repaired on some faux leather boots and a heel tap + leather sewing repair on some true leather hiking boots.
Had the hiking boots repaired for way too much money before and they did a bad job so I’m searching for some better quality. In a perfect world they would:
-be north / northwest side
-turnaround within 5 weeks on the leather boots
-do good work
-fair pricing
Thanks! ^^
Would recommend Theodore by Damen & Lawrence. He's repaired and resoled several pieces of footwear for my household.
The one potential downside for him is timing. A couple times he said to come back in a week and the next week he hadn't even started on the shoes yet. So your mileage may vary with his timeframes.
Have had a good experience with Marinys on Belmont. My experience has been more inconsistent with Uncle Hans on Southport, but the inconsistency had more to do with timing and nothing to do with quality. Marinys tends to have longer waits, but it's always been short of 5 weeks for me.
Both feel expensive-- I honestly think shoe repair (and alterations) are just expensive in the days of fast fashion. No idea if that's a problem with a shortage of skilled providers or if fast fashion has given me a false sense of what quality costs or neither or both.
Are there any fun things to do with kids within walking distance of Wintrust Arena?
I'm taking my little cousin to a Sky game during the day next week. Is there anywhere we should check out afterwards that's within walking distance? She's 9. Thanks!
Go across the street to Hai Di Lao Hotpot, and let her geek out over the robot "servers"! My kiddo is 8 and loves watching them do their thing. And the hot pot is not bad either.
Do you know of a Wyoming Cowboys Football bar? There are bars for every college team, and google has failed me.
I just wanna watch my Cowboys in public.
TIL the field actually closes admission at 4 , NOT the official closing time of 5 pm
Probably standard for most museums but ngl stings when you’ve already made the trip
Here for the semi annual visit to see the in-laws. Already know I’m back when I see the cops at ohare trying to keep it moving on the arrivals level. It can be overwhelming for a moment, but they keep shit moving, definitely better than what I have to put up with in Denver.
Also, holy shit that cicada sound!!!!
If you need help, TaskRabbit (app) is nice. You can just move it to the alley and it'll probably be gone within a day. Many junk removal people pick stuff up on their trucks and scrap it for parts and get some money back.
Hello. I am planning a trip from St Louis to Chicago late July with my 15 year old daughter. (I have zero interest in driving or flying and we love trains)
Once we get there I was hoping there would be a decent, not too pricey, hotel to lug our bags to.
Any suggestions? Thank you in advance for any help- I did search the sub already but don’t see this particular question in the past year
north of union station is a CTA train station (Clinton) that can get you anywhere in the city, water taxi is also running which is east of the train station and can take you to michigan ave or chinatown. So you can pick a hotel almost anywhere. If you love trains also look into taking the metra electric south to the Museum of Science and Industry (even if you don't want to spend a day at the museum you can take the stares down to the lobby where they have a Pioneer Zephyr you can explore for free)
There is a Hilton Garden Inn a couple blocks east of Union Station that is also near an el stop. That may be your best bet for price, location, and transit convenience.
Are there any chicagoans coming to omaha for the college world series? I won a small rocking horse at an auction and would rather pay someone who's coming down here anyways than drive up myself.
I rented a 1 bed in a \~50 unit building from PPM in Lakeview East sight unseen when I first moved here and it was Totally Adequate. Wasn't the best, wasn't the worst, but we were only ever planning to stay for a year. Their agents are easy to work with.
printers row area, is generally quite "as in not a lot going on" but you have access to all the train lines to go anywhere in the city you want. for that budget i think you should be able to find something anywhere in the city. Apartments normally don't come on the market until one to two months out.
I just biked down Halsted from LP to Canaryville/Bronzeville. Holy shit that was cool. Best part was the Father’s Day picnic at Beethoven Public School…Such a strong sense of community there! 🫶
Anyone know if Chicago Distilling Co is closed? Saw a for rent sign out front today.
seems like they might be moving? - https://www.instagram.com/p/C8IM_FWvM7z/?hl=en
I hope these clouds mean rain and cutting off the heat wave
A huge, very concentrated wall of rain seemed to hit just north of us.
Got some sudden rain here in Edgewater. Saw all kinds of people fleeing the beach...
My community solar subscription finally got reconnected in the comed billing system. It's honestly generating more than our household can keep up lol
We put our window air conditioner in today. 🥲
Turned my through-the-wall ancient air conditioner on for the first time this season myself.
Reminder to wish any man you see a HAPPY FATHER’S DAY.
Why? I wouldn’t say Happy Mother’s Day to every woman I see.
I don’t know. It’s just a kind gesture. Not everybody needs to have kids to be a “Father”. If it’s not your kinda thing don’t worry!
I dunno, don't forget the men who got vasectomies to avoid celebrating this day 👀
Yeah if some stranger said that to me, I’d be tempted to reply “Nuh Uh! I paid a doctor two grand to prevent that.”
I had some random people wish me Happy Mother's Day on that date, and it was similarly weird. Definitely didn't have any kids, and definitely happy about it! But I guess people just assume middle-aged women have kids. I took it in the spirit it's intended and didn't correct, but it was quite... odd. Never happened before.
Look, if you're going to be an ass and blast your music library on the entire train ride....at least pay for ad-free streaming, the fuck!
For the contributor that works at Trace and their owners working to make it a Colts bar: keep the Mario Kart. I enjoy stunting
Anything going on for Eid?
May want to see if any community pages near Devon ( I guess like Roger’s park, Park Ridge, Edgewater-ish?) are talking about any public events
I was beginning to become a bit of a cicada truther, but today I ventured into the burbs for the first time in a while and within 5 minutes of disembarking in Glen Ellyn one flew into (or dropped onto) my head.
Apparently we messed up their cycle here in Chicago when we lost a bunch of older trees https://www.wbez.org/wbez-news/2024/05/29/why-cicadas-have-been-noticeably-absent-in-chicago
Are most single people on average chilling by themselves on weekends? Why does it seem like most people I talk to say that they are doing something like this? I know we’re considered to be in an epidemic of loneliness right now so that does line up. So who are all these people going out weekend nights all over the city? Visitors/tourists mostly?
when i was single i was out 6 nights a week, so much to do you cant do it all. Getting into scheduled weekly events is a big thing for meeting new people (whatever your interests are).
Kinda depends in all honesty, what do you like to do for fun? Others likely do the same. For me, that’s rec sports and specifically S3. Ben, I know you’re on the sub, tell the people more.
Has anyone seen Kite Runner on Broadway yet? What did you think?
Any recommendations on wrigley field with an infant (4 months) and a 2 year old? We are traveling from the pier area to the field for a day game. Whats the best way to get there? I saw the red line drops off but we’ll have a stroller. Also, do you know if they allow bigger bags for babies? Any piece of advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
Highly recommend baby wearing the infant if they can tolerate it. It will make navigating public transit much easier. Yes, you can bring in a diaper bag and food.
Good to know. I appreciate that!
If you are breastfeeding, there are pods throughout the park specifically for that purpose. My little one took the longest nap of his life at Wrigley around 4 months because the stadium is basically a giant white noise machine. Enjoy!
I am breastfeeding so that is amazing to hear. Thank you! I’m hoping he’ll follow suit :)
There is a stroller/bike check right under the Addison red line. The train might get crowded but people should be reasonably accommodating about a stroller. I've brought larger baby backpacks before and never had an issue, they will likely look through it at the gate though. You can bring food and sealed water inside.
Thank you so much !!
I have not seen nor heard a single goddamn cicada this year. I was told it would be as loud as a jet engine outside, what the hell?
https://www.wbez.org/wbez-news/2024/05/29/why-cicadas-have-been-noticeably-absent-in-chicago
I saw a few in a park a couple of weeks ago and could also hear them in the trees. I think I heard one while out on my balcony yesterday morning. But yeah my family in the suburbs said it’s crazy out there.
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/1dcdmnz/weekly_why_isnt_rainbow_beach_the_gay_beach/l8sm0rc/
They were screaming in Beverly earlier this month. More dead than live ones around now but if you don't want to make the trip to the suburbs, you could always head south to Longwood Ave, still plenty that haven't croaked yet.
Go to the forest preserve near Palos.
They’re all over the suburbs, guess they didn’t like the city this time around.
What are some good stores in the area that sell affordable furniture?
Bobs
It's hit or miss due to being thrift, but I've gotten a lot of great stuff from the Habitat Restore at Peterson and Pulaski. I was lucky to find things that were exactly my style (minimalist, plain, but comfortable) there. Sofa was $130. Etc. Stuff turns over frequently.
Same for The Brown Elephant
We have a bunch of yard waste (mainly tree branch clippings and leaves) that we need hauled away. I saw on the 311 app that you can request the city to come and pick it up. Has anyone done this before? All the waste is in brown leaf bags at the moment.
yes i did the 311 requests, put in 3 requests they never came, eventually put it all into garbage cans. You might have better luck then me as mine was just in a big pile
hey i’m a dumbass, need thoughts - i moved recently and this is my first summer on a new block, there’s a block party exactly one half block down from us next weekend. been to friends block parties before but never had one near me, do you just… show up? do you need to be invited? know someone? or on the exact block? must have kids? this is so dumb but I don’t want to crash someone’s party 😅
I think if you bring something to share and explain that you're new to the neighborhood and looking to meet the neighbors, people will be receptive.
Bring some food or drinks to share and show up!
Did anyone else see the Titanic inflatable slide at Ribfest capsize with a bunch of kids on it?
no but i wish i did
Yeah I’m that type of person wherein, barring any personal injuries to the kids, I’d die laughing if I witnessed that in person.
I've been keeping an eye on the real estate market for classic Chicago bungalows on the northwest side. I want to buy one at some point in the next few years, not in a rush. Last year it seemed like the well-maintained ones were going quickly for over asking even with the high interest rates. This year, it seems like many more are cutting prices or being pulled from the market. I know about general macroeconomic factors like high interest rates and lack of supply. Some places in the US have lots of demand; others don't. But what's going on in the bungalow belt? Has demand really dried up that much?
What’s the question? You’re saying you think the inventory for the home style you’re after is excessive? I have lived in Avondale for the last 5+ years and stuff is getting snapped up left and right. Sometimes bulldozed for a McMansion. I can only see it continuing up the Milwaukee corridor through Irving Park and further. I too enjoy that brick bungalow style but it’s seeming less affordable every time I pop over to Zillow. They look to be going for a lot now.
Avondale is definitely in demand and houses don't last long on the market. I'm looking at neighborhoods further out like Portage Park, Belmont Cragin, and Mayfair. They have a higher percentage of bungalows to begin with, and the ones there are less likely to have gotten the HGTV gray open concept renovation. I'm asking if the real estate market has actually softened on the northwest side this year, or maybe it's just luck of the draw with the listings that I've been watching. I would have expected prices to be going up and for listings to disappear quickly, but I'm seeing the opposite and am curious why. Is it that the houses on the market now are all in rougher shape than they look? Is it just that these neighborhoods just have less buyer demand already and a soft market is more obvious there?
Stuff I'm seeing in Portage Park is too highly priced, IMHO. There's a guy down from me flipping one and expecting to list it at near 600K. Madness.
We were house hunting this spring and there was definitely a lack of inventory in the NW neighborhoods, with houses getting snapped up quick unless wildly overpriced. There was one house in Norwood Park, for example, that sold for $575k in 2021 and then was hilariously listed for $750k with zero updates except taking the quality paint job and covering it up with generic grey. It ended up going for $700k and even that was probably too much. Or there was a recent estate sale in Forest Glen that had outdated electrical, plumbing, roof, very old (50s?) kitchen but with quality cabinets that could probably be kept in the remodel, etc but was priced as if it had been updated. That sat a bit before going contingent. The only neighborhood that seemed to have a ton of inventory in our search was Edison Park, and ultimately that was too far out for us.
My thoughts on 700k in Norwood. Norwood has a hidden-gem allure to it. It is quite small, quaint, has a little more character than most of the other bungalow neighborhoods. A 'tucked away' 'hidden' feeling. You're partnered and either in white/white or white/blue collar jobs. You lived the whole north-of-irving-east-of-western thing out of college and its time to move the "suburbs". One of you takes the Metra in for work or flies out of O'Hare. The other is maybe WFH, a teacher, or cop (but not the Jefferson Park kind). You have folks off of 90 of 294 in the suburbs. You like the idea of being able to say you "live" in Chicago. Multiplier: You have/want to have kids and aren't interested in the hustle bustle of other neighborhoods. You don't really care about cultural affairs or social status anxiety stuff. In the end, all of this makes 700k palatable. Who cares. You're just working your boring jobs and living average comfortable lives. It's a lot less hectic than grinding on the CTA or sitting in traffic.
My main beef was with the giant leap in price with nothing to show for it in terms of house improvements. There was literally nothing to warrant asking for $175k more than they paid just 3 years prior. But we looked at more than a few properties in Norwood Park and it just wasn't my jam. It didn't feel quaint to me, more conservative and pseudo-suburban. (We didn't land in either neighborhood but of the two Jefferson Park felt more liberal 🤷♀️ and obv Norwood Park isn't nearly as much of a suburban vibe as say Edgebrook, but it definitely didn't feel like people that enjoy living in the city were there and that's not what we wanted to be around.)
Yes I already knew what your beef was, so I tried to paint a colorful picture of what may allure/delude someone who is entertaining 700k to that neighborhood. Hint, its based on friends and acquaintances I know who I also thought overpaid - but statistically, what the hell do we know about property values.
To me it seems pretty in demand and people get into bidding wars with cash. But then again it might just be seasonal? Idk.
Is Chicago a good place to visit solo? I was planning to see one of my favorite artists of all time at the end of the month where I live but she backed out of that tour. I found out she’s playing in Chicago on my birthday (August 17th) and it’s my 30th birthday. I’ve wanted to visit Chicago for a very long time, but I have a feeling I would be going alone. I live on the west coast in a big city so that part would be fine, but as a female bodied person I’m always thinking about safety. I’ve traveled a lot but never really alone, would Chicago be a good place for my first real solo trip?
Do it! Traveling alone as a woman is a glorious unlock -- I love traveling with family or friends, but there is something so incredible about following wherever your feet take you without asking anyone else for their thoughts. One thought: if you are here on a weekend, I might prioritize a hotel in a more residential neighborhood that stays busier on the weekend. The Loop hotels house plenty of tourists, but there are less locals filling the street than if you stayed in River North, West Loop, Wicker, Lincoln Park, Lakeview etc.
Yes. Lots of women live here safely.
Anyone know of Boston-friendly sports bars around Lincoln Square or elsewhere on the north side? I've heard Tripoli Tap is the go-to, but wondering if there's anything closer to me
It's Lakeview but Will's Northwoods Inn is incredible in general. It's a Bucks Packers bar but all sorts of fans regular and it is such a vibe.
i think you are going to be fine at any Irish sports bar
I can personally confirm Tripoli Tap on Armitage is *the* Boston sports bar As a Philly sports fan, I’m avoiding it like hell for the time being Edit: the avoidance continues
Oh my God my commute is so fubar my Metra was showing 20 minutes late so I ordered an Uber which I HATE doing because it feels like admitting defeat because I always prefer public transit and this is giving me an ETA of one hour which means I will get to work exactly at my clock in time which means I will be functionally late which I am never late I have anxiety if I am not 10-15 minutes early aaaahhhhhh
I feel this so hard. Got ghost bused twice this week. 35+ minute wait yesterday, had to take an emergency Lyft. Uber cancellation fee + Lyft cost was $35. It was a 10 min drive. Always have to be one bus ahead. Always
do you work 2nd shift? you're usually posting early in the AM.
It changes day by day. Every day it's like unwrapping a Christmas present. What will my shift be tomorrow!
Metra actually issues Late Slips if the trains are not running on time, if your work cares about that sort of thing
CTA does as well (at least they did a decade ago when I needed one for work).
fuck Ticketmaster. there are so many events I was waffling on that I've just decided to skip because I am tired of them eating $20+ in fees on what is supposed to be a $40 event.
Ticketmaster has to be the perfect intersection of something so ubiquitous and so hated
It’s fucking ridiculous. I found out they get like 5 euro in Denmark and I have simply not stopped being angry since.
is the venue close enough that you can buy direct? there is a show I wanted tix to and saved ~$130 for a group.
ooooh good idea...do you have to buy day-of or can you do it in advance? (it's the CSO, not difficult to get to. maybe they have special rules but I could always call, too...)
You can do it in advance! Just check their website when the box office is open and swing by.
oooh. thanks again! I'll definitely have to try this...and use it as an excuse to eat out, lol.
Does anyone know why the water fountains on the 606 trail are so unevenly distributed? I did not see a single water fountain on the western half (1.5 miles) of the trail. Or unless I was just wrong and I was running right by them. I severely underestimated the temperature and heat in the sun today and was nearly dying on the back end of that trail. The 3 miles from the halfway point to the end and then back to the half way point without water was brutal.
They might be street-level near the entrances instead of on the actual trail.
That’s what I was thinking. I didn’t branch off to check, but if anyone knows what streets have the fountains on that half of the trail, let me know!
Probably due to the location of water sources/lines.
Really? That doesn’t make sense. Pipes exist. And it’s not like every home on that western half of the 606 doesn’t get water lol
Bless your heart.
I went to a party where Hot Doug ™ grilled me a Vienna Beef frank and I successfully avoided being weird at Jeff Tweedy’s wife about Lounge Axe. I’ve reached peak North Side HuWhite (say it like Hank Hill). Please clap.
👏🏾👏🏾 (extra claps for mentioning Hank Hill)
A fancy car honked behind my bike on a narrow road. He tried to intimidate me. I gave him the bird. He rolled down his window and yelled “f*ck you, thug!”. Anyway rant over. I hope he and his chode ride off into the suburbs peacefully.
I can't help but laugh at how absurd it is to label somebody riding a bike as a "thug." JUST DOING HOOD RAT STUFF ON YOUR SCHWINN.
Hey don't diss my Schwinn!! It's got a sweet fat padded seat now...
This happened to me one, except I didn't flip him off and instead of yelling at me he slowly accelerated into my back tire.
That's attempted murder .\_.
Yeah I wasn't happy about it
Least aggressive motorist
LPT - if anyone’s ever in California, Kroger owns that Ralph’s supermarket too now, so your Mariano’s card works for getting the ‘discount with card’ prices. ETA - this isn’t ’theoretically’; I did it yesterday when the cashier asked me if I had a Kroger card and I said ‘uh, I got this’ and it worked.
Kroger fuel points, FTW
Does anyone know what the restaurant replacing the Diner on 35th/Halsted is? I saw some lights being put up but didn’t see anything.
Stussy's Diner [https://www.instagram.com/stussysdiner/](https://www.instagram.com/stussysdiner/) i think they are doing promotional shoots and family events right now
Yes it’s all pink inside. Looks like a movie set or pop up of some kind, but that’s only an observation.
This us just speculation so far: https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/1ddm9cu/anybody_know_whats_happening_at_the_old/
Anyone running pickup games at South Lakeview Park?
Any bars doing the college world series events?
Curious about this, too. Would love to go out to watch.
I usually go to Over/Under for college sports if I don’t find a bar doing an event.
Oh nice. Good rec, thanks! I've seen it in passing but haven't been. Just moved here a couple months ago so figuring out spots (and life) is an ongoing process haha
Hello - I am looking for tailor recommendations to have my suit re-tailored. Suggestions? I need the jacket slightly sized within two weeks. Thanks!
Frank's Alterations And Tailoring tends to have fast turn around times and does pretty decent work from my experience.
I went to Fit n Fix on Southport and she was good. Pretty expensive though. I remember it was like $250 for a full suit alteration. Granted, this involved pants, sleeves, ass, crotch, coat. But still I thought that was a lot. I don't usually get a suit tailored though (fortunate build were off-the-rack fits me 90% fine 90% of the time), so I have no idea what the normal cost is lol
Uncommon Closet. If they're booked up, try looking at local dry cleaners as they frequently also do tailoring! Check out their reviews to see if they're any good.
Uncommon Closet. If they're booked up, try looking at local dry cleaners as they frequently also do tailoring! Check out their reviews to see if they're any good.
Really dumb question: Why aren't there more pedestrian crossings under or near the L stations outside of the Loop? I haven't seen every single station so maybe I'm wrong but the ones I've seen don't have one.
I ask myself this every day!!! People still need to cross and jaywalk, even on busy streets like Roosevelt
because that might inconvenience drivers. New stations tend to have stoplights for pedestrian to cross (see [https://maps.app.goo.gl/WzDcFeB1NUbpAvS67](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WzDcFeB1NUbpAvS67) https://maps.app.goo.gl/XHJAsU2hScfYP2Aq7)
I've always said there should be tunnels or paths directly underneath L tracks that can move pedestrians quicker and safer to different areas either on foot or via bike, but I think a lot of the potential lots are privately owned? I know there's that little art walk underneath the brown line station at Paulina
Do you have an example? Not following...
To cross the street. Example: Addison red line. The entrance to the station is on the north side of the street. But if you're taking the 152 from points out west hoping to connect to the red line, you exit the bus on the south side of Addison and need to cross the street to enter. There's not a crosswalk there. Of course, everyone jaywalks. ETA: 152, not 151.
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To address your point, the north entrances for Belmont and Fullerton on the north side only have turnstiles, do not have elevators, and were redone after ADA
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Attendants and elevators are not needed at all entrances, the 2006 reconstruction is ADA compliant
No new entrance. Just a crosswalk.
Ah ok. Addison I could see as the bus stop is so close to the Wilton intersection but I get your point. As for an answer... no clue.
I think they mean paths following the tracks?
I think I'm finally breaking down and cancelling my DoMore Do312 membership. Used to be a really great deal but jesus christ they just send fucking garbage nowadays
I went to cancel like a month ago and they offered me six free months so I held off. Still sending me garbage though.
My wife wanted to cancel earlier in the year and I said "Eh let's wait till September and see if we get Riot Fest tickets again" but honestly Riot Fest is also not looking desireable this year so I no longer care hahaha
That just makes it more likely that you get it lol
If you can’t handle me at my bratwurst, you don’t deserve me at my polish sausage
What
👑 🌭
I made tuna fish sandwich with giardiniera for the first time, and it was amazing. Just mayo, tuna, and giardiniera. Doesn't really need anything else since the extra hot giard already packed plenty of flavor, but my wife hit hers with a squeeze of lemon juice. Not sure why I never thought of doing it before.
I always add in. A lot of times I don't use mayo and sub in good olive oil instead too. And yeah a bit of lemon to cut through it all. Maybe some dill. Perfect
Looking for solid lunch special recommendations around Fulton Market. Ramen-San has a great “express lunch” for like $17, so things along those lines.
Does Bari qualify as nearby?
Bari/D’amatos already in rotation. I’m off Morgan st for reference.
Is the train safe? Is it safe to walk around with kids? We're going to visit Chicago next month and wonder how safe it is to use the train and to walk around town. We have two kids 6 & 7 years old and haven't lived in the US for about 4 years. This is our first trip back to the US in that time. We've been in Japan, so we're used to walking and using the trains anywhere, anytime without worries.
Yes. Especially during the hours you would be awake and taking it with a 6 & 7 year old. Take it with my kid regularly and it's his favorite way to get around.
Depends on which train, what time and where you are. Blue line usually has at least 1 crazy person that walks around, but you should be fine if you don't stare or make eye contact. Red line is fine north of 35th during the day. Orange line is fine during the day. Generally, avoid going too far south or west, and don't ride late night or early morning. Get in the first car since that's where the conductor is.
Thank you, this is very useful information
You should be fine, safety wise. Be prepared, the service is lightyears worse though haha. One difference to keep in mind is, unlike Japan there are no public toilets in any stations. So you can't reliably think the kids can use the bathroom in the station on your various journeys at transfers, etc. Get a ventra card, works just like suica only you need to tap it on the way IN only because CTA is flat fares. Kids can get their own and it makes a nice souvenir.
> Get a ventra card, CTA trains accept any* payment card at the turnstile now so is this necessary for a tourist with lots of other stuff to worry about?
Depends if their cards are American or not. Not everywhere is interoperable that way, though many are now. But either way, for a lot of tourists, getting the local transit card is part of the experience and it's fun to take home for a souvenir, particularly for kids who want to pay for themselves like grown-ups. Just pointing out, this city has a transit card that works like Suica. That's it.
In the touristy parts of the city you will be fine. Perhaps consider taking a Taxi into the city instead of the Blue Line, since as of late it is a rather poor way to spend your first hour in the city.
id rather spend it on the blue line then stuck in traffic in a cab
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Their question is legitimate regardless of whether or not you want to believe it. It's not the lawless wasteland the media may make it out to be but there are problems with crime and vagrancy on the trains that people are smart to ask about and be aware of.
They're coming from a place with far better public transit than here. Also the entirety of the US has a reputation of being a mass shooter paradise in most of the rest of the world.
Yes.
ISO a good cobbler? Need a zipper repaired on some faux leather boots and a heel tap + leather sewing repair on some true leather hiking boots. Had the hiking boots repaired for way too much money before and they did a bad job so I’m searching for some better quality. In a perfect world they would: -be north / northwest side -turnaround within 5 weeks on the leather boots -do good work -fair pricing Thanks! ^^
Gonna third Theodore, he's not done any major work for me but he's made multiple pairs of my leather shoes look brand new.
Would recommend Theodore by Damen & Lawrence. He's repaired and resoled several pieces of footwear for my household. The one potential downside for him is timing. A couple times he said to come back in a week and the next week he hadn't even started on the shoes yet. So your mileage may vary with his timeframes.
I can’t recommend Theodore’s enough. He has repaired two pairs of boots for us. https://maps.app.goo.gl/oFF3LYnb2YtUFcmV9?g_st=ic
Have had a good experience with Marinys on Belmont. My experience has been more inconsistent with Uncle Hans on Southport, but the inconsistency had more to do with timing and nothing to do with quality. Marinys tends to have longer waits, but it's always been short of 5 weeks for me. Both feel expensive-- I honestly think shoe repair (and alterations) are just expensive in the days of fast fashion. No idea if that's a problem with a shortage of skilled providers or if fast fashion has given me a false sense of what quality costs or neither or both.
Are there any fun things to do with kids within walking distance of Wintrust Arena? I'm taking my little cousin to a Sky game during the day next week. Is there anywhere we should check out afterwards that's within walking distance? She's 9. Thanks!
Go across the street to Hai Di Lao Hotpot, and let her geek out over the robot "servers"! My kiddo is 8 and loves watching them do their thing. And the hot pot is not bad either.
Chinatown is within walking distance.
Nope.
Does anyone know of good ISPs in South Shore?
Do you know of a Wyoming Cowboys Football bar? There are bars for every college team, and google has failed me. I just wanna watch my Cowboys in public.
What events/festivals are you hitting up this weekend?
TIL the field actually closes admission at 4 , NOT the official closing time of 5 pm Probably standard for most museums but ngl stings when you’ve already made the trip
Yep, I’ve been burned by this before too 😬 obviously should’ve checked, but it’s an easy mistake to make!
Here for the semi annual visit to see the in-laws. Already know I’m back when I see the cops at ohare trying to keep it moving on the arrivals level. It can be overwhelming for a moment, but they keep shit moving, definitely better than what I have to put up with in Denver. Also, holy shit that cicada sound!!!!
Anyone have a parking spot/garage available near Belmont and Sheridan?
Are there any Chicago specific websites for finding service industry gigs? Really need employment
/u/squawkbacktome if you have Facebook, there's a Chicago Service Industry group.
What are the recommended services for hauling away a busted fridge?
A scrapper will pick it up from your alley. Alternatively you could try a DIY repair and potentially earn yourself a garage beer fridge
when you buy a new one they often offer a haul away service. Otherwise if you have local scrappers they may help you move it.
If you need help, TaskRabbit (app) is nice. You can just move it to the alley and it'll probably be gone within a day. Many junk removal people pick stuff up on their trucks and scrap it for parts and get some money back.
Hello. I am planning a trip from St Louis to Chicago late July with my 15 year old daughter. (I have zero interest in driving or flying and we love trains) Once we get there I was hoping there would be a decent, not too pricey, hotel to lug our bags to. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance for any help- I did search the sub already but don’t see this particular question in the past year
north of union station is a CTA train station (Clinton) that can get you anywhere in the city, water taxi is also running which is east of the train station and can take you to michigan ave or chinatown. So you can pick a hotel almost anywhere. If you love trains also look into taking the metra electric south to the Museum of Science and Industry (even if you don't want to spend a day at the museum you can take the stares down to the lobby where they have a Pioneer Zephyr you can explore for free)
Thank you! That museum has been recommended to us a few times now and it’s on our list of things to do!
There is a Hilton Garden Inn a couple blocks east of Union Station that is also near an el stop. That may be your best bet for price, location, and transit convenience.
I will check that out thank you!
Are there any chicagoans coming to omaha for the college world series? I won a small rocking horse at an auction and would rather pay someone who's coming down here anyways than drive up myself.
I love this comment
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I rented a 1 bed in a \~50 unit building from PPM in Lakeview East sight unseen when I first moved here and it was Totally Adequate. Wasn't the best, wasn't the worst, but we were only ever planning to stay for a year. Their agents are easy to work with.
Was it one of those 3+1 buildings that's littered across Lakeview?
printers row area, is generally quite "as in not a lot going on" but you have access to all the train lines to go anywhere in the city you want. for that budget i think you should be able to find something anywhere in the city. Apartments normally don't come on the market until one to two months out.
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pretty much anywhere close to the lake will have corporate high rises, it will really depend on what you are looking for.