Chicago Local Custom Tips by londonlover

Chicagoland--the term has a...

Chicagoland--the term has a ring to it, doesn't it? It actually refers to Chicago and its millions of suburbanites. Here's just a simplified explanation of Chicago's neighborhoods and suburbia for you...
<BR><B>The South Side</B> is generally considered the 'bad' side of town--much of it is notoriously dangerous, drug-ridden, etc. Sad, but it's reality. The same can be said for many of the suburbs immediately surrounding the city, but not all. I actually haven't been in many of them, so I can't say with authority.
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<B>The Gold Coast</B> is home to the extremely rich Chicagoans living along the lake coast in high-rise apartments. They're beautiful places with great views, but out of the range of most normal people. :)
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<B>The western suburbs</B> are, in my opinion, the most overcrowded and expansive. There are several wealthy ones, and many in the middle class. Several are very industrial. They do, however, have easy access to the city, therefore they are home to many commuters.
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<B>The northern suburbs</B> are my favorite by far. Due to their location bordering Lake Michigan, many of them have beautiful beaches and views. Several of the near north suburbs are very wealthy--Wilmette, Glencoe, Highland Park (where Michael Jordan lives), etc. But they also have some great cultural attractions and shopping that rival Chicago proper. They get progressively more middle-class the farther north you go, and eventually cross the Wisconsin state border and blend into Milwaukee's suburbs! This is what is known in my area as the 'Chicago-Milwaukee corridor,' because the area is so populated now that there really is no separation between the two cities' suburbs.

Ever wonder why Chicago is...

Ever wonder why Chicago is called the Windy City? Most people think it's because of our lakeshore breezes, but actually, Chicago is significantly less windy on average than other big cities in the US. The real reason for our nickname is that Chicago politicians used to have a notorious reputation for being dishonest, involved with the mob, etc...you might call them 'windbags' because they were full of 'hot air.' Hence, our nickname! Guess it doesn't sound as glamorous, does it? :) Trust me, Chicago politics these days isn't worse than anywhere else in the US!