Chicago Warning or Danger Tips by grkboiler

Unless you have no choice, avoid driving to Cubs games. Parking is expensive ($25 - $50 and sometimes much higher), the streets are jam packed after the game, and in some cases you will be trapped into your spot and not be able to leave until the people around you leave. Some places will ask you to leave your keys. And if you decide to try your luck at street parking, you will probably get towed. Also, avoid parking on Clark at all costs - you will sit there in traffic forever.

I would recommend taking the CTA Red Line to Addison Station.

If you must drive here, there are 2 decent options I always use:
1. If you are willing to pay the price for good parking and easy-out privileges, there is a lot on Addison directly across from Wrigley Field. You can follow the alleys to the south when you are ready to leave.
2. If you don't mind a walk, you can find a couple cheaper lots east of Wrigley Field on Addison at a school, or a few up and down Halsted near Addison.

In the picture, my car (left) was sandwiched between 2 cars, was backed up against a brick wall, and had an SUV parked an inch in front. I waited 45 minutes before the person to my left showed up to leave, then another 2 hours before the SUV left. This is why I urge you to take public transportation.

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Some areas downtown have people asking for money or offering to place bets. Don't give them anything. Some frequent ones I run into:

1. "I have AIDS and I am participating in an AIDS walk. Please sign my petition and give me whatever donation you feel necessary." This guy walks around the Loop. Don't sign his petition and don't give him money. He must walk in AIDS walks every week.

2. "I need $2 to take the bus to go pick up my kids." This lady also walks around the Loop at night.

3. "Let me tell you a joke." Another Loop prowler. Say no. He will charge you $1 for the joke. He also smells like urine and he will follow you until you give him the $1. Do you really want to hear that joke now?

4. "I bet you $10 that...." There are a few of these out there. They are alogn Michigan Ave. and in the Loop. Whatever the bet is, don't take it. You won't win. You CAN'T win.

5. "Hey, I lost my wallet in a cab. I really need to get to a job interview and I am running short on time. Can I have $10 so I can get something to eat and then call home?" This one involves a well-dressed man acting as a business traveler. My neighbor fell for it outside Lou Mitchell's. After finishing breakfast, my neighbor went outside and the "businessman" was still scamming people a block away.

6. Along Michigan Ave., a legally blind "Baptist minister" from Indiana needed $18.50 to get his children on a bus to get home. When I asked him some questions about Indiana, he couldn't answer them. Nice try, pal.

There are plenty of others, like the honest citizen running for Congress needing your donation on the spot, or the "starving" man with brand new Nike shoes. Gimme a break, people.

Just leave them alone and go about your business.

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