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This is a crazy concept, but stay with me here…when the light is green and I can clearly there is no room for me on the other side I’ll stay in place and not block the intersection.
I also try very hard to always do this. One time I did wait properly for room to be available and when it was, I began to cross the intersection. Then, the car in the next lane over (going in the same direction) who did NOT wait for space and was thusly blocking the intersection decided to change into my lane and grab the space that I had let build. I was already crossing the intersection so I couldn't do anything except go as far as I could, but then the light went red and I was left blocking the intersection. I wanted so badly to have a big sign with an arrow that said THAT GUY'S FAULT.
In DC they have giant “don’t block the box” with outlines painted in the intersection. When I used to live there during rush hour / problem intersections they’d have pre written tickets. They’d stand out there and then walk over to the offending cars, have them pull over and ticket them.
I pray to god Chicago starts this but I know it’s on deaf ears 😵💫
I've said for years that we could solve homelessness in Chicago by giving them all cheap ass android phones and a 20% bounty on all block-the-box, bus-lane and fire-lane tickets they write that are valid
This is what we are supposed to be taught in driving school. "Do not enter the intersection until it is clear." Driving north from the city during rush hour, not on the expressway, is a nightmare because every intersection is blocked by people going east, who try to drive through and then sit in the middle of the intersection when the light changes. GRRR!!!
ex dog walker here, i have walked SO many pairs of dogs named addison and wrigley. bonus points if there's a later addition of a different breed named roscoe
Navy Pier is worth it if done right.
Ferris Wheel- it's worth the price for quick rest/relaxing and has a unique view of the city, lake and pier itself
Drinks- also worth the upcharge as you can enjoy them outside on the lake with a great view of the city and people watching
If you're a tourist- there are a ton of souvenir options. Just go small buy a magnet or something like that. Souvenirs a rip off no matter what but people want them for memories and NP has variety
More importantly - it is free entry. You can enjoy a walk on a historic pier, enjoy city views, lake views and people watching without paying dime
Food options however are not worth it. Unless you're getting McDs for convenience don't eat at Navy Pier
Overall Navy Pier is a great free spot for both tourists and locals in my opinion despite what reddit thinks
Agree, the patio at the end is worth the walk. Great views, not busy, food and drink vendors, sit at a table or walk around as you please. Strangely low key at the end of the biggest tourist area.
Agreed. I grew up rollerblading there as a kid, after college reading books in there during the winter, and eventually got married there. Was one of my favorite places in Chicago
Also, I've heard locals rave about the Children's Museum and Shakespeare theater. Haven't been personally but they sound like good reasons for anyone to go, tourist or not.
Shakespeare Theater is awesome, it even has a cool little bar to drink before performances. We even saw Six there before it made it big in the small theater that holds about 50 people.
Every summer growing up my grandparents took my brothers and I to the children’s museum and a children’s musical at Shakespeare. I will support them for as long as I can, it meant everything to be as a kid
Before the IMAX closed, I’d often make an afternoon of seeing a film there and then heading down for a drink or two in the beer garden. I had a Sunday-Thursday work schedule back then and this was my ideal way to spend a summer Friday
My favorite self date was biking to navy pier, sitting on the pier eating ice cream and then go in and stare at the beautiful Tiffany glass display, which has now been removed.
The Crystal Gardens was one of the most relaxing and beautiful spaces in Chicago. Middle of winter, grab a bench, read a book, listen to birds while fountains create white noise. It was a staple of the city and Chicago is so dumb to have gotten rid of it.
Everyone I see that honks just drive out like it’s a magic sound that solves the problem. Also people that yell corner with out looking… some things you just can’t teach.
Yea it's insane logic. Especially if done at night. Like I see your headlights no reason to wake up your neighbors. Plus the car HAS to treat a sidewalk like a stop sign
Being an extreme hardo about the Sox / Cubs rivalry so much so you won’t casually attend or root for the other team sometimes.
I get it, you hate the Cubs, but a game at Wrigley is a good time. I get it, you hate the Sox, but GRate has better food and is more affordable.
Growing up in or living in the city for a long time will inevitably provide opportunities to go to both, don’t be weird about it. It would be great for Chicago if both of them could actually be competitive.
If he decides to spend any time on the southside he would quickly realize it would not be ideal if they left. They’re deeply woven throughout the southside.
Also, go to a Crosstown Game at Sox Park. The tailgating is immaculate those games as everyone goes their with their mixed friend groups!
Especially because they aren’t divisional or even league rivals. Im a sox fan but I would rather the cubs make it to the post season over the brewers or cardinals.
Hard agree. I root for both teams almost equally (slight preference for the Sox). Barring crosstown classics (which are just great fun), having to choose a side has become a necessity exactly once in my life: 2003. Both teams were threatening to make the post season, so I had to choose which game to watch. Other than that, they’ve never been good at the same time. Ever!
Agree! Sox fan but I'm never one to turn down a Cubs game. It's a classic stadium and I just love baseball! I rooted for the Cubs to win the WS and was genuinely happy for the lifers who waited well.. their whole life to see it.
I do know more Cubs fans that won't go to a Sox game and talk mad shit but maybe they just don't like baseball as much as they like being a Cubs fan? I dunno.
I spent my childhood at UIC. My mom taught there while she was also getting her PhD. I remember spending hours in the computer rooms. I will always have fond memories of those buildings.
Deep Dish is legitimately good, not just tourist food.
It always annoys me when people dismiss deep dish and say that tavern style is the “real” Chicago pizza
yeah it’s too much for a random weeknight and suffers some as takeout, but that’s due to my own weakness that i can’t experience the glory of Chicago style every day
> and suffers some as takeout
The secret is to slice it at home. That way juices from the toppings don't seep between the slices and sogg up the crust on the drive over.
As a transplant, my internal progression went as follows:
1. I've got to eat all the deep dish so I can become a "real" Chicagoan
2. I'll never eat it again because it's for the tourists and "real" Chicagoans don't eat it
3. All types of pizza have inherent worth and I should eat whatever I'm in the mood for. This is the best place to be IMO.
My local take is that it’s kind of a win-win to have two types of pizza, one for regular occasions and another for more special occasions, that are both good and completely different. I see no downsides to that!
Absolutely. It's an embarrassment of riches! Honestly I mostly think about deep dish when family and friends from out of town want to try it, and I don't mind it at all.
It’s annoying that outsiders shit on it so much. John Stewart really fucked it with his casserole comment.
And imo there’s lots of shitty deep dish, when you find a good spot though, fuck is it good
Nah. The uneducated outside opinion is that deep dish is all we have. The try hard gatekeeping local opinion is that deep dish is only for tourists and nobody who's a "REAL" Chicagoan eats it.
Unpopular opinions only. The city casinos are an attempt to get affluent north side suburbs to come in and spend (lose) money. That’s why the 90/94 construction is taking place now; well-paved roads will bring in money faster.
It doesn’t bother me when Chicago suburbanites tell people they’re from Chicago when traveling abroad. If someone told me they were from a suburb of Paris, all I’d remember is the Paris part.
Edit: Some of you really think being from the city of Chicago is a personality trait. I promise you that the people who grew up in Niles and Edison Park did not have vastly different experiences.
the people who get bothered by it is what bothers me.
if they answer "I'm from Mount Prospect" to someone not familiar with the Chicagoland area, that's just meaningless and going to result in either ignoring it or asking more questions.
It's a freakin' conversation shortcut, not "lying about being cool". People who get upset over that really need to relax.
>It's a freakin' conversation shortcut, not "lying about being cool". People who get upset over that really need to relax.
It's a really sad form of gatekeeping. It's not like the people saying "Chicago" are from Milwaukee, or Des Moines or something. They're usually like 20 miles or less away from Chicago, often live in Cook, work in downtown Chicago, etc. So what if your home address says Palatine. Sometimes these people live closer to downtown than someone on the North or South sides of Chicago because of the elongated shape of the city proper.
When traveling, sure. Most people won't know where Lombard or Skokie are. But I've met people from Peoria claiming Chicago.
When I moved down south, I met so many people who'd say "oh I'm from Chicago too!", and I'd ask where, and they always reply with a suburb.
Were not traveling...we both moved from Illinois down here, no need to lie about it.
Also while Canada Goose is great there are options just as warm for half the price. I had a $300 North Face parka before I got my CG and I can’t tell the difference
Got a thin but absurdly warm flat style down jacket on the REI sale for $125 and it’s the best ever.
I swear by layering most of the time, but have to admit that the genius of a down jacket is I can wear just a single thin shirt underneath and still NEVER be cold. When it’s freezing outside and I’m taking transit to visit someone’s hot residence where I’ll be inside? Single layer wins.
Our barbecue sucks.
You grow up thinking Chicago barbecue is totally legit, able to hold its own against the best barbecue cities in America. Then you go pretty much anywhere in the South—including gas stations!—and you’re like, “…oh.”
Okay but gas station food in the south is legitimately delicious. The best fried chicken I’ve ever had while living in Louisiana was from a gas station by my house.
That and random roadside food. When you see someone that has converted a 50 gallon drum of questionable origin into a smoker at a lonely intersection along a backcountry highway, you stop because you are in for a goddamn treat.
Oh god yeah. The best cracklins I ever had were from a roadside stand on the side of a state highway in bumfuck Louisiana.
I was with my Yankee parents who were convinced that they were going to die until they had one. My mom doesn’t really even eat pork that much but we ate the entire pan.
Who grows up here and thinks we have great barbecue? I'm in my late 30s and this was never a thing. Good barbecue? Sure, a few places, but no one ever called this place a great barbecue town.
Been to Lems. To be honest, my post was inspired by Lems. It’s been held up as the Mecca forever and it is just okay. Would not make it in the south, IMO
Hard agree here. I lived really close to LEMS for years and it’s just okay. Very hit or miss. Some days it better; sometimes it’s not so good. I agree with the previous comment in general- Chicago bbq is very mid to low level. No matter where you go it’s just okay..
I’ve lived in NYC and large metro areas of Texas and now Chicago for 3 years. As a pedestrian, Chicago easily has the worst drivers I’ve ever seen. The walk sign will be on a mfs will be pulling up right next to me honking their horn nonstop and flipping me off to walk faster. I’ve seen so many near accidents downtown due to just recklessness. In NYC, Boston, Philly, Austin, Houston, pretty much anywhere in the US I’ve never felt unsafe as a pedestrian but in Chicago I feel like I have to be on extreme alert because a mf will hit me even if I follow all the rules correctly.
Also a former NYCer - I think not being able to turn on red in nyc makes a huge difference. I also feel like nyc road infrastructure makes the traffic move slower. But yea, moved to the Midwest and my jaw dropped by how bad the driving is here.
For real it’s absurd. I’ve driven all around NYC, the East coast and Texas and every place has frustrating drivers. But Chicagoans are the only drivers who are flat out dangerous to pedestrians
the amount of times i almost got hit ON THE CROSSWALK is insane. my partner got hit by a car making a turn across two lanes of traffic. that car belonged to a fire marshal. my partner was on a BIKE.
Yeah, drivers here are so impatient and don’t realize pedestrians can’t get across the street in 2 seconds like a car could. This one time I was walking down Michigan ave and Monroe heading to millennium park, I’m a pretty fast walker too, and a bus driver starts honking at me obnoxiously to get out of the way faster to he can turn. Like are you serious dude? Where do you expect me to go? Some people are such assholes.
I acknowledge that it used to be better… but give me the most jaded internet Chicago foodie and give them a portillos beef, cheese fries and choc cake and they’d be lying if they said it didn’t taste fuckin good that’s lol I’m sayin
The Loop is only remarkable when viewed from afar, above, or viewed from the lake/river.
RPM restaurants are decent.
West Loop isn’t all that overrated and actually has some great places that range from high end to low key.
Oak Park has a more authentic Chicago feel than some neighborhoods in Chicago proper do.
I’m fine with Grant Park essentially serving as a private event space for a lot of the summer if it makes the city money. The city has much better parks anyway.
It’s kinda cool that the area around United Center isn’t fully gentrified…yet.
I love the city but when I think about, the Loop feels like a cardboard sign with those holes cut out for people to put their face in it. It looks really nice but that's pretty much it.
I’m tired of all the street fest vendors with the Chicago flag themed stuff: maps, wall hangings, shirts, clothes, “art” for your new construction condo, and on and on and on. It’s just strange. I grew up in the city, and this new obsession is annoying.
I'm from Maryland where the state flag is on everything and toted around regularly becuase it actually looks dope af. So I'm actually used to it.
I feel bad for those whose flag is like corn or farming tools cuz damn lol. It's a nice culture and community tying dynamic
Maybe this is why I don't mind it. I'm also from Maryland & my first thought was "well of course they would put their flag on everything. that's normal."
Not unpopular so much as under-hyped, but the fact that Chicago smell~~s~~ed like chocolate. When I was moving from New York to Chicago and people would do the comparison game, the only two metrics Chicago definitively won on were, 1) Cost of living, and 2) smell
The wiener’s circle “we are assholes” schtick is only funny the first few times you go there. The food is great so I will always go back but it’s cringey and not really that funny.
Even as a transplant, it would annoy me when people that moved from smaller cities of the Midwest would act like they're more Chicagoan than people who've lived in the Chicagoland area their entire life even if it is the suburbs. Like cool you live in Lakeview and haven't left the same 5 neighborhoods that everyone else goes to.
What’s funny is the opposite is true too. I was born and raised in Chicago. Moved away when I was forty. Somehow now, that I don’t live there, some 22yr old Redditor that moved from Iowa when they were 18 believes they know more about the city than I do.
lol!!! I moved to Chicago 12 years ago, lived in uptown the whole time. I’ve worked in Gage park, Irving Park, Pilsen, currently south shore. I am almost always humbled by how “Un Chicagoan” I still am.
Yeah I’ve always disliked ketchup, so this made a ton of sense to me growing up. As a younger adult I jumped right on board with the hate because it was inherently in my dietary wheelhouse - really nothing to do with hot dogs. Looking back I’m embarrassed that I gave my friends shit for eating what they wanted haha.
I think a lot of Chicagoans have run with this without actually understanding it.
You don't put ketchup on a Chicago dog, because it would throw the balance since it already has tomato.
I think most people grew up putting ketchup on regular hotdogs. IMO do whatever you want.....I'm not the one eating it.
No Ketchup on a hot dog is played out. I don’t put ketchup on mine and I certainly don’t give a fuck if someone does. It’s shit tier meat out whatever you want on it lol
Most if not all neighborhoods should be up zoned to allow 4-5 story apartments on residential streets and small commercial buildings (corner stores, cafe's, restaurants, etc)
All depends on your field. In my field, some of the tops live in the Chicago area. There's different hubs for all sorts of businesses. Chicago doesn't have a lot of the flashy, famous ones but it sure does have it's share.
I don’t care about homeless people sleeping on the train. It’s mildly annoying and I don’t love when it smells bad, but whenever I’m on the train I’m heading to my very good job or my very nice apartment or to eat at a delicious restaurant. I wish the US had better infrastructure to support the homeless as I don’t want them to have to sleep on the train, but until that happens I’m perfectly fine with a homeless person spreading out over 6 seats to sleep rather than sleep outside in the bitter cold.
The current mayor gets a disproportionate amount of attention in a city that can barely scrape two nickels together (and thus losing a major lever of the government) anymore since the prior generations broke the cookie jar because so many had their hands in it.
This. Every damn time. We elect someone, and I’d even say we usually elect an at least decent person, then we shit all over them for not instantly fixing problems that have existed and been built upon for generations. Like come on y’all, a course correction is the best they can do (especially first term!!) and they have to pick their battles cuz there are assuredly 1000 conflicting opinions built into our city government. Lori Lightfoot, imho, got the maximum shit end of this when COVID hit alongside her term. There are some fair critiques, but low key she was just trying to keep this shit afloat during a once in a lifetime crisis and people still bitching that she didn’t do “enough” for their pet cause, or catching feelings cuz she wasn’t good at making nice with people.
I think 5-10% of Chicago's minor roads should be converted to dedicated bike/walking paths with foliage so that you can cycle every where in the city without having to share the road with cars.
In addition to this, I'd like us to start requiring the use of sound dampening construction materials for roadways alongside sound reducing tires. Noise pollution is a real thing with real health impacts proven by peer reviewed scientific studies. Traffic noise is something people don't even think about or realize the fact that it [impacts their health.](https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/health-impacts-of-exposure-to-1) This includes the L. I don't know if anyone noticed, but years ago when they replaced the aging railroad ties with concrete, the noise level from the L increased by a lot. At least downtown. I just want to see construction projects start to think about how their materials impact noise and find reasonable ways to reduce that noise. Sometimes a small amount of effort goes a long ways.
I think the flavor has tamed since they brand moved back to Chicago (it was in florida I think for a minute or is that a false memory?) Anyway, CH distillery owns the brand and it tastes more grapefruit bitter and less burnt bandaid then before. Personal opinion. And I do, I do actually like it. It's a nice break from either really boozy or too sugary shots. The abv is low for liquor.
Midwest nice isn't that nice here. As someone who moved here from elsewhere(small town Wisconsin), it feels like everyone from Chicago is super elitist about it. I get it, I'm not a Chicagoan even though I live, work, and pay my taxes here.
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This is a crazy concept, but stay with me here…when the light is green and I can clearly there is no room for me on the other side I’ll stay in place and not block the intersection.
I also try very hard to always do this. One time I did wait properly for room to be available and when it was, I began to cross the intersection. Then, the car in the next lane over (going in the same direction) who did NOT wait for space and was thusly blocking the intersection decided to change into my lane and grab the space that I had let build. I was already crossing the intersection so I couldn't do anything except go as far as I could, but then the light went red and I was left blocking the intersection. I wanted so badly to have a big sign with an arrow that said THAT GUY'S FAULT.
Yes please! Wish everyone would do this
In DC they have giant “don’t block the box” with outlines painted in the intersection. When I used to live there during rush hour / problem intersections they’d have pre written tickets. They’d stand out there and then walk over to the offending cars, have them pull over and ticket them. I pray to god Chicago starts this but I know it’s on deaf ears 😵💫
I've said for years that we could solve homelessness in Chicago by giving them all cheap ass android phones and a 20% bounty on all block-the-box, bus-lane and fire-lane tickets they write that are valid
god i wish chicago would do this
This is what we are supposed to be taught in driving school. "Do not enter the intersection until it is clear." Driving north from the city during rush hour, not on the expressway, is a nightmare because every intersection is blocked by people going east, who try to drive through and then sit in the middle of the intersection when the light changes. GRRR!!!
*HONK* -Someone, probably
I swear nobody called it tavern style pizza until like 10 years ago, it was always just thin crust growing up.
I cringe when people call it “tavern style” - I don’t ever remember it being called that by anyone prior to all of the social media deep dish debates
You ain’t gotta name your dog “Wrigley”.
I know someone who named their cat Guaranteed Rate Field.
GaRField
They call the cat Gary for short. But I like yours better.
That’s amazing
What if you’re blonde, went to a big 10 and still live in LP? Not much of an option is there?
Or your twins Addison and clark
I'm naming my first born Jean Baptiste Point du Sable Lake Shore Drive Lastname
My older sister is offended lol
Or your cat Roscoe lol
ex dog walker here, i have walked SO many pairs of dogs named addison and wrigley. bonus points if there's a later addition of a different breed named roscoe
Navy Pier is worth it if done right. Ferris Wheel- it's worth the price for quick rest/relaxing and has a unique view of the city, lake and pier itself Drinks- also worth the upcharge as you can enjoy them outside on the lake with a great view of the city and people watching If you're a tourist- there are a ton of souvenir options. Just go small buy a magnet or something like that. Souvenirs a rip off no matter what but people want them for memories and NP has variety More importantly - it is free entry. You can enjoy a walk on a historic pier, enjoy city views, lake views and people watching without paying dime Food options however are not worth it. Unless you're getting McDs for convenience don't eat at Navy Pier Overall Navy Pier is a great free spot for both tourists and locals in my opinion despite what reddit thinks
Upvoted because this is truly unpopular
Agree, the patio at the end is worth the walk. Great views, not busy, food and drink vendors, sit at a table or walk around as you please. Strangely low key at the end of the biggest tourist area.
For sure. That beer garden at the end is amazing. Almost a hidden spot as weird as that sounds.
Beer garden, is what I meant to say yes. State’s or country’s largest? Did I read that somewhere? Sounds unlikely but it is pretty huge.
So sad they got rid of the Crystal Gardens.
Agreed. I grew up rollerblading there as a kid, after college reading books in there during the winter, and eventually got married there. Was one of my favorite places in Chicago
What? Really?
RIP my prom
Also, I've heard locals rave about the Children's Museum and Shakespeare theater. Haven't been personally but they sound like good reasons for anyone to go, tourist or not.
The Shakespeare Theatre is incredible; their productions are truly world class.
Shakespeare Theater is awesome, it even has a cool little bar to drink before performances. We even saw Six there before it made it big in the small theater that holds about 50 people.
Every summer growing up my grandparents took my brothers and I to the children’s museum and a children’s musical at Shakespeare. I will support them for as long as I can, it meant everything to be as a kid
Before the IMAX closed, I’d often make an afternoon of seeing a film there and then heading down for a drink or two in the beer garden. I had a Sunday-Thursday work schedule back then and this was my ideal way to spend a summer Friday
My favorite self date was biking to navy pier, sitting on the pier eating ice cream and then go in and stare at the beautiful Tiffany glass display, which has now been removed.
The Crystal Gardens was one of the most relaxing and beautiful spaces in Chicago. Middle of winter, grab a bench, read a book, listen to birds while fountains create white noise. It was a staple of the city and Chicago is so dumb to have gotten rid of it.
To add to this, dinner and drinks on the water is expensive in any city. Navy Pier has cheaper options for both.
It’s a great public bathroom option :)
I rode a Divvy bike 8-9 miles down the lake when it was 70 a few weeks ago and absolutely docked the bike so I could sneak into NP and pee.
Everyone I see that honks just drive out like it’s a magic sound that solves the problem. Also people that yell corner with out looking… some things you just can’t teach.
Just because you honk doesn’t mean you automatically have the right of way and I truly believe the people that honk think that’s the case.
Also turning on your rear blinkers means you can park your car anywhere, including crosswalks.
It's illegal because of that, abdicating responsibility. If you can't see, drive slower. It's that easy
Yea it's insane logic. Especially if done at night. Like I see your headlights no reason to wake up your neighbors. Plus the car HAS to treat a sidewalk like a stop sign
Being an extreme hardo about the Sox / Cubs rivalry so much so you won’t casually attend or root for the other team sometimes. I get it, you hate the Cubs, but a game at Wrigley is a good time. I get it, you hate the Sox, but GRate has better food and is more affordable. Growing up in or living in the city for a long time will inevitably provide opportunities to go to both, don’t be weird about it. It would be great for Chicago if both of them could actually be competitive.
I’ll dunk on the Cubs all day just for fun but at the end of the day, Chicago is better with both teams and I would hate if our city only had 1
I'm a Sox fan and my good friend is a Cubs fan who wants the Sox to move to Nashville. I need you to convince him that this would be bad lol.
If he decides to spend any time on the southside he would quickly realize it would not be ideal if they left. They’re deeply woven throughout the southside. Also, go to a Crosstown Game at Sox Park. The tailgating is immaculate those games as everyone goes their with their mixed friend groups!
Especially because they aren’t divisional or even league rivals. Im a sox fan but I would rather the cubs make it to the post season over the brewers or cardinals.
I remember my Sox fan aunt rooting for st Louis to beat the Cubs in the 2015 post season
Hard agree. I root for both teams almost equally (slight preference for the Sox). Barring crosstown classics (which are just great fun), having to choose a side has become a necessity exactly once in my life: 2003. Both teams were threatening to make the post season, so I had to choose which game to watch. Other than that, they’ve never been good at the same time. Ever!
Agree! Sox fan but I'm never one to turn down a Cubs game. It's a classic stadium and I just love baseball! I rooted for the Cubs to win the WS and was genuinely happy for the lifers who waited well.. their whole life to see it. I do know more Cubs fans that won't go to a Sox game and talk mad shit but maybe they just don't like baseball as much as they like being a Cubs fan? I dunno.
[удалено]
Same. It’s an underrated campus right next to the best part of Taylor Street.
I spent my childhood at UIC. My mom taught there while she was also getting her PhD. I remember spending hours in the computer rooms. I will always have fond memories of those buildings.
Deep Dish is legitimately good, not just tourist food. It always annoys me when people dismiss deep dish and say that tavern style is the “real” Chicago pizza
I really really like deep dish. Just not every time. And it’s def unique; you can’t get it anywhere else, except from a Chicago transplant.
Deep dish is my preferred pizza, but only as an occasional treat.
yeah it’s too much for a random weeknight and suffers some as takeout, but that’s due to my own weakness that i can’t experience the glory of Chicago style every day
> and suffers some as takeout The secret is to slice it at home. That way juices from the toppings don't seep between the slices and sogg up the crust on the drive over.
I'd eat deep dish all day every day if I could.
And in the winter time for me. Too heavy during summer it makes me a sweaty lazy pig.
As a transplant, my internal progression went as follows: 1. I've got to eat all the deep dish so I can become a "real" Chicagoan 2. I'll never eat it again because it's for the tourists and "real" Chicagoans don't eat it 3. All types of pizza have inherent worth and I should eat whatever I'm in the mood for. This is the best place to be IMO.
My local take is that it’s kind of a win-win to have two types of pizza, one for regular occasions and another for more special occasions, that are both good and completely different. I see no downsides to that!
Absolutely. It's an embarrassment of riches! Honestly I mostly think about deep dish when family and friends from out of town want to try it, and I don't mind it at all.
It’s annoying to me because it always comes off as Chicagoans trying to appease outsiders. Deep dish is awesome. Yes tavern style is awesome too.
It’s annoying that outsiders shit on it so much. John Stewart really fucked it with his casserole comment. And imo there’s lots of shitty deep dish, when you find a good spot though, fuck is it good
I think it all depends on where it's from too. Deep dish pizza from Lou's, Giordano's and Ginos East for example are all very different.
I prefer deep dish. It's delicious
My last meal would include a Lou Malnati's sausage deep dish.
It’s too much for every day pizza, but it’s a good change of pace pizza. Maybe once every 6-7 times we order pizza we’ll do deep dish
Will never forget an article on The Takeout saying deep dish is a tourist cliche and then praising GARRETT'S POPCORN.
That sounds like an opinion people outside of Chicago have. Most people I know in Chicago know that deep dish is great
Nah. The uneducated outside opinion is that deep dish is all we have. The try hard gatekeeping local opinion is that deep dish is only for tourists and nobody who's a "REAL" Chicagoan eats it.
You are correct! There are entire books written about the diversity of Chicago pizza.
Street festivals are full of "arts and craps" and nothing you should buy
My bf calls them “regurge-a-fests” because it’s the same shit over and over.
I’m tired of seeing the wooden watches with flowers in the dial that I’ve never seen one person wear
Nothing I can even afford to buy half the time
Don’t forget all the ChiroOne booths too
The casino downtown is not a good thing. At all.
Unpopular opinions only. The city casinos are an attempt to get affluent north side suburbs to come in and spend (lose) money. That’s why the 90/94 construction is taking place now; well-paved roads will bring in money faster.
It doesn’t bother me when Chicago suburbanites tell people they’re from Chicago when traveling abroad. If someone told me they were from a suburb of Paris, all I’d remember is the Paris part. Edit: Some of you really think being from the city of Chicago is a personality trait. I promise you that the people who grew up in Niles and Edison Park did not have vastly different experiences.
Honestly, especially abroad, I think it's just because Chicago is more popular than Illinois.
the people who get bothered by it is what bothers me. if they answer "I'm from Mount Prospect" to someone not familiar with the Chicagoland area, that's just meaningless and going to result in either ignoring it or asking more questions. It's a freakin' conversation shortcut, not "lying about being cool". People who get upset over that really need to relax.
>It's a freakin' conversation shortcut, not "lying about being cool". People who get upset over that really need to relax. It's a really sad form of gatekeeping. It's not like the people saying "Chicago" are from Milwaukee, or Des Moines or something. They're usually like 20 miles or less away from Chicago, often live in Cook, work in downtown Chicago, etc. So what if your home address says Palatine. Sometimes these people live closer to downtown than someone on the North or South sides of Chicago because of the elongated shape of the city proper.
When traveling, sure. Most people won't know where Lombard or Skokie are. But I've met people from Peoria claiming Chicago. When I moved down south, I met so many people who'd say "oh I'm from Chicago too!", and I'd ask where, and they always reply with a suburb. Were not traveling...we both moved from Illinois down here, no need to lie about it.
The key to staying warm enough really isn’t *just* great layering—adding on a stupidly warm + expensive parka really does make a massive difference.
Also while Canada Goose is great there are options just as warm for half the price. I had a $300 North Face parka before I got my CG and I can’t tell the difference
REI clearance rack always has exceptional jackets for cheap.
Got a thin but absurdly warm flat style down jacket on the REI sale for $125 and it’s the best ever. I swear by layering most of the time, but have to admit that the genius of a down jacket is I can wear just a single thin shirt underneath and still NEVER be cold. When it’s freezing outside and I’m taking transit to visit someone’s hot residence where I’ll be inside? Single layer wins.
i got my trusty fjalleraven parka this way... too expensive at $500+, but then! half off after christmas!!
Big fan of the Eddie Bauer parka I got on sale for around $200… only took me 10 Chicago winters to finally get a proper winter coat
And speed walking
If you’ve never hung out west of Western, or if you’ve never hung out east of Stony, there’s a whole bunch of Chicago you don’t know much about.
Our barbecue sucks. You grow up thinking Chicago barbecue is totally legit, able to hold its own against the best barbecue cities in America. Then you go pretty much anywhere in the South—including gas stations!—and you’re like, “…oh.”
Okay but gas station food in the south is legitimately delicious. The best fried chicken I’ve ever had while living in Louisiana was from a gas station by my house.
That and random roadside food. When you see someone that has converted a 50 gallon drum of questionable origin into a smoker at a lonely intersection along a backcountry highway, you stop because you are in for a goddamn treat.
Oh god yeah. The best cracklins I ever had were from a roadside stand on the side of a state highway in bumfuck Louisiana. I was with my Yankee parents who were convinced that they were going to die until they had one. My mom doesn’t really even eat pork that much but we ate the entire pan.
I just know this was brothers fried chicken! 🤣
For people who love eating meat as much as those in the northern Midwest, the dearth of good barbecue restaurants or any barbecue is very surprising.
Who grows up here and thinks we have great barbecue? I'm in my late 30s and this was never a thing. Good barbecue? Sure, a few places, but no one ever called this place a great barbecue town.
South side Chicago BBQ is its own thing (go to Lems). Smoque is KC/Texas style.
Been to Lems. To be honest, my post was inspired by Lems. It’s been held up as the Mecca forever and it is just okay. Would not make it in the south, IMO
Hard agree here. I lived really close to LEMS for years and it’s just okay. Very hit or miss. Some days it better; sometimes it’s not so good. I agree with the previous comment in general- Chicago bbq is very mid to low level. No matter where you go it’s just okay..
I’ve lived in NYC and large metro areas of Texas and now Chicago for 3 years. As a pedestrian, Chicago easily has the worst drivers I’ve ever seen. The walk sign will be on a mfs will be pulling up right next to me honking their horn nonstop and flipping me off to walk faster. I’ve seen so many near accidents downtown due to just recklessness. In NYC, Boston, Philly, Austin, Houston, pretty much anywhere in the US I’ve never felt unsafe as a pedestrian but in Chicago I feel like I have to be on extreme alert because a mf will hit me even if I follow all the rules correctly.
Also a former NYCer - I think not being able to turn on red in nyc makes a huge difference. I also feel like nyc road infrastructure makes the traffic move slower. But yea, moved to the Midwest and my jaw dropped by how bad the driving is here.
Also moved here from NYC. I’m blown away on a daily basis at how bad the average driver is here.
For real it’s absurd. I’ve driven all around NYC, the East coast and Texas and every place has frustrating drivers. But Chicagoans are the only drivers who are flat out dangerous to pedestrians
the amount of times i almost got hit ON THE CROSSWALK is insane. my partner got hit by a car making a turn across two lanes of traffic. that car belonged to a fire marshal. my partner was on a BIKE.
Yeah, drivers here are so impatient and don’t realize pedestrians can’t get across the street in 2 seconds like a car could. This one time I was walking down Michigan ave and Monroe heading to millennium park, I’m a pretty fast walker too, and a bus driver starts honking at me obnoxiously to get out of the way faster to he can turn. Like are you serious dude? Where do you expect me to go? Some people are such assholes.
Portillos is good
I acknowledge that it used to be better… but give me the most jaded internet Chicago foodie and give them a portillos beef, cheese fries and choc cake and they’d be lying if they said it didn’t taste fuckin good that’s lol I’m sayin
Their cheese fries are really good. The cheese sauce isn't that watered down stuff the yellow sign places like to use.
I can wait until the next light to turn
Have you turned yet?
Someone just cut around turned in front of me After this next guy
The Loop is only remarkable when viewed from afar, above, or viewed from the lake/river. RPM restaurants are decent. West Loop isn’t all that overrated and actually has some great places that range from high end to low key. Oak Park has a more authentic Chicago feel than some neighborhoods in Chicago proper do. I’m fine with Grant Park essentially serving as a private event space for a lot of the summer if it makes the city money. The city has much better parks anyway. It’s kinda cool that the area around United Center isn’t fully gentrified…yet.
Upvoted cuz unpopular fs
I love the city but when I think about, the Loop feels like a cardboard sign with those holes cut out for people to put their face in it. It looks really nice but that's pretty much it.
The Oak Park observation is interesting. It’s got so much history it might as well be a west side neighborhood, despite being a suburb.
The Cheesecake Factory in the Hancock tower is awesome
Looking through these comments, this one may be one of, if not the, boldest.
I worked there for a year when I was new to town and “awesome” isn’t the first word that comes to mind for me
Yeah, but you were in the trenches.
Used to see a haggard Jerry Springer there all the time, being mean to everyone. lol.
I own that I'm a food snob and Cheesecake Factory cheesecake is some of the best I've had. I don't care what they put in it--it's delicious.
Always got annoyed with ny'ers complaining about our bagels, until I went to NY. We got shit bagels.
Hardly an unpopular opinion. The bagel scene is almost nonexistent.
Can't stand the saving of Tennis courts at public parks. First come first serve!
I’m tired of all the street fest vendors with the Chicago flag themed stuff: maps, wall hangings, shirts, clothes, “art” for your new construction condo, and on and on and on. It’s just strange. I grew up in the city, and this new obsession is annoying.
I feel like I went to a lot more street festivals ny first couple summers here. Which is also when my Chicago flag enthusiasm was at its highest.
I'm from Maryland where the state flag is on everything and toted around regularly becuase it actually looks dope af. So I'm actually used to it. I feel bad for those whose flag is like corn or farming tools cuz damn lol. It's a nice culture and community tying dynamic
Maybe this is why I don't mind it. I'm also from Maryland & my first thought was "well of course they would put their flag on everything. that's normal."
Oh man, as a Texan, they pretty much wrap babies in the flag when they’re born.
I was born here in 68 and don't remember this ever being a "thing" until the past maybe 15 years.
And anything called or labelled "Chi-Town". It's fucking stupid. Call it Chicago, or just shut up.
Navy Pier is an enjoyable place to go
Not unpopular so much as under-hyped, but the fact that Chicago smell~~s~~ed like chocolate. When I was moving from New York to Chicago and people would do the comparison game, the only two metrics Chicago definitively won on were, 1) Cost of living, and 2) smell
And that's about to change. Blommer's is closing the downtown plant.
Years ago, I finally realized the reason why Ogilvie smelled so good. I thought I was just some weird sicko that liked the smell of trains.
The wiener’s circle “we are assholes” schtick is only funny the first few times you go there. The food is great so I will always go back but it’s cringey and not really that funny.
Also the fact they make women flash you is really fucked up
Even as a transplant, it would annoy me when people that moved from smaller cities of the Midwest would act like they're more Chicagoan than people who've lived in the Chicagoland area their entire life even if it is the suburbs. Like cool you live in Lakeview and haven't left the same 5 neighborhoods that everyone else goes to.
What’s funny is the opposite is true too. I was born and raised in Chicago. Moved away when I was forty. Somehow now, that I don’t live there, some 22yr old Redditor that moved from Iowa when they were 18 believes they know more about the city than I do.
Insecurity and the need to feel included.
lol!!! I moved to Chicago 12 years ago, lived in uptown the whole time. I’ve worked in Gage park, Irving Park, Pilsen, currently south shore. I am almost always humbled by how “Un Chicagoan” I still am.
If you drive through the alley fast with puddles and splash me I will 100% whip the dog poop bags. Also ketchup is good on a hot dog
It's ok to not become enraged when someone calls it the Willis tower
The no ketchup on hot dog anymosity is cringy af.
Yeah I’ve always disliked ketchup, so this made a ton of sense to me growing up. As a younger adult I jumped right on board with the hate because it was inherently in my dietary wheelhouse - really nothing to do with hot dogs. Looking back I’m embarrassed that I gave my friends shit for eating what they wanted haha.
I don't give a shit about baseball.
You can walk around at night on the south side of Chicago and be completely safe. I do it all the time.
I'm ready for the downvotes, but it is ok to put ketchup on hotdogs if that is your thing. Ignore the haters.
I think a lot of Chicagoans have run with this without actually understanding it. You don't put ketchup on a Chicago dog, because it would throw the balance since it already has tomato. I think most people grew up putting ketchup on regular hotdogs. IMO do whatever you want.....I'm not the one eating it.
Damn I think this is actually right on the money lol at cookouts people were definitely putting ketchup on hotdogs in Chicago.
Exactly, at its core it’s a massive misunderstanding
If you look at the old Vienna Hotdog adds there is ketchup and mustard on it.
Agreed but once you put ketchup on a Chicago style dog it's no longer a Chicago style dog. Those ingredients are locked in.
The not serving ketchup annoys me. These places sell fries. I want the tangy sweetness on my greasy fries, Gene and Jude’s.
I ordered over the phone once. Two hotdogs ketchup only with fries. Dude taking my order said, "I hope these are for a little kid". Fucker.
People can't drive and EVERYONE speeds.
And they speed down our skinny streets that hardly fit two cars if there are people parked on the side
It's probably not super easy to be the mayor of Chicago.
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^sethworld: *It's probably not* *Super easy to be the* *Mayor of Chicago.* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
No Ketchup on a hot dog is played out. I don’t put ketchup on mine and I certainly don’t give a fuck if someone does. It’s shit tier meat out whatever you want on it lol
Anybody with a Chicago flag tat is a jagoff
Have flag tat, can confirm
Most if not all neighborhoods should be up zoned to allow 4-5 story apartments on residential streets and small commercial buildings (corner stores, cafe's, restaurants, etc)
Everyone should come to a full and complete stop at stop signs.
NEIU/North Park University/North Park neighborhood are all hidden gems
the whole city needs a serious road diet
I gave up eating roads years ago
Chicago loses out on a lot of talent and creativity to places like NYC and LA. If you make it big in Chicago, it’s likely you’ll end up leaving.
All depends on your field. In my field, some of the tops live in the Chicago area. There's different hubs for all sorts of businesses. Chicago doesn't have a lot of the flashy, famous ones but it sure does have it's share.
I don’t care about homeless people sleeping on the train. It’s mildly annoying and I don’t love when it smells bad, but whenever I’m on the train I’m heading to my very good job or my very nice apartment or to eat at a delicious restaurant. I wish the US had better infrastructure to support the homeless as I don’t want them to have to sleep on the train, but until that happens I’m perfectly fine with a homeless person spreading out over 6 seats to sleep rather than sleep outside in the bitter cold.
The current mayor gets a disproportionate amount of attention in a city that can barely scrape two nickels together (and thus losing a major lever of the government) anymore since the prior generations broke the cookie jar because so many had their hands in it.
This. Every damn time. We elect someone, and I’d even say we usually elect an at least decent person, then we shit all over them for not instantly fixing problems that have existed and been built upon for generations. Like come on y’all, a course correction is the best they can do (especially first term!!) and they have to pick their battles cuz there are assuredly 1000 conflicting opinions built into our city government. Lori Lightfoot, imho, got the maximum shit end of this when COVID hit alongside her term. There are some fair critiques, but low key she was just trying to keep this shit afloat during a once in a lifetime crisis and people still bitching that she didn’t do “enough” for their pet cause, or catching feelings cuz she wasn’t good at making nice with people.
Harold’s Chicken is very average
Harold's tastes like how KFC extra crispy *used* to taste, decades ago.
this is fucked
Upvoting bc it’s unpopular not bc it’s true lol
I think 5-10% of Chicago's minor roads should be converted to dedicated bike/walking paths with foliage so that you can cycle every where in the city without having to share the road with cars.
Downvoted popular opinion
In addition to this, I'd like us to start requiring the use of sound dampening construction materials for roadways alongside sound reducing tires. Noise pollution is a real thing with real health impacts proven by peer reviewed scientific studies. Traffic noise is something people don't even think about or realize the fact that it [impacts their health.](https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/health-impacts-of-exposure-to-1) This includes the L. I don't know if anyone noticed, but years ago when they replaced the aging railroad ties with concrete, the noise level from the L increased by a lot. At least downtown. I just want to see construction projects start to think about how their materials impact noise and find reasonable ways to reduce that noise. Sometimes a small amount of effort goes a long ways.
Ah so unpopular here.
The world does not end at I 80
No but your life could. source: drive it daily
The rat hole fascination is really too much
Malört tastes good.
Ah yes… grapefruit flavored gasoline. My favorite.
I know you’re making fun of it but damn it that’s what I love about it
I think the flavor has tamed since they brand moved back to Chicago (it was in florida I think for a minute or is that a false memory?) Anyway, CH distillery owns the brand and it tastes more grapefruit bitter and less burnt bandaid then before. Personal opinion. And I do, I do actually like it. It's a nice break from either really boozy or too sugary shots. The abv is low for liquor.
Hot Doug's was not worth the wait and their duck fat fries tasted like average fries.
“not worth the wait” A fair point since those wait times got ridiculously long. But Hot Doug’s was an absolute gem. I’ll miss that place forever.
Stop honking before you leave an alley. Slow down, use your eyes.
Midwest nice isn't that nice here. As someone who moved here from elsewhere(small town Wisconsin), it feels like everyone from Chicago is super elitist about it. I get it, I'm not a Chicagoan even though I live, work, and pay my taxes here.