Chicago…My Kind of Town - Cheesy but True!

As a Chicagoland native who has been away for about 8 years, I am very excited to be back in the Windy City. (Important note: Chicago is NOT the Windy City because of the wind. Don’t think that it’s not windy, but don’t get caught saying the weather is the reason that Chicago is windy.)

Chicago is a great city to live in, around and visit. There are tons of things to do and see, with things changing every day. I have been asked to share some of my favorite things, but in no way is this list exhaustive nor is it in any particular order.

• Food, food and food! There are so many restaurants all over the city and the suburbs that are great. The types of food and restaurant atmospheres are endless. Your best bet is to go on Metromix Chicago, type in a neighborhood/price/food type and try as many restaurants as possible. One of my personal favorite things to do is to grab a group of friends, a few bottles of wine and spend the night at a local BYOB.
• Neighborhoods. While I live on the border of Lincoln Park and Lakeview (northside neighborhoods), I love the fact that every few blocks there is a new neighborhood to check out. Living in Chicago you find your own little neighborhood with your local grocer, dry cleaner, bar and it makes the city seem a lot smaller and more approachable. Not to tie back into food too much, but there are many ethnic neighborhoods with great “local” cuisine (e.g. Devon St, Greektown, etc.).
• Entertainment. I personally love live music and can tell you that there is always a concert (big or small) to go to. I love little venues/bars that bring in local bands and only charge a $5 to $10 cover. Even though it is harder to go to as many shows as I’d like with school and all, there still is a lot to do. From concerts to plays to movies and so on, even though there is a lot to do just about anywhere, in Chicago there just seems to be even more.
• Sports. As the Bulls finish their season (let’s not talk about it) and the Cubs and Sox are beginning, Chicago has football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, softball, etc teams. There is no lack of teams to watch OR teams to join for intramural fun (IMC has just created a softball team so if you’re in town during the spring come cheer us on). Just search online for pro teams and social sporting groups to find out more.
• Tourist Attractions. Whenever I get the chance to see a tourist attraction, I take it. From visiting the Sears Tower or Hancock Building observation decks, to going to festivals like Blues Fest or Jazz Fest (the Taste is really big and busy so if you go, be prepared for an unbelievable crowd) to the river/lake boat tour (the best way to see the city). There is so much to see and as I said in the beginning, everything keeps changing. There are new things to do and see all the time so repeating something isn’t a bad thing.

I know this list is generic but with so many options it is hard to be specific. Other things include great bars, shopping, the lake and more. In sum I would describe Chicago as the best (bias much) big city because of the range of things to do, the accessibility of being able to do those things without being overcrowded, its cleanliness (especially compared to most big cities), its “hometown” feel (formed from the distinct smaller neighborhoods), its residents having a combination of Midwest niceness with the hustle of the city, and for it having such a rich history that shows through every aspect of it. Besides, Chicago has its own flag - how can you beat that!

……….Megan Edelson

The Big Move

I haven’t lived in the same room two years in a row since I was 18. For undergraduate studies I was in Washington D.C. where I lived in a different dorm or house every year. Then I moved to New York City where I lived in a different apartment my first and second years. And now I find myself in Evanston, a nice suburban change from my years in the big city with an easy access to the lights and excitement of beautiful Chicago.

Exactly a year ago this week (yes, the 3rd week in April), I was faced with the anticipation of moving once again, turning my life on its head and heading to Evanston for the IMC program. And as exciting as the prospect was, it’s never fun nor easy to make a big move – whether it’s to a new apartment, a new city, or a new country. So here are my tips to make your big move a little easier:

Moving to the Area: Price out your options!! Figure out what will make most sense – shipping things via mail or purchasing items when you get here. If you’re not from the area and choose not to live in Engelhart Hall (the graduate student dorm), see if you have a friend or family in the area to do some apartment shopping for you. I lined up 3 or 4 places in one day and it took my sister who lives in Chicago only a few hours to scope them out and give me her suggestions. If this isn’t an option, try to visit yourself and take a weekend to apartment hunt. Lastly, a lot of IMCers live in Engelhart and really find it suits all their needs. Any way you look at it – you can’t go wrong!! Feel free to ask a current IMC student for any suggestions of areas to live in Chicago or apartments/houses to seek out in Evanston.

Evanston vs. Chicago: Frankly, this choice depends on your situation and your preferences. Coming from the big city, I welcomed the chance to live near a campus again and downtown Evanston has all you need in terms of restaurants, supermarkets, drug stores and shops. Peapod also delivers if the town supermarket is too far of a walk in the cold weather.

For those looking at Chicago, do a little research as to transportation into Evanston – you’ll want to be close to a train or bus, so that you can have quick, easy access into Evanston. The El (CTA Train), Metra and Northwestern intercampus shuttle are the most widely used options – and all of them drop you off mere blocks from campus and our academic building, McCormick Tribune Center.

Other Stuff You Should Know: Some students have cars, some do not. It’s not a necessity, as there is good public transportation wherever you go. However, there are some places you might be able to get to easier if you have some wheels to get you there. Beware of heavy traffic to and from Chicago, and not just during rush hour.

Brrrr!!! Now that’s why they call it the Windy City. The key to moving to Evanston is… good winter gear! That means a good jacket, gloves, scarves, a hat (or ear muffs) and yes, even undergarments like long underwear. Trust me, you’ll thank me! Our classroom building is conveniently situated right next to Lake Michigan – which means beautiful (distracting!) views of the lake from our classrooms, but also… WIND! (and lots of it). Also, I highly recommend good winter boots. With frequent snow, the city of Evanston finds it hard to salt and clear the sidewalks frequently, so without good boots, you’ll find yourself ice skating to class more often than is preferable!

Party (and Dine) Like an IMCer!: And of course, there’s the nightlife. Many of those living in Evanston frequently visit one of the four or so bars in the area and downtown Evanston boasts restaurants of every ethnicity – Thai, Chinese, Indian, Ethiopian, Mexican, and of course.. Pizza! (clearly, Chicago Pizza is its own type of ethnic food). For those looking to enjoy the city, Chicago restaurants and bars are at your fingertips. Going out with a group of classmates? Try a restaurant that is BYOB (Bring Your Own Beer) to keep the costs down!

A few of my favorite things: Ok, ok… I know I’ve only been here a measly 7 months so I don’t claim to be the Chicago expert by any means. But here are a few of my most memorable moments and “must try” spots for other people who are new to the area:

• Grab romantic drinks on the top of the Hancock Building
• Take a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo on a nice day
• Get out and cheer on the runners in the Chicago Marathon
• Shop outside at Old Orchard Mall
• Grab a slice (and some home brewed beer!) at piece
• Catch a flick at the Brew and View
• Take the Architecture Boat Tour on the river
• Go to the Northwestern Beach
• Visit the top of the Sears Tower
• See Jersey Boys and leave the theater singing
• Check out a show at the famous Steppenwolf Theatre
• Attend a performance by the famous Joffre Ballet or Hubbard Street Dance Company
• Go with classmates to Tony and Tina’s Wedding
• Ice skate at Millennium Park
• Head down to the river for St. Patrick’s Day
• Fill up on Chicago-style Pizza
• Go shopping on Michigan Avenue
• See a famous painter’s work at the Chicago Art Museum
• Go with friends to Navy Pier
• Make GREAT IMC friends, and create a whole lot of memories.

………. Shari Newman

Desi Street

If you were to take a strip out of the bazaars of Mumbai, Karachi, Chennai, Lahore and Delhi, toss them up, add a spice of America to them and allow them to cool in the Chicago air, you would probably end up with a segment of Devon Avenue (also known as Devon Street). Although this very long road harbors a myriad American and ethnic locations, there is a whole portion … about a mile or so … which is dedicated to grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, delis, sweet shops, garment outlets and other marts of the Indian sub-continent. 60 years after partition, sections of India and Pakistan are seen juxtaposed, albeit in a country half way across the world.

To the sheer delight of the desi (i.e. from the Indian sub-continent) students at Medill IMC, Devon Street is very conveniently located on the Chicago Transit Authority’s bus route 93. The bus, which runs about every half-an-hour or so, picks you up right next to Engelhart Hall (the graduate student dorm) and drops you on the California-Devon Street intersection in about 20 minutes and charges you a $2 fare.

For the food connoisseurs, Devon (or shall we affectionately say Desi Street) offers a variety of treats: from South Indian dosas to Lahori tikkas to North Indian samosas and dahi vadas to Bengali basmati to Indian rajma to Pakistani mithai to parathas, daals, spices, curries, halwa puris, naans, biryanis and much more. You can even buy pre-cooked, frozen meals to avoid the hassle of cooking at home. Basically the point is that almost any item that can be purchased in the sub-continent can be found on Devon. Oh, and did I forget to mention the sari boutiques, Indian jewelry outlets, the masjids, traditional bridals, entertainment rentals and desi barber shops. And let me just add that true to desi tradition, everything appears to be fairly economically priced…something which even Prof. Ed Malthouse attests to.

To phir chalo Devon chalein (So then let’s go to Devon).

……….Ateeq Abdul Rauf

Chicago Goes Irish

On the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, some of us went to see a great Chicago tradition - dyeing the Chicago River GREEN!

Chicago, with its strong Irish culture and influence, holds one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the nation. Needless to say, the city is not short of Irish festivities! As a way to commemorate the holiday, every year since 1962 a portion of the Chicago River between the Michigan Avenue and Columbus Avenue bridges has been dyed emerald green.

As we stood on the bridge, we looked out to over a thousand spectators. The majority were decked out in green and all were anxiously awaiting the river transformation to officially kick off St. Patty’s Day. Shortly before 11 A.M., the boat emerged and poured an unknown orange powder-like substance (it’s a secret, they say) into the river. Within only a couple of minutes, the river was a very vibrant emerald green!

Following the event there was a St. Patrick’s Day parade on Columbus Drive. It was the second Irish parade for Chicago. The first, the south side Irish parade, took place a week earlier.

So it really is true - around St. Patrick’s Day the whole city of Chicago becomes Irish. And who would have thought that more than three days later, the river would still be festive green!

Contrary to popular belief, the green river event is privately funded. For more information on its history, go to www.greenchicagoriver.com

……….Kristine Britt

IMC Recommends: Local Mr Fix-It

A few weeks ago, the heel of one of my favorite pairs of boots completely came off. To make things worse, it had happened downtown on a snowy day.

At first, I procrastinated getting it fixed since I didn’t know where to take it. When I finally decided I needed to, I read a few reviews online and took it to the Tint Shoppe. It’s located on Orrington, a half block past the Orrington Hotel and few stores down from Ben & Jerry’s.

The guy was really nice and even fixed the zipper on my parka for free! His wife also runs a dry cleaning and tailoring service by the same name.

The only thing was that it takes about a week for a heel to get replaced. But maybe that’s because I’m used to it being done in about an hour at home.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the service and price ($12 for a stiletto heel).

……….Lauren Chang