Is it just me who’s noticed an influx of Scientology booths at street festivals this year? Maybe they were there before and I just didn’t notice them.

They have red signs that read FREE STRESS TESTS with books from their founder Ron L. Hubbard. I took a quick look at one booth and didn’t see the word Scientology anywhere, but I didn’t stick around very long to see for sure because I didn’t want to give them any of my time.

I hope people realize this is a dangerous cult and steer clear.

got some bad news yday and the sound insulation in my apt isnt great so I can’t do it there. I work by the Jackson blue/red line stop so would love to find somewhere I can do it around there or the western blue line stop when I get off work. TIA!

Anyone else's electric bill obscenely high? I just came back from a month out of country and didn't use the electricity, and it's almost double from my previous month...

Are we paying for a new data center / Indiana's tornado meltdown?

I was hoping to have a relaxing nap on one of our finest concrete beaches this afternoon. But the second I found my spot I found myself swarmed by flies. I noticed other people around me swinging shirts and shoes around to fend them off.
Tried a few other beaches all the way up to Hollywood and everyone was complaining about them.

I even had an OFF! and a DEET spray with me but to no avail. Can anyone recommend anything that does work?

What are the best events for October (spooky season) in Illinois? Also what events are there on October 31st any and all events can be included. Want to do an event everyday of October.

Seriously. I feel like this is the worse summer it has ever been with mosquitoes!! My legs look like I’ve been shooting myself with drugs (I haven’t been). And as I got in the shower, I noticed I even have a mosquito bite on my butt like near my crack. No it’s not bed bugs. I was in the backyard with my new puppy and got 6 bites from being outside about 5 minutes. I don’t know what else to do! Do I have to wear bug spray 24/7? I have even seen mosquitoes coming into my house and biting me at night as I wake up with a bite or two sometimes. No, I’m not losing my mind.

What are we doing to kill these blood suckers? I’m so dang itchy! Now I’m going to go to work tomorrow and scratch my butt and my arms that got chewed up.

Hi! I’m a uni student in England and looking at options for a study year abroad. One of my options is North Park uni and it interested me as i’ve visited Chicago before and LOVED it. However, I saw that it’s a private christian college and I was wondering if anyone who goes/went there can tell me what it would be like to go there as someone who isn’t at all? Like the only knowledge i have on religious unis is BYU (the mormon one) and from what i’ve seen it doesn’t appeal to me at all lol. I’m also queer but I figured it would be okay since it’s in Chicago?? Any info at all on the college would be much appreciated, thank you!!!!

I’m trying to decide between Chicago and Philadelphia and would love some honest opinions from people who live there.

I’m 30M, originally from California, and I’ve been living in Germany for the last 3 years while finishing my master’s. I haven’t been back to the U.S. since 2023, so I’m basically starting over when I come back. I don’t have a car and I’ll be moving without a job, but I have around $30k saved.

My background is in business administration, office operations, and international education. I’d like to eventually get into university/international education work, but I’ll take whatever reasonable job I can get while I get settled.

The biggest thing I’m trying to figure out is which city would be easier to land in and live cheaply while I look for work. I’d probably get roommates at first and eventually want my own studio. Good public transportation is really important, and I’d like to be relatively close to the city rather than way out in the suburbs.

I’m also southeast Asian so having a decent Asian community would be a big plus. I’m looking for somewhere where my international background might actually help me meet people and find opportunities.

Philly seems like it might be the better choice financially, especially with the number of universities and being close to NYC/DC/Baltimore. But Chicago seems to have a bigger job market, better transit and a larger Asian community.

For anyone who’s lived in either (especially both), which would you choose in my situation? And what neighborhoods should I be looking at if affordability and safety are the priorities? Thanks 🙏

All,

Looking for some discourse on the best route to do a day of adventure stopping at each or most of the metra stops. Cute little town centers and food, maybe local museums or parks. What would be the best route and highlights!!! Or if any head out to cool nature to picnic! Would love some help planning this day for friends.

Hubby and I lived in Chicago for 8 years, childless. Then moved to Atlanta for work and have recently moved back to the area. Currently renting in the burbs and trying to figure out our next move - do we move back to the city with our toddler (with the hopes of having another next year)? What is your experience of living in the city with young children? Good, bad, and ugly! Thanks!

ETA: especially curious about daily things that didn’t bother us pre-kids: lugging strollers up/down the stairs, noise from street, noise from other units, general busyness, people complaining about your toddler running above them, etc.

Husband grew up in NYC and I haven’t lived in the burbs in 20 years (grew up in blue collar Chi NW burb), so I’d say we are partial to city life. We would not have family help, but we have minimal help now anyway.

ETA 2: We are familiar with all of the neighborhoods, given we lived here for 8 years. But not much experience with schools.

Just looking for like a group exercise doing swim workouts led by a coach…or is there even such a single?? Not sure. But doesn’t matter where. Messed up back and can’t do normal workouts yet.

I recently moved to the Mckinley park area and I have been hoping to use my e-bike to commute from there to the downtown south loop for school/work. I am pretty new to the area, and I was just wondering if anyone might know the best route to take in order to ensure both safety and efficiency. I’ve heard Archer is rough but getting better in terms of bike lanes, but I have yet to test the route out myself. Thanks for any recommendations!

There used to be a spot in Wrigleyville called Your Buds, they made really good editables, that were only like 10mg. Does anyone know a good spot for tasty baked goods that get you a little stoned. I don’t want a 1000mg brain melting high, I’d like something to put on and watch a movie and fold my laundry.

Bonus points
Northside (Roger’s Parkish)

preferably in/near loop or western blue line stop but I’m flexible! the one I was rec has a 3 wait wk and I would love to be able to get seen sooner. TIA!

Hello, I have a student who’s a junior at Loyola academy. She is low income, asian, on 90% financial aid and non-religious. Her grades there are a mix of A’s and B’s in honors and ap classes. Recently, she‘s been talking to me about transferring schools and asking for my thoughts on it. She says she has some friends there not a lot, but the school environment/atmosphere doesn’t exactly suit her the most although she can bear with it. She wants to attend UIUC. She thinks that at taft IB it would be easier to get straight A’s after trying it out for a day and colleges would view the rigor as similar. She thinks the competition for getting into a good college would be less at Taft admissions wise which I’m not sure is true or not. She has some friends at loyola and is familiar with the school already which is why she’s hesitant about transferring, but she has a close friend at taft who she thinks may be able to introduce him to people.

She’s been really stressed out about deciding and I want her to just decide today and stick to a school.

My best friend of ten years is moving next weekend. I wanna do something with him before his departure and he does too. He claims to have “done everything” (he hasn’t). What do you think would be the perfect day for final day in Chicago.

He likes beer and whiskey

In plain block lettering it said something like:

“GET REALLY CLOSE TO ANOTHER PERSON IN THIS LIFETIME”

it was painted under the ledge of a bench that spanned a couple hundred feet or so, and it was there until the early to mid 2000s.

I'm going to Chicago for the first time this weekend (9/4, 9/5) and I'd like to know what recommendations you have! I want to pay attention to experiences that may be unique to the area (or big cities in general, as I am not from one). I am definitely going to the Navy Pier and doing an architecture boat tour in the evening.

I would also be interested in "nerdy" or unique pop-up events? I am going to the Field Museum to see the Pokemon addition on Saturday. A couple of things that I was interested in but no longer are offered were the Spider-Man exhibit at the science museum and I had caught wind of a pop-up event related to ATLA that ended at the end of August. I did see that there is a Harry Potter place and a Hello Kitty Cafe that I would be interested in. My biggest special interests do include Nintendo, Zelda, Spider-Man, Pokemon, video games in general.

Something else unique that's not offered anywhere near where I'm from is the medieval dinner where you get served a meal while watching jousting. Fun things like that I'd be very interested in!

Hello Chicagoans.  My niece will be coming in on the el from Hyde Park to meet me at State & Grand at 5:00 Thursday to continue on to Wrigley.  I’ve spotted the elevator entrance on maps, which I understand will take me to the mezzanine.  I already have a Ventra card with $ on it.  I’ve read that this is a station with a central platform.  I believe there’s an escalator to the platform on the other side of the turnstiles.  Am I correct in thinking there’ll be one or more escalators going to the northbound platform and one to the southbound?  Also, is there a good place on the northbound platform for her to spot me during peak rush hour so we can continue on to witness a Cubs victory together?   I could ask her, but I think she only has limited familiarity with that station, and she’s at work right now.   

If I were to decide to take a taxi or whatever from that area instead of the el at 5:00, what do you think our chances of being in section 321 at 6:15 are?  Thanks, and go Cubbies!  

Flaking paint, older building. Almost certainly has lead, is there a location I can go? TY

I really like September weather, but I feel like the seasons are shifting, and now it doesn't even start to get even remotely chilly until mid-October. What's your favorite?

Hello everyone,

I hope you are having a good day.

I am currently a part-time student at a University in Chicago. I have Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 2 ), and dyspraxia. I live at home with my parents and commute like most students, and my parents help me a lot since I currently need help or prompts with my daily living tasks, like bathing, dressing, and other routines.

Recently, some people on Reddit advised me to call or text 211 for help with my situation at home. I do not understand entirely how 211 works. I tried calling yesterday but waited for over an hour. I'm not sure if I did something wrong.

I wanted to ask if anyone in Chicago or Cook County has used 211, and if you could explain what services they actually provide? I am pretty confused. I looked on the website, but I did not see clearly what exactly they could help with for my situation.

Here are my specific questions:

1. What happens when you text or call 211 in Chicago? Do you talk to a real person, and can you just ask questions? Are long wait times normal, is there a certain time that is better to call?
2. Can 211 help connect you with professional home health aides? My dad helps me with my personal care, but he gets very frustrated with me or maybe is burned out. I am trying to find out if 211 can help set up a caregiver covered by insurance/Medicaid so my dad does not have to help me this way anymore.
3. Can 211 help connect me with Social Services? I think a social worker, or an advocate-type person, could help me find more resources so I can gain more independence and life skills, but I am unsure how to set that up.

Thank you for reading my post!

I appreciate your time and guidance.

I’m visiting Chicago for work near Millennium Park and my back is killing me. Does anyone have a reputable but relatively inexpensive recommendation of where to go to get a massage near Millennium Park area?