Im a black lesbian looking to move here but scared i wont find any community there. I moved to portland and realized how gentrified the poc community is and its all just white washed and im scared of that happening again. If its not bad where can i find the studs??

Hello everyone. Im a 17 year old guy who's looking for a way to make freinds in Chicago (mainly Southside and downtown). Making freinds at school isn't really working out, at times im really anxious and its hard for me to make freinds. I can be socially awkward and my social anxiety doesn't help, however, I feel lonley and whant other ways of possibly making freinds. Does anyone have suggestions?

I know it was storming on and off, but I had important packages coming through both USPS and FedEx today and both were delayed until this evening and then moved to tomorrow at the earliest. Was it just me?

I’m coming to Chicago in November with my bf just for the weekend. I’m F27 and he’s M29. We plan on flying in late Friday night but still want something to do after we check in. What are some black people lounges or clubs that are open till 4/5am preferably near the Riu. Also any other suggestions are welcome for things to do. Thanks 🙂

I (22M) am looking to move to Chicago when my current lease ends in January. I know that a lot of people on here caution that a winter move-in is miserable but it's either that or live in my car. I'd be transferring as a Starbucks barista so ideally I could afford up to 1300 in rent with water and sewage included. I also plan to sell my car so the neighborhood would preferably be pretty walkable as well. Thanks!

Could be anything: cold weather gear, culture shock, etc. I’m a Californian in my 20s so I’m sure a lot of it will be new and unexpected.

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.

Please where are the public bathrooms i just had to beg someone to let me use the employee one. I have almost peed myself to many times

Good morning to you,
Looking to get started with a new hyper-fixation EMBROIDERY (yay says everyone except my wife). Wondering where about one could find an embroidery machine for about 400 buckaroos or less; the more advanced the better obviously.

ANY INFORMATION GREATLY APPRECIATED and thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I think Chicago is so lovely and I’ve been thinking for a long time now about moving here from my Southern hometown, but a few things have me nervous to make the leap. One of which is that I work as a server/bartender, and the plan would be to try to get a serving or bartending job there.

As you can guess most bar/restaurant shifts are in the evening, like I would probably be getting off at 9-10pm at the earliest, and I’m nervous about what riding public transit that late at night would be like, especially as a woman by myself. I’ve lived in a city with a really bad reputation for violent crime for my whole life, I definitely know the basics of how to exist without issue in a city and am not one of those people who’s overly terrified of crime in general. But public transit alone at night specifically seems a little spooky to me and what I’ve read online has kind of validated that fear. But maybe it’s not that bad?

My other option is to bring my car and drive to and from work, but I’ve never driven in a city as big as Chicago, and haven’t been able to gauge exactly how much of a hassle that might be between parking and traffic? It seems that pretty much all of the apartments in my budget that I look at have no parking at all or have only street parking. And then ofc I would have to find parking wherever I work every day too. It just seems like all of that would become a. so expensive, and b. so incredibly stressful to do everyday. But, giving I haven’t actually lived in Chicago, maybe I have an over-exaggerated view of how hard driving and parking in the city is.

I figure in a city of millions, obviously not every single person works a 9-5 and there are probably so many others who have navigated this dilemma, so thought it may be worth asking for someone else’s input. Thanks in advance for any answers!

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 🙏

heyy, i’m turning 20 and im visiting chicago for my birthday! what are some good ways to spend it? where should i go? i’m planning on moving here next summer anyways, so this’ll be my first introduction to it! i’d love some help though on what to do, and things to see, and places to try! thank u<3

I will be coming in for the Kanye concert this Friday and am looking for the best place to go to continue the night after. Thanks for any suggestions!

Lots of people consider Chicago to be the “New York City of the Midwest,” but where would the “Chicago of the East Coast” be located? I was thinking Philadelphia, but others seem to consider NYC, DC, and even Baltimore. Which east coast city would you all say best embodies Chicago’s spirit?

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.

I'm visiting again for a few days and plan on doing some of my "normal" activities (going to a comedy club, movie, maybe a musical) in a few neighborhoods as well as just walking around and going into stores.

Are there other suggestions as far as what to do/ consider while in town a few days? I'm hoping to move before next summer.

The weather is still great but the sun setting early is a bummer.

My brother got a scholarship to go to Columbia College Chicago, so I was wondering if it was any good since I saw a lot of bad things about it online.

Also, do you guys know any good spots there? This is his first time outside of our country.

Hello all! I'm looking at arranging a big move to Chicago relatively soon, and am looking to get into grip and electric work and was looking at the various grip and electric rental houses (like Atlas Lighting or Filmgear) for work to get the ball rolling. What would be the best way of reaching out, as many of them seem to not really be having a hiring page?

I’ve been trying to get my hands on the tickets when they’re released for the past 2 weeks. Haven’t had any luck. Tomorrow is the last day of the offer, and my friend and I were hoping to go.

For anyone who has gone recently, what happens if you show up without a ticket? Are they strict about requiring it, or is there any chance of getting on if there are still spots available? I’d appreciate any insight!

Hi! I'm looking to host sort of a BBQ or as the kids call it, a "summer kick back" outdoors, and would like some catering options for it. I don't want the food to be too, too casual like Chick Fil A, but also not expensive like it's a true party. It'll be about 40 guests coming in and out (adults 30+), so I'm not thinking chicken fingers etc. I know the best option would be burgers/dogs on the grill but I don't want to have to [wo]man the grill either. Anyone have any thoughts? TYIA

I love the Corepower strength class. It has everything I am looking for- about 30 min of strength training with medium weights focusing on different parts of the body each week. We round out with cardio. I can’t afford the studio anymore. Is there a class that’s similar to it in Lincoln park/lakeview? I don’t have the discipline to go to the gym and do it myself.

They can be anywhere in the city but please identify location and days. What are the best lunch specials in the city? Meaning good price, the food tastes good, AND you get a decent quantity? I enjoyed Taste of Egg on Clark just north of Diversey, but it was a little unfilling.

I’m new to Chicago. I have a date on Friday night at a restaurant in the loop. my date is also new to Chicago. if we wanted to do something downtown after dinner, what would you recommend? a safe area for a walk near the lake? a high rise bar with a great view?

Anybody got any info on this school? I live in the neighborhood with my spouse and a baby and it seems good based on anecdotal evidence, but it has a pretty bad Great Schools rating. Is Great Schools bs or is there something there?