I have a friend moving to Chicago

[keyboardninja]

Hey current and former Chicagoans. A friend of mine is moving to Chicago, and would like to know some information about the city. Places to visit, places to avoid, where the good, yet affordable, areas to live are, etc. Any information you can provide a soon-to-be Chicagoan will be most helpful to her.

Thanks.

Comments

[heterodox_gypsy]

Take the red line toward Howard, get off at Belmont.
Clark and Belmont has great food, shopping, coffee shops.
The art museums all downtown are great, the parks.
Devon Avenue up by Loyola University is Little India and it is AMAZING.
Heartland Cafe (http://www.heartlandcafe.com/) in Rogers Park.
Utilize the CTA's Trip Planner. It will help familiarize you with the transit system. Dive right into it, get a Pass, 20 dollars for a week still I think and then explore the city. I found some of my favorite places just by exploring. Be careful about what neighborhoods you find yourself in, don't be afraid to talk to CTA employee's, they're generally pretty helpful. Also, if you feel like you're threatened by anyone on the transit system, find a CTA employee. Never ride in a car on the train with only one more person, that is not a friendly. http://www.transitchicago.com/
What kind of activities do you like? I can probably write more, in fact I know I can. Chicago is my favorite city. I wish I still lived in it or even in the Midwest.

[koneko_wish]

Thanks for the advice! :) I like science-y, museum-y things. Stuff that makes you think. I love taking photos, and will be looking for all sorts of stuff that photographs well.

I like checking out all sorts of new cultural stuff; especially Japanese, but anything new that I don't already know about is good. :D Music-y stuff is good, too.

Above all, stuff that can be done for free / cheaply is always a bonus!