Living in Chicago, this is what I’ve learned...Living in Chicago, this is What I’ve Learned...

If you live in Chicago and you haven’t seen a mouse in your apartment, it is just because you haven’t seen it yet. If you see a rat in your apartment, move now!

If you own an SUV with an external spare tire, especially under the rear, make sure it is still there. Once you have verified your fear that it has indeed been stolen, purchase a cable lock to keep your new spare tire attached so it won’t get stolen again.

Does anyone else think it is odd to see city vans driving around with the words “Department of Revenue” printed on the sides? I am glad the city is honest about their intentions instead of printing “Department of Parking Services” on the sides.

Wouldn’t a proper fine for a parking meter be a fine equal to all the money a meter earns during the course of day? Instead, it’s $50. Where is the logic in that? Refer to the above comment.

I do see some value in street cleaning. However, if the city were completely serious about it, they would temporarily relocate parked cars that were blocking the street cleaner so that the streets gutters could be properly cleaned. And $50? Give us a break! Refer to above comment.

If you live in Lincoln Park or Lakeview, please stop spitting your chewing gum on the sidewalks. As most people look forward rather than downward when they walk, it is really quite disturbing to see six-year-old black blotches on the sidewalks everywhere you look and as far as your eyes can see. Thankfully, I have mastered the skill of disposing of chewing gum into garbage cans. Try it out some time.
— Mike Florczak

Venice Cafe is one of the best lunch spots downtown. You must try their pepperoni calzone. When they run their meat-lovers calzone special, get there early before they run out. They have two locations, one on Monroe and they will soon re-open the other restaurant inside the Sears tower.

If you go to the Weiners Circle at Clark & Wrightwood around 3 a.m. on a weekend, you’ll hear the harshest, most offensive (but also some of the funniest) language you’ll ever hear.
If you want to see normally quiet reserved people at their absolute worst and most drunk, go to Hogs and Honeys on any given Friday night.

At almost any party or bar, it’s very easy to find people who want to talk about dating and relationships all the time.
— Paul Banks

Women should not wear nylons with sandals, ever. Women over 50 are exempted.

If you pass a parking spot that you want (i.e. in a garage, open parking lot, side street, etc.), and there are cars behind you, you no longer have privilege to said spot. Do not back up, do not get an attitude, do not wait for the other five cars behind you to accommodate your need for that space. It’s no longer yours.

If you’re a CPD officer reading this newspaper, please stop putting parking tickets on a dented, black Honda Civic, license plate number…
— Debbie Podmore

If you’re ever in a cab that gets pulled over by a police officer, make sure that he or she turns off the meter.

If you read a magazine on the El, people are probably reading it over your shoulder, so you should just hold it at an angle to make it available for everyone. It’s nice to share.
— Scott Graham

If you find an honest mechanic in the city, who will actually tell you that certain things don’t have to be fixed right away and take the time to explain things before he goes to work, don’t take him for granted.

A lot of people from New York who come here to visit end up leaving with a large part of them actually wanting to move to Chicago, and most of them probably would try, if not for that whole New York City ego thing.
— Trent Modglin

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