What I’ve learned

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

Chicago has some of the greatest venues for live music in the country. That alone is reason enough to move here.

There is a crazy man who rides the purple line occasionally, talking to no one in particular about how the government won’t let him have ambrosia anymore. If you are on a car with him, write down what he says. Those are gems.

People who grew up in the suburbs say that they’re “from Chicago.” This is a phenomenon that I think only happens in Illinois.

Chicagoans love St. Patrick’s Day. I’d say about 40 percent are truly excited to go to a parade and/or celebrate their heritage, while 60 percent just want an excuse to drink earlier and pretend that it’s Mardi Gras. Strangely, Chicagoans don’t seem to care about Mardi Gras.

If you love outdoor festivals, this is the city for you. There is a beer tent an El ride away almost every weekend of the summer. Actually, there are beer tents year-round: They’re called “Wrigleyville.”
— Jen Fett

If you’re like me and your girlfriend likes to party until the break of dawn, but you prefer to come home at a decent time, here’s a little trick: Tell her about a place you know that’s open late. Just put the word “Club” in front of your house number. Like “Club 920.” Once she realizes you’re actually going home, it’s too late. And you never actually lied.

If you’re looking to buy scalped tickets for a Cubs game, go to Murphy’s, wait until the second inning and then really lowball any scalpers still out peddling. Faced with eating the tickets, they will part with them for less than face value.
— Pete Sullivan

For all the money they make, Chicago impound offices should not be housed in mobile trailers from 1987.
— Michelle Seagraves

Venice Café 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.
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

No matter what bar or restaurant you go to, there are going to be people who make you feel underdressed and people who make you feel overdressed. Easy solution: Wear what you want.
— Trent Modglin

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

The gallery district at Superior and Franklin (right off of the Chicago Brown line stop) is a great and inexpensive date idea. There are dozens of art galleries, specializing in different genres and media, that showcase up-and-coming and established artists. You and your date can take a few hours to stroll through each one (all entry is free), and then have a wonderful meal a few blocks away at Cafe Iberico (best tapas and sangria in town!). There are also some great little bars around the area (Brehon Pub, Blue Frog). And the El is your ride home. I bet you’d spend no more than $40 total, or $20 apiece if you go dutch (in which case your date should dump your cheap ass).
— Kathryn Doi

Official Chicago cabs must accept credit cards. If they say cash only or that the machine is broken, they’re lying and don’t want to pay the service charge. Tell them to phone it in, and if they give you any hassle, lower their tip.

Heading across town up north? Were you aware that School Street (between Belmont and Roscoe) has no traffic lights from Western to Broadway?

Sick of crowded movie theaters? Go to Piper’s Alley. There are never more than 20 people at a showing, and even that many is a rarity.
— George Morris

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