What is a good suburbia neighborhood to live in the Chicago area?

December 22nd, 2009
chicago
Nel asked:


I am planning on relocating for a job west of Chicago (Melrose Park area) and would like to know of what areas are good to live in surrounding there? Also is it crazy or too much hassle to try to commute (whether by car or Metro system) from Chicago (downtown) to that area?

MYLES

December 22nd, 2009
chicago
Wayne Hemrick asked:


If you live in Chicago or plan on visiting the Windy City sometime soon, you will not want to miss out on all of the wonderful entertainment that this city has to offer. Whether you enjoy theatre or concerts, you will be amazed by the myriad choices for Chicago theatre tickets and Chicago concert tickets available from an online Chicago ticket broker.

A Chicago ticket broker makes your life easier by saving you from hassles when ordering and purchasing chicago show tickets online. How Chicago ticket sales With An Online Chicago Ticket Broker Works You, from the comfort of your home or office, go online to the broker’s website.

Here you will find the listings sorted by event and by city offered for sale by the Chicago ticket broker. You simply select the tickets you want, and make a purchase through the secure website. The Chicago show tickets will then be mailed to you in time for the performances you chose to see. It’s that simple. What Kinds of Chicago Show Tickets Are Available?

You will find a wide array of Chicago theater tickets as well as chicago concert tickets from which to choose your favorites. You will see that Broadway plays and musicals will tour the country, and these Broadway road shows often play in Chicago. Wonderful shows like Jersey Boys, Mary Poppins, Rent, A Chorus Line, Movin’ Out and others are currently available. A Chorus Line is a favorite of audiences, because it delves into the lives of nineteen dancers who are auditioning to be in the chorus of a show. The monologues are revealing and the dance and singing numbers spectacular. Michael Bennett and Bob Avian choreographed the first professional production of this award-winning play. The music for the show was composed by the great Marvin Hamlisch. You can find Chicago theater tickets for these and other plays through your online ticket broker. Concerts also abound in Chicago. You can choose from a diverse selection of performers such as Andrew Bird, Eric Church, Dr. Dog, Lil’ Wayne, The Ap Tour, The Whispers, Lily Allen, Cobalt and the Hired Guns, The English Beat, All American Rejects, Temptations, Kreator, Death Cab for Cutie and Tesla, among a host of other wonderful shows that you can catch when you are in Chicago. Chicago concert venues include the House of Blues, the Civic Opera House, Joe’s, Double Door, the Sears Centre Arena, the Arie Crown Theatre and the Riviera Theatre. You can find Chicago concert tickets for these venues available from your online ticket broker.



SHAUN

What parts of Chicago are ok to stay in for vacation? Which areas charge for parking?

December 21st, 2009
chicago
bjmarchini asked:


I am planning our August Vacation for Chicago and am booking a hotel for a week.

The area that I am think about the most is near O’hare as this seems reasonably safe, doesn’t charge for parking (which can add up) and is a short distance walk to the “El” to take into chicago.

Other areas I am looking at:

Lincoln Park
Midway Airport Area
Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area
North Michigan Ave - River North Area

Skokie - Niles - Evanston

Skokie/Niles seems ok. Is this a nice area

Never been to chicago.

CURTIS

What kind of weather-appropriate clothing should I bring to Chicago right now?

December 21st, 2009
chicago
TwinkaTee asked:


I am from Texas (where it’s still hitting temperatures in the 90s), and I noticed that it is wavering between 50-70 degrees in Chicago. Is that cold to locals or is that still considered short sleeve/short weather?

I am heading to Chicago for vacation on Saturday and I don’t want to be under-dressed in shorts or over-dressed in heavy jackets if that is not the norm.

FRED

December 21st, 2009
chicago
Dhiraj Bandurkar asked:


Discount Hotel Rooms Chicago

Chicago is a place in the state of Illinois, a largest city in this state and the third-most populace city in United States. It is situated in the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan acting as a major destination for industries, finance, medicine, politics, culture, higher education, and transportation. Chicago is known for its skyscrapers. Many high-rise building are located in Chicago and many of these building are notably historical buildings. Today Chicago can boast of the first steel-framed high-rise building of the world. Chicago has a swagger, too much addiction for sports and history as rich as any city in the country.

Chicago is the home to world famous museums. It has well known parks, aquariums, and planetariums. In addition to this the most remarkable lake front attractions are linked by a series of public parks and gardens to make it beautiful site and complete satisfaction for the tourist. Public transportation in Chicago is handled very effectively which operates huge network of buses and rapid transit system and gives services to two airports, O’Hare and Midway it does not end with this, The city possess a 150-mile on-street bicycle lane network which shows this city has bicycle transportation facilities not only for the natives but also for the tourists coming to Chicago. The city has many entertainment centers including theaters, operas, and music venues. Theaters here still hold the crown of being the main entertainment centers.

Chicago is a place where modern improvisational comedy originated. The Second City and IO are well known comedy troupes. Some of the famous theater companies in Chicago are Steppenwolf Theater Company, the Goodman Theater and Victory Garden Theater along with the Joffery Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many modern and jazz dance troupes. These theaters and several others dance troupes along with music form a great combination of complete entertainment for one and all. We just don’t stop here looking further we find many places for sightseeing. Beautifully maintained magnificent gardens, shopping paradise, popular recreational centers, large oceanariums, great fountains, tallest skyscraper, colossal statues, towers and much more. This attracts millions of tourists to Chicago every year. Navy pier a 3000 ft pier is a place that has auditoriums, museums, exhibition halls, restaurants and shops.

Chicago has around 26,000 hotels but still it is wise to reserve if you are planning to spend time here. Out of these many suit to medium and small budgets and if you are traveling on a tight one don’t bother much as many hotels will offer you discounts which will make things easy for you. One of the greatest factor with the hotels in Chicago is the services and facilities they offer to the tourists. You be assured of the finest service that will make your trip to Chicago a memorable one. With discount-hotelrooms.info as your travel organizer you can find the best deals on hotel rooms, flight tickets, car rentals, and cruises not only in Chicago but across the globe. It is the easiest and safest way to plan your travel to Chicago.



FREDRICK

December 20th, 2009
chicago
Phillip J. Speciale asked:


I never realized growing up in Chicago was such a privilege until I began surfing the net and found out that a good portion of the rest of the country had been deprived of tasting a Chicago-Style Italian Beef Sandwich. I assumed every State and every city in America had a favorite beef stand lurking somewhere in their neighborhoods.

There is a tremendous amount of people out there who never experienced the wonderful taste of thin sliced beef packed on top of a fresh piece of Gonnella bread soaked with gravy and topped with sweet peppers or hot giardiniera.

Outside of a handful of displaced Chicagoans who moved out of the city to open a Chicago-Style Italian Beef joint, there really isn’t anywhere for anybody to truly enjoy a beef sandwich except in Chicago. One time I even had to ship Serrelli Street beef to Arizona when I found out my Aunt and Uncle haven’t eaten a beef sandwich in five years. Nobody should go that long without eating a beef sandwich.

Luckily, a few of our favorite Chicago-Style Italian Beef purveyors are franchising throughout the country. “Portillo’s” has opened 2 locations in Southern California and “Al’s Beef “already has 20 stores throughout the Chicago area and hopes to have 100 to 150 stores within the next five years. Eventually everybody throughout the country will be able to enjoy this sandwich that I’ve taken for granted for so many years.

Now let’s discuss Chicago. Like the pizza war between Chicago and New York, Chicago is suffering a long embattled a civil war regarding who has the best Chicago-Style Italian Beef and who originated the sandwich.

Scala Packing Company maintains that it’s founder Pasquale Scala created the sandwich back around 1925. Though the packing company was established in 1925 it is still debatable as to when the beef sandwich was created. While it’s true Scala supplies the beef to around 90% of the beef stands and restaurants in and around Chicago, Al’s #1 Beef, which began on Taylor Street in 1938, claims their family originated the sandwich.

As far as the best Chicago-Style Italian Beef sandwich is concerned I guess that’s up to where you were raised. I was born on the Southside of the city and grew up with Al’s. People that were raised in the North or Northwest area of the city seem to prefer Carm’s or Johnnie’s, Portillo’s is always a favorite anywhere.

So now that I’ve made you nice and hungry for our famous Chicago-Style Italian Beef sandwich let me give you my version that I cook at home for my family. It’s tasty and delicious and I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Chicago-Style Italian Beef Sandwich

INGREDIENTS

5 pound rump roast

6 cloves of garlic chopped fine

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp of dried basil

1 tsp of dried thyme

1 onion sliced

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

2 cups of beef broth

1/2 cup of red wine

1/2 cup of water

1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

1 tsp salt

3 red and green bell peppers, sliced

Italian Rolls or Gonnella Bread if your in Chicago

PREPARATION

Mix garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, salt and pepper.

Rub mixture into beef.

Massage it thoroughly. Like you’re on a date.

Place the beef in a large plastic bag and add 1 cup of broth, wine and onion.

Let marinate in the refrigerator for about 4 hours or overnight.

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Place roast in a roasting pan and pour the marinade over the roast.

Add the remaining broth and water.

Roast with no lid for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours turning once within that time.

You want the roast around medium. It will cook the rest of the way in the juice.

Remove roast and let stand till cool.

Reserve juice.

Slice beef thin on a meat slicer.

If you don’t have a slicer, get one. You’ll use it for a lot more things than roast beef.

Place beef in juice.

Cut peppers into slices and sauté in oil until done.

Slice your rolls and pile on that juicy beef.

Add sweet peppers or hot giardiniera and eat.

Don’t forget those napkins.

In the summer, try this recipe on a grill. Oh my goodness!

Mangia Italiano

 



BRADFORD

December 19th, 2009
chicago
Clint Jhonson asked:


Recent findings have shown that Chicago is sitting at the top of the list for metropolitan areas with properties in foreclosure. This position has resulted from an increased number of borrowers defaulting on their payments. Chicago foreclosure homes are widely available today, with housing values that are constantly declining. The Internet presents Chicago foreclosure listings for prospective real estate investors and also for homebuyers with a tight budget.

Chicago foreclosure homes have truly affordable prices and thus, they represent a great deal for many people. The wide range of properties offered through Chicago foreclosure listings is enticing, to be sure. All these homes are presented in detail, with comprehensive information and photo galleries, in order to give one a better idea of what the property actually looks like. These amazing deals refer to Chicago government homes but also to federal properties and bank owned houses. If you want to see the listings for Chicago foreclosure homes, then you will have to enter online.

Once a property is foreclosed, the next step is for it to be introduced into a public auction. There are plenty of auctions that take place online and the offers are extremely diverse. There are specialized websites in Chicago foreclosure homes, providing detailed information on how these properties are sold and also putting to the disposal of their customers Chicago foreclosure listings. For anyone interested in distressed properties, the Internet is a wonderful resource. All the properties have amazing prices, below market value and they present one with the opportunity for great savings, especially if we consider bank-owned houses.

The foreclosure storm in Chicago is not unique. All over America the trend is the same. More and more homeowners use their properties as collateral for a mortgage and end up defaulting on the payments. As they have no means to repay the accumulated debt, the bank has no other solution than to foreclose the property in question. The legal proceedings for foreclosure take some time but once the property is advertised at a public auction, there is not much time before a buyer appears. In rare cases, the previous owner finds the necessary money to redeem the property. More often, Chicago foreclosure homes are purchased at discounted prices by various investors or homebuyers.

There are many real estate investors dedicated to the purpose of finding Chicago foreclosure homes at extremely low prices. For them, Chicago presents numerous investing opportunities whereas foreclosure properties are involved. The Internet offers access to extensive and detailed Chicago foreclosure listings, with postings for foreclosure homes, bank owned and federal properties, government homes, with attractive offers for HUD and VA properties.

HUD Chicago foreclosure homes represent properties that are currently owned by the government as the owner was unable to keep up with the monthly payments. Upon foreclosure, the property was repossessed and ended up in the hands of the government agency. Chicago foreclosure listings contain many of such properties, offering a high potential for investments and important savings at start. However, HUD homes also represent a great deal for homebuyers.

There are many reasons why you should use professional Chicago foreclosure listings. If you find a reliable resource to help you out, then you will not need to search in another place. These listings include offers for HUD properties and other government-owned homes, such as repo houses. The choice for Chicago foreclosure homes include: condominiums, town houses and single-family homes. Take your time and decide which type you desire, check out the prices and other additional details. And remember, investing in Chicago foreclosure homes can prove out to be a very profitable business.



EVERETT

What is that area on the map of Chicago that is not in the city?

December 18th, 2009
chicago
ajs3400 asked:


There’s an area surrounded by Chicago-in the Northwest, right by O’Hare–that doesn’t seem to be part of the city. When looking at a map of 77 community areas, it doesn’t have a number. And I’ve seen police maps that have the area blacked out with the words “not in city” over it. What is there, and why isn’t it part of Chicago?

RICKEY

December 18th, 2009
chicago
David Reichman asked:


People looking to have a great time find themselves with a lot of interesting things to do in Chicago. For couples, Chicago is one of the best places in the United States where they can break away from the routine, unwind and have the quality time they have been wanting to have.

Chicago is home to numerous diverse communities, which are great fun to explore with someone special. Each one has a unique and rich culture they can call their own. The first thing you should do to get to know all of Chicago is to join the Chicago Neighborhood Tours. It is a guided walking tour, and is a very enjoyable to do as a pair when the weather is favorable.

Another great way to get to know Chicagoland is to have a taste of their food. If you are going to Chicago in the summer, one of the things you can do is check out the Taste of Chicago event in Grant Park. The event is an annual gathering of over sixty Chicago restaurateurs serving both residents and visitors nothing but the best Chicago specialties, ethnic and exotic cuisines, and the regular family-friendly dishes. Mark your calendars, June 27th until July 6th this year, for the biggest food festival in the Midwest!

In Chicago, you and your better half will find yourselves the chance to learn something new. For those with inclination to science, art, history, culture and the like, there are a lot of museums in Chicago that you can check out. If you are fans of the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most recommended things to do would be to join the Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture bus tour in Oak Park just fifteen minutes from Chicago.

Men love sports, women love shopping. Good thing Chicago has both to allow couples to compromise. There are lots of sporting events in Chicago as well as some serious shopping to be had. Next, cool off at the Chicago Park District for some down time with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend. Choose a spot from one of the over 500 parks in the district and enjoy an a quiet picnic in the late afternoon. Or you both can get neatly-dressed for a nice romantic dinner at either the Signature Room at the 95th located in the John Hancock Observatory or Seasons at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.

The best way to conclude your Chicago trip is to head off to the Funky Buddha Lounge for some drinks and the latest hot music. You might even get the chance to see your favorite Hollywood celebrities partying the night away in the dance floor. As your Chicago trip comes to an end, you realize that, with all the things to do in Chicago, the city provides the kind of escape you and your loved one really need.



JIMMY

December 14th, 2009
chicago
Paula Cherrist asked:


Living at one of the 290 luxurious Burnham Pointe Chicago condos puts a lifestyle of modern casual living right at your family’s fingertips. From single to several, the Burnham Pointe Chicago condos have something for everyone, whether they like partying all night, having a quiet drink with friends, enjoying fine dining, attending the theater or just hanging out.

For one thing, the Burnham Pointe Chicago condos are located in the busy Printer’s Row District in the South Loop neighborhood, which is a major school zone. You have a nearby K-8th fine arts magnet cluster school in the form of South Loop School, as well as Phillips Academy High School. As a result of living in one of the fabulous Burnham Pointe Chicago condos, your kids can also enjoy the annual Printer’s Row Book Fair.

For the college student in your family, there is Columbia College and the School of the Art Institute, as well as the Museum Campus, Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium for the whole family.

Living at one of the Burnham Pointe Chicago condos allows you to make a day of it at some of the most entertaining spots in Chicago, like Captain Al’s Charter Boat Fleet. This is sure to be a fun ride for the family, for couple’s outings or just for a day getting to know yourself. Before returning to the Burnham Pointe Chicago condos, you can top off the day with a trip to the 12th Street Beach and give yourself a nightcap for dessert at Club Alphonse, The Velvet Lounge, or any one of several night spots. If the theater is your bag, you can see shows at the NTU Performing Arts Gallery.

If you get hungry while you’re out on the town (and who doesn’t?), you have a choice between various American and ethnic dining experiences in the form of Epitome, Cactus, Russian Tea Time (which has more than tea-it has Russian cuisine), Charming Cuisine and more.

Burnham Pointe Chicago condos give you exquisite living quarters, as well as everything you need to conduct business from home, such as a a business center and conference room, prewiring for high-speed Internet access, phone lines and cable television. For your workout, there is a fitness center and a resistance pool. Burnham Pointe Chicago condos luxury accommodations include a 24-hour door staff, and a state-of-the-art building security and surveillance system.

For your pleasure and emotional well-being, Burnham Pointe Chicago condos give you breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline and surrounding parks from private balconies and oversized terraces, and 9-foot-high floor-to-ceiling windows, making your home part of the lovely outdoor surroundings as it is filled with healthy natural lighting. The European-style kitchens of the Burnham Pointe Chicago condos will spoil you with beautiful granite countertops with 4-inch backsplash and granite-topped island, and oak or maple cabinets. The stainless steel appliances are both beautiful and durable. To help you relax, there is a soaker tub separate from the shower.

The foyer, dining room, living room and kitchen of the Burnham Pointe Chicago condos will delight you with beautiful hardwood flooring, while the bedrooms, dens and multi-purpose living spaces comfort you with plush carpeting. There is plenty of storage space in the condo suites. Designer track lighting, washer/dryer hookups, and private balconies and oversized terraces are featured in all Burnham Pointe Chicago condos.

There are several types of floorplans, with one or two bedrooms and up to three baths, as well as a den or an office. The Burnham Pointe Chicago condos are located at 710 South Clark Street in the heart of Printer’s Row.

When you visit the Burnham Pointe Chicago condos sales center, you will be provided with all of the information you need to choose the best condo for you. Some of the things you will want to check out include sample floorplans, layouts, pricing, amenities listings and detailed upgrade packages. You can even take a look at a model of the development. The sales center is located at 850 W. Madison in Chicago, and is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information about these Chicago condos, visit http://www.bestchicagocondos.com/new-construction-condos/burnham-pointe.html



AUBREY