Another installment of our city guides by Laura Carlson ’12. This time she takes us to Chicago, IL affectionately known as chi-town.
Some Background Stats:
Population: 2,695,598 (9,461,105 metro)
Major Industries: Aerospace, finance, and consulting
Avg. Price of a One Bedroom Apartment: $1,106*
Cost of Living Index Value: $126**
Professional Sports: White Sox, Cubs, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks
Closing Time: Su-F 3AM, Sa 4AM
Best known for: being the Windy City
Best Dish: Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Why We Chose It:
As the third most populous city in the United States, the Windy City will blow you away with the over 2 million people from every imaginable political, socioeconomic and racial background. Among the masses are several prominent corporate headquarters and 51 colleges and professional schools. Bringing variety and a bolstered reputation for attracting young professionals, Noteworthy Neighborhoods places Chicago 7th out of 35 top cities in the country.
Chicago is also 5th in public transportation and pedestrian friendliness and is considered the 9th most loved city from by current residents in comparison to other diehard metropolis fans. Fusing hospitality with a cosmopolitan feel, Chi-Town offers entertainment, personality and a wide range of activities to keep recent college graduates amused. With its stunning architecture, die hard sports teams, beautiful green spaces, and shocking winter weather episodes, this Mid-west city will surely keep you on your toes.
Why You’ll Love it:
With one of the tallest and most dense skylines in the US, Chicago boasts three of the nations five tallest buildings, including Sears Tower, the second tallest skyscraper in the world. The top ten are all located in the Loop, which is the central business district of Chicago, squeezed between the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and Harrison Street. The Loop, which got its name from the looping route of streetcars, is one of the most iconic and active areas of Chi-Town, hosting some of the finest architecture and cultural events in the Mid-West. The loop has a wide range of public art, an extravagant downtown theater district, and two large interconnected parks that bring nature, festivals, and unique sculptures to its built-up surroundings. Take a cruise along the Chicago River or immerse yourself in the nations second largest business district.
The city brings a great deal of culture from the Art Institute of Chicago, to performing arts at venues such as the Goodman Theater and The Chicago Theater. See a ballet from the famous Joffrey Ballet Company or enjoy a low key night of music at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Chicago also boasts an accredited 28 museums by the American Association of Museums, including art, historical and educational museums. While you’re there, be sure to check out the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Science and History.
Chi-Town is known for its deep-dish Chicago style pizza and “L” line that can take you anywhere you need to go.Some well known eateries include the pizzeria Lou Malnati’s, which has locations all around Chicago and has been claimed to be the best of the best when it comes to Chicago-style deep dish pizza by many of its fans. Enjoy diner style food, ribs, karaoke and DJs Wednesdays through Saturdays at Beef & Brandy or fill up on gourmet Chi-Town popcorn at Garrett Popcorn Shops.
Some major events include the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, a Gospel Fair and Blues Fest in June, and a massive 3-day concert called Lalloapalooza, which showcases popular artists and a diverse range of music every August. Any girl would go head over heels for The Magnificent Mile, one of the top ten dining, retail and hospitality districts of the world. This world class shopping area offers upscale shops, ethnic and local restaurants, and year-round events that will undoubtedly make use of all that money you’ll be making in the real world. You can even skate 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile at the worlds highest skating rink, the John Hancock Observatory.
Given the great diversity of the city, Chicago is home to a diverse group of neighborhoods from Chinatown to the Polish Triangle, to Greektown to its own Little Itally, each place uniquely architected and filled to the brim with a melting pot of restaurants, shops, and cultural experiences to enjoy. Chicago Chinatown, which is located near the South Side houses teashops, Chinese restaurants, gift shops, and medicine stores that all offer a taste of the Chinese Culture. An Annual Lunar New Year parade that brings marching bands and floats, a summer concert series, the Chinatown Summer Fair, and a Dragon Boat Race for Literacy are among the annual events you can check out. Chicago’s Greektown is one of the other distinctive cultural meccas, home to Greek music, eateries, shops, and the annual Taste of Greece where you can explore vendors, entertainers and live shows from Greek Belly Dancers.
Not ready to leave Bucknell? We didn’t think so.
Check out the Chicago Bucknell Club
254 alumni are in the area. Check out B-Link if you want to talk to people willing to speak about career advice and job opportunities at such places as:
Blue Cross Blue Shield ‘90
Google ’00
Nike ’03
Deloitte ’89
Unilever ’03
The Nielsen Company ’06
Or in industries such as:
Advertising ’01
Consulting ’00
Law ’92
And we leave you with a little tune by a great band: Sufjan Stevens. If you haven’t heard them now you have, consider yourself lucky!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azGIf74ICmw
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