im a brit thinking about relocating with partner and little boy to chigago. whats it like?

Question

im a fully qualified bricklayer, builder and fancy moving to usa as a trial at first for a year maybee but if it works out then maybee for good. is chigago a good choice eg weather, crime, entertainment and general way of life. is it a bustling city or what?????? replies appreciated

Answer 1

Well, there's a ton of construction going on in Chicago right now, both commercial buildings (like Trump Tower) and condos that are popping up like wildflowers. So now is a good time for a bricklayer and builder to live here. Weather wise, it's a lot like London, only not as many grey days. The summers go from warm to hot, the winter go from blustery to freezing. There's a rainy season and a spring season. But we have beaches to cool off near in the summer, so that's handy.

As far as way of like, it's busy like London but not AS busy (I've been to London three times). We have world class shopping (Michigan Ave. etc.), great transportation like London (subway - ok, tubes - and buses), great nightlife (that's the one thing I couldn't get used to in London - the bars shut down at 11. Here in Chicago they're just getting started and don't close until 4 or 5 a.m.), great old architecture like London, great museums like London (The Art institute of Chicago is considered one of the great art museums of the world), there are interesting ethnic communities to visit (in London it seemed it was primarily east Indian, African and West Indian immigrants, but here there's all of those groups, plus Asian, Latino, Eastern European, etc.). There are theaters both large and storefront, comedy clubs are making a boom again, sports teams including baseball, American footbal, hockey, basketball, (the local soccer team, the Fire, recently built their own stadium and Man U played here last year), horse racing tracks and wagering, casino in nearby Indiana and Aurora, Illinois...

There is crime here, just like every major American city, but it's not as widespread as you might think. Unfortunately, most of the crime happens in one or two areas of the city, but it can happen anywhere. There have been crimes committee on the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park, two of the more upscale areas of the city. It's not like London, sad to say: the crime here can be very violent. But it's not like you turn the corner and there's a thug waiting to gun you down. Millions of people go about their business here every day and get along fine. The trick is to not make yourself a victim: know where you're going, not walk with your head down and trying to avoid contact, not be afraid to question someone's motives... safety in Chicago falls somewhere between being overly jumpy and afraid of your own shadow and being blissfully oblivious and not paying attention to your surroundings. But like I said, people of all kinds live here and get along fine.

The schools here are improving. Not sure how old your little boy is, but people here are generally friendly so you three should get along fine. Chicago is a major transportation hub so if there is anywhere you want to go in the country (or world) you can get there from here. Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Chicago is a bustling, active city, unlike many US cities that are just sprawling suburban areas (although Chicago has plenty of suburban sprawl as well). We have great restaurants and bars, and some of the best museums in the world. Also a very active theater scene for both major productions and, more commonly, small neighborhood theaters.
It is easier to live and get around in Chicago than in New York and while I love NYC, Chicago is more enjoyable. Big enough that it has all sorts of communities, and you will find an affordable neighborhood that suits your style (whatever that may be).
Summer is great, and the city is alive for every moment of it. The setting along the lakefront is unlike almost anywhere else in the world. Winter can be brutally cold and long, but we've had a good year so far. The cold winter might be a problem for construction workers, but it does not seem to slow them down.
The construction workers that I have seen (and hired) are generally Latino (Mexican or Puerto Rican) or Polish (huge Polish population here). Construction in the US has flattened out after several of the best years ever, but there is still plenty of activity going on.

Good luck!

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I love Chicago, especially in the summer. we have one of the greatest skylines to view. and there's always things to do in the summer all around the city. especially downtown. You have the summer dance in the park downtown, the different festivals (the taste of chicago, blues fest, jazz fest, etc, etc). and some of those activities are free. the concerts are free at least for the festivals. chicago is all of the above, based off what u asked and what i mentioned. it has many opportunities for what your are looking for, but also has many was for you to fail at making your dream work. there is lots of construction going on here now so that is a plus. But if its what you want . . . do it!

Answer 5

chicago is a terrific city. there's always things to go and do. transporation around the city is good with plenty of buses, cabs, and the el. weather can be nasty during the winter. i would suggest traveling out for a week or so to see what you think before actually moving all the way out here.

Answer 6

iJust to address something no one else has...in order to find a good paying job as a bricklayer in Chicago you will have to join a Union otherwise you'll have to pick up day to day work which doesn't pay as well as in in consistent or get paid less in a non-union contract. also, you have to save up $$ from jobs in spring, summer, and fall to compensate for less work in the cold winters when there's less work for bricklayers.

Answer 7

I agree with the others; also rent for a two bedroom apt on average is about $900 a month with no untilites included.

Answer 8

chicago is pretty much like nyc but smaller.