I finally stopped listening to people who say you gotta live downtown to 'really experience Chicago'

Overheard a guy at a Logan Square coffee shop last week bragging about how he'd never leave the Loop for anything, and honestly, after 2 years in Humboldt Park, I think those folks are missing out on the actual neighborhoods that make this city feel real.

2 comments

2 Comments

parkera2217d ago

Did you ever actually live in Humboldt Park or just pass through? The Loop types love to act like anything west of Ashland is some kind of sacrifice, but they're the ones paying $2,200 for a shoebox with a view of a parking garage. I did three years in Avondale before moving out to the suburbs last year, and honestly, those coffee shop dudes have no clue what they're missing. Real Chicago is getting your tamales from the lady at the bus stop on Fullerton, not whatever overpriced brunch spot is trending on Instagram this week. You want to experience the city? Spend a Saturday walking around Little Village or hanging out in McKinley Park, way more character than any "curated" downtown block. The people who gatekeep neighborhoods like that are usually the ones who've never lived anywhere but their parents' basement in Naperville before moving to Wicker Park.

ray_miller4117d ago

Haven't you noticed this same gatekeeping thing happens everywhere, not just with Chicago neighborhoods? I see it with people who swear you have to drink specific craft beer or only shop at certain farmers markets to get the "real" local experience. In my experience, the folks who talk the loudest about what's authentic are usually the newest to the scene themselves. They act like knowing the right spots makes them insiders, but they're just trading one kind of curated experience for another. It's human nature to want to feel special, but the actual good stuff is just whatever works for you and your budget, plain and simple.