Ok i have to go to Chicago next week to evaluate several places for a possible new noc and small data center for our company. if i find some place i like, we may end setting up shop there. This means i would prob have to move to chicago. Something im not sure if i want to do...

Please tell me what you like about chicago, what you dont like about chicago, what its like to live there, the people, basically as much info as you can.

In addition i will be in chicago at the end of next week, if some hosts would be interested id be willing to take some of you out to dinner to meet you all.

It's a nice big city. It's in the state of Illinois. There is a change of season's. You get spring, winter, summer and fall (though not in that order). I would have no problem moving there from what I know.

I hear it's windy there too....

There's a big lake next to it ;)

You need a fast car...better yet a :D sporty motorcycle :D ... I've driven through it...If you can't weave in and out fast on the freeway you'll be in bad shape.

Chicago is a cool place.. things I like about it - lots of things to do and see, huge buildings, some of the best museums, Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, lots of malls... the list can go on and on. I've never lived there, just visited many times. Lots of traffic like Deb said and the only thing I didn't like was having to pay tolls (but that's only on the toll roads of course), you can always take the L too.. lots of cool stuff there. :)

The university has a pretty good mathematics department. ;)

Remember not to say the s in illinois, its silent, some people do that :(). I have lived in a suburb of chicago all my life but no jack about the city. The only time I ever went to the city was my weekly trips to Verio, but they are no more. BTW, you dont happen to be going to the lake shore technology center do you?

David thats one of the places im looking at, im looking at about 3 different buildings total space needed is only about 4k - 5k sq feet.

Thats where verio was, pretty neat place, its pretty big. mabey you will get verios spot when they close out this month, heh

Originally posted by Fiber
It's a nice big city. It's in the state of Illinois. There is a change of season's. You get spring, winter, summer and fall (though not in that order). I would have no problem moving there from what I know.

we've had all four in the past 2 weeks :D

I am from Chicago, what part of the city are you looking at? I can give you a better description of things, cause chicago changes like night and day. You could be on one side of the street and be one way and turn one corner and everything changed. But really never been anywere else. Born and raised in Chicago. Lately the very windy city.

Yes yes, very very windy. Gets quite cold although it has become better over the past few days. If you live in the 'burbs, you will have a lot of traffic problems (much worse than NYC, where I have also lived). It is almost like a cleaner version of New York. Big city, lots of things to do. Not very . People are usually far more polite than those on the east coast. Second in terms of the number of businesses (NY being first). Has two huge airports. Lots and lots of things to do (museums, free music and dance lessons in the summer ...) You really can't go wrong living there. Please tell me what it is that you do not like about chicago and I will try to tell you whether it is true or not.
All in all, I think it is a great city. You have to get used to the weather though.

Southern Hospitality, and Food cannot be beaten. Atleast the food can't.

I believe Chicago is a fabulous city. It is one of the major cities in the United States of America. There's also the Sears Tower; one of the tallest buildings in the entire world. They have great hot dogs in Chicago too. Some of the best pizza besides New York City. There is a lot of recreation and arts there. I would live in the suburbs instead of Downtown. It is pretty dangerous at night. Chicago is kind of segregated as well. But other than that, Chicago is the best in the Midwest.

yea yea yea...Chicago this, and Chicago that, Charles, when are you going to open up an East Coast Data Center :), sheesh :D?

Then you could move down here and eat grits for breakfast.

haha uuallan maybe sooner then you think :) in the last year we expanded to dallas denver and possibly soon to chicago, would have to say our next stops are your coast and the west coast.

Anyhow back on track.... I just dont know im used to living in Kansas, Wichita specifically its just a GOBC state :) Im use to busy concrete jungles because i do business there every week but i dont know if its something i want to live in.

I love snow, but is it cold there more then its warm? Thats not cool. And in Kansas theres lots of trees and open spaces and i suspect thats not how it is at all in chicago, and in kansas everyone is nice, hell i dont even lock the doors to my house at night here (I will now, if i see you lurking outside my house, i do know how to use a shotgun :)). In chicago I suspect theres alot of crime...

Oh well i guess its something ill have to get used to..

Originally posted by cbaker17
Anyhow back on track.... I just dont know im used to living in Kansas, Wichita specifically its just a GOBC state :) Im use to busy concrete jungles because i do business there every week but i dont know if its something i want to live in.



Hmmm could ya open up a DC in South East Kansas or south west missouri? I need a decent place to put servers but not 800 miles away :D


I hate living in the middle of the US, nothing here...

Charles, you wouldn't have to live in Chicago if you don't want to. You could always live in the neighboring states even. For a long time I considered moving to a small town in Indiana and then commuting to Chicago whenever the small town life was too much (I'm from San Diego.. so small towns give me the willies and knowing that I could get to a big city quickly was a plus). If you were to do that, you could probably take the Lake Shore train up to Chicago from Indiana. The area I visited there was nice with lots of trees and low-crime (Crown Point, IN) and the train station wasn't too far away, beats driving to Chicago at least.. the traffic.. the horror.. j/k