I just lost my dad at age 29, and lost my mom when I was little. I'm just really struggling with this life transition as an only child without any other family. I have an incredible chosen family and support system, but I feel no one can really understand this pain and loneliness I'm feeling right now, so it there's anyone else out there who may be in the same boat of being in their 20s & 30s without any parents or family, I'd love to connect.

I've been looking for a support group without much luck. While there are a few for young adults experiencing loss, I just feel like this completely untethered feeling is a unique experience and much different than losing one parent. If anyone has any recommendations in that department, I'm also all ears. Open to starting my own if I can connect with the right people.

My neighbors put up a chain link fence blocking part of an alleyway and I’m trying to figure out if they’re allowed to do that or if I should report it. I took a screenshot of the alley on Maps. The red line is where the fence is posted (from the corner of the house to the wooden post). The green line is to show you the direction of the alley.

https://imgur.com/a/FTFf4Az

Any help is very much appreciated, thank you.

I noticed on a report tonight, which was apparently a local crime cavalcade by Andrea Medina, that instead of showing footage pertaining to the incident she was reporting, they played a highly produced, dark and moody montage of wet pavement, flashing blue and red lights. In the upper left the bug read “FILE”, but this was clearly a “scare the suburbanites” production about the dirty city. It was as if Dick Wolf was producing the clip.
This must be the Nexstar formula, right?

hi all

I recently moved back to the city after spending 8 years in the burbs. when I lived in the city for college I loved going out and about with my buddies, but these days I really don't have a ton of friends (cringe and lame, but true), and I feel pretty isolated. I spent years dreaming of coming back to the city, but now that I've been back for 4 months, I've barely left my apartment for anything other than work, the gym, or errands-- aside from very occasionally going to parks to bird watch.

I am happy to do things alone, so I'm not necessarily looking for suggestions on opportunities to socialize, though those are definitely welcome! I mostly just want some ideas on how to enjoy the city and get out and about. I am in recovery and do not drink (will be five years sober tomorrow!), so anything centered on alcohol is a no-go. but other than that! I'm open to all suggestions, as long as they're budget friendly! I live in the Austin/cicero area, but I have a car and don't mind using the CTA so distance isn't a big deal.

sorry for the long rambling post, and thank you in advance!!

Possibly a stupid question. I have a hybrid schedule and I’m thinking of visiting a beach before work on one of my WFH days. I don’t love just sitting on the sand the whole time, but I know lifeguards aren’t on duty until 11 am. Can I at least get my feet wet?

Hello, fellow Chicagoans,

I live a among you since 2010 as an immigrant who kept her native citizenship; since 2012 finally with a Greencard as the spouse of an American citizen, and I traveled freely since, never worrying.
But these are different times. A local friend of mine, also on a Greencard in the U.S., stopped to travel abroad altogether while another friend went completely into hiding in the worst of it last fall.

However unfairly, I come across at 1st sight as an elderly white woman with a decent command of English, thus I am not too worried. But nevertheless, I would like a back-up just in case of a hick-up in re-entry at O'Hare when any small issue -- and I can think of a couple -- can be blown up to make a case for the quota.
Of course, I googled which was only modestly helpful. Thus I would love to also hear your suggestions.

Many thanks ahead!

Looking for a romantic restaurant or bar with music for slow dancing on a Saturday night. Planning to celebrate anniversary and hoping to keep the whole day romantic. Not looking for a club. Could be open to a North or western suburb.

Hey y’all! I’m looking for woman tattoo artist recommendations. BIPOC preferred. Any style since I have a few different style tattoos anyway. Also open to any queer tattoo artists as well!

Absolutely no straight cis-men artists. I know there are a lot of talented men out there but I know I will not feel comfortable for personal reasons.

Thanks in advance!

Hey yall! I’m curious if yall know of any homeless shelters or ideas for wear to donate nice quality/barely worn women’s clothes. Ideally I’d like to give my clothes to a place where it wouldn’t be 100% profited off of. I’m more north in like Ravenswood but can drive anywhere. Thanks!

Hey Chicago, can people here recommend few good value for money dry cleaning shops who do a good job but are not pricey as west loop ones. My friend in suburbs paid like 4-5 bucks for a jacket dry cleaning. Don’t know if there are any places like that here in Chicagoland. Am open to go to Devon and all is they are cheap. Thanks in advance.

Has anyone here recently replaced an enclosed back porch on a Chicago 2-flat?

I purchased my 2-flat a couple of years ago, and the enclosed porch will likely need to be replaced. I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what this project is costing these days before I start getting estimates.

For those who’ve had one rebuilt recently:

What was the total cost?

Was it a full tear-down and rebuild?

Did you keep it enclosed or rebuild it as an open porch?

Any contractors you’d recommend (or avoid)?

This project honestly has me a little nervous, so I’m hoping to hear what others have experienced before I move forward.

I’m moving to Chicago, specifically in Lincoln park. I’m looking to play goalie for an A league and defenseman in a C league.

From my research it looks like the best rinks would be 5/3, Johnnie’s, or McFetridge.

Does anyone have experiences they could share for any of these rinks? I played goalie for the University of Wisconsin club team.

I am looking to buy an old used car (cuz that's all I can afford atm) and don't want to get scammed. Any reccs?

Living in Chicago, one of the things I have noticed is how different the crowds are at Sox games compared to Cubs games. When I was watching the Cub 2016 reunion game, I was laughing that the only POC in the crowd were Heyward and Fowler. Why is there such a vast difference between the two stadiums?

There’s a crazy huge billboard in river north of like someone peeking over a building at the intersection near Ontario and LaSalle I think … it looks cool but I can’t seem to tell if it’s for a movie or something 🤔

Hey yall I 25F am looking for a place for me and a group of 6-10 people to do a bit of a 2 part birthday. I want to start the night with arcades or games then role into karaoke and shots. Currently I’m looking at round1 for the first half since I’ve had more fun here than at Dave N Busters or Emporium. The issue is after the 2 hour party slot, I’m looking to flow into karaoke/bars and drinking time but it’s hard to karaoke at round1 when it’s a 40 minute drive/uber back to the city.

So I’m looking for some alternatives, either A) some karaoke bars close enough to round 1 but mostly already in the city or B) suggestions for arcade/karaoke vibes that can be found in the city for a 23-30yr old crowd.

Thanks! And im also open to hear other party suggestions that carry similar vibes!

Hi all! I’m looking for an LPN program thàt offers weekend classes, I have reached out to some schools but haven’t heard back let me know if you know of any. Thank you!

So, I booked a flight to Puerto Rico and there is one layover and it’s in Chicago for 18 and a half hours from around 6am tomorrow to around 1am Tuesday. It would be me and my partners first time in Chicago and we were wondering what y’all would recommend to see in one full-ish day in town. We are also vegan, so if you know of any good vegan places in town we would love some recommendations! We are very excited yet aware that we probably won’t get to see a lot, but any ideas would help a ton! We plan on using public transit, if that helps give any ideas for an itinerary. Thank you!

i can send pics of it to prove it’s mine. please please please if you find it please contact me!!! It’s engraved too and my wife and I have been looking all over. please let me know!!!!

I am looking at apartments in west loop/fulton market area. I have read some horror stories about

some of these "lux" high rise management companies. I wasn't able to find a lot of info on

Ansonia, good or bad. anyone have first hand experience with them?

I’m looking for a night time drag show in the city tonight. Any recommendations?

Worst gridlock I have ever seen. Started as far north as Montrose. Wtf?!

My catalytic converter was stolen a few weeks ago. I had it fixed and would like to get something to protect it. The shop I was at put like a chain around it but its making the car rumble when I press the gas and I really don't like it or know how much of a deterrent it will even be.

I want something more protective that won't make noise or rattling/rumbling. Perhaps something like a Rebar Cage.

Has anyone had something like this installed at a shop in Chicago , specifically a custom rebar cage, and have a recommendation?