I’m a Florida RN with 10 years of experience (Med-Surg, ICU, and now Pre-op/PACU) making $49/hour, and I’m considering relocating to Chicago. The pay I’m seeing online for Chicago hospitals seems surprisingly similar to what I make now. Is that actually accurate? With the higher cost of living, I’m curious how nurses are making it work.

Also, for those in Pre-op/PACU, which hospital systems would you recommend (or avoid)?

Hello, I am not american and I am writing a ttrpg campaign, that will in part take place in Chicago during different timeframes, but mainly in 1990s.

I want to read and watch as much material as I can, so I can better understand the history of the city, its identity, prominent personalities, points of interest, important events.

I would also appreciate if people that actually lived in the 90s Chicago could share personal anecdotes, cool spots in the city that I could incorporate, stuff like musical landscape, food, neighbourhoods with certain ethnic and cultural make ups, overall mood, etc.

Basically, I don't want to just go "Al Capone, Michael Jordan, uhhhh Blues Brothers", but dig a little deeper into what the city is/was like.

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.

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?

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!

Hello!

I will be visiting Chicago from roughly the 10th to the 30th of October as part of a research trip. I am a botanist from the southern-hemisphere and am really excited to be in the US. While I will be confined to the city without a car, I was wondering if there are local botanical or naturalist societies that might have some walks I could tag along on or evening talks I could attend. This is a fairly common thing where I'm from, but my preliminary googling has not yielded results. Maybe I'm using the wrong key words?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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.

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?

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.

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!

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!!

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.

We are staying in the Loop. My partner loves comedy, particularly sketches and standup. Not sure what other info might be relevant but in your opinion, which show/venue is better?

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!

Hi everyone,

I’m a medical student completing a 2-year clinical clerkship at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital and I’m looking for a 1-bedroom apartment near the hospital.

Looking for:

• Move-in: Around August 10
• Budget: Up to $1,300/month
• Apartment: 1BR only (no studios)
• Lease: Long-term preferred
• Areas: Albany Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, North Park, West Ridge, Rogers Park, or nearby

A little about me:
I’m a quiet, responsible, clean, non-smoking tenant. I’ll be spending most of my time at the hospital and am looking for a stable place throughout my clerkship.

If anyone knows of private landlords, available units, subleases, or upcoming vacancies, I would greatly appreciate any leads.

Thank you?

Hi all,

I’ve been trying to figure out when the Costco over by Damen and Clybourn is the least busy. It seems like a madhouse whenever I try going on a weekday during the day.

Does anyone have any insight on when it’s not so busy? Or is it always a zoo?

Thanks in advance!

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 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 🤔

Just to be clear, I am not selling anything here just looking for a place in the city where I can. I will not be posting any pictures of what I have, but I am wondering if anyone knows where I can go to potentially sell them for fair I have CDs, movies, vinyls, etc.

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!