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Q: Whats the Best way to Soldier Field from I90?
I live in Rockford and I want to attend my first Chicago Bears game but I don’t exactly want to pay outrageous parking. If I take I90 into the chicago area can anyone suggest a simple route to take in order to get to Soldier Field possibly using public transit? And I have never used Public Transportation before so as many details would be helpful as possible (Where to leave my car, Approximate length of time for trip, etc)

A: Just take I-90 to Exit 79A (Cumberland) and park in Blue Line Lot.

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), (312) 836-7000, provides a rapid transit train from O’Hare to the Loop every 8-12 minutes (every 30 minutes from 1-5 a.m.); one-way fare for the 35-minute trip is $1.50. The train you take is the Blue Line – in the direction of “Forest Park”.

It’s 19 stops from O’Hare to Jackson. Depart train at Jackson and transfer at State and Jackson to CTA bus #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express (towards “Museum Campus”). At this point you will see many happy Bears fans on the bus, so just go along w/ the crowd. It’s less than 15 min. to Soldier Field.

Q: what happens if my four wheel drive goes out?
will it affect any other parts of my car? i dont use it unless it storms very badly and since i live in the midwest near chicago, we sometimes get bad winter storms, if it breaks for some reason can i just not get it repaired and if i do that will it cause problems for any other parts of my car in the future? if it has anything to do with it i drive a 1999 chevy blazer.

A: You will only have 2wd.

Q: Where should I live in Chicago?
I’m moving to Chicago in August as part of Teach for America and I’m panicking a bit about living arrangements. Here are my criteria:

-Safe
-Ease of parking
-Reasonable driving commute to the south of Chicago (where I’ll probably end up teaching)
-Fairly quiet
-Relatively inexpensive (ideal would be a 1 or 2 bedroom in the 700-800 range)

With such a wide variety of neighborhoods and areas in Chicago, the choices are a bit intimidating. I know that some people want to be surrounded by “cultural attractions” or “artsy neighbors,” but my needs are a bit more basic – safe, cheap and accommodating to having a car. I’m also planning to live alone, because I’ve gotten used to this as a grad student.

Any advice at all would be appreciated!

A: Oak Park area hosts a few major streets and very close to expressway to get you to work. It’s safe, in your range and parking isn’t bad.
Berwyn area is a little less expensive and a bit south of Oak Park. Good Luck!!!

Q: City of Chicago: One handgun per person ’sufficient’, why not regulate the “Sufficiency” of ALL items?
City of Chicago: One handgun per person ’sufficient’.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/2445270,new-city-gun-regulations-062910.article

My father collects handguns for many reasons.
1. Self Defense both at home and on the road. (Where legal)
2. The artistry and craftsmanship of the item.
3. Different types of firearm are used for different actions. (i.e. You wouldn’t hunt a quail with an elephant gun and you wouldn’t hunt an elephant with birdshot.)
4. Part of the SPORT of shooting is to be proficient with a number of sizes, shapes, and calibers of ammunition.

So, if we can dismiss ALL of those and all the others I couldn’t think of off the top of my head, why not regulate everything in the home?

One car is “Sufficient”.
One television is “Sufficient”.
One computer is “Sufficient”.
One shower/tub is “Sufficient”.
One toilet is “Sufficient”.
One pair of shoes at a time is “Sufficient”.
One pair of pants at a time is “Sufficient”.

If we are thinking of the “Safety” of the public, why not regulate everything in the home that uses electricity, gas, water, etc. for “The Public Good”?

So what if “Sufficient” for YOU isn’t the same as “Sufficient” for ME?

THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD! For the health and well-being of all! Right?

A: Agreed.

Q: Chicago transportation?
Ok so I’m going to take a full week vacation at Chicago but I don’t know the city and I don’t want to take my car so my question is, is it easy to use public transportation or should I just rent a car? I’m planning to visit the major attractions of the city… recommendations on what places/attractions to visits are very welcome, thanks!

A: I would recommend against renting a car in Chicago unless you plan on going somewhere outside the city. Parking is very expensive. There are trains and buses that go to nearly every corner of the city and rapid transit lines run to both commercial airports (O’Hare and Midway) and near Union Station if you are coming in on Amtrak. I would recommend purchasing a 7-day CTA pass for $23. There are vending machines for the passes at the airport stations and in Union station.

If you haven’t been to the city before, you will probably want to do a lot of the touristy stuff, but with an entire week you will have time to do some exploring in some of the neighborhoods. There are a number of great neighborhood restaurants and shops, but I wouldn’t be sure what to recommend without knowing your interests. Chicago is a big city and there is something for everyone.

Q: Moving from Chicago to California, help please.?
I’m looking into moving to California for maybe a year. Im not sure exactly where but Los Angeles is where Im thinking right now. Ive been readin some of these posts and it seems when people say they want to move to LA, most answers tell them its a bad idea and it not what it seems like on T.V. and i understand that.

This is my situation…
I’m 20 years old I want to move in about a year, so i can save up money for the move. Im currently in school so i would like to take two semesters where ever i go. My boyfriend will be coming so there will be two of us working. I live in Chicago so i know what it is like living in a big city…. good neighborhoods next to bad, gangs all that stuff. I want to move somewhere warmer… like south california. But still be close to a city. Were thinking that we can afford 750 maybe 800 for rent. Is it possible to find somewhere decent no studio’s though. We have one car. How much is gas in southern California. the only thing i think we might not be used to is the amount of traffic i hear is there. Is it really as bad as people say… or is it bearable for someone coming from a big city…

Any suggestions? I dont have my heart set on Los Angeles but i dont really know anything about the other cities in California
Ok… so is craig’s list not a good idea because ive been looking on there and I see places for 700-800. Are they bad neiughboorhoods? the apaertments dont look bad on the inside from what i see….

wow… gas is only that much over there…… in chicago its about 4.20.

Oh and im 20… but by boyfriend is 25 so the age thing wont matter.

A: if both of you work, you might be able to afford housing, which for a 1 BR is around $1000 (mostly up, not down). There is no cheap city to live in CA really. All the major cities in CA are within top 20 highest cost of living rank.

Commute sucks, traffice congestion is the worst in the US. Smog is bad too.

For school….you can try community colleges first (usually cheaper) and then transfer to all UCs or CSUs. even USC. You can apply for financial aid (I did and didn’t pay a dime for college, except for books). I’m not sure what the requirements are for non-residents tho.

But my suggestion is do NOT move to LA, high unemployment rate and too crowded. I’m thinking of moving to Austin myself.

Q: Taxi Services in Chicago, IL?
Okay, excuse my ignorance because being from the Detroit area, aka “The Motor City”, my experience with taxi services is very limited.

So my question is, how do I use a taxi service in Chicago if my 18-month-old is still in a car seat? Also, are there taxi services that can accommodate my family of five? Finally, about how much would the cab fare be for a 5 mile/14 minute drive (according to yahoo maps)?

THANK YOU!
We’ll have our car at the hotel, which is about 5 miles from downtown. I just worry about the availability/cost of parking downtown.

A: You might want to take the train. Check out this:

Q: Moving to Chicago from Miami where should I live & are the winters really THAT BAD?
My girlfriend and I are moving from Miami (hot as hell) to Chicago (dead winter?)… We’re both born & raised in Miami so we’re deathly afraid of shoveling snow but we want the change. So we’re looking into high rise apts w/ covered parking. Currently found a few places in the South Loop & Lincoln Pk areas. We’re from Miami so we’re used to city life but don’t necessarily wanna be in the middle of Wicker Park either. We’re taking only one car, so public transportation stops close to us are a factor. We vacationed last summer and Ukrainian Village caught are eye as well… thoughts or suggestions on where to live?

AND the winter??? i’ve read plenty about proper clothing but is it really that brutal??? any other suggestions for dealing w/ the drastic weather change?

And how bad are the winters HONEST? ideas?
aren’t those more like suburbs though? i’m looking for something more in the city.
oops… i don’t know how to reply right after… lol

A: You will be cold. Even if we have a “mild” Winter it will seem very cold since you are native Floridians. In fact you will probably wear a sweater from Oct > late June because your blood is thinner.

If you dread snow shoveling, a condo or apartment in a high rise is your next home. Maintenance will be taken care of by the condo association or building management.

Both S. Loop and Lincoln Park are full of such places. Lincoln Park probably has more public transportation links and is a more established area. It has been residential for over a century.

Ukrainian Village is also well established but lacks as many places like I described above. It will be cheaper to live there.

You’re thinking ahead about parking. Make sure you have a place to park before signing a lease or mortgage. Parking is hard to find and expensive especially in the neighborhoods you are interested.

Riding on public transportation is not always a fun experience especially during rush hours when trains and buses are packed. The “el” is more reliable than the bus in bad weather since it rides on rails and has no traffic to dodge.

Chicago has an extensive transportation network that extends into the suburbs. Many people live in the area without a car.

Below is a map of the CTA el system. Zoom in for a better view:

http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/maps/ctatrainmap.png

More transportation links follow:

http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/maps/default.aspx

http://www.metrarail.com/System_map/index.html

http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/default.asp

Q: I need suggestions on planning a Chicago weekend trip?
I want to take my girlfriend to Chicago for the weekend of her b-day, with the highlight being seeing The Blue Man Group. It’s not until April so I have plenty of time to plan this. We live in Michigan (metro-Detroit), so I wonder if it’d be better to fly to Chicago, or drive? And if flying is the best option, what about renting a car compared to just using the ‘L’, and taxis. ?
Price isn’t TOO big of a concern, but I don’t want to go nuts.
I don’t know my way around the Chicago area, and want this to be a carefree, stress free weekend spent with her just enjoying what the city has to offer in her company.
I welcome all input! Thanks

A: There are some things to consider when taking a car into downtown Chicago:

First, depending on where you are looking to go, it may be hard to find a parking spot in the city.
Second, parking can be astronomically expensive. It is not uncommon that keeping your car over night, when staying at a hotel can cost you $35+ for one night.

I recently moved to Chicago and really enjoy the transit system. It isn’t really hard to figure out the “L”, and there are a lot of websites to help you:
I highly recommend
http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/
you enter your start and end point and it tells you exactly what buses to pick up.

And……
www.ctabustracker.com
it tells you approximately how far the bus is away so you don’t have to wait outside forever.
(both these websites are extremely helpful especially if you have a phone with the internet)
**** Note: using the “L” or buses costs 2.25 one way, if you have transfers it can add up. I highly recommend purchasing a transit pass so you don’t have to worry about constantly filling up your transit card with money…. http://faremedia.chicago-card.com/store/main.aspx?DepartmentId=34****

As for Taxis, most of the downtown Chicago area has taxi’s all over the place but there are places that taxi’s are not easily found.

Overall, I think any form of transportation can be stressful. Your experience is ultimately going to depend on your attitude. Trying to find your way around the city is the fun of coming to Chicago, you never know what you might find, even if you get a little off track. Just try to enjoy your time together, even if its a crazy adventure.

Good Luck!

Q: Where to buy dancehall ( ie: Capleton, Turbulence, Baby Cham et al) in Chicago?
I have been all over Chgo & the burbs I have tried all the used shops like Reckless, and Earwax, 2nd Hand Tunes, Permanent Records, Coops, Hyde Park Records , Reggie’s, Hard Boiled, to all the places selling new ie Circuit City, Best Buy, Bassment, Rolling Stones, Rock Records.Where the
can I buy concious and dancehall reggae music in Chicago at a shop and not off the internet? I thought a couple of hip hop place s might have it (cause dancehall is so akin to Rap but they have gone out of business have car will travel as far as into nearby Indiana if nec.
i live by the Howard st L an area where they’re are a bunch of Jamaican and Haitan people they don’t know either

A: Try VP records. www.vprecords.com Plus now that they merge with Greensleeves they have almost all Dancehall songs. Anything hat not there can be found on itunes

Q: Chicago Metra Safety?
I will be coming to Chicago in September. Hotel is in Bannockburn, and I am looking at using the Metra (Milwaukee District / North Line) to get into Chicago during the day and using the Metra to get back to my hotel at night. I’m not so concerned about the day trip, but I am concerned about the evening trip. I will have a 10 year old child with me, so that is why I am concerned. Is this a safe route to take during the evening? I would think the 10:30 pm would be the absolute latest we would leave out of Chicago. I’ve been to Chicago multiple times and have traveled by train, bus, and car…and I find the public transportation to be so much easier and cheaper then trying to find places to park in Chicago. Any ideas? Is this safe for a 10-year-old?

Thanks for your help:)

A: Absolutely no problem.

Q: Best laptop for IM, gaming, itunes and browsing? What to max out? Best internet service in Chicago??? HELP!?
I am looking to purchase a laptop. Key things it will be used for is:

AIM
Online Gaming
iTunes
Browsing with Mozilla Firefox

I want something that will not freeze up while I am doing these things.

Also what parts of the computer must you focus on to improve speed and make sure it doesn’t freeze? I’m okay with computers but get confused easily. I know RAM must be good correct? Is a video and graphic card the same thing? Is network card only for Mac’s or no? What would be the ideal requirements for what is needed to not freeze up while doing any of the activities above. I really need help.

Also what internet provider is the best for Chicago? I will be at home probably 70% of the time and the other 30% probably in the car or just in different neighborhoods. Looking for cheap service if possible but still would be willing to pay a bit extra so I don’t freeze up.

Do the computers freeze because of the internet provider or how much RAM and stuff you have on it?

Please help!!!

A: I can’t help you with selecting the right ISP in Chcago, I am pretty much on the other side of the globe

Internet Speed does not speed up or slow down your computer, it only slows down the speed in which websites or any other content from the Internet it being loaded. A old Pentium processor with 90 Mhz will load internet content in the same speed as a 4000++Mhz dual core processor (cpu).

Most important for a laptop are RAM and HDD, make sure you have at least 1GB of RAM get a 120GB or bigger hard drive in it, don’t settle for less. The more RAM the computer has the faster Windows will work when you use have load application or several application at the same time.

Internet Gaming… if you mean 3D Ego-Shooter like Battlefield, then you need to get a Gaming Laptop, only those come with high-end high-speed graphics cards.

If you got the cash, then I recommend a Sager Notebook, I bought one 4 years ago, and it still plays just about every new 3D game like a charm. Sager makes special gaming Laptops, they even offer laptops with dual graphic cards integrated (SLi) and RAID 0,1,5!

Q: Best laptop for IM, gaming, itunes and browsing? What to max out? Best internet service in Chicago??? HELP!?
I am looking to purchase a laptop. Key things it will be used for is:

AIM
Online Gaming
iTunes
Browsing with Mozilla Firefox

I want something that will not freeze up while I am doing these things.

Do the computers freeze because of the internet provider or how much RAM and stuff you have on it?

Please help!!!

A: ok, first of all, you shouldnt have to worry about freezing. windows 2000 and below freezes, but that was just a bug in the software. its been fixed in xp and vista, i’ve been running xp for 2-3 years and its never froze.
well, to improve speed, yes, ram is always extremely helpful. i know that at the moment, best buy has a sale on 1 gigabyte ram sticks for only $32. this is immensly cheaper than anywhere you will pay ever again. im not sure how much longer the sale is, i think it either ends on christmas or new years. so even if you’re not buying your laptop yet, i would suggest that you run to best buy and purchase some ram asap, and you can always return it if you dont need it. otherwise, you may end up paying about $80-$100 anywhere else.

yes, a video card and a graphics card are the same thing. you only need one of these on your laptop if you will be connecting to a moniter. if you are going to be connecting to a moniter, then the graphics card you should buy depends on the quality of games you will be playing. if you are going to be playing games that use java or shockwave only, the kind that are played from your internet browser, then go with a cheap one. for high quality 3d games like doom 3 or halo, get the best one that you can. remember, you only need this if you will be connecting to a moniter.

network cards? you shouldnt need one if you are purchasing a laptop. almost all laptops now have built in wireless internet acceptors. what you will need, however, is a wireless router. these tend to be a little expensive. the most reliable one that i know of is linksys. thats what im using in my home. you can also get these at best buy, for about $80.

as for the best internet service in chicago, im not 100% sure about this because im in eastern michigan. however, the fastest internet you can get is comcast. its very cheap and faster than almost any other internet provider. this will get you internet at home. however, if you still want to browse the internet while you’re in the car (wouldnt recommend doing while driving lol), most cell phone service providers offer mobile internet for laptops. you just buy their wireless card pay for service, and you can browse anywhere. not really sure how much it costs, i’ve never used one.

based on what you will be using the machine for, the best laptops for the job are as follows:

the least expensive one i found: Lenovo ThinkPad R51

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3445533&Sku=J156-14001

-OR-

this is the most powerful one you will realistically need: Compaq Presario C504US Notebook PC

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3354049&Sku=H25-15001

so thats really all you need, and i hope this was helpful!

Q: Scooter for Chicago climate?
I’m looking to buy a scooter until I can get a good job to pay for a car and insurance (a couple years), and I’d like to know if there’s a scooter that is best-designed for a climate like Chicago, especially in the winter. I don’t plan on using the scooter other than for school or work, which are both a 5 minute drive from my home, so driving in cold weather isn’t too much of a problem for me (I can dress warm). My problem would be driving the scooter while it’s raining or snowing, or while there’s slush or water on the asphalt, and therefore my question is: is there a scooter you would consider more “off-road” than others in that it is more capable of slippery environments? Or perhaps possible upgrades for scooters to make them more stable (ex. do they make tires with better traction or weather tires for scooters)? And what companies make three-wheeled scooters (which I would guess to have better traction)? Any help would greatly be appreciated.

A: Unfortunately, two wheeled vehicles generally don’t handle too well in Chicago winter weather. Offroad bikes can have good traction in dirt because the knobby tires can bite into the dirt. Snow doesn’t offer the same resistance and knobby tires actually have LESS traction on the street compared to street tires. Since the knobs on the tires can’t bite into the street, there is less rubber surface in contact with the road with makes it more slippery.

People who race on ice put metal studs through the tires to bite into the ice…still not very practical for street use.

Q: How much of an increase in electric use does recharging a hybrid car take (how much will my power bill go up)?
Gas prices are going up, but so are electric rates in the Chicago area. Is there actually a cost savings in driving a hybrid? Clearly there is an environmental saving, but the vehicle cost is higher. If the fuel source costs less, we might consider buying one.

A: The present generation of hybrids don’t plug in at all, so there is no effect on your electric bill. The next generation of hybrids will be full electric cars, using the gas engine just to charge the batteries. Those vehicles will plug in, and use electricity from your home to power most of your driving. Yes, your electric bill will go up – but your gasoline bill will go down a lot further.
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I drive an all-electric car. It gets about 4 miles to the kilowatt-hour. I use a split rate from my electric company, so that when I charge overnight, it costs me just 3 cents per kilowatt-hour. That’s less than a PENNY per mile!
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More info on electric cars: http://squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car

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