Chicago at a Glance
Living in Chicago
iStockphotoChicago offers its residents an array of leisure activities, which give the city its special flair.
With nearly three million people living in Chicago, it is the most populated city in the Midwestern United States. The current US president Barack Obama spent most of his life in Chicago, as did several other well-known personalities, such as the famous 1920s gangster Al Capone, and the 1990s basketball legend Michael Jordan – to name a few celebrities!
The city’s notoriety is not only expressed by the people inhabiting Chicago past and present, but also in films, art, literature and music, which makes it that much more interesting for those keen on living in the Windy City.
Expats considering choosing Chicago as an expat destination will be pleased to hear that Chicago is a relatively young city, with the median age being around 33. Many people living in Chicago are foreign-born, making the city a great mix of cultures and languages to be heard and seen on the streets.
Contemporary Life
Those living in Chicago will quickly tell anyone that it is a very lively and vibrant city. Entertainment is one of the city’s main highlights: From cultural offerings to swanky nightlife, Chicago has it all!
The famous Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum, as well as the Art Institute of Chicago, all located on the waterfront, make life in Chicago not only entertaining but educational as well. For those art lovers out there, living in Chicago gives you plenty of opportunities to attend gallery openings, quality exhibitions, and countless vernissages.
Furthermore, expats living in Chicago are able to enjoy the various forms of performing arts the city has to offer: From ballet to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, to Broadway-like shows and the famous jazz and blues scene, everyone living in Chicago can find their niche! Do not hesitate to check out the Chicago Cultural Center, which offers information on upcoming events or attractions and allows you to search the type of activity you would like to participate in.
Food and Shopping
Once you have been living in Chicago for a bit longer, the tourist attractions will probably lose their initial appeal, yet Chicago has much more to offer than just architectural and event highlights. The famous Michigan Avenue is loved among residents living in Chicago. Expensive designer brands in high-class boutiques to secondhand shops along Wabash Avenue can make everyone’s retail therapy a blast!
The various Chicago neighborhoods, which you can read about in the InterNations Guide on Moving to Chicago, offer various flairs to satisfy the different tastes of people living in Chicago. For example, the Loop Area/State Street offer a variety of the typical department stores and fashion chain stores, whereas the Gold Coast and the Magnificent Mile offer haute couture boutiques as well as celebrated local designers.
Due to its multicultural population, the city offers a variety of international cuisines as well. As with many large metropolises, the immigrant population of Chicago moved into neighborhoods where the residents were mainly of their origin. Today still, these neighborhoods maintain much of their original flair. You will find the food in these areas absolutely amazing, and there are places for every budget and palate: Greektown on South Halsted Street, right next door to Little Italy in downtown Chicago, Chinatown on the Southside, Middle Eastern cuisine between Pulaski and Kedzie, etc. Rest assured, food-loving expats living in Chicago will not be disappointed!
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