I'm moving to Chicago!

[Rand_Rover]

@Coup_Fourre

Actually, it’s “the Jewel’s.”

And to make sure you look like you belong, pronounce Chicago:

She-Caw-Go.

not

She-Cah-Go.

She? I’ve never heard anyone say “she.” More like a schwa sound in there.

[MeanOldLady]

Oh shit. I’ve been calling it “Jewel” all this time. Sorry, guys!

[Tim_R.Mortiss]

Heretic!!! ;)

[Ferret_Herder]

Eh, I say “Jewel” and so does my husband, and he’s a native here. (Then again, I got him calling it “soda” instead of “pop.”)

Mexican: Don’t forget one of Rick Bayless’s restaurants: Xoco, Frontera Grill, or Topolobampo (in ascending order of cost and difficulty in getting in); they helped get Mexican food in the US considered worthy of being called a cuisine.

[dalej42]

@Rand_Rover

Here are my recommendations:

2. Uncle Julio’s Hacienda. It’s a chain, but it’s really good. Gets rather loud though.

You just made my day! I loved Uncle Julio’s in Dallas!!!

[GrandWino]

@Rand_Rover

Here are my recommendations:

1. Cafe Adobo in Old Town. Table-side guac, really good margaritas shaken table-side and served up in a martini glass.

2. Uncle Julio’s Hacienda. It’s a chain, but it’s really good. Gets rather loud though.

3. Lalo’s. Has several locations but it’s not a national chain. I used to always get Lalo’s Ultimate Skillet (steak, chicken, chorizo, bacon-wrapped shrimp, grilled veggies on a fajita skillet) before I apparently got old and couldn’t eat greasy stuff like chorizo anymore. Lots of good stuff that’s different than the usual Mexican fare (wife likes this soup that’s basically a whole ocean reduction).

4. The town (? or area/neighborhood/something) of Pilsen has several Mexican restaurants. I’ve been to one but don’t remember much about it. I believe they are all BYOB, but there’s a close liquor store.

I heartily second all of these recommendations.

[Kolak_of_Twilo]

@Rand_Rover

4. The town (? or area/neighborhood/something) of Pilsen has several Mexican restaurants. I’ve been to one but don’t remember much about it. I believe they are all BYOB, but there’s a close liquor store.

Nuevo Leon may be where you went. Probably one of the better known in the neighborhood and very good. And you are right, they are BYOB.

[Ferret_Herder]

Seconding the Lalo’s recommendation - my coworkers and I are fond of going out to a nearby location now and then.

[GrandWino]

@Kolak_of_Twilo

Nuevo Leon may be where you went. Probably one of the better known in the neighborhood and very good. And you are right, they are BYOB.

Nuevo Leon is possibly my favorite mexican place in the city (though I think I might give the edge to Cemitas Pueblas on North Ave).

[dalej42]

I was reading the Nuevo Leon website, do they still have smoking sections in Chicago restaurants? Somehow, I thought the city passed a smoke free ordinance?

[Tim_R.Mortiss]

@dalej42

I was reading the Nuevo Leon website, do they still have smoking sections in Chicago restaurants? Somehow, I thought the city passed a smoke free ordinance?

The city did, and so did the state of Illinois. You can forget about smoking in restaurants or bars around here.

[Joey_P]

@Tim_R.Mortiss

Congrats! Time to starting studying your Chicagoisms.

I’ll have a three hundred and twelve. (Yes, we get Goose Island in Wisconsin, but you can’t have our New Glarus :D)

[dalej42]

More questions.

1. Where are these great used book stores in Chicago? While packing, I hate that I’ve had to donate a lot of my classics to the library just because of the bulk.

2. I’m going to stay at a hotel by O’hare for my first week or so. I’ll have my car, so where is the easiest place to park and ride the blue line?

[Cheryl44]

1. There’s a bookstore on Lincoln just south of the Western Brown line stop. I don’t know the name of it, but I’ve found some really great used books there.

2. CTA Park & Ride: Park at 'L' stations - CTA

[Tim_R.Mortiss]

We had a thread awhile ago on used bookstores. Oops, here it is:

Used Book Stores in Chicago? (Plus: Cecil's column!)

[dalej42]

@Tim_R.Mortiss

We had a thread awhile ago on used bookstores. Oops, here it is:

Used Book Stores in Chicago? (Plus: Cecil's column!) - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board

Thanks so much, that thread is a godsend. I hated donating many of my good condition books. However, I just don’t have the room in my car to move them.

[AlsoNamedBort]

@Cheryl44

1. There’s a bookstore on Lincoln just south of the Western Brown line stop. I don’t know the name of it, but I’ve found some really great used books there.

Ravenswood’s Used books. Which the first time I walked to, I thought “This is what those old used book stores you see in movies must be based off of.” I half expected to find some huge old book that would transport me to a magical land.

[Phil_W]

@Coup_Fourre

And to make sure you look like you belong, pronounce Chicago:

She-Caw-Go.

not

She-Cah-Go.

@Rand_Rover

She? I’ve never heard anyone say “she.” More like a schwa sound in there.

Yep, that’s news to me! I’m 65 and have been living in Chicago all my life. I’ve never heard anyone say; She-Caw-Go! That is unless you didn’t mean “She” to be pronounced like the pronoun for female. More like “shi” with a soft “i”.

Other than that; welcome to Chicago if you can afford it! We have the honor of ranking high as paying some one of the highest gas prices and taxes in the U.S. Also, watch out for those red lights. Big brother is watching and one wrong innocent move while making a right turn on a red and you’ll get a nice welcome in the mail that will cost you $100.00! Also, parking in the city is no problem as long as you always carry a crap load of money on you. Chicago is a great city…..if you can survive the financial drain it will impose on you.

[zookies]

I agree with the shi instead of she, and watch out for the black helicopters (see yahoo news)