Normal spring weekend in Chicago...31 shootings.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Cops say it is not out of the ordinary.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...cal&id=6091849

[Ro]

Huh. We have been toying with the idea of going to Chicago for a Bulls/Hawks & Bears gameday weekend sometime in the fall/winter, after two straight years of Buffalo roadies.

I know there are risks involved with visiting any major cities when you venture outside the safe zones (Calgary included), but is the gun-related violence in Chicago really that bad?

[Clever_Iggy]

Frick. I'm going to be living in Chicago end of May until end of July. I've only been to the city a couple times and my place is about 1/2 mile from Wrigley.

I dont really know the layout of Chicago in terms of where these shootings occurred and if that corresponds with "rougher areas" of the city. All I know is to stay north of the Sears Tower.

Any CPers from Chicago?

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by Ro

Huh. We have been toying with the idea of going to Chicago for a Bulls/Hawks & Bears gameday weekend sometime in the fall/winter, after two straight years of Buffalo roadies.

I know there are risks involved with visiting any major cities when you venture outside the safe zones (Calgary included), but is the gun-related violence in Chicago really that bad?

My brother just came back from Chicago, he said it was amazing. He was downtown for most of it, said the buildings were awesome, and there was only a few times he found himself saying 'better get back to the beaten path'

Like anywhere, there are places you just don't go, but it's safe for the most part.

[BuzzardsWife]

funny, I was just reading that then came to this thread..my sister and I were just talking about how violent Calgary and Edmonton are getting, then I read that! I remember in the old days we used to call bad cities in Canada, Little Chicago's. I had and do have family living there for years, and none of them have been shot.so i bet you're safe to go there for a game

[wittynickname]

I was in Chicago in December for a weekend, and I was with a friend and her dad (her dad knows the city quite well, he goes there several times a year for business), and I never felt anything but safe. Again, I think it all comes down to knowing where to go, and where to not go. It's a great city, downtown is awesome, and United Center is a great arena, I highly recommend a trip there--just keep tabs on where you're at, and research what places to avoid.

[4X4]

Everything I know about Chicago I learned from Ferris Buellers Day Off. I did drive through Chicago once. I was in awe driving the freeway with the freaky aggressive drivers. Switching lanes is tough, even for a 'confident' driver like myself. I lamented my experience to someone who reciprocated a story about accidentally cutting off a Chrysler 300 (those bad ass gangster cars) and the guy pulled up beside him or her (I don't even remember who told me this story) and flashed a handgun. I believe that's code for: please don't cut me off again...

[QuadCityImages]

Its no different crime-wise than any major city. I've never felt unsafe there, and its especially true if you stick to the main touristy areas.

In fact, the Quad Cities have unfortunately had more murders per capita than Chicago this past week.

[icarus]

I've felt safer in Chicago walking around late at night than I have at times in Calgary. I "fell asleep" on the El at like 3am and woke up unassaulted and with wallet intact.

Went to see a Sox game at Comiskey (as it then was) and didn't feel too unsafe being on the south side, although we didn't venture off the beaten path.

[habernac]

I was lamenting the murder problem in Calgary a year or so ago and a friend of mine from Philly laughed at me. They get an average of 2 homicides per day there. That put it in perspective.

[Ro]

Originally Posted by icarus

I've felt safer in Chicago walking around late at night than I have at times in Calgary. I "fell asleep" on the El at like 3am and woke up unassaulted and with wallet intact.

Have you told that story on the board before? I could've sworn somebody on CPuck had posted something like that before about CHI... If you have put it up here before, I guess it was you. Maybe it was a C-Train story though, can't remember for sure.

The weekend we have penciled in is the last one in Sept, to see a Sox game on Saturday and the Bears game on Sunday night (national TV game versus the Eagles). Maybe we could catch a preseason hockey game too if the Hawks are in town then also. Would be a killer weekend, for sure.

Didn't realize (the former) Comiskey was on the South Side however. No biggie, it's an afternoon game anyways.

[Bill Bumface]

Chicago is great, at least the parts you will ever see of it. Like most huge US cities, it's super super segregated. Mansions on one side of the freeway, projects on the other. Pretty easy to avoid the areas you shouldn't be in. Downtown felt very safe to me.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Ro

Have you told that story on the board before? I could've sworn somebody on CPuck had posted something like that before about CHI... If you have put it up here before, I guess it was you. Maybe it was a C-Train story though, can't remember for sure.

I probably have, although I don't remember specifically...

[Drunk Skunk]

Originally Posted by Ro

Huh. We have been toying with the idea of going to Chicago for a Bulls/Hawks & Bears gameday weekend sometime in the fall/winter, after two straight years of Buffalo roadies.

I know there are risks involved with visiting any major cities when you venture outside the safe zones (Calgary included), but is the gun-related violence in Chicago really that bad?

Chicago is my favorite city in the US. I have never had one bit of trouble there in 20+ visits. I haven't been to the "new" Soldier Field yet, but I went a couple of times to the pre-renovated Field and it was still a great experience. Even though the United Center isn't in the best of areas, I've never had any problems there either.

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Frick. I'm going to be living in Chicago end of May until end of July. I've only been to the city a couple times and my place is about 1/2 mile from Wrigley.

I dont really know the layout of Chicago in terms of where these shootings occurred and if that corresponds with "rougher areas" of the city. All I know is to stay north of the Sears Tower.

Any CPers from Chicago?

Two hours away, give or take. I usually make a few trips up there for baseball games, or various events, during the summer.

[OilersBaby]

my sis moved to chicago a year ago and she loves it. she lives in the neighbourhood known as lincoln park right by downtown. ive visited her 3 times so far and its AWESOME!!!! Wrigleyville is really fun, the atmosphere is great when the Cubbies are playing. Downtown, there is so much stuff to do..the bar at the top of the John Hancock building (its on the 96th floor) is great..its called teh Signature Room. It's a lounge/restaurant. If you're into shopping, lots of amazing stores everywhere, and don't even get me started on the pizza. Chicago is famous for its deep dish and the pizza at Giarordano's (dont know the exact spelling) is the best I've ever had!!!!!

Chicago rocks except the cold weather. Just be safe and dont do anything dumb.....its with any large US city.

[zukes]

Yep, the pizza rules. I was there in March for the Flames game and St. Patty's day partying. Like many have said, just stay in the safe area's. We were told not to go west of the United Center. We stayed up by the O'Hare Airport and took the train everywhere. No different than any other big city.

[Drunk Skunk]

Originally Posted by OilersBaby

my sis moved to chicago a year ago and she loves it. she lives in the neighbourhood known as lincoln park right by downtown. ive visited her 3 times so far and its AWESOME!!!! Wrigleyville is really fun, the atmosphere is great when the Cubbies are playing. Downtown, there is so much stuff to do..the bar at the top of the John Hancock building (its on the 96th floor) is great..its called teh Signature Room. It's a lounge/restaurant. If you're into shopping, lots of amazing stores everywhere, and don't even get me started on the pizza. Chicago is famous for its deep dish and the pizza at Giarordano's (dont know the exact spelling) is the best I've ever had!!!!!

Chicago rocks except the cold weather. Just be safe and dont do anything dumb.....its with any large US city.

Lincoln Park is indeed awesome. One of my favorite clubs to watch live music is right around there, the Double Door.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I wasn't trying to suggest that it was a dangerous city to visit. But 38 shootings and 8 deaths (murders) in one weekend is a bunch anywhere in the industrialized world. My guess is none of them were tourists!


I think as long as visitors don't go on a sightseeing tour of Cabrini Green they'll be just fine.

I lived in the Los Angeles area and worked all over South Central LA and elsewhere during the height of the gang crisis in LA. I drove through Compton, Carson, Wilmington, San Pedro, Watts, Long Beach and many other gang infested neighborhoods and cities every day for two years and never had a lick of trouble. I was there when the Rodney King verdicts came down, that was scary. We could see the smoke from the fires and smell them from where I worked. Got sent home early in fact. Point is, the people being shot are usually shot for a reason (not justification mind you) not because they are in an unfamiliar place at the wrong time.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Drunk Skunk

Lincoln Park is indeed awesome. One of my favorite clubs to watch live music is right around there, the Double Door.

The zoo is also awesome. I was impressed they had African elephants rather than your stardard, run-of-the-mill Asian elephants that most zoos have.

[Zarathustra]

I once ended up wandering through downtown Detroit. Even though it was during the day, it was scary as hell.