Two years ago, I moved from a suburb on the south side of Chicago where I spent my entire life, to Midtown, Manhattan, New York City. I've since moved to an apartment in Brooklyn, and I'm really loving it.
Every time someone asks me where I'm from, the follow-up question is always,
"So how does The Big Apple compare to The Windy City?"
In an attempt to answer this question, here are a few things I believe you will discover if you move from Chicago to New York.
1. Midway and O'Hare are actually really nice airports.
The first time you decide to fly home for a visit, prepare yourself for a shock. Laguardia airport has a few stores to offer, but you won’t find much once you reach your terminal. After passing security in Midway and O’Hare, it feels like you have entered a new city. Stores, restaurants,and charging ports galore. Being stuck due to a delay doesn’t seem like the end of the world at those airports. I mean, Midway has a yoga room.
Stock-up on your snacks before the security check at Laguardia. Also, prepare yourself for the soul-sucking powers of the terminals. DO NOT forget your phone charger, because the airport sells one kind and it is fifty dollars. I honestly haven't spent too much time in JFK, but its most common review is, "This place is a hot mess."
Appreciate your airports while you are in them Chicagoans!
2. The NYC subway system is nothing like the 'L'.
Except, the seats on almost all the trains face each other. Chicago freaked out when some L trains did this and forced them to actually look at the other passengers-- Way more people fit on the car that way, just look at your phone like everyone else. You will also miss how polite and clear the L train’s announcements are, and you will realize that your body will not stop the doors. They will crush you. They will steal your purse.
Don’t get caught in the doors.
3. So that’s why they hold their pizza like that!!
Everyone in Chicago wants to know about New York’s pizza. Everyone in New York thinks that Chicagoans exclusively eat deep dish. If you’re looking for a typical, regular crust, average amount of cheese slice in New York, you’re just going to get less dough. Normal New York Pizza is what Chicago shops call thin crust and use as a trick to charge extra. People fold the pizza in New York because the crust will flop otherwise. Doesn’t mean it’s not GREAT.
Do not fear the dollar slice. It is a gift. If you miss a nice thick crust, look for the word Sicilian.
4. There are garbage bags on the streets. You get over it.
Chicago has alleys. New York doesn’t. Therefore, there are no dumpsters in alleys for businesses to hide their trash within, and it instead has to be picked up on the curb. You will be extremely upset when you realize how much perfectly good food is thrown out by restaurants every single day. You stop smelling it eventually.
5. The city truly never sleeps.
If you walk around downtown Chicago after 11pm, even if it’s along the Magnificent Mile, it will seem you’ve been transported to a ghost town. New Yorkers, imagine Wall Street at night. This isn't to say that Chicago doesn't have night life. It just... lacks signs of life at night. Half of New Yorkers are nocturnal. The most bustling parts of Manhattan never go dark. You can find food almost anywhere at any hour. I’ve never been on a completely empty subway car, even at 3 a.m. on a Tuesday. Subways come less frequently, but there won’t be a “last car of the night” unless a line is undergoing maintenance. Chicagoans seem to actually sleep at night. New Yorkers have 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts.
6. It just feels different.
New Yorkers have a completely different pace from Chicagoans. The air quality is different. The smells are different. It feels like there's a bit more space in Chicago, whereas everything in New York is smushed together and everything is happening at once all the time. People in Chicago seem to have a more leisurely attitude, while New Yorkers always have somewhere to be. That's not to say that one can't find a quiet place in New York, or high energy places in Chicago. It's hard to explain, but you can feel it all around you when you're there. They both just have a different beat.
Both of these cities will make each person feel different. Neither one of them is better than the other. I just happen to feel like I fit in best In New York. If you're seeking the city life, I would suggest dipping your toes into both. Find out which energy suits you best. There's definitely a place within to two beautiful cities for everyone.
