There’s something magical about Chicago that gets into your bones. It’s a city with swagger, a place of grit and glamour, where every street and corner has a story to tell. Chicagoans know there’s a lot more to their city than the skyline or deep-dish pizza. If you’ve spent any time in the Windy City, you know there are things only a true Chicagoan understands. These aren’t in the tourist guides, they’re the real deal, the insider’s scoop on life in Chicago.
Let’s dive into some stuff only people from Chicago would know. Strap in and get ready for the Chi-town experience!
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1. It’s Pop, Not Soda!
In Chicago, we don’t say “soda.” It’s “pop” and you’d better get it right if you want to blend in. This might not sound like a big deal to outsiders, but there’s a world of difference for locals. Imagine a friend walking into a Chicago diner and ordering a “soda” everyone would know they’re not from around here. Pop is part of the lingo, the unspoken code of the city.
2. Winter Isn’t Just a Season; It’s a Survival Sport
Chicago winters are brutal. When the temperature drops to single digits and the wind hits you in the face like a thousand icy knives, you know you’re a Chicagoan. The wind chill? It’s not just cold, it’s polar. Chicagoans know that layering isn’t just a good idea; it’s a survival tactic.
If you’ve ever bundled up in five layers just to get the morning coffee or braved the lakefront in January, then you understand. Snow days are just part of life here. After all, it’s not unusual to see people trudging to work through snow drifts as high as their knees.
Anecdote: One year, the snow piled up so high on my street that my neighbor and I had to dig out our cars for hours. When we finally managed, we each put out a “dibs” marker. He used an old chair, and I set up a bright orange traffic cone. Dibs are a Chicago thing, a way to claim a parking spot you’ve put in the sweat equity to clear.
3. Dibs Chicago’s Unique Parking System
Speaking of dibs: This is a winter phenomenon that baffles outsiders. In Chicago, after you shovel out a spot on a snowy street, it’s unofficially yours. People mark their spots with chairs, crates, or even random furniture as placeholders, and if anyone dares to move them, they risk neighborhood wrath. It’s the unspoken rule that dibs is serious business here!
Chicagoans have their unique etiquette around this. Some will even write their names on the makeshift markers or add a note saying, “I dug this out, find your own!”
4. Italian Beef, Giardiniera, and Hot Dogs “The Right Way”
Forget what you know about hot dogs and sandwiches. In Chicago, there’s a specific way of doing things. First, there’s the iconic Italian beef sandwich, which is often loaded with spicy giardiniera (pickled veggies). If you order one, you can ask for it dry, wet, or dipped, depending on how much gravy you want. Pro tip: always go for a dip.
Then, there’s the hot dog Chicago style. A Chicago dog has mustard, onions, relish, a dill pickle spear, tomatoes, sport peppers, and a sprinkle of celery salt, all on a poppy seed bun. Ketchup? Don’t even think about it. Chicagoans believe ketchup on a hot dog is sacrilege, and it’s the fastest way to spot an outsider.
Anecdote: Once, my friend brought a bottle of ketchup to a Cubs game. He squirted it on his hot dog, and the guy next to him looked horrified. “Not from here, huh?” he asked. That’s when we knew we’d never make that mistake again.
5. We Have a Fierce Loyalty to Our Sports Teams
If you’re from Chicago, you know it’s not always easy to be a fan, but the loyalty runs deep. We’re home to some of the most die-hard fans in the world, whether they’re cheering for the Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls, or Blackhawks. Chicago sports fans live and breathe for game days, and even if their team isn’t winning, they’re there through thick and thin.
There’s also a unique rivalry between the Cubs and White Sox fans that you won’t fully understand unless you’re from here. While outsiders see Chicago as a unified city, Cubs fans and Sox fans have a rivalry as intense as any in sports. If you’re from the North Side, you’re a Cubs fan, and if you’re from the South Side, you bleed black and white for the Sox. This isn’t just a friendly rivalry, it’s a way of life.
6. The Lakefront is Our Playground
Chicago’s lakefront is something special. Even with some of the worst weather, Chicagoans flock to the Lake Michigan shoreline in droves. Summertime in Chicago is spent on the beaches of Lake Michigan, with people biking, running, and enjoying the water. The lake is like an oasis in the middle of the city.
Every local knows that summertime means heading out to the lake with friends, setting up a picnic, and taking in the gorgeous skyline views. Even in the fall, you’ll see people out there, braving the chill just to soak up the beauty of the lake.
7. The El Isn’t Just a Train
The Chicago ‘L’ (short for “elevated train”) is more than just public transportation; it’s the city’s heartbeat. With the Green, Red, Blue, and Brown Lines snaking through the city, the El has a way of connecting Chicagoans from all walks of life. Each line has its own quirks, and every Chicagoan has a favorite.
One thing locals know? There’s an art to maneuvering around the El during rush hour. Seasoned riders know exactly where to stand to get the best seat and have a knack for avoiding the crowded cars. The trains aren’t always on time, and they may break down at the worst moments, but they’re a part of Chicago life.
Anecdote: One day, I was on the Blue Line heading downtown when the train suddenly stopped. The announcer came over the intercom, calmly saying we’d be delayed due to “a little fire on the tracks.” Only in Chicago would a “little fire” be treated like just another Tuesday.
8. The Real Story Behind the “Windy City”
Here’s a fun fact: Chicago isn’t called the “Windy City” because of the actual wind. Sure, it gets windy especially near the lake but the name actually comes from the city’s history of boastful, loud-mouthed politicians and people. Back in the 1800s, Chicago had a reputation for being full of “windy” or blustery talkers.
Most tourists think it’s all about the weather, but Chicagoans love to set the record straight. It’s a little-known piece of trivia that makes locals feel like they’re in on a secret.
9. You Need a PhD to Navigate Chicago’s Street Grid
Chicago has a grid system that’s designed to make navigation easy, but it still has its quirks. The streets are laid out in a way that seems logical until you’re actually driving and realize that State and Madison mark the “zero” point, dividing the city into North, South, East, and West.
Then there are the “diagonal” streets like Milwaukee, Elston, and Clybourn that throw off even the best navigators. If you’re a local, though, you know the tricks to make sense of it. You know that addresses like “800 North” or “1600 West” are clues that can help you find almost any spot in the city. But for a visitor? Good luck!
Living the Chicago Life
Chicago isn’t just a city; it’s a personality, a vibe. It’s a place where you have to earn your stripes by surviving the winters, where you pick a side between the Cubs and the Sox, and where you can claim a snow-shoveled parking spot as your own with a broken chair. This city has its own rules, its own sense of humor, and a heart of gold. There’s a sense of pride that comes with knowing these quirks, of understanding the inside jokes and the real Chicago hustle.
If you’re visiting, take some time to learn these things and show some love to the locals. Chicagoans can be some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, but they’ll also call you out if you break any of the “rules.”
So next time you find yourself in the Windy City, ditch the ketchup, respect the dibs, and remember: it’s “pop,” not “soda”.