Boston in Chicago (Naperville, Evanston, Oak Park: universities, living, restaurants)

[sfcambridge]

There's nothing like Cambridge in Chicago. Nothing even close. If there was, I would live there. Then again, Cambridge isn't even Cambridge anymore...

Since Boston has such the young person, academic, international atmosphere, I would probably suggest Hyde Park (near U of C) or Evanston (a suburb just North of Chicago - that includes Northwestern University). Hyde Park is more urban, and Evanston is a bit more Boston like... part of it is more suburban like Brookline, the University is there (a bit more squeaky clean) and Evanston is more diverse then most suburbs.

I would come and visit and walk around some of the North side neighborhoods. But they are just different. And that can be a good thing too. But because they don't have any Universities there, I think you will miss that vibe.

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by sfcambridge

But because they don't have any Universities there

DePaul and Loyola are not the level of Harvard or MIT, but they are in fact well-respected universities located on the north side.

[serpent_of_old]

sfcambridge
thanks. yes, i was just using it as a point of reference. i was just looking for that feelgoodness and level of sophistocation. i guess it leads to my next wonder. do egos tend to be hyper delicate in chicago? i'm laughing yet wondering. are people so easily threatened by things that a person has not done nor said, and even if i did say them, they have no more meaning than one assigns? unbelievable. but really, would you say that people tend to have a strong sense of self. i'm a philly native. that happens to be characteristic there, whereas its not on oh say places like FL, MD, and others

[serpent_of_old]

i am coming to chicago very soon and i do plan on checking out much of the northside, thus the reason of this thread, to help narrow down where to check out
thanks again for all of the suggestions

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by serpent_of_old

sfcambridge
thanks. yes, i was just using it as a point of reference. i was just looking for that feelgoodness and level of sophistocation. i guess it leads to my next wonder. do egos tend to be hyper delicate in chicago? i'm laughing yet wondering. are people so easily threatened by things that a person has not done nor said, and even if i did say them, they have no more meaning than one assigns? unbelievable. but really, would you say that people tend to have a strong sense of self. i'm a philly native. that happens to be characteristic there, whereas its not on oh say places like FL, MD, and others

Nah, I'd say that's mostly a city-data thing. You'll be fine here.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by serpent_of_old

i did not expect anyone on here to be so sensitive about a harmless question
peoples emotions...smh...prevents you from seeing the forrest
lets try again, at the risk of repeating myself
and please, control freaks, contain yourselves
or, i'll reword it. i can see how the wording was SO confusing
which areas in chicago
does not have the same history as boston
nor grid plan
nor a million other things i NEVER mentioned
but have the same vibe as the places i did mention

give the egos and whatever you have riding on this, a lethal injection

Ah, the irony.

[sfcambridge]

Originally Posted by j_cat

DePaul and Loyola are not the level of Harvard or MIT, but they are in fact well-respected universities located on the north side.

Sorry, yes you are right. I may have misunderstood... thought they were the colleges only, and that the graduate schools/University sides were elsewhere. For people looking for the Cambridge/University vibe, it usually includes a lot of graduate students/professional students/internationals with that quirky and geeky intellectual and artistic character etc... Perhaps that exists on Chicago's North side near Loyola to some degree, but nah.... who am I kidding? Not really. Maybe that area has a little bit of Brookline.... or near Boston College feel....

Then again to the OP, Brookline is not really like Cambridge, so your question is pretty vague.

For the OP, there is no place like Boston/Cambridge, and you wont find anything close to it here. Or honestly, anywhere in the world. However, Chicago makes Boston appear nearly provincial in everything outside of the academic arena. Chicago is a city, which makes Boston appears as a town. The culture offerings here are incredible, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera, Joeffrey Ballet, Art Institute/many many museums, the most incredible free summer music/dance festivals as well as Lollapalooza, fabulous Jazz/Blues/House/club music, serious and avant guarde Theater that arguably surpasses NYC in quality, amazing architecture, world class cuisine (much improved...), gorgeous lake shore that feels like you are on the ocean, diversity.... I guess Boston and Chicago share some political corruption/mafia colors, but I think we gottcha beat on that one too. Unfortunately.

And yes, of course. Like anywhere, people are sensitive about where they are from. But Chicago is more friendly in general then Boston. Boston is definitely more arrogant, but simply in an East coast sort of way. Sometimes I miss people that are a little more ... blunt.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by serpent_of_old

i did not expect anyone on here to be so sensitive about a harmless question
peoples emotions...smh...prevents you from seeing the forrest
lets try again, at the risk of repeating myself
and please, control freaks, contain yourselves
or, i'll reword it. i can see how the wording was SO confusing
which areas in chicago
does not have the same history as boston
nor grid plan
nor a million other things i NEVER mentioned
but have the same vibe as the places i did mention

give the egos and whatever you have riding on this, a lethal injection

Jeez, I give you reasonable answers and then you have to complain about how i answered them. If that's your attitude, next time you want an answer, use Google.

[Attrill]

To be honest, I think the original question is too general and that was the initial issue that people have with it. I don't think anything about it had to do with emotions.

For example - What parts of Cambridge are you talking about? Harvard Square, East Cambridge, Central Square, Inman Square, etc.? Cambridge has become much more homogeneous over the last 20-30 years, but each area still has it's own strengths and weaknesses, and the same is true of neighborhoods in Chicago. More details of what you're looking for (like types of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, concerts) would be helpful.

If by "sophisticated" and "geeky" people mean academic, then Evanston and Hyde Park are your best bet. In general most Northside neighborhoods along the Red line, and Northwest side neighborhoods along Blue line have a predominant population of college educated professionals or students. Some are closer to Back Bay in nature, others closer to Jamaica Plain or Somerville. There's plenty of "sophisticated" or "geeky" in all of them. Hell, I just got back from Cole's in Logan Square and had a long discussion with people I randomly met about open source geographic web frameworks. I think that qualifies as geeky

More details on what you are looking for for housing and what you want to do in your free time would help to narrow down areas to recommend.

[serpent_of_old]

???
lets see
i never used the word geeky
i was very clear
'where can i get any of that feel in Chicago?
both neighborhood and social vibe'
-social vibe
-feel

you guys all must be code writers for software lol
not facets such as universities, bars, and other things that can be quantified and measured
thanks anyways guys
have a great weekend