You know you are from Chicago when...

[southsider2k5]

 

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM CHICAGO WHEN....

 

 

You say "Wanna go with?" when you mean "Do you want to come with me?"

 

You know what Kennedy, Dan Ryan, Eisenhower, Edens, and Bishop Ford, have in common and curse one of them daily.

 

You know what "the Hillside strangler is."

 

You can name three or four extra taxes nobody else pays.

 

You know the difference between Richard J Daley and Richard M Daley.

 

You can use two or three Daleyisms in context.

 

You can imitate the Mayor's whine.

 

You say Chicaaago.

 

You think going to a Bears game in single digit temperatures with a wind off the lake (and freezing rain) is fun.

 

Da is a proper definite article.

 

You expect corruption in local politics.

 

You go to the Dells in the summer to get away from the other 20 thousand that followed you.

 

You've been caught speeding in Wisconsin because you had Illinois plates.

 

You guard your shoveled parking space with an old chair and unusable broom.

 

You know why they call it "the Windy City."

 

You know dead people who voted.

 

You understand the Democratic machine and don't fight against it.

 

You've never ever considered the idea of hiring non-union laborers.

 

You've never been to Springfield.

 

You know a good gyros joint.

 

You know what Giordanos, Lou Malnati's, and Gino's have in common.

 

You know when the last time the Cubs won a pennant.

 

You know exactly how many cars are "legally" allowed to turn left after the light turns red.

 

You don't know which ethnic "fest" to choose on any given Summer weekend.

 

Your idea of relaxing and getting away from it all is Ravinia (with 10,000 others who have the same idea).

 

You can recite many of "The Blues Brothers" lines and know where they filmed certain scenes.

 

You consider paying someone to watch your car at a sporting event as just another "city tax."

 

The "Living Room" is called the "front room"

 

You don't pronounce the "s" at the end of Illinois. You become irate at people who do

 

You measure distance in minutes (especially "from the city"). And you swear everything is pretty much 15 minutes away

 

You refer to anything South of I-80 as "Southern Illinois"

 

You refer to Lake Michigan as "The Lake"

 

You refer to Chicago as "The City"

 

"The Super Bowl" refers to one specific game in a series of 35 played in January of 1986

 

You have two favorite football teams: The Bears, and anyone who beats the Packers!

 

You buy "The Trib"

 

You think 35 degrees is great weather to wash your car!

 

You know what goes on a Chicago Style Hot Dog

 

You know what Chicago Style Pizza REALLY is

 

You understand what "lake-effect" means

 

You know the difference between Amtrak and Metra, and know which station they end up at. You have ridden the "L"

 

You can distinguish between the following area codes: 847,630,773,708, 312, & 815

 

You respond to the question "Where are you from" with a side" example:"WEST SIDE", "SOUTH SIDE" or "NORTHSIDE."

 

You know what the phone number is to Empire Carpet!

 

You wear gym shoes, not sneakers.

 

Your favorite melody to hum is "Bang,Bang,Bang-Skeet,Skeet,Skeet!!!!"

 

You faithfully attended Lil Louis parties at The Bismarck.

 

You GOT to have spaghetti at your barbecue.

 

You are STILL a Bulls fan........

 

You think kicking it outside of White Castles parking lot, (79th and Stony Island) is the "Freak Nik"

 

You go to Harold`s and order 4 pc wing, mild sauce, salt and pepper.

 

You have a picture of Harold Washington in your kitchen, living room, family room or basement.

 

You have ever waited in line at Home of the Hoagy on 111th for 30-45 minutes for a steak samich wit cheese

 

You have ever been to the Tiki Room lounge in Hyde Park

 

You have Y made a special trip downtown because you had a craving for Garrett's caramel and cheese popcorn.

 

What!!! We don`t get a Fifty? Oh yeah....

 

You drink at bars called "Bud on Tap" or "Milwaukee's Best" -- no names, just beer signs out front.

 

It's January and you see someone's kitchen chair in the street, and you know that if you're a responsible citizen and bring it back to the sidewalk you will be shot on sight

 

You live two miles from work and it takes you two hours to drive there

 

You don't flinch when you pay the fifth toll of your 45-minute car ride on the highway

 

When you read a big story in the paper about mob ties in the city government, your first reaction is "So, tell me something I don't know."

 

You know Lincoln Towing is Satan incarnate.

 

You've paid $105 for towing, $30 for more than one "street cleaning" ticket, $58 for a city vehicle sticker, and $70 for a license plate sticker -- and chalk it all up to "neighborhood taxes."

 

You pluralize grocery stores and retail chains: "I'm going to Jewels"; "I bought it at Targets"; "I couldn't find parking at Wal-Marts"

 

You've taken the Red Line past the point where all white people get off and all black people get on -- or vice versa.

 

You've cursed at a cyclist, pedestrian, or in-line skater on the lakefront path.

 

You know the significance of State and Madison.

 

You wonder if the fries will taste the same at Sammy Sosa's Restaurant.

 

You don't miss Planet Hollywood.

 

You're not ashamed of wearing a big fur Russian hat, or a headsock with one hole in it, in public from November through March.

 

When you refer to "LSD" you don't necessarily mean the drug

 

School can get cancelled due to both extreme heat AND cold

 

You still claim that the Sears Tower is the tallest skyscraper in the world

 

Peter. Francis. Geraci.

 

You would prefer it if New York just kept Macy's

 

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Chicago.

[maggsmaggs]

588-2300 EMPIRE!!! That was my favorite.

[shipps]

Someone pointed out to me yesterday that I call my clothes OWFITS.

[Metz]

There was some real good stuff in there, 773! and who doesnt know the empire number, the Luna Carpet number is pretty easy now too. haha

[Steve9347]

They left out 224 which some friends up north have.

[StrangeSox]

Great list! I really liked this one:

 

You refer to anything South of I-80 as "Southern Illinois"

[Soxy]

I don't know, I've never called Chicago "the city." Usually if I'm talking about it I say "downtown." Is that just me?

 

 

[The Gooch]

Peter. Francis. Geraci.

 

= Classic

[BigSqwert]

Peter. Francis. Geraci.

 

= Classic

I waited on him once about 8 or 9 years ago. He's just as energetic in person as he is on TV.

[LosMediasBlancas]

The Tikki Room Lounge?? Anyone??

[SoxFan562004]

the politics one are classic, I was dating a girl from Texas when the Meigs field bulldozing happened and she couldn't believe it and I barely batted an eye

[shipps]

I don't know, I've never called Chicago "the city." Usually if I'm talking about it I say "downtown." Is that just me?

I always call it downtown also.The interesting thing is everyones opinion where downtown actually begins and all its boundries.

[southsider2k5]

I always call it downtown also.The interesting thing is everyones opinion where downtown actually begins and all its boundries.

 

Ask someone where the "loop" is. Its funny how many areas try to add themselves to that area.

[LosMediasBlancas]

Did I miss 'pop' instead of soda?

[Metz]

Did I miss 'pop' instead of soda?

 

nope but that is a good one

[StrangeSox]

I don't know, I've never called Chicago "the city." Usually if I'm talking about it I say "downtown." Is that just me?

I've used both. I usually say "I'm going to the city" if I'm going to my friends' apartments that live on the North/ Northwest side, but usually say "downtown" for any other reason.

 

Did I miss 'pop' instead of soda?

 

That's more a regional, Midwest thing than Chicago-specific.

Edited August 5, 2008 by StrangeSox

[Milkman delivers]

I don't know, I've never called Chicago "the city." Usually if I'm talking about it I say "downtown." Is that just me?

 

People from other areas call it "the city." I'll give you an example of a conversation I always have.

 

Person A: Where are you from?

Me: Chicago.

Person A: Are you from the actual city or suburbs?

Me: I'm from the city, but I don't live "downtown."

 

Then, the conversation turns to me describing the difference between living in Chicago, and living in a high-rise downtown.

 

Also, I have a hard time describing anything towards the 100's, in terms of the streets, as still being part of Chicago.

[Metz]

Also, I have a hard time describing anything towards the 100's, in terms of the streets, as still being part of Chicago.

 

wait you dont think the 100's are part of chicago?

[lostfan]

Ask someone where the "loop" is. Its funny how many areas try to add themselves to that area.

Yeah the loop is actually a very small area, very specifically defined by the area the L trains go around. If you're outside that, you're not in the loop... not even the area east of Wabash to the lakefront which is still in the heart of downtown.

[lostfan]

How about this one:

 

WOW, LOOK AT THOSE LOW RATES!

[YASNY]

Ok, someone remind me ... it's been a few years. Who's number was Hudson3-2700?

[BigSqwert]

[maggsmaggs]

The pop one is good. Everybody that goes to Mizzou (not from Chicago) always says soda and I am just like: what?

[Metz]

The pop one is good. Everybody that goes to Mizzou (not from Chicago) always says soda and I am just like: what?

 

hmm my cousin goes to mizzou .. .hes lives in st. louis, big cubs fan

[lostfan]

The pop one is good. Everybody that goes to Mizzou (not from Chicago) always says soda and I am just like: what?

People from Detroit and Milwaukee, and I guess Indiana say pop too. I say it here on the East Coast and I get laughed at.