Boystown, which is in Lakeview area of Chicago probably isn't as lively as it used to be when gay people lived there to have mutual strength and support for the advancement of gay liberation. We now live in many neighborhoods across Chicago. So the Boystown area now just sees more activty during the evenings and on week-ends. Also many gay businesses have come and gone and sprang up in neighborhoods such as Uptown, Andersonville, Rogers Park which seems far away from downtown Chicago, but we don't generally live in downtown Chicago. Andersonville is like the village you were trying to describe boystown to be, but Andersonville is a bit more cozy maybe even trendy these days. Still busier during the evenings and week-ends. We are not as touristy as Boston, NYC, SF or LA. I think in general gay people have spread out in most communities across the US and don't live in the gay "ghettos" as much. Chicago is full of festivals, both downtown and in and around the neighborhoods, I think you have to plan for those or live here to appreciate it. Sorry for your quiet experience, but for those of us who live here generally like it. Come back any time.
You have to go to Logan Square, Wicker Park, Rogers Park to see artsy Bohemian people. Also Andersonville is more cozy gay neighborhood here in the city. The gays are more down to earth compared to the Boystown gays.
I recently relocated from New York City to Chicago, and I hope this perspective helps. Overall, Chicago feels like a much younger city compared to New York. While the average age difference might only be a couple of years, Chicago has a noticeably larger population of people in their early 20s, and this is true for the gay community as well. There are significantly more college-aged people here, whereas New York, while diverse, doesn’t feel as youth-centric percentage-wise. Chicago’s youthful energy is fun, but I think it might be challenging to grow older here as a gay man. For that reason, I plan to enjoy 3 to 5 years here and then move back to New York. Surprisingly, the weather in Chicago is much better than people give it credit for. Spring is beautiful, summers are mild with a cooling breeze, and fall is incredible. I moved here in February 2024, so I haven’t experienced a full winter yet, but even if it’s rough, the rest of the year is great. In comparison, New York is sweltering in the summer, freezing in the winter, and has shorter spring and fall seasons, so I actually think New York’s weather is worse overall. Chicago also has a distinct layout. A large percentage of the gay community lives in Boystown, while most work in the Loop, which is similar to Midtown in New York. That’s why Boystown can seem empty during weekdays but comes alive in the evenings and weekends. Your instincts are right-I live in West Loop, which is like Chicago’s version of the Meatpacking District. It’s gentrified, full of great restaurants, and has plenty of new developments, but sometimes it’s a challenge to get guys to meet up if they live elsewhere. There’s a nearby university, which brings in a lot of cute younger guys, so that helps. People here are very friendly and cute, but in general, I think New York allows gay men to age more gracefully. One thing I’ll add is that Chicago has a more masculine vibe compared to New York, where it feels like single cat ladies have taken over. That masculine energy is still very present in Chicago, which I personally appreciate. I’m gay, but I don’t need everything around me to cater to that.
Hi Keven. I can understand why you think Boystown is far away - but it is not. The area where your hotel was located is not seen as a neighborhood where people live. Downtown is perceived as a work and tourist area. Chicagoans live in neighborhoods that surround downtown. Boystown (is within the Lakeview neighborhood) is quieter after Covid. But it comes very alive at night during the weekends. There are other LGBT+ friendly neighborhoods too - all a ten-minute Uber from Boystown. Next time explore the gay beach in the Edgewater neighborhood just north of Boystown. There is Andersonville with all the independent-owned shops and restaurants. Just north of that is Rogers Park which at one time was the most diverse neighborhood in the country. Also, please try and explore the side streets located in these neighborhoods as many are tree-lined and very green. There are parks in almost every neighborhood. Come again, enjoy your stay, and have some fabulous pizza!
I have lived in the “Boystown” neighborhood for many years. Here is my take on your experience… this is very much a nightlife area so you would really only see more people walking the streets and patronizing the businesses in the evenings and especially on the weekends. I would recommend visiting over a weekend so that you can experience the neighborhood at its peak. It’s much more lively. I did find your thoughts about the commute to the hood interesting and while people do live downtown where you were staying, there are lots of people that live in the densely populated neighborhoods of Chicago so I would not say that these businesses have been struggling. Since there are still lots of people who partially work from home and also many people on different work schedules, the neighborhoods actually did much better than downtown during and post pandemic. The Chicago Loop (central business district) is still recovering as I guess is the case in most cities so will take some time to bounce back to its pre-pandemic peak. I agree with you about the speaking volume you encountered 🤣 Not sure why that is but I have experienced that as well. I would recommend another trip back during the summer of course to check out Andersonville which is another LGTBQIA+ neighborhood although IMO, Chicago is a very gay friendly city so you see gay owned and gay friendly establishments in many different neighborhoods. Thanks for telling us about your experience! Hope you are able to make it back soon and enjoy more of this great American metropolis!! 😃
Thank you for sharing a local's take! It was just so eerie for me to walk around and have it be so dead. Most of the people I passed were homeless in Boystown :/ It makes sense though that it's just not "prime time." Thank you for watching & sharing your thoughts!
Although Boystown has a high concentration of gay businesses and entertainment venues, there are several pretty gay neighborhoods, too. As the old 70s saying goes, "We're everywhere". Also, Kevin has to remember that neighborhoods evolve and shift with the times. When the gays move in the area gentrifies, rents and taxes rise, and the pioneer gays often move elsewhere to more affordable rents. The original gayborhood was Near North, around the Water Tower.
Not exactly. Gays move in and it makes it fashionable. We don’t push rents up. If anything, gays moving in makes an affordable area more fashionable and safe, but not necessarily more expensive. Then, straight couples move in and push the single income gays out. That’s what happened with Greenwich village gays moving to Chelsea and later to Hells Kitchen and in Chicago from Lakeview to Andersonville. Gays, as a group, are pretty average earners (it makes sense - you need abs to get laid with ease, not a six figure income). I know that might sting because most gays are excessively self-congratulatory, but it’s the truth.
Hey Kevin, if you waited until today, you would be getting a big Chicago rainstorm! I've lived as a gay man in and out of Chicago since 1988 and love it. Taught in NY (No. thank you!), educated in LA, (No, thanks you, too many highways, people are plastic, lots of smog, and no soul), but Chicago has a vibrant spirit, my fellow queers are warm, fun, driven, educated, and lots of things to see and do. Glad you made it here, but there is so very much more than you can see in a long weekend. We call Chicago, the City of Neighborhoods, and Boystown is no longer the center of gay life. Straight people drove us out by out-pricing the young gays that made it bohemian. Many moved to Girlstown (Andersonville) which is where you will see what you were looking for. COVID and apps have definitely changed a lot of culture here, you just have to know where to go. There are a lot of gay bars downtown, but they are tucked away. Downtown is full of business types, and not really 'alive' at night. More financial and business goes on there during the day. Boystown bars start up around dinnertime when we come to get some socialization and action at bars and baths. Or, you can just stay in Andersonville. The El (Elevated trains) also has long stretches of subway. The burbs are more working class, and proud of it, but that is changing. World class universities, museums, research facilities, etc. The scene here puts LA, Washington DC, Austin, and NY to shame. It's a city built for people, by people. Yeah, I might be a little biased. 🤭
Oh wow sounds like the weather in Chicago was perfect compared to the heat and humidity of Miami Keven! You know through times we all learn to adapt and we all got to remember that prior to our current times we all have to endured many situations, in this case your observation of distance. But I do remember in the early 90's a guy I knew who lived in Miami and will take few buses to hook up with people in Fort Lauderdale because neither him or the other guys had a car. By the way this was at the time HOT SPOTS will have a classifieds section in the back.
@@KevenTalks And I am glad CONVENIENCE has become the key to so many things but I can't forget that not that long ago if in the middle of the night I got a crave I had to hop on my car and go get it and endure the line at the Drive-Thru.
@@alexanderpons9246 Haha true but there's something about a drive-thru that is a special experience! I don't have a car (I live in a walkable neighborhood) but anytime I rent one while traveling, I make sure to do at least 1 drive-thru ;)
@@KevenTalks Keven I am sure you noticed in your recent European Tour(kidding!)that the Drive-Thru concept is very USA I never seen one outside our country.
I feel bad for your “tour” as your tour consisted of downtown and Boy’s Town…not your fault…on such a short trip that is understandable…you should have spent more time there…the neighborhoods is where Chicago is at.
If you ever come through Kentucky and want a tour look me up, I’ll be happy to show you around. If you love open farmland, lakes, caves, rivers, rolling hills, historical sites like Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, come over!
It takes me 38-40 minutes to get to the gayborhood near me so I know how that feels to just want to stay in after a long work day and not go out to the bars. Its just too expensive to live closer and the crime doesnt make the COL worth it to me. As far as Chicago. I've been there once. The Downtown Loop is magnificent like NYC but once you go outside of that its a far more midwest vibe to me. There are underground trains too in Chicago btw.
Chicago has far better architecture than any other American city (Washington's is mostly Greco-Roman revival and beautiful). It has an amazing system of small parks - forest preserves and faces the lake (unlike Detroit which has its back to the river).. It also still has a small-town mentality - friendly like the midwest. Some of its neighborhoods still have their old character. Its ethnic foods are amazing. The El is noisy but it works. Keven - there are also lots of underground trains. It's HALL-sted.
Speak to any Englishman and most will say the American's are so loud that they can barely hear themselves talk, especially in restaurants. Surely they can't be any louder! 😃 I always regret not going to Chicago on my vacation, now even more so, having watched your clip. It looks wonderful, particularly there by the river but as you say, I guess it's really only for the summer season as I've heard it gets bitterly cold in the autumn, sorry, fall 😃and winter.
My last visit to Chicago was about 10 months ago. I found it to be quite sterile. Downtown is very business oriented but after 5pm becomes a ghost town, the nightlife mainly dinner/drinks happens in River North across the river. You have to go at least 30 minutes in either direction to get to the authentic neighborhoods that have charm. For the last 10 years, Boystown has been getting rid of its name to be more inclusive referring itself to be the "gayborhood" instead. It's definitely not like Fort Lauderdale or WEHO were gays congregate during the day with eateries/coffee shops lined along the streets. It is extremely bare all day until the party crowd comes out which isn't until late hours like 10pm. The only two events which draws hundreds or people is Pride Weekend or Market Days. I found the people to be friendly and fit but lacked substance. Basically its work, go to the gym, go to a Cubs game, and on weekends maybe hit up a bar. During the day, Millilumen Park is filled with tourists (it's like the Central Park of NY) and further North is Lincoln Park which has a small zoo there. For me, I could easily leave it off my places to visit especially with the $ 200-400 a night downtown hotel prices and other hotels are really on the outskirts (mainly at the airports) and not in the neighborhoods. Chicago is "the windy city" overall cleaner than New York streets but hard to find a place just to sit and relax and take it all in.
I visited Chicago once and for some reason I was expecting a really gritty looking city and was pleasantly surprised to see waterways etc. I went to my first baseball game only to discover Boystown across the road and it seemed so random to me. I’d like to return and get to know it a bit better and stuff my face with Garrett’s popcorn 😅
Yes it's known for popcorn and deep-dish pizza! 😋 Funny, I thought the opposite - expected a more lush city, and it was more industrial than I expected. The river though is definitely a nice touch!
@@KevenTalks maybe being American with your more intimate knowledge of topography in the mid west it makes sense you would see it that way. For me my only Chicago references have come through the media and it’s generally depicted as a very industrial city. The Chicago fire has played its part in shaping the look too. It has more layers than I expected. What’s with the beaches?
@@nelsondesousa9304 That makes sense! There are no real beaches since Chicago is land-locked, BUT Lake Michigan is enormous and so people go swimming and kayaking and such there!
Did you go out to the bars though? I think in most cities now especially with the economy/inflation most guys only go out on the weekends as often on an off night often not worth the money
I find Chicago very bland. It’s high rise buildings and is a concrete jungle. Boston and DC have beautiful residential “west village-like” neighborhoods with beautiful brownstones/row houses, lanterns, cobblestone tree lined streets. Chicago is very disconnected from the major east coast cities - you have to take a flight to get there. There is no ocean which I can’t imagine not having that in the summer. The winters are absolutely freezing as in below zero. I can’t imagine not having access to the Hamptons or Cape Cod which are the best ocean front social scenes in the summer. The best bet is Hamptons or Cape Cod house for summer and Miami Beach or Palm Beach, FL in winters if you live on the east coast and can work remotely or are financially independent. Those options will give you the best social atmosphere while being able to live a healthy lifestyle with great weather, great fitness, affluent intelligent clean cut people and beauty all around.
That's a good point actually about it being removed from the east coast line. That's great for people in the area who yearn for an urban, more modern atmosphere - but then they're kinda "stuck" there in a sense. Don't forget though that the lake is a huge attraction in the summer. I didn't realize people actually swim in it!
@@KevenTalks The lake is nice but it's not the ocean. If you have ever experienced summer bonfires with friends on the beach in Provincetown or the Hamptons as I have while watching the sunset and listening to the waves of the ocean crash it's absolutely magical. That can't compare to a lake. Just sayin' :)
![⭐️( ลอยกระทง 2024 ) Ver. แดนซ์ Remix BY [ ดีเจกิต รีมิกซ์ ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rMWOLhgXUHc/mqdefault.jpg)
Boystown, which is in Lakeview area of Chicago probably isn't as lively as it used to be when gay people lived there to have mutual strength and support for the advancement of gay liberation. We now live in many neighborhoods across Chicago. So the Boystown area now just sees more activty during the evenings and on week-ends. Also many gay businesses have come and gone and sprang up in neighborhoods such as Uptown, Andersonville, Rogers Park which seems far away from downtown Chicago, but we don't generally live in downtown Chicago. Andersonville is like the village you were trying to describe boystown to be, but Andersonville is a bit more cozy maybe even trendy these days. Still busier during the evenings and week-ends. We are not as touristy as Boston, NYC, SF or LA. I think in general gay people have spread out in most communities across the US and don't live in the gay "ghettos" as much. Chicago is full of festivals, both downtown and in and around the neighborhoods, I think you have to plan for those or live here to appreciate it. Sorry for your quiet experience, but for those of us who live here generally like it. Come back any time.
Thank you for sharing this!
You have to go to Logan Square, Wicker Park, Rogers Park to see artsy Bohemian people. Also Andersonville is more cozy gay neighborhood here in the city. The gays are more down to earth compared to the Boystown gays.
I recently relocated from New York City to Chicago, and I hope this perspective helps. Overall, Chicago feels like a much younger city compared to New York. While the average age difference might only be a couple of years, Chicago has a noticeably larger population of people in their early 20s, and this is true for the gay community as well. There are significantly more college-aged people here, whereas New York, while diverse, doesn’t feel as youth-centric percentage-wise.
Chicago’s youthful energy is fun, but I think it might be challenging to grow older here as a gay man. For that reason, I plan to enjoy 3 to 5 years here and then move back to New York. Surprisingly, the weather in Chicago is much better than people give it credit for. Spring is beautiful, summers are mild with a cooling breeze, and fall is incredible. I moved here in February 2024, so I haven’t experienced a full winter yet, but even if it’s rough, the rest of the year is great. In comparison, New York is sweltering in the summer, freezing in the winter, and has shorter spring and fall seasons, so I actually think New York’s weather is worse overall.
Chicago also has a distinct layout. A large percentage of the gay community lives in Boystown, while most work in the Loop, which is similar to Midtown in New York. That’s why Boystown can seem empty during weekdays but comes alive in the evenings and weekends. Your instincts are right-I live in West Loop, which is like Chicago’s version of the Meatpacking District. It’s gentrified, full of great restaurants, and has plenty of new developments, but sometimes it’s a challenge to get guys to meet up if they live elsewhere. There’s a nearby university, which brings in a lot of cute younger guys, so that helps.
People here are very friendly and cute, but in general, I think New York allows gay men to age more gracefully. One thing I’ll add is that Chicago has a more masculine vibe compared to New York, where it feels like single cat ladies have taken over. That masculine energy is still very present in Chicago, which I personally appreciate. I’m gay, but I don’t need everything around me to cater to that.
Thank you for sharing this context! Hope you enjoy your next few years in Chicago ;)
If you’re still in Chicago you might want to check out Andersonville. It’s another gayish neighborhood in Chicago. But a longer hike from downtown.
An even longer hike?! lol
I'm no longer in Chicago though ;)
Keven there are elevated trains in NYC. Not in Manhattan for many years but in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx there are still elevated trains.
True! I was thinking of the general Manhattan system I guess
Hi Keven. I can understand why you think Boystown is far away - but it is not. The area where your hotel was located is not seen as a neighborhood where people live. Downtown is perceived as a work and tourist area.
Chicagoans live in neighborhoods that surround downtown. Boystown (is within the Lakeview neighborhood) is quieter after Covid. But it comes very alive at night during the weekends. There are other LGBT+ friendly neighborhoods too - all a ten-minute Uber from Boystown. Next time explore the gay beach in the Edgewater neighborhood just north of Boystown. There is Andersonville with all the independent-owned shops and restaurants. Just north of that is Rogers Park which at one time was the most diverse neighborhood in the country. Also, please try and explore the side streets located in these neighborhoods as many are tree-lined and very green. There are parks in almost every neighborhood. Come again, enjoy your stay, and have some fabulous pizza!
Thank you for sharing this context!! That makes sense.
@@KevenTalks My pleasure.
Disposable income and the absence of a livable wage for many has made a big difference.
I have lived in the “Boystown” neighborhood for many years. Here is my take on your experience… this is very much a nightlife area so you would really only see more people walking the streets and patronizing the businesses in the evenings and especially on the weekends. I would recommend visiting over a weekend so that you can experience the neighborhood at its peak. It’s much more lively.
I did find your thoughts about the commute to the hood interesting and while people do live downtown where you were staying, there are lots of people that live in the densely populated neighborhoods of Chicago so I would not say that these businesses have been struggling. Since there are still lots of people who partially work from home and also many people on different work schedules, the neighborhoods actually did much better than downtown during and post pandemic. The Chicago Loop (central business district) is still recovering as I guess is the case in most cities so will take some time to bounce back to its pre-pandemic peak.
I agree with you about the speaking volume you encountered 🤣 Not sure why that is but I have experienced that as well.
I would recommend another trip back during the summer of course to check out Andersonville which is another LGTBQIA+ neighborhood although IMO, Chicago is a very gay friendly city so you see gay owned and gay friendly establishments in many different neighborhoods.
Thanks for telling us about your experience! Hope you are able to make it back soon and enjoy more of this great American metropolis!! 😃
Thank you for sharing a local's take!
It was just so eerie for me to walk around and have it be so dead. Most of the people I passed were homeless in Boystown :/
It makes sense though that it's just not "prime time." Thank you for watching & sharing your thoughts!
Although Boystown has a high concentration of gay businesses and entertainment venues, there are several pretty gay neighborhoods, too. As the old 70s saying goes, "We're everywhere". Also, Kevin has to remember that neighborhoods evolve and shift with the times. When the gays move in the area gentrifies, rents and taxes rise, and the pioneer gays often move elsewhere to more affordable rents. The original gayborhood was Near North, around the Water Tower.
Not exactly. Gays move in and it makes it fashionable. We don’t push rents up. If anything, gays moving in makes an affordable area more fashionable and safe, but not necessarily more expensive. Then, straight couples move in and push the single income gays out. That’s what happened with Greenwich village gays moving to Chelsea and later to Hells Kitchen and in Chicago from Lakeview to Andersonville. Gays, as a group, are pretty average earners (it makes sense - you need abs to get laid with ease, not a six figure income). I know that might sting because most gays are excessively self-congratulatory, but it’s the truth.
Hey Kevin, if you waited until today, you would be getting a big Chicago rainstorm! I've lived as a gay man in and out of Chicago since 1988 and love it. Taught in NY (No. thank you!), educated in LA, (No, thanks you, too many highways, people are plastic, lots of smog, and no soul), but Chicago has a vibrant spirit, my fellow queers are warm, fun, driven, educated, and lots of things to see and do. Glad you made it here, but there is so very much more than you can see in a long weekend. We call Chicago, the City of Neighborhoods, and Boystown is no longer the center of gay life. Straight people drove us out by out-pricing the young gays that made it bohemian. Many moved to Girlstown (Andersonville) which is where you will see what you were looking for. COVID and apps have definitely changed a lot of culture here, you just have to know where to go. There are a lot of gay bars downtown, but they are tucked away. Downtown is full of business types, and not really 'alive' at night. More financial and business goes on there during the day. Boystown bars start up around dinnertime when we come to get some socialization and action at bars and baths. Or, you can just stay in Andersonville. The El (Elevated trains) also has long stretches of subway. The burbs are more working class, and proud of it, but that is changing. World class universities, museums, research facilities, etc. The scene here puts LA, Washington DC, Austin, and NY to shame. It's a city built for people, by people. Yeah, I might be a little biased. 🤭
Thank you for sharing all of this context! And yes - glad I missed a rain storm ;)
Oh wow sounds like the weather in Chicago was perfect compared to the heat and humidity of Miami Keven! You know through times we all learn to adapt and we all got to remember that prior to our current times we all have to endured many situations, in this case your observation of distance. But I do remember in the early 90's a guy I knew who lived in Miami and will take few buses to hook up with people in Fort Lauderdale because neither him or the other guys had a car. By the way this was at the time HOT SPOTS will have a classifieds section in the back.
Haha society has come a long way! ;)
@@KevenTalks And I am glad CONVENIENCE has become the key to so many things but I can't forget that not that long ago if in the middle of the night I got a crave I had to hop on my car and go get it and endure the line at the Drive-Thru.
@@alexanderpons9246 Haha true but there's something about a drive-thru that is a special experience! I don't have a car (I live in a walkable neighborhood) but anytime I rent one while traveling, I make sure to do at least 1 drive-thru ;)
@@KevenTalks Keven I am sure you noticed in your recent European Tour(kidding!)that the Drive-Thru concept is very USA I never seen one outside our country.
@@alexanderpons9246 Wow great point! Never thought of that! Very true.
I feel bad for your “tour” as your tour consisted of downtown and Boy’s Town…not your fault…on such a short trip that is understandable…you should have spent more time there…the neighborhoods is where Chicago is at.
If you ever come through Kentucky and want a tour look me up, I’ll be happy to show you around. If you love open farmland, lakes, caves, rivers, rolling hills, historical sites like Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, come over!
It takes me 38-40 minutes to get to the gayborhood near me so I know how that feels to just want to stay in after a long work day and not go out to the bars. Its just too expensive to live closer and the crime doesnt make the COL worth it to me. As far as Chicago. I've been there once. The Downtown Loop is magnificent like NYC but once you go outside of that its a far more midwest vibe to me. There are underground trains too in Chicago btw.
What does COL mean? 😅
I googled but only "colonel" came up lol.
Where do you live / what gayborhood are you near, if you don't mind me asking?
@@KevenTalks COL means Cost of Living. I'm near Washington DC.
Ohhh ok! Haven't been to DC in ages. Maybe it's due for a gay travel video 🤔
@@KevenTalks The city has lost a lot of its charm since the pandemic. The crime is definitely higher now.
@@brijmsn Good to know 😢 Seems to be the case with so many cities now unfortunately.
Chicago has far better architecture than any other American city (Washington's is mostly Greco-Roman revival and beautiful). It has an amazing system of small parks - forest preserves and faces the lake (unlike Detroit which has its back to the river).. It also still has a small-town mentality - friendly like the midwest. Some of its neighborhoods still have their old character. Its ethnic foods are amazing. The El is noisy but it works. Keven - there are also lots of underground trains. It's HALL-sted.
Wait so like "Nor-Halsted?" That's how it's pronounced? (vs. "North-alsted")
Speak to any Englishman and most will say the American's are so loud that they can barely hear themselves talk, especially in restaurants. Surely they can't be any louder! 😃
I always regret not going to Chicago on my vacation, now even more so, having watched your clip. It looks wonderful, particularly there by the river but as you say, I guess it's really only for the summer season as I've heard it gets bitterly cold in the autumn, sorry, fall 😃and winter.
Lol Americans ARE generally considered loud - you're right - so you can only imagine how Chicago is if it felt amplified 😅
My last visit to Chicago was about 10 months ago. I found it to be quite sterile. Downtown is very business oriented but after 5pm becomes a ghost town, the nightlife mainly dinner/drinks happens in River North across the river. You have to go at least 30 minutes in either direction to get to the authentic neighborhoods that have charm. For the last 10 years, Boystown has been getting rid of its name to be more inclusive referring itself to be the "gayborhood" instead. It's definitely not like Fort Lauderdale or WEHO were gays congregate during the day with eateries/coffee shops lined along the streets. It is extremely bare all day until the party crowd comes out which isn't until late hours like 10pm. The only two events which draws hundreds or people is Pride Weekend or Market Days. I found the people to be friendly and fit but lacked substance. Basically its work, go to the gym, go to a Cubs game, and on weekends maybe hit up a bar. During the day, Millilumen Park is filled with tourists (it's like the Central Park of NY) and further North is Lincoln Park which has a small zoo there. For me, I could easily leave it off my places to visit especially with the $ 200-400 a night downtown hotel prices and other hotels are really on the outskirts (mainly at the airports) and not in the neighborhoods. Chicago is "the windy city" overall cleaner than New York streets but hard to find a place just to sit and relax and take it all in.
This comment makes me feel seen & heard! lol
Thank you for sharing. You expressed a general vibe that I also got from the city & its gay neighborhood.
Keven…I’m from the Chicago area and live in WeHo…how did the guys compare in your opinion?
@@kr6033 I will always pick a city guy vibe in that there's a more polished & dashing aesthetic ;) (and more diversity, typically)
plenty of subways in Chicago!
I visited Chicago once and for some reason I was expecting a really gritty looking city and was pleasantly surprised to see waterways etc. I went to my first baseball game only to discover Boystown across the road and it seemed so random to me. I’d like to return and get to know it a bit better and stuff my face with Garrett’s popcorn 😅
Yes it's known for popcorn and deep-dish pizza! 😋
Funny, I thought the opposite - expected a more lush city, and it was more industrial than I expected. The river though is definitely a nice touch!
@@KevenTalks maybe being American with your more intimate knowledge of topography in the mid west it makes sense you would see it that way. For me my only Chicago references have come through the media and it’s generally depicted as a very industrial city. The Chicago fire has played its part in shaping the look too. It has more layers than I expected. What’s with the beaches?
@@nelsondesousa9304 That makes sense! There are no real beaches since Chicago is land-locked, BUT Lake Michigan is enormous and so people go swimming and kayaking and such there!
Did you go out to the bars though? I think in most cities now especially with the economy/inflation most guys only go out on the weekends as often on an off night often not worth the money
I did not - I was only there for a few days at the start of the week.
I was going to give this video a thumbs up but there was only the thumbs down icon with 16 votes...what gives?
Odd! Try refreshing the page maybe?
Most of the gays don’t live downtown.
I find Chicago very bland. It’s high rise buildings and is a concrete jungle. Boston and DC have beautiful residential “west village-like” neighborhoods with beautiful brownstones/row houses, lanterns, cobblestone tree lined streets. Chicago is very disconnected from the major east coast cities - you have to take a flight to get there. There is no ocean which I can’t imagine not having that in the summer. The winters are absolutely freezing as in below zero. I can’t imagine not having access to the Hamptons or Cape Cod which are the best ocean front social scenes in the summer. The best bet is Hamptons or Cape Cod house for summer and Miami Beach or Palm Beach, FL in winters if you live on the east coast and can work remotely or are financially independent. Those options will give you the best social atmosphere while being able to live a healthy lifestyle with great weather, great fitness, affluent intelligent clean cut people and beauty all around.
That's a good point actually about it being removed from the east coast line.
That's great for people in the area who yearn for an urban, more modern atmosphere - but then they're kinda "stuck" there in a sense.
Don't forget though that the lake is a huge attraction in the summer. I didn't realize people actually swim in it!
@@KevenTalks The lake is nice but it's not the ocean. If you have ever experienced summer bonfires with friends on the beach in Provincetown or the Hamptons as I have while watching the sunset and listening to the waves of the ocean crash it's absolutely magical. That can't compare to a lake. Just sayin' :)
@@Pat7629 Fair enough ;)
Your opinions about Chicago are not what Chicago is like: There for I will not watch your video's anymore.