Whether you’re born and bred in the Windy City or have grown to call it home, you're probably aware there's an unspoken understanding between locals. It’s nothing too crazy, but the city definitely has its own traditions that residents hold dear to their hearts. To clarify any nebulous rules, we asked Time Out Chicago readers about rules to live by. From proper snowstorm etiquette to gastronomy no-nos, here’s what Chicagoans said were the most important unwritten rules of the city.
- “Deep dish pizza is for tourists. Locals eat thin crust.”
- “It will ALWAYS be the Sears Tower...not Willis.”
- “You have a "frunch room" and not a living room.”
- “Don’t try to start the Wave in Wrigley…”
- A chair on a parking spot is respected. Also applies to brooms, fish tanks or any other random furniture.
- “The burbs are NOT Chicago!” The most important rule to remember!
- “It’s pop, not soda.”
- “When riding the CTA please keep your bag on your lap, take up only the space you absolutely need, be quiet and helpful, respect everyone.”
- “Some highways are personified with names, and result in confusing directions if you don’t have a decoder.” What part of “take the Eisenhower to the Jane Byrne Interchange and then north on the Kennedy” don’t people understand?
- “Don’t take that shot of Malort, but feel free to offer it.”
- “It's 'fiddy fif' not 55th.”
- “South of Congress - Sox fans. North of Congress - Cubs fans.” One of the lesser known geopolitical lines of demarcation.
- “Don’t get into Lower Wacker if you rely on GPS.” Don’t get us started on LOWER Lower Wacker Drive.
- “Get your Italian beef dipped in.”
- “No ketchup on hotdogs and the “s” from Illinois gets carried over to Jewels.”
- “Chicago Mix. Comiskey Park.”
- “If I have an out-of-town visitor and they want to go to Navy Pier, I’ll tell them how to get there but they’re going alone.” Sending over the bus schedules now!