Becca Hirsch

Chicago is consistently ranked as a top U.S. city for millennials. Young, ambitious people move to the city in droves—pursuing their careers, looking for an urban lifestyle, and wanting to meet other young professionals and maybe even fall in love.   And we Chicagoans are unique in that we actually want date to each other. From my own experience, relationships are not as high on the priority list in other major cities. People are happy dating around for much longer and are not as drawn to commitment. Chicago singles always seem to be on the lookout for their next date or relationship. But how to find one?         Make a few changes: If you're truly looking for love, change your status quo. Summer in Chicago is the perfect time to switch up your routine. Free and interesting events happen daily, with opportunities to meet tons of other people. If you find yourself at the same after-work happy hour on a weekly basis, try out a new neighborhood and see what that’s like. Ask a single buddy to join a team with you to expand your social network. Commit to online or mobile dating and put effort into your profile, photos and messages.  Know what you want: It helps to know what kind of person you're looking to date and what that person may do in his/her free time. Are they a trivia guru? Do they play volleyball every Thursday at North Avenue Beach? Are they breaking it down at the latest show at Thalia Hall? Attending a lecture at one of Chicago’s finest museums? Maybe they're at the

Two years ago, I left Chicago to pursue a master’s degree in Southern California. When I told people I was moving to San Diego, my Midwest friends were convinced that I would never return to polar vortex winters and unbearably humid summers. As I prepared to finish school and begin my move back to Chicago, my new California friends would ask me why I was moving back to a place with real weather and subpar beaches. There are a lot of things you'll miss when you move away from Chicago. Here are five of them. 1. Public transportation: I never thought I’d be so happy to ride the Pink Line for the first time, or take two trains to go two miles because there was not a direct route. Having access to public transportation takes away the stress of worrying about rush hour traffic, expensive parking tickets and inflated gas prices. It also allows more spontaneity in your nights out with friends. When you have access to a reliable public transportation system, you do not have to worry about parking, leaving your car overnight or limiting your alcohol intake in order to drive home. 2. Chicago sports pride: Chicago sports fans are truly die-hard, loyal fans. There’s nothing like being in Chicago after the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup for the third time in six seasons, or catching a Bears game at your favorite local watering hole. Even attending a last-minute Cubs game in Wrigleyville has its own special charm. Do I even need to mention the Bulls Dream Team? Needless to say, Chicago fans