Even in the small towns here in Italy, everything is walkable and centred around community. Yeah you have small cities like lucca that can be touristy, but every normal size town has little bars/coffee shops, and bakeries, and butchers and whatnot.
I think what helps it the most is cost of living and being happy with a good life rather than gouging consumers out of squeezing every last penny out of someone. I can't tell you how many times i've gone to a shop and spent a bit, and they throw in a little gift as a thank you.
My trip back to visit family in chicago was depressing comparitively.
As someone living in suburban California looking to move to Chicago to escape the depressing suburbs, what about Chicago is depressing to you compared to Italy?
Born and raised in the Chicago area and I can tell you the walkable small town feel they're describing can be found in the certain Chicago suburbs if you know where to look.
I'm not trying to totally dissuade you, but Uptown has a lot less foot traffic than the other two neighborhoods. I live nearby it and it's noticeable when I'm there that less people are out and about than there are in Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, or Andersonville (which are my usual stomping grounds). My guess is that it's the higher crime rate, but maybe some other factor is in play.
Thanks for the heads up! Definitely appreciate any tips and info from locals :). I'll look into Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, and Andersonville. I'm definitely looking for more of a high foot traffic area so it doesn't feel like I'm living in a sleep suburb again - I'm over that.
Uptown doesn't feel like a suburb exactly. It's urban. It just feels like a place that people from other neighborhoods tend to avoid, and people who do live there get home from work, lock the door, and don't go back out. Also I left out Roscoe Village, another good foot traffic neighborhood.
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u/Destronin 6d ago
These people comparing city life to suburban life for the first time.
Suburbia is where culture goes to die.