We do many weird things here in Chicago, but we aren’t ashamed – it’s just our way of life. We love our city and we enjoy our lifestyle to the fullest each and every day. If you’re from the city, check out these 10 things we do that everyone else thinks is strange.
Whether you’ve lived here forever or just moved in, you may discover these quirks are particular to you as well. Keep scrolling to read about our obscure habits.
- We dye the river green.
Wikimedia Commons/Knowledge Seeker Once each year, Chicago dyes its river green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Fans far and wide of the Irish-themed holiday show up to marvel at the spectacle.
- We only drink local beer.
Flickr/opacity Chicagoans are beer snobs, and we’re not ashamed of it. We love supporting our local breweries and, fortunately for us, they produce some of the best pints around.
- We can live without a car.
Wikimedia Commons/Kelly Martin In most parts of America, this is nearly impossible. It can limit where you work, who you see, and what you do. In Chicago, we can use public transportation to get around (so we don’t have to worry about parallel parking!)
- We sing the Cubs song in public.
Wikimedia Commons/brianholsclaw By public, we also mean outside of the baseball stadium. On a trolley, in the street, in a bar, you’ll hear “Hey Chicago, what do you say?” ringing loud and proud.
- We consider grilled cheese an adult meal.
Facebook/Cheesie’s Pub & Grub From Gayle’s to Cheesie’s, Chicago is home to several amazing restaurants that make grilled cheese a well-rounded meal. Some places let you put anything from steak to mozzarella sticks inside.
- We build incredible skyscrapers.
Wikimedia Commons/Spikebrennan We have to admit, this is one of the most amazing things about the city. Chicago is home to the world’s first skyscraper, but we didn’t stop there… Willis (or Sears) Tower is currently the tallest in town, 2nd tallest in the nation, and 16th tallest in the world!
- We call dibs on parking spots in the winter with lawn chairs.
Flickr/meryddian Definitely one of the weirdest things you’ll see in Chicago, but we often have to dig out parts of the street when it snows in order to get out or park our cars. After all that hard work, we deserve the spot, and we take dibs very seriously. Someone once cut another person’s break line because they moved a chair and parked in a saved spot!
- We love eating and drinking on the street so much that we close down parts of town.
Facebook/Taste of Chicago From block parties to music festivals, there’s almost always a weekend that you can get street vendor food in the city. We even have a festival dedicated to it called Taste of Chicago.
- We also close down streets to protest.
Wikimedia Commons/Daniel X. O’Neil2 Chicagoans are politically progressive, and we care deeply about the issues facing our world. From social to local politics, we stand up for what we believe in with peaceful protests throughout the city.
- We never leave.
Wikimedia Commons/Inaside09 We Chicagoans love our city so much that we rarely leave it. How could we when we don’t have cars? Proud, tough, and passionate, we are everything our city represents, and we embrace that.
If you love interesting marvels, check out this unique Illinois hotel.
Wikimedia Commons/Knowledge Seeker
Once each year, Chicago dyes its river green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Fans far and wide of the Irish-themed holiday show up to marvel at the spectacle.
Flickr/opacity
Chicagoans are beer snobs, and we’re not ashamed of it. We love supporting our local breweries and, fortunately for us, they produce some of the best pints around.
Wikimedia Commons/Kelly Martin
In most parts of America, this is nearly impossible. It can limit where you work, who you see, and what you do. In Chicago, we can use public transportation to get around (so we don’t have to worry about parallel parking!)
Wikimedia Commons/brianholsclaw
By public, we also mean outside of the baseball stadium. On a trolley, in the street, in a bar, you’ll hear “Hey Chicago, what do you say?” ringing loud and proud.
Facebook/Cheesie’s Pub & Grub
From Gayle’s to Cheesie’s, Chicago is home to several amazing restaurants that make grilled cheese a well-rounded meal. Some places let you put anything from steak to mozzarella sticks inside.
Wikimedia Commons/Spikebrennan
We have to admit, this is one of the most amazing things about the city. Chicago is home to the world’s first skyscraper, but we didn’t stop there… Willis (or Sears) Tower is currently the tallest in town, 2nd tallest in the nation, and 16th tallest in the world!
Flickr/meryddian
Definitely one of the weirdest things you’ll see in Chicago, but we often have to dig out parts of the street when it snows in order to get out or park our cars. After all that hard work, we deserve the spot, and we take dibs very seriously. Someone once cut another person’s break line because they moved a chair and parked in a saved spot!
Facebook/Taste of Chicago
From block parties to music festivals, there’s almost always a weekend that you can get street vendor food in the city. We even have a festival dedicated to it called Taste of Chicago.
Wikimedia Commons/Daniel X. O’Neil2
Chicagoans are politically progressive, and we care deeply about the issues facing our world. From social to local politics, we stand up for what we believe in with peaceful protests throughout the city.
Wikimedia Commons/Inaside09
We Chicagoans love our city so much that we rarely leave it. How could we when we don’t have cars? Proud, tough, and passionate, we are everything our city represents, and we embrace that.
What other weird things do only people from Chicago do? Share your thoughts with us.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
