You can’t deny that where you are from has a part in making who you are. No matter how much you try to escape (why you would want to?), there are several habits Chicagoans can’t shake. It’s easy to spot us just about anywhere.
There are 11 things that are ingrained in our veins. Keep scrolling to see how deep your Chicago blood runs.
- Only drinking locally sourced beer.
Flickr/edwin We like to support our local breweries. Even when we are outside of the city, we’ll try our hardest to either support Chicago or a local brewery in town.
- Asking if there’s a Portillo’s.
Flickr/odonata98 (Kimberly Reinhart) While there are a few around the country, most are located in the Chicago area, so it is unlikely you’ll find them easily elsewhere. Those not from the area will get a confused look on their face when you mention it.
- Comparing Chicago to everything else.
Pixabay/werner22brigitte We love our city so much, we can’t help talking about it every chance we get. Even when our friends from out of town talk about their homes, we can’t help but compare it to our city (which is better).
- Rooting for the White Sox or the Cubs.
Wikimedia Commons/Ken Lund There’s no better way to tell that someone is from Chicago than by the sports teams they support. Between these two, you have to choose, and it’s typically a north side vs. south side thing.
- Running through parks and along lakes as a means of exercise.
Wikimedia Commons/Kyle Cassidy Chicago is home to many beautiful places that are ideal for pedestrian traffic. There’s no point in having a gym membership when the city is your obstacle course!
- Ordering a “pop” no matter where you are.
Pixabay/endlesswatts Not everyone in the country calls this sugary drink “pop.” There are a slew of colloquial names that are popular around the states, but we can’t help but know it as one thing and one thing only.
- Being drawn to the water.
Wikimedia Commons/Alanscottwalker Chicago is home to several bodies of water, most notable the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. One of the habits we love so much here is visiting the beach or taking a stroll along the waterfront.
- Eating cheddar and caramel corn mixed together.
Flickr/Emily Cavalier It’s known as the “Chicago mix,” and it’s delicious. Sweet, salty, and crunchy all at once, this treat is better than candy, and you’re not a true Chicagoan until you’ve tried it.
- Using words like “salty” or “dibs.”
MaxPixel Along with our accent, words like these are a sure way to tell that someone is from Chicago. It seems like we have our own language sometimes.
- Being prepared for all possible weather.
F.E. Warren Air Force Base/R.J. Oriez The weather could change at any moment in Chicago, so we stay prepared. While the day may be warm and sunny, the evening could be chilly with winds coming off the lake. A sweater is almost always a good idea.
- Walking over icy sidewalks without fear.
Wikimedia Commons/David Wilson Chicago is notoriously bad at clearing the sidewalks, forcing its residents to wade through slippery snow and ice when it falls and everyone still needs to get to work. The city may lay some salt, but it’s often not enough, so we’ve adapted.
True Chicagoans know these 10 ways living in the city ruins you for life. Check it out!
Flickr/edwin
We like to support our local breweries. Even when we are outside of the city, we’ll try our hardest to either support Chicago or a local brewery in town.
Flickr/odonata98 (Kimberly Reinhart)
While there are a few around the country, most are located in the Chicago area, so it is unlikely you’ll find them easily elsewhere. Those not from the area will get a confused look on their face when you mention it.
Pixabay/werner22brigitte
We love our city so much, we can’t help talking about it every chance we get. Even when our friends from out of town talk about their homes, we can’t help but compare it to our city (which is better).
Wikimedia Commons/Ken Lund
There’s no better way to tell that someone is from Chicago than by the sports teams they support. Between these two, you have to choose, and it’s typically a north side vs. south side thing.
Wikimedia Commons/Kyle Cassidy
Chicago is home to many beautiful places that are ideal for pedestrian traffic. There’s no point in having a gym membership when the city is your obstacle course!
Pixabay/endlesswatts
Not everyone in the country calls this sugary drink “pop.” There are a slew of colloquial names that are popular around the states, but we can’t help but know it as one thing and one thing only.
Wikimedia Commons/Alanscottwalker
Chicago is home to several bodies of water, most notable the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. One of the habits we love so much here is visiting the beach or taking a stroll along the waterfront.
Flickr/Emily Cavalier
It’s known as the “Chicago mix,” and it’s delicious. Sweet, salty, and crunchy all at once, this treat is better than candy, and you’re not a true Chicagoan until you’ve tried it.
MaxPixel
Along with our accent, words like these are a sure way to tell that someone is from Chicago. It seems like we have our own language sometimes.
F.E. Warren Air Force Base/R.J. Oriez
The weather could change at any moment in Chicago, so we stay prepared. While the day may be warm and sunny, the evening could be chilly with winds coming off the lake. A sweater is almost always a good idea.
Wikimedia Commons/David Wilson
Chicago is notoriously bad at clearing the sidewalks, forcing its residents to wade through slippery snow and ice when it falls and everyone still needs to get to work. The city may lay some salt, but it’s often not enough, so we’ve adapted.
How many of these habits do you posses? Share your thoughts with us.
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