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Where to live in Chicago?

Moving to Chicago to try out SCTV and/or attend their classes: need advice on where to live, etc?

  • Graduated from 4 yr college in DC with theatre major and want to try out for SCTV and/or take classes at their training center. This is my dream and I need to follow it before I move on to something more practical if that's what's in the cards. That way I can say at least, "I tried! I went for it!" Will be moving to Chicago in early Spring and need advice on where to live (SCTV classes are at 1608 N. Wells), apartment hunting, possibly finding a temporary living situation with other guys in my age group (25) until I get my own place, temporary employment agencies, and anything else you can think of. In your answer feel free to mention what I haven't thought of that I should think of for this move. I do have great relatives 75 miles nw of Chicago but they are in the boonies so I can't bunk with them and do what I need to do in Chicago. I don't have a car but I don't think I'll need one in Chicago.

  • Answer:

    First of all, there is no SCTV. That was a TV show produed by the Toronto chapter of The Second City. The original Second City thater and school is here in Chicago. Anyone can attend classes. I took several writing classes there myself. But to be a performer and try out fo the main stage, you have to take writing AND acting clases. Students in the upper levels of Second City often put on their own shows in one of the other smaller theaters in the same building as the main stage. They can charge a small fee if they want. It's a great way to try your stuff out on stage. Classes are kinda of expensive (about $200 a class last time I checked). But if you want to learn comedy, you can't get much better. there are also other comedy schools here in Chicago too. I/O theater (formerly Improv Olympics) offers classes and space for students to put on shows and try out their material. A few students from I/O have gone on to the big time, such as Amy Poehler of SNL. Check out this website; http://www.iochicago.net/news.html Also, the Annoyance Productions, part of the Annoyance Theater offers classes as well. (http://www.annoyanceproductions.com/). Like I/O, they focus a lot of improv, but as a means to construct larger, formal productions. Finally, there are a bunch of bars and theaters that have open mike comedy night or open mike improv nights that anyone can use to try out their material. Time Out Chicago magazine has a whole section devoted to weekly comedy shows. As far a where to live, Chicago has pretty good public transportation, so almost anywhere is accessible to the Second City headquaters. if you're looking for roommates, visit the city before you move here and post something on the bulletin board at the Second City class area. There are a few neighborhoods that are pretty cheap and are decent to live in. The Chicago Reader's apartment section (http://classifieds.chicagoreader.com/chicago/Results?subsection=oid%3A122) is a good place to start. Just type in the type of apartment and the price you want to pay and see what pops up. Then come back here and ask people what the neighborhoods are like. And no, you won't really need a car in Chicago.

margot at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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I went through an agency called Apartmetn People when I first moved to Chicago. They didn't ahve the best places, but they did find me something in my price range and they were helpful. The Chicago Reader is a free newspaper that a lot of locals use to post and look for apartments. They may have an on-line version, I have never tried. They also have listings for roomates wanted. I've heard of people having sucess with Craigs List too, but I have never tried. You will not need a car at all. Second City is close to major bus routes, and a reasonable walking distance for two train lines. Public Transprotation in Chicago is super easy to use and navigate. You have to make sure your apartment is near to a train route and you'll be set. You'll never be able to afford to live in the Lincoln Park/ Old Town neightboorhood Second City is in, unless you "make it." but I'd bet you'll be happiest on the North/ Northwest side of the city. Bucktown, Wicker Park, Edgewater and Uptown are places to start looking. Congrats on following your dream!!

max's mamma

Just as an aside, it's not SCTV - it's Second City, which is slightly different. But anyway - Second City is very accessible to public transportation. The area it's in is quite nice in and of itself, if you find an apartment near there, but if you're north and along the Brown Line - say, near Fullerton, Diversey, Wellington, or Belmont, all in nice neighborhoods - you can take the Brown Line down to Sedgwick and walk over to Second City. I would try the Chicago Reader's Spacefinder - chicagoreader.com - and look at neighborhoods like Old Town (where Second City is), or Lincoln Park and Lakeview, just north of there. You won't need a car - the public transit system is excellent, and Second City is on or near about ten different bus and train routes.

Marc W

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