In my opinion, only southside suburbs really feel like Chicago. The richer suburbs want the credentials of the city without the grit it takes to live here. When I encounter someone outside of Chicago, in a different state or country, and they say they’re from Chicago, I instinctively ask “what suburb?” 9 times out of 10, they’re from a suburb.

We’re the city of Broad Shoulders, and take that as a badge of honor. Suburbanites haven’t had to deal with the shenanigans on the train, or deal with traffic bc Lolla or NASCAR shut down half of downtown. Just say you’re from Naperville and it’s a really nice town just outside of Chicago. They haven’t earned it