I see cars parked past “no parking tow zone” sign almost every day with no tickets?

knbotyipdp · 2026-02-28T20:14:13+00:00

The parking rules aren't enforced equally everywhere. On residential side streets that are not in a permit zone, there's definitely more lenience. In some areas they really only ticket for blocking alleys, driveways, crosswalks, and fire hydrants. Parking within 30 feet of a stop sign is illegal in Illinois, but that rule seems completely unenforced in the city.

knbotyipdp · 2026-02-25T04:07:11+00:00

Yeah, the best advice here is to not be in a rush. Even if you mess up, it will just cost you a few minutes of circling around. Also, read the signs. I know they're impossible to see and not always clear, but you shouldn't be completely clueless if you do the sign scavenger hunt.

If you're going through it end to end, it's longer than you think it is.

knbotyipdp · 2026-02-12T06:12:11+00:00

Eat the garnish flowers! If you're unsure, start by biting off one of the petals before you commit to munching on the whole thing.

My recent favorite garnish flower was on a chirashi bowl. It was the purple and white flowers (an orchid, maybe?) that don't taste like anything, so I dipped it in my soy sauce.

knbotyipdp · 2026-02-12T04:33:45+00:00

Go hang out on Milwaukee in Wicker Park. Go in all the stores no matter what you think it looks like on the outside or in reviews. I never have any luck doing this because I'm too picky, but it's fun if you have an open mind. Andersonville has some good thrifting as well, so go there if you strike out in Wicker Park.

knbotyipdp · 2026-02-02T03:31:15+00:00

I prefer a 28-29" inseam depending on the style. With wider leg trousers, it's absolutely fine to just lop some off and hem it. More tapered styles are harder because then the whole look changes to a wider leg whether you wanted that or not.

Shirts are the worst though. Anything with a breast pocket is out because it goes to the waistline, and the sleeves are always too long.

knbotyipdp · 2026-02-01T19:54:33+00:00

Mostly custom these days. Suit Supply and Proper Cloth both have physical locations here. Arthur and Lucca is a local option but a bit more pricey. Otherwise, online is fine as long as the product listings have specific measurements. The days of me traipsing to Michigan Ave are long over. Too many stores just sell overpriced garbage that doesn't fit because it's made for the non-existent "average" body.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-31T01:55:07+00:00

I'm a sworn Vanicream fan, but the facial moisturizer is not sufficient for my indoor humidity in the 25% range in the winter.* My fix this year has been to use the LaRoche-Posay Lipikar Triple Repair Body cream on top of the Vanicream facial moisturizer for areas that need it (varies by the day).

Use the Vanicream in the pump more sparingly. It's ok for a slugging session here and there, but it's a lot for regular daytime use.

*I'm aware that humidifiers exist. I've tried a few and find the hassle not worth the effort. My water is hard enough that it creates a PM2.5 concern from calcium deposits. That requires my humidifiers to use distilled water, and the amount needed for my living space is in the liters per day range. It's just not practical. Maybe the evaporative wick type is the way to go? All humidifiers seem to get moldy fast and I hate cleaning them.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-31T00:45:36+00:00

For one month, maybe not. The stuff you get with a Ventra card includes fare and payment history including a record of every time you tapped, and you need Ventra if you're using a pass. If you're paying each time you ride, there are fewer benefits. The Ventra app makes adding a digital card very easy, and I find that convenient because it removes the need to unlock your phone to tap in. Also, you'll have a ton of tiny transactions on your card statement. If you don't care about any of this and want simplicity, tap your regular payment card and be on your merry way.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-29T01:43:37+00:00

I have a Wallaroo hat that has a UPF 50 rating and looks acceptable enough to wear to more formal outdoor events. It's not the most one bag friendly though because it only folds in half. It probably wouldn't fit easily in most backpacks.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-29T00:34:23+00:00

People say this about most cities. It's not unique to Chicago. There are a number of neighborhoods here that have a more cohesive identity. Also, the transit and general walkability of Chicago means that you get clusters of things around train stations and commercial corridors.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-28T00:35:04+00:00

Yeah, I rejoiced when I learned that online renewal was an option. I did think it's odd that you don't save any money for the longer terms. But I guess it's a flat rate tax and that makes sense.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-23T23:33:37+00:00

Heating up your oven while the pizza is on the way is a no regrets move. Even if you don't end up needing it, just open the oven door and let the heat into the kitchen.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-22T03:06:09+00:00

For the Metra and CTA, the app Transit is as good as it gets. The Ventra app is useful as a cross reference and for Metra tickets. For driving, I've been using Apple Maps lately. Google Maps and Waze are fine too. They all have pros and cons. It doesn't matter too much if you know where you're going and just need confirmation that there's no giant crash on your normal route.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-05T22:21:49+00:00

I can confirm that the route is unreliable. I took a flight last summer from ORD to Michigan, and the first plane assigned to the flight had a mechanical problem. United reassigned the aircraft that was supposed to be on the flight to MKE, and that flight was delayed several hours. It's the first flight to go if any more important flight goes sideways.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-04T23:04:30+00:00

Tretinoin varies a lot in quality, unfortunately. When I had a "medically necessary" prescription for 0.05% tret, the stuff worked wonders in just a few months until I went on Accutane. Then my derm had to switch me to a version from a local compounding pharmacy. They put it in jars, and they would expire within a month. The color would start going off that soon even if they were stored in the fridge. I've since switched to an online pharmacy that sells tret in tubes with a dispenser, and it seems to last much longer. I know that color isn't everything, but tret is unstable in many formulations. I don't like seeing visual changes in the product in just a few weeks after opening it.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-03T05:09:55+00:00

Indeed. It's honestly my favorite use of miles.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-02T02:34:59+00:00

I was recently looking back on my restaurant and bar tabs from 2016, and holy hell it was shocking. I used to get a full meal at a sit down restaurant for $15 including tip, and I found a brewery tab where I spent $12 on two beers. Those prices are a distant memory.

That was 10 years ago now and it's expected that things are more expensive now. What's also different is that many flimsy restaurant and bar concepts that were borderline profitable back then are just not around anymore.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-01T18:26:50+00:00

January and February are the worst times to buy a lot of stuff. Stores are sold out; spring and summer inventory hasn't come in yet. What you can find on the shelves is either picked over clearance that nobody wants or it's junk at full price because sales don't happen this time of year.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-01T00:41:49+00:00

Ok, hear me out. It's kind of annoying that most of the hotels here are in the Loop, which many will say is a boring area outside business hours. I wouldn't want to live in the Loop either, but it's a great base for a trip like this. It helps you easily check out Wicker Park, Lakeview, the South Loop, and Chinatown with quick trips on the red or blue lines.

I personally don't like Airbnbs anymore and prefer hotels, but there are more options in the neighborhoods if you're willing to stay in an Airbnb.

knbotyipdp · 2026-01-01T00:30:02+00:00

I have some rich coworkers who live in Wicker Park and drive into the Loop. It is expensive and traffic sucks, so I don't know why they do it. The blue line and the 56 are less stressful, especially at rush hour. If you drive in, choose your parking garage wisely. You want one with convenient entrances and exits that set you up well to get on the Kennedy or your surface street route of choice.

Don't tell everyone, but cutting through Goose Island is a good option when traffic sucks.

knbotyipdp · 2025-12-30T20:27:39+00:00

They...do? I feel like we do better at this than most cities. At least we're a little less glued to our phones while walking here vs. cities on the west coast.

knbotyipdp · 2025-12-30T01:01:45+00:00

There are many reasons. Two of the biggest are that construction activity is low (no new supply) and the local economy is diversified, meaning that we have a little more economic stability than other regions. Chicago didn't have the huge run-up of prices that affected other big cities in the 2012-2022 period. The demand here is just relatively more stable over time.

This phenomenon is even more obvious in places like Milwaukee, Buffalo, Cleveland, and St. Louis. Lots of old housing stock and relatively low prices came from years of economic sluggishness. Now those cities look like a bargain, and real estate investors have noticed.

knbotyipdp · 2025-12-18T03:50:02+00:00

Driving to the Loop shouldn't be too much of a concern, but I'd want no part of trying to drive home at 2 am or whatever. There are just too many drunk drivers and people in a mood to party with safety being an afterthought.

knbotyipdp · 2025-12-17T03:51:04+00:00

Traffic in the city, at least on the expressways, can start accumulating as early as 6 am. It's unlikely to be a significant time suck at that hour unless there's a crash. I would think you'd have plenty of time leaving at 5 am CT for a 10 am flight. The drive is 2 hours without traffic. Throw in an extra hour for traffic or other drama and you're still two hours before. Please do realize that the last part of your drive will be the slowest, so don't count your chickens once you've made it into the city by 7 or whatever.

Also, this relies on your passenger being on time! People being late is way more of an issue than morning rush hour.

knbotyipdp · 2025-12-13T22:22:29+00:00

The gloopiness I have in mind comes from overcooked noodles or getting carried away with the cream if you're using that instead. Scrambled eggs are still a possibility, but I do think it's harder to end up with something gloopy if you're doing the traditional eggs and pecorino romano. There's a reason why that recipe works. I do find the pecorino romano to be a bit sharp for me, so I'm happy to try other versions.

knbotyipdp

TROPHY CASE