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➢ Mid-spring to mid-autumn (Apr-oct) is the best time to visit, in winter your freezer will be cosier, and you’ll need your heated codpiece and bra warmer ➢ O’hare Int’l Airport to downtown by cab: $35-40 (meter) / 30 mins to 1 hr, but fares can add up in rush hour ➢ The city has a grid system starting at Madison and State, where it is 0/0, and goes up in either direction eg: 10 E Madison, 10 W Madison, 10 S State, 10 N State ➢ There’s no subway, it’s the ‘El’ and it runs (mostly) overhead, but cabs are easier, quicker and plentiful ➢ Sales tax is 9.25%, among the highest in the US, ugh! ➢ In restaurants, 15-20% tip works well ➢ No lighting up in bars and restaurants, thankfully ➢ It’s the conservative Midwest, many establishments still require blazers and slacks, and forbid trainers ➢ Go beyond the Gold Coast and head out to Bucktown, Lincoln Park, etc. to really get to know the city ➢ Lake Michigan is beautiful and is the reason that many people live in (and love) Chicago, so get out there ➢ The Windy City is also convention central, making it impossible at times to get a room or dining reservation ➢ Major League Baseball season Apr-sep = Wrigley Field, Cubs, bleacher bums, fanatics and crazed alcoholics ➢ Some bars close 2am, others 3am, 4am and even 5am ➢ Drinking age is 21, carry photo ID for venue entry ➢ In an emergency, dial 911 – where have you been? ➢ Int’l code is +1. 773 and 312 are the two main area codes, which you must dial even when calling locally. 847 is the code for the north, 630 and 708 for the west and south ’burbs

A couple of phrases that may be of use: Hello, how are you? : Hello, I’m a friendly Chicagoan and I just love chatting to complete strangers I’m a Bears man : I have a preference for hairy men of generous proportions, and/or I’m a football fan as well ’kay, prepare to be blown away...