Author: Dima Jaber, PGY1
Welcome to South Loop!
Choosing a neighborhood to live in was the most stressful part of starting residency for me – I wanted to live somewhere walkable without adding too much to my drive to work. I also wanted to live in the city without sacrificing green space. South loop has it all, high rises with fancy amenities, great restaurants, grocery stores, parks, and plenty of activities within walking distance!
Here are a just few things I enjoy during my time out of the hospital:
The lakefront trail is my all-time favorite for walking, running, and biking! It takes ten minutes to walk to the trail from my apartment and I’m rewarded with gorgeous views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. It’s an easy way to bike to Navy Pier, which I did frequently this summer for Yoga at the Park!
Speaking of Navy Pier – there are FIREWORKS weekly during the summer. I loved having sunset picnics with friends and playing card games until the fireworks started. This got me out of the house even after a long shift.
Believe it or not, there are nice parks scattered throughout Chicago! Here is a favorite I frequent at least once per week:
My advice is to have a list of non-negotiables when looking for housing. Parking is difficult in the city, especially later in the evening, so finding an apartment with my own space was a must. I also prioritized an in-unit washer and dryer and having a gym. It doesn’t hurt that my apartment has a nice balcony!
I can easily walk to Trader Joe’s, Jewel Osco, and Mariano’s for groceries and be there within 5-10 minutes. Target and Whole Foods are a 3 minute drive with plenty of parking, and the Roosevelt Collection is right next door for any shopping. If something isn’t within walking distance and I don’t feel like driving, I can walk 7 minutes to the Roosevelt station and catch a train to my destination. Uber/Lyft isn’t too expensive in the city either.
I gave a lot of pros for living in SL, so it’s only fair to discuss the cons: the commute. Off service rotations usually have an early start time so I’m able to beat traffic and get to work within 25 minutes. My commute to work approaches 35 minutes in the afternoon. I weighed my options heavily prior to moving and ultimately decided that I still preferred living in the city. I knew that I would be more likely to maximize my time off if I was in the city, but this is not a decision to make lightly since you make the drive daily.
ACMC Emergency Medicine 