[C0RSA1R]

. . . me.

I got the email yesterday. My company is closing their Latham, NY office entirely, so myself and about 150 other folks just got laid off. Our last day in operation will be June 30th, and after that, it's curb time. :thepan:

I sort of saw it coming. They closed our only other NY office, in Long Island, last month - only about 50 people worked there, and it wasn't a profit center, so it went. They also closing our Sacramento office at the same time as ours, so as of June 30th, Latham and Sacramento are out - about 400 people in total.

However, there is a ray of sunshine. I was contacted today by the director of our office in Lisle, Illinois - an hour or two west of Chicago - and asked if I was willing to relocate. I've been grumbling about getting out of NY for a long time. Years before I joined this board, I was already sick of the taxes and sick of the NY attitude that permeates all but the western reaches of this sodden state. My job is moving to Lisle, and the boss threw me a bone because I'm good at it.

So I have a few questions. Who here lives in/around the Lisle, IL area that might be able to help me out a little? Not looking to stay with someone, but if there is anything that could point me in the right direction apartment-wise, location-wise, or other-wise, any advice would be much appreciated. What are prices like in the area? I've checked Craigslist and other places, but I'm a firm believer in the "boots on the ground" approach to information collection. What are gas prices like out there? What kind of retail outlets are in that area, or in Chicagoland in general? What are the people like in general? Answers to any of these would be a tremendous help. Of course, any other information that would be helpful is also welcome.

Also, I'm going to be flying in to Midway on May 11th with my boss to meet the folks in the Lisle office and check out the new digs, so anyone who can recommend a good restaurant to eat at when I land may feel free to do so.

 

[77CDV]

Re: Well, well, look who just got laid off . . .

Sorry for the job situation, but hopefully the relocation to Chicago will work out well for you. I've never been, but I think it might be nice to visit sometime.

 

[Jesda]

Re: Well, well, look who just got laid off . . .

Lisle is a nice suburb. Someone else with Chicago knowledge might know more than me, an occasional tourist. Sorry about the job loss.

 

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

I live about 100 yards from the border of Lisle.

It is only about 25 minutes from the city and the train station is in the middle of the town, so it is easy to take public transit. My grandma will be selling her home in Lisle this summer if you are interested. She had it on the market last year but no takers. They have owned the house since the late 60's and it has definitely been taken care of. It is four levels, but only two actual stories (four half stories) with a three car garage that is heated and air conditioned (my grandpa was a mechanic so his garage was his palace). It sits on a large lot for a suburban home and is in a great neighborhood.

If you are looking for an apartment, check out Four Lakes. It is a great community with a ski hill, about 4 pools, tennis courts, one of 2 bars in the entire town, and a host of other plusses. There are thousands of units there. They have condos, apartments and town houses and it is all set just off the DuPage river in a wooded area. This is the area right here. You can see the ski hill in the middle and the four lakes along the river. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&s...257,-88.081427&spn=0.008097,0.019312&t=h&z=16

There are also several golf courses in the area. Tax wise Lisle is the lower than all its surrounding communities. Naperville is where all the rich people live. Downers Grove is not necessarily all rich people but they have higher taxes. Woodridge (my town) is run by a bunch of retards who tax out the ass. Bolingbrook aint too bad either though.

 

[C0RSA1R]

Probably not up to buy a house for a while, but thanks for the offer. That Four Lakes apartments sounds like something to check out, though. And wouldn't you know it, but Warrenville Rd is right where the Lisle office is located. I'll have to check what the exact address is - all I know is it's a six story building that dwarfs the office here in Latham.

 

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

Yeah, right off of Warrenville near Rt. 53 there are several large office buildings. They are building several more right next door and the construction site was the first place I took the Rodeo offroading. There are tons of other apartment complexes in the area but Four Lakes has always been considered more upscale than the rest.

 

[CadillacGurl]

Lisle is near me as well. Public transportation is your friend! I live downtown now so I take it everywhere or I walk!

There's a bunch of nice restaurants in the area

 

[gary88]

My home in the suburbs is about 15 minutes from Lisle in Lemont (though I'm downtown for school now). Gas is about $2.10 in the suburbs, in the city it's around $2.29. People in general are real nice wherever you go. There are tons of stores in the area. A 5 minute drive to Downers Grove and you have Best Buy, two Home Depots, Wal-Mart (if you choose to shop there), Sam's Club, Sports Authority, Murray's, Jewel-Osco, and a lot more. Another 15 minute or so drive north and you have the OakBrook Mall, and on the way there are a bunch of great Chicago resturants like Portillo's and :worship:The Patio:worship: (best ribs you will ever have). You'll also be right near Ogden Avenue where there's literally every car dealer you could need. Also on Ogden is Omega, a nice family-style Greek restaurant.

On the downside, our roads (for the most part) are utter shit. The highways are real nice though.

 

[CadillacGurl]

I recommend getting an I-Pass if you're going to drive in the city. It's cheaper than paying the tolls :thumbsup:

 

[Jesda]

Not sure how it was in upstate NY, but the tolls in Chicago dont take credit cards. If you try to hand them one they'll stare at you rudely lol

 

[C0RSA1R]

Yeah, NY tolls use EZPass or cash - no credit cards. What kind of city road tolls are there? Never heard of I-Pass before. Albany is a pretty small city, and Schenectady is even smaller - I've never had to pay a toll for driving on anything other than a highway. Those restaurants sound good, and as my waistline can attest, I'm a big fan of a hearty meal (especially ribs). As for public transportation, if it saves me money I don't mind using it, although the lure of the N* is a strong deterrent. I guess it will probably depend on where I end up.

You guys have been a great help so far. A few more questions I thought of today: what's the healthcare situation like out there? Are there a lot of smaller clinic, urgent care type places, or is it mainly just regular doctor's offices and big hospitals? Gary88 mentioned that the roads stink - is that closer to the city, or most of the area? Not a big fan of city driving - I'd probably stay away from Chicago itself unless I was going there for something specific. Are there any nice, long country roads out there where a guy can unwind after a long day with a dose of the old 4.6? Any scenic drives (including highway driving)?

 

[CadillacGurl]

EZPass works through the IPass lanes and vice versa.

Healthcare wise there are big hospitals, doctors's offices, and I'm pretty sure there are clinics around.

 

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

:yeah:

There are good roads and bad roads. Personally, I avoid Ogden Ave whenever possible because it is by far the worst road in the area (that I know of). Other than that they are pretty good. Scenic roads and long stretches, not so much. The area has been built up quite well over the years and you have to head about 25-30 miles west before you start getting any country roads. There are some just on the other side of downtown Lemont by Gary, but they quickly spit you back into city driving. If you like to ride you bike there are tons of great trails in the area. I ride my bike about 15 miles every other day in the Greene Valley Forest Preserve. The other day I saw 3 deer, an opossum, and a few field mice.

Another place to go for food is White Fence Farm. It is a family owned joint that is only open 9 months out of the year but the chicken is to die for!

 

[gary88]

Yeah, NY tolls use EZPass or cash - no credit cards. What kind of city road tolls are there?

No city road tolls, just on certain highways. Whenever I drive downtown, I take I-55 which has no tolls. It's a real nice drive up there when the traffic is light.

If you want to open up the N* a little, I-55 is a decent place to do so when there's no traffic. The pace in the left lane is at least 75-80 at all times anyways (unless you get the tards that insist on not moving over and driving 60).

If you're working directly in Lisle, public transportation would be more of a hassle than anything. The only time public transportation is convenient is when you're actually in the city, so if you're not going there don't worry about it.

 

[Ranger]

Are there any nice, long country roads out there where a guy can unwind after a long day with a dose of the old 4.6? Any scenic drives (including highway driving)?

For that you gotta head up my way.

 

[lawfive]

Sorry to hear about your job loss corsa1r, but it sounds as though you have a nice soft spot to land with buds all around!

 

[C0RSA1R]

Sorry to hear about your job loss corsa1r, but it sounds as though you have a nice soft spot to land with buds all around!

I know, right? I was really pissed when I first got the email, and then they offered me relocation. That intrigued me, but it was so far that I couldn't fathom just picking up and moving there. Then I got the bright idea to see if anyone here knew where this Lisle place was. I'm glad I thought to do that.

For that you gotta head up my way.

Well, a quick Google Map search points me north and west, about an hour total. Further than I normally go for a relaxing cruise, but not out of the question. Rt 120, Rt 23, Rt 14, and Rt 47 all show promise from what the map shows.

 

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

Rt. 47 is a no no for cruising. It is a heavily traveled truck route, so it is pretty beat up, that passes through several towns where the cops are total dicks. I have friends that live out in Yorkville and I travel it often. After living here a while you will find the good roads. You can scream down Warrenville road if it is the right time of day because the cops rarely watch it. I have gone way past the posted limit on several occasions.

 

[Ranger]

Rt 120, Rt 23, Rt 14, and Rt 47 all show promise from what the map shows.

Rt 47 is not too bad once you get up north. Rt 23 is probably even better. Forget Rt 14. It used to be the main route up the NW corridor before I90 was built. It runs through every little town along the way that has now grown to a big town. Rt 120 is pretty much the same. Both open up a bit once you get near the Wisc. border. Chicago suburbs are sprawling. My first house (before Woodstock) was in Lake in the Hills, aka LITH. It was in the boonies an no one heard of it. Pop. 5600 and you drove through Indian country to get to it. Today the population must be 25,000 and there is very little open country left between it and the "burbs". Fortunately the sprawl hasn't reached me yet. Bottom line is if you want a country drive, you are gonna have to drive to it.

 

[Kael]

umm stay away from four lakes.
it actually made it into maxim magazine as the top place to catch a STD.

Four lakes is pretty widely known as scum bag central, cheap apartments attract cheap people and it just goes downhill from there.