
And because of that, there are some things we’ve become accustomed to that are strange to others, sometimes hilarious, and at other times shocking.
We asked our audiences which things they think of as uniquely Chicagoan and so, without further ado, here are your responses for things that are considered totally normal in Chicago… but would not be acceptable anywhere else. The good, the bad, and everything in between:
1. Craving milkshakes when it’s 20 below.
2. Giardiniera pizza topping.
3. Calling dibs aka saving your shoveled-out parking spot with a foldable chair or any old piece of furniture.
I got my dibs ready! ❄️ #Chicago pic.twitter.com/tbsaxMIsw8
— Carefree B (@socavalier) December 28, 2021
4. Corporate name changes that never stick (Macy’s, the Willis Tower, Guaranteed Rate Field).
5. Not having ketchup at a hot dog stand.
I once got cussed out in Chicago for asking for ketchup on my hot dog.
Been afraid to put ketchup on ever since https://t.co/P5Q9M8uNC4
— Idolized (@ItsIdolized) December 29, 2021
6. The cardinal directions in Chicago are north, west, south, and lake.
7. Calling soda “pop”.
8. Calling idiots JAGOFFS.
9. Huge intersections without any turn arrows (you just gotta turn and pray).
10. That sweet sweet taste of Jeppson’s Malört.
Probably Jeppson's Malört – a local liqueur in Chicago
It's an "acquired" taste 😀 – #malortface https://t.co/5YEA17ov4N pic.twitter.com/do1N6fKTCV
— Russell England 😷💉💙🇪🇺🧳🌻🇺🇦 (@RussellEngland) December 25, 2021
11. Using the outside as your fridge.
12. Making everything plural: The Jewels, Soldiers Field, Celozzi-Ettelsons Chevrolet…
13. “Driving on LSD”
new chicago thing I realized:
“driving on LSD” is LEGAL. driving on lake shore drive.— realrinnshady (@RinnMaldonado) June 7, 2021
14. Standing in the middle of the street to see if the bus is coming.
15. Dying the river emerald green on St.Patrick’s Day.
Before you head over to the @UnitedCenter, make sure you check out Chicago’s green river in honor of St. Paddy’s day. 🍀 pic.twitter.com/e5mUibOq4y
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 16, 2019
16. 16” softball.
17. Pizza puffs.
18. “Frunchroom”
Nothing is as quintessentially Chicago as someone calling it a "frunchroom" not a front room or living room.
— Ryan O'Connell (@RyanJOConnell1) December 25, 2021
19. Expressing distance as a unit of time.
20. Getting insulted at Wiener’s Circle.
Right of passage for this lucky kid https://t.co/zqiGieZ7ue
— The Wieners Circle (@TheWienerCircle) December 29, 2021
21. Intersections with a soft right vs. hard right.
22. The sound of racing vehicles that you cannot see in the loop.
23. City stickers for every part of your car
24. Calling the highways by their nicknames, not their numbers. (The Ike vs 290).
25. Mostaccioli – the unsung hero of Chicago foods.
Wait, do people not from Chicago not know what mostaccioli is? Do I need to wake up my husband right now and ask him if he knows what it is?! pic.twitter.com/1usPICnw3v
— Stephanie Michelle (@steffofthemoon) October 7, 2020