by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: October 10, 2009

Chicago is a wonderful city to live in. It is packed with opportunities to experience all sorts of different international cultures and ethnicities, art, theater, dance, music, shopping, dining, partying, and it is home to some of the nation's best medical facilities (including the American Medical Association,) and educational institutions.

The neighborhoods are incredibly diverse, and people can live in everything from large old houses to small cottage type bungalows that are part of the city's history, to apartments, co-ops and even loft like condos that were created out of obsolete warehouses. Parts of the city that were once regarded as not so nice or safe neighborhoods have undergone amazing revitalization, and as a result, have become some of the city's hippest, swankiest and most popular places to live.

For people who don't want to live in the city proper, there are suburbs of varying sizes, with everything from brand new homes to historic old homes that have been extensively remodeled. Lake front property along the North Shore offers home owners who own or choose to buy homes there, the chance to have a private beach because of riparian rights. Elsewhere, one may be able to live in a wooded ravine area that feels like the country (with or without riparian rights,) with the privacy that many people cherish, while still having easy access to the city.

For people who love to shop, there are many high end stores, including Tiffany, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Lord and Taylor, Brooks Brothers and many more. There are many other stores that appeal to people whose wallets may not be so deep. HM, Filene's Basement, Limited, Limited Two, Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Espirit and many local boutiques and shops.

For foodies, there are loads of outstanding restaurants that people can eat in. Charlie Trotters has developed a reputation as one of the best restaurants in all of the U.S. At prices of over $100 per person (not including wine or drinks,) this isn't the sort of place that people will frequent often. For lovers of authentic Japanese food, there is the wonderful Kamahachi of Tokyo with it's three restaurants, one in old town, one near the Magnificent Mile and one in Northbrook. There are places to get fabulous steaks, seafood, basic home cooking, vegetarian food, Indian food, Thai food, Polish food, Russian food, French food and much more.

For people who want to check out museums, there is of course, the world famous Art

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