I'm a Jersey girl. That's all there is to it. If one were to do the math they might disagree. I spent the first 26 years of my life in Northern New Jersey. I have spent the most recent 27 years of my life in the suburbs of Chicago. Since I'm only 34 years old the math definitely doesn't add up and I'm sure somebody's wrong here but in true Jersey style, I'm never wrong, so it wasn't me.
I have found that Chicago is the true Second City. Chicagoans are proud of their food, culture, geography, sports teams and politics, but they seem to have an inferiority complex about New York City. When I lived in North Jersey (which is basically the NYC suburbs, lets face it) I don't ever recalling comparing what we had to offer the world to what Chicago offered. I knew nothing of Chicago and didn't care either. So having spent almost equal years in each location, I'm going to provide my own flawed, skewed and completely correct review of the two areas.
The most divisive topic between the two that has almost caused fist fights is the all important New York vs. Chicago pizza. Yes, pizza. I grew up on New York pizza. It is just one size, large. It is flat and round with gobs of stringy moozerella and olive oil dripping from the top of it. It is called a pie. Because it is round it is cut in triangles like a pie. It can have toppings, but it is best with just cheese. When you go to the pizza parlor you order a "pie." There are no questions asked about size, toppings or type of pizza wanted. There are no forks or knives in the entire restaurant. You don't need them. You just get a large flat pie and that is all you want. Believe me, that is all you need. It is heavenly.
Chicago is known for it's "Chicago Style Deep Dish" pizza. It is as thick as a pie but not called a pie. It requires a fork and knife to eat. Okay, it's delicious. But it's different. Even Chicagoans can't agree on which restaurant makes the best deep dish pizza. There's Unos, Giordanos, Ginos East and numerous others. In my opinion Ginos East is the best and I'm always right because I'm from New Jersey, but I'm just sayin'. You can also get flat round pizza in Chicago. But, they cut it in squares. Yes, you heard me, they cut a round pizza in squares. It is a hot mess. Also, because it is not that great, it is rare when someone orders Chicago pizza without toppings. They even do that wrong. They put the toppings under the cheese! What?! It's insane!
Other than that, it's pretty much the same. New Jersey has hills. Chicago is flat as a pancake. Jerseyans go to the "shore," Chicagoans go to the "Dells." Both pride themselves on corrupt politicians, except I think Illinois wins the award for most governors making license plates. Both have great skylines, great entertainment and sports teams that pretty much suck.
So, basically, the only reason I'd move back to New Jersey is for an offer of a spectacularly high paying job (which one would need to be able to afford the property and taxes) or for a good slice of pie. There are some days when a good slice would be enough.
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