Cicero is a town in Illinois Cook County, a suburb of Chicago. Cicero's name - after the great Roman statesman Cicero - shows that the city was founded with a focus on the ideals of constitutional government. Starting with its identity as Al Capone's headquarters, the town has been cursed with a long and storied past with controversy and scandal. Despite its ups and downs, Cicero was an important place for making civil rights progress, and it has a thriving multi-ethnic population. Some say moving here, you're taking your life into your own hands, but others say its a place worth living for its legacy and deeply historical community. And for those with a tighter budget, its also quite affordable.
Moving to Cicero
If you want to move to Cicero, you're in luck; whether you want to rent or buy, there will be a choice of homes for you. If you wait long enough, you're likely to find something open that you'll like. Rents for studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments in Cicero are a steal for the area, since you get to be in close proximity to Chicago but pay far less than any Chicago rent. Cicero also has its own fair share of perks, so you wont even need to go far from your home to appreciate the benefits of choosing a home there.
If you want to rent an apartment, there are a few things you'll want to prepare before you go on your search. If you have the prerequisites ready, you'll be able to put an application in on the spot when you find an apartment you like, which will guarantee that someone else who likes the apartment won't be able to swoop in on your apartment. You'll need to prove to your future landlord that you're financially qualified to pay rent on your prospective apartment. To do that, you'll want to bring previous years' tax returns, bank statements, and proof of employment as evidence that you will continue to be financially capable. Then, bring letters of reference from previous landlords to prove that you're a good tenant. Finally, make sure you've saved up a lot of money before you start the moving process. Everyone knows it costs an arm and a leg to hire movers and transport your stuff from one home to another. But, on top of that, you'll probably need to put down a lot of money up front to secure your apartment; it usually costs somewhere between two to three months' rent to secure the apartment and cover your security deposit. Also, if you use a real estate broker to help you find your place, you'll have to pay them a fee. The amount of the fee varies but its often a months rent or 15% of the apartment's annual rent.
Neighborhoods
Grant Works: On the northeast side of Cicero, Grant Works was named for a historic locomotive factory that used to stand in the area. $
Warren Park: Warren Park is home to some of Cicero's schools and has a good selection of family homes. $$$
Morton Park: This area is home to families especially. It has a college, a high school, and plenty of family homes. $$$$
Boulevard Manor: Many residents of Cicero are in the Boulevard Manor neighborhood, and there are plenty of options for renting and buying! $$
Parkholme: Parkholme is an area in Cicero that is home to a subdivision and park. This green neighborhood also hosts tennis courts and a pool. $$
Living in Cicero
Cicero is a Chicago suburb, and most likely, if you choose to live in Cicero, it's because you want to be in Chicago. Therefore, you'll want to take advantage of the easy transportation back and forth between the areas. There are buses that run between Cicero and Chicago downtown. There are also several rapid transit trains which will take you in and out of the suburbs whenever you want to go, making it easy as 1-2-3 to visit the city. If you want to control your own commute schedule, get a car. Not everyone in Cicero drives. In fact a lot of people in the Chicago area do not. But a car frees you up when you don't want to depend on the schedule of public transportation and also gives you the opportunity to go farther than where the end of the line is. If you want to go even farther, say to a new city or even country, you have access to two airports in Chicago O'Hare and Midway, and people say the commute from Cicero to the airports is even easier than from Chicago proper.
There are plenty of options to eat, drink, and be entertained in Cicero. For that famous, mouth-watering, Chicago-style pizza, people eat at Freddy's, a local pizzeria serving up sandwiches, salads, and, of course, deep dish pizza. There is also another beloved deep dish pizza joint in town - Albano's Pizzeria. Another favorite, Henry's Drive-in, serves fast food that is well celebrated. Here you'll find options like Polish Sausage, chili dogs, pizza puffs, and more. Klas Restaurant is a modern European restaurant that offers delicious Czech food and international cuisine from Eastern Europe.
People in Cicero also stay in town to party the night away--there's a good selection of nightlife spots to have fun, drink, and dance. Benny's Laramie Tap is a favorite bar in the area. It's a casual dive bar where locals all know each other; think of it as your own Midwestern cheers. Squirrely Shirley is also a dive bar that residents love, serving up beers and cheap drinks. It attracts a very diverse crowd so everyone will feel like they fit in here. Finally, if you're looking for something a little more exciting, check out Town Hall Bowl. It offers late night bowling, snacks and drinks with loud music, and flashing lights for a fun night out.
