Places to live in Chicago

I'd say a visit is in order. When I moved here I drove around looking at neighborhoods until I found an area that I liked the feel of - I've lived in Lakeview ever since.

If you're looking for something close to work, that's the Printer's Row area - kinda pricey.

West Loop is right by your work but tends to provoke a strong reaction in people. Personally, I like it, but I'm older.

But as a young guy, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville etc are the places for you. Will be an ~30-40min El ride in to work, but everyone else does it and it is the place for people your age on the weekends. Nothing like walking to Wrigley for the game or going to the Wrigley bars on a game day.

Bucktown is one of the other very popular areas.

Printer's Row is a great neighborhood and not far from your work.

I have seen wrigleyville called chicago's training wheels...a lot of people move there and then gtfo after their first apartment lease expires (after your first full cubs season). The people who stay tend to be fratboys who can't let go and like people peeing in their alleyways 24/7.

That being said, the rest of lakeview is pretty nice. I live a block off the lake and take an express bus to south michigan ave every morning and the red line home. Commute is reasonable this way. The area is lively although the nightlife is split between the gay bars and the fratboy/underaged wrigleyville stuff.
Because of that and my own interests, I might be happier living in wicker park/bucktown for the restaurants/nightlife over there...but that would mean giving up my proximity to the lake which I won't do.

If you don't care about the lake though...wicker park/bucktown are great. Lots of food and activities and an ok commute (though the blue line can get super packed).

West loop is super close to where you will be working but the places are pretty pricey (nice though) and tend to serve an older clientèle...lots of new yuppie couples and stuff in the area.
South loop has a lot of young professionals...but it feels super bland to me. Lots of new high rises that look like they belong outside dallas rather than in an architectural city like chicago. The neighborhood lacks the cohesiveness and variety of the north side...but it is convenient to downtown and has a lot of new construction that is renting cheap compared to what they wanted for it before the crash.

Uh... pretends what kind of guy he is. Not all late 20 year olds are into divey type bars found in Wrigley.

When I was in Chicago (2001-2006ish), I worked off Van Buren in the loop - so relatively close to where you're going to work - and lived in the West Loop. I then made it about 9 months in Lincoln Park and promptly moved back to the West Loop. I'd find a scene you like and want to live around and make your choice accordingly. Old Town is a nice 'hood, close to the lake, not too bad of a commute to downtown and not nearly as fratstar as Wrigleyville.

River North / Streeterville. If you don't do it first year, you'll likely end up moving the second year. That's what happened to most of my class, including myself. A little more expensive but you don't need a big place. You'll appreciate the 5 minute cab trips after bad nights or string of nights. Depends on group as well. I know you are excited but you will have some free time on weekends. And you will be sleeping more than 4 hrs a night on average. But the commute to Wrigley is a waste of time. Even LP is fairly long.

^^ Good advice.

Lincoln Park/River North/Lakeview Getting a place in Lincoln Park or Lakeview in the summer. Oak Park is my suburb suggestion Lots of stuff to do/restaurants and public transit straight to the city.

Streeterville and River North are technically not the same but close to one another. I don't know how / which streets neighborhoods split at but they are both north of the Loop.

I lived in LP my first year in a studio and paid 1200 for a pretty nice building. But tiny studio. When I moved to River North, I got a roommate and paid 1100 each. Our building wasn't new and therefore was cheaper. Decent amenities.
I know Streeterville and River North have singles (studio/convertible/maybe an occasional 1 bed) for about 1300 - 1600. And these are generally decent units. You can go cheaper if you are willing to put up with shitty location (next to a train station), etc.
Check out McClurg Court, a buddy lived there in a convertible. Don't know what they are pricing at these days. Mostly young professionals based on when I visited.

You're kidding! My office is a block away from him (Monroe/Wacker) and I walked to work from Lincoln Park (I lived just a bit north of Fullerton).

For the time window he wants, yeah, Streeterville/River North or Printer's Row/South Loop would work better. Presidential Towers would be right there, but I don't know what that's like currently.

I live in River West and like it quite a bit. It's rather close to where you work too. I also lived in Wrigleyville for a year. It was not very fun. Then again, I fucking hate the cubs with an undying passion, so that might have played a part. Anyway, welcome to Chicago (when you come). It is a great fucking city. And you're coming just in time to freeze your balls off!