Which Cities in Illinois Have the Snobbiest Residents?

You can find snobby people just about anywhere, but do some cities have more snobs than others?

The website RoadSnacks attempted to answer this question by looking at 371 cities in Illinois with at least 5,000 people. Then they scoured the Internet to see which cities have the highest income levels, the percentage of residents who have college degrees, number of private schools and art galleries in an area and, of course, the number of Whole Foods stores in town.

This methodology might not sound very convincing, but as RoadSnacks makes clear, the article is "an opinion based on data and is meant for infotainment." In other words, people shouldn't freak out about the findings. Please, don't freak out if you live in one of these towns.

[Descriptions for each city are from RoadSnacks]

10. Highland Park

Highland Park has the 4th most art galleries per capita in the state, so don't even try to argue about postmodernism with anyone who lives here. Odds are they know what they're talking about. Or think they do.

Income levels ($115,000) and home values ($521,000) puts them well ahead of most of their peers in the state.

9. Northfield

People in Northfield value a good education. 76 percent of them attended college, which is the 6th highest in the state. Plus, there are the 6th most private schools in the general area. Which means their kids will one day take the snooty crown from their parents.

Median incomes here are about $116,000, and homes cost well over $650,000. There was no analysis done on the types of cars Northfield residents drive, but you can bet they aren't rolling around in Subarus.

Or, when they don't drive, do the people in Northfield bust out the hand sanitizer when the Metra pulls up?

8. Lake Bluff

You can bet the snooty people in Lake Bluff have reservations at Les Nomades every Friday night. Families here stack up the bills high to the tune of $146,000 a year, which is the 7th highest in the Land of Lincoln.

Only two other cities are less educated than the people in Lake Bluff. A whopping 80 percent of the residents here have a college degree.

There are significantly more snobby activities here than in most of the state as well.

7. Barrington

Barrington residents 'only' earn $106,000 a year, and live in homes that are 'merely' worth $460,000. And there aren't as many private schools nearby. Plus, fewer than 62 percent of them attended college.

You can bet that if someone you know from Barrington is reading this right now, they'll demand a recount. There's no way they aren't as good as the people listed above.

6. Lincolnshire

You can bet a lot of the people in Lincolnshire attend theaters, premieres, arts galas and such, since there are more uppity type event centers in the Lincolnshire area than in any other place in Illinois.

And the people who live here can certainly afford it. Households earn about $110,000 a year, and almost 70 percent of the residents got an undergraduate degree.

You can see the Top 5 cities RoadSnacks says are the snobbiest at Reboot Illinois.

NEXT ARTICLE: The Top 10 drunkest cities in Illinois

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Marshall Crenshaw and the Bottle Rockets Headline Harvest and Harmony Fest: Chicago's North Shore suburb's first annual festival to spotlight its hidden artist community

Marshall Crenshaw



Tucked in somewhere in the conspicuous affluence of Highland Park, Illinois lies the town's quaint Ravinia District- a tiny, yet vibrant community of small business owners, unique boutiques, and eclectic restaurants and food specialty shops. On October 2nd and 3rd that charming, friendly and historic neighborhood (located within a few walkable blocks) will rollick and twang with the music of roots rock legends Marshall Crenshaw and The Bottle Rockets at the 1st Annual Harvest & Harmony Fest, a free, live outdoor music festival.

Traditionally, Ravinia District has been a kernel of bustling creativity, of musicians, photographers, and painters all making art in the shadow of the nearby opulent lake front homes and the internationally known summer Ravinia Festival. So, in a collaborative effort between the Ravinia Business District TIF Advisory and the Ravinia District SSA 17 Advisory Committee, plans were made to stage an event to spotlight its hidden jewel.

"We wanted to do something in the fall, at the close of the Ravinia Festival season showcasing the artistic community with a focus on food and music, so Harvest and Harmony became the theme for this outdoor free music festival," said event producer, Ilyse Strongin-Bombicino, of Ripple Public Relations.




The rain or shine event is located on Dean Avenue, between Roger Williams and St. Johns, and in Jens Jensen Park, steps away from the Ravinia Metra stop.

Festivities will be kicked off with an opening ceremony and the unveiling of the new Ravinia District streetscape signage and a special drum circle and percussion performance by 5th graders from four schools in the North Shore School District 112. Attendees of all ages will revel in two days of live music featuring a variety of other exciting musicians including: Local favorites Ravinia Ramblers, Laura Doherty & The Heartbeats, from the Old Town School of Folk Music, Steve Karras and The Mopes, and many more.

The Fest will also feature the best in local bites and flights of artisan beer, wine and "Dutch" mule cocktails, and a variety of vendors.

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Understanding Violence in the African American Community

Black Lives Matter is a good concept, but how do we address Black on Black violence? African American people kill one another in record numbers throughout the United States. Other cultures also kill, however, African American leaders have failed in their efforts to reduce homicides in their own community. For example, Chicago is struggling with high levels of homicides. Over eighty percent of the homicides occur in the African American community.

Other big cities like Baltimore, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Dallas, St. Louis, Detroit, and Memphis find themselves in the grips of an urban epidemic, gun violence, when comes to the African American community. The police cannot solve this age old problem because they are inability to penetrate the community to stop the violence on the front end. There is a great chance that younger leaders can address the issue by reaching out to their counterparts to help establish peace treaties or violence free zones.

A segment of the population does not want to hear anything about peace, but it can reach the right people. If you really want to prevent a homicide, one must have the ability to intercept whispers within the community that could lead to an act of violence. It's so hard to prevent a homicide because no one really talks about taking a life. People just step up to the plate and pull the trigger. This is one of the main reasons why you need trained individuals that come from the community to reach people in a moment of distress. Black Lives Matter can help start the much needed dialogue to bring more attention to the issue of Black on Black violence in the same way they are bringing attention police brutality.

It takes hard work to reach high risk youth in the community as it relates to working on the peace process. Some organizations might find it more newsworthy to deal with other issues, such as police brutality, excessive force, gun control, and combating illegal drugs before taking on the big responsibility of ending violence in the African American community. This type of work is not for the faint at heart and oftentimes you will not be mentioned on the news. Several leaders are making names for themselves by talking about the violence after someone is killed. We should all make an effort to talk about the violence once we stopped an incident before it happens. The main goal is to save lives and Black Lives should matter to Black people. The possibilities are endless if the Black Lives Matter organization takes on the issue of urban violence. There could be an immediate impact in the community where it really counts. Let's band together to stop all killings and remember that All Lives Matter!

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History repeating: Chicago aldermen who opposed food trucks now seek to restrict operations for food carts

Less than a day after Chicago lifted its ban on food carts on Sept. 24, city aldermen with a history of limiting the city's food options made moves to restrict vendors' ability to operate in lucrative locations.

Two aldermen have launched proposals to limit where food carts can set up: Alderman Tom Tunney, whose ward covers the Wrigleyville neighborhood and who formerly owned restaurants of his own, and Alderman Brendan Reilly, whose district encompasses River North and many of the city's most well-known brick-and-mortar dining spots, are leading the charge.

Food carts should be a boon to Chicago neighborhoods, with the potential to bring up to 6,400 new jobs and create more than $8 million in new local sales-tax revenue. Unfortunately, the hardworking food-cart vendors who fought so long for the city to recognize their industry now operate at the mercy of all-powerful local aldermen, many of whom use their authority to grant political favors and keep out businesses they don't like.

Chicago's more than 1,500 food-cart vendors are primarily Latino and serve low-income neighborhoods where food options are often scarce. They are a beloved part of their communities - kids pick up elotés for after-school snacks, walkers grab champurrado on cool mornings and anyone looking for a delicious lunch knows vendors' tamales won't disappoint.

Now that Chicago has lifted its ban on food carts, there should be no restrictions on where vendors can operate. City Council's Sept. 24 vote to legalize the industry was a huge victory for the small-time entrepreneur - it would be a mistake to walk it back.

But the move isn't surprising. History has shown Chicagoans where Tunney and Reilly stand when it comes to culinary competition.

Even though the city does allow food trucks to sell, aldermen imposed severe restrictions on how these businesses can operate. Food trucks can't set up shop within 200 feet of a restaurant. To enforce this rule, the city requires food trucks to install GPS tracking devices. Vendors must stay in one location for no more than two hours, and there are just 35 designated "food stands" in which food trucks are allowed to park.

Tunney and Reilly were among the chief proponents of heavy restrictions on food trucks when City Council considered the topic over the last several years. Tunney made no secret that the main reason behind the city's oppressive rules is to protect established businesses.

"One of the major issues is spacing from brick-and-mortar restaurants," Tunney told the Chicago Sun-Times in 2011. "We've got work to do. We need to hear from all sides. We need to make sure we protect ... restaurants and foster a trend that, I think, is gonna be here for a while."

Tunney was right about one thing: Despite heavy regulations, food trucks are thriving in Chicago. These mobile vendors have become immensely popular among the thousands of workers looking for variety in their lunch options downtown. Trucks like La Cocinita, The Jibarito Stop and Boocooroux bring new flavors and choices to diners, in a location where brick-and-mortar chains used to dominate. Now that City Council has unleashed food carts, there's no reason to doubt that these vendors will receive a warm reception from diners across the city.

But Tunney is dead wrong when he says the city must "protect" restaurants. It should be left to hungry Chicagoans - not all-powerful Chicago aldermen - to determine where vendors take their talents.

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Derrick Rose Injured Again, But Don't Worry It's Not His Knee

CHICAGO — Bulls star Derrick Rose will have surgery on his left eye after being elbowed in the face.

The 2011 NBA MVP sustained a left orbital fracture on the first day of practice, the team said Tuesday in a release. He is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, and a timetable for his return will be determined after the operation.

It's the latest in a long line of injuries for Rose, and the last thing the Bulls needed with a new coach in Fred Hoiberg.

Rose missed all of the 2012-13 season after tearing his left ACL during the first round of the 2012 playoffs, and played only 10 games two years ago after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. He also had a minor procedure on the right knee late last season.

The Bulls return mostly intact after winning 50 games and losing to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The one big change they made was on the sideline, with Hoiberg replacing the defensive-minded Tom Thibodeau.

Management is counting on a new coach to get the most out of an experienced roster. A big component in the team's health — particularly Rose's, although he is not the only injured Bulls player.

Mike Dunleavy Jr. had back surgery Friday and is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks. Taj Gibson is working his way back from left ankle surgery.

As for Rose, it still remains to be seen if he can consistently play at the level propelled the Chicago product from Rookie of the Year to All-Star to MVP in his first three seasons, before the injuries set in.

Rose showed some flashes last season, averaging 17.7 points, and was eyeing big things this year. He came into camp after a summer of training instead of rehab.

"I know I'm great," Rose said Monday during the team's media day. "There's a lot of people that don't know I'm great, that's the thing. But it's cool. I know I can hoop."

Rose also raised some eyebrows Monday when he talked about becoming a free agent, even though he has two years left on his contract. He also said he's focusing on staying in Chicago and taking care of his son.

"Even though we're all right, we're comfortable, when you talk about that x-amount of dollars, I think it raises everyone's eyebrows," Rose said. "So there's nothing wrong with being over-prepared."

 

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Chicago Starts The Week With 14 Shot In 15 Hours

Chicago's bloody weekend spilled into the workweek, as 14 people were shot in the city over a 15-hour period from late Monday night to early Tuesday morning.

At least six people died. They included a pregnant woman and her mother, who were struck by a "barrage of bullets" in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, NBC Chicago reports. The woman's 11-month-old child was also injured in the shooting, although he is expected to recover.

Two men were injured in the same shooting and taken to the hospital, one of them in critical condition, WGN reports.

"You have an innocent family coming home from a family outing. Somebody opens fire on two women, a child and two men," Chicago Deputy Police Chief Eugene Roy told the media. "In a second, two generations of that child's family were wiped out."

The city has been suffering a series of late-summer shootings. This week's gun violence follows two weekends in a row during which more than 50 people were shot. According to the Chicago Tribune, that alarming statistic is a first since the paper began tracking shootings in the city four years ago.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel used the shootings to call for stricter gun control, which has been a central theme of his administration.

"I'm gonna try to control my anger," Emanuel said at a press conference on Tuesday. "We have way too many guns on the streets of the city of Chicago, with too little values, and the penalties that don't match the values of the city of Chicago."

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Vape Culture Attracts Teens, Poses Harmful Risks

These Illinois School Districts Are Spending the Most and Least Per Student

During the 2013-14 school year, the average operating expense per student was $12,521, according to Illinois State Board of Education.

This figure takes into consideration a number of different expenses, such as transportation costs, instructional costs and student resources, among other things.

The amount spent per student can vary greatly depending on where in Illinois the district is located and the type of school district. For example, the average cost per high school student was $16,165 while elementary school districts spent $11,846 per student. Spending also tends to be higher in districts with more property tax wealth.

According to the latest available data, here are the top 25 school districts that, on average, spend the most and least per student.

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Great Lakes, Amazing Connections: The Power of Urban Parks

Shaking hands with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the ribbon cutting at Northerly Island.

At any given point, cities along the Great Lakes are making investments in the waterways along the basin that more than 40 million people call home. Previously, we've discussed how recreation brings a sense of community to the region, and how cooperation in national and international policy making impacts the health of the Great Lakes. This month in our "Great Lakes, Amazing Connections" series, we'll see how investments in parkland brings the important message of wildlife and water conservation to urban areas.

Standing on Northerly Island just minutes from my office at Shedd Aquarium on Chicago's Museum Campus on an early September day was like taking a step back in time. Rolling hills and native plants surrounded on three sides by the waters of Lake Michigan, it was easy to forget the 40-acres of land once served as a private airport.

But as Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Chicago Park District Superintendent Mike Kelly shook hands after the ribbon cutting and tour of the newly established park and nature conservancy at Northerly Island, it was clear that while the restored land resembled the natural beauty of what the land once was, the continued vision for the future of urban parks was being realized.

With six distinct ecosystems, a 5-acre lagoon and 150 different native plants, the newest green space in Chicago will become a haven for birds and insects to thrive, making their presence known to pedestrians taking advantage of the trail that circles the park. What the park represents is a prime opportunity for residents of the city to connect with the living world just minutes away from its urban center. Guided nature walks, camping and a chance for Chicago's museums to use the area as a living classroom, the property that was once Meigs Field is now an ambassador for conservation to the Great Lakes region.

Chicago isn't alone as a city willing to foster a connection between its bustling downtowns and natural areas on the lake. In July, the city of Toronto announced plans to expand its first urban park, Rouge Park, by about 8 square miles. This represents a permanent preservation of the land by Parks Canada, and when realized, will make it one of the largest protected urban parks in North America.

Stateside, the continued expansion by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy -- which has dramatically transformed the river shore of the city with a system of natural areas and trails over the last decade -- is another example of a large city committing to preservation and restoration.

Investments like these ensure that even the most urban centers offer an opportunity for residents to connect with nature, make memories and learn how critical efforts are to preserve native plants and animals. My recent visit to Northerly Island reinforced this for me personally. Before the weather gets to cold, and autumn colors are in full display this fall, take some time to visit the many urban parks that dot the Great Lakes region.

The City Parks Alliance features a great national map of member parks, most of which are minutes away from cities like Indianapolis, Ind., Grand Rapids, Mich., and Milwaukee, Wisc.

You just might be surprised at the beautiful, native areas that have been preserved inside the major cities you call home.

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Hip Today, Gone Tomorrow?

When a pretentious lifestyle intending to proclaim originality and nonconformity becomes an overused cliché, isn't it time for its proponents to move on? In the past months I have spotted the easily recognizable members of the hipster community in L.A., Berlin, England, Spain and even beautiful Bella Italia. In the Amsterdam airport I even saw a Muslim hipster sporting a topknot and tight jeans with a veiled woman in tow.

The look has little geographic variation: lumberjack beard, hair that's long on top with short sides, skinny jeans, new multicolored Nikes, plaid shirt, Smurf hat and intellectual glasses. I wonder how many really are original in their expression and how many are simply trying to look like they are original for lack of their own personal style or beliefs.

Hipsters aren't a new phenomena, the term "hip" was noted as early as 1902, with the meaning "aware" or "in the know." Jack Kerouac described 1940s hipsters as "rising and roaming America, bumming and hitchhiking everywhere [as] characters of a special spirituality". Back then, hipsters were mostly middle-class white kids trying to mimic the lifestyle of the jazz musicians whose cutting edge music they admired. (This could explain today's hip-hop styled outfits that are also a worldwide phenomena amongst suburban youth who never saw a ghetto.)

Every generation has had hip people pushing the boundaries of being unconventional. As we live in an ever more commoditized world, with significant parts of our lives lived in the sterile universe of bits and bytes, the need to express our individuality is even more necessary. And hipsters historically have represented an anti-standardization. But when major brands use hipster images to push everything from jeans to cornflakes, where is the cutting-edge relevance? There is even a hipster parody using Barbie dolls on Instagram. Could it be that actually being square is more challenging to the social norms than acquiring a funky haircut? Or like the phenomena of tattoos, you look more one of a kind if you don't have one these days. Perhaps button-down collars and chinos are signs of the new groundbreaking free-thinkers.

The community has become so standardized there is even an annual hipster convention in Germany attracting thousands of people. Doesn't this mean that the cultural group has gone mainstream and no longer the anti-establishment, uber-cool trendsetters they hope to represent? If you call yourself a hipster are you really a hipster? That's like proclaiming 'I'm cool" which in itself is an uncool thing to say in front of your cool friends. They will give you the cold shoulder if you do this. Cool people don't need to announce their coolness - it is recognizable by those who are in the know or sensed by others who are oblivious to trends.

A friend of mine from high school has been touring the past many years with the band Tower of Power. Seeing them perform their trademark song from 1973 'What is Hip?' is always a highlight and they were already skewering the hip culture of that time. The song ends with:

'What's hip today
Might become passé'

But even if that was prophetic or only wishful thinking, 'hippie chic' is still a style choice for aspiring cool people everywhere from the Glastonbury Festival in the UK to Coachella in Southern California. Not sure if we will see couture designers doing 'hipster chic' in a dozen years but the world is full of surprises. Perhaps the hippie culture was more enduring with their back to nature environmental concerns plus their call for peace and equality. The hipsters todays are supporting... themselves as role models? What happened to speaking out against the war(s) in Iraq or the greed on Wall Street?

As we wait to see how the next wave of individualism expresses itself as it rises up against the mainstream, we can have solace in an effortless, natural coolness in just being ourselves. The pop group from the eighties, Huey Lewis and The News, nicely expressed this concept in their song: 'It's Hip To Be Square.' No need to worry about being in the know - that boat has already sailed. Just put on a nice shirt (with buttons), ditch the beard, get a decent pair of shoes and write a check for your favorite socially aware organization.

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