Summer is sadly on its way out, but Chicago’s event calendar certainly does not seem to reflect that. Chicago has a lot of month-long events like Meet Me on The Mile & Chicago in Tune. Here are some non-recurring last-minute Chicago summer events that you would be sad to miss:

Pitchfork Music Festival:

This would not be an exciting Chicago event list had the Pitchfork Music Festival not made it. On September 10-12th at Union Park, see artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Big Thief, St. Vincent, Angel Olsen & Flying Lotus. The sun is still warm, beer is still flowing, and food vendors are still serving delicious food. So enjoy some good music and the last summer days at the Pitchfork Music Festival.

Roscoe Village Burger Fest:

Quick question, who does not love a good burger? Take a bite out of some drool-inducing burgers these last summer days at the Roscoe Village Burger Fest. Over the weekend of September 3rd-5th, have fun listening to live bands, partake in some arts & crafts, and taste test some burgers!

Hyde Park Jazz Festival:

Feeling the jazz vibes? Visit Hyde Park over the weekend of September 25th-26th for the Hyde Park Jazz Festival! Hear the city come alive with the beautiful genre of jazz.

Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk:

Are you a big fan of architecture and real estate? For just one day, visitors can tour several different buildings designed by the late Frank Lloyd Wright. Visit the marvels of Frank Lloyd Wright on Saturday, September 18th. 

Sam Adams’ Lakeview Taco Fest:

You should be sold by simply reading this event’s title! Beer and tacos? Yes, please! That sounds like the perfect last-minute summer event for me. So come to Southport Corridor September 18th-19th and take in some of the last nights of summer with tacos, beer, margaritas, and more at Sam Adam’s Lakeview Taco Fest.

¡Súbelo!:

Are you feeling the urge to jump into the Latinx culture? First, check out the Pilsen neighborhood for ¡Súbelo! Then, enjoy food from local restaurants and varying vendors at Harrison Park on September 4th.

Global Peace Picnic:

Do you want to celebrate World Peace Day surrounded by others in your community? If you nodded enthusiastically, this event is perfect. On Saturday, September 25th, the Humboldt Park Boat House hosts a Global Peace Picnic filled with musical performances. 

The city of Chicago loves city-wide events, and the city is good at it! However, something the city of Chicago sometimes struggles with is parking. Finding parking in Chicago can be challenging even without events happening. So do not find yourself without parking. Instead, book your parking way ahead of time with ParqEx. Don’t let parking woes get in the way of your last-minute summer events!

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6 Tips for Understanding Chicago Parking

1) The Basic Don’ts

Every city has its own code of conduct when it comes to parking. How far you can park from stop signs, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and specially marked areas should be understood so you don’t accidentally cross one of the written or unwritten rules. Here’s a quick Chicago refresher:

• Vehicle over 6 feet tall: Park at least 20 feet from a crosswalk (this means you SUVs and Pickups)
• Vehicle under 6 feet tall: keep your bumper off the crosswalk
• 20 feet away from stop signs
• 15 feet away from fire hydrants
• Yellow means NO parking, not parking sometimes if no one is looking
• Do not park in bike or bus lanes. These keep bikes and buses out of the flow of normal traffic.

2) Read the Meter Signs

Meter parking is one of the necessary evils of any big city and Chicago is doing its best to make this simple and easy for everyone. Most pay boxes have been updated to accept convenient payment types like credit and debit cards and then print you a receipt to stick in your windshield, but the amounts are different from area to area. Make sure to read the signs carefully so you know how much time you’re paying for.

3) Winter Ban on Overnight Parking

Most of the year, if you find an unmetered parking spot on the street, you can park there for free overnight. However, in the coldest part of winter between December 1 to March 31, you should not leave your car overnight on most main streets and certain residential streets. This is because the snow plows tend to roll through between the hours of 3 am and 7 am and you don’t want your car to be in the way. The ban is still active even if there is no snow.

4) The Dibs System

Snow, in fact, is a pretty big part of parking etiquette during the colder months in Chicago. One of the unwritten rules is the law of ‘Dibs’. People who shovel their own parking spot after a snowfall often leave a marker in place to reserve that spot for their cars. This is a tradition of nearly 50 years and you do not want to be caught by the locals violating the dibs rule. If you see a cleared parking spot with a folding chair or some other seemingly random item in the middle of it, avoid that spot as it belongs to someone who will defend it adamantly.

5) Street Cleaning Day

Finally, there is one more circumstance in which you should be careful where you park. Between April and November, street cleaning teams work from neighborhood to neighborhood and while they are active or scheduled, parking is not permitted. Keep an eye out for bright orange signs and avoid those areas between 9am and 3pm.

6) Book it with ParqEx

Of course, with the right preparation, there’s no need to worry about where and when to park. Residents who understand the system and have their own personal parking spaces are there to help. Through the ParqEx mobile app, you can find an available parking spot near your desired location, book it, and park there secure in the knowledge that you won’t get towed, ticketed, or come back to an angry message about ‘dibs violations’. With ParqEx, we’ve got you covered.

For more tips about parking in Chicago or anywhere else in the US, contact us today!

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Infographics

Follow this infographic from msn autos for practical information on what it means to be prepared for a cold Chicago winter. These tips are not only preparation for on the road but inside your vehicle as well this season. Be prepared and most of all be safe.

Parking technology has exploded and made one of the most difficult things (parking) a little less hassle-free. Private Parking Technology Platforms like ParqEx provide the opportunity to pre-book available parking prior to arrival. In addition, reserving your spot before you walk out the door. It reduces one avenue of parking woes when making the trek into the heart of winter to battle the beast of Chicago parking.

Finally, please read more for additional tips on driving and parking in Chicago during the winter, and for more information on how our ParqEx app can help you find winter parking in Chicago.

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It’s a fascinating topic in a variety of contexts. But for us, the most compelling thing to watch may be how this new age of driverless cars will impact parking in cities like Chicago. Join us for a discussion on the evolution of autonomous driving, the continued (but changing) needs for parking spots, and a look at what the future may hold.

Some Definitions to Start

One of the most difficult aspects of discussing this topic tends to be the various terms. It’s tempting, for example, to consider driverless, autonomous and connected interchangeably. In reality, though, the differences between these terms are subtle but important:

• Connected cars. The first step of the driverless evolution is already in existence today. Connected cars communicate both with the driver, and with other cars on the road to improve safety for all. Features include brake and parking assistants, real-time route calculations, and more.
• Autonomous cars. As the name suggests, autonomous vehicles can navigate most everyday traffic situations on their own. Drivers can and should still interject as needed, but in well-known traffic areas, Tesla (and a handful of other cars) can already drive relatively well on their own.
• Driverless cars describe the potential end point of the technology. They are connected to a larger network, and can drive entirely on their own; in fact, they won’t require a driver at all. Google’s Waymo prototype is the closest we have gotten to this technology so far.

The State of the Driverless Market

We’re at an exciting but also uncertain point of the driverless explosions. As mentioned above, only prototypes of the above-mentioned final step of the process exist. At the same time, the technology is now advanced enough that within a few years, driverless will move from a novelty to a well-known (if expensive) alternative.

In fact, some estimates put the sales of fully autonomous vehicles at $6 billion and partially autonomous vehicles at $36 billion by 2025. Experts believe that by 2030, we should see an adoption rate of at least 30% among car-owning consumers.

We’re not there yet. In fact, a recent survey showed that almost half (49%) of motorists in the UK are not interested in the technology. Given the benefits of driverless cars, from safer roads to traffic efficiency, that number will begin to drop as the technology becomes more easily available. In the meantime, it’s up to startups like us to determine just how this fast-growing market will impact parking, especially in urban areas like Chicago.

The Need for Parking in Crowded Areas

Anyone familiar with Chicago parking apps of any kind is already familiar with a problem shared by countless others in metropolitan areas. Parking is an annoying complication of everyday life. In addition to countless local news stories outlining the issues, Chicago has actually been named the Worst Place to Park a Car based on both high cost and low availability of spots. Other metropolitan areas, of course, are not far behind.

And yet, parking is crucial. If you own a car, you need to find a place for it. Given that the average car is idle 95% of the time, the parking spot should be a crucial consideration for any vehicle owner.

At the same time, lack of space is not necessarily a problem. A recent study found that the United States has roughly 1 billion parking spots, four times as many as vehicles existing in the country today. Lack of space is not the issue; finding the right parking spot quickly and easily is.

That’s what makes markets like Chicago so perfect for parking apps and startups like ours. We help homeowners, property managers, and REITs take advantage of the space they already own, while providing better parking possibilities for drivers. Driverless parking will change that dynamic, but it will not eliminate it.

Evolving Parking Needs in the Age of Driverless Cars

Driverless cars will streamline traffic, and improve convenience for all that take advantage of it. The need to own your own vehicle will be reduced, and with less cars on the road, fewer parking spots will be necessary. As researcher Alain Kornhause told PC World last year,

“the biggest impact (of autonomous vehicles) is going to be on parking. We aren’t going to need it, definitely not in the places we have it now… If I go to a football game, my car doesn’t need to stay with me. If I’m at the office, it doesn’t need to be there. The current shopping center with the sea of parking around it—that’s dead.”

It’s a natural conclusion: if you don’t own a car, you don’t have to worry about parking it. But at the same time, these cars still need a space where they can be kept until they’re needed again. Parking is still necessary; just different.

For starters, as ChicagoInno points out, transportation needs will need to be customized depending on their audience. A high-profile real estate developer, for example, will probably require a different service (and car) than a college student just trying to get to campus. That degree of customization will require a higher number of individual self-driving cars, available to a multitude of audiences at short notice.

Especially if you’re renting out your parking spot through an app like ParqEx, driverless cars could present another opportunity. Now, you can rent the space not to individuals, but to autonomous vehicle companies looking to ‘store’ their cars before the next trip. Ideal parking spots would likely be in residential areas, making your spaces a perfect base for their needs.

A Long-Term Solution to a Persistent Problem

We’re not there yet. Autonomous driving has captured the headlines consistently over the past few months and even years, but has not yet reached a point of go-to-market readiness for the transportation area. And even when it does, adoption will be slowly, and we may not get to see a 100% adoption rate of driverless cars for another 80 years.

But at the same time, the technology is undoubtedly advancing. Google and Uber are expanding their test markets, and Tesla is already rolling out semi-autonomous platforms on all of its vehicles. If you’re planning to monetize your space for parking spots, understanding the future of this technology is crucial for long-term viability.

Parking, especially in urban areas, is a problem. The bad news for car owners, and the good news for you if you’re renting out space, is that it won’t stop being a problem anytime soon. As long as people want to visit your area, they’ll need parking spots, whether that be for their own vehicles of the driverless alternatives that got them there.

And when that happens, you can monetize the opportunity with a connected car app like ParqEx. In fact, our Private Parking Marketplace allows you to make money from your vacant space if you have it, or easily find parking alternatives if you need them. Contact us to learn more and sign up.

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Still, it is nice to have help once in awhile. Luckily, parents now have access to a number of amazing services and products out there which help navigate the ins and outs of putting out a kind and upstanding member of society. Some of the best of these services can be found within the sharing economy circle.

Want to learn more about how the sharing economy can make your life as a parent a bit less stressful? Read on to learn about our favorite parent-friendly businesses that are a part of the growing sharing economy.

1.) Ride Sharing

Bringing a kid along on public transportation is not impossible, but it isn’t always easy either. This becomes even more true when you find yourself lugging two or three kids along.

This is where ride-sharing services can step in to help. Services such as Uber and Lyft help you get where you need to go without the need for riding a bus or train. This can be lifesaver for new parents or those caring for more than one child at a time. Best of all, Uber offers an option for a pre-installed car seat in some cities, making the whole process an absolute breeze.

2.) Book parking in advance – and closer to your destination

Speaking of getting around town with kids, sometimes it isn’t the transportation that’s the problem, but rather the parking. If you are a person who prefers to drive their own vehicle, but often has trouble finding parking spots that are close enough for young children to walk to and from, you may find parking sharing services such as ParqEx helpful.

ParqEx gives customers the opportunity to rent parking spots from locals, making it easy to find a convenient place to park, no matter where you are headed. You can find parking or list parking in seconds using the ParqEx app or website – and save time, energy and money.

3.) Baby Gear Borrowing

Okay, so obviously you want to own your own stroller and highchair. However, if there is a particular big item you want to try before you buy, or if you want to rent a stroller once you arrive at a vacation destination, peer-to-peer baby gear rental is an amazing resource. The new company goBaby provides an easy way to rent baby gear from individuals for a reasonable price, making it perfect for all parents.

4.) Make Use of Old

Very rarely do babies and toddlers wear out their clothing before outgrowing it, and honestly, older kids don’t often get full use out of their tiny wardrobes. Therefore, it just makes sense to sell those lightly used clothes and buy some bigger, almost-new items in exchange. Luckily, companies such as thredUp make this possible and as simple as can be.

5.) To-Do List Helpers

Let’s face it, there is no way any parent could ever reach the end of their to-do list. From household chores to expectations from the kid’s school, there are just too many things to keep up with.

That said, the sharing economy can help a busy mom or dad check off a few extra items. Businesses such as TaskRabbit offer personal assistant services, making them accessible to the average joe. This could be a game changer for those parents who feel they are drowning in errands and chores.

6.) Sitter Trade-Off

Occasionally, you just need a few minutes to get some work done or eat in peace, and SittingAround gives you just that. In return, you simply offer other parents the same little bit of sanity. Babysitter co-ops like these are a growing trend that we think makes perfect sense.

7.) Are you a parent to a dog, too? 

Sometimes parents have so much on their plates that walking the dog becomes a huge hassle. Wag! makes dog ownership easier by connecting dog owners with dog lovers in their community. With this sharing economy app, dog owners can hire dog lovers on-demand for dog walking, dog sitting, or dog boarding services 7-days a week. It’s like Uber for dog-walkers!

8.) Have a “Schlepper” Help You Move

Need to move a couch but need to go to your kid’s soccer game instead? Schlep is an on-demand moving service that allows customers to book a “schlepper” to help you move things from point A to point B. Simply book a moving date and time, tell the schlepper where the item(s) is and where it’s going and allow the schleppers to save you time.

Want to learn more about how you can make good use of the sharing economy as a parent? We would love to hear from you! Please contact us today.

The post How Parents Can Save Time, Energy and Money using the Sharing Economy appeared first on ParqEx.

The High Cost of Parking 

One of the most common complaints of people in large urban areas, whether tourists, business travelers, or locals, is that there’s a lack of parking. Parking that’s available is often very expensive – ranging anywhere from $25 a day in Chicago to $65 a day. For condo owners, parking spaces can cost a fortune. A Center for Neighborhood Technology report reveals that, in Chicago, the cost to build a personal parking spot can be more than $37,000 – and purchasing a parking space to own can cost over $50,000 in some of Chicago’s high-rise condo garages. Similar situations exist in other large cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The absurd truth is that parking spaces cost more than some people earn in a year. This means that, in many cities, only the affluent can afford adequate parking.

The exorbitant cost of parking often makes it difficult and impractical to build new parking spaces. Quite simply, many communities can’t afford to provide more parking. One study of 12 American cities found that the average cost to build a parking space is $24,000 for above-ground and $34,000 for below-ground spaces. These prices assume that the owner already owns the land. Because of this, residents ultimately pay the costs of new parking facilities. This is one of the causes of rising rents, even for people who don’t own cars. So-called free parking is not a solution. Access Magazine reports that free parking requirements raise the cost of housing and reduce density. In other words, the cost is invisible but people are still paying it. And according to CNT, the supply of parking in 4 cities (Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Seattle) far exceeds demand. Buildings offer two spots for every 3 units, and in reality (due to the ~33 percent average vacancy) they only need one for every three.

The Environmental Impact of Parking

When people talk about the environmental costs of automobiles, they’re usually talking about moving vehicles. Parking, however, creates its own environmental problems. For one thing, the current parking model is extremely wasteful. People are paying high fees for spaces they only need during certain hours. The above-cited CNT report found that one-third of off-street residential parking spaces are empty at night. If the average person uses these spaces for work, that means that they only need the space for 40-50 hours per week. In a world where, particularly in large cities, there’s a lack of space for affordable housing, this is a significant issue.

There’s also the fact that free parking encourages people to drive. When downtown areas, for example, provide lots of parking access, people who might otherwise take a bus, tram, or train are more likely to drive. A study by Chris McCahill of the State Smart Transportation Initiative found clear evidence that excessive parking causes more driving. This not only means that people with cars tend to drive more, it also influences people’s decisions to own a car at all. In urban areas with extensive public transportation, owning an automobile is often a choice rather than a necessity. More driving, of course, creates a variety of environmental problems, such as air pollution. There’s also the less measurable factor of stress that accompanies traffic jams, which impacts public health. And according to Donald Shoup’s study released in 2011 titled Free Parking or Free Markets, 30 percent of cars in congested downtown traffic are searching for parking. If these “searches” booked their parking in advance, traffic and pollution would be substantially reduced and time and gas would be saved.

It’s safe to say that the current parking paradigm is outdated and full of serious problems. The solution is not to build more parking garages. It’s similar to the supposed solution of building more roads to control traffic. Evidence shows that more roads lead to more traffic. The same is true for parking. What’s needed is a completely new way of handling parking.

The Parking Alternative

Companies like ParqEx, SPOT and JustPark use the Airbnb model to address the urban parking challenge. The basic idea behind all sharing or collaborative economy platforms is to provide services as needed in a fast and efficient manner, by using technology. Consider the difference between the hotel model and the Airbnb model. A hotel has a static number of rooms, whether anyone is using them or not. Meanwhile, Airbnb lets travelers rent space in people’s homes as an alternative to hotels, motels, and B & Bs. In addition to providing people with cheaper rooms, this reduces the need for more hotels and allows people to make some supplemental income.

One major benefit of this type of arrangement is the convenience for consumers, who simply order services by using an app. With these sharing economy “marketplace” apps, users simply search for a parking space and book the spot directly from the app. Not only does the renter gain access to more affordable and convenient parking, but he/she knows there is a spot waiting for them upon arrival. While companies such as SpotHero and ParkWhiz are primarily aggregators of commercial parking garages in downtown areas, the Airbnb model approach allows for individuals, businesses, churches, schools, anyone with a private parking spot(s) to list them on the app/website by the hour, day, week or month – whenever the spot(s) is available. Not only are parking spot owners making supplemental income from their underutilized parking spots, but they are helping their communities by opening up more parking supply in the neighborhood.

With many private parking spots being located behind garage doors or gates, ParqEx differentiates itself from its competitors with its innovative IoT solution called Access+. The Access+ system allows renters and approved users to open any garage door or gate with a click of a button on their smart phones. Implementing Access+ increases rental opportunities, improves transparency into garage usage, and provides great convenience for both owners and renters.

From a parking spot owner perspective, sharing economy parking apps provide a new source of income. Most owners are renting out spaces they already have, so they’re earning money on space that was previously unused. Owners can set their own prices, however, prices are generally lower than commercial parking lots or garages. This is generally true of Airbnb or other sharing economy models of business (like Uber vs. Taxis). Owners and renters engage with each other directly, eliminating the middleman. Since the service providers are not corporations and are using property (e.g. living space, vehicle, or parking space) that they already own, they can afford to set reasonable prices.

How The “Airbnb Model” is Transforming Parking

There are some significant benefits to society as this Airbnb of parking model becomes more and more mainstream.

Faced with a variety of challenges, urban planners are increasingly looking for ways to create “smart cities.” This involves collecting lots of data and finding innovative solutions to issues such as housing, transportation, crime, and other social issues. In some cases, the best solutions don’t require an expensive, centralized solution. ParqEx, SPOT and JustPark provide a smart parking alternative that only requires owners and renters to install an app. Some of the long-term benefits of using this type of smart parking include:

• More affordable, convenient parking for commuters, travelers, and city residents.
• Less need for additional parking facilities.
• More efficient use of resources may lead to less driving and traffic congestion.
• As more people use the app, even conventional parking options are likely to become easier, with less crowded free parking and lower rates for commercial parking.

The way the public has embraced other sharing economy services suggests that people are eager to find new and innovative solutions. More and more services are disrupting conventional business models. In addition to Uber and Airbnb, there are now collaborative solutions in healthcare, web-based services, and many other industries. It only makes sense that there’s also such an alternative for parking.

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There are several good Japanese restaurants in the West Loop — Sushi Dokku, High Five Ramen, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ — but we recommend Momotaro. Chicago Magazine named it Best New Restaurant of the Year in 2015, and if anything, they’ve improved since then. TimeOut Chicago called it elegant and delicious. It’s been named Chicago’s best restaurant for omakase.

Girl & the Goat is one of the most popular restaurants in the West Loop. Celebrity chef Stephanie Izard, whom you may have seen on Bravo’s Top Chef, has created a menu with bold tastes and unexpected combinations of flavors and ingredients. They actually have goat on the menu — goat carpaccio with trout roe, confit goat belly with lobster, crab, and fennel, goat empanadas with miso-blue cheese aioli — in addition to more expected fare like escargot ravioli and milk braised pork shoulder with pickled gooseberries. At least, at the Girl & the Goat those dishes are expected.

Avec started as a wine bar, and still has an excellent cellar, but now it’s a restaurant that combines fresh Midwestern ingredients with Mediterranean flair. One of their most popular items is the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates; another is the paella with confit chicken. Their lunch menu has several wonderful sandwiches: cod brandade on seed bread, slow roasted pork on ciabatta, chorizo-and-beef burger.

The Infatuation says “While Bar Siena serves solid food, a trip here is really more about the atmosphere as a whole.” We respectfully disagree: while the atmosphere is fun, we go to Bar Siena for the pasta and pizza. Whether you’re in the mood for agnolotti, gnocchi, lasagna, or ravioli, their pasta is sure to tempt your appetite.

If you’re craving Cuban cuisine, Ronero is the place to go. It’s a Latin restaurant and rum bar that focuses on Cuban food, but also has dishes from the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Chose from traditional dishes like arroz con pollo, Argentinian empanadas, and pescado frito (fried red snapper with rice and fried plantain).

Duck Duck Goat promises “reasonably authentic Chinese food,” and they deliver on that promise. A comfortable atmosphere combines with such menu items as goat belly lo mein, chicken chow fun, and moo shu pork to create a delicious dining experience. Try the shrimp won ton soup in a blueberry broth.

Viaggio Ristorante offers dishes from all over Italy, rather than focusing on just Tuscan or just Sicilian cuisine. The pasta dishes are hearty, with generous portions, and the service is friendly and attentive. Try the meatball salad; it’s one of their most popular dishes.

There’s an old joke that vegetarian is the Native American phrase for bad hunter. Bad Hunter isn’t a purely vegetarian restaurant — they do have some meat dishes — but they call themselves “veg-forward.” Their menu emphasizes dishes where the vegetables are the main ingredient, and the meat is more of an accent.

Au Cheval is “a diner-style bar and restaurant with a passion for eggs.” It’s a great place for a beer and a sandwich. Bon Appétit magazine named their cheeseburger the best in the country. The cheeseburger is their most popular item, but we’re partial to the toasted open-faced ham and cheese fondue with fried egg sandwich.  Be warned: you may have to wait to get a table.

For suggestions on where to go in Chicago, contact us. We’ll help you find interesting places to visit, and we’ll help you find affordable parking.

The post What Are the Top 10 Restaurants in Chicago’s West Loop? appeared first on ParqEx.

But where does that happen most? Which cities can claim the title best sports fans all for themselves? Here’s our ranking for the top 10 cities with the most passionate fan bases.

1.) Chicago

Chicago fans are deeply rooted in a sense of tradition. The Bears, Bulls, White Sox, and Cubs are all steeped in the history of their respective sports, while the Blackhawks have emerged as the the team in Chicago with the most longstanding success. Meanwhile, the Cubs just broke a century-long curse to lift the World Series trophy. Right now, Chicago boasts arguably the best teams in both the NHL and the MLB, and Chicago sports fans are loving it.

Heading to a Cubs game this season? Make sure you head to Deuces and the Diamond Club or Casey Morans before, during or after the game for the best game day atmospheres in Wrigleyville.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKC5c9cmryg

2.) Pittsburgh

In the Steel City, sports are a way of life. The Steel industry’s decline in the 1970s happened at the same time as the Steelers’ rise, making it a symbol for the working class. Today, the Steelers and Penguins are consistently among the best teams in their leagues, while the fans travel all over the country to support them with their swirling terrible towels.

3.) Seattle

NFL fans across the nation may now be sick of hearing about how loud CenturyLink Field can get. The Seahawks’ 12th Man is vaunted for the ferocity of its support. But the passion of the local fan base goes far beyond the NFL. Even though the Supersonics left for Oklahoma City a decade ago, basketball remains a passion for many. Attend a Sounders game, and the passion and volume of the attending fans makes you think that soccer is as popular stateside as it is in Europe.

4.) Portland

Speaking of soccer: the Portland Timbers have perhaps the most passionate fan base in the sport. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are generally mentioned among the teams with the biggest home court advantage in the NBA. Come to Portland, and you’ll immediately be swept up in a passion for sport.

5.) Philadelphia

They threw snow balls at Santa Clause, and are generally hated by most of their rival fan bases. But no one can doubt the passion of Philadelphia fans. From the Eagles to the Flyers and Phillies, they continue to sell out arenas and loudly criticize management if things don’t go their way. They can even got on the nerves of one of Philly’s own, Kobe Bryant. Philly fans may be negative, but it’s an outgrowth of their passion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rGUEL5nKs

6.) Boston

There’s a reason that the typical Boston sports fan is often referred to as a Ma**hole. And let’s face it, this fan base has been spoiled in recent years with constant winners like the Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. But let’s not forget that even when these teams were struggling, Boston fans passionately (and angrily) continued to support them and build their lives around them.

7.) Green Bay

When your city owns your NFL team, you know you have a loyal fan base. The Lambeau Leap gained fame because it’s a symbol of how closely Green Bay residents relate to their only professional sports team. The energy is focused, but passionate.

8.) New York

New York fans are merciless. They have high expecations, and will be vocal about expressing that sentiment. But they’re also loyal, attending games at Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, and MetLife Stadium regardless of their place in the standings. The Knicks and Yankees have arguably the two biggest fan bases in their respective sports, but that sometimes doesn’t translate to what we perceive as the “best fans.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egexCX8Ns-c

9.) Cleveland

Browns fans have embraced the suffering. Before LeBron James’ homecoming, they were perhaps the most tortured fan base in sports. And yet, instead of despairing, they continued following the Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians, which finally paid off in an NBA title last summer.

10.) New Orleans

For most of America, the NBA team’s switch to a Pelican a few years ago was a move worthy of ridicule. For New Orleans fans, it was a point of pride that added yet another bit of local connection to this passionate sports town. From the Saints to the Pelicans, the city’s reputation for worry-free partying tends to translate to its sports fandom, as well.

As a country, we love sports. But in some cities, following our favorite teams is just a bit more fun than in others. So if you’re looking to experience that passion and get some of the best parking for the next home game, download the ParqEx app to find parking and list parking in minutes!

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Baconfest – April 1

Bacon lovers can sample creative bacon dishes from some of the best chefs in Chicago, as well as cocktails, beer and wine designed to complement the meals. Festival attendees can buy tickets for either lunch or dinner admission, each of which offers a different roster of Chicago chefs and restaurants. Baconfest is held at the UIC Forum near downtown. Tickets range from $60-$200.

Chicago Improv Festival – April 1-2

The final weekend of the 20th Annual Chicago Improv Festival ends on April 1st and 2nd. The festival will welcome over 150 improv groups from all over the world. Shows and workshops take place at two venues within walking distance of each other: Stage 773 off W. Belmont Ave and the Athenaeum Theatre off N. Southport Ave. Check the festival schedule for info on times, venue and prices. Find that perfect parking spot between the two venues and enjoy the festival.

Shamrock Shuffle 8K – April 2

Work off all that indulging at Baconfest by signing up for Bank of America’s Shamrock Shuffle. Participants of this 8K through Grant Park receive a T-shirt, a medal, and access to the post-race party featuring live music and refreshments. Entry fees range from $50 to $55 depending on when you register for the race. Shamrock Shuffle’s website recommends attendees use public transportation or, if driving, allow for congestion and street closures on race day. ParqEx will come in handy for a high-traffic event like this.

International Quilt Festival – April 6-8

Get crafty at the International Quilt Festival in Rosemont. The festival offers tons of mixed-media classes and access to hundreds of vendors selling quilts, fabrics, supplies, gifts and more. Festival-goers can also observe four artists in an open studio working on individual projects. Admission ranges from $8-$25.

CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights – April 8

Local community radio station CHIRP Radio and Vintage Garage Chicago team up to host a fair at Plumbers Union Hall. Attendees can browse through thousands of crates of vinyl records, DVDs, CDs, posters and more. Vintage Garage Chicago will host a special-edition vintage fair in the lower level of the hall as well. Admission ranges from $7-$35.

Chicago International Movies and Music Festival – April 20-23

Also known as CIMMfest, the four-day festival in Logan Square showcases films, concerts, industry Q&As, panels, presentations and more. Keep an eye out on their website or Facebook event page for more information on passes and lineups to come.

Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) – April 21-23

This pop culture convention offers fans of comics, movies, television, anime, video games and more a weekend of entertainment in downtown Chicago. C2E2 hosts panels and screenings from these industries, as well as areas on the show floor dedicated to artists, designers, fashion, collectibles, and crafts. C2E2 is held in the South Building at McCormick Place off S. Lake Shore Drive. Passes range from $30-$70 for regular admission, while VIP passes run from $125 to $400. Parking at McCormick Place is available for a flat fee of $24 per day, so consider using the ParqEx app to avoid the rush of other convention attendees coming and going.

Chicago Artisan Chocolate Show – April 22-23

Sample some of the finest in artisan chocolate, foods and wine. Admission includes complimentary sampling from non-alcoholic exhibitors, talks, and demonstrations. Discount tasting coupons for wine and alcohol benefit the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The show will be held in the Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium in the Randolph Street Market District. Single admission ranges from $22.50-$40.

Vintage Garage Chicago – April 23

Didn’t get enough vintage browsing at the CHIRP Record Fair? Vintage Garage Chicago kicks off their sixth season of flea market shows on April 23. Flea markets are held every third Sunday (changed to the fourth for April due to Easter) in a three-floor parking garage in Uptown Chicago. Over 100 vintage vendors of furniture, clothing, jewelry, decor and more will be on site. Admission is $5 at the door.

Greek Independence Day Parade – April 30

The Greek Independence Day Parade, or Hellenic Heritage Parade, commemorates the 197th Anniversary of Greek Declaration of Independence. The free parade begins at 2:30 pm at Halsted and Randolph St. in Greektown.

Get to your event faster and avoid the hassle of searching for a parking spot: contact us to learn more about ParqEx. And for more information about things to do in Chicago, check out some of our other blog posts!

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