Chicago(ish) : the catchall name for Illinois suburbia that college kids proudly put in their Instagram bios.

The idea of Chicago feels straightforward, but as someone from the beautifully desolate suburbs 20 minutes away from the city (no, not Naperville), it’s easier to say I’m from Chicago(ish). The city of Chicago is the gem of the “Land of Lincoln” state, a dominant city that is more well-known to non-Midwesterners. But the “ish” is my built-in disclaimer so I don’t anger the Chicago kids who live in the city. Clinging to Chicago as a geographical marker is pretty simple in introductions and social media bios, but looking deeper into the “ish” reveals a charming narrative — the experience of the Midwestern suburban dream.

The suburbs surrounding Chicago represent the epitome of the American Midwest — flat, farmland, extreme weather, constantly driving from one neighborhood to the next, sitting around in people’s basements, eating at the same four local restaurants. The stretches of subdivisions are routine and predictable by design, with all the opportunities for entertainment at an arm’s length away.

Jewel-Osco is our backbone grocery store, supplying us with anything we need to fill our suburban lives — from last minute glue sticks and poster boards to festive baking supplies and funky birthday cards. Jewel-Osco is our crown gem, our reliable cheap bucket of wings, and our quick and easy way to entertain ourselves in Chicago(ish).

The Wisconsin Dells is our Disneyland, filled to the brim with dreams of cheese curds, cheese plates and the Cheese Castle . Illinois suburbanites swim from one indoor water park to the next — fighting for their lives in the nation’s largest indoor wave pool , or paying homage to the shutdown Upside-Down White House . A 3-hour drive up north of Chicago(ish) reveals a Midwestern dream, with an unbeatable cost-to-experience ratio. Instead of traveling across the nation to Universal Studios, suburbanites create lasting memories in unthemed amusement parks for a fraction of the cost and time.

Oakbrook Center mall is our Times Square, where suburbanites from across the state gather to roam around until dark. High schoolers shamelessly take photoshoots on the lawn, college kids happily shop with their parents during breaks and families can pick between two (!!) different AMC theaters at the same mall. It’s a major commercial intersection, suburban destination, an entertainment hub parallel to New York City’s photo allure, shopping craze, and Broadway whiz. Jewel, the Dells, the Mall — all principal elements of the quintessential Midwest suburban dream. There’s a distinct sense of simplicity and charm to “ish” of Chicago. On the plate there’s just corn and mashed potatoes, but local market chains, strip malls, and road trips to water parks add all the butter and seasoning needed to make it comfort food.

It takes a simple train ride to crawl out of the “ish” and into Chicago and reach Malibu Beach (Lake Michigan). Suburbanites can sprawl out on the half-concrete half-sand of Oak Street Beach, and if we’re lucky take a dip in water that’s otherwise below-freezing for 75% of the year. After drying off, suburban folk explore the American Girl Doll Store for hours, reminisce about Sears Town and then wistfully make it back home for dinner before 8 pm. For suburbanites, the proximity to the city opens a realm of possibilities with minimal effort. The beauty of living in the “ish” is that the skyline is always in the background, rather than a permanent lock screen. After a day of urban “Gossip Girl” adventure, suburbanites can retreat to the quiet barren corn fields of Hinsdale.

It’s a beautiful paradox to live in the “ish” of Chicago — where life is both full and yet understated. You dwell in a space filled with pride in the simplicity of the suburbs and the thrilling shared disappointment of downtown construction. There is solace in being Chicago adjacent, embracing and being a part of the energy of the city while unwinding in the middle of nowhere.