What is so great about Chicago?

Nuclear Bear

Nuclear Bear

1,000+ Posts
I have never been and will be going in the fall.

Chicago is probably the only city that I have NEVER, EVER heard anyone badmouth.

From my parents, to my friends, to people on these message boards everyone always raves about Chicago.

I know plenty of people that dislike New York, Miami, Memphis or Los Angeles, but I have yet to meet anyone that didn't have a blast when they went to Chi-Town.

Someone fill me in on what to expect.
 
Chicago is perhaps the most underrated large city in the country. Good food, music, sports, culture, people, transportation, entertainment, etc.
 
the only problem with chicago is the weather.

for about 5months of the year its freaking canadian cold.
 
the downtown area is much, much cleaner than the cities you mentioned. or at least it was when i was there.
 
Benson said what I was going to say. I went for the first time a few months ago, and was just blown away by how clean it was. It also did not seem as big as I thought it was going to be. There are a lot of cool things to do all within walking distance or a short cab ride (I recommend walking due to all the great places to eat, if you know what I mean).
 
You can thank the Miss O'Learys cow for the cleanliness. When the fire decimated the city, they basically had a clean slate when it came to downtown and added alleys. NYC has none, so it smells like **** and there is trash everywhere. I think its the same in San Fran

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I grew up in the burbs of Chicago, so didn't really get to experience the city. But as an adult I have gone back many times and try to stay downtown at least once a year. I have visited many large cities- New York, Atlanta, Miamia, London, etc..

Why it is different and great!
- People are great- even if you aren't from the city.
- Summer is always awesome! Lots of things going on or near near the lake
- Bars and food- plenty of great options. So many neighborhood bars. (unfortunately on my last visit my uncle told me that about 50% of those bars have been sold because of the land prices
- You don't have to be right on Michigan ave- lots of great neighborhoods and activites.
- The best Ballpark- wrigley!
- Lots of ethnic diversity- great Polish and italian food!
- If you visit in the winter- make sure it is in December around Christmas time. Nothing like walking down Michigan Ave at night and enjoying the lights!
 
i think it helps that all of the other major cities in that general part of the country are hellholes. so Chicago looks even better compared to them.
 
It is a world class city that is so damn unpretentious. The easiest people in the world to talk to. I know that sounds generic and not proveable, but I've met so many cool, interesting, nice Chicago folk while up there. No attitude. And the Chicago women I've dated have been really low maintenance, fun girls.

And there is just so much to do no matter what your interests are - museums, sports, architecture, shopping, music, dining, history. It's all there. I've already been twice this year - once for work in March and once for vacation in May. I'm going back in September when the Cowboys play the Bears at Soldier Field. Can't wait to go back.
 
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I've lived all over the world and Chicago is by far my favorite city. It has all the culture of New York with the easy going friendly nature of Texas. Restaurants, bars, museums, shopping, everything you could ever want. The only downside is that it gets damn cold and I hate the cold. But if you can handle the cold, I can't think of a better place in the world to live.
 
If you could transplant a little bit of Austin's vibe and winter weather to Chicago, you would have the perfect city. I love Chicago, and I agree with the poster who said it's the only big city that I'd actually give serious thought to living in.
 
no one has mentioned the miracle of "4 a.m. bars".

there's one callen "Bijan" that has really good food. really good.

also, there's some really smokin' tapas place that someone on here will name.

I went in Nov., and LOVED it. just walk around, check out all of the art/architecture, etc. they also have a shopping district that will blow you away.

and as many have said, it is just EXTREMELY clean/pretty to look at.
 
Greatest city in the world for about 6 months of the year.....the winters can be brutal.

One of the coolest things about Chicago is the fact that unlike a lot of cities that you can literally walk from the happening parts of the city to a freaking "beach" in the summertime.....granted its not a tropical "beach" and its on a "Lake".....but none the less really cool!

I feel like i gain 15 pounds everytime i go! FOOD!
 
Who here has been to Grant Park for Lollapalooza? I'm headed there for the Pearl Jam show next Sunday?

And yes..Chicago is the tits
 
Okay, I hate to smash the love fest, but I HATE Chicago

HATE

The things that I hate the most (in no particluar order)

The weater from November to almost the beginning of April blow ***. Not little ***, we are talking Rosie O'Donnell here. Its cold, the snow sucks after a week, and the skies are grey. I stand by my statement that "Snow is the most overrated form of precipitation," and Chicago does nothing but promote that ideal.

The people (I have met) are nothing but transplanted mid-westerners that want to thumb their nose back at Nebraska/Iowa/Indiana/other parts of Illinois to let them know they made it. The people that actually grew up in Chicago are normally better, but those seem few and far between.

Traffic blows *** and parking is a *****. You can take the L during the non-blizzard months, but nobody wants to wait at the train in the snow. I hate taking cabs because who wants to add $30~40 just to go to Pizza and Oven Grinder.

Its freaking expensive. When you go to a bar and the cheapest beer is an Old Style for $7, you have to ask WTF.

Labor Unions suck ***

The girls really are not that pretty. Are there some good looking women? Of course, its a big city. But most of the girls, even the ones with fantastic bodies, have faces like that of Gary Busey after a two week bender.

Navy Pier sucks donkey balls and the three showings of Second City I've seen we're less funny than SNL cerca 2003.

Carol's bar now has a freaking line.

Also, Cubs fans are the most annoying breed known to man since Red Sox fans before 2004. They haven't gotten past the first round of the playoff since God knows when, and then they suddenly put on White Sox jerseys/hats when they beat my Astros. You grew up in Denver. You were never a south sider and couldn't point our Bridgeport on a map. You can't talk **** to me. Wrigley feild is a ball lover's dream though. If only it weren't for the fellows that are Completely Useless By September.

Its not all bad though.

When its not snowing, the L is a fantastic way to get around. The zoo is free. The summer weather is nice, and I love Lou Malnatis.

But if you gave me a choice between any big city except LA and Miami and Chicago, you can guaran-god damn-tee you won't see me in the Second City.
 
i was at lollapalooza last year at grant park

to say it beats the **** out of zilker is a gross understatement
 
Nothing to really add. I went to ChiTown last week for Thanksgiving and you all's description of the city are dead on accurate.

Chicago is a large city, but its not overwhelming like NYC and its not overwhelmingly spread out like LA. As people above mentioned it never seemed like a really big city, unless you got into the heart of dowtown. its not like Los Angles with millions of cars everywhere and a traffic jam on every major street and every major highway.

I think the lack of pretentiousness comes the fact that the fashion inudstry isn't as big there as it is in LA or NYC. You still have a lot of world class type of people, but not as many famous people. That combined with the general friendly nature of the midwest gives you a much friendlier big city than most.

Another thing that surprised me was how clean the city was. I must not have seen them, but the low income neighborhoods I saw on the south side of Chicago didn't look anywhere as bad as some of the rough neighorhoods in NYC, Miami, New Orleans.


I described Chicago to my friends as a minature New York without all the ********.
 
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