"Chicago. Purely American." Chicago by acemj

Chicago Travel Guide: 5,832 reviews and 11,868 photos

Chicago . . . My kinda' town.
No other town combines culture, energy and all the perks of a mega-metropolis with a Midwestern neighborhood feel as well as Chicago!

One of my favorite poets, Carl Sandburg spent most of his writing career here. Here are some lines from his famous poem "Chicago":

"Hog Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight
Handler:
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of Big Shoulders . . ."


And some other thoughts from Norman Mailer:

"New York is one of the capitals of the world and Los Angeles is a constellation of plastic, San Francisco is a lady, Boston has become Urban Renewal, Philadelphia and Baltimore and Washington wink like dull diamonds in the smog of Eastern Megalopolis, and New Orleans is unremarkable past the French Quarter. Detroit is a one-trade town, Pittsburgh has lost its golden triangle, St. Louis has become the golden arch of the corporation, and nights in Kansas City close early. The oil depletion allowance makes Houston and Dallas naught but checkerboards for this sort of game. But Chicago is a great American city. Perhaps it is the last of the great American cities."
- - - Norman Mailer, "Miami and the Siege of Chicago," 1968

  • Intro Updated Apr 28, 2004
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Reviews (27)

Comments (67)

  • Nemorino's Profile Photo
    May 20, 2005 at 1:09 AM

    My father used to work in one of the squalid little buildings that were torn down to make room for the Sears Tower.

  • Muya's Profile Photo
    Jan 23, 2005 at 8:27 AM

    Interesting informations and great memories ! Chicago is my very first step in America...hope to go back some day and visit more ! Thanks for visiting my pages !

  • bugalugs's Profile Photo
    Oct 2, 2004 at 9:45 AM

    A great page, I liked the pics and such an informative page. Is the Wrigley field something to do with Wrigleys chewing gum?

  • keeweechic's Profile Photo
    Apr 27, 2004 at 9:42 PM

    Now I have heard of the Magnificent Mile but didn't know about quite so much cultural activities. Lots of great food. I have a pin from the House of Blues:-) I'd really love to visit.

  • pedersdottir's Profile Photo
    Mar 17, 2004 at 12:30 PM

    Generally interesting info on a vibrant city, with one minor correction: the Botanic Gardens are at Lincoln Park, not Navy Pier.

  • MajaBelgrade's Profile Photo
    Feb 7, 2004 at 8:16 PM

    Great information and beutiful photos. Thanks

  • diocletianvs's Profile Photo
    Feb 1, 2004 at 10:57 AM

    F.L.Wright, L. Sullivan, Chicago school of architecture, first skyscrapers,.... plus en elevated trains - it would be a paradise for me! (Hope you'll support me againts the skyscraper-haters in Zagreb :-)

  • deecat's Profile Photo
    Jan 7, 2004 at 8:58 AM

    I was delighted to see that someone who is so well traveled would include wonderful Chicago in his travels. Great information.

  • micas_pt's Profile Photo
    Aug 6, 2003 at 6:33 PM

    Thanks for the great photos on Chicago. I loved my 3 day visit there, back in 2000, ... hope i return soon. :-)

  • zrim's Profile Photo
    Mar 12, 2003 at 7:22 PM

    The Art Institute is one of the world's great places.

acemj

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