| Page Views: 86,310 Last Visit to Chicago: February, 2005 I Live Here | Captivating City of "The Big Shoulders": Chicago by deecat - last update: Oct 22, 2008 |
Scenic Skyline | The Chicago River from Michigan Ave. Bridge |
"I have struck a city--a real city. And they call it Chicago. The other places do not count." Rudyard Kipling
I recently took this photograph (July, 2006) on a beautiful day in the city when my daughter Jill and I were celebrating my birthday. The sky was so beautiful that it looked fake. Believe me, it is not fake. Sometimes, I'm lucky with a photo taken with my digital camera, and the perfect shot results. This, I feel, is one of those times.
Chicago might be one of the most misunderstood cities in the United States. When people from other countries think of Chicago, they speak in terms of "gangsters", "Mob Bosses", "Murder Capitol", and "Second City." But, we who live in Chicago or near Chicago, know that those stereotypes are FALSE.
Chicago is one of the cleanest, safest large cities for tourist to visit.
It's a city with one of the best lakefronts... Lake Michigan.
Also, Chicago is filled with some of the best and most varied restaurants; it has the finest and best known shops which "line" the Magnificent Mile, the famed Water Tower Place as well as that great street, State Street, in the "Loop".
Beautiful, easily-recognized architecture is scattered throughout the city; it's a city with a reputation for a lively music scene with Blues Bars, Broadway Musicals, major Rock Concerts, and an Opera House.
In the category of Sports, Chicago shines. We have teams with great long histories and nationwide followings. The basketball Bulls with six Championships, The Black Hawks hockey team, The Chicago Bears Football team affectionately called, "The Monsters of the Midway:", and let me not forget the two great baseball teams: The Chicago White Sox from the South Side (The World Champs, 2005), and the Chicago Cubs from the North Side. My husband and I are, of course, Cub fans. My husband has followed them faithfully for 50 years!
The beaches along the lakefront are activity-packed, from the competitive Beach Volleyball games to the graceful Hand Gliding activity.
There are two zoos: The Brookfield Zoo (Large zoo located in a nearby Western Suburb) and the city zoo, Lincoln Park, which, by the way, has FREE ADMISSION.
The best positive characteristic about Chicago is its neighborhoods, which have kept the "flavor" of the immigrants who came here long ago.
There's Taylor Street with wonderful Italian Restarurants, Greek Town and its authenic eateries, Lincoln Square and its German food and Beer Fests, Chinatown, South Side with its wonderful Soul Food as well as a myriad of other nationalities and their food specialties.
I've often thought that even if I ate in a different restaurant every day from now until the end of my life, I would not have eaten in all of them...and I 'm talking about restaurants that serve GREAT food.
We're not a Second City, just a different kind of city. |
| Crown Fountain in Millennium Park |
|  | Facts You Might Not Know About Chicago "Chicago likes audacity and is always willing to try something once; no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you set out to do, Chicago will give you a chance." Lincoln Steffens, journalist & muckraker, c. 1900
I did some reading about Chicago's history before I started these pages so that I could glean some insights into the personality of the City.
I found out some things I never knew and will share them with you.
1. The first nuclear chain reaction
took place in Illinois at THE
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO in
1942.
2. Pinball was invented in 1930
in an Outdoor Games Company
in CHICAGO.
3.The first Aquarium opened in CHICAGO in 1893.
4. The Home Insurance Building
was built in 1885 in CHICAGO,
being the world's FIRST modern
skyscraper. |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Clean, friendly, vibrant, soulful, musical, sport's minded yet filled with culture and art" | | Cons: | "In some neighborhoods there are gangs and drugs just like all big cities" | | In A Nutshell: | "A Working Man's City with a Sophisticated Edge" |
deecat's Chicago Travel Tips
 deecat's Chicago Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for deecat about Chicago | | | | |
VeronicaG Mon Nov 2, 2009 22:56 UTC
You've certainly got a wonderful choice of restaurants in Chicago, Dee! I just checked out your latest restaurants tips since my last visit....enticing as usual. You've got my mouth watering for a juicy steak! Have a good week. | 807Wheaton Mon Sep 21, 2009 19:45 UTC
Reading your tips is a trip down memory lane with my grandmother. as the tour guide. The last time I was in Chicago was in the late 70s to see the King Tut Exhibit. We definitely need to plan another visit when we make a trip "up North" ....... | jillzi Fri Sep 18, 2009 20:15 UTC
Just completed the last pages I've been wanting to see. These pages are a masterpiece of Chicago..The city should be paying you for your positive comments, beautiful photographs, & brilliant narration. This is most amazing. What a city. | LoriPori Fri Sep 11, 2009 19:02 UTC
Hello Dee: Great new restaurant tips. The Uzbeki food and the 10 oz Prime Rib at the Saloon Steak House sound Yummy for the Tummy. Actually I think I'll treat myself to BBQ steak tonight. |
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