What are some things you love about Chicago?

[HeHateMe]

I just did a little trip. Hit up Sioux City SD, Omaha NE, Quad Cities and realized how much I love Chicago, as much as things can suck here. Friendly people in all those places, even more pronouncely friendly in a lot of ways, but they all suck compared to Chicago.

I don't know what to attribute it to, and I am far from being a city slicker elitist. It was just a little weird. There's a lot to love about Chicago and how certain things bind people together. I didn't get that sort of pride from any of these stops. Maybe I didn't stop long enough, probably the case, but this thread is for things you love about Chicago.

I'll start.

I was driving through Hickory Hills on my way back and saw some dude at a stoplight get out of his car and get a light for his cigarette from the driver next to him. They totally didn't know eachother and we were all waiting for a horsedriven Polish wedding caravan out of nowhere to clear the intersection and all was totally bro. Cops were kinda confused but cool, and shit was disorderly but orderly enough for people to cheer on the wedding party they didn't know out of nowhere. After we got through all that, we saw some of the people that were a little perturbed about the traffic hangup at Dukes where we got some beefs, and they were all so wholesome about it, weren't mad at all, just hungry.

I love that people put up with shit like this in Chicagoland and might be dicks but get over it. People do things big here sometimes and it's home for me even though it gets on my nerves.

 

[Happy Human 1001]

1- I was born and raised in Chicago proper(although I currently reside in the NW suburbs), and most non-miserable people have some love for where they grow up.

2 Chicago has fantastic architecture- skyscrapers downtown, also the bridges, parks (e.g. Millenium park) and 'public works' projects like Buckingham fountain - which aerates water for the sewage treatment system.

3 Chicago history is very interesting to me, and there is a lot of it. I always get a kick out of watching the Geoffrey Baer tours that WTTW shows (I don't know if people outside of Chicago area have access to these).

4 If you try hard enough, you can find virtually anything you want, that could conceivably be for sale, in the vicinity of Chicago. Most of the time, you won't have to drive too far.

 

[clonetrooper264]

Deep dish pizza

 

[inactiveuser1]

DePaul/Lincoln Park...my own slice of heaven

 

[Crystallas]

Anyone is welcome in Chicago, and that's not always the case the other way around in "friendly" places.

I've been to most major cities around the world, and the friendliest major city is Chicago by a long shot. Just based on my experiences, I would say #2 Hong Kong, #3 Bangkok, #4 Mexico City, #5 Taipei, #6 Denver, #7 Copenhagen, #8 Toronto, #9 Seattle, #10 Atlanta. Everyone's opinion would be different for sure, but I can't deny the sheer friendliness of people and just how night/day it was compared to places like NYC, DC, LA, Detroit, Tokyo.

Chicago is one of a kind. I missed it a great deal when I lived elsewhere. Now, people stereotype more here than almost anywhere. That I don't miss.

 

[HeHateMe]

Anyone is welcome in Chicago, and that's not always the case the other way around in "friendly" places.

I've been to most major cities around the world, and the friendliest major city is Chicago by a long shot. Just based on my experiences, I would say #2 Hong Kong, #3 Bangkok, #4 Mexico City, #5 Taipei, #6 Denver, #7 Copenhagen, #8 Toronto, #9 Seattle, #10 Atlanta. Everyone's opinion would be different for sure, but I can't deny the sheer friendliness of people and just how night/day it was compared to places like NYC, DC, LA, Detroit, Tokyo.

Chicago is one of a kind. I missed it a great deal when I lived elsewhere. Now, people stereotype more here than almost anywhere. That I don't miss.

That's what I was feeling. Midwest tour fail. But people were a hell of a lot more polite and courteous. Kind of like in the south but with a stiffer lip.

 

[Happy Human 1001]

Chicago is definitely a multi-cultural supportive environment. There is a wide variety of churches, schools and cultural centers for a whole bunch of different ethnic groups in and around Chicago.

I don't believe that much, if any, of Chicago violent crime is ethnic violence. The high murder rate in Chicago, I believe, is largely due to gang-bangers attempting to kill each other- and frequently hitting innocents while doing so.

 

[ChiSoxCity]

I love how beautiful Chicago is... the parks, the architecture and the people.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

I can't speak to living there but there's absolutely nowhere I'd rather visit. if I had more money, I wouldn't really go other places, I'd visit Chicago more often lol

the architecture, the food, the history, there's always something to do, people are generally approachable and nice, the music scene, and of course sports. Even though the Cubs are the only Chicago team I root for, there's so much to appreciate about the legacy of sports in Chicago and passionate fans.

 

[Capt. Serious]

The Food

 

[HeHateMe]

Chicago is definitely a multi-cultural supportive environment. There is a wide variety of churches, schools and cultural centers for a whole bunch of different ethnic groups in and around Chicago.

I don't believe that much, if any, of Chicago violent crime is ethnic violence. The high murder rate in Chicago, I believe, is largely due to gang-bangers attempting to kill each other- and frequently hitting innocents while doing so.

Yeah. It's cray, but when I was in South Dakota, I had my car broken into.

I've lived in Uptown and Uke Village Chicago and now in Brookfield and have NEVER gotten my car broken into. When I was in chi in pretty gangbanger areas, I rarely felt unsafe, wasn't a part of that scene and the homies knew it. The crime that makes statistics around here is just business for the most part and undertandable. IDK know why in the **** i had to give a police report out in SD for some homeless person rifling through my ride lol....

 

[Happy Human 1001]

for the most part, if you don't get involved with shady people then shady business doesn't revolve back unto you.

Sometimes, shit just happens though...

 

[Omeletpants]

People have a misguided sense of pride of where they live. Fact is Chicago is mostly a shithole. Beat up old houses, pothole heaven, ridiculous traffic, shitty weather.....what more could you want?

I can think of 50 places just in this country I would rather live. Step outside your Bridgeport sensibilties and expand your horizons. There is more to life than deep dish pizza.

 

[Capt. Serious]

People have a misguided sense of pride of where they live. Fact is Chicago is mostly a shithole. Beat up old houses, pothole heaven, ridiculous traffic, shitty weather.....what more could you want?

I can think of 50 places just in this country I would rather live. Step outside your Bridgeport sensibilties and expand your horizons. There is more to life than deep dish pizza.

Here's what people think of your opinion, oh wait..

 

[brett05]

I love tons of things but one thing that is awesome is our weather. If you appreciate the seasons this is one of the places you can experience it all. From autumn leves, to blizzards, to heat waves to awesome fresh local food thanks to spring rains.

 

[Scoot26]

I love tons of things but one thing that is awesome is our weather. If you appreciate the seasons this is one of the places you can experience it all. From autumn leves, to blizzards, to heat waves to awesome fresh local food thanks to spring rains.

You know I'd be okay completely with the weather if true winter was only December/January (we can have all the cold, blizzards, ice during this time)..February mostly saw 30-40 degrees..March 40-50, April 50-60, May 60-70..so on...Fall arrived in September..Spring actually happened. That kind of thing.

 

[clonetrooper264]

There is more to life than deep dish pizza.

 

[WCL]

You know I'd be okay completely with the weather if true winter was only December/January (we can have all the cold, blizzards, ice during this time)..February mostly saw 30-40 degrees..March 40-50, April 50-60, May 60-70..so on...Fall arrived in September..Spring actually happened. That kind of thing.

Like this?

 

[brett05]

You know I'd be okay completely with the weather if true winter was only December/January (we can have all the cold, blizzards, ice during this time)..February mostly saw 30-40 degrees..March 40-50, April 50-60, May 60-70..so on...Fall arrived in September..Spring actually happened. That kind of thing.

It's hardly cold in Dec, it usually Jan and Feb that the real cold comes in. But yeah are springs are more in the 40-60 from Mar thru Early May. And Fall does come in Sept, just closer to the end.

 

[Iwritecode]

Snow on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is fine. Anything before or after that is too much.