Chicago has made my top 5 favourite cities in the world. What a fantastic vibe and culture. The next time I’m walking the streets of Toronto and I hear an American observe how clean our city is, I may just have to excuse myself and assume they have never been to Chicago.
We pulled into Chicago Friday evening to a magnificent skyline, then proceeded to drive 40 minutes west to the suburb of Lombard, Illinois. Like most major cities Chicago has its nice parts and its poverty stricken parts. It feels as though we drove right up the gut of that separation. Bared windows, fist-fights in the streets — hello America. Lombard was a nice little town once we reached it’s city limits.
With limited time in this city we got right into it Saturday afternoon and hit the main drag Michigan Ave. Millennium Park and the Hancock Tower. I find it interesting how a giant mirrored bean can attract such attention — but being one that was also sucked in by its shine I can only conclude humanity is attracted to large shiny objects.
The view from atop the Hancock Tower is impressive and provides a nice overview of the city. I think you can also go up the Sears Tower, but it’s my impression that the Hancock provides a better view of the city. Looking down on Navy Warf and towards the Sears Tower on a blue sky day is soothing. I think the major difference you immediately notice between Toronto and Chicago (two cities of virtually equal size) is that Toronto has 10x more condos and obstructions, where Chicago has laid out their buildings such that they make sense and provide equal views. Imagine utilizing a waterfront for activity and not just walls of condominiums. Wait, don’t imagine just go to Chicago. The other difference is the lack of street meat in Chicago. It seems this arrangement results in a clear city and fewer pigeons making a mess of the sidewalk. Can I forgo street meet to live in the opulence of cleanliness? I think so.
No Trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to historic Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. We jumped the Red Line Train up to Addison on Sunday to marvel in the awe and enjoy a few pops. I wasn’t overly impressed by the stadiums exterior — I think it lives better in the mind. What is impressive is the homes behind that stadium that have added bleachers to their roofs as they are high enough to peer into the stadiums outfield. I was informed they pay a nominal fee to the Cubs for this privilege. We made it to the area just in time for me to purchase a retro fitted Cubs hat. I think they are my new ‘team’ as prior my team was loosely the Toronto Blue Jays. While we were in town the Cubs were playing the Sox at US cellular field. North side vs. South side. What a great day for a ball game — let’s play two.
Days of sun and nights of blues and jazz. Great atmosphere and great food. Chicago, we will meet again.
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