Chicago

[Craig]

I lived in Chicago for two years in the early 90's. It had been 20+ years since I had been there, but I took the opportunity to visit last week. It is a great city and the media focus on violent crime does the city a disservice. I knew that, but it was confirmed over 4 days. With all that press, I just wanted to write about a good time.

I'm a baseball fan, a Baltimore Orioles fan in particular, as expressed in the retro logo I use as my avatar. The Orioles had a very unusual road trip on their schedule and a quirk had them in Chicago for an entire week. Interleague play had them in Wrigley Field for 3, just after a normal trip to the south side for 3 against the White Sox. My wife and I decided it was a fun reason to head there for a few days, so we began planning quite some time ago.

I first secured the tickets for the game, then began to search out other travel plans. The hotel options in Chicago are plentiful at most star levels but I couldn't find one that I felt compelled to stay in, so I decided to give the Name Your Own Price bidding a shot. It took a few days, but I secured a 4* hotel for 3 nights, in a great location just off Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), for a total, tax et al, of $360. That's less than some 4*s ask for one night. It was a good deal, but not great. The Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel is an old classic building with limited views and services, but is nicely upgraded and uses high thread count sheets, a nice luxury to which I've become accustomed. I read of a deal where the patron got a room for $99 and two vouchers for breakfast through TravelZoo. That's better. The hotel has nice history, with both Al Capone and Hugh Hefner having associations with the hotel in the past. It was once The Playboy Hotel. It was entirely sufficient and I was pleased with the price nonetheless.

My wife was impressed with the friendliness of literally everyone we met. Even the beggars were polite, telling us God Bless You and have a nice day even when we failed to give...She was also impressed with the great outside art throughout the city. One piece, the now 10 year old Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was especially fun. Very popular, it is best seen early in the morning.

We failed in tourism 101 though. Didn't chow down a single hotdog...nor a square of pizza. I say square...because I like Chicago thin crust and it gets cut into small squares...

I remembered what I liked about Chicago; the friendly people, the urban walking, the cultural side, music, art, theater, the great architecture...the setting by the lake. It's a great American city, no matter what you' may have recently read about crime. I'm glad I went back.


Cloud Gate...

I recommend a visit

 

[Dino]

I lived in Chicago for two years in the early 90's. It had been 20+ years since I had been there, but I took the opportunity to visit last week. It is a great city and the media focus on violent crime does the city a disservice. I knew that, but it was confirmed over 4 days. With all that press, I just wanted to write about a good time.

I'm a baseball fan, a Baltimore Orioles fan in particular, as expressed in the retro logo I use as my avatar. The Orioles had a very unusual road trip on their schedule and a quirk had them in Chicago for an entire week. Interleague play had them in Wrigley Field for 3, just after a normal trip to the south side for 3 against the White Sox. My wife and I decided it was a fun reason to head there for a few days, so we began planning quite some time ago.

I first secured the tickets for the game, then began to search out other travel plans. The hotel options in Chicago are plentiful at most star levels but I couldn't find one that I felt compelled to stay in, so I decided to give the Name Your Own Price bidding a shot. It took a few days, but I secured a 4* hotel for 3 nights, in a great location just off Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), for a total, tax et al, of $360. That's less than some 4*s ask for one night. It was a good deal, but not great. The Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel is an old classic building with limited views and services, but is nicely upgraded and uses high thread count sheets, a nice luxury to which I've become accustomed. I read of a deal where the patron got a room for $99 and two vouchers for breakfast through TravelZoo. That's better. The hotel has nice history, with both Al Capone and Hugh Hefner having associations with the hotel in the past. It was once The Playboy Hotel. It was entirely sufficient and I was pleased with the price nonetheless.

My wife was impressed with the friendliness of literally everyone we met. Even the beggars were polite, telling us God Bless You and have a nice day even when we failed to give...She was also impressed with the great outside art throughout the city. One piece, the now 10 year old Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was especially fun. Very popular, it is best seen early in the morning.

We failed in tourism 101 though. Didn't chow down a single hotdog...nor a square of pizza. I say square...because I like Chicago thin crust and it gets cut into small squares...

I remembered what I liked about Chicago; the friendly people, the urban walking, the cultural side, music, art, theater, the great architecture...the setting by the lake. It's a great American city, no matter what you' may have recently read about crime. I'm glad I went back.


Cloud Gate...

I recommend a visit

You're absolutely right, great city. Been there a lor for work and always have a good time with great tourist and dining spots. I love The Gage on Michigan, always delicious and fresh fare.

Lucky for you also, you stayed a long ways away from the troubled areas. One time while staying at the Wit we got back to our room one night to find out someone had been shot just blocks away, in mid-afternoon on the State Street bridge. People in the area were so upset, this was not a place for any normal street crime to occur. It's a great spot when you stick to its safest spots.

 

[Colorforms]

I lived in Chicago for two years in the early 90's. It had been 20+ years since I had been there, but I took the opportunity to visit last week. It is a great city and the media focus on violent crime does the city a disservice. I knew that, but it was confirmed over 4 days. With all that press, I just wanted to write about a good time.

I'm a baseball fan, a Baltimore Orioles fan in particular, as expressed in the retro logo I use as my avatar. The Orioles had a very unusual road trip on their schedule and a quirk had them in Chicago for an entire week. Interleague play had them in Wrigley Field for 3, just after a normal trip to the south side for 3 against the White Sox. My wife and I decided it was a fun reason to head there for a few days, so we began planning quite some time ago.

I first secured the tickets for the game, then began to search out other travel plans. The hotel options in Chicago are plentiful at most star levels but I couldn't find one that I felt compelled to stay in, so I decided to give the Name Your Own Price bidding a shot. It took a few days, but I secured a 4* hotel for 3 nights, in a great location just off Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), for a total, tax et al, of $360. That's less than some 4*s ask for one night. It was a good deal, but not great. The Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel is an old classic building with limited views and services, but is nicely upgraded and uses high thread count sheets, a nice luxury to which I've become accustomed. I read of a deal where the patron got a room for $99 and two vouchers for breakfast through TravelZoo. That's better. The hotel has nice history, with both Al Capone and Hugh Hefner having associations with the hotel in the past. It was once The Playboy Hotel. It was entirely sufficient and I was pleased with the price nonetheless.

My wife was impressed with the friendliness of literally everyone we met. Even the beggars were polite, telling us God Bless You and have a nice day even when we failed to give...She was also impressed with the great outside art throughout the city. One piece, the now 10 year old Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was especially fun. Very popular, it is best seen early in the morning.

We failed in tourism 101 though. Didn't chow down a single hotdog...nor a square of pizza. I say square...because I like Chicago thin crust and it gets cut into small squares...

I remembered what I liked about Chicago; the friendly people, the urban walking, the cultural side, music, art, theater, the great architecture...the setting by the lake. It's a great American city, no matter what you' may have recently read about crime. I'm glad I went back.


Cloud Gate...

I recommend a visit

Chicago is a lot of fun. Went on a ghost tour out there a couple of years ago. it was a blast. I actually had no idea that Clarence Darrow was buried within sight of the rear entrance to the Museum of Science and Industry. Which, by the way, if you ever get a chance, visit that and the Shedd Aquarium. They have a great dolphin show.

Wacker drive still has the Goatshead Tavern, which was portrayed on Saturday Night Live, and the guy behind the grill still does the "Cheese burger, Cheese burger, two chip, two pepsi".

 

[Craig]

You're absolutely right, great city. Been there a lor for work and always have a good time with great tourist and dining spots. I love The Gage on Michigan, always delicious and fresh fare.

Lucky for you also, you stayed a long ways away from the troubled areas. One time while staying at the Wit we got back to our room one night to find out someone had been shot just blocks away, in mid-afternoon on the State Street bridge. People in the area were so upset, this was not a place for any normal street crime to occur. It's a great spot when you stick to its safest spots.

There was a shooting on Lake Shore near Fullerton while we were there, but it was 3am...I think that day time shooting was the only one in the loop all year, if I recall the stats correctly.

But yeah...we weren't going to the troubled neighborhoods. The Gold Coast is...well...golden. 50 square blocks of urban mansions...

 

[Craig]

Chicago is a lot of fun. Went on a ghost tour out there a couple of years ago. it was a blast. I actually had no idea that Clarence Darrow was buried within sight of the rear entrance to the Museum of Science and Industry. Which, by the way, if you ever get a chance, visit that and the Shedd Aquarium. They have a great dolphin show.

Wacker drive still has the Goatshead Tavern, which was portrayed on Saturday Night Live, and the guy behind the grill still does the "Cheese burger, Cheese burger, two chip, two pepsi".

The Billy Goat Tavern...lower level Michigan Avenue...We had to go.

They have expanded. There is even one at O'Hare, C Terminal.

 

[Arkady]

I lived in Chicago for two years in the early 90's. It had been 20+ years since I had been there, but I took the opportunity to visit last week. It is a great city and the media focus on violent crime does the city a disservice. I knew that, but it was confirmed over 4 days. With all that press, I just wanted to write about a good time.

I'm a baseball fan, a Baltimore Orioles fan in particular, as expressed in the retro logo I use as my avatar. The Orioles had a very unusual road trip on their schedule and a quirk had them in Chicago for an entire week. Interleague play had them in Wrigley Field for 3, just after a normal trip to the south side for 3 against the White Sox. My wife and I decided it was a fun reason to head there for a few days, so we began planning quite some time ago.

I first secured the tickets for the game, then began to search out other travel plans. The hotel options in Chicago are plentiful at most star levels but I couldn't find one that I felt compelled to stay in, so I decided to give the Name Your Own Price bidding a shot. It took a few days, but I secured a 4* hotel for 3 nights, in a great location just off Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), for a total, tax et al, of $360. That's less than some 4*s ask for one night. It was a good deal, but not great. The Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel is an old classic building with limited views and services, but is nicely upgraded and uses high thread count sheets, a nice luxury to which I've become accustomed. I read of a deal where the patron got a room for $99 and two vouchers for breakfast through TravelZoo. That's better. The hotel has nice history, with both Al Capone and Hugh Hefner having associations with the hotel in the past. It was once The Playboy Hotel. It was entirely sufficient and I was pleased with the price nonetheless.

My wife was impressed with the friendliness of literally everyone we met. Even the beggars were polite, telling us God Bless You and have a nice day even when we failed to give...She was also impressed with the great outside art throughout the city. One piece, the now 10 year old Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was especially fun. Very popular, it is best seen early in the morning.

We failed in tourism 101 though. Didn't chow down a single hotdog...nor a square of pizza. I say square...because I like Chicago thin crust and it gets cut into small squares...

I remembered what I liked about Chicago; the friendly people, the urban walking, the cultural side, music, art, theater, the great architecture...the setting by the lake. It's a great American city, no matter what you' may have recently read about crime. I'm glad I went back.


Cloud Gate...

I recommend a visit

I haven't been there since the mid-90s, and I've got to admit it wasn't one of my favorite cities. I feel claustrophobic in cities with a lot of high-rises. I have the same issues in NYC. I prefer cities with just a handful of highrises. And it probably doesn't help that both my trips were on gray winter days. But, Chicago certainly has a lot going for it -- world class sports, decent high culture, a fair amount of history, lots of world-class museums, distinctive cuisine, etc. And I'd imagine the improvement since the early 90s must be tremendous, judged by the HUGE reduction in violent crime. The only thing that hasn't improved is the quality of the basketball, since then.

 

[Colorforms]

The Billy Goat Tavern...lower level Michigan Avenue...We had to go.

They have expanded. There is even one at O'Hare, C Terminal.

Yeah, that's the name. It's been a few years since I was there. They had one wall with a banner with this really long word that if you could pronounce, you would win a free meal or something along those lines.

I heard also that it was the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern who cursed the Cubs

 

[Dawg]

I lived in Chicago for two years in the early 90's. It had been 20+ years since I had been there, but I took the opportunity to visit last week. It is a great city and the media focus on violent crime does the city a disservice. I knew that, but it was confirmed over 4 days. With all that press, I just wanted to write about a good time.

I'm a baseball fan, a Baltimore Orioles fan in particular, as expressed in the retro logo I use as my avatar. The Orioles had a very unusual road trip on their schedule and a quirk had them in Chicago for an entire week. Interleague play had them in Wrigley Field for 3, just after a normal trip to the south side for 3 against the White Sox. My wife and I decided it was a fun reason to head there for a few days, so we began planning quite some time ago.

I first secured the tickets for the game, then began to search out other travel plans. The hotel options in Chicago are plentiful at most star levels but I couldn't find one that I felt compelled to stay in, so I decided to give the Name Your Own Price bidding a shot. It took a few days, but I secured a 4* hotel for 3 nights, in a great location just off Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), for a total, tax et al, of $360. That's less than some 4*s ask for one night. It was a good deal, but not great. The Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel is an old classic building with limited views and services, but is nicely upgraded and uses high thread count sheets, a nice luxury to which I've become accustomed. I read of a deal where the patron got a room for $99 and two vouchers for breakfast through TravelZoo. That's better. The hotel has nice history, with both Al Capone and Hugh Hefner having associations with the hotel in the past. It was once The Playboy Hotel. It was entirely sufficient and I was pleased with the price nonetheless.

My wife was impressed with the friendliness of literally everyone we met. Even the beggars were polite, telling us God Bless You and have a nice day even when we failed to give...She was also impressed with the great outside art throughout the city. One piece, the now 10 year old Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was especially fun. Very popular, it is best seen early in the morning.

We failed in tourism 101 though. Didn't chow down a single hotdog...nor a square of pizza. I say square...because I like Chicago thin crust and it gets cut into small squares...

I remembered what I liked about Chicago; the friendly people, the urban walking, the cultural side, music, art, theater, the great architecture...the setting by the lake. It's a great American city, no matter what you' may have recently read about crime. I'm glad I went back.


Cloud Gate...

I recommend a visit

I have a feeling you didn't visit the HOOD.................of course.

 

[Craig]

I haven't been there since the mid-90s, and I've got to admit it wasn't one of my favorite cities. I feel claustrophobic in cities with a lot of high-rises. I have the same issues in NYC. I prefer cities with just a handful of highrises. And it probably doesn't help that both my trips were on gray winter days. But, Chicago certainly has a lot going for it -- world class sports, decent high culture, a fair amount of history, lots of world-class museums, distinctive cuisine, etc. And I'd imagine the improvement since the early 90s must be tremendous, judged by the HUGE reduction in violent crime. The only thing that hasn't improved is the quality of the basketball, since then.

Winter = Bad. Do not go in winter.

Yes, the high rises block street light making winter even darker than usual, yet a high rise apartment may allow more light...and even tremendously expansive views, combating the claustrophobia.

With the entire lake front being open space, I find Chicago more open than NYC. A more reasonable scale can be found just a few blocks from the center in the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview etc. The northern burbs such as Evanston and Wilmette...are very very very nice. Still, winter...bad.

 

[Arkady]

Winter = Bad. Do not go in winter.

Yes, the high rises block street light making winter even darker than usual, yet a high rise apartment may allow more light...and even tremendously expansive views, combating the claustrophobia.

With the entire lake front being open space, I find Chicago more open than NYC. A more reasonable scale can be found just a few blocks from the center in the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview etc. The northern burbs such as Evanston and Wilmette...are very very very nice. Still, winter...bad.

Yeah, Evanston was nice, even in Winter. I was visiting Northwestern.

 

[connieb]

I lived in Chicago for two years in the early 90's. It had been 20+ years since I had been there, but I took the opportunity to visit last week. It is a great city and the media focus on violent crime does the city a disservice. I knew that, but it was confirmed over 4 days. With all that press, I just wanted to write about a good time.

I'm a baseball fan, a Baltimore Orioles fan in particular, as expressed in the retro logo I use as my avatar. The Orioles had a very unusual road trip on their schedule and a quirk had them in Chicago for an entire week. Interleague play had them in Wrigley Field for 3, just after a normal trip to the south side for 3 against the White Sox. My wife and I decided it was a fun reason to head there for a few days, so we began planning quite some time ago.

I first secured the tickets for the game, then began to search out other travel plans. The hotel options in Chicago are plentiful at most star levels but I couldn't find one that I felt compelled to stay in, so I decided to give the Name Your Own Price bidding a shot. It took a few days, but I secured a 4* hotel for 3 nights, in a great location just off Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), for a total, tax et al, of $360. That's less than some 4*s ask for one night. It was a good deal, but not great. The Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel is an old classic building with limited views and services, but is nicely upgraded and uses high thread count sheets, a nice luxury to which I've become accustomed. I read of a deal where the patron got a room for $99 and two vouchers for breakfast through TravelZoo. That's better. The hotel has nice history, with both Al Capone and Hugh Hefner having associations with the hotel in the past. It was once The Playboy Hotel. It was entirely sufficient and I was pleased with the price nonetheless.

My wife was impressed with the friendliness of literally everyone we met. Even the beggars were polite, telling us God Bless You and have a nice day even when we failed to give...She was also impressed with the great outside art throughout the city. One piece, the now 10 year old Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was especially fun. Very popular, it is best seen early in the morning.

We failed in tourism 101 though. Didn't chow down a single hotdog...nor a square of pizza. I say square...because I like Chicago thin crust and it gets cut into small squares...

I remembered what I liked about Chicago; the friendly people, the urban walking, the cultural side, music, art, theater, the great architecture...the setting by the lake. It's a great American city, no matter what you' may have recently read about crime. I'm glad I went back.


Cloud Gate...

I recommend a visit

What a cool pic.

My brother and his family are moving to a suburb of Chicago in the next year, so we hope to visit and check it out next summer. I am generally not a vacation in the city kinda girl. When I think "vacation" I think sun, sand, surf. And it doesn't hurt if there is pool or beach side drink service. But, every now and then its nice to switch it up and go urban.

 

[Craig]

What a cool pic.

My brother and his family are moving to a suburb of Chicago in the next year, so we hope to visit and check it out next summer. I am generally not a vacation in the city kinda girl. When I think "vacation" I think sun, sand, surf. And it doesn't hurt if there is pool or beach side drink service. But, every now and then its nice to switch it up and go urban.

Chicago has beaches. Miles of them. And pools. And liquor.

Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate (aka The Bean) is really fun. It has become a symbol of modern day Chicago in the short 10 years since the installation. We instantly began referring to it as "da bean"...to echo the classic Chicago accent.."da bears"...and "da bulls".

I enjoy both types of travel, just depends on the reason and the goal. We love to relax at a certain all-inclusive in Jamaica. We found it through travel agency nightmares (overbooking) and go back every couple of years...simply to lay on the beach. We have explored the island in the past, but now...we just lay on the beach. Nap. Float. Drink dirty bananas. Eat. Repeat. The beach trips are not active.

But the urban trips are of a completely different sort for us. Urban trekking is the primary activity. Architecture, secret gardens, public gardens, outside art, inside art. Simple exploration. The Balinese call it jeelang jeelang...sort of aimless wandering. To see what is there...as my wife says. In Chicago, there is a lot to see what is there.

 

[Craig]

I have a feeling you didn't visit the HOOD.................of course.

Why would I? The HOOD isn't part of most traveler's experience.

Chicago is 238 square miles large. Nearly 3 million people. As another posted, a downtown daylight crime was extremely unusual. The areas of interest to me are mostly downtown and on the north side.

We rode the RedLine to ATT Cellular and the Orange Line from Midway. walked everywhere else and talked to everyone. It was a good time in a great city.

 

[connieb]

Chicago has beaches. Miles of them. And pools. And liquor.

Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate (aka The Bean) is really fun. It has become a symbol of modern day Chicago in the short 10 years since the installation. We instantly began referring to it as "da bean"...to echo the classic Chicago accent.."da bears"...and "da bulls".

I enjoy both types of travel, just depends on the reason and the goal. We love to relax at a certain all-inclusive in Jamaica. We found it through travel agency nightmares (overbooking) and go back every couple of years...simply to lay on the beach. We have explored the island in the past, but now...we just lay on the beach. Nap. Float. Drink dirty bananas. Eat. Repeat. The beach trips are not active.

But the urban trips are of a completely different sort for us. Urban trekking is the primary activity. Architecture, secret gardens, public gardens, outside art, inside art. Simple exploration. The Balinese call it jeelang jeelang...sort of aimless wandering. To see what is there...as my wife says. In Chicago, there is a lot to see what is there.

We are looking forward to checking out the lake, but for me the lake beach is different. And, supposedly colder, but I guess I will find out. I am not really happy unless the water is warm and the sun is HOT. I have friends who went to the beach on the Pacific Northwest this summer and there are pics of them in their sweatshirts and wetsuits. No thanks. But, I am cold in anything under 75 degrees and don't even think about putting shorts on until its low to mid -80's. They have a boat they use here down on the bays near OC and think they may take it up there. I don't get in the water either way - too freaking cold But, the advantage of moving it there is no damn jellyfish.

connie

 

[Dawg]

Why would I? The HOOD isn't part of most traveler's experience.

Chicago is 238 square miles large. Nearly 3 million people. As another posted, a downtown daylight crime was extremely unusual. The areas of interest to me are mostly downtown and on the north side.

We rode the RedLine to ATT Cellular and the Orange Line from Midway. walked everywhere else and talked to everyone. It was a good time in a great city.

I didn't ask YOU
I ask Ark
evidently neither of you went to the nice HOOD in Chicago............scared or what?

 

[Craig]

I didn't ask YOU
I ask Ark
evidently neither of you went to the nice HOOD in Chicago............scared or what?

Yes. Yes you asked me, not Arkady...

No, not scared. Why would I be? Again....Chicago is a huge city, comprising 238 square miles and housing around 3 million people. The majority of major attractions for travelers are located in the loop, near north and north sides. There is no reason to visit the troubled neighborhoods as a traveler.

Indeed, even during my two years as a resident of Chicago, I never visited the particular neighborhoods that you seem to focus on. Sorry...I never made to the Austin neighborhood. It's a long way from where I lived in Lakeview.


Below is the post, mine, to which you responded.

↑
I lived in Chicago for two years in the early 90's. It had been 20+ years since I had been there, but I took the opportunity to visit last week. It is a great city and the media focus on violent crime does the city a disservice. I knew that, but it was confirmed over 4 days. With all that press, I just wanted to write about a good time.

I'm a baseball fan, a Baltimore Orioles fan in particular, as expressed in the retro logo I use as my avatar. The Orioles had a very unusual road trip on their schedule and a quirk had them in Chicago for an entire week. Interleague play had them in Wrigley Field for 3, just after a normal trip to the south side for 3 against the White Sox. My wife and I decided it was a fun reason to head there for a few days, so we began planning quite some time ago.

I first secured the tickets for the game, then began to search out other travel plans. The hotel options in Chicago are plentiful at most star levels but I couldn't find one that I felt compelled to stay in, so I decided to give the Name Your Own Price bidding a shot. It took a few days, but I secured a 4* hotel for 3 nights, in a great location just off Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), for atotal, tax et al, of $360. That's less than some 4*s ask for one night. It was a good deal, but not great. The Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel is an old classic building with limited views and services, but is nicely upgraded and uses high thread count sheets, a nice luxury to which I've become accustomed. I read of a deal where the patron got a room for $99 and two vouchers for breakfast through TravelZoo. That's better. The hotel has nice history, with both Al Capone and Hugh Hefner having associations with the hotel in the past. It was once The Playboy Hotel. It was entirely sufficient and I was pleased with the price nonetheless.

My wife was impressed with the friendliness of literally everyone we met. Even the beggars were polite, telling us God Bless You and have a nice day even when we failed to give...She was also impressed with the great outside art throughout the city. One piece, the now 10 year old Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was especially fun. Very popular, it is best seen early in the morning.

We failed in tourism 101 though. Didn't chow down a single hotdog...nor a square of pizza. I say square...because I like Chicago thin crust and it gets cut into small squares...

I remembered what I liked about Chicago; the friendly people, the urban walking, the cultural side, music, art, theater, the great architecture...the setting by the lake. It's a great American city, no matter what you' may have recently read about crime. I'm glad I went back.


Cloud Gate...

I recommend a visit

I have a feeling you didn't visit the HOOD.................of course.

 

[Dawg]

Yes. Yes you asked me, not Arkady...

No, not scared. Why would I be? Again....Chicago is a huge city, comprising 238 square miles and housing around 3 million people. The majority of major attractions for travelers are located in the loop, near north and north sides. There is no reason to visit the troubled neighborhoods as a traveler.

Indeed, even during my two years as a resident of Chicago, I never visited the particular neighborhoods that you seem to focus on. Sorry...I never made to the Austin neighborhood. It's a long way from where I lived in Lakeview.


Below is the post, mine, to which you responded.

↑
I lived in Chicago for two years in the early 90's. It had been 20+ years since I had been there, but I took the opportunity to visit last week. It is a great city and the media focus on violent crime does the city a disservice. I knew that, but it was confirmed over 4 days. With all that press, I just wanted to write about a good time.

I'm a baseball fan, a Baltimore Orioles fan in particular, as expressed in the retro logo I use as my avatar. The Orioles had a very unusual road trip on their schedule and a quirk had them in Chicago for an entire week. Interleague play had them in Wrigley Field for 3, just after a normal trip to the south side for 3 against the White Sox. My wife and I decided it was a fun reason to head there for a few days, so we began planning quite some time ago.

I first secured the tickets for the game, then began to search out other travel plans. The hotel options in Chicago are plentiful at most star levels but I couldn't find one that I felt compelled to stay in, so I decided to give the Name Your Own Price bidding a shot. It took a few days, but I secured a 4* hotel for 3 nights, in a great location just off Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), for atotal, tax et al, of $360. That's less than some 4*s ask for one night. It was a good deal, but not great. The Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel is an old classic building with limited views and services, but is nicely upgraded and uses high thread count sheets, a nice luxury to which I've become accustomed. I read of a deal where the patron got a room for $99 and two vouchers for breakfast through TravelZoo. That's better. The hotel has nice history, with both Al Capone and Hugh Hefner having associations with the hotel in the past. It was once The Playboy Hotel. It was entirely sufficient and I was pleased with the price nonetheless.

My wife was impressed with the friendliness of literally everyone we met. Even the beggars were polite, telling us God Bless You and have a nice day even when we failed to give...She was also impressed with the great outside art throughout the city. One piece, the now 10 year old Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was especially fun. Very popular, it is best seen early in the morning.

We failed in tourism 101 though. Didn't chow down a single hotdog...nor a square of pizza. I say square...because I like Chicago thin crust and it gets cut into small squares...

I remembered what I liked about Chicago; the friendly people, the urban walking, the cultural side, music, art, theater, the great architecture...the setting by the lake. It's a great American city, no matter what you' may have recently read about crime. I'm glad I went back.


Cloud Gate...

I recommend a visit

I have a feeling you didn't visit the HOOD.................of course.

1000 pardons, I thought I ask Ark............hell, figured you being a cabby you probably lived in the HOOD...............
I will have to correct this and ask who I thought I ask...........

 

[Craig]

1000 pardons, I thought I ask Ark............hell, figured you being a cabby you probably lived in the HOOD...............
I will have to correct this and ask who I thought I ask...........

I wasn't a cabbie in Chicago. I was a field manager for a radio research firm.

But...Chicago is a taxicab city. There are thousands of them. Hertz...yes, Hertz...may be responsible for the yellow cab color...

...In 1915, Chicago entrepreneur John Hertz (of future rental-car-company fame) opened the first Yellow Cab Company in his city. To unify his fleet, Hertz had commissioned a local university study to “scientifically ascertain which color would stand out strongest at a distance,” per his biographer—and yellow won. (Color researchers still agree that yellow is generally the most visible color, though some have suggested that it's chartreuse that the eye most easily detects.)...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/10/25/taxis_who_decided_they_should_be_yellow.html


Yellow...