Is Chicago getting a bad rap? (how much, theatre, living in)

[Tex?Il?]

I live in the Chicago suburbs, grew up here too, but lived in a couple places around the country and traveled around quite a bit.

A LOT of people love Chicago. I like it, but perhaps because I grew in this area, and my interests are more into other things, like the outdoors. I admit, I don't get excited about Chicago, but I understand people who do.

I for the life of me, can't seem to understand what really makes Chicago as unique as some people think it is. They say Chicago isn't trying to be New York, and I don't believe it is, but still it just seems like it is simply a smaller, laid back version of it.

I guess if Chicago had some well known historical sites (besides the water tower), that would make a big deal. I find the grid system practical, but unattractive.

I agree with CHi2NYC? about sports. Yes, I enjoy going to Wrigley when I am invited. But the sports in mind does make Chicago seem a little homogenous at times (but hey, on the flip side, sports gives Chicago a certain huge small town feel).

Many people HIGHLY VALUE an extensive public transportation, whereas I look at it as more of a convenience, and a necessary thing if we are going to reduce our carbon emmissions and limit our impact on the atmosphere, but beyond that its less of a big deal for me, that to me, Chicago doesn't seem to really have anything that Houston doesn't except Houston is more spread out.

But these are just my opinions.

[nadinethehowlingdemocrat]

This is what's so fascinating. In my job I travel quite a bit around the US and I have the opportunity to attend chamber of commerce meetings in these cities. Whenever the chamber is making a pitch to introduce something to the cities, they preface the pitch with "Well, in Chicago or Well in Indianapolis. Chicago and Indianapolis are the two cities that I hear referenced as an example no matter where I am in the US but Atlanta is following close behind.

[M TYPE X]

The coastal media elite will never give Chicago its fair recognition.

As I have said in many places on these forums: every country in the world has its coastal metropolis(es). Only America has the Midwest, and Chicago is its king.

[MobyLL]

Originally Posted by JPprivate

If I hear (especially in the media) people mention attractive national cities you hear places mentioned like NYC, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Miami, San Diego... (or some combination of those cities). Chicago is always mentioned (if at all) way down on lists like that. Now, I have been to all those cities, and while obviously NYC is a class by itself, and San Francisco is quite charming, I don't think Chicago needs to hide at all... it can compete with any of those places in a heartbeat.

You know, i really don't think this is true (that chicago doesn't get it's fair share of recognition as a great city). I think Chicago is similar to NYC in that there has been a huge turnaround in the general perception of the city in the last 10 - 15 years or so. I have lived in NYC (15 years) SF Bay area (4 years) and currently Miami (4 years, moving to Denver next month).

I have been in Chicago a few times and loved the city, but certainly my overall perceptions primarily come from the mass US media. Chicago, IMO, has a general perception these days of rebirth, energy, reinvestment, "green" initiatives, great arts scene, great nightlife scene etc. It has always had a reputation as a center of architecture and design.

Just one item i will use to try and illustrate my point that Chicago is not being overlooked by the national media... take a typical US citizen -- outside of the area they live in, Tulsa Oklahoma say, what Mayors' of US cities could they name? I would venture to guess that the only mayors with any significant national name recognition would be Bloomberg (NY), Daley (Chicago) and maybe Villagrosa (LA). The reason they have that name recognition is that the national media cover their cities and the policies they are enacting in those cities due to the size and importance of those cities in national affairs.

[Chi2NYC?]

^well, our mayor is also recognized because daley 2 (like daley 1) has been our "benevolent dictator" for many years now.

[WolfLover13]

I hear Chicago is some bad town. And that exact reason is why the man I love is being held back by his mother from coming to see me because his bus stops there to transfer. What do I do? She says he will get robbed and such in a bus station. Someone help me.

[TheYO]

I'm not sure about the Greyhound station since I've never been there, but if he's taking Megabus he'll be fine. How long of a layover does he have?

Greyhound stations in general are pretty sketchy places, so I wouldn't want to wait around in one for a long time. If he has a long layover he can always wait it out at a coffee shop or something.

I would just tell his mom that the bus station is not in the worst part of the city and he will only be there a short period of time, so she is just worrying for nothing

[emathias]

Originally Posted by WolfLover13

I hear Chicago is some bad town. And that exact reason is why the man I love is being held back by his mother from coming to see me because his bus stops there to transfer. What do I do? She says he will get robbed and such in a bus station. Someone help me.

It's perfectly fine. Greyhound wouldn't be in business long if their customers were regularly robbed.

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by emathias

It's perfectly fine. Greyhound wouldn't be in business long if their customers were regularly robbed.

That sounds a little overconfident to me. Let's just say they have a unique business model.

[andrew61]

FWIW, I've used Chicago's Greyhound station a couple of times and didn't get the perception that it was a scary place. And one of those times I went there at 4:00 in the morning.