I got drunk on Navy Pier one time and I got rolled. I never went back. I think Roosevelt was President at that time. Is he still in office?

I would not mind living in Chicago. I have only visited Chicago for a day. What I really did NOT like about Chicago was the traffic. Reminded me of hell hole experience living in los angeles. The stretch of the 90 freeway in the downtown area is terrible. YOu have people cutting you off and my friend said that's considered "normal Chicago driving" habit!

Other than that, I really enjoyed shopping at some of the stores in Niles area. I have yet to eat at some of the restaurants in the downtown area so that I can really take a nice look at the Lake Michigan shorelines.

Actually the people in downtown are very pleasent compared to NYC. For example, if you ask someone for directions in downtown Chicago, they will most likely take time to help you find your way, unlike New York City in which they would most likely give you the finger. Downtowan Chicago is VERY clean, Mayor Richard Daley has down a world class job in keeping the city very vibrant. As for crime rates, you might want to stay away from the south side of the city and were the Bulls play, otherwise its fine. One big problem of Chicago: The Climate. ITS BAD!! The winters are very cold, dark and long. The summer can be very sticky humid and hot. Hopefully there is such thing as a Spring and Fall in Chicago if your lucky. Otherwise its a great place to live.

Not a good city at all. Crime rates are spiraling out of control, people are very rude and selfish, women are fake, plastic, and snobby, friendliness is very sparse in the city and nearly non existant in the suburbs, especially DuPage County. If you like big city life and changing seasons, please do yourself a favor and go to New York City.

never been there but going in two weeks

im so pumped

it looks sick-great architecture, waterfront,, burbs, and i like the weather (im from toronto and its pretty much the same)

I LOVE IT! One of the best cities in the world, where do I start? World-class museums, amazing attractions, Navy Pier, the Sears Tower, an incredible skyline, the Taste of Chicago, Oak Park, Lake Michigan, CHINATOWN, and, best of all, THE CUBBIES! GO CUBBIES! Lived in the Chicagoland area for 7 years and it was just awesome.

Great city with something for everyone.

Great downtown and lakefront area. Wants for nothing. Topography a little on the dull , flat side, though. West and south sides of city a little more, umm, gritty I guess is nice way to put it. Love that deep dish pizza, though ;-)

Best city in the country.

Chicago has everything
Fresh water, a big downtown, unique and diverse neighborhoods, nightlife, colleges, change of seasons, quiet areas and busy areas. And, I'm not sure whether it's a good thing that Chicago doesn't get the attention that cities like L.A. and New York get. This "undergroundness" of the city is part of it's character, and Chicagoans are some of the most down to earth people around. This, also detracts from the nonstop eccentricity of the two aforementioned cities that is part of their character as well. New York is a great place to visit, but not to live. Too expensive also. Unless you're a lawyer or a third generation Yale grad you can't afford to live in Manhattan like you used to. But i digress, choose Chicago you won't regret it.

Probably the best city in the country. Tons of attractions, and all of them are worth visiting over and over again. Great sports town, too.

Go Cubs/Bulls!

This is a great town - my favorite non-coastal town in the US. There's a culture of friendliness here, and the summers are just perfect. If it wasn't so damn cold here in the winter, I could live here.

Chicago is a great city! The suburbs are even better. People are very polite here. They do what they are supposed to do. The pace of life is great and the food is terrific. As for nerdy people and people with disabilities, they are a disease and a disgust in society and I really wish they were imprisoned/institutionalized! They are a financial and social parasite, a drain on our money, money that can instead be used to improve our roads and buildings, fund our schools and buisnesses. As for barky/ghostbusters, I don't know what his problem is, but his repeated posts on Chicago and on Illinois, especially during the spring/summer of 2006 have the exact same wording of a SEXUAL PREDATOR!!!

Best City in the north americian continent

I love Chicago and I have a very stong affection for this city. The skyline is maginficent with a gorgeous setting on Lake Michigan. Chicago's skyline is grand and beautiful from every angle. Chicago is an all American city with layered archetecture from every decade back to the 1800's, probably the best archetectual city in the country because of its diversity and even the residential highrises are on a grand scale.

Chicago also has some very fine parkland particularly along Lake Michigan at Lincoln Park which offers beaches, marinas, expansive lawns & landscaping, a free zoo, and inspires a lot of activity as it is a linear park along the lakeshore with a bicycle path that go's a long way, good for rollerblading and great views of the city. Grant Park is quite expceptional as well with the Buckingham fountain and good photo oppurtunities for the Loop & downtown skyline. Adjacent to Grant Park is Millenium Park, recently opened has a lot of modern scultures like the bean, a giant stainless steal bean that reflects the city, an ampitheater and fountains that have digital imagery.

Chicago is not the kind of city you want to be watching your calories as the dining selection here is awesome, deep dish pizza at Gino's East is the best, great steakhouses, and all the international food one would expect to find in a cosmopolitan city like this. Shopping is great here too along Michigan Ave. I know I'll be back in Chicago again, so much character and a lot of fun. .

Amen!! I'm from Chicago and lived in S.F. for 10 years and you are right on the money. We left SF because my son has a hard time amking friends because all the other boys were Chinese and the Chinese parents don't like them to socialize with "white" people. Reverse Racism reigns supreme there. If you're not a freak with an agenda you'll have a hard time. The Bay Area is in its own bubble and it's just a really WEIRD place. Chicago has some issues but they are real issues other people can relate to. I don't recommend raising a family in the Bay Area it's just not normal.

There's nothing there for me.

Ok, just not my style, and had some poor areas.

I'm an east-coaster and had the chance of spending a weekend in Chicago. Wow! What a fun town! It feels like NYC, but less grimy. I can't wait to return for:

The pizza - Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder is a MUST. Great salads as well.
Nightlife - check out Excalibur
and the huge art museum - free!

did you know chicago was the maker of the first skyscraper, which is what began real urban living. so for the people that say chicago is a NYC wanna-be your wrong because chicago is the first to become a real city and the idea of central park came from chicago's grant park. I was born in Chicago, people are very nice the city is gorgeous, transportation is cheap and easy. and for the people that said chicago was boring get your a** out of your hotel bed.

Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world. Terrific nightlife, fantastic food (both high class and blue collar..mmm pizza!), and easily the best summer city in the world, IMO. The skyline, the museums, the art, the music, and the general culture is world class. The people are very nice, for a big city. The lake is pretty as can be. I could go on and on but I love Chicago. The winter, Jan and February and into March is pretty brutal. That is not the time to visit the city. That would be the only downfall but I could list some bad weather times for most cities in the US. And a great sports town, Chicago is! I really have little bad to say about Chicago except the winter weather. And honestly, that just makes the people a little more humble and real, which I like. I like people that have to endure a little tough weather..makes Chicago a real city!

The best with lots going and you can walk around the downtown and not get mugged. It has everything you might want to see or do. It still has many good neighborhoods and those are my favorite places to eat. I took the train many times to Wrigley Field and that is always a great ride through the North Side neighborhoods.

Chicago has everything a great metropolitan city has to offer. Culture, nightlife, restaurants, shopping and sports. The people are also some of the most unpretentious, approachable and down to earth you'll find in a big city. I'm from the east coast and I have to say that the comparisons to New York City are annoying and totally unwarranted. Chicago has a completely different vibe than NYC and isn't trying to copy it in any way. If anything, it's the major cities on the east coast that try to copy NYC in every way (i.e.: Philly, D.C. and Boston) and fall short. The cost of living in Chicago isn't bad either. You can get a one bedroom apt in downtown Chicago in a nice high rise for about $1000 a month. It's a very beautiful and clean city as well. The only major negative is the weather. It's very extreme and I have to force myself to leave the house in the winter, because it's so cold outside. Aside from that, though, it's altogether a pretty ideal big city.

Back in the early 90s I spent 2 years in the US and went to almost every major city. After the disappointment of Boston and NYC and an unwelcome experience in Detroit, Chicago was a very pleasant change. Architecturally it's the most impressive city in the US IMO. While I found NYC claustraphobic, Chicago was spacious and green. The quality of the bars and restaurants was high and the people were generally among the most friendly and welcoming I came across in my travels around the US. I didn't get that feeling that everyone's on the make, as in LA, and they were generally not as brusque as the New Yorkers I came aross. I'd definitely like to go back there.

I love everything about this city...very clean for a major city, the museums and activities never end, and the skyline is absolutely breathtaking. Oh, and the pizza...best on the planet!

all american, great people and restaurants

I love Chicago. I recently visited for 5 days and, let me tell you, I wish I spent 5 months! They have everything you caould want. And Chicago is a zillion times cleaner than New York. I like all the greenery the Mayor Daley has commissioned. I like the 'L'. There's plenty of other great stuff, such as the Museum Campus, Hyde PArk, Pilsen, Navy Pier, Streeterville and Mag Mile, the Loop, and much more. If you've never visited before, VISIT.

The best thing that I can say about Chicago is that everybody who I have ever met who grew up there, plans to settle down there. You just don't find that kind of loyalty much - especially to a place that's bitterly, bitterly cold in the winter and uncomfortably hot in the summer.

For a city this big, it is surprisingly easy to get where you want to go. Unless it's during rush hour, traffic isn't too bad until you get fairly close to downtown, at which point you can get by with public transportation (which is fairly decent) and by walking. A lot of things to see and do, and unlike some cities, there are a lot of reasonably priced places to eat, and if you're really strapped for cash, there is a McDonald's about every other block. I don't think I'd actually want to live in Chicago, just a little too fast paced for me, but I'd have to problem living in the suburbs.

As a former New Yorker, I thought New York was IT, but WOW, Chicago is beautiful! Much more user-friendly -- lots of history -- great food -- beautiful views! We could see a beach and miles of water and boats from our downtown hotel room at the W. Our favorite good weather thing to do was the architectural boat tour on the rivers. Whether you care about architecture or not, it's a lovely relaxing way to see the city. If you've more energy, the walking tour of Millenium Park was good too. Even in winter it's a beautiful, clean, safe (enough) city!

Amazing , incredible

Not impressive at all

The longest two weeks of my life were spent in the windy city. John Hancock building had a great view but other than that I saw nothing special about the place. Humidity in the summer is the worst, if you plan to go out side plan on taking a shower when you go back in.

(numbah puts a dollar in irishgit's collection plate)

Probably my second favourite U.S. city, by a hair, after New York. I've been there a few times and I love the Loop, the neighbourhoods and the people. The art museums aren't bad either. UPDATE: Can we take up a collection to help "ghostbusters" move out of the city and stop endlessly reposting that incredibly annoying rant?

Went there once, in 1987. Food wasn't that great. People weren't too nice. Girls weren't friendly or particularly good looking. To me, the "City of Big Shoulders" had a torn rotator cuff.

Just another BORING MIDWEST city where they 'talk funny'. Overrated and then some! Chicago tries hard to be like NYC, but falls short. It lives in it's shadow!

I went to Chicago once. They closed the downtown about 9:00. What the heck is that? Then you have to be CAREFUL on the overhead train. Spooky. Gloomy. Nasty.

It's ok, but it seems like the kind of city Midwestern bumpkins flock too. Pity, they must never have been to NYC. I'm biased, I know, I've been to New York a billion times because my family lives there, but Chicago doesn't impress me as much. I mean, I'm ok with it, but it's not a city I'd go out of my way to visit...

I live in the Bay Area and have grown accustomed to trash in the streets, aggressive homeless people and panhandlers in Santa Cruz and San Francisco, and diversity to the extreme (The malls are mostly filled with Asian and Indian people. That is fine for many folks here, but I prefer more variety.) The place has as much class and culture as the trash in the streets. Chicago is completely different. While San Francisco boasts of the greatest public transportation system in the world, it has nothing on Chicago. Chicago is clean, the the streets are wide, the few panhandlers are not in your face, the suburbs are beautiful, and so are the midwesterm women. Santa Cruz women are grungy, unkept, and drugs are rampant. However, if you like Asian women move to S.F. All of my friends have Asian girlfriends there and it is widely celebrated. The Bay Area likes to celebrate diversity and multiculturalism. It is the highest value of the area. Everything else is secondary to this sacred value. In Chicago, diversity is also celebrated as fine and dandy, but at the end of the day there is a natural segregation to spend time with people we have something in common with. What a concept! If you like to stand in line at Starbucks and listen to Chinese, Vietnamese, and a host of many languages, people yammering on cell phones in many third world dialects, then move to the Bay Area. If you like overcrowding, fixer uppers for $800,000, and ugly strip malls, move to San Jose. If you like a slice of America, beautiful architecture, a high rise condo for half the price of a shack in East San Jose, move to Chicago.

This is absolutly the most livable city in the US. I cannot add to what has been mentioned already except to say that I have been living in Florida the last 14 years and MISS CHICAGO terribly.

Chigago has a very attractive downtown.. and thats about it. Its a winter wasteland and can be quite nasty the other times of the year(too cold, too windy/stormy or too hot being its only settings). Lake Michigan is nice and actualy gets almost warm late summer but its pretty polluted unless you go on a major drive(Guess that river diversion didnt work after all.). The parks are ok but absolutely nothing special compaired to anywhere else and if it wasnt for a few optimist who build high, this would have been another Detroit.

Cold winters, but collective attitude of Chicagoians cancel that out. Have only visited, but will move there permanently in near future. Have lived in (touristy area) in Florida for over a decade and, it's not a myth: Chicagoians have the nicest attitudes (next to Texans). In contrast, I can regognize people from my home-town region (northeast coast region) just by the chip-on-the-shoulder, superior, aloof, "Apaprently Done Something Really Horrible to Me in a Past Life or Something" attitudes. I'm a born and raised east coaster myself, so not biased. Just never noticed this until I moved to Florida. Chicago (the entire midwest & south, for that mater) have their fair share of issues, whether it be congestion, tragedies, bad weather, crime ... so what's the deal that people (everywhere) can't exhibit 2nd grade-level consideration when out and about? Their problems are no worse. This has intrigued me for 11 years now ... is there something funky in New England/Jersey (& neighbors) drinking water?

A nice downtown area. Some parts are pretty rugged. On I-90 I saw some of the meanest black people ever. Im sure that if the car would have broke down we would have been attacked.

boring midwestern city, its just big thats all

best all around city !

best city in the country... the skyline is awesome! Chicago has so much to offer in terms of culture, nightlife, etc. And its very easy to get around... the city's subways and famous elevated L lines go everywhere. The city is very dense, and not just in the downtown Loop. All the neighborhoods are urban and bustling and exciting. The Second City... Second to None.

Chicago is a very interesting city. Great museums, excellent architecture, good restaurants, and nice people. It has a very small town, midwestern feel to it, despite its size.

I moved to Chicago five years ago from Texas, and didn't know what to expect. I didn't expect the people to be as friendly as they are in the south, and they aren't, but they come pretty darn close. The only rude people I find aren't even from here...transplants from the NE or other areas. The city is gorgeous, and for it's size is pretty damn clean. I quickly tired of all the touristy crap, which there is a huge abundance. But Chicago has tons of other stuff to do as well. As I mentioned, I've been here for five years, and there's still so much I've yet to do. For such a big city, it's reasonably affordable and still retains it's small town roots. If you haven't been here, get here soon.

Overated a tad in my book. It is a very ugly town, with the exception of the downtown area which is nice. The weather is great in the summer, but brutal in the winter. The girls are great, people are friendly, but there are so many better world class cities to visit, especially in Europe.

Big, crowded and unsafe!

Have never been there when the weather is nice. Good restaurants and transportation is the best I have experienced. There are a lot of better places to visit.

What's excellent: The pizza, the architecture Wrigley Field, Lincoln park. What's good: The people, the cleanliness of the city. What's bad: Too concrete. If I were to live there, definetely Lincoln Park would be it. Hip young crowd, DePaul's there, and you're right next to the beach and a great social scene. I would get into trouble in the long term though I can tell. People Drink. I'm not talking San Francisco style, a glass of wine and a mojito and you're in bed at 1am. This place is hard core, beer slamming, vodka downing type of place, hammered at 3 and then off to the after hours bar that serves till 5.

Fun, energetic midwest metropolis. Great public transportation system for tourists to get around without auto. Probably 2nd best looking skyline in the world behind Hong Kong's. Great lakefront/downtown district with parks, museuems, theaters, shops, etc. Weather is actually better than you might think, except for winter, which does suck.

My brother lives there and overall,probably my favorite city-but not in February.

In most cases, I happen to like this city, but it is starting to look a little shanty. Of course, I see it whenever I take the Amtrak going south or east. The downtown is breathaking and memorable whenever you see Buckingham Fountain and Sears Tower, but ths is a fact- the city is decreasing in population because of crime. Overall, despite the cold winter, it is great to see the picturesque city by the lake from late spring to early winter.

Not just a terrific sports town, but a beautiful city. Go downtown and it will take your breath away. It has a bad part, but what city doesn't??? So many attractions it isn't even funny. I am glad and honored to live in the great state of Illinois (home of Chi-Town).

All great lakes cities are some of the greatest places to live (except cleveland and detroit). Chicago is the king of great lakes cities. There is tons to do, and it has Americana coming out of its ears.

I have never been to Chicago, so I am jumping to some pretty stupid conclusions. Oh well, somebody' got to do it. If Chicago is so good of a place to live, why do all you frickin' Chi-towners move to MN to live off our welfare? We do not need that here, thank you. Please find something to do with them, besides putting them on a bus to Mpls. Other than that, Chicago sounds like a good place to visit.

Chicago isn't bad per se, but not really good. I find the people there to be rude and unwelcoming. The city does offer lots to do though...as does any major city. Lots of cultural activities and some great food... I just have a hard time w/ the