This review is limited to Chicago - city limits. I'm not a suburb fan, folks.

Something for everyone- unless you can't stand some cold in winter! I lived there for 7 years. God, I miss it. People are outgoing. It is funny, but you can get into some helluva conversations with perfect strangers. People are really open. I lived on the Northside which is comprised of neighborhoods that are pretty safe, and full of distinct character. Great architecture. Lakefront is beautiful. Ironic given the size, but one of the draws for me was seeing the same folks in the neighborhood regularly. People would smile and say a warm hello. I could go on and on, but it is just one vibrant, crazy, and fun city.

shsh

Chicago is the liberty port for new sailors fresh from boot camp and for many sailors taking class 'A' school. The positives are: excellent public transportation, variety of attractions and eateries, many discounts for military folk. The negatives: the metro area encompasses the entire NE corner of IL and part of NW IN - too much for my taste, driving is brutal, prices and taxes are very high. Would I take a billet to Great Lakes? Yes, but Chicago is not a place I have to return to.

The great city in the midwest. Only been there once, but it was a memorable experience. No doubt you have to visit the Sears Tower! Pretend to be Ferris or Cameron or the girl portrayed by Mia Sara. Order a hotdog or have a pizza. Chicago has its own style for everything.

Chicago is a truely amazing place. One hell of a city. The thing that prevents it from being on top is most deffently the weather. Put it in any region outside the midwest and there you have it. Where to start.... The city itself is beautiful in many ways. The lakefront is beautiful and I can't name off many cities with a better skyline. All the neighborhoods are filled with culture. Gold coast, river north, streeterville, lincoln park, the loop, and others are all awsome. It has a somewhat euro feel to it in a way. There are tons of weathy people there but they tend to be very nice at the same time. There are plenty of absolute bombshells walking this town pretty much everywhere you look. The midwest stereotypes on women generally dont fit this city and the surrounding area. Some of the people are overly fake but that goes for any major city. The nightlife is really good with great upscale venues which play great music however they tend to let in alot of underagers. The restaurant scene is one of the best there is with everything from great trendy spots to amazing family owned joints. There is no better place to be then summertime chi. The city is very walkable and has good mass transit. Most of the suburbs are very nice and have some things to do in them with nice upscale malls and even 6 flags great america. On the cons side traffic is a problem and parking is a nightmire at times. The winters are very very cold. There are def some very bad areas on the south and west side so steer clear of those. Watch out for tow trucks! Could use some mountains. Politics are a bit corupt. Also nobody said this place was cheap either! All in all tho amazing place and I could see myself living here forever despite me being a huge warm weather fan. Do come visit!

Chicago is one of the best cities in the world. People in Chicago are strong willed and opinionated when it comes to politics and sports, specifically baseball. There are so many different things to do in Chicago. From viewing world class artworks to seeing a world class opera to spending a day shopping on the Magnificent Mile, there really is something for everyone in Chicago.

By far the best city in america, and the most alive next to NYC(have to its my home). Great food very fun to drive in love the rush, rush,rush!! Exceptinal public transportation,great diversity
Heres a couple

China town

Korea Town

Paseo Boricua

Ukrain town

Little Italy

Jew Town (or maxwell street)

Pol. town(polish)

and many more, chicago has alot to offer if not every thing. it unique but reminds me alot of nyc. Historicall neighborhoods,love the 19th centry brownstones. Huge downtown and keeps expanding North,south, and west. Cool people,nice night clubs. population is false their its 2.8 not 2.7 btw. if u move hear u wont regreat it.

Big, loud, brash, with a big fat underbelly, and I really enjoyed living there. Bad weather and traffic, and some parts have quite high crime, but otherwise it is a great city. The best skyline in North America, great water front, driving down Lakeshore drive and looking at the skyline is the best.

Restaurant scene is good, particularly for "hearty" food. Great museums. Go to a Cubs game at Wrigley if you love sports. Excellent blues, excellent orchestra, excellent architecture. I have great memories of my time living in Chicago.

Negatives: A bit rough around the edges, with high crime and entire neighborhoods on the south side that appear abandoned. Bad traffic and a so so public transit system. Sprawling suburbs full of overweight people driving their SUVs to the mall.

A city worthy of comparisons to New York. Lots to do and see, great nightlife. never boring. Great place to visit and to live. Bad traffic and bad weather, but it is worth it to put up with that the pros outweigh the cons. Love the waterfront.

I visited there a few times in the early 90's. Unfortunately for me, I always compare every city I've ever been to, in America and Europe both, to NY, and always find those other cities lacking. Still, I was suitably impressed by Chicago. If I had to live in the Midwest, Chicago is where I'd want to be. For one thing, it's the only city west of NY where I've had even halfway decent Italian food. Nightlife is good, there are a wide assortment of museums and historical exhibits, and the bookstores are worthwhile (although not up to NY standards, but then I've never found any in other cities that are, which might just be regional prejudice on my part). Also, given the history of organized crime in Chicago, it was a cornucopia for a mob enthusiast like me. I took a bus tour around the city, which is something I'd recommend to anybody unfamiliar with the city (as I was). The tour passed by the Lexington Hotel, on Michigan Avenue and 22nd Street, which once served as Al Capone's headquarters. The hotel was in ruins at the time, and would soon be demolished (which I consider an egregious lack of respect for an integral part of the Windy City's history; you certainly don't have to celebrate someone like Capone, but to wipe out those historical landmarks connected to his memory, as if that will somehow erase the tradition of racketeering that continues to cling to the city's reputation, is reprehensible, in my opinion). The bus tour also pointed out the mansions of people like Jesse Jackson and Muhammad Ali, as well as passing the Pacific Garden Mission, which used to have a religious radio show called "Unshackled" that played nightly back in NJ and featured the stories of drunks and drug addicts who found God (not that that's a humorous topic, but I used to listen to it religiously while drinking and doing drugs; the corny opening organ alone was enough to give me a laugh). Al Capone's former home, while still standing, is in a very bad Southside neighborhood, and I didn't linger there. In north Chicago, the Biograph Theatre, where John Dillinger was shot down in 1934, was still in existence, and I would have loved to have seen a movie there, but they were playing "Ninja Turtles" at the time, and I was sure I wasn't going to be able to endure that for 2 hours, my devotion to all things Dillinger notwithstanding. I took pictures around Holy Name Cathedral, where Dean O'Banion once was an altar boy and where Hymie Weiss was shot to death in 1926 (despite his Jewish-sounding name, Weiss was an extremely devout Catholic, in addition to being a vicious killer). The site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre is a parking lot now, as is the flower shop (across the street from Holy Name) where O'Banion, Chicago's most infamous Irish crime boss, was fatally shot while pruning flowers. The outlying suburbs also featured items of interest for the crime buff. I drove past the innocuous, middle-class home of the late "Mad Sam" DeStefano, who was considered one of Chicago's worst torture-murderers in addition to being a bit of a jokester (I'd recommend a book called "A Mob Of His Own" by Tony Dark; not particularly well written, but Mad Sam was one of a kind and his life story makes for fascinating reading). I found the grave of Baby Face Nelson nee Lester Gillis. I also went to Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, which is Chicago's "Mafia Boot Hill". I found the graves of Big Al, Dean O'Banion, Hymie Weiss, Frank Nitti, the Genna Brothers, James Belcastro, Sam Giancana, and others (a cop at one gangland funeral was heard to say, and I paraphrase, "When Judgement Day comes, and the graves of these underworld enemies open up, there's gonna be hell to pay in this cemetery."). Across the street, in another Catholic cemetery, I found the graves of Tony Accardo, Sam Battaglia, Fiore Buccieri, Turk Torello, Mad Sam (he was shotgunned to death in his garage in 1973), and Anthony "The Ant" Spilotro, who was played by Joe Pesci in the Scorcese film "Casino". Ironically enough, DeStefano and Spilotro, who may have been the man responsible for pulling the trigger on Mad Sam, are buried within yards of each other.

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.

Any man who has ever, even once in his entire life, been dumped and/or divorced by a Chicagoland woman automatically belongs in the state supermaximum security prison, absolutely no ifs, ands, or buts.  And absolutely zero exceptions!!!  As for ghostbusters/qazxs, he deserves to be punished.  He has also been bashing the crap out of Chicagoland on city-data, Tripadvisor, Talkstates, Yahoo Travel, and even Wikipedia!  By the way, Chicagoland is super!

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)

NY lite

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.

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)

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...