Is Chicago a World Class City

[Packerguy]

I think Chicago is a world class city. Do you guys think it is one?

[Christler]

I think Chicago is amazing!! Great buildings everywhere you go inside this city!!

[KMURPHY19662003]

I used to question Chicago about its status as a world class city, but not anymore. After many visits there is no doubt that Chicago is a world class city.

[geoff_diamond]

Chicago's world-class status is undoubtable; if for no other reason than we are the World's financial futures and options capital. Add to that our top-notch cultural scene, amazing architectural history and urban setting and you've got a City that's not only on the list, but damn near the top.

[DeMaFrost]

*waits for Silverlake*

[STR]

Yes, of course. It's not like we're LA. :)

[Dampyre]

Yes, of course. It's not like we're LA. :)

Let's be real here, LA is world class too. It's just a different animal.

[BVictor1]

I thought this article was interesting

21ST-CENTURY CHICAGO
Transformed Windy City has a truly global reach

By Richard C. Longworth
Published October 17, 2004

Picture the confusion of Rip van Winkle, waking in Chicago's City Hall after a 25-year snooze. The mayor's name is still Richard Daley, and he's a tough Irish politician, given to bluster and malapropisms and a fierce devotion to city and family. The City Council is still largely a civic joke. The Democratic Party still rules politics, and the Republican Party barely exists.

Poor Rip could be forgiven for asking: Has anything changed here?

The answer is a loud and certain yes.

In the quarter-century since Richard J. Daley died, and even in the 15 years since Richard M. Daley became mayor, everything has changed. Chicago, once the smoky, broad-shouldered industrial behemoth and Midwestern capital, has become a global city, competing more with Frankfurt and Shanghai than with Detroit or St. Louis.

A new book titled "Global Chicago" celebrates, explains and chronicles this metamorphosis.

Published by the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, the book describes what a global city is--there are only 12 to 15 of them at the top of the worldwide list--and tells why Chicago, with New York and possibly Los Angeles, is an American city that truly belongs.

As the book makes clear, globalization has changed everything about the city--its economic life, of course, but also its arts, education, people and even politics.

"Global Chicago" is the first book-length attempt to describe this rebirth. Written by leading Chicago academics, practitioners and journalists, it aims to change forever the way Chicagoans look at their town.

Some of the changes are well known; others less so.

Chicago workers today labor at computer terminals, not blast furnaces. Bistros and three-star restaurants have replaced diners and pizzerias at the center of Chicago cuisine. Neighborhoods long abandoned to street gangs and drug runners are drawing new housing and new residents.

The grandchildren of the Chicagoans who fled the city for the suburbs are returning, transforming neighborhoods from the South Loop to Lincoln Square to Woodlawn. The icon of residential architecture is no longer the bungalow, but the loft--or the rehabbed bungalow.

A city once famed for grit and gangsters boasts miles of flowering planters and a spectacular new park that is rivaled only by the Tuileries of Paris as a civic magnet, drawing Chicago's mix of nationalities and colors to promenade, laugh and play.

Creation of global city

All this, as the book explains, is the work of globalization, and the creation of a global city.

A global city is as different from industrial cities as the factory towns were from the trading posts that preceded them.

In an industrial city, much of what a company did--manufacturing, sales, accounting--took place in one city, often in one building. Now the global economy scatters all those functions and jobs across the world. But this activity has to be coordinated and guided somewhere, and that somewhere is the global city. Such cities have corporate headquarters, of course. But more important, they have the high-powered services that corporations need: law firms, accountants, financial markets, consultants.

Theoretically, global citizens can live anywhere, linked by instant modern communications. In fact, they are clustering in great cities--New York and London first, but also Shanghai, Singapore, Frankfurt, Sao Paulo and Chicago--because face-to-face contact is so important.

What these global citizens want is information--call it the latest tip, call it gossip--that you can't get on CNBC or Bloomberg. The only place you get it is in global cities, where the action is. And that's where global citizens come to work and, increasingly, to live--in the lofts and townhouses going up south and west of the Loop.

They say that people are what they do. Cities, too. The way Chicago earns its living has changed utterly. So it makes sense that almost everything else has also changed.

Certainly the people have. Once dominated by Irish, Poles and other European immigrants, Chicago has been invaded and revitalized by waves of Latino, Asian and African immigrants--Mexicans, especially, but also Koreans, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Nigerians, Indians, Pakistanis and Iraqis.

The city has 130 non-English newspapers. The 911 center can respond to emergency calls in 150 languages. Many new immigrants arrive with education: The city's health system, schools, arts, electronics industry, graduate schools would collapse without them.

Twenty-two percent of the city's residents are foreign-born. Some immigrants cluster in tight neighborhoods; others sprawl; half of the area's Mexicans live in the suburbs.

Nigerians, Indians and Iraqis hold top jobs at Chicago's universities, hospitals and museums. Scientists from around the world staff the Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. More than half the graduate students in engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago are foreign-born, and the post-9/11 crackdown on visas has sent shock waves through schools that rely on foreign students for tuition and for the brainpower that keep them vibrant.

Links to homelands

Earlier immigrants came looking for industrial jobs, settled in, married and spent their lives here. New immigrants are in touch with their homelands daily, through the Internet and phone cards. (One shop on Lawrence Avenue stocks cut-rate cards for immigrants from 200 countries.)

The world impacts on Chicago in a million ways. And vice versa: $1.8 billion in remittances go from Chicago to Mexico every year, and Mexican candidates come here to campaign.

Chicago's law firms fight cases in courts around the globe. Its doctors fight AIDS on every continent. Its architects design buildings in Angola, China, India and everywhere in between. Its scholars pretty much invented the International Criminal Court.

Globalization even has revolutionized Chicago's most time-hardened institution: politics. Chicago politics--the Daleys, the Machine, the deal-making--look the same. But looks deceive. The Machine of Daley I delivered jobs. The Machine of Daley II delivers amenities. And that makes all the difference.

Once, people came to Chicago to take jobs that were already here, in the mills or stockyards. City government delivered some of those jobs, from park workers to school bureaucrats. All the jobs, in big factories and big bureaucracies, were in one place and were easy to organize politically. This was the original Machine: jobs for votes. There were plenty of campaign workers, and politics was a mass affair, with lots of rallies and ringing of doorbells. Almost none of this exists anymore. The mills and stockyards are gone. So is most of the patronage system. So is the politics that all this supported.

Instead, Chicago has to compete in a global marketplace for companies and people who can live anywhere. If Chicago is to survive in a globalized world, it must attract those people and companies. And so the politics of jobs has become the politics of amenities. The goal of Daley II is to make Chicago more attractive than Denver or Toronto.

That's what the flowers down the middle of the street are all about. Ditto with Millennium Park, and Navy Pier, and the revitalized and de-politicized Park District. That's why schools top Daley's agenda: Global citizens will not move to Chicago if they think they will sacrifice their kids to the public schools that the first Mayor Daley bequeathed to the city.

The effort is beginning to pay off.

Chicago, once "Beirut on the Lake," is getting good ink around the world. The Guardian of London called the city "exhilaratingly beautiful." This month, the International Herald Tribune in Paris said that "there may be no city so expressive of modernity and energy."

The elder Daley ran his campaigns on the cheap, with some help from big retailers and the steel and power companies that dominated the city's economy. His son spends big money on television campaigns and gets funding from the lawyers, bankers, stock traders and construction firms that depend on city contracts.

Is this all due to globalization?

Executive recruitment

A lot of it is. Local political guru Don Rose noted that Daley I ruled an empire of $3,000-a-year postmen and steelworkers. Daley II will fail or succeed on his ability to pull in seven-figure global lawyers and consultants and the companies that employ them.

Great cities are organic, growing and changing. Those that thrive must constantly reinvent themselves, finding new ways to prosper. So Chicago is not home free.

Unless the revival of the schools continues, the influx of middle-class professionals will wither. Chicago's role as a transport hub depends on the growth of O'Hare International Airport. Traffic congestion could throttle the city's charms: Other global cities such as London have installed high-speed trains from airports to city centers.

Keeping headquarters is important, but keeping the big firms that service global companies is more important. Six of these services are crucial--accounting, advertising, banking, insurance, law and management consulting. Chicago ranks in the top dozen cities in the world in five of them. The sixth is banking, where Chicago is barely in the top 70, and sinking fast.

The global economy is a cutthroat place. Chicago must solve these challenges to stay at the top. Can its school system be reformed thoroughly? Can the new immigrants working at the bottom of the economic ladder find a place in this economy? Can it keep drawing in the people it needs to compete?

The answer reached in this book is--so far, yes.

----------

Richard C. Longworth is executive director of the Global Chicago Center of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations. "Global Chicago" was edited by Charles M. Madigan, the Tribune's Perspective editor.

[STR]

Let's be real here, LA is world class too. It's just a different animal.

It was a joke. Hence, the smilie. I will be the first to admit that LA is the biggest, greatest, suburb-like city on the planet. (Notice no smilie)

[Dampyre]

It was a joke. Hence, the smilie. I will be the first to admit that LA is the biggest, greatest, suburb-like city on the planet. (Notice no smilie)

LA is certainly a better place to be if you are a single man.

[Suburbanite]

Let's be real here, LA is world class too. It's just a different animal.

LA probably is world class it just doesn't have the reputation and image to justify it. Mostly it is just funny to see the LA forumers get flustered when anyone says different.

As far a Chicago is concerned, there is no doubt on this green, green Earth that it is anything other than world class. Period.

[STR]

LA is certainly a better place to be if you are a single man.

I will deffinately give it that. :devil: :naughty:

LA probably is world class it just doesn't have the reputation and image to justify it. Mostly it is just funny to see the LA forumers get flustered when anyone says different.

Why else would I make such inflamatory statements?

[Rivernorth]

Chicago's position as a world class city is barely debatable. Sure, it has the tall buildings, mass transit, corporate headquarters, fine dining, and great nightlife that one expects of a world class city... but what really puts Chicago on top is its financial markets... the trillions and trillions of dollars that flows through the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, etc. Only two cities in the United States has markets of such global influence. No other cities come close.

[edsg25]

I'm old enough to remember the "second city complex" that Chicago had so many years ago. My impressions is that Chicagoans are 180 degrees removed from those old feelings.

I see things this way and wonder if other Chicagoans agree (or not):

on a board like this, we are hyperfocused on cities (well, duh!), so I'll disregard this place and talk about Chicagoans, in general.

I've stated how I see Chicago numerous times and my feelings from the vast experience I've had with other Chicagoans, I see a lot of the same thoughts:

Chicagoans really do think that no city in the country is better. Chicagoans can go and enjoy a great city, like New York, and come home and not think they're in a lesser place.Chicagoans, I believe, have got to a point where most of us would either laught off or completely ignore any observation that we were anything but a major world city. Chicagoans get enough out-of-town friends and relatives that come here and fall all over the city in praise that they fully know how it is preceived by others. Chicagoans go to other places and hear innumerable comments about how special our city is. Chicagoans tend to be entralled by the transformation of our city, in awe of the changes, and frankly scratch their heads in confusion over who-in-the-hell all these folks are who are buying these condos, townhoses, rowhouses for multi-millions. And one more: few, if any, suburbanites from any city love their big city as much as suburban Chicagoans.

Now I may (or may not) have gotten carried away on this one, but I really believe what I've observed is true. How do others see this "Chicagoans on Chicago" perception?

[Rail Claimore]

Dunno about the last one. They probably love the ammenities the city has such as North Michigan Avenue, but seem to have this cynicism about it on almost all other issues. Most suburbanites still think Chicago is a shithole full of gangs and crime everywhere outside downtown.

[edsg25]

Dunno about the last one. They probably love the ammenities the city has such as North Michigan Avenue, but seem to have this cynicism about it on almost all other issues. Most suburbanites still think Chicago is a shithole full of gangs and crime everywhere outside downtown.

Rail Claimore,

I must commend you for how well you know our city. And you are right. A large percentage of our suburbanites have never been in Chicago due to the fear of gangs and crime. It has been a major problem. The city of Chicago, whose neighborhoods have become wastelands, seems incapable of handling the shear weight of the city's massive decline. With the help of the federal government, the city is tearing down the slums, tennaments, and crack houses that line the streets of Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast, Old Town, Lakeview and other depressed neighborhoods, replacing them with high rise projects. There will be 1300 familes living in the 875 apartments in the newly constructed Cabrini on the Greens public housing development. Your point about gangs is very well taken. Major stores in areas like the Clybourn corridor, Armitage St, N. Halsted have closed due to the excessive gang and drug activity on these streets. A further measure of Chicago's decline: Northside Preparatory HS recently announced its graduation rate at 3.4%, which is 3 points higher than that at Walter Payton High. Somehow the saddest part of Chicago's decline can be seen on the lakefront where Mayor Daley, in attempt to get ANY type of money making activity into the city, has recently begun the construction of factories along Belmont and Diversey harbors, giving them access to water which they will be allowed to pollute and befoul until they look like the steel mills of Gary.

[Dampyre]

Dunno about the last one. They probably love the ammenities the city has such as North Michigan Avenue, but seem to have this cynicism about it on almost all other issues. Most suburbanites still think Chicago is a shithole full of gangs and crime everywhere outside downtown.

I actually know people who are afraid to set foot in Chicago.

[Dampyre]

Rail Claimore,

I must commend you for how well you know our city. And you are right. A large percentage of our suburbanites have never been in Chicago due to the fear of gangs and crime. It has been a major problem. The city of Chicago, whose neighborhoods have become wastelands, seems incapable of handling the shear weight of the city's massive decline. With the help of the federal government, the city is tearing down the slums, tennaments, and crack houses that line the streets of Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast, Old Town, Lakeview and other depressed neighborhoods, replacing them with high rise projects. There will be 1300 familes living in the 875 apartments in the newly constructed Cabrini on the Greens public housing development. Your point about gangs is very well taken. Major stores in areas like the Clybourn corridor, Armitage St, N. Halsted have closed due to the excessive gang and drug activity on these streets. A further measure of Chicago's decline: Northside Preparatory HS recently announced its graduation rate at 3.4%, which is 3 points higher than that at Walter Payton High. Somehow the saddest part of Chicago's decline can be seen on the lakefront where Mayor Daley, in attempt to get ANY type of money making activity into the city, has recently begun the construction of factories along Belmont and Diversey harbors, giving them access to water which they will be allowed to pollute and befoul until they look like the steel mills of Gary.

You speak as if this is the 80's. In fact, Chicago is experiencing a boom the likes of which I've never seen. Retail and new construction are popping up all over the South Side. Murders are at a decades low. Projects are being destroyed and replaced with new, mixed income housing.Take it from someone who's probably seen far more of this city than you, Chicago is on a major rebound.

Although many suburbanites do fear Chicago, many more come in droves every weekend to enjoy our fair city. I hate driving home from Lombard on Friday because the roads are super packed with suburbanites coming into town.

[Wu-Gambino]

Chicago isn't a world class city, it isn't as hot and sexy as LA is. And it obviously isn't attracting as many hot, young, talented professionals as LA is. And it isn't dominating in sports like LA is.

[The Urban Politician]

LA is certainly a better place to be if you are a single man.

^that's your experience. I found it way easier to meet women and get laid in Chicago than I ever did in LA (and NO, I didn't pay for it)

[The Urban Politician]

I'm old enough to remember the "second city complex" that Chicago had so many years ago. My impressions is that Chicagoans are 180 degrees removed from those old feelings.

I see things this way and wonder if other Chicagoans agree (or not):

on a board like this, we are hyperfocused on cities (well, duh!), so I'll disregard this place and talk about Chicagoans, in general.

I've stated how I see Chicago numerous times and my feelings from the vast experience I've had with other Chicagoans, I see a lot of the same thoughts:

Chicagoans really do think that no city in the country is better. Chicagoans can go and enjoy a great city, like New York, and come home and not think they're in a lesser place.Chicagoans, I believe, have got to a point where most of us would either laught off or completely ignore any observation that we were anything but a major world city. Chicagoans get enough out-of-town friends and relatives that come here and fall all over the city in praise that they fully know how it is preceived by others. Chicagoans go to other places and hear innumerable comments about how special our city is. Chicagoans tend to be entralled by the transformation of our city, in awe of the changes, and frankly scratch their heads in confusion over who-in-the-hell all these folks are who are buying these condos, townhoses, rowhouses for multi-millions. And one more: few, if any, suburbanites from any city love their big city as much as suburban Chicagoans.

Now I may (or may not) have gotten carried away on this one, but I really believe what I've observed is true. How do others see this "Chicagoans on Chicago" perception?

^Along with what you're saying, I think that many things Chicago has had come and go. Corporate HQ, jobs, conventions, its status in being the cutting-edge for this or that, etc. But one thing Chicago has the greatest skill in the world for is to reinvent itself in ways that ALWAYS keep it near the top. I have noticed throughout history that Chicago always latches onto a new trend and becomes the "world's greatest" at something until other cities come along and gradually take it away. It has been going on for over a century, and Chicago could have smoldered into dust (like Baltimore) long ago. But now it's 2004 and Chicago is greater than ever.

It is happening right now. Look around you--you guys are in the midst of a city that is totally reinventing itself (and in a hurry, at that) and getting ready for the next era. That spirit, in itself, is world-class.

BTW, can somebody close this thread? Unlike the LA forum, we really don't need a thread like this. I see how much its counterpart in the LA forum has created a lot of trouble over there, and I don't want this kind of thread on ours. Does anybody else vote to close this one off?

[Dampyre]

^that's your experience. I found it way easier to meet women and get laid in Chicago than I ever did in LA (and NO, I didn't pay for it)


Well, the women look better and are in better shape in LA. They are also more open-minded and the variety and scope beats Chicago hands-down.

[geoff_diamond]

Uhh Damp... call it a hunch... but, I think I detected a hint of sarcasm in Rail's post.

[Jules]

It's not even up for debate, Chicago is world class hands down.

[Daortiz]

I don't think Chicago has much international recognition
so in that sense is not world a class city, I don't think anybody outside the US or even maybe within the US thinks of Chicago as a premier world destination.
Either in Europe, Latin America or Asia, there are at least 3 or 4 american cities that will pop up before anyone mentions Chicago.
It is majort airline hub for passangers who are going somewhereelse pass thru though.
Economically speaking and in that sense I guess it is a world class city, and it has a pretty packed downtown in terms of highrises that is always a plus specially here.

[edsg25]

I don't think Chicago has much international recognition
so in that sense is not world a class city, I don't think anybody outside the US or even maybe within the US thinks of Chicago as a premier world destination.
Either in Europe, Latin America or Asia, there are at least 3 or 4 american cities that will pop up before anyone mentions Chicago.
.

we'll have to pass this one on to the Chicago business community; it will come as complete shock to them.

[Dampyre]

I don't think Chicago has much international recognition
so in that sense is not world a class city, I don't think anybody outside the US or even maybe within the US thinks of Chicago as a premier world destination.
Either in Europe, Latin America or Asia, there are at least 3 or 4 american cities that will pop up before anyone mentions Chicago.
It is majort airline hub for passangers who are going somewhereelse pass thru though.
Economically speaking and in that sense I guess it is a world class city, and it has a pretty packed downtown in terms of highrises that is always a plus specially here.


Gee, you're stupid. A lot of you a LA-La land are. Chicago easily has more world history than Los Angeles. A pass-thru airport? I'm sorry but Chicago is one of the biggest O&D destinations in the US. Some 45 million visit the greater metropolitan area. The city proper receives more visitors than Los Angeles. It's also a major international financial center. Remember, the folks in the London, Tokyo, Frankfurt and New York financial markets don't give a rats ass what time it is in Los Angeles except for the fairly minor Pacific Stock Exchange. Oh, you guys share that with San Francisco.

Read up and travel, stupid.

[Dampyre]

It's funny how clowns like Silvelake and Daortz come in here talking out of their stupid asses without any numbers, facts or links. Nothing but their worthless opinions, none of whcih are shred by intelligent, wordly people. Also, Chicago has creamed LA in every poll on these boards, in the American forums and the foreign ones.

[goonsta]

Daortz, you are aware that SF recieves more international leisure visitors than LA, as does Miami. Furthermore, NYC, SF and Chicago are always on the top 10 highest rated destinations of North America by Zagat's.

If you're implying that more people would mention a handful of cities above Chicago, then you could also say the same about LA. Arrogant people here in America tend to think our movies influence people that much, when in reality it doesn't. LA would obviously be more recognized in Eastern Asia and Australia, and Central and South America. Europeans recognize Chicago more than you all would like to believe, don't even get me started on Poland or Germany. You'll be suprised how many British still believe Chicago is the second largest city also.

[The Urban Politician]

I knew the LA people would pounce on this thread just like we pounced on theirs.

Shut the damn thing down! Packerguy was stupid to start this thing

[edsg25]

You speak as if this is the 80's. In fact, Chicago is experiencing a boom the likes of which I've never seen. Retail and new construction are popping up all over the South Side. Murders are at a decades low. Projects are being destroyed and replaced with new, mixed income housing.Take it from someone who's probably seen far more of this city than you, Chicago is on a major rebound.

Although many suburbanites do fear Chicago, many more come in droves every weekend to enjoy our fair city. I hate driving home from Lombard on Friday because the roads are super packed with suburbanites coming into town.

Speak as if it were the past? Did you read what I wrote? It was a joke in answer to the guy who said subrbanites wouldn't go anywhere near our city's neighborhoods.

[edsg25]

I knew the LA people would pounce on this thread just like we pounced on theirs.

Shut the damn thing down! Packerguy was stupid to start this thing

Urban Politician, I never would have believed that LA stuff unless I experienced it myself first hand. I posted "inland LA...." in which I was critical of the way that city grew and I got blasted as if I were the worst flamer imaginable and permanently destroyed the psyche of the city. My post was met with revulsion, indignation, and rage. You'd think I spray painted the Hollywood sign with graffit, poured cement over the Chinese Theatre plaza and put my footprints on it, stocked Farmers Market with decayed tomatoes, and returned the Dodgers to Brooklyn. And yet, if you read it, you'd see that while I was critical, I was never disrespectful. Just shared my observations.

Check it out if you haven't already. It was like the Spanish Inquisition, City of the Angels style.

I even went so far as to say that they could criticize Chicago all they wish and it would be no skin off my back.

What is it with LA?

The real joke, I find, is that LA loves to knock Chicago and feels this constant need to be thought of the west coast NYC.....while all the while, New Yorkers usually like Chicago very much, are complimentary to it, and don't get into such nonsense. I think there is probably a great deal of mutual respect between New York and Chicago and, whatever rivalry the two cities have, is built on that mutual respect. LA, on the other hand...I just don't get it.

[goonsta]

Oh yeah, for everyone's info, the most taken airline flight in the US is the Chicago-New York business trip.

[Dampyre]

Uhh Damp... call it a hunch... but, I think I detected a hint of sarcasm in Rail's post.


I tend to see everything in black and white.

[Dampyre]

Speak as if it were the past? Did you read what I wrote? It was a joke in answer to the guy who said subrbanites wouldn't go anywhere near our city's neighborhoods.

I actually thought you were serious.

[edsg25]

I actually thought you were serious.

well, if i was, that would have been the worst case of revisionist history in......history!

[Rail Claimore]

Well, what I said about suburbanite perceptions of the city is somewhat valid. And Chicago isn't really a special case. The suburban vs urban mentality is a sticking point in nearly every major metro in the US. A key difference in Chicago's case though is that the city has the resources and muscle to successfully fight back on many issues that many other cities, especially in the Midwest region, don't have.

And the average inland American here in the South think Chicago is basically a rustbelt hellhole like it's the 1970's and 1980's. They're always shocked as hell when they do see it the first time. Some of my friends were when I took them up there for a trip.

Goonsta's right about second-city perceptions internationally, though I cannot speak for Latin America:

Most Europeans gives a lot more thought to Chicago as being America's second city to New York than they do of Los Angeles. Los Angeles to them does have media clout but that's about it. Europeans I know tend to think of LA as it was pre-1990's.

Most East Asians and Australians think of LA when they think of America's second city, due to all the media hype and their very loose connections with anything in the US outside California and New York. The typical Japanese that I know holds the stereotype that the US is basically California on one side, New York and DC on the other, and nothing but farms inbetween. East Asians also have strong connections with LA and the West Coast due to the heavy concentration of not only Asian-Americans, but transnational businesses and industries which set up shop on the West Coast, and that relationship does have quite a bit of history to it.

[The Urban Politician]

^that's all about to change.

Asian pop's in Chicago is booming!
Daley's making trips to Asian cities and puttin' Chicago on the map.

Chicago will never have LA's influence among East Asians, but if it is able to make up some ground to some degree, that will be good enough

[SILVERLAKE]

EDIT

[The Urban Politician]

^I know you are saying this because we bash LA all day. LA bashing is fun and very easy. I don't know what "pebble" of truth is in what you say, but when we bash Smell-A there is a LOT, LOT more than pebbles of truth. Cold, hard facts, Silverlake. The numbers add up for Chicago, not LA, and no amount of crying or attacks on your part will ever change that.

[The Urban Politician]

Somebody, please close this moronic thread

[SILVERLAKE]

EDIT.

[The Urban Politician]

^
:sleepy:

zzzzz...

that was a good one

[Suburbanite]

Have you actually been to Chicago silverlake? Have you even stepped out of California to see the bright sunshine of the real world? I highly recommend that you reserve judgement until then.

[oshkeoto]

"I actually know people who are afraid to set foot in Chicago."

Me too. People who won't take the Red Line at 10:00 at night on a Saturday. It drives me crazy.

"I think there is probably a great deal of mutual respect between New York and Chicago and, whatever rivalry the two cities have, is built on that mutual respect."

There is? I wasn't aware of that. Maybe among urban connoisseurs like ourselves, but I think in general New Yorkers look down on anything that's not New York, and that includes Chicago. Chicago gets lumped with the Midwest, and the Midwest is not well thought of on the coasts. As for Chicago's attitude towards New York, I will admit that it is a cute town, nice food and all that, but I generally hold Mike Royko's disdain for the city. I'm bothered by any place that so gleefully proclaims itself the center of the world.

And yeah, Chicago has a much more low-key world status, at least as compared to New York and Los Angeles, but I like that. Let people be shocked when they get here.

[edsg25]

Silverlake, don't listen to these nasty people. Of course LA is the most important city in the US. As I've told you, we in Chicago live in a city in deep decline. That decline can be traced to when LA passed us up as the "second city". We never recovered and we never got over how well things went for you and how poorly they went for us. You should see the city now. The neighborhoods are run down and poor; with most of the factories closed, there is little employment. Suburbanites still come to shop on North Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile, but one block in to the east or west, the area is a jungle where it is unsafe to walk. Suburbanites take cabs from Union Station to get to Michigan Avenue to avoid all the nastiness on the street.

You don't need to leave LA to see the rest of the country because you are right: LA is the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why wold you want to leave it to go to lesser places, like Chicago, when you know this is true.

So, stick to your guns, Silverlake. You can see I'm on your side. And you and I know that LA with its laid back life style, the freedom of its automobiles, the glamour that is and always will be Hollywood, will set the example for all world cities. I predict that within ten years, LA will be the greatest city in the world.

[Muse]

LA is an important Pacific Rim city along with Frisco however...

...Chicago is definitely world class and unecessarily plays second fiddle to N.Y.C..

BTW Doesn't Chi-Town along with Hong Kong share the world's busiest airports? Of course it does.

[24gotham]

In 1999, when I was making plans to move here from Seattle, people were shocked when I told them I was moving to Chicago. They could only think of crime, slums, and winter. They couldn't understand why I would leave such a pristine city as Seattle for such a dismal place. When I look back, I think it is quite funny now, if they only knew what Chicago has become in the last ten years. The joke is on them, especially after the "Dot-Bomb" of a few years ago.
Now when I have friends come for a visit, they are shocked and amazed at Chicago. They can't get over how clean and beautiful the city is, how fantastic the parks and the lake are, and they are overwhelmed by the architecture, and grandure of it all. Then they quietly tell me about shuttered storefronts in Seattle, and how the city isn't as clean and pristine as it once was. I have several friends that have suffered lay-offs, and they tell me how hard it is to get a decent job, and how life in Seattle isn't what it once was.

As a side note: Chicago is a favorite US destination for the British. Taking a holiday here is more affordable than NYC, and they love the shopping, especially with all the great stores in such close proximity.

[geoff_diamond]

I generally hold Mike Royko's disdain for the city. I'm bothered by any place that so gleefully proclaims itself the center of the world

With all due respect... is it really that wrong when it's true? NYC is the center of the World.

[goonsta]

^ America!! Fuck Yeah!!

[Rail Claimore]

^ :lol:

[lokinyc]

Who doubts it is? Chicago is incredible.

[LA1]

Chicago is also the favorite city to visit for MLB players. It dominated the rest of the country, even NYC. Chicago had a higher percentage than the 2nd (NYC) and 3rd (Seattle) combined.

Chicago is giving NYC a run for its money with visitor impressions. Everyone in the DC area I know that have been to both cities, prefer Chicago.

[edsg25]

among other things, i do guided tours in the city. chicago gets high marks from people across the US and around the world.

some of our biggest supporters? new yorkers. they absolutely love this place. and i absolutely love talking to them. there is today an afinity between the two cities. i see a lot of mutual respect that new yorkers have for chicago and chicagoans for new york. far removed from the LA nonsense we sometimes see on this board (although angelenos i've encountered think chgo is great, too)

[geoff_diamond]

Well, I for one, love NY and Chicago. I could never choose between the two if I had to.

[EastSider]

Anyone who is afraid to set foot in Chicago is from a small small secluded little village in the mountains. I grew up in a Madison, WI, and I'm not afraid of Chicago. Of course I've traveled my whole life, but I know many others who feel the same. I feel safer in Chicago than any other major cities.

[edsg25]

Anyone who is afraid to set foot in Chicago is from a small small secluded little village in the mountains. I grew up in a Madison, WI, and I'm not afraid of Chicago. Of course I've traveled my whole life, but I know many others who feel the same. I feel safer in Chicago than any other major cities.

EastSider, I doubt that there has ever been much of a question about people from a place as sophisticated as Madison being comfortable in Chicago.

Personally I have always felt that if Chicago sets the standard for big midwestern cities (it does), Madison easily does the same for medium size cities in the region.

[CityBoiFlorida]

OK, it may be time to close the thread, but I want to add an outsider's view. I LOVE YOUR TOWN! It is definitly world class. It has the history, amazing architecural buildings that are still standing, tons of urban renewal, nightlife, mass transit, culture of all forms, and so much more!

When I visit Chicago I get an inexpensive direct flight to Midway. From there I use the Orange Line and get off at one of the stations at the Loops. From there I walk to my friends condo on S. Michigan Ave. (an old building that's been converted to condos) and feel like I'm in a totally different world from tropical South Florida. From then on for the next 2 days I have a whirlwind weekend and I hardly ever sleep. I've been all over the city and I'm always amazed by all the urban renewal going on. Other cities are experiencing it, but those cities had downtowns that almost disappeared and Chicago has always been a "real" city. Thanks for reading.

[The Urban Politician]

^I agree, it is time to close this useless thread. But thanks--your input was very much appreciated :)

[geoff_diamond]

Thx for the kind words CityBoi! We're very fond of our little Midwestern metropolis :)

[TICONLA1]

Yes i think chicago is a world class city, altho it lacks a ocean going port, its rail distribution makes up for it, truly the center of north america, i lived out there for 5 years, and loved the way the "chicago machine" hums, also had the privlage of working on some of your skyscrapers,( most notably, the park tower, a resturant in the sears tower, and a resturant in the old railroad exchange building,.) as a construction worker, i look forward to working out there again!.it was a great experiance to work in the city, that is the birthplace of the skyscraper. but the thing about chicago i liked most, is that it has "soul". LA may have heart but it dosen't have soul !!!!

[vicecityguy]

I don't think its a world class city. Many Americans just fly over it as they go to either LA or New York.

[Rail Claimore]

^Keep thinking that, and tell all your friends that it's just a backwater rustbelt hellhole. It will keep my rents a bit more affordable in a couple of years. ;)

[salvius]

What the hell does world class even mean? It is the real second city of US in any case.

[edsg25]

I don't think its a world class city. Many Americans just fly over it as they go to either LA or New York.

it certainly isn't time to close this thread yet. not when perceptive posters like vicecityguy gets past all our Chicago hype and reveals the truth about our Windy City: that it is an industrial wasteland whose population has slid down the tubes since LA passed us up in population, causing the depression among our citizens that started our deep decline.

His observation is so accurate. Of course most Americans think of Chicago as "fly over country". Why would they want to stop at our slum ridden and dangerous downtown. We do hide the fact that our suburbanites would never consider venturing in to our dead and, quite frankly, scary downtown. Meanwhile, our lakefront (once the city's crown jewel) has been turned over to industrial uses in a failed attempt to get jobs in a city where they are rapidly disappearing. Sadly that whole Millennium Park thing was a joke: three oak trees and a clay model of Mrs. O'Leary, her cow, and lantern starting the Chicago fire....is this all we get from the $500,000 used to build this place?

Only Chicago could hype Michigan Avenue as "the Magnificent Mile"; what a joke. It's only stores are in Water Tower Place, anchored by Target and Sears. Above it is a Holiday Inn. This is exciting. How about the Art Instittue? REPRODUCTIONS. That's all. Reproductions. And not many of those either.

What I don't understand, vicecityguy, is why the flyover NY-LA stuff. LA is obviously the greatest city in the world. Why would anybody bother with NY when LA is ten times the city that NY will ever be (with Chicago, of course, being this sort of pimple between the two)?

A lot of Chicagoans complain about the LA posts on this board, Vicecityguy, but not me. I view your frank and frankly honest comments about our city refreshing and your desire to get the real word on Chicago out to the rest of the nation as a positive. I believe, only by admitting how much Chicago pales in comparison to Los Angeles can we find a model of the type of city that Chicago should and must emulate.

Thank you, Vicecityguy, for the invaluable service you offer. Please keep posting. And get Silverlake back, too. You guys are the greatest.

[Dampyre]

I don't think its a world class city. Many Americans just fly over it as they go to either LA or New York.

Hmmmm...Interesting, but the city of Chicago seems to get more overall visitors than LA County. :cheers:

http://www.lapressroom.info/jsp/factsbusiness.jsp

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0969280449.1099056682@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccadcmlmfldhfcefecelldffhdfhg.0&contentOID=536908474&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&blockName=Planning+And+Development%2FTourism%2FI+Want+To&context=dept&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Planning+And+Development&deptMainCategoryOID=-536886126

[vicecityguy]

Ummmmm..... interesting, but the LA numbers are strictly tourism and the Chicago numbers are for business and leisure.

[Dampyre]

Ummmmm..... interesting, but the LA numbers are strictly tourism and the Chicago numbers are for business and leisure.

No, those are total numbers. The LA webite doesn't bother to break business and leisure visitors into separate categories, just domestic and international. Anyway, Chicago is the number 1 business destination in America even ahead of New York. No one goes to LA on business. Now, I suggest you leave this forum before more of your ignorance is exposed.

[Suburbanite]

Anyway, Chicago is the number 1 business destination in America even ahead of New York.

Are you sure of this fact? Frankly, it would surprise me if that were true.

[Rivernorth]

Are you sure of this fact? Frankly, it would surprise me if that were true.

yup, its true. chicago is the convention capital of the US. companies that are far flung across the US converge onto Chicago for meetings due to its central location. The massive amount of F500 and F1000 companies also helps, as does the many international markets in the city (CBOT, CME, CBOE, CSX, Eurex, etc.)

[ChgoLvr83]

Nooooooooo!!!!! Please stop. This was the one place I could come and hide from all the LA versus Chicago crap. Please not in here too. Vicecityguy's main purpose was to come and start trouble. Why feed into it? If you ignore em, they usually go away. Usually.

Let Chicago remain one of the few civilized forums on here.

Holla! :)

[Dampyre]

Are you sure of this fact? Frankly, it would surprise me if that were true.

Yes, it's true. I was quite surprised to find out myself.

[salvius]

I don't really see Chicago as fly-over country. I wanted to visit the city way before I permanently settled on this continent and I know I'm not the only one.

[vicecityguy]

it certainly isn't time to close this thread yet. not when perceptive posters like vicecityguy gets past all our Chicago hype and reveals the truth about our Windy City: that it is an industrial wasteland whose population has slid down the tubes since LA passed us up in population, causing the depression among our citizens that started our deep decline.

His observation is so accurate. Of course most Americans think of Chicago as "fly over country". Why would they want to stop at our slum ridden and dangerous downtown. We do hide the fact that our suburbanites would never consider venturing in to our dead and, quite frankly, scary downtown. Meanwhile, our lakefront (once the city's crown jewel) has been turned over to industrial uses in a failed attempt to get jobs in a city where they are rapidly disappearing. Sadly that whole Millennium Park thing was a joke: three oak trees and a clay model of Mrs. O'Leary, her cow, and lantern starting the Chicago fire....is this all we get from the $500,000 used to build this place?

Only Chicago could hype Michigan Avenue as "the Magnificent Mile"; what a joke. It's only stores are in Water Tower Place, anchored by Target and Sears. Above it is a Holiday Inn. This is exciting. How about the Art Instittue? REPRODUCTIONS. That's all. Reproductions. And not many of those either.

What I don't understand, vicecityguy, is why the flyover NY-LA stuff. LA is obviously the greatest city in the world. Why would anybody bother with NY when LA is ten times the city that NY will ever be (with Chicago, of course, being this sort of pimple between the two)?

A lot of Chicagoans complain about the LA posts on this board, Vicecityguy, but not me. I view your frank and frankly honest comments about our city refreshing and your desire to get the real word on Chicago out to the rest of the nation as a positive. I believe, only by admitting how much Chicago pales in comparison to Los Angeles can we find a model of the type of city that Chicago should and must emulate.

Thank you, Vicecityguy, for the invaluable service you offer. Please keep posting. And get Silverlake back, too. You guys are the greatest.


Ahhh, let me see if I can come across with such bravado as your post tried to do so eloquently (and with a little comedy thrown in here and there... how original wink!~). Let me see, I’m glad that you agree with me and I also thank you for your tremendous attention directed to me as you see my importance and the importance of my posts. I'm flattered actually and can't wait for your next post, which I'm sure will be full of sarcasm blended with benevolence evoking confusing feelings from me... "Is he being honest? Or he just messing with me?" For the time being, I will take your post as honest since I can't imagine that you would be so insulted by one single little post... Such a powerful person can't surely be insulted by a simple little post. If you were, I can't imagine such an outpouring of emotion towards me with such a lengthy and though provoking post. I will answer and comment on your post:

"that it (Chicago) is an industrial wasteland whose population has slid down the tubes since LA passed us up in population, causing the depression among our citizens that started our deep decline" True!

"His (vicecityguy) observation is so accurate" Thanks!

"Why would they (Americans) want to stop at our slum ridden and dangerous downtown." Agreed!

"We do hide the fact that our suburbanites would never consider venturing in to our dead and, quite frankly, scary downtown." Well, you should be honest and tell us what you tell your suburbanites, its only fair.

"Meanwhile, our lakefront (once the city's crown jewel) has been turned over to industrial uses in a failed attempt to get jobs in a city where they are rapidly disappearing." How sad, oh well.


"Sadly that whole Millennium Park thing was a joke” No doubt, I've seen it!

"Only Chicago could hype Michigan Avenue as "the Magnificent Mile" what a joke." Who else would, I mean its no Sunset Blvd, Hollywood Blvd, Miracle Mile, 5th Avenue, or Broadway!

"What I don't understand, vicecityguy, is why the flyover NY-LA stuff. LA is obviously the greatest city in the world. Why would anybody bother with NY when LA is ten times the city that NY will ever be (with Chicago, of course, being this sort of pimple between the two)?" Well, New York, like LA, is internationally known, kind of simple really... no rocket science here!

"A lot of Chicagoans complain about the LA posts on this board, Vicecityguy, but not me." Glad to hear!!!

"I view your frank and frankly honest comments about our city refreshing and your desire to get the real word on Chicago out to the rest of the nation as a positive." The Los Angeles folks feel the same when Chicago folk post over in the LA thread! We love it when you guys have nothing better to do, which I can understand since Chicago is such a great and interesting city, that you guys come over and post such nice and constructive comments about LA and how great it really is, you guys ROCK!


"I believe, only by admitting how much Chicago pales in comparison to Los Angeles can we find a model of the type of city that Chicago should and must emulate." I'm glad that you are mature enough to admit this; this is really big of you!

"Thank you, Vicecityguy, for the invaluable service you offer." You’re welcome.

"Please keep posting." I will.

"You guys are the greatest." We know!

:puke:

[Dampyre]

LA trolls are quite an amusing, provincial lot.

[Dampyre]

edsg25,

Please don't feed the trolls.

Thank you.

[goonsta]

Remember, this is the same dude who talked about Chicago's massive expanse of highrises "in Dearborn" LOL!

[Dampyre]

Remember, this is the same dude who talked about Chicago's massive expanse of highrises "in Dearborn" LOL!

What, you haven't seen all those highrises in Dearborn??? I just drove by there the other day.

[goonsta]

No, it must be near the Tropical beaches of the South Shore.

[edsg25]

Ahhh, let me see if I can come across with such bravado as your post tried to do so eloquently (and with a little comedy thrown in here and there... how original wink!~). Let me see, I’m glad that you agree with me and I also thank you for your tremendous attention directed to me as you see my importance and the importance of my posts. I'm flattered actually and can't wait for your next post, which I'm sure will be full of sarcasm blended with benevolence evoking confusing feelings from me... "Is he being honest? Or he just messing with me?" For the time being, I will take your post as honest since I can't imagine that you would be so insulted by one single little post... Such a powerful person can't surely be insulted by a simple little post. If you were, I can't imagine such an outpouring of emotion towards me with such a lengthy and though provoking post. I will answer and comment on your post:

"that it (Chicago) is an industrial wasteland whose population has slid down the tubes since LA passed us up in population, causing the depression among our citizens that started our deep decline" True!

"His (vicecityguy) observation is so accurate" Thanks!

"Why would they (Americans) want to stop at our slum ridden and dangerous downtown." Agreed!

"We do hide the fact that our suburbanites would never consider venturing in to our dead and, quite frankly, scary downtown." Well, you should be honest and tell us what you tell your suburbanites, its only fair.

"Meanwhile, our lakefront (once the city's crown jewel) has been turned over to industrial uses in a failed attempt to get jobs in a city where they are rapidly disappearing." How sad, oh well.


"Sadly that whole Millennium Park thing was a joke” No doubt, I've seen it!

"Only Chicago could hype Michigan Avenue as "the Magnificent Mile" what a joke." Who else would, I mean its no Sunset Blvd, Hollywood Blvd, Miracle Mile, 5th Avenue, or Broadway!

"What I don't understand, vicecityguy, is why the flyover NY-LA stuff. LA is obviously the greatest city in the world. Why would anybody bother with NY when LA is ten times the city that NY will ever be (with Chicago, of course, being this sort of pimple between the two)?" Well, New York, like LA, is internationally known, kind of simple really... no rocket science here!

"A lot of Chicagoans complain about the LA posts on this board, Vicecityguy, but not me." Glad to hear!!!

"I view your frank and frankly honest comments about our city refreshing and your desire to get the real word on Chicago out to the rest of the nation as a positive." The Los Angeles folks feel the same when Chicago folk post over in the LA thread! We love it when you guys have nothing better to do, which I can understand since Chicago is such a great and interesting city, that you guys come over and post such nice and constructive comments about LA and how great it really is, you guys ROCK!


"I believe, only by admitting how much Chicago pales in comparison to Los Angeles can we find a model of the type of city that Chicago should and must emulate." I'm glad that you are mature enough to admit this; this is really big of you!

"Thank you, Vicecityguy, for the invaluable service you offer." You’re welcome.

"Please keep posting." I will.

"You guys are the greatest." We know!

:puke:

that's nice, dear

[edsg25]

edsg25,

Please don't feed the trolls.

Thank you.

but their bushy tails were forlornly hanging downward and their bucky rodent teeth start chattering if you don't tell them that LA is the greatest city in the world. they looked so pathetic, my heart weakened, and I gave in. sorry.

you'd think with all the nuts out in LA-LA land, they would have been all set for the winter. i guess i guessed wrong.

[vicecityguy]

but their bushy tails were forlornly hanging downward and their bucky rodent teeth start chattering if you don't tell them that LA is the greatest city in the world. they looked so pathetic, my heart weakened, and I gave in. sorry.

you'd think with all the nuts out in LA-LA land, they would have been all set for the winter. i guess i guessed wrong.

I know you were trying to be funny with that post but it's just lame... too funny!

[edsg25]

I know you were trying to be funny with that post but it's just lame... too funny!

yes, dear.

[vicecityguy]

yes, dear.


is this what you have been reduced to? yes, dear?

[edsg25]

is this what you have been reduced to? yes, dear?

yes, dear

[Rivernorth]

is this what you have been reduced to? yes, dear?

why are you in here? dont you have something better to do with your time?

[The Urban Politician]

Ahhhh, my friend Vice City Guy. I have crushed him numerous times in his home turf LA forum. It is very fun, actually. Chicago just gained a new global Fortune 200 headquarters, announced in the news today.

And LA? Still trailing behind SF and Houston :LOL:

[vicecityguy]

Ahhhh, my friend Vice City Guy. I have crushed him numerous times in his home turf LA forum. It is very fun, actually. Chicago just gained a new global Fortune 200 headquarters, announced in the news today.

And LA? Still trailing behind SF and Houston :LOL:


yes, dear :weird:

[_tictac_]

Guys! Settle down...
Creation of all these "is A a world class city?" threads is getting out of hand and quite frankly, I don't see a reason for making a comparison on Los Angeles and Chicago.

Both cities are certainly world class, each in their own way as they're very different from one another.
Whoever feels the urge to say otherwise is either ignorant or just plain dumb.

Now, Los Angeles is getting MUCH more attention (and believe me, it's not all good) in Europe than Chicago, atleast in the media. You barely see Chicago...
BUT! That doesn't make Los Angeles more important than Chicago and it certainly doesn't make Chicago less world class, besides, Chicago is getting more attention as each day passes by and it's now one of the most popular destinations within the US. ;)

[vicecityguy]

yes, dear

I thought so! :sleepy:

[The Urban Politician]

GOD I hate this thread. It was SO unnecessary. It is such an obvious target for LA trollers. Also, we went so long without a thread like this, and with all that is going on these days, Chicago's world class status does not need to be questioned.

Packerguy is an idiot for starting this thread. He had no sense of history when he started it (no previous posts and none subsequently). What an idiot. People should only be allowed to start threads when they've had at least 100 posts. I hope we never hear from that idiot again

[edsg25]

GOD I hate this thread. It was SO unnecessary. It is such an obvious target for LA trollers. Also, we went so long without a thread like this, and with all that is going on these days, Chicago's world class status does not need to be questioned.

Packerguy is an idiot for starting this thread. He had no sense of history when he started it (no previous posts and none subsequently). What an idiot. People should only be allowed to start threads when they've had at least 100 posts. I hope we never hear from that idiot again

I agree. Pull the plug already!! (or, as Silverlake would so eloquently say, "Pull the plug already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Let's sum up: Chicago is considered a world class city by the entire globe, except for regions north of Disneyland and south of the Valley girls at the mall. We get it! OK? Please end this thread now. I don't think that many of us can hold out for a 10.4 on the San Andreas to do the trick for us.

[Chi-town]

Chicago is one of perhaps a dozen legitimate global cities in the world. So yes, it is.

[philadweller]

"Gee, you're stupid. A lot of you a LA-La land are. Chicago easily has more world history than Los Angeles. A pass-thru airport? I'm sorry but Chicago is one of the biggest O&D destinations in the US. Some 45 million visit the greater metropolitan area. The city proper receives more visitors than Los Angeles. It's also a major international financial center. Remember, the folks in the London, Tokyo, Frankfurt and New York financial markets don't give a rats ass what time it is in Los Angeles except for the fairly minor Pacific Stock Exchange. Oh, you guys share that with San Francisco.

Read up and travel, stupid."

Sounds like you are a sociopath...everybody seems stupid to you. Perhaps your charm is wearing off

"Chicago easily has more world history than Los Angeles."

..and Philly has a helluva lot more history than Chicago...big fucking deal. Compared to Europe and the Middle East we are practically stillbirths. I love Chicago and its polite gentlemen but c'mon it is a 20th century city for the most part. Sounds like you need to do some travelling.

[Dampyre]

"Gee, you're stupid. A lot of you a LA-La land are. Chicago easily has more world history than Los Angeles. A pass-thru airport? I'm sorry but Chicago is one of the biggest O&D destinations in the US. Some 45 million visit the greater metropolitan area. The city proper receives more visitors than Los Angeles. It's also a major international financial center. Remember, the folks in the London, Tokyo, Frankfurt and New York financial markets don't give a rats ass what time it is in Los Angeles except for the fairly minor Pacific Stock Exchange. Oh, you guys share that with San Francisco.

Read up and travel, stupid."

Sounds like you are a sociopath...everybody seems stupid to you. Perhaps your charm is wearing off

"Chicago easily has more world history than Los Angeles."

..and Philly has a helluva lot more history than Chicago...big fucking deal. Compared to Europe and the Middle East we are practically stillbirths. I love Chicago and its polite gentlemen but c'mon it is a 20th century city for the most part. Sounds like you need to do some travelling.

Get lost, sweetness.

[*Sweetkisses*]

Hell yea!! I wish Philadelphia were the same:(

[The Urban Politician]

I can't believe you revitalized this thread.

No more responses..

[Packerguy]

I think the urban politician is biggest fucking idiot on this website enough said.

[chicagogeorge]

World War III just broke out between L.A. and Chicago and now Philly is involved?

http://www.newprophecy.net/Nuclear_naval_battle_1.jpg


By the way, I can't stand the Packers!
http://www.packerssuck.com/packerssuckpics/bears/bears00-1.jpg
http://www.packerssuck.com/packerssuckpics/bears/ph9.jpg

[geoff_diamond]

Really? We're going to do this again?

[The Urban Politician]

This thread needs to die

[LAuniverse]

hmmm

Im a newbie from LA, and I knew there was rivalry between Chicago and LA, but tell me something. Are the LA forumers ALSO this obsessed with Chicago? becauase if not, then you Chicago guys are so insanely obsessed with bashing LA its scary. This is a thread about Chicago without "LA" or "Los Angeles" mentioned anywhere in the topic and all of a sudden it seems to mention "LA" more than it does "chicago". its clear to see who is envious and jealous of who.:eek2:

From my personal experience in Chicago, Chicago people are nice, normal, like LA very much, and are not like this. maybe you guys are crazy because this is skyscrapercity.

But if you guys have history with LAforumers and they are also chicago bashers the way you are LA bashers, then carry on and nevermind everything i said. I dont want a part of it :bash: :cheers:

[aion26]

LAuniverse -- there are a few Chicago guys and a few LA guys with serious issues (that could be said though for about every city on the planet). The rest of us know to ignore them. I'm a newbie too, but I lurked for awhile before joining up and figured that out pretty quick.

[yoyoniner]

From my personal experience in Chicago, Chicago people are nice, normal, like LA very much, and are not like this. maybe you guys are crazy because this is skyscrapercity.


Most people I know that live here do not like LA. In fact, I have never heard anyone really tell me they loved LA, but have heard dozens of people tell me that about San Francisco. I personally have never been there (LA) so I'll reserve judgment, but anyone I talk to that has been to California usually has positive things to say about San Francisco, and negative things to say about LA.

Sorry to report that but I figured I'd share my experience.

[Dampyre]

hmmm

Im a newbie from LA, and I knew there was rivalry between Chicago and LA, but tell me something. Are the LA forumers ALSO this obsessed with Chicago? becauase if not, then you Chicago guys are so insanely obsessed with bashing LA its scary. This is a thread about Chicago without "LA" or "Los Angeles" mentioned anywhere in the topic and all of a sudden it seems to mention "LA" more than it does "chicago". its clear to see who is envious and jealous of who.:eek2:

From my personal experience in Chicago, Chicago people are nice, normal, like LA very much, and are not like this. maybe you guys are crazy because this is skyscrapercity.

But if you guys have history with LAforumers and they are also chicago bashers the way you are LA bashers, then carry on and nevermind everything i said. I dont want a part of it :bash: :cheers:

Uh, Silverlake is the ultimate troll and he's from LA. The guy can't type a sentence withoput bashing Chicago. There are others as well.

[VansTripp]

I think the urban politician is biggest fucking idiot on this website enough said.

Nah. He isn't bad so he is from great capital of US.

[Homer J. Simpson]

The question posed here, "is Chicago a world class city" is a dumb question that does not need an answer.

A better question would be "is there any doubt that Chicago is not a world class city".

IMO, there is no doubt in my mind.

[The Urban Politician]

Nah. He isn't bad so he is from great capital of US.

Thanks, Blink :)

I'm sorry I have been a bit rude to you before. You're a decent guy. We should all share a hug :grouphug:

[VansTripp]

Thanks, Blink :)

I'm sorry I have been a bit rude to you before. You're a decent guy. We should all share a hug :grouphug:

Thanks, UP :)

I'm quit to argue over L.A. and Chicago so Silverlake made dumb thread. It isn't easy make Silverlake stop argue over city.

[future_president]

NO, why? Because chicago is not only the CBD , (where the sears tower, JH Building, Aon center, etc.. are), it inculdes ALL of chicago, from the devastating poor south side, to the "La villita" , do you call that world class? No, Dubai, for example would classify as a world class city since not just their CBD is nice but the WHOLE CITY, which in Chicago's case is visa versa :)

[i_am_hydrogen]

Did you really need to resurrect a 2 year-old thread that was pointless to begin with?