Do you think Chicago should have something Similar to Times Square or/and the Los Vegas strip?

ChiCity · February 12th, 2012, 05:26 PM

I just want to know if people would consider it, love it, hate it. This is not me trying to say "Chicago needs to be more like New York City so that means more lights!" that's not the case at all.. I just want know would some people consider it or not. If so tell us what would you like to see, if not list why. I wouldn't consider it considering Chicago has so much to do, so why put a bunch of lights just to attract people? It would be a bonus but I feel it's not really needed.

chicagogeorge · February 12th, 2012, 07:42 PM

We have Michigan Ave. Enough said.

Jennifat · February 12th, 2012, 09:14 PM

Isn't Millennium Park basically the quintessential public gathering space in Chicago? Sure, it doesn't assault you visually with lights and advertisements large enough to swallow a small town, but it's a pretty cool iconic spot.

Why on Earth would a world-class city like Chicago want a tacky, trashy tourist and entertainment trap district like the Las Vegas strip? Chicago doesn't depend on middle class gambling addicts to survive.

***Xusein*** · February 13th, 2012, 04:43 AM

Times Square is actually not very interesting, it's got the lights and people, but other than that, it's filled with endless chains that you can find anywhere filled with overpriced food and products, it's a tourist trap. Most New Yorkers avoid it, I visited it once to just to see the fuss and was disappointed. I would say Chicago's Times Square equivalent is Navy Pier when it comes to these things.

***Jaybird*** · February 13th, 2012, 04:44 AM

They do, it's called Michigan Avenue.

diablo234 · February 13th, 2012, 05:20 AM

Chicago has enough unique attractions/landmarks already, so why bother copying either New York's Times Square or the Las Vegas Strip?

It just sounds tacky and desperate.

***desertpunk*** · February 13th, 2012, 09:44 AM

Unless some megadevelopment that includes a Times Squarish public space gets built, I wouldn't want to see any of Chicago's existing grand public spaces junked up with tacky crap. Maybe a stretch of neon and LED lit entertainment venues along West Madison replacing all those crappy parking lots around United Center would be ok.

NovaWolverine · February 13th, 2012, 04:43 PM

Did the OP make this thread on SSP not too long ago? I think it would be nice, but it's not necessary or even worth focusing that much attention on. Having a large commercial public square type of space would be nice, but I think Chicago is fine as it is.

***Sarcasticity*** · February 13th, 2012, 05:41 PM

I agree with Times Square being a Tourist Trap. I was shocked to find out from friends who were visiting NYC for the first time that they all wanted to see Times Square first over say Statue of Liberty

Time Square is good for people sighting but nothing else. Chicago would be better off without it

ChiSkyline · February 13th, 2012, 07:17 PM

I love Chicago. And I think it would be better off without these types of stuff. Michagan Ave. Is not bright lights but is close.

koolio · February 13th, 2012, 08:48 PM

Times Square is stupid. I remember when I was there the first time, everyone was looking at one another as to say "Now what?". It is not a public space ... it is a commercial advertising space. I've never been to Chicago but from the pictures I have seen, Millennium Park seems like the ultimate public gathering place that any city would be ecstatic to have in its core. Probably as much a tourist attraction as a local hotspot.

GarfieldPark · February 13th, 2012, 08:52 PM

It was a very cool thing to see Grant Park full of people for Obama's victory party in November of 08. There must have been a million and a half people there. That would probably be the area that Chicago uses for its huge, mega events. I believe that's where Taste of Chicago is and also the Jazz / Blues Fest. It seems this thread is wondering if there might be a more "urban" space -- some huge plaza in the heart of the many tall buildings. Daly Plaza is too small to handle a huge crowd. Not sure if there might be some other place that could work. Maybe that area along State Street - near the Chicago Theater?

***Sarcasticity*** · February 13th, 2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koolio

Times Square is stupid. I remember when I was there the first time, everyone was looking at one another as to say "Now what?". It is not a public space ... it is a commercial advertising space. I've never been to Chicago but from the pictures I have seen, Millennium Park seems like the ultimate public gathering place that any city would be ecstatic to have in its core. Probably as much a tourist attraction as a local hotspot.

I agree to this, but I wouldn't say Times Square is stupid. It is an advertisement haven. You go there and you're bombarded by too many signs but it has become pedestrian friendly, and is home to theatres, shops and restaurants and the NY's Eve fireworks. It's a good go snap me a picture and lets go place.

***I-275westcoastfl*** · February 15th, 2012, 08:46 PM

Times Square is alright but its just something to walk through unless you like tacky tourist stuff and overpriced chain businesses. Its nice to see at night and I usually go see it at night when I'm returning from the better parts of the city to go back to Penn Station.

***desertpunk*** · February 16th, 2012, 12:47 PM

TS was so much better back in the days of drugs and hookers. Now it's so Disneyfied, it might as well be an outlet mall in a suburb.

aaabbbccc · February 16th, 2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagogeorge

We have Michigan Ave. Enough said.

and I love it , great place

Northsider · February 16th, 2012, 03:21 PM

Aren't those big bright faces in Millennium Park enough?

I say nay. Chicago isn't that kind of city. We don't need to be flashy and pretentious.

Besides, do people actually like Times Square?!? I couldn't get out of that area fast enough when I saw it.

diablo234 · February 17th, 2012, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northsider

Aren't those big bright faces in Millennium Park enough?

I say nay. Chicago isn't that kind of city. We don't need to be flashy and pretentious.

Besides, do people actually like Times Square?!? I couldn't get out of that area fast enough when I saw it.

I think for most people, they just want to check out Times Square since (with the exception of Ginza in Tokyo) there are few places like that anywhere in the world, but I don't see why anyone would want to spend alot of time there outside of say 30 minutes tops.

Northsider · February 17th, 2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diablo234

I think for most people, they just want to check out Times Square since (with the exception of Ginza in Tokyo) there are few places like that anywhere in the world, but I don't see why anyone would want to spend alot of time there outside of say 30 minutes tops.

There's quite a few places in Japan with similar displays of lights...NYC isn't the only place. I agree though, I walked through it, 'been there done that' and promptly left the neighborhood.

shadyunltd · February 17th, 2012, 11:23 PM

Meanwhile, NYC racks up million after million of international tourists while Chicago is barely known outside of the US (ask any foreigner and they'll always mention NYC, Miami, LA, Las Vegas and San Francisco first). Chicago lacks that extra something which makes it a go-to destination.

February 12th, 2012, 05:26 PM	#1
ChiCity BANNED Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 21 Likes (Received): 0	Do you think Chicago should have something Similar to Times Square or/and the Los Vegas strip? I just want to know if people would consider it, love it, hate it. This is not me trying to say "Chicago needs to be more like New York City so that means more lights!" that's not the case at all.. I just want know would some people consider it or not. If so tell us what would you like to see, if not list why. I wouldn't consider it considering Chicago has so much to do, so why put a bunch of lights just to attract people? It would be a bonus but I feel it's not really needed. Last edited by ChiCity; February 12th, 2012 at 11:51 PM.

February 12th, 2012, 07:42 PM	#2
chicagogeorge Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: South suburban Chicago Posts: 5,312 Likes (Received): 107	We have Michigan Ave. Enough said. __________________ for the Pelasgians, too, were a Greek nation originally from the Peloponnesus The Roman Antiquities of Dionysius of Halicarnassus http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/...assus/1B.html Macedonia, of course, is a part of Greece". Strabo, VII, Frg. 9 http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/...ragments.html But north of the gulf, the first inhabitants are Greeks called Epirotes.... Procopius http://books.google.com/books?id=9m6...page&q&f=false

February 12th, 2012, 09:14 PM	#3
Jennifat Midwest Diva Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Posts: 1,275 Likes (Received): 86	Isn't Millennium Park basically the quintessential public gathering space in Chicago? Sure, it doesn't assault you visually with lights and advertisements large enough to swallow a small town, but it's a pretty cool iconic spot. Why on Earth would a world-class city like Chicago want a tacky, trashy tourist and entertainment trap district like the Las Vegas strip? Chicago doesn't depend on middle class gambling addicts to survive. __________________ My North Star State Photo Threads Minneapolis / St. Paul Downtown Minneapolis \| Mill District, Minneapolis \| North Loop, Minneapolis Northeast Minneapolis 1 \| Northeast Minneapolis 2 \| Loring Park and Mpls Sculpture Garden Uptown, Minneapolis \| U of M—East Bank \| U of M—West Bank \| Downtown St. Paul 1\| Downtown St. Paul 2 Greater Minnesota Cities and Towns of Minnesota

February 13th, 2012, 04:43 AM	#4
*Xusein* Somali Mod Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kingdom Come Posts: 24,554 Likes (Received): 426	Times Square is actually not very interesting, it's got the lights and people, but other than that, it's filled with endless chains that you can find anywhere filled with overpriced food and products, it's a tourist trap. Most New Yorkers avoid it, I visited it once to just to see the fuss and was disappointed. I would say Chicago's Times Square equivalent is Navy Pier when it comes to these things. __________________ SkyscraperCity SOOMAALIYA

February 13th, 2012, 04:44 AM	#5
*Jaybird* Making Detroit look good! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mitchell, Ontario Posts: 3,888 Likes (Received): 20	They do, it's called Michigan Avenue. __________________ I'm a kind of person feeling like living back in the 1950s, one who favors and enjoys the Golden-age, rust-belt cities of Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit, and the Gothic skylines of New York and Philadelphia. In my eye, they have more character, soul, and history to be pictured than today's world-class, cosmopolitan, and sprawling cities. Jaybird's ZENFOLIO Photo Galleries Jaybird's PBASE Photo Galleries

February 13th, 2012, 05:20 AM	#6
diablo234 Oh No He Didn't Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston-Tejas-Estados Unidos Posts: 4,220	Chicago has enough unique attractions/landmarks already, so why bother copying either New York's Times Square or the Las Vegas Strip? It just sounds tacky and desperate. __________________ T E X A S --PHOTO COLLECTION-- Disclaimer: I am not sexist, racist, or prejudiced in any way or form. I hate everyone equally.

February 13th, 2012, 09:44 AM	#7
*desertpunk* Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ELP ~ ABQ Posts: 29,640 Likes (Received): 1365	Unless some megadevelopment that includes a Times Squarish public space gets built, I wouldn't want to see any of Chicago's existing grand public spaces junked up with tacky crap. Maybe a stretch of neon and LED lit entertainment venues along West Madison replacing all those crappy parking lots around United Center would be ok. __________________ We are floating in space...

February 13th, 2012, 04:43 PM	#8
NovaWolverine Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 2,622 Likes (Received): 1	Did the OP make this thread on SSP not too long ago? I think it would be nice, but it's not necessary or even worth focusing that much attention on. Having a large commercial public square type of space would be nice, but I think Chicago is fine as it is.

February 13th, 2012, 05:41 PM	#9
*Sarcasticity* Lost in the Big Apple Join Date: May 2005 Location: DC/NYC Posts: 1,864 Likes (Received): 27	I agree with Times Square being a Tourist Trap. I was shocked to find out from friends who were visiting NYC for the first time that they all wanted to see Times Square first over say Statue of Liberty Time Square is good for people sighting but nothing else. Chicago would be better off without it __________________ FILIPINO by blood. AMERICAN by ambition. Filipino working in NYC

February 13th, 2012, 07:17 PM	#10
ChiSkyline Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chicago, Il Posts: 288 Likes (Received): 26	I love Chicago. And I think it would be better off without these types of stuff. Michagan Ave. Is not bright lights but is close.

February 13th, 2012, 08:48 PM	#11
koolio Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,764 Likes (Received): 250	Times Square is stupid. I remember when I was there the first time, everyone was looking at one another as to say "Now what?". It is not a public space ... it is a commercial advertising space. I've never been to Chicago but from the pictures I have seen, Millennium Park seems like the ultimate public gathering place that any city would be ecstatic to have in its core. Probably as much a tourist attraction as a local hotspot. __________________ Victoria, Canada

February 13th, 2012, 08:52 PM	#12
GarfieldPark Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,590 Likes (Received): 12	It was a very cool thing to see Grant Park full of people for Obama's victory party in November of 08. There must have been a million and a half people there. That would probably be the area that Chicago uses for its huge, mega events. I believe that's where Taste of Chicago is and also the Jazz / Blues Fest. It seems this thread is wondering if there might be a more "urban" space -- some huge plaza in the heart of the many tall buildings. Daly Plaza is too small to handle a huge crowd. Not sure if there might be some other place that could work. Maybe that area along State Street - near the Chicago Theater?

February 15th, 2012, 08:46 PM	#14
*I-275westcoastfl* Jestem Hardkorem Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 5,537 Likes (Received): 29	Times Square is alright but its just something to walk through unless you like tacky tourist stuff and overpriced chain businesses. Its nice to see at night and I usually go see it at night when I'm returning from the better parts of the city to go back to Penn Station.

February 16th, 2012, 12:47 PM	#15
*desertpunk* Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ELP ~ ABQ Posts: 29,640 Likes (Received): 1365	TS was so much better back in the days of drugs and hookers. Now it's so Disneyfied, it might as well be an outlet mall in a suburb. __________________ We are floating in space...

February 16th, 2012, 03:21 PM	#17
Northsider Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,572 Likes (Received): 25	Aren't those big bright faces in Millennium Park enough? I say nay. Chicago isn't that kind of city. We don't need to be flashy and pretentious. Besides, do people actually like Times Square?!? I couldn't get out of that area fast enough when I saw it.

February 17th, 2012, 11:23 PM	#20
shadyunltd Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Quebec Posts: 152 Likes (Received): 0	Meanwhile, NYC racks up million after million of international tourists while Chicago is barely known outside of the US (ask any foreigner and they'll always mention NYC, Miami, LA, Las Vegas and San Francisco first). Chicago lacks that extra something which makes it a go-to destination.

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