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

[St.PauliBoy]

Maybe it's just my taste, but I think Millenium Park is better than Times Square and the Strip combined. Chicago is also the best city in the US for architecture, old and new.

The Las Vegas Strip is just not my cup of tea....and the lights and bustle of Tokyo's Shinjuku area make Times Square look like a bare lightbulb!

[iloveclassicrock7]

Originally Posted by St.PauliBoy

Maybe it's just my taste, but I think Millenium Park is better than Times Square and the Strip combined. Chicago is also the best city in the US for architecture, old and new.

The Las Vegas Strip is just not my cup of tea....and the lights and bustle of Tokyo's Shinjuku area make Times Square look like a bare lightbulb!

Agree with everything...

[bigbarcelona]

First... Chicago doesn't need anything like Vegas because as many of you have stated... Chicago needs to be Chicago and Chicago has so much to offer that it doesn't need anything like that. Even in the most boring of days in Chicago is better than being in a lot of cities around the US. I lived in both Chicago and New York and I love both cities, but Chicago is like for it's identity just like New York is like for it's own identity as well. If I wanted to go to the strip, that's what Vegas is for... if I wanted something similar to Time Square, then I go to New York and if I want something similar to let's say the Navy Pier or Millennium Park... then I simply go to Chicago for it (I THINK MILLENNIUM PARK IS SO MUCH BETTER AND NICER THAN CENTRAL PARK).

The only thing in my book Chicago needs is to update the L Line and add a couple of lines as well. To me I feel like it is out dated and the current lines don't cover enough of the city as Chicago is very sprawl. ALSO, ONCE THE TRAINS GET OUT OF THE LOOP, INCREASE THE SPEED OF THE TRAINS! TALK ABOUT SOME SLOW TRAINS!

But overall... Chicago is good.

[QuantumX]

I was just there this weekend. Everything he said! What does Chicago need something like Time Square for? I don't get it! I think where the Magnificant Mile meets the Chicago River has that beat.

[ChiSkyline]

Originally Posted by blakeaustin

Chicago looks so lame when you compare it to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. In Las Vegas they have cool lights and displays on the strip and legit roller coasters, while in L.A. they have Hollywood and the sunset strip along with "Six Flags Magic Mountain", which dominates any other amusement park in America. Both Las Vegas and Los Angeles seem to be good party spots but Chicago just looks blah . Unless Chicago only wants old people to travel here for leisure, they will need to step it up quite a bit because I wouldn't waste a second choosing just about any other American city over it, whether it was for geographical beauty or awesomely sketchy infrastructure. btw i'm 16 and I graduate next year and was wondering what type of great jobs you guys have that you get to travel the nation and meet different people and see our great cities?!

Are you serious? Chicago has so much to offer that you're completely unaware of. Chicago has Navy Pier, Six Flags, Millenium Park, lallapalooza, beautiful beaches etc.. for God Saked Chicago has Downtown itself! It's a world class city for all ages. Wonderful party life, downtown life, Chicago is everything. There's a reason why Chicago is actually up there with NYC and not cities like Vegas or Miami. I'm sorry but your post is invalid. You should actually get the vibe of the city before you trash

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

I don't get it! I think where the Magnificant Mile meets the Chicago River has that beat.

The architecture alone at that intersection beats Las Vegas 100 times over: Tribune, Wrigley, Trump, Jewlers, Carbide and Carbon, Motor Club, London Gurantee, Hotel Intercontinental, Mather...

[iloveclassicrock7]

Originally Posted by Northsider

The architecture alone at that intersection beats Las Vegas 100 times over: Tribune, Wrigley, Trump, Jewlers, Carbide and Carbon, Motor Club, London Gurantee, Hotel Intercontinental, Mather...

The architecture at that intersection beats any city. You also forget to mention the Aon tower, Aqua, 35 East Wacker etc...

That area as well as the entire city is truly incredible.

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by iloveclassicrock7

35 East Wacker etc...

.

Jewlers Building

[milquetoast]

Las Vegas Boulevard is just an address for what we do.
It encapsulates everything about who and what we are.
It's not a park or an intersection. It can't be replicated.

Especially in places that don't have legalized gaming, so
Chicago should concentrate on being Chicago and Times
Square on Times Square and we all should celebrate the
diversity of this nation of great cities.

[blakeaustin]

Who goes to Chicago for a beach vacation and why even try to compare "Great America" to parks like "Magic Mountain" or Cedar Point? There is no comparison.
Also, my friend I 'skyped' with tonight lives in Chicago and I told him I took architecture class last semester and we learned about Chicago. I told him it was the two most boring weeks of my life so in response he said "Yeah Chicago, the buildings are tall but it's nothing really special ." You people are so in denial, and if you think museums are fun that's good for you but no just no, "guh"

[blakeaustin]

...and you "iloveclassicrock7," why even take the time to take one of my negative posts, leave out a critical part and then make it as your signature? I'm sorry but I missed the logic in trying to make people hate me. Also, just about everytime I post whether it's good or bad you make time to bash it. Like when you thought it was so funny when I chose Miami as my favorite North American skyline instead of New York. You said it was a good laugh._. You should be happy for the folks in Miami because someone admires their beautiful skyline, but instead you're a selfish prick and laugh at me for choosing my honest favorite. I don't always confine to the norm and or agree with you but dude chill. I'm sorry I kinda called you out "in front" of everybody <3

[Rev Stickleback]

Originally Posted by blakeaustin

while in L.A. they have Hollywood

Have you ever been to Hollywood? It's an absolute shithole. Nothing there but pawn shops, liquor stores and tatty shops selling film memorabilia.

You can't even see the Hollywood sign from Hollywood. It's a speck on some hills that are miles away.

[blakeaustin]

I have never been to LA but who cares if hollywood is a shithole? They have spiderman, you get to take your pic with spiderman! You can't do that in just any city. We trek across Texas every July though, and have been to every big city here multiple times. I have been to these states, NM, OK, KS, AR, LA, and Mexico, so pretty much the cities of the south-central region of America.

[goonsta]

You get to take your picture with Spiderman? Dora the explorer too? How cool is that? Can you meet the cast of Twilight and High School Musical too? What about Miley Cyrus? Can't forget Miley Cyrus!

Who cares about boring Chicago, with their Lollapolooza, North Coast Music Festival, Riot Fest, Kanye West, Twista, Lupe Fiasco, The Cool Kids and Common, Second City comedy club, one of the top underground hip hop scenes in the country, home of Pitchfork magazine, and the city that gave us the first Black President of the USA....not a damn thing, if it doesn't have Disney, it doesn't count!

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by blakeaustin

Who goes to Chicago for a beach vacation

I seriously doubt anybody goes to Chicago with the sole purpose as a "beach vacation". Nobody goes to Rockaway for a beach holiday, nor do people go to Venice beach for a beach holiday. It's just an added bonus.

and why even try to compare &quot;Great America&quot; to parks like &quot;Magic Mountain&quot; or Cedar Point? There is no comparison.

Because there's roller coasters.

Also, my friend I 'skyped' with tonight lives in Chicago and I told him I took architecture class last semester and we learned about Chicago. I told him it was the two most boring weeks of my life so in response he said &quot;Yeah Chicago, the buildings are tall but it's nothing really special .&quot;

I could go on and on, but honestly, what is "not boring" to you? Besides, I dunno, a gaudy pyramid with a light shining out of the top?

You people are so in denial, and if you think museums are fun that's good for you but no just no, &quot;guh&quot;

lol. When you grow up come visit us and we'll show you around. Until then, continue to enjoy Las Vegas.

It's really hard to argue your points since it's nothing but misinformed, ignorant babble. We've given you plenty of reasons Chicago is a great city, yet you continue to focus on asinine points like "durr, chicago don't have the largest ferris wheel in the world. Or, durr, I don't like museums.".


I've posted this elsewhere, but I'll post it again:

Food
Chicago has 20+ Michilan rated restaurants (among the most in the world), along with countless ethnic joints. Our pizza is legendary. Our roast beef is famous.

transportation
24/7 subway service, one of the longest and oldest in the world. Combined with Metra and Pace, one of the largest in the world, certainly in the US. Grid-based, logical arterial and local road network, with highway feeders. Again, logical and [mostly] efficient, very difficult to get lost. Water taxis, 2nd largest taxi fleet in US

Architecture
Arguably the birthplace of the skyscraper, certainly the place that made it famous and nurtured it. One of the few places you can see old skyscraper frontage alongside modern. Chicago School, Prairie School, Frank Lloyd Wright...people all over the world come to Chicago study architecture and design.

Economy/Business
One of the most balanced economies in the US, and 3rd largest GMP in the US. Ranked in top 5 GDP of all world cities. 2nd Largest business district in the world, home to the federal reserve and major stock exchanges (one of which is the world leader in grains and futures). Mcdonalds, Boeing, United, Abbott, Fermi, U of C, ... the list goes on.

Tourism
Ranked 3rd in US by Forbes as most visited city, contributing $11.8 billion. Ranked 2nd in conventions, behind Las Vegas.

the Lake
Recreation. One of the largest sources of fresh water in the world. Natural beauty. Driving down LSD says it all.

Parks
Chicago's motto is actually "Garden City". The boulevard system, Grant Park (our front yard), Jackson, Garfield, Humboldt, and Douglas...hard to match that kind of system anywhere. 28 miles of beaches. Lincoln Park is 2nd most visited park in the US.

Festivals
Lollapalooza, Pitchfork...100s of summer neighborhood fests.

Clubs / Bars
Chicago has more bars per capita than any city in the US. They range from old-man dive bars, hipster enclaves, emerging craft beer restaurants, and posh nightspots.

Music
Lyric Opera and Civic Opera House. Birthplace of House. Tremendously influential jazz, blues, and soul scene. Very influential HipHop scene. Indie and punk has a particularly large following as well.

Comedy
Second City (world renown), IO, 8+ theater/broadway venues, countless neighborhood theaters.

Sports
Considered best sports city by a few publications. Original NHL hockey team, the Bulls (one of the MOST recognized in the entire world thanks to the '90s), 2 baseball teams, the Bears (one of the [remaining] original franchises from the beginning of the NFL), Soccer. Chicago Marathon, one of the largest and well known in the world. DePaul basketball, Northwestern Football.

skyline
Arguably the most beautiful in the world, and consistently top 3 no matter what publication you read.

History
Reversing the Chicago River, first controlled nuclear reaction, the only place where 6 of the nation's 7 major rail trunks meet, raising the city, Columbian Expo, Machine Politics, etc, etc...

people
Regarded as Midwestern, some of the nicest in any major city.

Diversity
While not the most diverse city, not even close, it does offer it in particular neighborhoods. Albany Park and Uptown are regarded as two of the most diverse neighborhoods in the USA

Art
Picasso, Flamingo, Cloudgate, Art Institute (one of the worlds best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art).

science
Fermi lab (world's 2nd largest particle accelerator and key site for analyzing dark matter), Abbott labs, Argonne, U of C...

ethnic enclaves
Indian, Puerto Rican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Turkish, Bulgarian, Polish (largest Polish population of any city in the world besides Warsaw), etc, etc

cleanliness
Despite its size, it has one of the cleanest downtowns of any major city.

size / density / scope
One of only 3 cities which is over 1 million people and has a density over 10,000/sqmile. You wont' find a US city other than NY that can compare in size and breadth of density. High rise living, apartment blocks, rowhouses, bungalows, single family homes...Chicago has the full spectrum of living options.

cheap
It's also one of the cheapest cities in the world of it's size and influence.

american
It's arguably one of the most american cities in the US. Completely plotted before being settled, bough and sold in NY, wide streets, a place of business and politics... architecturally American.

alpha city
Highest tier of global importance.

With all that said, there's only a handful of cities that meet all of these qualities and do it exceptionally well.

Chicago is so boring. Right.

[chicagogeorge]

Originally Posted by Northsider

I seriously doubt anybody goes to Chicago with the sole purpose as a "beach vacation". Nobody goes to Rockaway for a beach holiday, nor do people go to Venice beach for a beach holiday. It's just an added bonus

Yeah, we know how to make good use of Lake Michigan during the summer.



















North Ave. Beach in the Summer!

[goonsta]

Its not fun because its not shown on TV.....

[St.PauliBoy]

Originally Posted by bigbarcelona

First... Chicago doesn't need anything like Vegas because as many of you have stated... Chicago needs to be Chicago and Chicago has so much to offer that it doesn't need anything like that.

Exactly. If I go to Chicago, I want to see something that says "Chicago"! I don't want to see Times Square or the Vegas Strip in Chicago because that wouldn't be in keeping with the city or its history.

When I go to another city, I want to see something distinctive and different. Likewise when I go to St. Louis, I want a St. Louis experience that is different from Chicago's or anywhere else. In Minneapolis, I expect a liberal city shaped around its lakes, the Mississippi River, and the old flour mills. In Omaha, I want great steaks! In San Antonio, I like to see the Tejano culture and experience how it has shaped the city. Trying to emulate what New York, Las Vegas, or Timbuktu has would greatly detract from these places.

That's what makes different places interesting. They have their own special stories and offerings. Tell me how boring a place is, and I will find a million interesting and unique things about that place (and no, that does not include Disneyland or Six Flags, etc). When we start trying to build Times Squares and Vegas Strips all around the country to make our cities seem more "exciting", then we're in trouble.

[Jennifat]

Originally Posted by blakeaustin

Who goes to Chicago for a beach vacation and why even try to compare Great America to parks like Magic Mountain or Cedar Point? There is no comparison.

You have the mentality of an adolescent. That's expected for someone of your age, so don't be alarmed. Once your brain is fully developed and you begin to experience adult cognition and reasoning, you'll probably develop new tastes for culture and entertainment to which sheltered suburban children normally aren't exposed.

[iloveclassicrock7]

Originally Posted by blakeaustin

...and you "iloveclassicrock7," why even take the time to take one of my negative posts, leave out a critical part and then make it as your signature? I'm sorry but I missed the logic in trying to make people hate me. Also, just about everytime I post whether it's good or bad you make time to bash it. Like when you thought it was so funny when I chose Miami as my favorite North American skyline instead of New York. You said it was a good laugh._. You should be happy for the folks in Miami because someone admires their beautiful skyline, but instead you're a selfish prick and laugh at me for choosing my honest favorite. I don't always confine to the norm and or agree with you but dude chill. I'm sorry I kinda called you out "in front" of everybody <3

leave out a critical part and then make it as your signature?

Your original post was too big, so I had to cut it down.



I am not trying to get people to hate you. I just think you are a troll based off of your absurd logic and opinion.

I have never been to LA but who cares if hollywood is a shithole? They have spiderman, you get to take your pic with spiderman! You can't do that in just any city. We trek across Texas every July though, and have been to every big city here multiple times. I have been to these states, NM, OK, KS, AR, LA, and Mexico, so pretty much the cities of the south-central region of America.

You have got to be trolling. Your reason for not liking Chicago is because it isn't like Disney Land ?

I understand that you aren't an adult yet, but you sound like a 12 year old rather then a 16 year old. I would think that a 16 year old would be interested in the things mentioned above that Chicago has.



I have also noticed that you say that Chicago is boring in nearly every thread, making me think you are biased against the city