After 25 years of
living in Chicago, here are 25 reasons to love the city despite the
weather.
1. Great food,
Restaurants, and Chefs:
Home to Jimmy Bannos, Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard, Bill Kim and the molecular gastronomists at Alinea, Moto, ING,
Schwa, and Graham Elliot's, Chicago is easily the most progressive restaurant city in the country.
Throw restaurant owners like Theresa Nguyen and Mary Nguyen Aregoni and their Mama Su into the mix, and restaurants get pretty perfect.
2. 26 miles of beachfront
and 19.5 miles of bike paths:
The bike paths connect
you with some of the most spectacular views… and food… in the city.
3. Public
Transportation:
Between Metra, your
bike, the water taxi, the L and the bus, you can get anywhere in Chicago. My
favorite way to travel? Running!
4. Neighborhoods:
The language you hear
spoken pretty much defines the neighborhood and great eats can be
found on every corner.
I can’t say that I’m partial to any one of them. I love
exploring them all.
5. Lake Shore Drive:
This amazing roadway
runs through most of the city and connects you with many of its top restaurants, neighborhoods and shops.
6. The Chicago
Skyline:
No matter where I see it from, it never fails to take my breath away.
7. Navy Pier:
Navy Pier is the leading
lakefront playground in Chicago. From rides, restaurants,
entertainment, and shopping, Navy Pier does have it all.
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8. The Chicago River:
The river is memorialized by two horizontal blue stripes on the
Municipal Flag of Chicago and is dyed green every year in the spirit of St Patrick's Day.
9. North Avenue Beach:
The best beach in the
city hosts international volleyball tournaments and sun worshippers alike. Great food and water sports but even better people
watching.
10. The Championship
Chicago Blackhawks:
The defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks…I
like the sound of it…again!
11. The Cubs and
Wrigley Field:
One of the best summers
I had was working as a photographer for the Cub's home games. Wrigley is an institution…as is Murphy’s Bleachers.
12. Festivals:
The Taste of Chicago,
the Jazz Festival, the Blues Fest, Taylor Street
Festa Italiana, Taste of Greece… there
are hundreds of summer festivals and in Chicago you can party with the best of
them every weekend.
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13. Lake Michigan:
There are so many ways to play...jet ski, paddleboard,
windsurf, sail, kayak, water ski...
14. Eataly:
This 63,000 square
foot theme park of all things Italian will get you wondering how to be Italian
in your next life.
Photo: NBA
15. The Chicago Bulls
and Legend Michael Jordan:
The Bulls and Michael Jordan had one of the NBA's
greatest dynasties, winning six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998 with
two three-peats.
16. Michigan Avenue:
I can get in so much
trouble wandering up the Michigan Avenue bridge to 900 North...not just
shopping but eating too.
17. Green City Market:
This market connects farmers and local producers
to chefs, restaurateurs and food-loving Chicago. Sustainably grown food and
education makes this market one of the best in the country.
18. Maxwell Street
Market:
On any given Sunday my
favorite place to hang out for real Mexican food.
19. The Bean:
The most popular
sculpture in the city is a go-to for photos because of its unique reflective
properties.
20. The Loop:
The heart and soul of Chicago,
the Loop is the center and most iconic section of
the city.
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21. Parks:
Part of what makes
Chicago one of the most beautiful cities in the country?
580 parks including
Millennium and Grant.
22. Sears Tower:
I lost my fear of heights on the
ledge one morning. What’s not to love looking 1,450 feet down?
Photo: CBS News
23.Lincoln Park Zoo:
Chicago’s free zoo at
one of the best locations in the city. They also host one of the city's best runs.
24.Solider Field and Da Bears:
The views from this field are
renowned. Mike Ditka still reigns having won an NFL title as a
player, an assistant coach, and a head coach.
25.Signature Room at
the John Hancock building:
Grand vistas and some
of the best memories of my 25 years in Chicago.
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