Comments on: The unknown city of Chicago http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/ Travel stories, world music, travel books, and a close peek at unique destinations. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:08:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Sheila http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22561 Sheila Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:06:47 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22561 Hi Chirky, Isn't it great? If not for the teeth-chattering cold in the winter, I'd seriously consider moving there.... Hi Chirky,

Isn’t it great? If not for the teeth-chattering cold in the winter, I’d seriously consider moving there….

]]> By: chirky http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22553 chirky Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:54:19 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22553 I was in Chicago for the same conference last summer, and even ended up flying up the week before so I could spend some quality time in Chicago - I had never visited before, and my husband went to college there, so he played tour guide for me. We did the river tour, visited all the museums, shopped along the Magnificent Mile, visited the beachy area of Lake Michigan. And you're right - I never questioned my safety. Most exciting, however, was my first celebrity sighting: A run-in with R. Kelly, right outside of the Park Hyatt. For some reason, he didn't seem as enthralled with it as I was... I was in Chicago for the same conference last summer, and even ended up flying up the week before so I could spend some quality time in Chicago - I had never visited before, and my husband went to college there, so he played tour guide for me.

We did the river tour, visited all the museums, shopped along the Magnificent Mile, visited the beachy area of Lake Michigan. And you’re right - I never questioned my safety.

Most exciting, however, was my first celebrity sighting: A run-in with R. Kelly, right outside of the Park Hyatt. For some reason, he didn’t seem as enthralled with it as I was…

]]> By: Caitlin http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22228 Caitlin Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:30:49 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22228 I don't doubt it - though I would also characterise New York the same way. And you can't tell me that NYC is colder than Chicago! This was in 1999 by the way. I'll probably make it to Chicago eventually but I live in Europe so it'll require a slightly bigger investment of time and money. I don’t doubt it - though I would also characterise New York the same way. And you can’t tell me that NYC is colder than Chicago! This was in 1999 by the way.

I’ll probably make it to Chicago eventually but I live in Europe so it’ll require a slightly bigger investment of time and money.

]]> By: Sheila http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22079 Sheila Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:23:43 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22079 Hi Caitlin, Well, he was right! You should visit sometime; just catch a Southwest or ExpressJet cheapo flight and check it out. It's a wide-open, relatively clean, energetic city with tons of things going on and a great theater tradition as well (Second City, Steppenwolf, etc.) Hi Caitlin,

Well, he was right! You should visit sometime; just catch a Southwest or ExpressJet cheapo flight and check it out. It’s a wide-open, relatively clean, energetic city with tons of things going on and a great theater tradition as well (Second City, Steppenwolf, etc.)

]]> By: Caitlin http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22073 Caitlin Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:54:33 +0000 http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2008/01/15/the-unknown-city-of-chicago/#comment-22073 The first time I ever went to New York, when I was 21, I stayed in a "hostel", which was actually the basement of an apartment on Fifth Avenue. It was dirty and we had to sleep on grotty foam mattresses but it only cost $30 and the guy who ran the place, who as near as I could tell did nothing but sit around all day playing chess and drinking, thought everyone should be grateful for the Fifth Avenue address. Anyway, I remember him telling me that he was sick of how New York was so crowded, cold and crime ridden - so he was going to move to Chicago. It made me laugh but he was quite serious! I've never been to Chicago, unless you count a few hours spent at O'Hare airport. The first time I ever went to New York, when I was 21, I stayed in a “hostel”, which was actually the basement of an apartment on Fifth Avenue. It was dirty and we had to sleep on grotty foam mattresses but it only cost $30 and the guy who ran the place, who as near as I could tell did nothing but sit around all day playing chess and drinking, thought everyone should be grateful for the Fifth Avenue address. Anyway, I remember him telling me that he was sick of how New York was so crowded, cold and crime ridden - so he was going to move to Chicago. It made me laugh but he was quite serious!

I’ve never been to Chicago, unless you count a few hours spent at O’Hare airport.

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