Will Chicago feel like a worldly, cosmopolitain city coming from San Francisco? (Lincoln: appointed, condo)

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Well, one of the cities in the middle of the country had to had a downtown that developed into a mini-Manhattan. Kind of like an outlet mall has a market for its designer products out in the exurbs.

Same thing, the midwest has to have some city that developed into what Chicago developed into because people in the middle of the country want a slice of New York within a days drive. Chicago for complicated reasons, the obivous being the fact that its the biggest, became the city to fill that niche.

It does not mean however, that 312 area code and out to Wicker Park, and within a mile of the north lakefront is representative of the rest of the metro area, or even the rest of the city. Its like the difference between Manhattan and New Jersey.

Why?

[reppin_the_847]

This is true, but well before the rise of the yuppie era, Chicago's strategic location in terms of the convergence of the freight railroads helped it to become THAT city in the Midwest. Later on, O'Hare became a very nice economic engine (thank Daley Sr. for this one) to supplant our status as a freight railroad & transportation hub. The yuppie era came of age as the city brought in a lot more white collar jobs and technology helped to create more of a service economy here & nationwide. Folks began to embrace the city rather than run away from it like their parents might have.

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Well, one of the cities in the middle of the country had to had a downtown that developed into a mini-Manhattan. Kind of like an outlet mall has a market for its designer products out in the exurbs.

Same thing, the midwest has to have some city that developed into what Chicago developed into because people in the middle of the country want a slice of New York within a days drive. Chicago for complicated reasons, the obivous being the fact that its the biggest, became the city to fill that niche.

It does not mean however, that 312 area code and out to Wicker Park, and within a mile of the north lakefront is representative of the rest of the metro area, or even the rest of the city. Its like the difference between Manhattan and New Jersey.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Well, one of the cities in the middle of the country had to had a downtown that developed into a mini-Manhattan. Kind of like an outlet mall has a market for its designer products out in the exurbs.

Same thing, the midwest has to have some city that developed into what Chicago developed into because people in the middle of the country want a slice of New York within a days drive. Chicago for complicated reasons, the obivous being the fact that its the biggest, became the city to fill that niche.

It does not mean however, that 312 area code and out to Wicker Park, and within a mile of the north lakefront is representative of the rest of the metro area, or even the rest of the city. Its like the difference between Manhattan and New Jersey.

No offense but I don't get anything from your post that can be construed as a point.

OK, the middle of the country needed a large, cosmopolitan city, and Chicago it is. We're still not the same as Omaha.

Sure, the Chicago outlands are different than WP, so what? The Omaha outlands are even more backwards than their city center as well.

So what?

[Vlajos]

Most of TexIL posts are worthless and incoherent.

Junior college teacher, remember?

[Tex?Il?]

Well, repping_the_847 seemed to understand what I was saying. And he explained the basic reasons why. Railroad hub, O'Hare airport, Daleys, etc.

And Grapico and emathias and Lorilicious seemed to understand. I confirmed what they said in this thread, and vice versa.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

No offense but I don't get anything from your post that can be construed as a point.

OK, the middle of the country needed a large, cosmopolitan city, and Chicago it is. We're still not the same as Omaha.

Sure, the Chicago outlands are different than WP, so what? The Omaha outlands are even more backwards than their city center as well.

So what?

But the point is that, the Wicker Park mentality can be found throughout much more of the Bay Area throughout many of its suburbs, etc. whereas in Chicago its more limited to the very urban neighborhoods near downtown and the north side.

And since the huge attraction of Chicago is to live a life where you don't go into the outlands because you have everything you need in the city center, etc. is that creates a bigger difference between 312/north lakefront/Wicker Park living and the rest of Chicagoland.

This is important for someone coming from San Francisco, who is probably used to liberal attitudes all across the bay area.

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

But the point is that, the Wicker Park mentality can be found throughout much more of the Bay Area throughout many of its suburbs, etc. whereas in Chicago its more limited to the very urban neighborhoods near downtown and the north side.

And since the huge attraction of Chicago is to live a life where you don't go into the outlands because you have everything you need in the city center, etc. is that creates a bigger difference between 312/north lakefront/Wicker Park living and the rest of Chicagoland.

This is important for someone coming from San Francisco, who is probably used to liberal attitudes all across the bay area.

I get your point -- I made a similar one earlier. Although you do also get a few more liberal enclaves dotted around the interior metro area, e.g. Evanston, Oak Park, so it's not completely limited to the city center.

[linicx]

Tne Midwest flows as far East as Ohio, as far West as North Dakota, as far North as the Canadian Border and as far south as Missouri. It is home to four of the five Great Lakes, home to the world's busiest airport, home to a dozen or more professional sports teams, the heart of the Beef and Grain Belt, home to a number of very good universities, home to some of the best research libraries in America and home to the third largest city in the fifth most populated state in America.

The Midwest is all about a food, and its abundant supply of crops, livestock and assorted byproducts like eggs, milk, variety meats and cheese. We feed America and the world. Despite this there is always an outsider trying to compare Newyorkyness and CalyforneyeA surfers to the Midwest. I don't care how much lipstick you put on that pig it still will not fly. It is like trying to compare Hollywood to the Rockettes or Manhattan to Beverly Hills.

The Midwest is what it is and Chicago is one of its bright spots.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

But the point is that, the Wicker Park mentality can be found throughout much more of the Bay Area throughout many of its suburbs, etc.

Sure, but I was specifically responding to one statement: the one that claimed if you wouldn't like Omaha or Indy, you would feel likewise in Chicago.

[PnbCourtney]

Just moved to Chicago after living 3 years in Belgium and 8 years in sf. So far we love it. Boys town is like the Castro. Andersonville and Lincoln square are like noe valley before the new whole foods went in on 24th street. Southport and roscoe village are charm