Chicago in 25 Years: World Player or Flyover Rust Museum? (Algonquin: credit rating, real estate)

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by NYrules

Ain't gonna happen in my life or my kid's lives. I could care less.

A) I figured this thread would turn into a conversation about climate change. Just had a hunch.

b) Not planning on having grandkids? Or great-grands?

[Gtownoe]

Originally Posted by jimbo13

you never even lived in the city? your opinion is pretty much moot as far as i can tell, if you're from the 'burbs. all that for nothing, haha...

I have to agree with that statement. You can never get a feel for a city until you've actually lived in it (inside city limits).

[aragx6]

I would add that I think you can know the city without living there if you've spent a significant amount of time there, and not just in one or two neighborhoods... which in High School usually doesn't happen.

[Gtownoe]

I agree. I think the catch is if you spent your time in the actual city, or if you just stayed in the burbs.

You can't explain to somebody who hasn't lived in the city how it feels to be getting off work on a Friday, on a sunny, summer afternoon, cruising down Lakeshore with the windows down and the beach at your side...with the whole weekend ahead of you.

Or how that afternoon can turn to night and how the whole mood of the city changes, bars, clubs, plays, great restaurants, house parties, and all other forms of nightlife at your fingertips.

Or how it feels to walk down your block into the local coffee shop or restaurant and chat it up with the neighborhood regulars.

As a suburban kid (who felt he was deprived as a child) who moved to Chicago, but was in love with L.A., I tried to stay as disconnected as possible. I quickly fell in love with the vibrancy of the city. Coming on a year later, I've removed LA from my immediate plans (no knock on LA, I still love the city) and reluctantly made my decision to choose Chicago.

That is why I don't think you can really judge a city unless you actually live in it. (Who knows...maybe I'll move to LA one day and find a new love...ha ha)

[gameguy56]

Originally Posted by Gtownoe

I agree. I think the catch is if you spent your time in the actual city, or if you just stayed in the burbs.

You can't explain to somebody who hasn't lived in the city how it feels to be getting off work on a Friday, on a sunny, summer afternoon, cruising down Lakeshore with the windows down and the beach at your side...with the whole weekend ahead of you.

Or how that afternoon can turn to night and how the whole mood of the city changes, bars, clubs, plays, great restaurants, house parties, and all other forms of nightlife at your fingertips.

Or how it feels to walk down your block into the local coffee shop or restaurant and chat it up with the neighborhood regulars.

As a suburban kid (who felt he was deprived as a child) who moved to Chicago, but was in love with L.A., I tried to stay as disconnected as possible. I quickly fell in love with the vibrancy of the city. Coming on a year later, I've removed LA from my immediate plans (no knock on LA, I still love the city) and reluctantly made my decision to choose Chicago.

That is why I don't think you can really judge a city unless you actually live in it. (Who knows...maybe I'll move to LA one day and find a new love...ha ha)

Slightly offtopic, but do you feel that LA can really compete with the urban feel of Chicago? As you are someone who has lived in both places I'd be interested in knowing your opinion.

[Gtownoe]

I haven't lived in both cities. My sister moved out there when I was younger so my extent of the cities has been week long visits and a few extended visits over the summer.

I don't want to start a city war, but no I don't get the same urban feel in LA as I do in Chicago. Don't get me wrong, LA is very urban, in its own way. But in the traditional sense...no I do not.

I think the fact that it was built around the car kinda put it at a disadvantage. But I still love to visit, and you can't beat the weather.

[aragx6]

LA really isn't walkable, which to me is a key aspect of feeling urban. Everyone is always in their damn cars, to me LA feels like a really big suburb in that respect.

[DC's Finest]

LA is very walkable but certain parts are very suburban looking. Plus LA has a thousand freeways bisecting it. That being said, its also very urban. I think you do LA an injustice because it does not have the downtown core like the Loop. But in fact, parts of LA are just as urban as Chicago outside of the downtown area. On the southside, stretches of Pulaski and Cicero have suburban characteristics.

[Lookout Kid]

Santa Monica is very urban and walkable... And is one of the only parts of LA that I like!

Die LA! Die!

Oh wait, is that starting a city war?

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Santa Monica is very urban and walkable... And is one of the only parts of LA that I like!

Die LA! Die!

Oh wait, is that starting a city war?

Hey! You guys wanna talk about that other city? The one that isn't LA? It's big. On Lake Michigan. Not Milwaukee.

Name means "smelly onion".

Ring bells?




Or we could start a new thread called "LA smells like Poop and Cumin".

Either or, folks.