I cringe at the notion of Chicago as a "Mini-New York"

[Milwaukee City]

I cringe at the notion that Milwaukee is a mini-chicago

[dude1984]

Originally Posted by edsg25

I really dislike the common notion out there that Chicago is some sort of "mini New York". I find it absurd. Chicago, to me, is a totally unique city. We totally respect New York, but we never have and never will aspire to be it, no desire to be New York, anymore than we would aspire to be like any other great city that we also respect….like Boston, Washington, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.

Chicago is "the great American city", the product of America in the way that our coastal peers and their european roots are not. that's not said in any terms of "better" or "worse"…..just different. We are "interior"….and interior is not inferior and is not fly over country any more than it would be absurd for interior Chicago to see itself as the center with NY and SF on the periphery. And as "interior" ours more than any other city is the real story of America coming of age in the 19th century.

The city by the lake, the windy city, my kind of town stands on its own…its own special place, a city like no other. I don't say that to put down any other city which we don't need to do: we're confident in ourselves that we can more than be comfortable with those other great cities out there. And while others do love it and sing our praises, what impresses me far more about Chicago is how we Chicagoans love the place…we are the ultimate "homers" and that home town pride is a special part of what makes Chicago Chicago.

sorry for the rant (for rant it is), it's just that, as i said, that insane "mini-NY" notion makes me cringe.

I agree. Chicago doesn't need comparison to any other city.

[midwest1]

Comparing Chicago to ANY city is a fool's errand. It's CHICAGO!