List your favorite things about Illinois (Chicago, Peoria: oceanfront, casino, earthquake)

[jwhittak]

Things I love:

Starved Rock and Matthiesson Park
East Peoria Festival of lights
Avanti's Gondola's
Visiting Chicagoland
Free St. Louis Zoo.....oh sorry, but it is close to Illinois
Shawnee Forest, I did live in Carbondale for a bit
Changing seasons
Affordable housing......I can't afford to move anywhere if I wanted to

[ChicagoSully8]

A warm afternoon in Wrigley Field with the lake breeze cooling you as you enjoy the game. Even though the Cubs will probably lose, the place is perfect.
Great Indian food! Mmmm samosas!
Lilacia Park in Lombard - in Spring when all the Lilacs are in bloom it smells like heaven.
A perfect traditional Italian Ice on a summer day.
Standing at my office window in the Prudential Building on the Friday before the Air and Water show. The helicopters come just close enough to the building to be exciting and just a bit scary.
My son running through the fountain in Millenium Park with kids from every possible part of the city and suburbs.
Some of the most incredible architecture in the world!

[jwhittak]

Since no one replied I went out a purchased the frozen Gino's East pizza for $7.98 at Walmart. At first I thought it was the best frozen pizza ever but I ended up not liking the end crust. It was really hard. I only cooked it until the timer popped out. Overall me and my wife thought it was awesome. We have only tried the real Gino's East pizza one time. Maybe the left over pizza will taste even better microwaved. I included a couple of pictures....just because I'm weird.

[jimboshanz]

What about sitting on 290 or the Kennedy during rush hour and getting a smile from a beautiful girl, making the daily commute worth it!!!!!!!

[mozartmama]

That I dont have to live there anymore. Chicago is a wanna-be city, tries hard to keep up with the real cities, people nice but only 3 days out of the entire year, when the weather is decent enough to go out and you can actually talk to your neighbors, or see pedestrians' faces uncovered as they try to corner a windy city block hanging onto the sidewalk rope.
Thank God I finally escaped that whole area, burbs and all....

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by mozartmama

That I dont have to live there anymore. Chicago is a wanna-be city, tries hard to keep up with the real cities, people nice but only 3 days out of the entire year, when the weather is decent enough to go out and you can actually talk to your neighbors, or see pedestrians' faces uncovered as they try to corner a windy city block hanging onto the sidewalk rope.
Thank God I finally escaped that whole area, burbs and all....

Riiiiiight. Other than NYC, name a better "real city".

[Drover]

Originally Posted by mozartmama

That I dont have to live there anymore. Chicago is a wanna-be city, tries hard to keep up with the real cities,

Oh yeah, Chicago is reaaalllly struggling to keep up with... hmm, let's see... Cleveland... Indianapolis... Baltimore... Buffalo... Oakland... St. Louis... Witchita... who else... oh yeah, Louisville and Omaha! Yessir, our provincial little hamlet strives to hopefully one day mimic the greatness of these truly fine cosmopolitan gems. Maybe if we're really lucky we'll even get an Outback Steakhouse or an Applebee's in our town! That would be super; I hear there's some real fine dinin' at those places, you betcha!

[lonelychicagoan]

Originally Posted by Paxtonian

Hey Lonely- try Virginia, I understand that state is for lovers.

sorry, not tropical enough for me. but i did try florida, like, several times and i encountered the friendliest women in my entire life. (practically 2 out of every 3 locals i said "hi" to in south florida said "hi" right back to me! in illinois, only about 1 out of about every 75-150 people even say "hi" to me, even when i say "hi" first to them.)

[Dingo Junction]

Originally Posted by Drover

Oh yeah, Chicago is reaaalllly struggling to keep up with... hmm, let's see... Cleveland... Indianapolis... Baltimore... Buffalo... Oakland... St. Louis... Witchita... who else... oh yeah, Louisville and Omaha! Yessir, our provincial little hamlet strives to hopefully one day mimic the greatness of these truly fine cosmopolitan gems. Maybe if we're really lucky we'll even get an Outback Steakhouse or an Applebee's in our town! That would be super; I hear there's some real fine dinin' at those places, you betcha!

I think Mozartmama was trying to say that Chicago was trying to keep up with N.Y or L.A.Why should Chicago want to keep up with those cities anyway? If I want a N.Y or L.A atmosphere I will visit or live in N.Y or L.A! How much fun would Chicago be anyway if it were really trying to be another N.Y or L.A? In my eyes I don't see Chicago trying to be like another city.

[Drover]

Pffft. L.A.'s got nothing on NYC or Chicago. It's like one great big gigantic suburb. No urban vibe to it at all. I don't think you could pay me enough to live there.