Myths about Chicago you wish would die (crime, credit card)

[Runuova]

Originally Posted by andrew61

How many tourists even venture south of Cermak?

Those visiting the Museum of Science and Industry.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by pdxMIKEpdx

On the west coast, we all believe Chicago is exactly like what you see in the "Blues Brothers".

This was a hell of a lot more true 20+ years ago than today. The city is much different today than 20+ years ago, though some of it still exists but not nearly as much.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by andrew61

How many tourists even venture south of Cermak?

A good number - when they go to Chinatown :P

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by marothisu

This was a hell of a lot more true 20+ years ago than today. The city is much different today than 20+ years ago, though some of it still exists but not nearly as much.

When I watch the Blues Brothers movie today, what strikes me is how incomplete the Chicago skyline looks. Same with Good Times reruns.

[bostonguy1960]

Seems almost everyone I talk to in my cab in Boston over the years has great things to say about Chicago...even sports talk hosts, callers, etc. I have to sometimes interject that perhaps it's great as long as you're white, yuppie or educated, or gay in Boystown.

But perhaps not so great for large chunks of the city's everyday born-in-Chicago residents, some of whom may reach age 10 never even seeing Lake Michigan, a museum or a pricey professional local sporting event. (Although that goes for the underprivileged in any city, right?)

[shooter2219]

We are country: Seems to be an idea held by coastline dwellers. No, we have a very high population density, a wide variety of city services, and need I mention some of the tallest buildings in the country. NO we are not surrounded by farms or nothingness. Our metro area extends about 2 hours in all directions. What I mean is you have to drive 2 hours approximately outside of the city limits to even begin to see significant farmland. Our suburbs are heavily urbanized.

the city itself is far from it. after all its the 3rd largest city in the US.......even put in an Olympic bid...

We're backwards and racist/intolerant: we have a very progressive, culture loving population. Could we do better? Sure, but we're not some bumpkin town where minorities are afraid to walk the streets for fear of a lynch mob.

what city doesn't have nasty racial episodes?

We're slow paced: Yes. We know we're not the East Coast. But really the only East Coast city with a much faster is...New York. I had someone from Pennsylvania of all places say that Chicago is slow paced. Honestly, the only cities in the Northeast that could theoretically be faster paced are NYC and Boston, and Boston is believable since their dated layout would lead one to have a "gtfo my way" attitude. But we're a metro of 10 million. Our speed limits read 55. Our odometer register at least 20 over that and no one's pulling us over. Why? Because we move with the flow of the city. It ain't moving slow. Try and drive down the street acting as if you have all the time in the world and watch while cars try and run you off the road for being a nuisance. You don't move at your own pace here. You move fast or get out the way.

I visited Chicago from Boston almost 10 years ago and it seemed like the slowest big city I ever been to.....yet when I lived in Kentucky and Missouri years later and visited Chicago it seemed anything but.....guess its a matter of where u visit from...

We're Southern/sound Southern: Yes. We have a lot of Southern cooking. We love Harold and his chicken. No, we don't have Southern accents. Even those here who have ties to Mississippi aren't fully Southern culturally or with their dialect. Our preferred food is either an Italian beef or a hot dog if on the go. We don't have Southern manners nor a penchant for Southern living.

A lot of the black people I met in Chicago have heavy roots in the south esp mississipi Alabama Arkansas and the Memphis area.....A lot of the ones I ran into had a heavy southern sounding accent.....its a massive contrast compared to most of the east coast where the southern black migrants completely lost any trace of a southern accent after 1 generation.....even DC blacks don't have a heavy country accent anymore.....but most blacks throughout the Midwest sound like that to some extent esp in St Louis, Indiana, and to a lesser extent Detroit.....a lot of the blacks from California ive met and heard (esp from south central los angeles and Oakland) merely have a southern accent hit with tranquilizer.....I will say Chicago blacks even the really country sounding ones definitely don't have that southern hospitality......

[Burt Blyleven]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Seems almost everyone I talk to in my cab in Boston over the years has great things to say about Chicago...even sports talk hosts, callers, etc. I have to sometimes interject that perhaps it's great as long as you're white, yuppie or educated, or gay in Boystown.

But perhaps not so great for large chunks of the city's everyday born-in-Chicago residents, some of whom may reach age 10 never even seeing Lake Michigan, a museum or a pricey professional local sporting event. (Although that goes for the underprivileged in any city, right?)

So you're saying it has a lot in common with Boston?

[raleightransplant]

Not sure how anyone could ever call Chicago "slow" in any way. In my recent travels, it's as fast-paced as anywhere and yes that includes NY. If anything, I noticed that people actually walk a little faster here. Not that it really matters. Maybe Chicago's gotten faster paced in recent years?

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by EddieOlSkool

We're backwards and racist/intolerant: we have a very progressive, culture loving population. Could we do better? Sure, but we're not some bumpkin town where minorities are afraid to walk the streets for fear of a lynch mob.

I think Chicago's reputation for being racist and segregated is well deserved.

[steeps]

Originally Posted by Chicago South Sider

I think Chicago's reputation for being racist and segregated is well deserved.

apparently you experienced lynch mobs in Chicago? As that was the comment in the post you addressed....

As for saying Chicago is still a very segregated City. No one denies that... so your assessment had no one denying it... but it is the MANY OTHER Stereotypes others noted.... that are NOT... ALL THE CITY...

When I read people in Chicago never even saw.... or get to see Lake Michigan? I say that is false. The Lakefront is almost completely PUBLIC. and plenty of buses go to stops by the Lake. But YOU DO HAVE TO WANT TO GO .....OR TAKE CHILDREN THERE.... You do not have to go to the North side to experience it or its beaches.

Plenty of Soutsiders shop Downtown. Especially State Street Mall type stores including a Target. Having direct "L" transit. Many who lack much shopping in their Southside poorer neighborhoods. Perhaps they rather not shop in other neighborhood Malls.... for whatever reasons.

Chicago is more unique in that most High-End shopping is Downtown. Rather then most malls in the city. Suburban malls do... but it does keep Chicago's downtown shopping vibrant... and all the tourist it now gets.

Some cities have most in Malls.... leaving their downtowns with less High-End shopping or any in decent amount on a normal Main street today.....