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Overall, I'd go with Boston. New York just has a density and feel that is several octaves above Chicago and it is very noticeable. On a scale level, as far as urban cities go, Chicago feels very much like Philly and Boston. It may be physically larger, but in terms of scale, anyone who has spent time in the 3 knows that they feel similar at neighborhood and downtown levels. It is palpable how much bigger and more dense Nee York feels than Chicago and Boston. That is why I say overall it feels closer to Boston.
The Loop is one part of the city of Chicago that looks very much like Manhattan. There is the most hustle and bustle in the city in the Loop as well, so that is one part of Chicago that really does have a New York feel to me, but it is still a lot less dense and crowded than New York (although it is fair to make a comparison in look and feel). Overall though, I think Chicago is closer to Boston in stature.
I think what you're getting at in regards to the generic big city thing started in the 80s with John Hughes setting so many of his movies in Chicago and its suburbs, even if didn't really impact the story in every movie. Mean Girls falls into that same category because it was more so Tina Fey giving nods to Chicago due to her time with Second City.
Shows like The Good Wife/The Good Fight and Shameless need Chicago for their storytelling though, even if they only do outdoor shots in Chicago. I'd agree with you in regards to Chicago Med, although I'm not as familiar with it, but I would argue that it only became a thing due to the success of Chicago PD, and that needed to be in Chicago.
In terms of theatre, this is actually an interesting subject. It's not uncommon for shows to open in Chicago before making their Broadway debuts. This has included shows like The Producers, Spamalot, On Your Feet, Kinky Boots, The Cher Show, etc. Wicked also wasn't the most famous show to camp out in Chicago for a period of time. That honor would go to Hamilton. There was at least a year where the only two places you could see Hamilton in the country was NYC and Chicago. The show ran at the CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago for 171 weeks, and it actually pulled in more money in that time period than the ongoing Broadway run in NYC due to the size of the CIBC theatre.
I wasn’t so much saying Chicago doesn’t have Chicago based stories but in addition to those it also has loads of media set there for no reason. Just like Friends could be plopped into LA with no impact on the “story”, Family Matters could be moved anywhere (technically not true because it’s a spinoff of Perfect strangers). Shameless with the L, Climate, Boystown and Northside/Southsidde divide playing important parts to the story can’t be placed just anywhere.
Most cities only have something set there if there is a reason. Or only have the occasional story there.
The fact Chicago is one of the 3 or 4 default settings (along with nameless/fake middle American Town) makes it different
1) Urban Footprint- I'm torn between choosing "in the middle" or "closer to Boston." Chicago has a grand, big city feel that is exceeded only by NYC. But, NYC really is in a league of its own. It's far larger and far denser than Chicago. Boston can feel pretty small. It's core is lively, but doesn't really give off a Loop or even SF/Philly center city big city feel. Allston/Somerville/Camebridge isn't as consistently urban as Lakeview/LincolnPark/WickerPark. But all in all, Boston is far closer on density and the gap in city population far closer than the 2.6 vs 680k.
2) Cultural influence/Arts/Economic influence- Chicago is ahead of Boston in finance, corporate HQs, theater/arts, but Boston is a stronger in R&D/VC innovation type activities. Plus, it has the Harvard/MIT/Hospitals. Overall, Chicago is probably ahead on these categories. But, I would say if NYC is a 10 on these topics, Chicago is a 7 and Boston is a 5.5.
I’m gonna give all Texans a virtual high five when BOTH Houston and Dallas pass Chicago. Gonna have some drinks and celebrate
Houston and Dallas will have to add more square miles, so they can catch Chicago. Houston has 600 sq miles, compared to Chicago's 228. Dallas has 341. Once they can add the amount of square miles it will take to bypass Chicago (doesn't matter if it takes the entire state of Texas), gosh darn, I'm sure there will be quite the celebration!
Houston and Dallas will have to add more square miles, so they can catch Chicago. Houston has 600 sq miles, compared to Chicago's 228. Dallas has 341. Once they can add the amount of square miles it will take to bypass Chicago (doesn't matter if it takes the entire state of Texas), gosh darn, I'm sure there will be quite the celebration!
Those cities core have densified a lot in the last couple of decades and they will continue to do so. They'll never be Chicago dense, but the idea that they'll have to keep growing outward as as they have to maintain growth is inaccurate
Those cities core have densified a lot in the last couple of decades and they will continue to do so. They'll never be Chicago dense, but the idea that they'll have to keep growing outward as as they have to maintain growth is inaccurate
Dallas and Houston are both at 4,000 people psm, and Chicago is at 12,000 psm. A huge difference.
Location: Cleveland, OH USA / formerly Chicago for 20 years
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masssachoicetts
I hear alot Chicago is like the child of NYC and Boston.
I've heard it said that Chicago is like the child of NYC and Detroit. I like to say that Chicago is what would result if NYC and Cleveland got together and had a kid.
As far as neighborhood architecture goes, Chicago three-flats can be very reminiscent of Boston's triple deckers.
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