Los Angeles vs. Chicago: which is more sophisticated, cosmopolitan, and cool?

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by whereiend

I love Chicago but it does not strike me as cool at all. I don't know exactly what it is, but even though it's a massive hyper-urban city I nonetheless get strong Midwestern, All-American vibes. For me it wouldn't rate in the top 10 US cities in terms of "cool", and LA (which is probably #2 in cool after NYC) wins this going away.

Chicago isn’t really ‘hip / cool’ culture like LA (in a much more tolerable climate, beaches, mountains, trails, very outdoorsy, Pacific laid back vibe) … Chicago is more business culture with ‘cool areas’ such as Lake Michigan Beaches… and is more of the well rounded variety. Good transit, Good food, Good architecture and historical, museums and sports. You get a lot of world class amenities fairly affordable.

Both cities have a history of some bone chilling politics though.

[Swandaddy]

Originally Posted by whereiend

I love Chicago but it does not strike me as cool at all. I don't know exactly what it is, but even though it's a massive hyper-urban city I nonetheless get strong Midwestern, All-American vibes. For me it wouldn't rate in the top 10 US cities in terms of "cool", and LA (which is probably #2 in cool after NYC) wins this going away.

Totally subjective/going on feel, but I definitely feel the "Midwestern All American vibe" way more in Chicago than I do in LA.



Chicago definitely has a side to it that is sophisticated, cosmopolitan, cool, and edgy. For example 18th St. in Pilsen. Devon avenue. Great music venues like the Aragon. Outstanding food scene. Home of IML pre-pandemic. Outstanding Alliance Francaise organization. Huge Hispanic community. And so forth. I think a lot of the spots Chicago does have are just as cool as anywhere on the face of the Earth. But I feel like all of this is a little bit hidden behind the scenes to the dominant "Midwestern All American vibe," which takes front and center especially in the areas with the more impressive physical infrastructure (ie the loop - even with the outstanding Art Institute situated right there, river north, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, etc). Whereas I feel in LA its the other way around -- meaning that LA's "All American vibe" is behind the scenes to its sophisticated, cosmopolitan, cool, and edgy side. I feel like every single time I'm out in LA, I'll meet someone who could literally be from anywhere, and while I do feel that way some of the time in Chicago, I feel in Chicago that I'm just as likely to encounter an all American Midwestern vibe which I didn't need to travel to Chicago to find.

[aries4118]

Los Angeles.