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Downtown scenery is great - but that's the "old school" city model. Sure, Chicago's architecture is of historical importance etc. but that's just not how cities develop anymore (or ever really outside the U.S.). Look at SD, Phoenix, LA, Houston, etc. And just because a downtown looks neat doesn't make it a great city (although Chicago is great - I just think Houston is better).
I agree with the image problem mentioned above. It's funny how people think it's some conservative city though - Kerry took the city in '04, and even Harris County might go Dem. Our mayor is much better qualified and has a more prestigious resume than any other big city mayor, other than Bloomberg. It is an extremely tolerant and liberal city from what I've seen. Not to mention insanely diverse, something I don't see in Chicago as much. Walking along Westheimer or the Galleria it seems like whites were maybe 30%, with lots of asians, indians, africans, latinos, and a nice sprinkling of Europeans.
I also agree about the Austin thing. Austin is a great town but people there tend to snub their nose at other cities. I've even heard friends from Austin bashing California for being too polluted and crowded.
Chicago in my opinion is much better than Houston. Chicago overrall is is 4 times more denser than Houston and it feels like a real city. Houston is big, but it looks and feel like a suburb. In Chicago, you have suburbs that are way more dense and city like than Houston itself. And there is much to do in Chicago beside the downtown. Have you heard of Wicker park, Lincoln Park, &Lakeview. Those three neighborhoods have more nightlife than Chicago downtown itself.
I love Houston but Chicago it is not. Chicago is much move livelier and much more urban than Houston. It has a much better public transit system. I also love the people of Chicago. I love that the people of Chicago use the cold as their advantage. They are outside walking in the freezing sub-zero cold still doing their daily activities like it was 75 degrees. Houston needs to learn to use that advantage like Chicago does.
That said. The inner loop and some parts of the outer loop is coming to it's own. Houston developed differently than Chicago and experienced much of it's growth during the age of the car. Now public transit seems to be gaining momentum as they are building it throughout the loop connecting areas that are already heavily visited. It has a long way to go. But the amenities are there. Just need to improve. I would take Houston over most cities in the US. But I like Chicago just a bit better. I do think it is underrated though.
Chicago has more universities, more streetlife, more people, more skyscrapers, more companies, more different ethnic foods, more media, more muscle, more creative class, more architecture, more history, more global appeal, more action, more climate, more climate with more climate, more transit options, more money, more theater, more shows, more...um....everything...than Houston does have/ will have/ had in the past.
Food for thought.
I am a Chicago native living in Houston and I cannot agree with your entire post. Chicago has more companies, but Houston has more Fortune 500 companies. Chicago does not have more action than Houston. It is about the same. Chicago has more theater and more shows but Houston has better museums over all. Chicago museums are a bit overrated. Chicago does not have more ethnic foods. Houston has just as many and I am yet to find pho or Mexican food in the city of Chicago that compares even to some crappy dive on Bellfort. Chicago has more money? I think oil trumps all industries at the moment. Houston has plenty of money. In fact, Chicago is losing money while Houston continues to grow. As for the climate, Houston trumps Chicago by a landslide. Houston summers are hot but at least they are sunny. In fact, Houston is much sunnier than Chicago overall. The endless days of clouds and upper 30/low 40 highs made me want to lick a third rail at times. In Houston, I counted 25 days in a row on my calendar earlier this year where the weather was between 75-85 highs with no rain. When has that ever happened in Chicago? Chicago has more global appeal at the moment. In the end, Houston will out pace Chicago as everything is moving to Texas. And this includes a lot of Chicagoans and a lot of Chicago companies. I bet by the time my life is over, Houston will be "the second city".
Chicago in my opinion is much better than Houston. Chicago overrall is is 4 times more denser than Houston and it feels like a real city. Houston is big, but it looks and feel like a suburb. In Chicago, you have suburbs that are way more dense and city like than Houston itself. And there is much to do in Chicago beside the downtown. Have you heard of Wicker park, Lincoln Park, &Lakeview. Those three neighborhoods have more nightlife than Chicago downtown itself.
Houston has Uptown,Midtown,Montrose,Museum District,East Ward,and downtown itself. Houston is no slouch compared to Chicago when it comes to nightlife. Chicago is more dense and urban,but Houston is densifying its inner loop and also outside the loop.
I love Houston but Chicago it is not. Chicago is much move livelier and much more urban than Houston. It has a much better public transit system. I also love the people of Chicago. I love that the people of Chicago use the cold as their advantage. They are outside walking in the freezing sub-zero cold still doing their daily activities like it was 75 degrees. Houston needs to learn to use that advantage like Chicago does.
That said. The inner loop and some parts of the outer loop is coming to it's own. Houston developed differently than Chicago and experienced much of it's growth during the age of the car. Now public transit seems to be gaining momentum as they are building it throughout the loop connecting areas that are already heavily visited. It has a long way to go. But the amenities are there. Just need to improve. I would take Houston over most cities in the US. But I like Chicago just a bit better. I do think it is underrated though.
It's funny you mention that. Because I often here of people who visit Chicago during the winter and tell me how surprise they are to see people out and about going about life when it's super cold out. Do they think Chicagoans curl up in a ball during the winter? LOL You just have to dress the part and life goes on. I had a lot of laughs this winter when folks around the office were whinning about 30 to 40 degree temperatures.
It's amazing that Houston has come so far in the past 20-30 years to even be eligible for comparison with Chicago. Back in the 70's, Houston was a sleepy city with absolutely no urban life. Chicago was definitely a metropolis in the same time period. One thing is for sure, Chicago and Houston both kill LA. I'll take Chicago pizza or Tex-mex and margaritas over california fusion food any day of the year. And let's be honest, the Dodgers suck!
Or a Texas ***** who cant take a little cold. The door swings both ways here, gents.
Hey Midwest *****, I can take plenty of cold, there just better be a ski lift involved.
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The door swings both ways here, gents.
