Chicago, Chicago, the city where sins once rummaged and fire rampaged, is also the city where hope flourished and history established. I have heard so much about the city before my visit but actually seeing and experiencing the city made me truly realize where all the hype about the city came from. Maybe it was the fire 130 years ago that made the city reborn, maybe it was the genius of the planner from the beginning, Chicago offers an eccentric yet immensely satisfying blend of modernity that you would associate with any metropolises and comfort that you would associate with any quaint towns. To me, Chicago seems to have found the perfect potion to keep you feel engaged and active yet chill and comfortable. Despite being the inventor of skyscrapers, the streets are so wide that there is no heavy congestion that is usually a big eyesore and noise contributor in other major cities. The sidewalks off the major pass-ways through the city are so wide that trees and gardens can be planned on them in gigantic urns. Probably due to some city planning regulation, the first floors of nearly all buildings are probably 10-story high ( I guess in which case you can call them gigantic halls) and therefore contributes to that highly desired vision-expanding, fluid and translucent feel in their architecture design.
The architecture establishment of the city has long been praised and cited all over the world. The city has a great mix of old and modern structures that wandering around puts you in different time periods. I would constantly be in this game where I would try to envision what the old buildings were once used for that they needed to be so grand and magnificent. The modern structures, at the mean time, seem to have built off well around the old churches and structures that the city seem so quaint, delicate and reminiscent of time and history. The architecture highlights, coupled with the city planning, makes Chicago unique artistically. It is different from New York because the city is more fluid, brighter, less crowded, more quaint. It is different from European towns because it is built on skyscrapers, more modern, less culturally dense yet more open and grand.
The amount of emphasis on arts and culture further distinguishes Chicago. Not only does the city really care about architecture design and city planning, cultural events are hosted in the city year-round. On my short visit, I was able to listen to a free performance by the Chicago symphony orchestra, one of the top in the world, in the Cultural Center; I was able to see paintings by Picasso, Monet, Dali etc, in the Art Institute; I was able to just drop into a jazz bar on a whim at night and listened to some of best local jazz bands in an intimate environment.
But those are not the only things Chicago can offer. I walked for more than an hour on the amazingly built lake shore trail that runs all the way from Navy Pier to Lincoln Park. The lake view was fantastic and the beach was perfect. Yet, the trail was right in the city center and was easily accessible and completely bike-friendly. I loved going to the beach at night and just relax and talk over couple of beers. You really can't ask for more when you are drinking on the beach off Lake Michigan in the heart of the city.
Chicago was truly unique. It offers exciting opportunities yet retains its calming attributes. It is a city that makes you feel good about yourself, good about the world, and good about the future.
chunk of Parmagiano without so much the saltiness and has more softness and texture.
