Happy Birthday, Chicago!
By Staff in Miscellaneous on Mar 4, 2010 3:20PM
Today is one heck of a big day: the City of Chicago's 173rd birthday! We've been so busy lately we almost forgot but thankfully Facebook reminded us of the big day. Our pals at Gapers Block have a terrific recap of some special birthday deals surrounding the City's big 1-7-3. But we got thinking here in the Chicagoist office: what would we get the City for it's birthday? You know the kind of gift: the kind that the recipient will be happy to receive but you get to enjoy as well. Like when you buy your wife a 42-inch HDTV for your anniversary. It's quite a list, so check it out after the jump and be sure to add your own gifts for the City.
- A winning lotto ticket to help pay off that mounting debt (with hopefully a little left over for the CTA and schools)
- Chick-Fil-A, Waffle House, and In-N-Out Burger
- LeBron James
- Conan O'Brien
- A casino at Navy Pier so we can just get it over with. It worked for The Simpsons, right?
- A thriving culture of street food that goes beyond the Tamale Guy
- Money to finish off a Calatrava Spire, taking the "newest tall Chicago building" shine off of the Trump Tower
- Some cafes that stay open at least until midnight and maybe a few with liquor licenses (and real liquor (not just wine + beer).
- More hills for sledding
- Compost pickup and an improved Recycling program
- Heat lamps at CTA bus stops
- Four full seasons this year
- A real-honest to god lesbian bar (since the last one closed at New Years)
- A Uniqlo store
- More bike lanes, Increased bicycle advocacy for drivers, and remedial rules of the road lessons for fixed gear cyclists
- A brewpub for the South Side
- Sprucing up the Ashland & Milwaukee Jewel/KMart complex and replacing it with a massive Trader Joe's