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Happy Birthday, Chicago!

By Staff in Miscellaneous on Mar 4, 2010 3:20PM

HappyBirthdayChicago.jpg
Photo by Jessie Barber

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