5 Things Chicago Does Better Than Its Rivals
By Sponsor in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 3, 2015 5:00AM
This post is a collaboration between Flights.com and Gothamist staff.
via vxla.
Chicago is the third most populous US city, the 'Second City,' and the largest city in the Midwest. However you want to rank it, there are things Chicago is just plain better at than some of its rivals. Whether you're a native or a traveler who can't wait to visit, here are a couple picks to get the arguing started.
PIZZA
Giordano's, courtesy Eric Chan.
Yeah, that's right. It's a pizza, it's a casserole—who cares. It's delicious. Go to New York and order a slice and you get a wafer of weak dough with a mere sprinkling of cheese. Go to Giordano's or Gino's East and get the caloric content of an entire New York pie in a single piece of stuffed or deep dish. This is the Midwest, after all; gotta keep it hearty.
MUSIC
The Chicago Blues Fest, courtesy Sara Muñoz Hermoso.
There's no shortage of influential US cities when it comes to music, but Austin's been at the top of a lot of lists for a while now. Too bad Chicago still wins. Look at the genres that have defined the past 50 years and they all have a connection to our city: blues, gospel, soul, hip hop, punk, grunge, new wave, house, the rave scene. Austin may be the 'Live Music Capital of the World' but Chicago still kills when it comes to founding, nurturing and hosting defining acts in music. Our festival calendar every year is nothing to sneeze at, either.
SPORTS
Four of the coolest franchises in sports history, courtesy Thechitowncubs on Wikipedia, Lipofski basketballphoto.com, ShareAlike License, and City of Toronto Archives.
Although Toronto and Chicago are Sister Cities in tourism, they are definitely rivals when it comes to sports. Chicago has the Big Four while Toronto has three—being that Canada doesn't dig the NFL—and they've had dominating streaks in each. Both have their hapless hometown heroes in the Cubs and the Maple Leafs, and both are home to an insane amount of sports lore. But nothing beats Chicago's history: the Bears have the most enshrinees in the Hall of Fame, the most retired numbers, and the most regular season wins out of any NFL franchise; the '90s Bulls became the greatest dynasty in NBA history; Wrigley Field is considered the best ballpark in America; and the Blackhawks have finally returned to the glory they once knew.
SIGHTSEEING
The view from Lake Michigan, courtesy Bert Kaufmann.
Washington, DC is one of the top destinations for American tourism, but Chicago has what it doesn't: great food, scenic waters, and incredible history outside of government and politics. We're also host to some of the best parks in the nation and a huge array of different neighborhoods and enclaves to explore. It's easy to fill out a museum vacation in DC, but just go ahead and try to fit everything Chicago has to offer into a week's trip.
SEASONS
The Marquee Lounge, courtesy Bob Segal.
Certainly if there's one thing Chicago reigns in it's living with all four seasons. LA's known for its weather, but plenty of Angelenos will tell you that 350 days of sun a year can make you a little bit crazy. We have great summers, and there's a lot to be said for that famous Chicago winter. It's an unofficial tradition to heed that wind chill alert by gathering up your friends, heading to your neighborhood watering hole, and watching the snow from the comfort of your favorite booth.