Windy Chicago

ON October 8th, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow reportedly knocked over a lantern in the crowded immigrant quarters in the West Side, and the Great Chicago Fire began. It quickly spread, killing 300 and destroying virtually the entire city. The year was 1871.

The stone Water Tower in the Near North is the most famous surviving structure. But the city seized this destruction as an opportunity to rebuild bigger than before, giving canvas for several architects and urban planners who would go on to become legends of modern architecture. Thus Chicago rose from that fire.

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I have been blessed to be able to visit the city and was toured by a dear friend, Nielson.

One weekend is not enough to go around but it was worth it. Chicago, the Midwest’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, is more than a big sports town and business hub. It is a sophisticated, world-class metropolis with cultural attractions to suit every taste. For many visitors, all paths lead to the Loop (Chicago-speak for downtown) and Navy Pier, a lakeside destination popular among out-of-towners, featuring restaurants, shops and exhibits.

We then went straight to Michigan Avenue. A grand avenue with architectural landmarks like the John Hancock Center, a 100-storey-tall residential skyscraper that attracted the building booms in the late ‘70s and ‘90s and turned the once low-rise residential street into an economically thriving area bordered by tall skyscrapers.

At the south end by Oak Street Bridge, is the Magnificent Mile, a unique street that you shouldn’t miss on your visit to Chicago. All the big names in shopping are present here, from Disney, Apple and Niketown to Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue.

The wide sidewalks, often adorned with well-maintained flowerbeds are always crowded.

The areas around the Magnificent Mile are some of Chicago’s wealthiest.

Along this line you can also find the Philippine Embassy and the Millennium Park with its grand Crown Fountain.

While the city has many great attractions downtown, most Chicagoans live and play outside of the central business district. To understand Chicago, travelers must venture away from the Loop and Michigan Avenue and out into the vibrant
neighborhoods, to soak up the local nightlife, sample the wide range of fantastic dining, and see the sights Chicagoans care about most — thanks to the city’s massive public transit system, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates trains and buses in the city of Chicago and some of the suburbs. Even if you have the option of driving while you’re in town, no experience of Chicago is complete without a trip on the CTA. Fares are paid with transit cards, which can be purchased and re-filled at kiosks in the lobby of every CTA station. All accept cash, and some accept credit cards.

So we rode on the CTA en route to our lunch in Chinatown. Chicago’s Chinatown is among the most active Chinatowns in the world. It even has its own stop on the CTA Red Line. Chicago is among the most diverse cities in America, and many neighborhoods reflect the character and culture of the immigrants who established them. Some, however, do more than just reflect: they absorb you into the place and you feel almost at home.

There were Asians everywhere! Because it was summer on this visit, I had to veer away from hot soups but had rice and noodles. Weather is definitely not one of the attractions of Chicago. There’s a good time to be had in any season, but it is a place where the climate has to be taken into consideration.

From Chinatown we headed back to our car via the CTA and drove down to the suburbs where my friend lived. We passed by Lake Michigan where during the cold season, the wind blows from all directions. But it was a sight to behold looking at the skyscrapers.

Well, one thing I missed though, I didn’t see Oprah!