Chicago, «the windy city»

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Crossroads of the Midwest, Chicago has many parks and museums. It always had a pioneering and innovative spirit, particularly with regards to architecture. Besides, its School of Architecture is one of the most prestigious in the world. After the terrible fire in 1871 that destroyed a large part of the city, the latter became an open sky experimental field. Famous architects (among others William Le Baron Jenney and Louis Henry Sullivan) got on with rebuilding it, using revolutionary techniques that were a real turning point. There were born the first skyscrapers. They were the highest in the world for a long time, with the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), and to a lesser extent the John Hancock Center. They mix with other towers to form the famous Chicago skyline, which is even more fascinating when you can see it reflecting on the lake, from the Navy Pier or from North Avenue Beach in Lincoln Park, for example.
Its asserted urban spirit is peculiar to most cities of the Great Lakes region. Focused on politics, cosmopolitanism, sport, cultural and culinary richness, it is full of character, one of a kind. Located on the Lake Michigan shore, it has a lake front where miles of beach stretch out, and extraordinary parks, each one with its specificity. It is swept up by the wind in winter, hence its nickname of «windy city». As well as New Orleans, it is one of the cradles of blues. Finally, it is the starting point of Route 66. As a result, we found ourselves during our trip to the U.S.A. at the point of departure and the arrival (Santa Monica) of that mythical road.
All its numerous and much diversified districts taken as a whole look like an amazing ethnic and cultural patchwork. Therefore, it is very difficult to separate the city in various neighborhoods. That is the reason why the division we propose you is totally subjective.
The American part of the action of my novel «Enjoy the ride» takes place in a great majority in Chicago, hence the artistic pilgrimage mentioned in the introduction to the section «Our articles - U.S.A. (2013)». That is the reason why visiting it meant so much to me. And it was widely up to my expectations.

                                                  Our photos - U.S.A. (2013)

                                                  Our articles - U.S.A. (2013)

Lincoln Park is an upscale and very popular area divided up into an urban part and a large park. The latter is located on the shore of Lake Michigan. It is the most extended in the city with its eleven kilometers long, and the most visited in the United States after Central Park in New-York. Lincoln Park Zoo (the greatest free zoo in the world), the Chicago History Museum and the Nature Museum are its main attractions. Its recreational complex includes various team sports grounds, tennis courts and a golf course. It also includes a few ports with navigation facilities and public beaches: Fullerton Beach and North Avenue Beach (photo). The landscaped gardens with bird sanctuaries are not forgotten, as well as the theater overlooking the lake which offers regular performances in open air during summer. The urban is much characteristic. It has many shops, cinemas, theaters, and restaurants.
Logan Square is mostly Hispanic. It has neither museum nor particular tourist attraction, but it can boast an undeniable authenticity. The Mexican and Puerto Rican restaurants are numerous, but there are more and more upscale restaurants. Lake View is divided up into several very upscale sub-neighborhoods, which offers ethnic restaurants, especially on Southport Avenue. Wrigleyville is part of it: it is an alternative and very young district. There stands the Cubs baseball stadium (Wrigley Field) which attracts crowds of enthusiasts. Boystown is also part of it: it is home to a significant LGBT community. Young, trendy and festive, it is very popular for its cafes, its cocktail bars and its record stores. Night life there is hectic thanks to its comedy clubs, its theaters and its night clubs. We enjoyed its much relaxed atmosphere. Further north, Andersonville is the Scandinavian district. It is a very lively and pleasant place. It is also known for its ethnic restaurants: Scandinavians, of course (for example Ann Sather renowned for its breakfasts), but also Mediterranean. Shops have also character.
 
 
See: 

• Lincoln Park
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• North Avenue Beach
• Logan Square
• Lakeview
• Wrigleyville & Wrigley Field
• Andersonville

The center of Old Town abounds in art galleries and interior designers. The Thomas Masters Gallery houses local artists’ works, essentially sculptures and paintings. High-quality restaurants and popular performances are not forgotten. The district is also much appreciated for its comedy clubs and its shops. Wells Street, the main street, is a real attraction on its own: it is full of shops, galleries and restaurants. Finally, you can admire there superb cottages from the 19th century filled with an old-fashioned charm.
Gold Coast (photo), very upscale area, proudly displays its luxury hotels, its imposing manors and its beautiful Beaux Arts style stone houses with private gardens. The wealthiest people in Chicago live there. The area is classified as a historic monument. Feel free to walk under the archways of trees in Astor Street, which abounds in Victorian houses with an opulent and outdated charm. You will have an entrancing impression of time travel. The Rush Street triangle is very lively and very popular with tourists. The Charnley-Persky House cleverly mixes the Victorian era and modern architecture. That masterpiece is owed to the brilliant Louis Henry Sullivan, assisted by the no less brilliant Franck Lloyd Wright. The Residence of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Chicago is a superb religious building from the 19th century, in Queen Anne style, surrounded by a pleasant green area. Art Deco is also represented with the Edward P. Russell House. Finally, you can easily get to Oak Street Beach thanks to the pedestrian tunnels that pass under the very long and very busy Lake Shore Drive.
 
 
See: 

• Thomas Masters Gallery
• Wells Street
• Astor Street
• Rush Street Triangle
• The Charnley-Persky House
• The Residence of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Chicago
• Oak Street Beach
  
  

The Loop is the part of the city center delimited by the elevated railway (photo). Filled with an old-fashioned charm and a little shaky old, it is a real attraction on its own, vibrant testimony of a past that is still part of present days. Its height allows you to discover the architectural richness of the district, where many styles are represented. The alternative is the upper part of the two-level street Wacker Drive that follows a loop as well. The Chicago Theatre, one of the idealized images of the city, was built in 1921 in an immediately recognizable style, notably with its neon sign known all around the world. Feel free to enter it and admire its Baroque interior architecture. In the heart of Daley Plaza rises an imposing sculpture from Pablo Picasso. The Route 66 Road Sign, which indicates the starting point of the famous route, is located in East Adams Street. The Monadnock Building is sometimes considered as the first skyscraper, but it is indeed the Willis Tower which dominates the area: it had been the highest tower in the world for a long time. Finally, there are very good restaurants there.
Not far, Near West Side and River West group areas with a very strong identity. Wicker Park is home to the largest community of artists in Chicago. Its upscale and smart artistic center attracted shops in the same vein, good restaurants, terrace bars, and art galleries. Ukrainian Village has quality museums, and Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is a jewel of architecture in which the famous Louis Henry Sullivan took part. The population of West Loop is young and active. Restaurants on Randolph Street, place which is the must of local gastronomy, are worth a visit. There are not many museums and tourist attractions, but the view of the Loop is splendid. Greektown is the Greek district with its traditions and festivals, its Greek pavilions, its Greek statues, and its Greek museums. Shops, bars and restaurants are also typical. Little Italy is located between the Illinois Medical District and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The district owes its name to the strong influence of Italians and their culture in that area throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Establishments and typical street shops are still flourishing there.
Oak Park is a peaceful village with streets lined with large trees and well kept gardens. The Home and Studio Complex was built by Frank Lloyd Wright, architect who has widely left his mark in the district, clashing completely with Victorian houses. There, he asserted with the «Prairie School Movement» that made him famous. You can also visit the Ernest Hemingway Museum and the writer's childhood home, very near. West Side enjoys a much singular attraction: the Garfield Park Conservatory, which is a grouping of eight thematic botanical gardens under glass domes.
 
 
See: 

• The Loop and its elevated railway
• Wacker Drive
• The Chicago Theatre
• Route 66 Road Sign
• Monadnock Building
• Willis Tower
• Wicker Park
• Ukrainian Village & Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
• Randolph Street
• Greektown
• Little Italy
• University of Illinois in Chicago
• Home and Studio Complex
• Musée Ernest Hemingway
• Garfield Park Conservatory
  
  

Streeterville is crossed by Michigan Avenue, rightly nicknamed «The Magnificent Mile», decorated with trees and multicolored flowers. Its buildings are among the most beautiful in Chicago (Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower). The old Water Tower, spared by the great fire in 1871, became the symbol of the city. Very near stands the Water Tower Place shopping mall. The view from the John Hancock Center on the 94th floor of the tower is breathtaking. It is just as beautiful as the view from the Willis Tower, with moreover the advantage of a shorter line to have access there. You must pay $18, but no time limit is imposed. Opposite stands the Fourth Presbyterian Church and its cloister, which peace and quiet offers an entrancing contrast with the hustle and bustle of Michigan Avenue. The district enjoys many attractions, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art and the University of Medicine. The Intercontinental Hotel, which is part of those ancient buildings with a sumptuous interior and exterior architecture that abound in the neighborhood, and mix with modern towers. Dating from 1929, its entrance hall is remarkable, as well as its swimming-pool, located in one of the floors. It also has a spa and a fitness center. The Chicago River is located nearby. Only river in the world which flow has been reversed by a human intervention, it brings a touch of sweetness, appeasement and reverie to the city. River boats sail casually along the water with a nice turquoise color. Superb apartments overlook it. The Navy Pier (photo) is a real amusement park lined by a promenade and built on a more than one kilometer long pier. Like Santa Monica pier in California, it has a Ferris wheel. It is laid out along the river which joins Michigan Avenue passing by the Centennial Fountain. However, it would be a pity not to linger on the pleasant Ohio Street Beach and in Olive Park and Addams (Jane) Memorial Park before you visit it.
River North proudly displays its luxurious lofts in the area around the river. It has an impressive concentration of art galleries, as well as very varied restaurants.
 
 
See: 

• The Magnificent Mile
• Wrigley Building
• Tribune Tower
• Water Tower
• John Hancock Center
• Fourth Presbyterian Church
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• University of Medecine
• Intercontinental Hotel
• Chicago River
• Navy Pier
• Ohio Street Beach
• River North
  
  

Vast green expanse along Lake Michigan, south of Lincoln Park, Grant Park enjoys many attractions, particularly the Buckingham Fountain (photo), huge pink marble fountain which waters sometimes spout up more than forty meters. Green lung of the city, the place is much lively, and various festivals take place there. It is home to the Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Art Institute of Chicago. It also includes the astonishing and controversial Millenium Park, which main attractions are the Cloud Gate sculpture and its amazing bean shape, as well as the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, gigantic modern amphitheater.
Chinatown is a small district which is in no way comparable with those of New-York and San Francisco, but it has a certain charm, notably thanks to its restaurants and traditional shops. Pilsen is the Mexican district, with a preserved identity. There are bakeries, cinemas and restaurants with Mexican signs, and above all the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum. Hyde Park includes the Palace of Fine Arts, which became the Museum of Science and Industry, one of the most visited in Chicago. The Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Technological University of Chicago also give it a certain attraction. Last but not least, Bronzeville is the Afro-American district, nicknamed «Little Harlem». It is poor and dangerous at night, but it is worth a visit at day. Then, you can admire stunning 19th century stone houses. The great boulevard has a lot of character and it is very well located regarding the Loop beautiful areas. It abounds in blues nightclubs.
 
 
See: 

• Grant Park
• Buckingham Fountain
• Museum of Natural History
• Millenium Park, Cloud Gate & Jay Pritzker Pavilion
• Shedd Aquarium
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Chinatown
• Pilsen
• Hyde Park
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Robie House
• Technological University of Chicago
• Bronzeville

Published on August 13th 2013