Okay folks - last batch of photos from Chicago; your soundtrack:

 

 

Okay, so we're not quite ready to go up in the John Hancock Center but let's check out their wacky parking garage entrance:

 

Can you say exoskeleton?

 

A little meandering around the area:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walked by this building a few times before I realized it has a curved facade - that's about the only redeeming feature, though  :|

 

D@mn tourists! ;-)

 

 

There's not much to the design of this building but for some reason I like it:

 

In the other corner, we have the Tribune Tower which has plenty going on:

 

As does the Wrigley Building:

 

Just a little more milling about:

 

Merchandise Mart, 333 Wacker, and a wacky arch for Mickey D's:

 

Alright, you guys have been patient - let's head up to the observation deck BAR!

 

That's right - the bar of the Signature Room restaurant is actually on the 96th floor. Sure, you pay $8 for a good beer but you tell me if the views were worth it  :-D

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beach so close to "downtown"? Fabulous. Palm trees planted in it? Give me a break  :roll:

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry about the noise in this pic, I had the camera zoomed as far as she'd go. That's the Chicago Skyway off in the distance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As it turns out, our friends were running late so we checked out the Gold Coast room at the Drake:

 

And enjoyed another cocktail or two in the Palm Court.

 

To any guys in Chicago - if your gal is a sentimental sap (I mean, it's not like I requested "Moon River" or anything ;-) ), THIS is a good place to take her - make sure that this gal is there with her harp. http://www.pennycurrier.com

 

But it was time to go - Trump Tower and Wrigley Building from Lake Shore Boulevard:

 

Cluster of buildings near Millennium Park:

 

Another cluster south of Grant Park:

 

Big church on the South side:

 

I got yer grit right here!

 

Onto the Chicago Skyway:

 

Managed to outrun a nasty storm:

 

After the mind numbing drive through Indiana, this was a welcome sight :-)

 

Hope you enjoyed!

Yeah, you gotta shot of my office. 

 

Although you know you didn't have to take any pictures of the Aon building or the evil people inside it!!!  Ugh!!

After viewing all three of these threads, it seems like Chicago has something for everyone. Beaches, tall buildings, great architecture, beautiful views, drivability(unlike NYC), great transit system(much like NYC), and even some grit. I really enjoyed these threads, and you cover so much in your photos. Thanks for taking all of those pictures for our enjoyment. Awesome threads!!

After viewing all three of these threads, it seems like Chicago has something for everyone.  Beaches, tall buildings, great architecture, beautiful views, drivability(unlike NYC), great transit system(much like NYC), and even some grit.  I really enjoyed these threads, and you seem to cover pretty much everything.  Thanks for taking all of those pictures for our enjoyment.  Awesome threads!!

 

I don't think the CTA is that great, there are huge neighborhood gaps in the system.  Sure getting from either airport or "popular" neighborhoods is easy, but try going to the south side.  You have to ride on a bumpy bus or take metra, which isn't always economical.

 

Also, financially they are a disaster.

 

I regard to driving, I don't think driving in Chicago is any better than NYC, it may be worse.

I guess from living in NJ, we always drove into NYC and any other city to me seems more drivable haha.  Those photos did not show clogged streets and masses of traffic.  But then again, I have never been to Chicago so maybe looks can be deceiving. 

Thanks!

After viewing all three of these threads, it seems like Chicago has something for everyone. Beaches, tall buildings, great architecture, beautiful views, drivability(unlike NYC), great transit system(much like NYC), and even some grit. I really enjoyed these threads, and you cover so much in your photos. Thanks for taking all of those pictures for our enjoyment. Awesome threads!!

 

I'll agree that Chicago has some great amenities, but drivability and transit are both horrible.  And the fact that BOTH are bad makes Chicago one of my least favorite cities in America.  It's impossible to get from point A to point B without a headache. 

 

Thanks for the thread MayDay, but I'm really disappointed that you didn't make the quick trip up to Milwaukee while you were in the area.  I hope you had fun.

We used the El a few times (Brown and Red Lines) - on a Saturday, we were stuck on a northbound Red Line train for about 15 minutes due to "signaling issues". The other times, everything went relatively smoothly but my friends in Chicago that delays like that aren't uncommon at all. And drivability? Pfft - they had traffic jam alerts: on SUNDAY - at 2:00 in the afternoon?!? :wtf:

 

As I told my partner, I'd love to see Cleveland skew a little more toward the vibrancy of Chicago but not to the point that it loses that sense where you can manage things. Does that make sense?

We used the El a few times (Brown and Red Lines) - on a Saturday, we were stuck on a northbound Red Line train for about 15 minutes due to "signaling issues". The other times, everything went relatively smoothly but my friends in Chicago that delays like that aren't uncommon at all. And drivability? Pfft - they had traffic jam alerts: on SUNDAY - at 2:00 in the afternoon?!? :wtf:

 

As I told my partner, I'd love to see Cleveland skew a little more toward the vibrancy of Chicago but not to the point that it loses that sense where you can manage things. Does that make sense?

 

Perfect sense.

 

The red & blue lines are notorious for delays.  I HATE flying into O'Hare due to that fact.  It's either take the train and deal with delays or deal with traffic in a taxi.  The choice is a lesser of two evils.

 

Traffic!  CHI like NYC, BOS, LA, ATL, HOU, DAL or MIA.  Philly is the only big city you can drive in without major delays as it Ave's fan out like Clevelands and they have good regional rail which keeps cars off of streets.

 

I would love to see more retail and events and the neighborhoods reconnected and Cleveland is getting there, but I don't want it to be overwhelming and in your face where coming into the heart of the city is a "chore" or "nuisance".  Like DC, Philly and BOS we already have some neighborhoods that on certain days/night and weekends, the convenience and popularity of those hoods can make living or getting there maddening.  Example the WSM on a Saturday.  SS on a Sunday Morning.  People will say things like "I dont want to go there because I can't find parking", "it takes a long time to find parking "or "its too crowded".

 

I dont want cleveland to lose its comfortable, easy laid back feeling in exchange for being like X city.