Chicago, My Kind of Town from A to Z

Advantages: The contrasting architecture. Music. Relaxing Parks.
Disadvantages: Parking fees. Rush Hour.

...~~A is for Architecture~~ When Chicago was all but destroyed by fire in 1871, there arose from the ashes one of the most famous skyscapes in the US if not the world. Chicago was home to the first ever skyscraper, a steel-framed ten story building, the Home Insurance Building built in 1885 and demolished in 1931 to make way for even taller cloud busters (as they were known way back when). Ten storeys, although no doubt impressive then, are mere small fry compared to today's skyscrapers - the Sears Tower standing at 108 storeys and The Trump Tower (currently under construction) is planned as 150 storeys high. Travel up to the giddy heights of the Sears Tower ($12.95 Adults and $9.50 children) or the Hancock Observatory (15$ adults, 9$ children) to look down upon the city for a overarching and breathtaking view of the architectural...

MAFARRIMOND 10.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Chicago

chicago airport

Advantages: Gets me from A to b efficiently
Disadvantages: It's an airport!

...Chicago airport. On a recent visit to san Diego, we had to have a stop in Chicago airport for a couple of hours...most of my travelling seems to be spent in airports! It was the busiest airport in the United States until Atlanta became the busiest and it was apparently voted best airport in North America in 2000...that's 8 years ago so i don't know which airport has been winning since then. The airport is 20 miles from downtown Chicago but since we weren't actaully going to Chicago we didn't actally leave the airport so I can't comment on the transport links. **The Terminals** Of course when stuck in an airport these are the places you see most often. There are 4 terminals and strangely enough these are Terminals 1, 2, 3 and Terminal 5 which is the International Terminal...whatever happened to number 4? All of the terminals are...

danielalong 23.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Chicago Airport

A Chicago ABC

Advantages: A great city, with every amenity
Disadvantages: Bloody cold in December, and I lost my hat!

...A is for Architecture: Some of the finest modern architecture in the world makes Chicago a showcase city for anyone interested in BIG BUILDINGS!!! I was unaware until my visit that Chicago is very much Frank Lloyd Wright country, with the Robie House a great example. Meis Van Der Rohe was another architect who practised in and around the city. Chicago is also home to the second tallest building in the world, which is a rather sad thing to claim, really, but it was the tallest for a good long time before the Petronas Tower in Malaysia was erected. I speak of the Sears Tower, of course. Enough concrete to build a 5-mile stretch of 8-lane highway, enough telephone cable to stretch around the world twice and enough hyperbole to give a Sleevie indigestion. Great views from the Skydeck viewing station though: 103 floors above the street...

stevethesleeve 09.12.2002 · Read review
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Review of Chicago

  My Kind of Town (Chicago is)

Advantages: Lots to see and do. Friendly people. It's big. I got lots of cool stuff, cheap.
Disadvantages: American beer is minging.

...Chicago?s not a bad spot to spend a few weeks, which is just as well, because I found myself positioned there for training with my new job for nine weeks. While we weren?t based in the center of the city, we did spend a large amount of time there both sightseeing and socialising. Chicago is serviced by two airports: O'Hare (the big, famous one) and Midway (the one no-one's heard of). They're both located quite close to the city centre (close by American standards, that is) and getting to and from either airport is easy. Travel to and from the suburbs is done via Metra trains (http://www.metrarail.com) into Chicago Union Station and at the time of writing they currently offer unlimited weekend tickets for $5. While in the center of the city itself, walking may be the best way to travel. The sidewalks are large and practically every...

TheDuke 12.12.2004 (14.12.2004) · Read review
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Review of Chicago

Up above Chicago

Advantages: Wonderful views of Chicago's skyscape.
Disadvantages: Two earphones to one handset.

...The Hancock Observatory may not be the tallest building in Chicago - that accolade belongs to the Sears Tower with the Hancock Observatory coming in third. It does however offer the best views of the city with it proximity to Lake Michigan and the Magnificent Mile. The Hancock Observatory is to be found on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Centre on Michigan Avenue. Completed in 1970 and renovated in 1995, the John Hancock Centre is one of the most recognized landmarks in Chicago. It was designed and engineered by Bruce Graham and Fazlur Khan. Its most distinguishing features are its bold tapered shape and steel cross-bracing exterior design. The John Hancock Centre, which has 96 floors (or storeys), stands some 1127 feet tall and is affectionately called Big John by Chicagoans. Obviously then, the Observatory isn't on the top...

MAFARRIMOND 07.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Hancock Observatory, Chicago

Cheesy Chicago

Advantages: Tastes gorgeous, nice crispy base, loads of cheese
Disadvantages: Very fattening, do not cook very well in microwave

...I am going through a bit of a stage of being addicted to Pizza's at the moment and Chicago Town Cheese Deep Pan Pizzas are one of my favourites. Packaging These pizzas come in a normal cardboard box which is primarily red with a picture of the pizza on the front (which looks very appealing). The Chicago Town logo is written across the front and underneath that is written Deep Dish Triple Cheese Pizza. Price I buy these pizza from Tesco where they normally cost £1.65 for a box of two. At the moment they are on a special offer for only £1 per box which is excellent - my freezer is now full of them! The Pizza The thing I like about these pizza's, is that they are mini size so could make do as a snack - although admittedly, I do tend to eat both of them at the same time because I'm a pig! The pizzas are probably about 5 inches...

daylehall 09.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Chicago Town Cheese Deep Pan Pizzas

Chicago, the Windy City that will blow you away

Advantages: Read review
Disadvantages: Nothing

...As I child I always wanted to travel to Chicago, the fact that I had family living their, which I hadn't seen in over 10 years made it even easier to go their. Having only two weeks in Chicago, I made the most of it, viewing all the big tourist attractions, whilst also seeing the smaller more unseen sides of the Windy City, such as the local museums, libraries, jazz bars, the attractions, which aren't usually advertised in the holiday brochures. This review will only cover my experiences of Chicago, I will try to explain as much as I can, but hopefully this will give readers an informative and different perspective of Chicago. Brief History: Chicago has quite an exciting history, founded in 1833. Chicago is the largest City in Illinois and has the third highest population in the U.S. Chicago's history runs deep throughout the U...

jaygami1986 03.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Chicago

winter Chicago in 72 hours

Advantages: amzing
Disadvantages: cold,cold and even colder

...Having never travelled to the U.S, my first trip there was a flying visit for three days to Chicago. It was a last minute trip,thrown together by my wonderful family to see my favourite cousin before she moved back to wet old England. Three days might not be long to visit such a far off place,but what I experianced and saw in those three days was well worth it. I was extreamly lucky to get a very cheap flight ,direct from my local airport (birmingham,england).At a total cost of return economy fair £224, flying with American Airlines. The outbound journey was a 9 hour flight non-stop and the return a mere 8 1/2 hours.(a long time for a smoker who had never flown!!). So,having secured a last minute flight,obtained an emergency passport and packed my suitcase,I was ready for departure, January 15th. The first thing...

babajane32 14.12.2002 · Read review
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Review of Chicago

Razzle Dazzle Chicago

Advantages: EXCELLENT , FUN, GREAT MUSIC
Disadvantages: NOTHING

...at the theatre with all of the vibrant outfits and lights and the singing. I think the music is great lots of brilliant songs. I would definitely see this film in theatre after watching the film. Renee Zellwegere is not someone I would have thought of for this part, she has lost so much weight and is skinny. There are lots of female dancers in this film and some pervert at the back of the cinema when Renee flashed her leg began a dirty laugh. I'm sure the men will also like this film even if they wouldn't admit it. This film begins in Chicago in the 30's I think when we see Velma Kelly (CZJ) arrive for her performance, her act is the Kelly sisters but unfortunately as explained later her sister has died so she is a solo act. Before she gets ready to perform we see her trying to wash blood off her hands. She sings the famous 'All That Jazz...

ms19 22.01.2003 · Read review
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Review of Chicago (DVD)

All that jazz on Chicago

Advantages: great acting, wonderful songs, the costumes
Disadvantages: not for children, songs missed out from the original score

...Musicals. They are a genre of films that make some people break out in a cold sweat as their thoughts turn to cutesy precocious stage school brats, dodgy Cockney accents and sweeter than sugar nannies and governesses. However the musical has progressed and reinvented itself with Chicago the multiple Oscar winning Bob Fossey musical that stars Renée Zellweger. Catherine Zeta Jones and Richard Gere. The sexy, seductive feel to Chicago makes it one of my favourite musicals having seen the film, stage production, bought the soundtrack album and the DVD. Yes I like it that much. So why do I like it?? Chicago is set surprisingly enough in Chicago Illinois in the late 1920s. The era is one of gangsters, beautiful women in Flapper dresses, furs and elegant bobs dancing the Charleston to jazz tunes. Ladies and gentlemen the Jazz Era is in...

duskmaiden 01.02.2004 · Read review
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Review of Chicago (DVD)