june-2011

98
CHI VS. CHI
Left to right,
Leopold; the
Chicago River; a
fully decked out
Chicago hot dog
at Portillo’s
JUNE 2011 • HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
THREE PERFECT DAYS
CHICAGO
CHICAGO’S A TOWN OF MANY MONIKERS—Windy City, City of
Big Shoulders, Second City and, as poet Carl Sandburg wrote, “hog butcher for the
world.” While each speaks to the city’s history as an industrial powerhouse led by
fast-talking politicos, none of these nicknames does justice to Chi-town’s cleanness,
greenness or top-notch culinary scene. Exploring the patchwork of neighborhoods
and expansive outdoor spaces will give you a sense of the city’s past, present and
future. It’s an understated—and quintessentially American—megalopolis, where
Midwestern hospitality meets big-city worldliness. Spend a few days wandering
around and you won’t just want to stay longer—you’ll probably want to move here.