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Chicago is a city in northeastern Illinois, on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. Chicago is the third largest city in the United States and one of the country's leading industrial, commercial, transportation, and financial centers. Chicago occupies a flatland that is crossed by two short rivers: the Chicago River and the Calumet. Both rivers are linked by canals with the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, establishing Chicago as the connecting point in the waterway between the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Seaway. Chicago has a highly diversified economy that has been aided by an extensive transportation and distribution network. It is the nation's most important rail and trucking center and is the location of one of the busiest airports in the United States, Chicago-O'Hare International Airport. The city is a significant port for both domestic and international trade. Great Lakes freighters and river barges deliver bulk commodities such as iron ore, limestone, coal, chemicals, petroleum, and grain. Foreign vessels arrive via the Saint Lawrence Seaway, bringing products such as automobiles, steel, fish, and alcoholic beverages.
The Chicago River divides the city into three broad sections, known traditionally as the North, West, and South sides. The North Side is largely residential, interspersed with industry. The West Side generally is a lower-income residential area and contains numerous industrial, railroad, and wholesale-produce facilities. The South Side occupies almost half the city and contains diverse residential neighborhoods, ranging from decayed tenement districts to areas of modest detached houses.
Almost the entire lakefront is devoted to recreational uses, with beaches, museums, harbors, and parks. The downtown area, known locally as the Loop (from the fact that it is encircled by elevated railway tracks), is an important retail and entertainment district. The world's first skyscraper was constructed in Chicago in 1885. Several of the tallest buildings in the world are located in the central part of the city, including the world's second tallest, the Sears Tower.
Institutes of higher education include the University of Chicago (1890), Northwestern University (1851), and De Paul University (1898). The city's many museums include the Field Museum (1893); the Art Institute of Chicago; and the John G. Shedd Aquarium, the world's largest. The Chicago Cubs baseball team plays at Wrigley Field; the Chicago White Sox baseball team, at Comiskey Park; the Chicago Bears football team, at Soldier Field; and the Chicago Blackhawks ice hockey and Chicago Bulls basketball teams, at the United Center.
As for activities and attractions here evreyone may find what he seeks:sights,theaters,clubs.The ones wanting to know more about the culture of Chicago has the best museums in the world and great architectural landmark to visit.A first choice may be the Art Institute of Chicago: This Classical Renaissance structure, guarded by two bronze lions at its entrance, boasts one of the world's great art collections, including the trademark "American Gothic."
One of America's premier natural history museums, Field Museum,now houses "Sue," the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered. Chicago History Museum brings the Second City's long history to life.Here there are exhibits on everything from the Great Fire of 1871 to the city's rich background insports.
A ride to the top of the city's tallest building, Sears Tower gives a great view of the architecture, neighborhoods and lake that make Chicago unique. A true Chicago landmark is Water Tower.This structure was bulit in 1869 antd it was one of a few buildings to survive the 1871 fire. Nowadays here it is the City Gallery, an exhibition space for Chicago photos and photographers.
Chicago doesn’t not forget about family fun.Navy Pier and Lincoln Park Zoo are a delight for children and two of the finest zoos in the country
Navy Pier offers 50 acres of parks, gardens (beer and botanical), shops, restaurants, cultural attractions and a 150-foot Ferris wheel. Established in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo has a surface of 35-acre, and is one of America's last free-admission zoos, opened every day of the year. The Great Ape House has one of the best assemblages of gorillas and chimpanzees in the world.
If children can get what they want, also can the parents. Buddy Guy's Legends include his own reputation, plus the amazing array of local and national blues performers drawn to this music hotspot. Green Mill is oldest jazz club in the U.S. opened in 1907. The city has the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, and several modern and jazz dance troupes. On the city's classical music scene there are companies including Music of the Baroque, Chicago Opera Theater, the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Chicago a cappella, and many others.
Chicago is known for its Chicago blues, Chicago soul, Jazz, and Gospel. This strong tradition of music and musical innovation have continued into contemporary styles. The city is the birthplace of the House style of music, and is the site of an influential Hip-Hop scene. In the 1980s the city was a center for industrial, punk and new wave .this influence continued into the alternative scene of the 1990s, with The Smashing Pumpkins emerging out of Chicago onto the global stage in the early 1990s. Chicago was an epicenter of the development of rave culture in the 1980s even through today. There is a flourishing independent rock scene, including the recent explosion of Chicago emo acts, with multiple festivals featuring various acts each year
No matter what time of year you visit Chicago, there is bound to be special events that you won’t want to miss. Many of the special events are held in the summer.
Chicago is the synonim also of great food. Dine at four-star French restaurants or munch on a Chicago-style pizza or Italian beef. Choices can be made from spicy Thai, sophisticated Mexican or simple burgers and fries. There are hundreds of great restaurants serving Greek, Cantonese, Indian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Afghani, African, Turkish, Korean and vegetarian food. Visit China Town for great Dim Sum, Greek Town for flaming saganaki or Old Town for great steaks and folk music. The Downtown Theater District is home to some of the most satisfying restaurants in the city, making the need to combine epicurean delights with unequaled entertainment easy to satisfy.There is also a Brazilian restaurant where meat lovers have a never-ending parade of 15 types of grilled meats brought directly to the table. A salad bar and a variety of side dishes, from fried bananas to mashed potatoes, round out the meal You may find also contemporary American cuisine on the menu serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can choose over 50 selections of cheese and there's a huge menu of wines served by the glass. An express lunch menu promises to have you in, fed and out in 36 minutes!
Shopping is a pleasure?If yes, Chicago is the answer.Here there is a paradise for shopping lovers.You can find the perfect present at Chicago's bustling department stores and chic designer boutiques.Go to the city's quiet, tree-lined shopping neighborhoods as well as the pulsating downtown shopping districts for beautiful clothes, leather goods, hand-crafted jewelry, antiques, furniture and more. State Street - that great street - sits amidst Chicago's Downtown Theater District creating the ideal day of shopping and entertainment. So whether you are looking for the prefect lithograph in a River North Gallery, a hand-painted silk scarf in Wicker Park or the latest designer suit in an historic downtown department store, when it comes to shopping. Chicago offers something for every taste and budget.
If you put all of Chicago’s advantages together, there is no doubt why so many events choose this city. In fact, Chicago offers the best overall package for convention and trade show managers in the nation. Once a day’s business is over, everyone can enjoy a world-class city with exciting restaurants, theaters, museums, shopping, nightlife and attractions.Chicago has also a wealth of the most qualified labor in the industrywhere professionals are highly trained with years of experience
Chicago is the crossroads of the nation and the world, making it accessible from any place on the planet. As North America’s only dual hub for commercial air travel, the city is easy to get to from anywhere. Getting to Chicago is easy and affordable, and has accessibility for both domestic and international visitors. O’Hare International Airport is the world’s busiest airport, and Midway International is the fastest growing airport in North America.
The city has many and divers hotels: 30,000 downtown hotel rooms located in close proximity of the convention centers and more than 100,000 rooms in the entire metropolitan area.The different types of hotels offer luxury, convention-style, boutique, and limited service properties.
While Chicago is better known as a city to do business, there are so many to do here which makes the city a world-class destination that offers something for every taste and every budget, whether it’s amazing live theatre, alive nightclubs, or inspiring architecture.