I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on the pulse of this city.  Maybe that’s because it is at the same time so many different things.  Downtown is huge and vibrant, but without the hustle and bustle of NYC or Philly. The vibe is young and active, fiercely proud, with clear bent toward party town. Arts and culture abound, while sports, signature foods, outdoors, architecture, and natural beauty give it character. The lake is enormous. The pubs are ubiquitous. There’s not enough time to experience it all. And something tells me even if I had enough time I still wouldn’t get to know this city completely.

I think Mark Twain had it right: “It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago – she outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them. She is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time.”