View Poll Results: San Francisco VS Chicago
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San Francisco VS Chicago
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 27
From: Woodstock
SF, has the clear advantage in the weather dept.
However, people in chicago are more laid back, not as competitive and flashy, more independent.
Driving into Chicago is an event and not just a drive by
We have three Stadiums whether you like sports or not. So many real museums.
The suburbs are even better, it spans out forever.
We live in a real area with about 100x more historic, classy things as well suburbs that can be even better.
However, people in chicago are more laid back, not as competitive and flashy, more independent.
Driving into Chicago is an event and not just a drive by
We have three Stadiums whether you like sports or not. So many real museums.
The suburbs are even better, it spans out forever.
We live in a real area with about 100x more historic, classy things as well suburbs that can be even better.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,347
Likes: 4
From: Chicago
Awesome pics D!
People dont understand that weather isnt everything!!
We have beautiful SPRINGS and AMAZING FALLS!!! The summer is the best here, not to HOT not too fair. We get a little bit of everything! We get to enjoy our s2ks more here, we're not sittin there fryin in the summer time, while bieng stared at by some flamin homo.
People dont understand that weather isnt everything!!
We have beautiful SPRINGS and AMAZING FALLS!!! The summer is the best here, not to HOT not too fair. We get a little bit of everything! We get to enjoy our s2ks more here, we're not sittin there fryin in the summer time, while bieng stared at by some flamin homo.
Moderator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,904
Likes: 93
From: Big Box suburb, IL
Food:
I can't believe you didn't mention Lou Malnati's and Geno's East!
What about Chicago style-vienna hot dogs!!!
Italian beef, italian sausage!
South and West side rib shacks.
Music:
Like my music house style (birth place of House music).
Soon to be center of Hip-hop, second only to NY
One of the best underground nightclub scenes I've ever enjoyed (...and I've travelled the world's club scenes...NYC and London scene is hot, as well)
Jazz and Blues scene is incredible (is there even any Jazz presence in S.F.?)
Culture:
Theater, Museums, Comedy clubs, Cinemas, orchestra halls, diverse sports, etc.
Homestead:
How the hell can anyone afford to live in S.F....? And it's not like everyone is "ballin'" out there!
I can go on and on...I just visited S.F. this past summer. The good thing that I remember about SF is the drive up hghwy 1 from SoCal. I loved it!
If I had to be in Cali, it'd have to be in SoCal somewhere. SF just left alot to be desired.
I love Chicago like it's home (hell, being born and raised here, it is home), however I don't plan to stay much longer. Denver is probably where I'd pick to go above CA, NY, GA, FL, etc.
I can't believe you didn't mention Lou Malnati's and Geno's East!
What about Chicago style-vienna hot dogs!!!
Italian beef, italian sausage!
South and West side rib shacks.
Music:
Like my music house style (birth place of House music).
Soon to be center of Hip-hop, second only to NY
One of the best underground nightclub scenes I've ever enjoyed (...and I've travelled the world's club scenes...NYC and London scene is hot, as well)
Jazz and Blues scene is incredible (is there even any Jazz presence in S.F.?)
Culture:
Theater, Museums, Comedy clubs, Cinemas, orchestra halls, diverse sports, etc.
Homestead:
How the hell can anyone afford to live in S.F....? And it's not like everyone is "ballin'" out there!
I can go on and on...I just visited S.F. this past summer. The good thing that I remember about SF is the drive up hghwy 1 from SoCal. I loved it!
If I had to be in Cali, it'd have to be in SoCal somewhere. SF just left alot to be desired.
I love Chicago like it's home (hell, being born and raised here, it is home), however I don't plan to stay much longer. Denver is probably where I'd pick to go above CA, NY, GA, FL, etc.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
I live in the SF Bay Area. My girlfriend is doing her residency in Chicago. I love the Bay Area and really wanted to hate Chicago because it stole my girlfriend. I really, really, *really* wanted to hate it...
BUT...
I can't. Everytime I go there, I'm enchanted by the place. I have to say it's one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it's probably my favorite city in the US. Granted if I lived there all the time, the weather would drive me nuts. But I'll bet that many SF folks who can't find any reason to like Chicago probably haven't spent a lot of time there, I know I only knew of the frozen wasteland stereotypes and the grimy unhappiness of everyone on ER...
Here's what I can say about the two places:
SF
+ weather is nice a lot of the time in winter/spring, never gets really cold
+ surrounding Bay Area has nice climate available almost year round
+ surrounding Bay Area has beautiful, non-touristy places to get away within 1-2 hours drive in almost *every* direction
+ views and scenery can be gorgeous from many places (marin headlands for example)
+ good, cheap ethnic food everywhere
- often feels like winter in the summer (what was that Mark Twain quote?
)
- more dirty, freaky neighborhoods than not- people don't seem to care much about the aesthetics of the town
- I'm a liberal democrat, but not even close to liberal enough for SF. Also bugs me that people are so socially progressive, yet the homeless population is large and public trans. sucks big time.
- People aren't terribly friendly
- culture is just not my style here- symphony plays too much 20th century freaky stuff, worst classical radio station on the planet, worst radio stations in general on the planet, museum scene is okay as long as you like modern art (actually I do).
Chicago
+ Beautiful, positively gorgeous when the weather is nice. Right on Lake Michigan, which is kept a pristine emerald color by an ingeneous system which backflows the Chicago river away from the lake. Go out to Adler Planetarium and you can fit the entire skyline in a single wide angle camera shot.
+ Architecture is simply amazing and so much better on the whole than SF. It seems like almost every building of every period in downtown Chicago is beautifully designed and executed.
+ Weather crappy but when nice, people really know how to enjoy it. Lakeshore drive full of bikers, joggers, families on the beaches, simply amazing
+ Culture for the people- great museums, every one of which has a free day each week and it really gets people to use these places. Huge free Zoo in the middle of the city, best classical radio station on the planet, Ravinia festival.
+ Great cuisine if you tend towards the carnivorous like me
+ Great public transportation including trains directly into the terminals of *both* airports
+ Very clean downtown (people sweeping sidewalks all the time), people friendly in a laid back sort of way
- Weather in the winter can and does suck.
- Surrounding area is kinda flat and isolated, the city is the main attraction for me
In summary, if I were a city person I'd rather live in Chicago than SF. But since I'm not, I'll stick with the Bay Area. Chicago has few downsides IMO but the ones it does are kinda major, I think the weather would get to me in the end. But I'd encourage those who haven't been there much to keep an open mind on your next visit, it really is an awesome town.
Some of my photos from early summer in Chicago
And even the winter...
Peter
BUT...
I can't. Everytime I go there, I'm enchanted by the place. I have to say it's one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it's probably my favorite city in the US. Granted if I lived there all the time, the weather would drive me nuts. But I'll bet that many SF folks who can't find any reason to like Chicago probably haven't spent a lot of time there, I know I only knew of the frozen wasteland stereotypes and the grimy unhappiness of everyone on ER...
Here's what I can say about the two places:
SF
+ weather is nice a lot of the time in winter/spring, never gets really cold
+ surrounding Bay Area has nice climate available almost year round
+ surrounding Bay Area has beautiful, non-touristy places to get away within 1-2 hours drive in almost *every* direction
+ views and scenery can be gorgeous from many places (marin headlands for example)
+ good, cheap ethnic food everywhere
- often feels like winter in the summer (what was that Mark Twain quote?
)- more dirty, freaky neighborhoods than not- people don't seem to care much about the aesthetics of the town
- I'm a liberal democrat, but not even close to liberal enough for SF. Also bugs me that people are so socially progressive, yet the homeless population is large and public trans. sucks big time.
- People aren't terribly friendly
- culture is just not my style here- symphony plays too much 20th century freaky stuff, worst classical radio station on the planet, worst radio stations in general on the planet, museum scene is okay as long as you like modern art (actually I do).
Chicago
+ Beautiful, positively gorgeous when the weather is nice. Right on Lake Michigan, which is kept a pristine emerald color by an ingeneous system which backflows the Chicago river away from the lake. Go out to Adler Planetarium and you can fit the entire skyline in a single wide angle camera shot.
+ Architecture is simply amazing and so much better on the whole than SF. It seems like almost every building of every period in downtown Chicago is beautifully designed and executed.
+ Weather crappy but when nice, people really know how to enjoy it. Lakeshore drive full of bikers, joggers, families on the beaches, simply amazing
+ Culture for the people- great museums, every one of which has a free day each week and it really gets people to use these places. Huge free Zoo in the middle of the city, best classical radio station on the planet, Ravinia festival.
+ Great cuisine if you tend towards the carnivorous like me
+ Great public transportation including trains directly into the terminals of *both* airports
+ Very clean downtown (people sweeping sidewalks all the time), people friendly in a laid back sort of way
- Weather in the winter can and does suck.
- Surrounding area is kinda flat and isolated, the city is the main attraction for me
In summary, if I were a city person I'd rather live in Chicago than SF. But since I'm not, I'll stick with the Bay Area. Chicago has few downsides IMO but the ones it does are kinda major, I think the weather would get to me in the end. But I'd encourage those who haven't been there much to keep an open mind on your next visit, it really is an awesome town.
Some of my photos from early summer in Chicago
And even the winter...
Peter
Former Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 59,195
Likes: 1
From: Ventura, California, USA
Your thread is tainted comparing Chicago with Urkel. I voted SF. I love Chicago though. It is such a fun city. If I didn't hate the cold it would be a very close race, but I think SF would win. On the other hand if you compared LA and Chicago, La would still win, but only because of the weather.
You forgot to add FUll HOuse with the olsen twins in your SF comparo.
You forgot to add FUll HOuse with the olsen twins in your SF comparo.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,774
Likes: 1
From: Central USA
I have been in both cities many times and my choice is .............San Diego! Both Chicago and San Francisco have much to offer but they just don't have the same appeal (to me) that San Diego has. I would love to drive my S2000 up Highway #1, north from San Francisco, however.
