Home to some of the best jazz, biggest gangsters and most talented architects, Chicago grows into the sky right in front of the Michigan lake. It is the New York City of the Midwest. 5th Avenue becomes Michigan Avenue here. The Plaza hotel turns into The Drake. Madison becomes Rush. Lincoln Park is the Central Park. Long Island makes way to Highland Park. JFK becomes O’Hare and LaGuardia becomes Midway. Despite all the match-ups, the Chicago landmarks are the only reminiscences of what seems to be left behind in Manhattan.
You quickly realize that people are more friendly here. A quick, smiley nod and a short “hello” loosens you up. You start taking wider steps on the pavements. You can make a turn without making a million calculations not to hit any other pedestrian. Nature is always nearby, bursting all around the cold concrete buildings. The fresh and sometimes vicious winds from the Michigan lake make their way around the wide streets. You are shocked to see the amount of space here.
Life in Chicago is an urban retreat compared to the life in Manhattan. You quickly become accustomed to not rushing. You can’t deny the happiness of taking a break from the fast lane. You know you can take it easy here. Easy until the day this slower, cleaner and quieter “big apple” reminds you so much of the real deal that you constantly think about what else you might be missing back in New York. You then realize you can never give up one for the other.
