subject: Second City, First Class Cars [print this page] Second CitySecond City. Chi-Town. Call it what you will, it's still the heart of the heartland, the first major metropolis outside of New York, and every bit as diverse, tough-minded, and enthralling. You can't come to Chicago and not be moved by this capital city, this shining beacon of progress on lake Michigan. It is both, at once, a cultural epicenter and a city built on a very solid, blue-collar work ethic. The typical Chicagoan will tell you the city is about cater to all kinds of people, from a diversity of ethnic and economic backgrounds.
Though the winters can rattle bones, natives will not be shaken out of their love for their vibrant city that manages to keep purring along -- even when O'Hare Airport is closed for the tenth time in as many days. The city enjoys four distinct seasons and makes the most of the spring and summer months, with some days clocking in as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit. And, since it is a coastal city, it enjoys a wealth of sailing aficionados, especially as the city enjoys some of the best winds on Lake Michigan, leading to the city's well-known moniker, the Windy City.
Chicago makes no bones about being of the top five auto markets in the United States -- nor should it. While the city enjoys a robust commuter rail and public transportation network, it is still a very car-centric town. This means, if you're looking for a car dealer in Chicago you need look no further than your browser's search box. Punch in your coordinates, the make and model of your fancy, and away you go towards a sportier, more luxurious automotive experience.
While the city does have a hard-earned reputation for being a blue-collar town, it does have a number of attributes that mark it as an innovative and dynamic cultural center. First and foremost is the number of prestigious universities in the metropolitan area. Ranked among the top ten universities in the world, the University of Chicago has not only set incredible academic standards, but is has set the standard for English usage, with the Chicago manual of Style. Additionally, Northwestern University, DePaul University, and the Illinois Institute of Technology are all prominent national schools.
It's Second City in name only. First came New York, then Chicago. With its reputation for combining the best of the Midwest and the Northeast, it's a town that attracts a variety of people -- from no-nonsense Yankees to happy-go-lucky Mid-westerners. It had consistently been in the upper echelons of best places to live and is an outstanding place to raise a family, build a career, or embark on an education. Chicago has it all -- and as Sammy Davis once sang, "it's my kind of town.
