Inside the Windy City
by Rita Cook

Don't be scared by the zero-degree temperatures and lower wind chills, Chicago is still a fascinating city to visit, rich in history and life.
First of all, there's no spring or fall in "The Windy City." And another noteworthy fact, theWindy City is not even one of the top ten windiest cities in the United States. Actually, Windy City is a term that was given to Chicago in response to the city's politicians of a previous era that tended to be somewhat pompous and verbose.

Of course there is a wind that comes off of Lake Michigan, but in the winter the area around the lake tends to be 10 degrees warmer than other parts of Chicago, and in the summer it is a comfortable 10 degrees cooler. During the summer months of June, July and August, Chicago is full of tourists and locals taking in the weather and the sights during the short three months of beautiful weather. These summer months are the busiest time of year in Chicago with many festivals and shows taking place, both inside and outdoors.

Insider Tips on the City

The many neighborhood festivals are the best things about Chicago. Festivals begin in May (when it's still a little chilly) and run all the way through Labor Day in September. The best way to choose between the festivals is to pick up a Friday Chicago Tribune and look in the "What's Happening in Town Section." The festivals are what will keep you coming back year after year, to experience a real taste of Italy or Greece or Russian. The neighborhoods are scattered throughout the Chicagoland and most will make you feel like you're in a foreign country. In some neighborhoods, the residents don't even speak English, only their native tongue. It's a fact that no other American city, except perhaps New York, will show the traveler more ethnic diversity.

Things to Do

The things to do in Chicago are as varied as the people that visit. Billy Goat's Tavern is a Chicago landmark made popular on Saturday Night Live many years ago. Nowadays you'll mainly find reporters and a few tourists visiting the place that is famous for their "chizburgers, but no fries." Yellowing newspaper articles adorn the walls telling of the life of Billy Goat Siannis, the founder of this establishment. It is said he took his goat to the World Series in Chicago in 1945. He was thrown out and because of this he put a curse on the Cubs.

Incidentally, the Cubs haven't been to a World Series since. Billy Goats Tavern is located at 430 N. Michigan on the lower level. 312-222-1525. Chicago from the Lake is a boat tour that takes the visitor on a trip to Lake Michigan and let's them see the city from a unique perspective, 312-527-2002. Ed Debevic's is a family-style restaurant serving up one particularly yummy dinner of meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy. It's a 1950-themed diner with a theatrical waitstaff. 640 N. Wells 312-664-1707.

If you enjoy singing waiters, you'll love Primavera. This Italian restaurant has 49 mural scenes from classic Italy. For your birthday the singing waiters do an adaptation from the Hallelujah Chorus. Fairmont Hotel 200 N. Columbus Drive 312-565-6655. The Red Lion Pub has been rumored to be haunted. Order an English beer or ale or a woodpecker cider. This place is straight from England. And the staff will delight you with their haunting stories about the ghost they claim still haunts the place from the 1920's. 2446 N. Lincoln Avenue 773-348-2695. In the western suburb of Wheaton there's a place called Cantigny, don't miss it. Cantigny is a 500-acre country estate that belonged to the late Col. Robert R. McCormick. Field artillery pieces and tanks can be found among beautifully landscaped gardens. There's a museum that recreates a front-line trench from World War I. 151 Winfield Road Wheaton, IL 847-668-5161.

What to Pack

Depending on the time of year you visit Chicago, the items you choose to pack will change drastically. During the winter, December to March, temperatures are 27 degrees, not including the wind chill factor. In the spring, March to June, temperatures are 49 degrees. The summer months of June to September are 73 degrees and in the fall, September to December, it's 54 degrees.

In the summer months pack a light jacket. The lake tends to be cool at night and the visitor might need a jacket while outdoors in the city. During the spring and fall months pack a jacket and comfortable shoes. It has been known to snow in Chicago as late as March and as early as October. Chicagoans have learned that flimsy shoes during the fall, spring and winter is a bad idea. Most locals wear some sort of boot during the winter. If you plan on walking, which a lot of people do in the city, the sensible shoe for winter is a water-resistant boot. Pack casually and bring a sweater, you'll find yourself doing a lot of walking throughout the city.

What to expect

If you haven't visited Chicago in a while or ever, you can expect to find new buildings, built in the 1980's. These buildings are the result of a massive number of people that have chosen to live in the downtown area. Postmodern buildings in the Loop sit next to older buildings and buildings that are the tradition of Chicago with many architectural differences.

The lakefront is clean and the forests that are found outside the downtown area are still unspoiled by pollution and overcrowding. In fact, forest acreage makes up about 66,993 acres in the Chicagoland area. There are 550 parks, including 25 public beaches that stretch throughout Chicago. You can expect a vibrant nightlife and theater and music that rival New York City. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Goodman Theatre and the Lyric Opera are all nationally famous. And who hasn't heard of the great jazz and blues found in Chicago.