5 Fun Facts about Chicago:
• While Chicago is known as a great baseball town, its two teams have had a difficult time becoming world champions. The White Sox finally won in 2005, their first World Series win since 1917, but the Cubs’ World Series drought stretches to 97 years.
• Chicagoans are split on how their town received its title of the “Windy City.” Some chalk it up to the blustery weather blown in off of Lake Michigan, but others prefer the story about the propensity of local politicians to be full of hot air.
• Chicago is home to 2,836,659 people, making it the third most populous in America behind Los Angeles and New York City.
• Standing at 1,450 feet and 110 stories high, Chicago’s Sears Tower (soon to be Willis Tower) is the tallest building in North America.
• The Art Institute of Chicago holds the largest collection of impressionist paintings outside of Paris, including a large selection of Monets and Gauguins.
Famous People from Chicago:
Jane Addams
John Belushi
Andre Braugher
Dick Butkus
Al Capone
Chris Chelios
Michael Crichton
John Cusack
Clarence Darrow
Walt Disney
Louis Farrakhan
Chris Farley
Harrison Ford
Benny Goodman
George Halas
Dorothy Hamill
Herbie Hancock
Rickey Henderson
Marilu Henner
Hugh Hefner
Kenny Lofton
Bernie Mac
David Mamet
Curtis Mayfield
Jenny McCarthy
Mr. T
Bill Murray
“Baby Face” Nelson
Eliot Ness
Bob Newhart (Loyola alum)
Aidan Quinn
Lou Rawls
Pat Sajak
Shel Silverstein
Gene Siskel
Mel Torme
Robert Townsend
Antoine Walker
Raquel Welch
George Wendt
Kanye West
Robin Williams
Frank Lloyd Wright
Local Slang:
“Cheesborger, cheesborger” – What to order at Billy Goat Tavern
Cheeseheads – Wisconsinites
Da Coach, Iron Mike – Famous Bears coach Mike Ditka
The Dan Ryan – The section of I 90/94 that runs through city
Downstate – Anywhere in Illinois south of Chicago
The El – The famous elevated train system
The Eisenhower Expressway, the Ike – I-290 Expressway
The Friendly Confines – Wrigley Field
The Loop – Chicago’s downtown area, surrounded by the El
LSD – Lake Shore Drive
The Magnificent Mile – Michigan Avenue south of LSD and north of the Chicago River
Metra – Railroad that helps suburbanites get in and out
MJ – Bulls icon Michael Jordan
Second City, Chi-town – Nicknames for Chicago
Stoop – Stairs in front of a house
Sweetness – Bears legend Walter Payton
The Taste – The Taste of Chicago, a large summertime festival