only in chicago
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A crowd-sourced collection of things and experiences totally unique to the city of Chicago and its residents. WBEZ's Curious City project answers a question asked by Brenda Guzman: "What's one thing you can get in Chicago that you can't get anywhere else?" For more, visit: curiouscity.wbez.orgTRANSCRIPT
Only in Chicago
1. 1 Good Italian Beef - Brad Little, Randell Monaco
Arguably true.
2. 2 Great thin crust pizza: Jim and Pete's - Randell Monaco
NO. Technically in Elmwood Park: http://jimandpetes.com/
3. 3 Extreme segregation based on poverty. - Elizabeth Soledad Rivera
NO.
4. 4 The smell of chocolate / And a downtown with the smell of chocolate. -Angela Ballard, Barbara Strangeman
Arguably true.
5. 5 Cubs!!! / Nonsensical rivalry between the Cubs and Sox. They don't even play in the same league!!! - Troy Swanson Todd Leiter-Weintraub
YES.
6. 6 El Milagro Tortillas! – Anthony Roy
NO: http://www.el-milagro.com/locations.html
7. 7 Jibaritos – Megan E.C. Klāwitte Arguably true: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/14/best-jibarito-sandwiches-_n_796787.html#s206305&title=Borinquen_Lounge_1720
8. 8 Malort / Jeppson's Malort.- Lehner Panal lAaron Reste Carla Caruso Katherine Raz John Michael Susan Gorby Emily Coté Erin Polgreen
NO. You can ship it wherever: http://www.internetwines.com/rws23939.html
9. 9 WBEZ - Hollie Richard Shepherd Dawn Nijim Hill Judy Napoleon
Arguably true. You can listen online.
10. 1Shot by gangbangers while NO. Unfortunately, this happens in
0 minding your own business - Matthew J. Robertson
other places.
11. 11 It’s obvious and true – Me - Jason Soroko
No. Too easy.
12. 12 Ravinia - Linda Lin NO. Not in Chicago Proper:
http://www.ravinia.org/History.aspx
13. 13 Polish sausage at Jim’s - Collin Pearsal
YES: http://www.jimsoriginal.com/jimsoriginal/Locations.html
14. 14 Pizza pot pie, a la Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co.
YES: http://www.chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/
15. 15 The Lake! – Cristina Morales / Lake Michigan, and the public space abutting it. - Mike Sloothaak
YES
16. 16 The EL- a real Chicago experience for sure - Robbie Klinger
NO. Travels outside the city limits
17. 17 The VIEWS driving into Chicago from any direction are priceless. - Colleen Fisch / Interesting architecture of any city in the USA, so maybe we can say our skyline is something you can't get anywhere else! – Jean Greenberg / Everyday architectural experience that very few other cities in North America can offer. - Mona Oommen An
YES
18. 18 Public transportation that will take you anywhere in the metro area, loads of suburban places, and even into the next state. - Donna Kiser
NO. Other places have that
19. 19 The distinct feeling that you're not wanted by your own city governance? - Kaara Kallen
Arguably true.
20. 20 Both a death certificate and a sticker that says "I voted" - Nicholas R Filipiak
NO. Death certificates are issued by the state.
21. 21 High ass gas prices - Jorge Pedroza / You get the nation’s highest gas prices. - Chip Mitchell
YES. http://gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx
22. 22 The ability to swim in a gigantic fresh water sea, right up against skyscrapers in one of the world's biggest cities. Impressive. - Liz Burns
yes
23. 23 “Pop” as in what we drink – Emilie Babicz and Robin Randall
NO
24. 24 Jimmy's hot dogs – Lily Be / A decent hotdog. – Kathy Choi / Steve Albini’s hotdog farts – Randy Nieto / A chicago Hot dog...California has nothing nada, zilch that even comes close... – Joyce Bell / Chicago Dog (hot dog). Sometimes I have cravings. – Ron GalenA
YES
25. 25 World-class free orchestra concerts – Barbara Strangeman / Free entertainment all summer long with a beautiful lakefront backdrop. – Elisha Anderson
NO
26. 26 A President of the U.S. who calls Hyde Park his home! - Todd Leiter-Weintraub
YES
27. 27 Giardiniera – Outsider’s Almanac / Giardiniera,or at least the good kind Could go with uniquely flavored and easily available giardiniera – Adric Garlick
YES http://chicago.cbslocal.com/top-lists/giardiniera-in-chicago/
28. 28 Pizza puffs, not calzones, the gross pizza puffs. - Eunice De Leon
NO. This person got some at a grocery store in Milwaukee (though they are a Chicago thing): http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2010/12/what-is-a-pizza-puff.html
29. 29 Good pizza - Mary Bellus / Seriously, If any Chicagoans left town and really understood what's missing is Chicago Pizza. I've tried various pizzas from other states. THEY ALL SUCKED! - JackJohn Gallen
NO
30. 30 Inexpensive ultra-high-end blues performances. - John Riordan
NO
31. 31 Winter spring and summer all in one day! - Franco Villarreal / A full season of weather - in one day! - Kaye Pomaranc / Four seasons in one day. - Jerry Steele
NO - everyone likes to brag that happens in their town. Well except for all of California
32. 32 Pastorelli Italian Chef pizza sauce. I have my family bring it to me when they visit DC. The taste takes me right back to mom's homemade on a Friday night. A must for untouchable pizza! - Jay Ferrari
NO: http://pastorelli.netfirms.com/store/index.php
33. 33 Unfettered, open park land along a lakefront. No other city protects its lakefront like we do. Thank you Montgomery Ward & Daniel Burnham. - Laura Sabransky
YES
34. A shirt that says Made In Chicago. - Deni Gottlieb
NO
35. Guerilla theater troupes second-to-none. - Todd Leiter-Weintraub
Arguably true.
36. El Ranchero tortilla chips - Brian Bowman / El Ranchero green bag - Dean DeMatteis
Arguably true: https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Ranchero-Tortilla-Chips/82625942726
37. Finch's Beer! - Brian Bowman NO: http://host.madison.com/entertainment/dining/beer-baron-it-s-been-a-busy-summer-for-new/article_111c514e-e187-11e1-a988-0019bb2963f4.html
38. Frango mints? - Jessica D'Amico NO: http://www1.macys.com/shop/for-the-home/frango-godiva-gourmet-food?id=45859
39. Co-op Hot Sauce NO: http://www.coopsauce.com/?page_id=1
4 - Vinnie Hernandez
40. The world's best caramel and cheese mixed popcorn!!! - Marian Barlage / Garrett's popcorn while the caramel part is still warm! - Suzanne Smalling Edler / Garrett's, the Chicago Mix. But, I
NO: http://blog.garrettpopcorn.com/las-vegas-garrett-popcorn-fall/
just heard that there's a Garrett's opening in LasVegas. A few years ago you could have said Potbelly's. - Lynn Baber / garrett’s popcorn - Natalie Moore
41. Nighthawks and American Gothic!!! - Mats Törnblom
YES: http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork-search/results/nighthawks
42. Sather's cinnamon rolls. - Julie Sevig Ann
YES: http://www.annsather.com/Contact_Us.html
43. Buckinham Fountain!!! - Mats Törnblom
YES
44. Apple Jack breaded tilapia at Glenn's diner. - Kelly Chenault
YES: http://www.glennsdiner.com/contact.html
45. The "Bean" - Lise Schuehler Onstott / Anish Kapoor's bean - Claudine Hubert
YES
46. Dawn Ivory Sapphire Ruby ?
47. 16" softball - Kristan Raymond Arguably true. You can buy the softballs in Wisconsin, but the game is mostly played here.
48. Your own personal street parking spot: dibs! – Veronica Pasia Tritt and Penny Duff
?
49. Movies in the Park is a pretty wonderful benefit to being a Chicagoan! - Indo-American Center
NO
50. LSD - along the most beautiful lakefront. - JoAnne Kempf and Emily Coté
YES
51. Harold's chicken - Robin Rhodes Rone
NO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold's_Chicken_Shack
52. A baseball team that hasn't won the World Series in over 100 years? - Jason M. Roberts
YES: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_franchise_postseason_droughts
53. TWO city buses coming to pick Arguably true.
you up at the bus stop at the exact same time! - Katherine Raz
54. A 75 yr long parking meter contract. - Emily Coté
YES: http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2012/10/15/chicago-to-audit-parking-meter-contract.html
55. Highest homicide rate - Kathleen Roberts
NO. Detroit still has the highest
56. The Korean fried chicken at Crisp - Joaquin Tejada
YES: http://www.crisponline.com/crisp.aspx
57. Goose Island Green Line pale ale. - Sarah Campbell
NO: http://www.beermenus.com/beers/goose-island-green-line-pale-ale
58. Praski (or prasky)sausage - Arcadia Kust
NO
59. Ridiculously high taxes, overtly corrupt city government, skyrocketing living expenses, inept politicians, embarrassment of a public school system, crime rate that rivals rio de janeiro, and a population that appears complacent with all of it - Joshua Magnus
NO
60. Longstanding neighborhood distinctions (bucktown, logan square etc) that are still used? - Arcadia Kust
NO
61. Italian ice from Johnnie's on North Avenue and near 1066 W. Taylor street. - Jorge M Juarez
NO: This is in Elmwood Park: http://www.yelp.com/biz/johnnies-beef-elmwood-park
62. My Daughter ......... Kristan Raymond ♥ - Valerie Hudson Rice
NO. Too easy. See rule 5.
63. "The Picasso" - Meg Evans Smith YES: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Picasso
64. A nice, affordable bar on a 96th floor that offers spectacular views of a fabulous city and a horizon extending to other states. - Josh Kurutz
YES: http://www.signatureroom.com/Signature-Lounge/
65. A ride on The Windy, a 147 foot, YES: http://www.tallshipwindy.com/
3 masted schooner docked at Navy Pier, and skippered by MY nephew, David Galen. - Ron Galen
66. Lincoln Park Zoo - Wendy Flood YES
67. Clincher softball! - Teresa Elward Arguable true. You can buy the softballs in Wisconsin but the game is mostly played here.
68. 20% homicide clearance rate - Joshua Magnus
NO
69. A great city at an affordable price. - David Mueller
sure
70. A full tour of the city from O'Hare before you can get off the plane. - Teddy Confetti
NO
71. maxwell street polish with grilled onions!!!! - Chris Garner
YES: http://www.lowpro708.com/40/maxwell/
72. Chicago Diner BBQ Wingz. - Becky Duncan
YES
73. An italian sub from Bari on Grand Ave! - Joel Beaman
YES: http://www.bariitaliansubs.com/?page_id=157
74. Rainbow Cones! - Kathy Markham and Mairead Case
YES: http://www.rainbowcone.com/
75 Jamaican Curry Goat! - Denise D Bland
NO
76. CHEEZEBOURGER CHEEZEBOURGER CHEEZBOURGER - Edison Orellana
NO. There’s one in DC and Mount Prospect: http://www.billygoattavern.com/locations/
77. a friendly spirit and the generous nature of residents year-round! :) - @SkirtSuggests
NO
78. A decent Italian beef sandwich NOT called a french dip - @transportnexus (Transport Nexus)
NO
79. Liquid nitrogen ice cream - Noah Mikell @noah_mikell
NO http://www.subzeroicecreamfranchise.c
om/
80. #OnlyInChicago Does The mayor hold more weight than a governor. - The Ocean Man @TheReturn1914
Arguably true.
81. one thing that I always remember if the sight of steam and the smell from the subway vents in the winter ... also, the sound of the ice blocks like grinding teeth along the lake front as the lake swells. - Margo Blair
NO
82. Lyon and Healy Harps - Odette Yousef
YES. Well, the Lyon and Healy Harp factory: http://www.lyonhealy.com/contact.php
83. Second City. For the most part, Chicago is the birth place of improv. Chicago is where comedic actors go to develop their skills. Sure they abandon it for money and fame in New York and LA, but they had to start somewhere. - Amin Sadri
Arguably true. Possibly the highest amount of new, young improv actors?
84. The world's largest Mexican middle-class. Check my stats. Its what I heard. - Xan Aranda
Can’t verify.
85. Air that smells of CHOCOLATE! - Kelly Joy Vanater Peraino
Arguably true.
86. Mexican/Polish weddings. - Mario Jaime Aranda
NO.
87. The bully squirrels of Montrose Harbor. - Mario Jaime Aranda
YES.
88. Superdawg (Chicago Style Hot Dogs delivered via carhop in old school drive-in on the NW side) and/or Sarkis (home of the Bacon Loretta). oh, and the "green bag tortilla chips," or El Ranchero's tortilla chips. - Jackie Suerth
YES. El Ranchero’s are questionably true, though, because you can order a specialty shipment.
89. TVPolish - Todd Melby YES: http://tvpolish.com/
90. Chindian restaurants - Todd Melby
NO
91. Can you mail-order blommers' NO:
dark and semisweet chocolate varieties? I'd do it! But as far as I know, we can't, and I miss that stuff. - Ilana Percher
http://www.blommer.com/contact_us.html
92. Kartemquin Film Company - Tim Horsbough
YES
93. A recent world tour confirms that Chicago is ground zero for cheap, plentiful THRIFT/RESALE. Sure we have our dumb resale boutiques but for pure, unsorted, slightly musty fantastic thrift clothes, Chicago takes the cake. You can still discover $2 gems here. - Nicole Garneau
NO
94. E-Dogz - Joe Hulbert YES: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/525541465/e-dogz-mobile-culinary-community-center
95. the Museum of Science and Industry and the Field Museum! - Ashley Gross
YES
96. The perfect combination of a street system that makes sense, alleys, and back porches. Sure, it's easy to give/understand directions in NYC, but all their trash is on the sidewalk and they have ugly fire escapes on the front of the buildings instead of cute back porches . And Boston? Any city that includes Dunkin Donuts in their directions on how to get somewhere - "Go straight until the 2nd Dunkin Donuts, then sway a bit to the left until you see the 3rd Dunkin Donuts..." Much prefer "Go two blocks South and one block East." And our "accent" isn't grating. - Saya Hillman
NO
97. Coffee delivered to me by a buy on a bicycle who roasts it in his own garage. - Brendan Dabowski
NO. Portland has this too.
98. Most gang members of any city - Husayn Allmart
YES: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/chicago-has-most-gang-mem_n_1236341.html
99. A vegan diner! Typically diners are a real struggle for vegans. - Jocelyn Frank
NO: http://www.champsdiner.com/
100. Chicago is a mecca for many reasons. Besides being the birth place of improv, blues, house music, and molecular gastronomy, Chicago also takes the crown in segregated diversity. Many cultures reside here in their own pockets of the city making Devon, for example, feel authentically like India. I've heard of one never needing to learn English if they spent their entire lives in Little Village’s Mexico. And how many times have you heard of Chicago carrying the second largest Polish population outside of Warsaw? Statistics of disparity are astounding to me. Within a 26 mile distance you have the highest income per capita to the lowest! You typically here of two seasons here. And, while we have a history rooted organized crime and windbag politics (“Windy” City) we also house many wonderful landmark spiritual centers as well. This ranges from the numerous beautifully intricate Presbyterian Churches, to the breath-taking BAPS Hindu Temple, to the only Baha’i House of Worship in North America, and many others. Some of my favorites things unique to Chicago though would have to include the Aqua Building –the tallest building in the world designed by a woman, Intelligentsia Coffee (though they've now spread), and well…the skyline –best seen on the lawns between the Planetarium and Shed Aquarium –truly unmatched anywhere else in the entire world. - andre segovia
YES: Aqua Building is the tallest building in the world designed by a woman.
101. The only coffeeshop/custom bike shop I've ever heard of at Heritage General Store! - Husayn Allmart
NO http://angrycatfishbicycle.com/
102. Nicole's Chicago Firecracker crackers. Delish. (And I don't think you can order them online.)
NO http://www.nicolesdivinecrackers.bigcartel.com/products
103. a lesbian/Swedish/Middle Eastern neighborhood? (Andersonville) - Tori Marlan
YES
104. Chicago was the center of the candy-making industry not long ago, there may be varieties that don't make their way past our shores. And I'm sure there are some micro-brews that don't get out of town much. - Leslie Simmer
Arguably true.
105. 57th St Bookstore. I know, books can be shipped, downloaded, or pirated anywhere. But this is in Hyde Park in the area of University of Chicago and the Frank Lloyd Wright house. It's not just that this place is meticulously curated-- it's that something magical about walking through the door.
YES
106. driving along Lake Shore in a midwestern thunderstorm is a pretty singular experience. - Caitlin Johnson Castelaz
Arguably true. Too specific.
107. the pedal pub. young entrepreneurs (who are simultaneously hipster and intelligent). the best ethiopian food. farm-to-table culture (include farmers markets). neighborhoods. affordable brunch. dogs in the workplace (okay maybe LA has that too, but there they are obnoxious dogs). guys with beards and wear plaid that actually have legit jobs. parking. - Beckie Stocchetti
NO.
108. A keepin' it real attitude-that's what I miss most now that I have moved. The possibility of two seasons of weather in one day. - Faiza Shirazi
NO
109. Hot Doug’s - Leslie Simmer and Clarissa Williams
YES: http://www.hotdougs.com/
110. More food: Do other cities have vendors selling elotes, Mexican style corn with all those awesome toppings? (I didn't grow up in Chicago, and you can tell the food here is one of my favorite things.) - Jill Westerfelhaus
NO
111. baby chicagoans? - Andrea Fritsch
YES
112. Chances dances? - Andrea Fritsch
YES: http://www.chancesdances.org/
it's the only place i've met Polish people that don't speak English - Maciek Dolata :)
NO. Poland?
113 Chicaaahgo accents! - Todd Brandel
NO. Chicago transplants.
114. You get in and out of jail without ending up deported -- even if you lack papers to be living in the United States. - Chip Mitchell
YES
115. You get the highest African American unemployment rate of any big U.S. city. - Chip Mitchell
NO: http://www.wbez.org/black-unemployment-chicago-third-highest-nation-report-finds-100638
116. You get the nation’s worst traffic congestion. - Chip Mitchell
YES: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/20/chicago-ranked-no-1-for-w_n_811626.html#s226786&title=_1_
117. You get the nation’s best skyline. - Chip Mitchell
Arguably true.
118. You get lots of Mexicans without having to live in the Southwest. - Chip Mitchell
Yes. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/824.html
119. You get lots of Puerto Ricans without having to live in New York or Florida. - Chip Mitchell
YES
120. Chicago has the most unique (longest, too?) beachfront on a great lake - Natalie Moore
YES
121. Harpo Studios - Natalie Moore YES
122. obama’s home in kenwood - Natalie Moore
YES
123. most council members who’ve gone to jail - Natalie Moore
Arguably true.
124. most governors members who’ve gone to jail - Natalie Moore
Arguably true.
125. A ticket to watch a pro sports event from outside the actual stadium at Wrigley Field rooftops
YES
126. Too Much Light Makes the Baby go blind at the Neofuturists... I don't know if other groups out there do 30 plays in 60 minutes, but it's impressive
NO. There’s also a New York troupe.
127. The pumpkin ice cream from Bobtail-- not only is it only in Chicago, but it's only around during the season and even then it's hard to find.
YES
128. An amazing dining experience at Alinea... only in Chicago.
YES
129. Space Time Tanks. You can float in salt water for an hour and come out feeling like you had the best night of sleep.
YES
130. The birth of Green River Soda YES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_(soft_drink)
131. The Weiner Circle chocolate shake, you can only get in Chicago!
YES
132. A boat ride from Michigan Avenue to China town - and if you take advantage of the 10 ride pass - it's cheaper than a bus ride for a family - and with incredible views of the city.
YES
133. Smoke fish and shrimp from Calumet fisheries - it doesn't ship - the smoke shrimp and other smoked fish is totally unique - if you don't go and buy it there - you'll never get it.
YES