Talk:Chicago/Archives 2003-07

Links
So as a new contributor I have a question. I think we can agree to disagree about 'metromix blogeratti bullshit' (as Evan described it so tactfully in the page's history :) but is it really innappropriate to include links to listing mags? They're updated regularly and contain lots of good information for tourists and residents alike. Even if they shouldn't be up front, shouldn't they be included somewhere else in the entry? I understand building a web directory is a non-goal for the site, but are links to the Reader and Metromix really unwelcome?


 * OK, I was a little hasty. In fact, local newspapers and listings sites are useful resources for travelers, and should have a place in the city guides. I'd guess some would make good External links, and others could be included under Understand or Drink or Do. I guess I really didn't like the intro to Chicago -- "All you need to know is in Metromix". When it just got into who's got the best guide, I threw the whole thing out and wrote a real intro. I probably should have merged that data farther down into the page. Thanks for the reality check. -- (WT-en) Evan 17:30, 20 Nov 2003 (PST)


 * I totally agree that local newspapers and listings sites are useful resources. I'm putting them back. -- (WT-en) Mark 05:17, 28 Jul 2004 (EDT)

Listings
I pulled these links back out.


 * Metromix -- reviews of Chicago clubs and restaurants
 * Gapers' Block -- listings Web site
 * X Chicago Arts -- listings of chicago art/film events

I'd appreciate it if we could work out this issue on the appropriate guidelines page before getting into edit wars on this page.

I added the Chicago Reader as part of the "Understand" section, since that's where we usually put newspaper info. --(WT-en) Evan 14:50, 28 Jul 2004 (EDT)


 * Sorry about the hasty reversion.. I have to confess to a particular soft-spot for the Reader, since I met my wife through one of their "Matches" ads. -- (WT-en) Mark

A bunch of links from anon user
Hey, An IP user just added all of this stuff to Chicago, quite a bit of it should be mined for listings:

Spaces Mess Hall http://www.my.calendars.net/messhall Stockyard Institute http://www.stockyardinstitute.org/ Buddy Space http://www.lumpen.com/buddy/yes.html Polvo http://www.polvo.org/ more art spaces and openings can be found at www.spaces.org

groups Street Level youth media http://streetlevel.iit.edu/ >a really great group which does alot of local events and helps run mess hall http://www.temporaryservices.org/ http://chicago.indymedia.org/ Pink Bloque feminist protest dance troupe - a bit more tactical than radical cheerleaders http://www.pinkbloque.org/ CPI www.counterproductiveindustries.com queer to the left http://www.queertotheleft.org/ Genewise (anti biotech) http://www.genewise.org/index.php pilotchicago.org trans feminist TV www.lumpen.com alot of links and events

The Second City
I say we leave the anon edit about the city's --epitath-- epithet. I've always thought it meant second to NYC and I actually lived in Chicago for 7 years. -- (WT-en) Mark 17:55, 28 Aug 2005 (EDT)


 * http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Epitaph

68.77.6.115 I made a few factual corrections and a couple of additions. I think an events list should be added, as these events provide real value for money because they are free. Consider, Blues Fest, Gospel Fest, etc. as well as St. Patrick's Day parade (where they even come to see it from Ireland) as well as the Christmas Market at Daley Plaza. Also, there is an excellent little museum at the State of Illinois Building that should be considered. The food court located in the basement of that building should also be pointed out, because it provides good, cheap food directly downtown at a very affordable price. In addition, there is tourist information on the first floor of the State of Illinois building as well as on the first floor of City Hall. There are also numerous free performances at City Hall on a regular basis and there probably is an external link for that. The map of the three level streets seems a strange inclusion, a small map of downtown would probably be more helpful. There is no mention of the new Millenium Park with interesting sculpture and fountains. Also, Chicago boasts an number of famous large outdoor sculpures by persons as notable as Picasso, Miro, Calder, etc. They should have a separate section. At attendant at each "el" stop may officially exist, but travelers shouldn't count on them because they aren't always there. There is no mention of best information regarding finding places, which would be local policeman, and just people who look local on the street. Chicagoans are happy to help tourists find their way, and there is no mention of that. Nor is there any mention of serveral historically important early skyscrapers, or any plan to go sighseeing just be going on the "el."


 * Welcome to Wikivoyage. Thanks for taking the time to make the fixes and listing everything you'd like to see here, but by far the fastest way to make it happen is to enter it on the main page itself! (WT-en) Jpatokal 11:04, 27 Oct 2005 (EDT)

Leo's ????? No! Not Leo's.
Oh god. My youth really is over now, if it's true that Leo's has closed. Please somebody say it isn't so. First Tuman's and now Leo's. I guess InnerTown is next. -- (WT-en) Mark 17:51, 13 Feb 2006 (EST)

Hotel in Evanston
This hotel was added to the Chicago article but should be listed in the Evanston article if/when that article is created:


 * Best Western Evanston - Run-down hotel. Ok enough, but wireless internet is poor, fitness room was closed, fan in bathroom didn't work drain was funky in bathroom and remote was missing.

-- (WT-en) Ryan 02:11, 25 February 2007 (EST)

Done. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 23:47, 9 May 2007 (EDT)

Time to break this up
I think it's long past time to split out the bits of the article that refer to various suburbs, especially suburbs that aren't in Cook County, since they mess up the geographical hierarchy at least.

I'm going to give it a couple of days, and if nobody says anything I'll start working on a new Chicagoland hierarchy. Otherwise let's discuss. -- (WT-en) Mark 20:16, 5 May 2007 (EDT)


 * Full support&mdash;the article as it stands is cluttered, confusing, and the suburban info gets in the way for those visiting just the city itself. --(WT-en) Peterfitzgerald Talk 00:32, 6 May 2007 (EDT)


 * I'd say that Evanston more than warrants a page of its own. I'd be happy to get it started. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 14:35, 6 May 2007 (EDT)

Tone
Hi all. I'm really pleased with the progress of the Chicago article. This is going really well.

However, I noticed that the "four corners" language of the North Side paragraph has been watered down to something that sounds more like an encyclopedia. I guess that's OK, but I'd just like to remind everybody that we're writing a travel guide, so let's try to keep the tone a little more cheeky if possible.

When in doubt let's try to err on the side of fun reading, rather than strictly non-offensive. Thanks! -- (WT-en) Mark 03:13, 19 June 2007 (EDT)

See & Do
Please reorder those sections as you see fit - I pretty much typed them out in the order they occurred to me. If you see any major general Chicago sight-seeing themes that I didn't cover, add 'em. It should be a concise list, but should point visitors to the major possibilities of what they would see or do in Chicago. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 21:20, 21 June 2007 (EDT)


 * We usually place sports and theater listings in "Do" sections and nightlife (like jazz clubs) in the "Drink" sections of articles. Would it make sense to move these topics to similar sections of this article? --(WT-en) Peter Talk 16:27, 1 July 2007 (EDT)


 * Looking at Project:Where_you_can_stick_it, I see you're right. Sports and theaters should be moved to Do. Jazz and blues kind of mix See (the historic sights) with nightlife, so I'm not sure where they are better situated. Maybe Drink simply because it's such an underfed section - I could do a comparable sub-section for rock clubs, I guess. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 16:57, 1 July 2007 (EDT)

Events anyone?
Hey all, especially Peter and Gorilla Jones. Are either (any) of you interested in Chicago events? I've been working on our delegate site Wikevent, and have 3 going in Chicago now. It would be fantastic if somebody with more recent Chicago experience could help do the "featured events". Of course if you're not into it please ignore.. thanks! -- (WT-en) Mark 04:41, 28 August 2007 (EDT)

Need some more info on the climate
It'd be good if someone could add in the climate section. The following info would be appreciated:

1. When does it generally start snowing here?

2. Whats the best attire/clothing required to brave the harsh winters (monthly basis)

This info would help international travelers... Thanks!


 * International travelers should look more closely: the climate is covered in both 'Understand' and 'Stay safe'! (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 15:29, 27 October 2007 (EDT)

Print readiness
I figure it might be useful to list which Chicago articles (aside from the main one) are print ready, which need more work, and what work they need. Please feel free to revise as desired. --(WT-en) Peter Talk 05:47, 25 October 2007 (EDT)

Ready
 * Chicago/Near South
 * Chicago/North Lincoln
 * Chicago/Bronzeville
 * Chicago/South Chicago Shore
 * Chicago/Bridgeport-Chinatown
 * Chicago/Far Southeast Side
 * Chicago/Far Southwest Side
 * Chicago/Southwest Side
 * Chicago/Midway Area
 * O'Hare International Airport
 * Along the Magnificent Mile
 * Chicago/Far West Side
 * Chicago/Far Northwest Side
 * Chicago/Uptown
 * Chicago/Pilsen
 * Chicago/Lakeview-North Center
 * Chicago/Wicker Park
 * Chicago/Lincoln Park-Old Town
 * Chicago/Near West Side
 * Loop Art Tour
 * Chicago/Loop
 * Chicago/Near North
 * Chicago/Logan-Bucktown
 * Chicago/Rogers Park
 * Chicago

Just about ready
 * None

last edited by (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 02:44, 6 January 2008 (EST)

Chicago literature
One thing I've always liked in the LP books is that they provide a brief overview of some of the more important literary/film works related to a city &mdash; makes for great "research" before heading out to the destination. I'm not sure exactly where we would put this information in the article, but I would like to point people towards works like: Dybeck's The Coast of Chicago, Richard Wright's Native Son, Sinclair's The Jungle, Saul Bellow's The Dean's December, Sandburg's Chicago Poems, Dreiser's Sister Carrie, Gwendolyn Brooks' A Street in Bronzeville. Or some more popular Chicago-centric works like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Blues Brothers, Wayne's World, Adventures in Babysitting, etc.

Much of these could go into neighborhood articles, I suppose, but still it seems to me like a devoted section would be nice. Maybe just as a subsection of understand? --(WT-en) Peter Talk 01:32, 18 December 2007 (EST)


 * I've been intending to do this, too - a good fit for 'Understand' in the main article, I think. We could do quick lists for books and movies. I seem to recall a precedent for this in a Wikivoyage policy article somewhere. Write up a few and I'll chime in. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 02:08, 18 December 2007 (EST)