Tourist Chicago (Ch 18)

Welcome to campus, the Museum Campus of Chicago that is. The lake front area of Chicago is known as the Museum Campus. This area consisting of the three major museums is part of the bigger Grant Park. The Museum Campus was established in efforts to make travel between the museums safer and more user friendly to the public. With the crazy downtown traffic, the connection of the numerous park areas makes the journey more relaxing, as the scenic views are an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city streets.

Another draw for the public, both citizens and tourists alike, come to the Magnificent Mile. This mix of upscale and affordable brings on average 22 million visitors a year. The Magnificent Mile is home to 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 51 hotels, as well as the Chicago Tribune. To make the area more attractive to the public, areas along the sidewalk have been converted into planters. This little hint of historical reference to the agricultural influences of Chicago adds color to the concrete jungle and extends the park theme throughout the city.

If museums and shopping isn't what you are looking for in a city, don't be discouraged, there is plenty to see for all the sport lovers out there. Originally built in 1914 as Weeghman Park, Wrigley Field (renamed for the Cubs owner and bubble gum head William Wrigley Jr) is located in a residential neighborhood commonly referred to as Wrigleyville. Much history surrounds this baseball field as it is the second oldest active major league baseball park.

As of 2008, Chicago is also home to the smallest active major league football stadium, Soldier Field. The field is home to the Chicago Bears football team and serves as a memorial to American Soldiers who served and died during any war-hence the name. This stadium has been home to a NASCAR race, track and field, 1927 championship fight, motorcycle races, and will be home to the opening venue of the 2009 U2 concert and if the bid is accepted the 2016 Olympic Soccer matches.

Metropolis (Ch 16)

The Impressive Chicagoland.

"Chicagoland" a name originally coined in 1926 by James O'Donnell Bennett, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, refers to the metropolitan area of Chicago. It is important to note that this area does not just encompass the city of Chicago, but also currently includes nearby counties in Illinois and Indiana. Chicagoland is a 300 mile area.

In 1950, the Chicago Metropolitan area was designated by the United States Census Bureau as the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area. Though much like the term Chicagoland, the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of several of the surrounding areas, as well as Chicago itself. As those counties and Chicago expand, the statistical area expands as well and has in fact become the third largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States. The area that the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area represents is focused on the local collective labor market.

Many of the surround areas in the last few decades have experienced several population booms. One of the areas that comes under the Chicago Metropolitan heading is classified as the fastest growing city within the United States. In almost a decade, Kendall County, Illinois has expanded by 10,000 people. In addition, the Chicago Metropolitan area is home to three other suburbs that are experiencing major population increases. Within this area is also DuPage County, which has the highest median household income of any county in the Midwestern United States.

Chicago's Metropolitan area is home to 57 business on the Fortune 1000 list. These business are represented by the most common; Boeing, McDonald's, and Motorola. Over the years, the industries that dominate the metropolitan economy is constantly evolving. Currently, the economy is producing telecommunication, electronic, and steel as a small example. However, this is not all the products that are coming out of the area. Chicago is also a prime financial district, a place for high education, and a center for health care.

With an ever evolving community, extensive transportation facilities, and a strong economy, Chicago continues to expand. With the sure nature of the city, it continues to expand and reinvent itself as one of the leading metropolitan areas.

The Evolution of Water (Ch 15)

Chicago established it's first public water board in 1851. The main source of water came from Lake Michigan. Originally it's goal was to design a water system that started in areas that had threats of fire and or where disease was prominent. What stated off as being a commission concerned with public healt and safety, took a turn in 1864. At this time, the board refused to make pipes available to areas that could not pay the water fees.

Some of the middle class did not have the money for these improvements to their homes, so they disregarded the luxury, while luxury homes had the water connections. Depending on where one lived in relation to the center of the city, the more likely one was to have access to piping for water.

As time passed, the outer sections of Chicago and those on the fringes turned to local government or small town officials to help supply water to the area. The Department of Water in Chicago was so overrun with the ever expanding city that it was hard to reach all the citizens in the outer limits. One of the tasks they had to face was incorporating or converting already standing pipe systems into one that connected properly and efficiently to the main water supply lines. In addition, the commission also had to find ways to provide access to the water in places where systems had yet to be established. By 1990, the Water Department was able to supply 90 communities in addition to the main heart of Chicago with water.

To this day, the main source of water still comes from Lake Michigan, as it is still the most abundant source of water in the immediate area. In efforts to keep the water in the Lake as clean as possible, the Sanitary District combined their forces with the water department in 1900. The Sanitary District re-diverted the water of the Chicago River away from Lake Michigan by building a Sanitary and Ship canal. The channel links the Southern section of the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River through a series of locks. The sewage from Chicago travels through this system to dump the sewage into the Illinois River, instead of Chicago's primary source for water, Lake Michigan.

A nice trivia fact is that Chicago is home to the second largest water tower in the world. The Chicago Water Tower is 154 feet tall, built in 1869. The tower is one of the few remaining buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire. To this day, it is seen as a symbol of the city itself, as well as a symbol of the great recovery that Chicago went through after the fire.

Back to the Basics (Ch 14)

What makes a city? People of course!

"At the beginning of history" Chicago was inhabited by Algonquian Indians. Considering it's location in relation to waterways, at this early stage in history, the Algonquians mingled with nearby tribes of the Potawatomis, the Fox, and the Illinois tribes. The mingling was due to trade, as well as hunting migrations. By the 1700s, records show that the Potwatomis' dominated the area of Chicago.

Much like the Southwest Border Area, Chicago experienced its own melting pot of culture, this continued on from the settler, Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, a Haitian of African and French descent who married a Potwatomis woman. From it's start, Chicago has clearly had a diverse community that has been home to numerous ethnic groups and "mixtures".

The originally established city was small and very populated, so the 1871 Chicago Fire decimated much of the city. 300 people died in the fire and an estimated one-third of the population was left without a home in the aftermath of the fire. Though this fire was very devastating, the fire actually helped establish the city and allow it to grow even further.

Green Galore (Ch 13)

Chicago's Parks District is responsible for managing 552 parks spanning more than 7,300 acres of land. Chicago stands out in another way. It stands out for being the one city in the United States that has the most land dedicated to parks. Within this extensive network of parks, the District claims 9 lake harbors which is the most extensive harbor system in the nation. In addition, it also manages 33 beaches, 9 museums, 16 historic lagoons, and 10 bird and wildlife gardens.

The park system is home to a very "iconic" fountain. The Buckingham fountain has been seen on every episode of Married With Children. In the opening title, the fountain is feature in all it's glory. Though the fountain is unable to run year around due to weather conditions, it does flow during the warmer months when the temperature allows.

Millennium Park is one of the new parks and most notable within Chicago. On any given day, even in the middle of cold winter (typically those minus the rain) one will encounter many wedding parties taking pictures to commemorate the occasion. It is one of the most popular places to take such pictures. This is not the only draw to this park. Another is feature is the Cloud Gate. This feature draws people in mass to investigate the one of a kind architectural design. The three-story, 110-ton steel sculpture with a price tag of $23 million at it's completion, is a crowd pleaser as many people spend countless minutes observing themselves in the reflection that is easily distorted. No matter where one visits within these parks, all are spotless and trash-free. The crews that maintain them keep a very rigorous cleaning schedule.

The Cook County Forest Preserves helps preserves several forest, prairie, wetland, streams, and lakes as natural habitats. This is not just dedicated to the preservation of these areas in Chicago, but all the surround land that encompasses Cook County. This municipal appointment is assigned to maintain trails used for hiking, biking, and riding rails, as well as paths that are used to reach picnicking cites. One unique aspect about this government program is that it also maintains several public golf courses. Yes, that is right, no country club membership needed.

Influences On and From the City (Ch 12)

A city that is a forerunner in the nation in many aspects influence Chicago, on the other hand, Chicago has influenced other places, people, and media.

Chicago has shown it's face in many aspects of media. Chicago, the movie,is set in Chicago during the 1920s has become a musical reflective of the time in which it was set and the atmosphere of the city. It became a reference point that one can turn to in order to discover what the desperation may have felt like amidst crime and depression. For purpose only known really to the writer of the original piece, Chicago can be seen as a representation of a culture, a time, and a nation.


There are many works of art set in Chicago. Sandra Cisneros' House on Mango Street is set in Chicago's Chicano ghetto. This short story identifies with many people of many different backgrounds. Another is Upton Sinclair's criticism of the meet packing industry in the Jungle. Labeled on of the "best American plays", David Mamet's American Buffalo is set in Chicago in a series of twist and turns of crime that won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best play and been nominated for several Tony Awards. The Blues Brothers, Backdraft, Barbershop, Wayne's World, Hardball, and Home Alone are just a few films that claim Chicago as he backdrop. The long running show ER that just aired its final episode days ago is set in the County General Hospital of Chicago. There is a seemingly endless list of songs, television, fiction, and other media that claim an influence from the city or even reference it.

With a city such as Chicago that is so eclectic, there are numerous people of influence that have called Chicago home. One of the groundbreaking, modern historical figures that have called it home is a little known junior senator. His name is Barack Obama. He is currently the 44th President of the United States who served from 1997 to 2004 in the Illinois Senate. Ironically, his campaign rival for the Democratic nomination for Presidency was Hillary Rodham Clinton who was born in Chicago, Illinois. The former first lady, former United States New York Senator, and current U.S. Secretary of State. These two groundbreaking politicians are just a minuscule fraction of the long list.

Other historical figures come from a variety of different fields. One man that changed travel in his own way is George Pullman, whom invented the Pullman sleeping train car. Another man that assisted in the evolution of transportation is Charles Yerkes. In a city that is very dependent on efficient transportation in, around, and leaving the city, Yerkes part in developing a mass-transit system has aided the development of the city. One of his last influences was the development of the ever popular Loop.

Where the Core Starts (Ch 11)

Everything about the landscape of Chicago from it's soil, but most especially it's location contribute to Chicago's place within the Agricultural Community. As such, it almost has a duty to it's community, it's history, and the nation to further the industry.

A unique feature in the Chicago Public School system is something many school districts cannot conceive of. This would be known as Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. This completely public school is a 39-acre working farm. It is the second school in the nation of its kind. NPR recently did a segment of the school's one of a kind curriculum. The school of about 600 students has a daily agenda of raising cows, running a fish farm, growing corn, apples and pickles. Much like Southern California's Pierce College, the school runs it's own farm, selling the goods it produces. Of course the school isn't solely concerned on the products the farm will turn out, it is also concerned with the same areas of studies as other schools across the country.

This school is a way to create a new and revived interest in a self sustaining community. What better way to prepare teens for the real world then to have them work the farm, learn sound business practices in the comfort of an environment that is set up and invested in their success. In many other places in the world, such as college or the work field there is not an investment in one's success.

The school's website states:
"The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences is being looked at as a model for schools of this kind in other cities across the country. Our school serves as a model not only for its innovative curriculum, but also for dropout prevention and exceptional student motivation. We combine an academic learning environment with hands-on practice in a way that maximizes student success."

Cropping Up Chicago (Ch 10)

From the beginning of its foundation, Chicago made itself the center of Agriculture, not only in the Mid West, but in the world. With a great location that puts it in a prime zone for trade traffic with the rest of the world, Chicago made its way into the trade business as one of it's top leaders.

Shortly after it's foundation, Chicago experience three of the most successful growing seasons that only strengthened its position in the forefront. As the city's manufacturing business boomed, along with the invention and development of other important tools, the city's reputation only improved. With every expansion, Chicago became a more important figure in the agriculture industry.

It's extremely prosperous growing season cannot been given an exact time period. With any season, in any location, this is constantly dependent on the weather conditions. Within different parts of Chicago, the growing season is also different because of its location to the blustery water front. Along the lake front, the growing season is on average 191 days, typically from mid April to mid/late October. In the more suburban areas of Chicago, the growing season is about 162 days from the beginning of May to the beginning of October.

Currently, wheat is grain is still the staple of the Agriculture industry in Chicago, there are many other crops grown. The Chicago Board of Trade recognizes the agriculture industry of Chicago as consisting of Corn, mini-sized Corn, Soybeans, mini-sized Soybeans, Soybean Oil, South American Soybeans, Soybean Meal, Wheat, Mini-sized Wheat, Ethanol, Oats, Rough Rice, Soybean Crush. There are also a variety of other things that have helped the once abundant agriculture industry stay afloat in Chicago. Raising and producing specialized products keeps an interest and investment in these farms. For example, free-range chickens, llamas, and organically grown herbs and veggies are products that some small "suburban farmettes" provide.

Dying the Rivers Green

Happy Saint Patty's Day all!!! Enjoy the festivities as Chicago dye's its river green to celebrate the festivities.

City Ever Changing (Ch 9)

The animation above clearly shows the change from 1910 to 2000 in Chicago's make up. Even though it almost a decade after the last animation, it serves as a visual aid to help understand the changing influence in the city. It is a good demonstration of how the African American and Latino population's influence spreads outward from a given area. This can be associated with the development of transportation. In addition, it shows a recent growth of the Asian Population. To note, Chicago has one of the largest South Asian American population in the nation.

The multiple forms of transportation in addition to the prospering economy draws people to it's center, hence the ever changing population. The rate of citizens below the poverty line are 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of the families, which is above the national rate of 12% to 17% citizens living below the federal poverty line.

The population fluctuation can also be attributed to the patterns of immigration and migration. As the frontier opened, more and more people traveled west to settle here and other places across the Great Plains. The variety of opportunity has allowed citizens of Chicago to rise above the discrimination they faced elsewhere in the United States and the World. Since 2000 however, Chicago has experienced a 2% decrease in population and is down from it's all time high in 1940 of 3,620,000+ citizens. The average household size is 2.67, while the average family size is 3.50. The median age is 32 years old, with 33.4% of the population between 25 and 44, and 26.2% under the age of 18.

Serving the City (Ch. 8)

For a city and community to be among the elite and lead the nation, the government and the community must work to benefit the whole. There are many ways in which this can happen, from law enforcement to education. Furthermore, the community must come together to serve itself.

Chicago's finest. The Fire department is comprised of 98 stations, 4,314 firefighters and 619 paramedics. Established in 1832, it is the largest department in the Midwestern United States. The Chicago Police department is the largest in the Midwest and the second largest in the US with 13,400 officers and over 1,800 employees.


The health care system of Chicago is comprised of John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County (the largest largest trauma-center in the city), University of Chicago Medical Center (the fourteenth best hospital in the US), and The University of Illinois College of Medicine (the largest medical school in the United States) to name a few. Chicago is also the base for numerous medical associations.

Chicago is home to the third largest school districts in the nation with 400,000 students enrolled. There are 680 public schools, 394 private schools, 83 colleges, and 88 libraries in Chicago. The schools are trying to improve the success of their students by emphasizing the importance the role of the parent, which has improved attendance rates. Chicago is a city that is very interested in having its students succeed.

The Chicago Education Project helps serve a different portion of the community. The nonprofit special education facility aids family and children that suffer from Autism, PDD-NOS, emotional and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, and other health impairments. This programs is designed to help such students exceed their dreams and prepare excel in their future by tailoring the lesson plans to each child's needs.

A City's Financial (Ch 7)

In tough economic times, cities based on finance struggle with their economic stability. With the diverse economy of Chicago, the residents do not have to worry as much, as they would with an economy based solely on the financial market. With a population of just under 3 million people, in a metro area of 10,874 sq miles, Chicago has a density about 12,649 per sq mile. The median income for a household in the city is $38,625.

Chicago is the second largest financial centers in the United States. It is home to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago Stock Exchange, the Chicago Boards Options Exchange, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This financial hub is surrounded by many brokerage firms and insurance companies. The Healthcare Financial Services division of General Electric is also located in heart of Chicago. Some of the largest banks in the region are located in Chicago's center; JPMorgan Chase, LaSalle Bank, Harris Bank, and Northern Trust. While the largest banks headquartered in Chicago are: Northern Trust, Harris Bank, Corus Bank, and First Midwest Bank.

The diversity of the metropolitan economy helps ensure the stability of the economy, whereas in other cities the economy is constantly fluctuating. The diversity however, does not extend everywhere. For the most part, Chicago is racially segregated, though the different racial groups aid the melting pot that is Chicago and its culture. In infrastructure helps the groups of Whites, African Americans, and Hispanics extend their influences to the surrounding areas, as well as the other minorities to influence the other areas of the city as well.

Chicago's future relies on its chameleon like ability to adapt to the needs of the economy. It started out as a trading post for fur, then morphed as demand changed into food production, shipping, and packing. From there it changed as the bicycle became popularized in the late 1800s and early 1900s, than once again into what it is today, as a multifaceted economy.

We Can Build It, Yes We Can (Ch 5)

Chicago has had its hand in the manufacturing and industry world since its beginnings. With its location on the water, many products came in contact with its port, as it was a major transportation head of its time and our time.

Over the decades,Chicago has been known for it's stockyards, meat-packing factories, access to agriculture, furniture, clothing, and steel. With the publishing of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle", attention was brought to the stockyards and meat-packing industries. This attention however was not the kind that Chicago would have liked. Since then, many of the stockyards have closed due to advances in technology.

Currently, Chicago is home to the Museum of Science and Industry. The museum houses a replica coal mine, a robot operated toy factory, and model trains, just to name a few exhibits.

Transportation is abundant in Chicago. There are many ways to travel, from the train systems, to the convenient taxi systems to the water boats to walking. The above and grounded trains are fast ways to get to and from the inner city, as well as to move about the city itself. The above ground train was featured in the movie Spiderman 2, during the fight between Doc Ock and Spiderman. Chicago is also featured in The Dark Knight film.

In addition, the O'Hare International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports. The airport handles, on average, 2,500 flights a day. It's ability to act as a national and international hub makes it one of, if not the, busiest airports. Chicago is also home to a smaller airport that handles 15 to 20 airlines. Midway airport, though smaller, is closer to downtown.

Intermingle! Natives and Tourists Alike (Ch. 4)

Though Chicago is not technically apart of the Megalopolis, it shares some characteristics of such cities. In the main heart of Chicago, many industrial buildings and financial buildings are located in close proximity to wholesalers, museums, and government buildings. These complexes are all connected through the streets on which taxis, cars, buses, and horse drawn carriages travel, along with the above and grounded trains, and on the water with water taxis and similar boats.

One of the most famous roadways that is tied to Chicago is Route 66. The historic route connects Chicago with cities across the Midwest all the way to California. This route connects Chicago to one of the most important ports on the West Coast. The relativity flat surface of Chicago helps distinguish itself from other cities throughout the region. Another similar aspect Chicago has in common with New York is its location. Unlike some of the other Megalopolis cities, Chicago does not have to contend with a fall line. Like New York, Chicago is located right on a large body of water that acts as transportation and a stop on the way to other ports across the country and the world. Though it is not directly on the Atlantic Ocean, the ships that make port in Chicago can make it the other ports, other cities of the Megalopolis, and other countries. An advantage it has is its close proximity to the interior and the ocean. The access that it has to both aspects of the country, through railroads, ships, and trucks gives Chicago an advantage that other cities may not have.

These advantages allow the citizens of Chicago to be able to mix and mingle in many different atmospheres. The train stations, the efficient public transportations, and along the street, there is a constant ability to interact with others if one so choose. The city offers many places for tourists and natives to interact. Millennium park, Michigan Avenue, and Shedd Aquarium are just a few examples where tourist and natives are likely to mingle.

These amusements are uniquely clustered along the waterfront. Similarly, the Financial district, the Grand Central Station (which serves as a public transportation hub), and the residential districts are all clustered. The separation of these distinct areas also set Chicago apart from most cities across the United States.

Settlement (Ch 3)

Chicago circa 1863

The first settlers to the area were Native Americans from the Potawatomi tribe in the mid-1700s. Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is considered the "first" settler by many. He came to Chicago, married a Potawatomi woman and establish a trading post on the mouth of the Chicago River. In 1802, Fort Dearborn was established on the mouth of the river, but was later destroyed in the 1812 Fort Dearborn Massacre. 1833, the area officially became a town and four years later, had more than 4,000 residents.

Currently the population of Chicago is about 2,800,000 (as of 2007). (the Chicago Metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 9.5 million people) The estimated number of households under the poverty line is 16.6% and 19.6% of the population is below the poverty line. The 2007 U.S. Census estimates the population of Chicago breaks down as follows:

38.9% White
35.6% Black or African American
28.1% Latino/Hispanic
5.3% Asian
0.5% American Indian/Alaskan Native
0.1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
21.3% Other

Chicago is very diverse. Though the breakdown does show the immense diversity, it is also good to note that there are many other ethnicities. Those of Irish, German, Mexican, English, Polish, Serbian,, and South Asian Americans (the 3rd largest population in the United States) also make up the population of Chicago.

It is also interesting to note that Chicago has a rich gay and lesbian community. The north section of the city has been noted to be home to this thriving community. One particular enclave is known as "Boystown", which was the first acknowledged community of its kind in the United States.

As a result of the many ethnicities and cultures that enrich Chicago, there are many religions that are practiced, from the many Christian denominations to Judaism to Islam to Hinduism and beyond.

Al Capone, one such Italian-American made Chicago his home. He, along with other gang members dominated the streets during the Prohibition Era. He became notorious and in relation, made Chicago Famous for events such as the Saint Valentine Massacre.

Physical Chicago (Ch. 2)

Chicago is located in the Interior Lowlands on Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and the Calumet River. It's relation to these bodies of water is what has allowed Chicago to be such a prosperous city. The structure of the city and the way it has been built is directly tied to the rivers and the Lake, as access to these for the shipping of manufactured goods is imperative. One of the main attractions, the Navy Pier is built on waterfront of Lake Michigan.

The climate is controlled by and linked to Lake Michigan. The breeze that comes off of the lake makes its way through the city's tall buildings that often create wind tunnels. This is what gives Chicago it's nickname the "Windy City". Despite this wind, Chicago has distinct seasons. The warm, humid summers often come with long periods of hot dry spells. These months usually see temperatures in the low to mid 80s. The cold, below freezing winter months experience heavy winds and snow with temperatures in the 30s. The summer and fall months are much milder than these two seasons. The average temperature of Chicago over the year is in the high 50s, with average precipitation at about 35 inches.

While the vegetation might have been short-grass prairie at one time, now is not very apparent. Though within the city there are many parks that have been maintained by the city, the main section is really a concrete jungle. There are few to little trees. the vegetation is instead replaced by metal workings and concrete buildings. Chicago tries to maintain one of the motto's that helped to structure it's being, translated from Latin, the motto is "City in a Garden".

The city does its best to keep the 552 parks looking their best. These patches of grass and trees serve as momentary retreats for the hardworking financial brokers. Lincoln Park is the largest park in Chicago. This park is only second in visitors to New York's Central Park. The park is one of the most extensive of its kind. Through history, Chicago has done its best to have concerts, movie nights, and other events in its parks as a way to bring the community together and build a sense of peace within a very busy and driven city.

Welcome to Chicago (Ch. 1)

Welcome to Chicago everyone!!! We are about to embark upon a 15 week journey around this city to experience the sites, sounds, history, and everything else this city has to offer.

Chicago is located in Illinois, the Midwest Region of the United States. More specifically it is part of the Manufacturing Core, which is know for it's industrialization. The city has a rich history due to its location, the railroad and it's connection with the World's Fair.

Chicago was the first city in 1885 to have a building with steel frame, which allowed its builders to create the first high rise building that would later usher in skyscrapers across the nation, as well as within the city's core.

The city itself, has been said to have one of the most stable economies in the United States, which is credited to its high level of diversity. It has also been named in the top 20 of the world's richest cities. The unique thing about Chicago is that it has a financial influence, as well as a steady manufacturing center. With its prime location on Lake Michigan, Chicago is able to have a worldly influence because of its' access to the waterways and ports in which news and goods are traded.

Chicago, also known as the "Windy City", may not have natural resources that other cities across the United States have, however, the city attracts tens of thousands of tourist per year. It is one of the most visited cities for conventions, it's architecture, it's Magnificent Mile shopping district, as well as it's extensive number of museums. Chicago also has a rich theater district, that is home to many theater troupes, symphonies, ballets, and jazz, soul, and blues music. It also has plenty of history within the sports community. Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs, the Bulls, and the NHL Blackhawks all have added their name in some form to the books of sports history, and hope to do so further in the city's bid to host the 2016 Olympic games.