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Questions tagged [chicago]

The largest city in Illinois, third largest in the US, nicknamed the Windy City.

Chicago derives its name from the French rendering of the of Native American shikaakwa which means "wild onion" or "wild garlic". Chicago because of its favorable location became a major trade center for agricultural commodities trading which connected producers in the Midwest and West with dealers and consumers in the Eastern United States and elsewhere.

Chicago has a long and colorful history including characters like Al Capone, Bugs Moran and events like 1968 Democratic National Convention and its long rivalry with New York on having the tallest building in the world, from which on a clear day you can see 4 states(Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana).

Chicago also supposedly has the largest Polish population outside Warsaw(unconfirmed).

Chicago is home to its own variations on popular food favorites and great many more unique characteristics.

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Downtown Chicago car-free bike ride?

I'll be traveling to Chicago for the weekend and would like to take a casual ride through the city. A friend of mine will also be joining who isn't comfortable riding on busy city streets. Are there any bike friendly trails or paths in or around…
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Can I visit Chicago during a 5.5 hour layover in O'Hare?

I will be flying from Boston to Tokyo with a 5.5 hour morning layover in Chicago. I'm thinking of going out to the city for some late breakfast and/or sightseeing. I've never left an airport during a layover before, so I have some questions. I'll…
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Where to nap in Chicago O'Hare?

I am bracing myself for a rough trip: getting up at 4AM, taking a 3 hour flight, then a 13 hour flight, with a 5.5 hour layover in between. I can almost never sleep on planes, so this trip would go down smoother if I could get a decent nap during…
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Can I walk out of Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)?

Is it possible to walk out of MDW? The reason I ask is because you can only schedule an UberBlack or UberSUV to pick you up from MDW. However, if I can walk to one of these spots just outside the airport: Dunkin' Donuts 4612 W 59th St, CTA Chicago,…
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What clothing should I bring to Chicago for New Years' Eve?

I have lived in Las Vegas my whole life, and often the only time I'm around snow is when it's for a sporting purpose. I've never lived someplace cold and when I visit cold places I'm often indoors at almost all times. My girlfriend's family lives 45…
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ESTA controls when travelling within two states in the US

I understand that ESTA travellers are allowed to travel and can also go the Automated Passport Control (APC) in certain airports. But once I have arrived in a state (e.g. NY) and then would like to go to another state e.g. IL - How does this work?…
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Renting a car in Chicago with California license on a tourist visa

I'll be visiting Chicago next week as a tourist, and I'll enter the United States with the standard tourist visa. I am a French resident. Three years ago, I lived in California as a student on a F-1 visa. During that time, I took the driving test…
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Can I leave O'Hare airport during my layover?

I am flying into Chicago tomorrow and have a 5.5 hour layover. I am arriving from Holland and flying to Canada afterwards. Is this possible?
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What food is Chicago (USA) famous for?

Does the USA Chicago have a specific culture in terms of food. Example, Indians commonly have curry, Chinese have rice as part of their staple diet, in South Africa we have meat, pap (porridge) with chakalaka (tomato salsa stew) and samp. So what…
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What are some old Irish neighbourhoods in Chicago?

I'm going to Chicago in a few weeks for a few days in June. There seems to be lots to see, but one thing I'm interested in is the Irish heritage of the city. Like Boston and New York City, Chicago was a major point for immigration of the Irish…
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Can I use the 1-Day CTA pass from O'Hare?

The Chicago "L" has a penalty fare for boarding at O'Hare airport, charging $5 instead of the ordinary $2.50. However, an unlimited day pass is available for $5. Can the unlimited day pass be purchased and used at O'Hare station? I'm hesitant to…
OpenAI was the last straw
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Chicago CTA pass on contactless bankcard or Apple Pay

This question is about public transit in Chicago. According to https://www.transitchicago.com/passes/, it is possible to load a CTA unlimited ride pass on a contactless bank card. This seems like a good alternative to getting a Ventra card, but…
Nate Eldredge
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Seeing the Chicago Board of Trade

I'll be in Chicago from July 28 - Aug 3 and I'd like to see the Chicago Board of Trade. According to https://www.architecture.org/experience-caf/tours/detail/chicago-board-of-trade-building/ there's a noon tour on July 12, July 27 and August 9.…
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United club: same day arrival and no departure - can I still use

As a customer of a certain credit card company, as part of the credit card fee, I have access to a few (2-4 a year) "United club passes". Very soon I will be flying into and arriving Chicago O'Hare at ~7.00am. I have a bus out of O'Hare shuttle…
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Does the Amtrak SW Chief serve breakfast prior to arrival in LA?

Amtrack runs a passenger train from Chicago, IL through to Los Angeles, CA. This is an almost 2 day trip, with meals provided in a dining car. Since LA arrival is in the morning is breakfast served on the SW Chief before its arrival in LA?
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