My Kind of Town
Frank Sinatra immortalized this city in his famous song “My Kind of
Town – Chicago is…” It became a symbol of Chicago – the same as Picasso’s horse,
the Chicago Bulls, Al Capone, Lake Michigan and the John Hancock Building. Too many
symbols, you might say, and you will be right and wrong at the same time. Right –
because as a rule only one thing serves as a symbol; and wrong – because Chicago is so
varied, so multi-faceted, that it is impossible to choose one symbol. Chicago is huge,
Chicago is enormous, Chicago is just great!
Let us take the Lake Shore Drive. It goes all along the shore of Lake
Michigan. You will drive from North to South and back in no time, even in rush hours. And
all the way you will be watching the ever-changing mirror of the lake surface. And trust
us, very often it is as far from a serene mirror as possibly can be. It is called
“lake”, but in actual fact it is the size of a small sea, with everything that a real
sea can offer – waves, sea-gulls, bays, light-houses, all-devouring storms.
 The sun rises from behind the lake, so in good weather everyone is invited to
an absolutely unforgettable show – the sunrise. Besides, the show is unique – each is
on just once in a lifetime, never to be repeated. Lake Shore Drive № 2 is not to be
found on the map, but it is nonetheless important for city dwellers. Several endless
tracks follow the coast contour and are lost at the horizon. One track is for bikers and
roller-skaters; another for runners; the third – for pedestrians. You just walk and
walk, enjoying the fresh air, admiring the lake-scape. The only thing to bear in mind is
calculating your walking or cycling potential – you still need to come back home
sometime! And what is remarkable – it is against the law to buy land and to build houses
on the shore. If you want a house with a view – buy the property in the first row, but
not too near the lake: the lake is for everybody.
 The Chicago downtown is a clear manifestation of “vertical thinking”:
skyscrapers, skyscrapers. Still, strangely enough, you do not feel “squeezed in” –
though you clearly have this feeling in New York. But then Manhattan is too small and a
peninsula, and New York architecture is a much earlier attempt at establishing “vertical
thinking”. Chicago was built in an entirely different style. It is friendly and
harmonious; it does not dominate over you; and it does not dictate to you the rules of
behaviour. The city simply invites you to share whatever it has to offer.
And we can assure you, the offers are sometimes most tempting. The
offer to climb the Sears Tower is a case in point. The Sears Tower is still the tallest
building in the world, but not the most elegant. The prize for elegance has to be awarded
to the John Hancock Building (a major insurance company) which also has an observatory on
Floor 94. Floor to ceiling windows command the most dramatic views in Chicago, including
the view over the lake. You become completely mesmerized by so much water of a fantastic
green color; but even from that height you are unable to see the opposite shore.
If you time your visit just right, you will have a chance to admire the
sunset over the city. For some 10–15 minutes the city will turn golden and magical, each
glittering detail will be very clear and distinct. Then, very quickly, the unnaturally
bright rays of sunshine will fade and wither away. Virtually within seconds the city will
be enveloped by darkness – simply because the sun there moves much “quicker” than in
Moscow or in Saint-Petersburg. (Chicago is approximately at the same latitude as
Tashkent.)
Good-night, Chicago!
By Igor Merkudinov
and Alexander Vassilev
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