Name: Erin Stephens

December 5, 2023
English Composition 101 – HWC – Professor Belt
Argument Paper: Final Draft

“The First City”

Although Chicago’s nickname is “The Second City”, it’s number one on many

critics’ lists. Originating from the native word “Shikakawa” (“onion”), Chicago is the

largest city in the Midwest with a population of approximately 2.71 million. Located

along Lake Michigan, this city occupies 26 miles of lakefront and has 100

neighborhoods. Famous for its skyscrapers and amazing architecture, Chicago also has

lots of green space, including 600 parks and 303 miles of bike lanes. Chicago is the

best city to live in because of the variety of restaurants, the public transportation, and

the tourist attractions.

On the contrary, some people think Chicago is a terrible city. For instance,

Chicago’s reputation for gang activity and its high rate of gun violence led people to

believe that Chicago is unsafe. Additionally, Chicago’s sizable homeless population, with

estimates for 2023 of approximately 6,000 people, can lead people to view the city as

dirty. Moreover, commuters experience heavy traffic congestion during rush hour, road

work, concerts, or other events. Another issue that people find problematic about

Chicago is its long-lasting, cold winters as well as its constantly changing weather, both

of which interfere with daily planning. Lastly, Chicago has the highest rodent population

in the country, making it a potentially unattractive place. Despite these shortcomings,

Chicago still has plenty of positive features.

 One of the reasons Chicago is the best city to live in is the variety of restaurants.

The city is a melting pot of culinary delights with vibrant neighborhoods like Chinatown,

Ukrainian Village, Little India, Little Italy, Greektown, Pilsen, and Humboldt Park hosting

their culture’s cuisines. In addition, Chicago has 7,300+ restaurants (Chicago.gov), 16

of which hold at least one Michelin star and 47 of which were awarded a Bib Gourmand

by Michelin (NBCChicago.com). According to Kate Silver in “Second to None,” Chicago

is an “incredible dining town” and home to deep-dish and tavern-style pizza, Italian beef

sandwiches, and Chicago-style hotdogs, Chicago even has 95 registered food trucks for

people too busy to eat in a restaurant. Other food options include fusion restaurants and

steak houses. Compared to other big cities, Chicago restaurants are affordable, so

diners can enjoy a nice meal at a fair price.

Another reason Chicago is the best city to live in is the variety of public

transportation. According to Jeffy Mai’s article in Time Out, “Here in Chicago, 82

percent of locals had positive things to say about our rail-and-bus network” (1). Another

reason Chicago is the best city to live in is the variety of transportation. For example,

the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the second-largest public transportation system in

the nation, providing 129 different bus routes and 8 different trains that allow access to

the entire city. For travel to and from Chicago suburbs, the Metra operates nearly 700

weekday trains and provides 290,000 passenger trips each weekday (Metra Fact

Book). Another option is Amtrack, which serves 500+ destinations all over the country.

There are also rideshares, like Uber and Lyft, that are accessible through smartphone

apps, as are Divvy bikes and Lime scooters. Furthermore, Chicago is a very walkable

city with highly accessible and easy-to-navigate sidewalks(www.choosechicago.com).

 Finally, Chicago is the best city to live in because of the variety of tourist

attractions. For example, Millennium Park hosts Cloud Gate (The Bean), Pritzker

Pavilion, a seasonal ice-skating rink, restaurants, and Crown Fountain. Other tourist

attractions include the Navy Pier “ The Midwest’s top tourist attraction”, and home to the

Centennial Wheel, the Shakespeare Theatre, a movie theatre, restaurants, shops, and

Chicago’s Children's Museum (Morail 1). Still another popular site is Willis Tower

(*formerly Sears Tower), the highest observation tower in the United States; its Skydeck

offers a beautiful view of Chicago’s skyline including the Shedd Aquarium, The Adler

Planetarium, and The Field Museum, all of which are within walking distance of each

other. Moreover, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Contemporary Art, and

The Museum of Science and Industry are just a few of the many museums in Chicago

that offer visitors both educational and entertaining experiences. Additionally, Chicago

offers architectural cruises and walking tours, as its downtown streets are occupied by

skyscrapers and historical buildings, as well as structures by the world-renowned 20th-

century architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

In summary, Chicago is the best city to live in because of the variety of

restaurants, transportation, and tourist attractions. First, Chicago has a plethora of

restaurants, offering different cultural cuisines and meals that are unique to the city.

Secondly, this city also has one of the largest public transportation systems in the

nation, allowing riders to forgo owning a car in favor of using trains, buses, rideshares,

bikes, scooters, etc. Thirdly, Chicago’s many different tourist attractions lure people to

the city. Even though some people think Chicago is a dangerous and difficult city to live

in, its positive features greatly outweigh its negative ones. This fantastic city makes it
not only a great tourist destination but also an amazing place to live. While many people

compare Chicago to bigger cities like New York or Los Angeles, Chicago offers its own

unique cultural experience. Maybe Chicago should change its name to “The First City.”
 Works Cited

“4 Chicago Restaurants Awarded New Michelin Stars for 2023: Full List.” Nov 8, 2023.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/4-chicago-restaurants-awarded-new-michelin-stars-for-2023-full-

list/3272392/

ABC Chicago Digital Team. “Millennium Park Celebrates Summer With Sizzling Lineup of Free Programs,

Films and Festivals.” June 3, 2023. https://abc7chicago.com/millennium-park-summer-events-

chicago-festivals/13333866/

Mai, Jeffy. “The CTA Is Voted One of the World’s Best Public Transport Systems.” Time Out, 4 Apr.

2023, https://www.timeout.com/chicago/news/the-cta-is-voted-one-of-the-worlds-best-public-

transport-systems-040423

Metra Fact Book 2023. https://metra.com/sites/default/files/2022-06/2022%20Fact%20Book%20v2.pdf

Morales, Datwa Maria. “The Best of Chicago. . .” Workforce Management, June 2008, pp. 16–

23. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=f5h&AN=32713648&site=eds-live&custid=s9211204

“Oh Rats! Chicago Tops Orkin’s Rattiest Cities List for Ninth Consecutive Year.” Oct 23,

2023. https://www.orkin.com/press-room/top-rodent-infested-cities-2023

Pang, Kevin. “The Chicago Way.” Esquire, Summer 2023, p.

13. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=f5h&AN=163902889&site=eds-live&custid=s9211204

Silver, Kate. “Second to None: From Comfort Food to High-End Eats, Chicago Restaurants Have It

All.” American Libraries, vol. 54, no. 6, June 2023, pp. 36–

41. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=a9h&AN=164069518&site=ehost-live&custid=s9211204

www.chicago.gov
www.choosechicago.com

www.gochicago.com