Chicago is a city that was built on the contributions of people who came from elsewhere to settle here. Since the beginning there have been large immigrant populations and people moving from other states to find their fortune in the Windy City. With so many influences, Chicago culture cannot help but be colorful and varied.
One of the most important Chicagoan contributions to what is regarded as American has been its music. From jazz to soul and from hip hop and house to indie rock, the city has been the home of many influential musicians. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is one of the world's most respected and even British rock superstars like Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones were influenced mainly by the Chicago blues.
The blues was a major theme of one of the most popular movies set in the Windy City, 'The Blues Brothers'. This film classic is just one of the many that show off Chicagoan life and architecture. The city has also been the setting for many a hit television show and it was here that Oprah Winfrey filmed the talk show that made her a household name around the world.
The more traditional theatrical pursuits are also thriving in the largest city in Illinois. There are renowned opera, ballet and theater companies that are based here. Slam poetry may have originated in the Uptown neighborhood and the local university was the birthplace of improvisational comedy through the Compass Players, whose past members include stars like Mike Nichols, Alan Alda and Jerry Stiller.
Museums abound in Chicago. You'll find ones dedicated to every aspect of Chicagoan life, from art to science. There is even an International Museum of Surgical Science. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright lived and worked in the Windy City and apart from buildings designed by him, you can visit his home and studio too. There are also several museums that pay homage to the different ethnic communities that have made Chicago their home, from Chinese Americans to Swedish, Irish, Polish, Ukrainian, Italian, Greek and Lithuanian Americans, not to mentions the Native Americans who lived here first.
The city has always welcomed the visual arts. In fact, there is a program of public art that has made it possible for people to appreciate the work of great artists like Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Anish Kapoor and Claes Oldenburg simply by visiting the local squares and parks. There is a host of galleries too, especially in the River North area.
Of course culture is not only about the visual and performing arts and museums. You can live and literally taste it every day with the local cuisine. There are excellent restaurants throughout, from gourmet establishments to ethnic eateries. The city's chefs tend to put their own spin on well-known dishes like tamales or burgers and the local styles of ht dog and pizza, especially the well-loved deep-dish pizza, are legends in their own right.
A great introduction to Chicago culture when you visit is to take a cultural tour with a specific theme. For example, several operators offer architecture tours of the city where the skyscraper was invented. Local festivals are a good option too or simply check the local listings for all the cultural offerings in this vibrant city.
One of the most important Chicagoan contributions to what is regarded as American has been its music. From jazz to soul and from hip hop and house to indie rock, the city has been the home of many influential musicians. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is one of the world's most respected and even British rock superstars like Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones were influenced mainly by the Chicago blues.
The blues was a major theme of one of the most popular movies set in the Windy City, 'The Blues Brothers'. This film classic is just one of the many that show off Chicagoan life and architecture. The city has also been the setting for many a hit television show and it was here that Oprah Winfrey filmed the talk show that made her a household name around the world.
The more traditional theatrical pursuits are also thriving in the largest city in Illinois. There are renowned opera, ballet and theater companies that are based here. Slam poetry may have originated in the Uptown neighborhood and the local university was the birthplace of improvisational comedy through the Compass Players, whose past members include stars like Mike Nichols, Alan Alda and Jerry Stiller.
Museums abound in Chicago. You'll find ones dedicated to every aspect of Chicagoan life, from art to science. There is even an International Museum of Surgical Science. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright lived and worked in the Windy City and apart from buildings designed by him, you can visit his home and studio too. There are also several museums that pay homage to the different ethnic communities that have made Chicago their home, from Chinese Americans to Swedish, Irish, Polish, Ukrainian, Italian, Greek and Lithuanian Americans, not to mentions the Native Americans who lived here first.
The city has always welcomed the visual arts. In fact, there is a program of public art that has made it possible for people to appreciate the work of great artists like Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Anish Kapoor and Claes Oldenburg simply by visiting the local squares and parks. There is a host of galleries too, especially in the River North area.
Of course culture is not only about the visual and performing arts and museums. You can live and literally taste it every day with the local cuisine. There are excellent restaurants throughout, from gourmet establishments to ethnic eateries. The city's chefs tend to put their own spin on well-known dishes like tamales or burgers and the local styles of ht dog and pizza, especially the well-loved deep-dish pizza, are legends in their own right.
A great introduction to Chicago culture when you visit is to take a cultural tour with a specific theme. For example, several operators offer architecture tours of the city where the skyscraper was invented. Local festivals are a good option too or simply check the local listings for all the cultural offerings in this vibrant city.
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