The Chicago Tribune sought submissions for the “7 Wonders of Chicago” and after 4000 ballots were cast they spent the last 2 weeks unveiling the 14 finalists. Now it’s up to Trib readers to vote and select “the” 7 wonders of Chicago.
It’s an intersting group of 14 for both what it includes and does not include. Millenium Park, the Water Tower and the Chicago River seem like gimmees to be included while Chicago Blues, Theater Scene, U of C, the Chicago Hot Dog and Chicago Bungalows seem surprising. Especially considering the Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, anything Mies, or anything Frank Lloyd Wright didn’t make the cut. I think the debate will continue for a long time about what the 14 finalists should be, much less the 7.
But of these 14, my selections are (in no particular order):
1. The Lakefront. It’s nothing short of amazing. It’s public-use and well-developed for said purpose.
2. Water Tower. It survived the Chicago Fire and is iconic. It would be a no-brainer if it were still in operation, but it’s a wonder that it’s still so purty on the north of the Mag Mile (after all, that site could’ve been turned into another store!).
3. Millenium Park. It may be new and may have precluded Grant Park from getting a nod, but it’s a Park for the ages. It’s perhaps the most obvious Wonder of all when you consider what it takes to build something like that in this day and age.
4. Chicago Bungalows. They’re unique and awesome places to live. I nominated the Chicago neighborhood but the bungalows are what keep many of Chicago’s best neighborhoods humble and thriving.
5. Chicago River. A no-brainer in my eye. They reversed the flow, for crying out loud!
6. Museum of Science and Industry. This one wouldn’t probably have made my 14, but it makes the top half of this list for me. It was built for the 1893 Columbian Exposition to hold all sorts of art & artifacts that the rest of the world was worried would go up in flames. This place was built in such a way and such a location as to prevent that and then it was turned into the first hands-on science museum. And it has a coal mine!
7. Chicago Hot Dog. It’s unique to Chicago – NO KETCHUP! – and wonderfully delicious. With the great culinary scene in Chicago it is remarkable how well this Chicago institution has held on. The rest of the world may not understand, but I do.
This means I leave off my list The “L,” Wrigley Field, Sears Tower, U of C, Theatre Scene, Lower Wacker Drive and Chicago Blues. Great things, all of them, and Chicago Blues practically tied with hot dog for me, but these are my seven and I’m posting it. But the next time we talk, I may have a different seven.
Because there just aren’t seven wonders of Chicago. This is a city filled with wonders.
(But vote here if you like)
