A New Wind Is Blowing in Chicago: "So long, Crawford, Texas."

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: A New Wind Is Blowing in Chicago
By JEFF ZELENY
Published: November 19, 2008


(Sally Ryan/NYT)
FAVORITE SON: Banners filled Chicago streets after the election.

CHICAGO

So long, Crawford, Tex. Even before President-elect Barack Obama takes office in 61 days, effectively crowning Chicago as the site of the Western White House, the city is basking in a moment of triumph that is spilling well beyond the confines of politics.

A bid for the summer Olympics in 2016, which once seemed like a fanciful pitch, suddenly feels far closer to a sure thing. (No, the ban on lobbyists at the White House does not apply to a little presidential persuasion on the International Olympic Committee.)

A spire is finally poised to be placed atop the Trump Tower here, bringing the skyscraper to 1,361 feet, the tallest American building since the Sears Tower was built three decades ago.

A new Modern Wing for the fabled Art Institute is set to open next spring, including a Renzo Piano bridge to Millennium Park, which sat in the distance of Mr. Obama’s election night victory speech here.

Yet this moment of renaissance for Chicago is about much more than architecture and athletics. For the first time in the country’s history, an American president will call this city home. And as he moves to Washington, a dose of the Chicago mood is sure to follow.

“We’re not Little Rock and we’re not Texas,” said Rick Bayless, a friend of the Obama family, who owns Frontera Grill and is among the city’s celebrity chefs. “It’s easy to put on your cowboy boots and eat all that barbecue. You can’t do that from Chicago. We’ve got a lot of muscle and it’s far too complex of a place for that.”...

***

“It seems like there are eight million people walking around here congratulating each other,” said Scott Turow, the best-selling novelist who was born in the city. “Chicagoans are unbelievably proud of Barack and feel of course that he’s ours, because he is.” Catching himself, he added: “I guess I should get out of the habit of calling him Barack.”...

***

“There is a really strong sense of self in Chicago: People aren’t defined by wealth or by work or accomplishments, but rather who they are,” said Alex Kotlowitz, an author who makes his home in Chicago because he believes it is a place to peer into America’s heart. “Obama seems so comfortable in his skin and with who he is. That’s so Chicago.”...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/fashion/20chicago.html?em=&pagewanted=all

[rosesaylavee]

1. I think that feeling is pretty much felt outside the

city too. I think the whole dang state is pretty pleased with itself. Our guy has done us proud.

:patriot:

[tigereye]

2. a real, cool, diverse, blue urban area!

:bounce:

[Jennicut]

3. So nice not to see Crawford anymore. It was in the middle of nowhere too.

Chicago is alive and diverse and a real city.

[chalky]

23. Oh, please. The Crawford "Ranch" was as phony as a Hollywood set.

Bush didn't purchase the land until '99 and the house wasn't built until 2000.
Hopefully the jackass will finally pull up stakes and move the hell out--likely to some country that doesn't have an extradition agreement with the US.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Chicago is a fantastic city. Not so sure that the people who actually live there are so thrilled

at the idea of the Olympics being held there. I know as a NYC resident, I thought that the Olympics coming were was the worst idea I had heard in years.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. I'm thrilled with the idea!!

Traffic will be a pain, but it will be great for the city.

[mopinko]

19. i can't wait. don't see how they could turn us down. lots of others want it, too.

last summer they had a thing up during taste of chicago, one of our many great summer festivals. it was like a big door frame, and you could walk under it and hit a button to say that you wanted the olympics. people just streamed under there, hitting that thing. wish i remembered the number. they passed out stickers, and they were every where.
i think we are so well suited, also. i believe our bid includes very little new construction. we have most of what we need. and most of our mass transit system has been updated in the last few years.
i want it extremely badly.
but it is true some crybaby chickens don't. (no offense, bl.)

[ComtesseDeSpair]

20. I'm not thrilled...

but that's because I'm a historic preservation advocate and I don't want to see buildings torn down to be replaced by the Olympic Village, etc.

[political_Dem]

5. I love Chicago. But let's not forget Hawaii too.

[stillcool]

7. I'm kind of surprised that ...

all those years Obama lived in Hawaii were glossed over. I read some nice articles about him as a young'un, but it never made the screen. I guess they were too busy with Reverend Wright.

[Cha]

6. Wonderful..I'm just excited

I stop in the Chicago airport coming back from Thanksgiving Holiday in Portland, Ore.:)

Go to the Summer Olmpics in 2016 and check out the hometown of President Obama:bounce: while you're there.

[firedupdem]

8. That's my hometown and just looking at that one picture makes

me sooo proud! I know my family feels like OUR President Elect belongs more to them the rest of us! NOT!

[SemiCharmedQuark]

10. It's the whole Chicagoland area, even spilling over into NW Indiana.

I go to school in NW Indiana, and the day after election day, I went and collected every paper I could. It was like Christmas! People were running through the store laughing, smiling and congratulating each other. The cashier at Walgreens was almost in tears.

I live in Chicago and every time I see an Obama sign, I just about bust a button of my coat with pride.

[RamboLiberal]

11. Bet the news people who cover the president are happy campers

Had to be awful for them to spend time in hot as hell nothing to do Crawford area when Bush took his extended vacations.

[DeepModem Mom]

12. a.m. kick for Chicagoans!

[Tatiana]

13. This Chicagoan is very proud. We're first city urban dwellers now!

And we can be proud of what our "Windy City" produced.

I hate that the Olympics is likely coming, but honestly our city could really use the tourism and additional revenue such an event would produce. I will just try to use the subway and el more often.

[City Lights]

14. Love those banners! Here's a close-up:

[DeepModem Mom]

16. What an amazing sight! Thanks for the photo! nt

[mopinko]

18. they are all over, too.

the tradition is to auction those banners off for charity once a year. (they put them up for lots of things). it is a good thing they are putting them just plain everywhere, because that auction might get ugly!

[LynneSin]

15. Does that make Wilmington, Delaware the 2nd City

:woohoo:

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. Hey, why isn't my city fly those Barack banners?

[Arugula Latte]

21. I'll bet the press corps are relieved they'll never have to go to that shithole of Crawford again.

[ThatsMyBarack]

22. Proud to be a Chicagoan....

Who's originally from Washington, DC! :patriot: B-)

[Ishoutandscream2]

24. Heck, I'm from North Texas, and I'm happy as hell

Way to go, Chicago. The pig farm has stunk up my state for way too long.