What's With Chicago?

Why don’t Chicagoans douse their hot dogs in ketchup? What do Chicagoans mean when they say, “I’m going on the ‘L’ to the Loop?” How did a snowstorm change a mayoral election? These and many other aspects of life in Chicago are the basis of What’s With Chicago?, a look at a Midwestern city with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Built on the place where Lake Michigan meets the Chicago River, providing connections to America’s East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, Chicago has thrived over the decades developing industries that transferred goods across the country by water, railroad, highways, and today, air. Drawing immigrant settlers from around the world, creating neighborhoods where “Old World” food and customs persist while advancing through the twenty-first century, Chicago is the birthplace of the skyscraper, home to spectacular architecture, and host to year-round sports events. Author Ellen Shubart presents a handbook to understanding the city whether you are a tourist, a newcomer, or a long-time resident. Discover the secrets, the not-so-secret, and the well-known stories and facts about the Windy City.