by Jim Byers
Last updated: 6:43 PM ET, Thu April 11, 2019
Chicago is known as the birthplace of the skyscraper; a city with a thriving downtown, a waterfront devoid of smokestacks, fabulous food and a certain, much-loved baseball team.
But the city also has one of the strongest theatre scenes around. In fact, officials said yesterday, Chicago has more theatre companies than any city in the world, including New York City and London. It also have more Tony Award-winning theatres than any other city and produces some of the world's best theatrical productions.
"We're an incubator for new ideas," said Mark Kelly, who oversees the $31.3 million US budget for the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
This year has been declared the Year of Theatre for Chicago, and tourism representatives were in Toronto on Thursday to show off their wares, including an amazing magician named Dennis Watkins and some wonderful improv from Second City Chicago.
"No city in the world has more architecture tours than Chicago," Kelly said.
Tourism officials said the new Hoxton hotel opened recently, and that there are seven or eight other new hotel projects coming this year.
An exhibition based on the wildly successful play "Hamilton" will open soon in Chicago, the first stop for the exhibition's tour.
As if that's not enough, you also have one of North America's greatest waterfront, which is completely unsullied by industry, plus terrific museums, a bevy of Michelin star restaurants and one of the world's most beloved sports stadiums, Wrigley Field.
The Art Institute of Chicago is an incredible downtown museum that's next to Millenium Park, home of the famous "Cloud Gate" mirror sculpture that most folks refer to as "The Bean."
Like Toronto and other Canadian cities, Chicago is very much a city of neighborhoods. Trendy areas such as Wrigley and Logan Square are filled with hip cafes and great bars.
The famous Chicago Transit Authority also makes it easy to get around without a car.
Architecture tours are amazing on the Chicago River. Another fun way to gaze at the city's skyscrapers is on a kayak tour of the river.
Michelle Revuelta of Choose Chicago said there are 46 flights a day to Chicago from Canadian cities; 23 from Toronto alone.
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