Читать книгу Graphic USA - Ziggy Hanaor - Страница 63

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BY DANIEL BLACKMANI moved to Chicago a couple years ago, and it’s a daunting task to try and describe its complex geography. Chicago is an expansive city with villages, neighborhoods, and districts connected by buses, bridges, and ‘El’ stops, and you have to choose which areas feel most comfortable to you. I tend to spend most of my time in the neighborhoods of Bucktown, Wicker Park, and Logan Square. I have to confess that these areas are all hipster hangouts that were once a little bit down-at-heel and have become increasingly trendy. However, that doesn’t make them any less fun or beautiful – it just means you need to watch out for fixed gears, neon tank tops, and Ray Bans. Chicago is a very green city literally and figuratively – it has a great recycling program, zillions of roof gardens covering more than 4.5 million ft² of rooftops, and it is one of the most bike-friendly cities I’ve ever been in. The lake front bike path, which runs around the edge of Lake Michigan, is 18 miles long with museums, parks, and zoos along the way. If renting a bike isn’t really your thing, then the best way to get around is with the El. The train lines all connect at The Loop in the center of the city, and then radiate out in all directions. The areas my entries tend to focus on (Bucktown, Wicker Park and Logan Square) are all on the Blue Line. Living in Chicago is an ongoing adventure for me. I feel like I’m always finding a new bar, park, restaurant, gallery – or even an entirely new area. It’s a city of hidden treasures that are easily accessed if you’re willing to seek them out. From a design point of view, I love Chicago because it isn’t nearly as pretentious as some of the other major cities in the US. The architecture is fantastic, the lake is beautiful, and there are plenty of opportunities – both commercial and independent – for creative people. The artistic community is diverse and open to newcomers and emerging talent. It’s a friendly place, with a lot to offer on all fronts. 63 Chicago, IL