The Goat Pen

Given the clothes, cars, and Pabst sign in photo #2, these photos were taken 30-40 years ago and no doubt great strides have been made in these neighborhoods.

Oh, there are projects and slums in Chicago. I know this for a fact. As in, been there THIS YEAR.

I won't even get into the whole psychological profile of someone who doesn't like skyscrapers

So you prefer a giant and rigid phallic symbol? I wish I could say I was surprised.

DSL,


In the end, I love both cities. I have been to Chicago many times. I look forward to going. That said, if I have a week to vacation in either city, and I'm looking for fun, without a doubt, I choose New Orleans. The food, the jazz and blues, the nightlife, the distinct culture not found in other areas of America - an hour outside of town I'm in the bayou where a version of French is the primary language. Historical buildings and plantations, the Mississippi, Pontchartrain, a couple of nice casinos and close proximity to the Gulf.

Your mileage obviously varies, and while I'm sure you've been to New Orleans many times, I would encourage you to visit the city again and let me be your tour guide. I would be happy to show you around. By the way, how many visits have you made?

I have been twice, which I grant you is not many times. I have been to the French Quarter. I'd love a tour to see what I've been missing. The perhaps I can guide you around downtown Chicago, maybe to grab a steak, and if it still doesn't compare to your gator/crawdad stew then c'est la vie.

Twice? Hmmm. I think your sample size is too small to make judgements.

I guess I've been to Chicago 20 times? 25? Used to be a twice-year trip for me. Really like the city. I would, of course, have it second to NYC and behind San Diego, but it is one of my favorite US mega-city (pop > 1MM).

Hmmm, now that would be a good discussion. Rank the mega cities (there are nine according to wiki):

1. NYC
2. San Diego
3. Chicago
4. San Antonio
5. Philly (great city that gets a bad rap)
6. Phoenix
7. Dallas
8. Houston
9. Los Angeles

The perhaps I can guide you around downtown Chicago, maybe to grab a steak, and if it still doesn't compare to your gator/crawdad stew then c'est la vie.

Funny that you mentioned steak. I am a bit of a fancy steakhouse connoisseur. The best steak in the US that I've had is at a restaurant in Atlanta called "Bone's". Nothing else has been close.

I don't know about gator stew, but a trip to Herbsaint or Commander's Palace would probably change your mind.

DSL is funny. Retarded but still funny.

Let me begin by saying I have lived in Atlanta (my first 18 years), near Chicago (the last 15 years), and sorta near NOLA (Jackson MS, 5 years, from which I frequently visited NOLA). Of the three, I freely admit I am less familiar with NOLA than Atlanta or Chicago.

I am fond of all three, but for different reasons. Atlanta will always be special because it is my hometown. But it has no culture except for the World of Coke, the Cyclorama, and Stone Mountain. For food, I love the Varsity and Hickory House. Yes, I still miss Aunt Fanny's Cabin. But overall, ATL's downtown that is a ghost town after business hours, and beyond that just a vast landscape of suburban strip malls and new subdivisions.

NOLA is one of the most unique cities in America, with its one-of-a-kind Cajun/Creole culture. I am particularly fond of Gallatoire's, Cafe du Monde, and Brennan's. The food is excellent, but one-dimensional. NOLA restaurants excel in three kinds of food: Cajun, French, and Cajun. The French Quarter is quaint. Preservation Hall is really cool. But it is also overrun with hustlers, hookers, transvestites, drunks and addicts, voodoo doll salesmen, and reeks of public urination. If you are into that sort of thing, then NOLA is your town.

But if you want diversity of cultures, restaurants, architecture, attractions, universities, Chicago blows Atlanta and NOLA away. Neither Atlanta nor NOLA has anything like Chicago's skyline, the Board of Trade, Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, Greektown (or countless other ethnic urban neighborhoods, each with fabulous restaurants in their own style), a University of Chicago, a Chicago Art Institute, a Museum of Science and Industry, a Field Museum. Atlanta's aquarium rivals Shedd, but that's about it.

It is true that the weather in Chicago absolutely sucks in the winter. And you are equally likely to get murdered in all three crime-ridden cities. The traffic is terrible in all three too. Chicago and Louisiana are also a tie for the most hopelessly corrupt governments in the nation. O'Hare and Hartsfield are a tie.

Heh. Jackson = NOLA. Anyay, I disagree. Cajun and creole get the notoriety because that's what the tourists want.

For example, the best Italian and Vietnamese food ice had in the states is in NOLA. There are distinct areas within the city where. If you want an ethnic style, any ethnic style, and you're in NOLA, you can find it done well.

We've traveled a lot this year and have had a lot of great meals in various places (like 30-
A in Seagrove last Wednesday night). But by far the best dining experience of the year was only 40 miles away.... Blackberry Farms, Walland TN (in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mtns). Her scallops were the best, and so was my beef.

Next time yer in in the Smokies, you need to find this place. Blackberry Farms...you'll thank me.

Ate at a place in Townsend with a trout pond. They'd give you'd a reel, let you catch a fish, and would cook what you caught.

Did they have a cowpen and shotguns as well?

Ah yes - The Tuckaleechee experience. No guessing about whether the fish is fresh or not. Pan-seered trout in red onions and basil..oh yeah.

It was great. Loved it.

New gaffe: Obama hails America's historic building of 'the Intercontinental Railroad'

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washing ... -ohio.html

Obama Lies about the ‘Do-Nothing Congress’

His party, not the Republicans, is the obstacle.

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/ ... oy-murdock

New gaffe: Obama confuses Jews with janitors

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washing ... gaffe.html

My top 5

1. NYC hands down
2. Washington DC
3. Chicago
4. Kansas City--trumans presidential--great ww1 museum, jazz, bbq, negro baseball museum, lots of art museums, westport, sprint district, city of fountains, the plaza, legends, new casino opening up at legends, great steamboat museum, etc etc
5. Los Angesles--would be higher but I hat the people there

LA coming in strong in 5th and 9th place!

KCMO? I don't see it. I'm not sure I'd have them in my top 25.

AlabamAlum wrote:Which plantation?

http://www.nottoway.com/

Quite a beautiful place... My daughter is really into period architecture... still wants to work interior design and decorating.

They won't be doing much in the quarters though, they're taking my 5 year old grand daughter with them.