It was so much fun to have a cameo in this video! I LOVE living in Chicago, and I hope more people come to visit this great city from near and far! 😀

I was born and raised in the Midwest but did not visit Chicago until after I had moved away. What a fabulous city! We LOVED the Museum of Science and Industry and taking a harbor tour - fun to see the city from the water.

How do you mention the cost of parking and “multi-lane switches” without once mentioning that Chicago has arguably the nation’s best transit system outside NYC? Much of the city is not best explored by car.

Was on the L as a cubs games was coming out, some Jamaican guy was on it drinking Hennessy and a cubs fan, clearly already drunk, shouts “yo let me get a shot” and he hands the bottle over, tells him to keep going, then later offers him more. Then as the Jamaican guy gets off the L he does a flip on the bars from the top of the train. Love Chicago!

Another shock of Chicago is its inconsistent weather especially in the spring time. For example one day it will be 82 degrees and a few days later it’s only 55. Witnessing three or all seasons in one week isn’t uncommon. Wait a minute that’s what is happening now. Saturday felt like summer, Sunday was like spring today feels like fall and in a few days it’s going to be in the low 40s so winter like weather. You got to be prepared for it all when it comes to weather here.

I had a Chicago dog the first time I was there and didn't realize how different and delicious they were. 100% recommended.

Chicago is one of my favorite cities in the world. Thanks for making a video on it Mark!

What shocks me is, barring I-94, Chicago is really easy to get around. I don't think the traffic approaches the soul-deadening levels of an city like Atlanta. Also, I love me some Italian Beef, specifically Johnnie's Beef. Finally, not once have I felt unsafe in Chicago. A great American city.

I've watched a few of these Chicago video tours and I'm very surprised that nobody talks about how many unbelievable music venues Chicago has. All the big-time bands come through but you can attend some excellent live music event for relatively little money. And Chicago has every kind of music you can imagine with festivals every week. Pre-covid-19 there was not one single weekend all summer long where some neighborhood was having a festival of some sort.

Mark, I'm starting to think that you are from Chicago. As somebody that spent the first 30 years of my life on the west side, you pronounce 'Chicago' just the way that many Irish people that I know used to say it. There's one major thing that you need to talk about with regard to Chicago. That's Italian beef sandwiches!!!! The first thing that I do when I get into town from Ireland is go straight to Portillos. Not quite as good as the old-time neighborhood Italian beef stands, but those beef sandwiches are to die for!!! Thinking about the au juice is making my mouth water as I write these words. In fact, when I was a kid I used to mow the McCarthy's grass next door. First thing after I got paid was ride my bike up to Connie's Beef to get 2 beef sandwiches. Pizza and hot dogs are fine, but Italian beef is truly Chicagoan! Great job as always!

Sears Tower. That’s right! Cheers from Chicago. Thanks

I've been to Chicago many times and it's a beautiful city.

Thanks for the excellent video Mark! Definitely adding Chicago to my visit list

Assuming there would be any "shocks" it would be for first time visitors-rookies. So it's a big miss to not include the miles and miles of beautiful lakefront, including perfect white sand beaches walking distance from Michigan Ave/downtown. That's very rare in the heart of big cities.

I'm glad you mentioned the "right kind of Chicago style pizza." People don't realize that there's a difference between Chicago deep dish pizza & Chicago style pizza. 🍕 🍕

I was just there in Chicago not to long ago I had alot of fun there we did so much there it was Windy tho From NYC

I have been to Chicago a few times and it's a great city

Giordano's isn't really Chicago Style pizza, it is made in a pan and looks similar to Uno (the original Chicago deep dish pizza) or Lou Malnati's (my personal favorite), but Giordano's is a stuffed pizza and really is its own thing. Also, Chicago has two styles of pizza, not just one. In addition to the deep dish is pub style, which is a thin crust pizza cut into squares. For many of us who grew up in and around Chicago, pub style is the pizza we grew up eating and deep dish was something special you got when you made a trip downtown or if you were lucky enough to live in the northern suburbs where Malnati's originated.

I used to live in Chicago, one thing I hear people mention all the time is the violence. This is only in a couple neighborhoods in the south and west. It’s not nearly as bad as the media makes it out to be. Love Chicago

I love all your videos. And this one reminded me that I definitely have to visit your beautiful country again this year with my family. ❤️

2:25 I had a job where I commuted on the blue line from River North to Logan Square and then back in the afternoon. And I always sat in the last car because it was closest to the exit at the station I got off at. I would often literally be the only non-tourist in the car. They all had their suitcases with the airline stickers and would be reading through brochures or trying to look stuff up on their phone, or confused on where to go...the amount of time I spent helping them...I kinda felt like the board of tourism should've been giving me a stipend or something. But when you hear people having a conversation thats like "I think its (incorrect statement)." "no, I think its (also wrong). "You're both off, its (wrong again)." and you know the correct answer, its hard not to chime in. I guess thats the teacher in me. There were times it felt like I was doing a Q&A session or something.

When I went to Chicago the first time, I was in shock that there was a drive thru McDonalds right downtown. I thought that part of Chicago would be kinda like Manhattan and wouldn't have drive thrus.

What will shock you, Chicago style pizza is NOT thick, deep dish. It is super thin, called tavern style pizza. What he showed is often known as “tourist pizza”, natives know it is NOT thick pizza. Sure, locals occasionally eat it, but tavern style is what Chicago style pizza is all about, cut in small squares. The farther away from downtown, the better the pizza. She must not really be a native if she doesn’t know Chicago pizza is super thin.

Lifelong Chicagoan here. I came in to say something clever like "Chicago, come for the food and museums and stay because you got shot" or "if you don't like the weather in Chicago, just wait a few minutes......it will change"......but you guys did a good job with this video. Cheers.

I loved the art museum there! A lot of cool famous paintings

I always watch your ‘don’t’ videos before going to anyyy place.. ❤️❤️😀we went to chicago and felt few things as well.. 😊😊😊Thanks for putting everything together 🔥🔥🔥 for ‘chicago baby’

My favorite city!!!!!!

I prefer Chicago tavern style (thin crust, square cut, etc.) pizza. 🍕

I live in California now but lived in Chicago for 25 yrs and it's always gonna be my second home as my siblings still lives there. Love your shocking list. Laughing so hard at the amount of potholes in Chicago. There's hardly any here in California. But the worse drivers in my opinion are not from Chicago, California wins that! And everyone who lives outside of Chicago, lives in the suburbs. Chicago is a top notch town. So pretty especially in the summer. People are so friendly.

Great to see the finished product! Loved being there for the BTS!

I was a Chicago trolley double decker tour guide for many years . I saw you doing your tours downtown alot congrats on the channel

Best Chicago memory: the Field Museum Worst Chicago memory: coming home from a different vacation and having our first plane get so delayed that we couldn’t make our connection so we had to get a hotel at midnight.

A great place to take in . Harriet and I love the museums. The hoods are a Foodie Heaven. Nice Video. Sending you lots of love.😍😍 Harriet and Jim

My beau from Highland Park. I luv Chicago. We now live in Philly. Great content!

Heading up for a day trip today! Spot hero is a must for parking. Love parking at millennium park garage for half price. Plus EV charging in the garage.

Deep Dish Pizza is tourist pizza. True Chicago Style pizza is square cut tavern style, thin crust.

I love the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium! And a Chicago Dog straight up 😋 👍👍 Ohh yeah!! The wind does blow!

Only thing missing from this fun and informative clip....is the "soul" food. Doesn't get any better than that....than in Chicago. Yeah, I'm a Chicagoan!

I love the hype, and I love Chicago my second home!

Chicago's best trick on tourists is traffic reports. No one will give interstate numbers, every highway has a name that only the locals know. Truckers hate Chicago because of this.

Great job!

#11. Dec., Jan. & Feb. Winters. Too. But Spring, Summers & Fall I Love Chicago, IL.

Wish I saw you when you here!!!! Love the videos.

Seems like a fun, safe destination. Cool!

If I see you putting ketchup on any hot dog in Chicago, yes, I will judge you 😂😂😂

Sounds like NYC with variety of cultural foods 👍

3:50 that definitely looks like something from Pequods. Best thick style pizza in the windy city😋😋

I'm born and raised in Chicago. No one drinks malort. And people of color don't wear shorts on 40 degree days in Chicago.

chicago style pizza is a thin crust , edge to edge cut into squares. deep dish is a gimmick always was .

Parking prices.... thank you Mayor Daley!

Have you done a video of Buffalo, NY? You might see some similiar things i.e. food & culture like Chicago.

If you have out of state tags, you can park in a suburb city and take the trains in! No one visiting in my family ever got ticketed parking in Batavia, La Grange, Hinsdale, or Oak Park; you just can't park overnight most places, so if you plan on doing that double check the signage or ask a beat cop. It's also half the price to stay in a hotel outside and take the train into the city and walk or taxi around.

Can’t believe no one in the comments called out the hot dog within the video is not a real Chicago style hot dog.

Lolol Wolter is absolutely right. I live in Chicago. Pequod's Pizza!!!! Also Chicago pizza is deep dish, but locals eat tavern style so please try that too. Deep dish is only for when people visits us! Malort sucks. But you can’t visit Chicago and not try malort. Might as well not come. Try a polish dog. Maxwells. And lastly…… NO KETCHUP. Lol

Pizza, Aurillio's is a great place for a pie. Especially if you can make it to the original in Homewood

Malort kinda seems to be how we see Akvavit in Scandinavia. It's disgusting on it's own, but on the other hand the after-taste of Akvavit fits well with a lot of dinners, especially at Christmas. Great video!

Bucktown represent! Enjoy the city, it’s the best

Interesting thing about our culture is we’re attached to the original names on what we call certain places. Most notably, residents refer to Willis Tower as Sears Tower. Culturally, when someone is known for a long time and names change. We stick to it because it’s what we think is familiar. My advice from a Chicago area resident, it’s best to call places by their originals respectively because it’s what most people call it!

my love Chicago

Illinoying drivers😂 Love Chicago. Gino’s East or West🍕 deeply delish😋 The museums are great. There is a citipass to save$

Also driving in Chicago, no hesitation at green light unless you like taxis honking at you.

the Chicago box is checked out....10 minutes of it was plenty enough😀

Chiraq

I seen that Chicago flag alot so I definitely agree on the pride.

I left the Southside back in 1972. Have not been back, I am still a Chicagoan. The video shows how things have changed but the core of the City has not changed. Reason for leaving was two fold. 1) got excepted to Grad. School at San Jose State U. In Recreation, this was after I grad. From S.I.U back in 1972 in Outdoor Rec. & Education. 2) was the arthritis that I grew up with, if I did not leave I would have ended up in a wheel chair. I worked as a Park Ranger for four different Fed.Agencies. Been retired for over 17 yrs. What I learned growing up on the Southside help me to deal with people, when I was a Park Ranger.

Lol I love this, Greeting from Chicago. Weirdly I've never heard of Malort until this video and I've lived here my whole life! Maybe it's only popular in some parts of the city? One thing you will find out about Chicago is that because of the neighborhoods, one section of the city might be completely different from another side. The south side is not like the north side, the east side is not like the west side, etc. Some of the rules also don't always apply. Parking is pretty easy and pretty much always free on my side of town, but north side is a nightmare to find parking lol. Also, from what most of what they're showing on here is mostly north side stuff. There is a whole lot more to Chicago than that.

Malort is vile. I fell for that trick the first time I was in Chicago.

The Chicago Cultural Center is really good. I can also recommend the free Chicago Greeter tours (unfortunately cannot post a link), which are really free and individual tours. My son and I did a tour of Polish Chicago (my great-grandparents married at St. John Cantius, a Polish parish at the time) and the downtown (including the former Iroquois theater, site of one of the worst fires in US history). Chicago is a wonderful destination, except in the summer (too humid) and winter (possible polar vortex).

I'm a Chicago native, love the food, I like Chicago style hotdogs love the CTA and I like the Willis Tower it makes the city look beautiful.

05:15 Hopefully that's a Vienna hot dog! Delicious!

tavern style pizza > deep dish

Nice

That wind chill is no joke

I’ve been watching your videos for over 10 years and i think I’ve seen you in every country BUT DOMINICAN REPUBLIC .. do it for me man

I am half Swedish and did not know "malort" outside of Sweden, if it is the same thing! In Sweden its called malört and it is a snapps that is not a common shot. Normally consumed together with crayfish in august or with herring during easter or Christmas.

I live in NYC and I wanna visit Chicago this summer so bad! (I've been before twice but wanna go again) but my friends and family keep begging me not to go due to the out of control crime there. It sucks that such a beautiful and spectacular city has gotten so dangerous lately. It's always been dangerous but since the pandemic hit its just gotten out of control. I still haven't decided that I'm not going but the more I read online about the stuff happening there, the closer I get to deciding not to go. Oh and the CTA is scary by the way, so many people getting robbed on it! Great video by the way!

Another addendum to the parking problem is that lots of tourists get towed because they don't see the "temporary parking notices" that are posted on the utility poles on many streets in Chicago. These are limited date and time notices that state you cannot park in a particular place on certain dates at certain times. We once saw more than twenty cars get towed on Milwaukee Avenue in a single night. Many were tourists visiting Nick's to hear blues. If you don't want to add $200-$300 to your rental bill, take Uber or Lyft - and NEVER take an "independent" cab.

5:50 a buddy of mine is the cultural ambassador for Malort. He actually loves it. Last time I took a shot of it, I ran to the bathroom and puked my brains out.

I had a good laugh about the potholes in Chicago. In college there was a guy from Chicago who said that his street didn't have any potholes one year, so the city came and jack hammered them one so they wouldn't be left out.

Good

Folks in Chicago do not drink Malort. It's a drink Chicagoans get visitors to drink as a joke. We are known for deep dish pizza but we have other styles also, all good. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

There's a parking problem here. Get a "transit pass", travel this way is very easy and affordable. If in a car you might have to park blocks away, or go around to find a parking spot - locals never use parking garages, too expensive - taxi cabs are also too expensive.

We are visitors of Chicago. Daughter lives their and it is different than it was 2 years ago. The police would keep the dangerous people out of tourist areas the best they could but now you are really rolling the dice on Michigan Ave.If you go stay in one of the neighbor hoods North or West. They are their own city and use Uber for travel and get advise from locals on Michigan ave that weekend.

I moved out of chicago and my biggest shocks. 1. No blinkers ,people weaving in and out of lanes like maniacs. 2. Weight gain- the food is pure heaven. You cant resist. 3. Prices of anything in downtown. Or tourist hotspots. Complete ripoff. Bring a backpack with essentials. Umbrella/pack of tissue-toilet/ water bottle you can fill up free at spots at the beach/ snacks/flip flops(highly reccomend running shoes /croc sandals if you walking downtown -switch out when going to beach)/towel/meds like tylenol. 4. If your going downtown for the day-your gonna walk. Alot. Thats why i love eating and walking there. Burn it off. The weather changes. Layer up. Dress comfortably with comfortable shoes. 5. Shock for me - alot of traveling. You can just go 2 places and there goes the whole day. 6. To me the variety of people in chicago rivals new york. I joke chicago is the lil brother of new york. Chicagoans are earthy and love to have fun. Quick to dance if the beat is good. 7. One on my favorite memories was driving in june and my block had music blasting and barebecues from 3 different houses. 1. played old school house music 2 .played mexican music 3 . played 90s r and b. Of course the smell is amazing. The vibe that day was so great in the hood. My mom and i sat on the front steps guessing songs and catching up. I put it as a shock because i live far up north and i forget how "cool" my city is. Just stay out of the sketchy hoods at night and you will be fine. Nobody goes there anyway. Its far from downtown. Chicago IS HUGE!!

If you can drive in Chicago, you can drive anywhere. I’m bias but I think Chicago has the best drivers out of all the major cities in the US. We love driving fast with awareness as much as we can

Another thing is there is so much construction in the downtown area like sometimes you’ll have to drive through alleys

A bartender once bought me a shot of Malort. I'll describe it. Picture a weed choked vacant lot in a hot August. Mow down the weeds,flood the lot, and let it fester in the sun for two weeks. THEN, DRINK IT. That's the taste of Malort which Altoids won't help.

One should distinguish between "Chicago style" and "Chicago style deep dish." Many stubborn folk will argue that Chicago-style pizza is basically New York style but cut in rows and columns. (And these people somehow call those "squares," despite them not having parallel and perpendicular congruent lines.) These snobs will call "deep dish" "tourist food," despite that one of the major deep dish players actually started in the suburbs. (Last I heard, there wasn't exactly a hot tourist market in Lincolnwood.) My wife and I went to Pizzeria Due some years ago. We knew to order the individual size. Meanwhile, a couple of tables over was a couple from NYC (via England) who, being used to New York pizza, ordered a LARGE. The look of horror on their faces when the behemoth was plunked down in front of them was priceless! Regardless of what you say about deep dish, as a fourth-generation Chicagoan, I love the stuff! It's not my favorite pizza, but I love it nonetheless. The no-ketchup-on-hot-dogs thing is NOT a Chicago thing - it's a UNIVERSAL thing. Go to Coney Island and try to get ketchup on your Nathan's and see what happens. And remember what Dirty Harry said? Well...remember: that took place in San Francisco. The thing about ketchup is that Chicagoans are probably the LOUDEST about it. I would like to argue that the rule only applies to *beef*-based hot dogs; the ketchup has too much sugar on it, kills the flavor of the beef. I would say that if you're eating a pork-based hotdog, the condiment rules are gone, because, frankly, pork-based hot dogs suck and need whatever enhancements they can get.

Thick pizza is for tourist!

Local people born in Chicago are very pleasant but had to grow up with street smarts, so being too familiar with someone is a bit strange here. But everyone will stop to help you, just ask and they will take time to help (friendly people). Chicago didn't used to be such a nice place, so this did two things - made us be kind and help one another and made us a bit tough. Nowadays the transportation is better and there are more people from other places.

N. Wilwaukee? Where's dat ayt?

Hot dog with ketchup comment at the end was exactly right

Great vid! Have you ever done a video on Kenosha WI?

The parking shock is true in the loop but in all other areas of the city, you can get street parking without much of an issue. You may have to pay for it, but it's far more reasonable than the numbers you're talking about in downtown parking garages.

It's not ok to ever put ketchup on a hot dog😜

BEGGARS PIZZA reigns supreme. Don’t @ me

You took a shot of Malort you have my respect. And spot on about Chicago

I could actually drink that drink and I'm not from Chicago. I drink a Lebanese drink called arak which is 50% alcohol and it tastes like black licorice and I love it

I don’t care if it’s in the middle of summer and I’m sweating my balls off or if I’m there in the winter where your face is frozen still, Chicago is my favorite US city. Beautiful, beautiful city. Highly recommend to anyone who has never been.

Tavern style >>> deep dish