Chicagoans are...

I'm not sure I agree with all of these opinions from Travel + Leisure magazine.  Are people allowed to vote if they have never been here?  At least they think the food in Chicago is good.  Thank you, Rick Bayless!

Travel + Leisure magazine poll: Readers peg Chicagoans as ugly, surly and not too bright

City ranks No. 1 for skylines and views, dead last in weather

Phil Vettel, October 9, 2009

In Travel + Leisure magazine's annual poll, in which readers rate American cities in myriad categories, Chicago is No. 1 (skylines and views) and dead last (weather) for the third straight year.

This year's poll, which compared 30 cities (up from the usual 25), pitted Chicago against the likes of New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Denver, but also against Honolulu, Santa Fe, Kansas City and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Wait. We've got worse weather than Minneapolis? So say the voters, who also ranked us No. 14 in intelligence, No. 19 in friendliness and No. 20 (out of 30, remember) in attractiveness.

T + L readers sum us up as ugly, surly and not too bright. Who voted on this, the IOC?

More insights: Within the category "type of trip," Chicago was ranked 22nd as an active/adventure vacation destination, 23rd for its relaxing resorts and 18th as an affordable getaway.

But in the "food/dining," "shopping," "people" and "culture" categories, we were No. 2 for big-name restaurants, luxury stores and theater; No. 3 for ethnic food; and in the top 10 for neighborhood joints, cafes/coffee bars and stylishness (homely but well-accessorized, that's us).

For complete rankings, go to travelandleisure.com, or check Travel + Leisure's November issue, on newsstands Oct. 23.


Taken at Chicago's free Blues Festival during BB King's performance last summer.  Take that, Travel + Leisure!