Chicago has a very definitive sense of that mid-western down-to-earthness mixed in with the perfect amount of cutting-edge. The city is steeped in history and for the most part, there's an interesting back-story to go along with any neighborhood you happen to find yourself in. The architecture is impressive, the lakefront is a gem and the skyline is in a class of its own. It's like a cleaner, friendlier New York (no offense, Manhattan, I happen to love you too, but it's true). But does Chicago have a true distictive style?