I spent five days in downtown Chicago — here's why I found it hard to leave

Diverse and friendly, Chicago’s cultural scene is another great reason to visit this fun city, writes Aoife Barry

When the invitation comes to revisit Chicago to check out its arts and culture scene, I’m curious

In 2003, aged 20, I headed to Chicago for the rite of passage that is the J1. I somehow wrangled a job answering phones at ABC Radio on State St, and lived with a gang of friends in Lincoln Park. I’m not sure any photos of that time exist. In our pre-smartphone world, our Chicago adventure was lived solely for memory’s sake.

In those memories, Chicago was filled with towering skyscrapers that gave off an air of grandeur. Taking its elevated train, known as the L, through the city made me feel like a movie character. Everything, from portion sizes to parks, was bigger than back home. The city was beautiful and imposing — but welcoming and relaxed too.