Perhaps the most typically American place in America. - James Bryce, 1888

I am going to St. Petersburg, Florida, tomorrow. Let the worthy citizens of Chicago get their liquor the best they can. I'm sick of the job--it's a thankless one and full of grief. I've been spending the best years of my life as a public benefactor. - Al Capone, 1927

... But Chicago is a great American city. Perhaps it is the last of the great American cities. - Norman Mailer, Miami and the Siege of Chicago, 1968

It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago... - Dan Quayle

It's a 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes; it's dark and we're wearing sun glasses. Hit it! - The Blues Brothers

There is no quick summary of such a huge place. The city of Chicago - as well as Hyde Park, the neighborhood surrounding the university - are unique and unexpected places. People all over the world have developed fantastical preconceptions of Chicago and our colorful emissaries - from gangsters and mayors to sports stars. Here are a few links that you can explore.