Well Toronto, we did it. We finally surpassed Chicago to become the 4th largest city by population in North America. Be honest, doesn’t it feel good up here at the…kind of top? Whatever, that’s not too important. What is important is that we’re pretty big, we’re also “pretty good” at some other things.
We’re often described as the “Chicago of the north” and we can see why, the two cities share similar features and personalities. But we’ve never been too keen on remaining equals, we need to make this 4th spot our own. We need to make Chicago “America’s Toronto”. So without further adieu, we’re pitting the two cities head to head in a totally not-biased battle. Chicago Vs. Toronto – The showdown for 4th.
Sports Teams
Chicago has been blessed with many good sports teams over the past few years, culminating in a 2010 Stanley Cup victory by the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are on a historic run right now of 24 games without a regulation loss, the Bulls are sitting pretty in a playoff spot, and the city has TWO baseball teams. Let’s not even add a storied professional NFL franchise.
Toronto has the Grey Cup winning Toronto Argonauts, some hockey team and the Blue Jays. Apparently there’s a professional basketball team too? It’s hard to keep up with all of this stuff. Also, for once a season we get to rent the…Buffalo Bills? Oh no. The good news is that the Blue Jays are projected world series favourites, a rare upside to being a Toronto sports fan. Hey wait, did we forget to mention that the Chicago Cubs own the longest championship drought in professional sports?
VERDICT: Toronto, based on that last fact alone.
Local Cuisine
1. Chicago Deep-dish Pizza – Honestly, try and have more than two slices and not feel full. This gets points for doing pizza differently, oozy cheese, pepperoni, and now we’re drooling just thinking about it.
2. Chicago Style Dog – an all beef hot dog topped with yellow mustard, white onion, sweet pickle relish, peppers, tomatoes, dill pickle spear. Fun Fact: Is also called a “depression dog” because in the great depression, while hot dogs were expensive, most toppings were free so hungry people could load up.
And now for Toronto…
1. Peameal Bacon Sandwiches – Peameal bacon, which is back bacon wrapped in cornmeal and thinly sliced, stacked high on a kaiser with toppings of your choice. Get in our bellies.
2. Italian Sandwiches – We were kind of surprised by this too, but apparently a friend veal cutlet with mozzarella, hot peppers, and marinara sauce on a kaiser is a Toronto thing.
VERDICT: Regardless of deep dish pizza and hot dogs, Toronto doesn’t need to name their foods after the city to be different. Advantage = Toronto
Cool Buildings
Willis Tower – okay, so it’s striking, has an observation deck, and really looks like a centrepiece on the skyline. The once dubbed ” tallest building in the world” has been knocked down a few pegs, but is still a very striking multipurpose building. What’s that? You have “observation decks”? How cute.
CN Tower – Sup, bro? Sorry about taking that whole “world’s tallest building” name from you all those years ago. To be fair, we’re no longer the tallest freestanding structure either, so no hard feelings right?
In addition to looking awesome in general, the CN tower has a revolving restaurant and a glass floor. Just to up the ante a bit further, we let people walk OUTSIDE the observation deck.
VERDICT: This one again has to go to T.O. Step it up, Chicago.
Infrastructure
TTC vs. Chicago Transit
VERDICT: Chicago can’t even put their subways underground. Toronto wins again.
Music
Toronto – Neil Young, the Tragically Hip, Feist, Drake, City and Colour/Alexisonfire, Metric, Death From Above 1979, The Weeknd, Tokyo Police Club
Chicago – Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, Common, Nat King Cole, Rise Against, Smashing Pumpkins.
VERDICT: Okay, you win this round Chicago.
Municipal Politics
Chicago can have it’s former secretary of state – We’re quite enjoying our high school football coach/part-time mayor.
VERDICT: Toronto’s mayor has survived a weight loss challenge, multiple court dates, and a terrible misstep but he’s still hanging on. Toronto wins again!
Weather
Lakefront winds, temperate climate. Umm, hmm. Well, would you look at that, a tie.
So that’s just our humble opinon – What do you think? Let us know in the comments or on twitter!
