Some of our favorite nicknames for Chicago...


* "The Chill or Chi Ill" - Also used by rap musicians from the area (Chill as in Chicago Illinois).

* "City by the Lake" - Used in the Smashing Pumpkins' song "Tonight, Tonight."

* "City of the Century."

* "The 312" - The onetime area code for Chicago and surrounding communities, which now applies only to the Loop and several immediately surrounding neighborhoods. Many rap artists refer to Chicago by this name, and many pro sports players from the Chicago area use 312 to signify their hometown. Dwyane Wade is an example: A small triangle on his shoes contains the numbers 312 in reference to his birthplace.

* "The City That Works" - According to former Mayor Richard J. Daley.

* "The Big Onion" - An homage to the original Native name for the area (which meant "onion"), in parallel with a popular New York nickname, "The Big Apple"

* "Hog-Butcher to the World" - From "Chicago."

* "New York Done Right" - Denoting that Chicago is all the good things about New York, without any of the bad things.

* "Illville" - Chicago is the largest metropolis in Illinois.

* "My Kind of Town" - According to the song "My Kind of Town (Chicago Is)" (music by Jimmy Van Heusen, words by Sammy Cahn, 1964) popularized by Frank Sinatra. (Originally from the film Robin and the Seven Hoods).

* "Heart of America" - Chicago is one of the largest transportation centers in America and its location near the center of the United States.

* "That Toddling Town" - According to the lyrics of the song "Chicago" (music and words by Fred Fisher, 1922) also popularized by Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett).

* "Ayreton" - Quasi-medieval name used by local members of the Society for Creative Anachronism.



Any others ?