Chicago is also home to many professional sports teams: the Chicago Cubs baseball team plays at Wrigley Field; the Chicago White Sox baseball team, at Comiskey Park; the Chicago Bears football team, at Soldier Field; and the Chicago Blackhawks ice hockey and Chicago Bulls basketball teams, at the United Center, a new facility that opened in 1994.

Illinois has a temperate climate, with cold, snowy winters and hot, wet summers. Chicago, like much of the Midwest, has a climate that is prone to extreme, often volatile, weather conditions. Summer is the rainiest season, with short-lived rainfall and thunderstorms more common than prolonged rainy periods. Winter in Chicago is a variable and fickle season. Winter is the driest season, with most of the precipitation falling as snow.

The North Side of Chicago encompasses neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Logan Square, Ravenswood, and Rogers Park. The South Side of Chicago encompasses neighborhoods such as Armour Square, Back of the Yards, Beverly, Bridgeport, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Morgan Park, Washington Park, and South Shore. But north side is the most densely developed because of the historical economic developments and trends.

Chicago has a tradition of provocative, sometimes controversial political leadership. The government of Chicago is divided into two groups; executive and legislative branches. The Mayor of Chicago is elected by general election for a term of four years. The mayor appoints commissioners and other officials who oversee the various departments. For much of the last century, Chicago has been considered one of the largest Democratic strongholds in the United States.

Over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago are controlled by The Chicago Public Schools(CPS) District. Like many urban U.S. school districts, CPS suffered many problems throughout the latter half of the 20th century, including overcrowding, underfunding, mismanagement and a high dropout rate. Many institutions of higher education are located with in the city itself. The University of Illinois at Chicago is the city's largest university and also features the nation's largest medical school. Other Universities like Chicago State University and Northeastern Illinois University are also located in Chicago. The city also has a large community college system known as the City Colleges of Chicago.

Chicago is the premier transportation hub in America and the only city in North America in which all six Class I railroads meet. After Hong Kong and Singapore, The City Chicago is considered as the third largest inter-modal port in the world. Public transportation in Chicago is handled by the Chicago Transit Authority.

Luxury shopping along the Magnificent Mile, thousands of restaurants, as well as Chicago's position a global architectural capital, have attracted millions of tourist over the years. After New York City and Los Angeles; Chicago is the third-largest market in the U.S. The city is also the home of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Chicago is a well-known theater capital and a mecca for improvisational comedy. Chicago also has its own Symphony Orchestra. Chicago has been among the first US cities to build a integrated emergency response center to coordinate the city's response to terrorist attacks, gang violence, and natural disasters in the city.