Alleys of Chicago

When I'm asked to describe Manhattan or other parts of New York City by Chicagoans who have yet to visit, I usually start by saying, "They don't have any alleys." It's only a few words but it says a lot, about both the physical and the active make-up of the city. Physically, while the blocks in Chicago are broken up by alleys, Manhattan features impenetrable blocks filled with buildings, with the occasional pocket park or through-block connection. Services like trash, utilities, and loading that are relegated to alleys in Chicago are on the street in Manhattan, adding to the already bustling roads and sidewalks another layer of activity. So alleys help to give each city its character: Chicago is less dense and vibrant than Manhattan, but it's also cleaner and more pedestrian and car friendly. To me, there's no good or bad about either. I love either city for what it is, knowing that alleys -- or lack thereof -- are only one defining feature.

Well, all that babble was spurred by the Chicago Tribune's week-long series on Chicago's alleys. The Flashy, interactive tour is a bit lacking in some respects, but for New Yorkers and other people who have yet to see any of Chicago's almost 2,000 miles of alleys, it definitely illustrates the variety of embodied within an otherwise mundane and practical piece of the city.

(via Gapers Block)