He has been working hard to make sure Chicago achieves the sort of world ranking conferred by those visiting European artists, but Narkiewicz-Laine thinks Lois Weisberg, Chicago's commissioner of cultural affairs, has been working even harder. She's really built the city as a cultural center, and it's starting to show. This is a thriving, thriving city in the arts, much to the jealousy of other cities. Of course, the city holds several grim corners where even the most daring gentrifiers and urban-pioneering artists refuse to set foot. Reformers, government officials and voters will struggle with that question.
Tourists can help by spending money while they look around.
For a long time, Chicago seemed content to attract only the convention crowds. Now tourism officials are trumpeting the city's assets to the world at large. Since 1993, the number of international travelers has increased by 30 percent. Nothing about the Hard Rock Cafe, Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's, Planet Hollywood, etc. has that intrinsic Chicago feel. But the people come and the money gets spent and so the sewers get repaired and a few neighborhoods improve.