Glad you enjoyed Chicago driving. I've never had the pleasure.

Here in Philadelphia, the custom is to do everything possible to intimidate other drivers on the road. You can't win, after all, by being a nice guy. Flipping the bird, rolling down your window and screaming at the top of your lungs, leaning on the horn, tailgating 5 feet off someone's rear bumper at 75 mph, all of these things are normal here.

I've also driven in Boston, which seems to operate in a completely different way: you win by displaying a titanic, implacable indifference to everyone else on the road. Someone else in the lane you want to get into? Just pull into that lane anyway and squeeze him out. And don't EVER look where you're going when making a move like that- it's a sign you don't have any nerve.

Indianapolis has its own style, too. The I-465 beltway around Indy, as far as the locals are concerned, is just a speedway with public access: 80 mph, cars just a few feet apart and 5 across, and everybody endlessly weaving back and forth from lane to lane in a crazy, terrifying ballet that'll make you fudge your shorts. After surviving a trip through Indianapolis, all I can do is stop in Crawfordsville, get blind drunk, and pass out in my motel room and hope the friggin' nightmares won't be too bad.

California drivers are just... goofy.

What, none of all that jazz, Rosemary? :)

You forgot the Italian sausage sandwiches. With giardiniera peppers. On real Gonella french bread with the just-so-hard crust. At any of the Chicagoland Portillo's Hot Dogs locations. Accompanied by a nice steamed Texas style tamale.

Or Sicilian style thin crust pizza (the type that doesn't resemble a bowl of cheesy stew served on a 12" wide hard waffle). Available at scores of old fashioned neighborhood taverns all around Chicago. Not to be confused with the crap they serve you in the trendy pizzerias noted for the waitresses in skimpy costumes and their hands out for big tips.

And for some of the best pasta in old Chicago, try Toscano's Restaurant on Oakley Avenue near Cermak, if it's still there. They make a great combination meal of spaghetti, meatballs or meatsauce, pasta of your choice cooked to your choice, and a side of fine ravioli.

What's the matter? Dean doesn't know how to feed you properly over in metro Big D, or something?

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

Arnold:

I was gonna mention Chicago pizza but I was afraid people would infer that horrible deep dish crap - that is not true Chicago style.

Actually, I should have mentioned the sausage. Last night I ate spicey Sausage Giambotta. It was heaven on a plate.

Chicago is Dean's old haunt. Detroit is mine. We have great food in the Motor city but we ain't got what they got, I'm telling you.

Bring back some jumbo hot dogs from Portillo's on your return to Detroit.

Mapleleafs. There. I've said it. Since Detroit got rid of Federov there's nuttin to look at.

Don't do that Redwings thing to us. It really hurts.

Hockey players: not good enough to play football, not gay enough to be figure skaters.

from my own experience, i think the greatest test of any driver's skill and patience is driving in San Francisco. Any time of day. Ok and i learned to drive in Los Angeles.

I have seen the traffic in Chicago, but what really struck me as bizarre in downtown Chicago was standing on the street at 5pm on a weekday. Suddenly, every building disgorged a huge mob of humanity and they all headed in quite an orderly fashion to the nearest train station.

Boo, Red Wings, Boooo!

Whenever my in-laws visit us in Chicago, all we do is eat in Little Italy, visit the Aquarium or the Art Institute, and drink heavily.

Glad you enjoy Chicago.

Mmm... Weiner's Circle... Mmmmm...