We asked different questions about the first thing people talk about when discussing Chicago with out-of-towners, suburbanites and fellow Chicagoans. Here’s a sampling of what we heard, lightly edited for clarity.
What out-of-towners say
“In England, it’s either Al Capone, ‘Isn’t Obama from Chicago?’ or something about guns. But I think the funniest thing said to me was that it had snowed about two inches, and my fiance’s mom told me to be careful.”
Vernetta Sims
“ ‘Which side?’ ”
Billy Roberts
“They say, ‘Why don’t you put ketchup on your hotdogs?’ And I just walk away.”
Tony Galati
“In a small town of Austria, Oberndorf, we bought a souvenir from a store. A young guy asked us where we’re from, and we said, Chicago. ‘Oh, Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls!’ He was excited to talk to us. He gave us extra chocolate.”
Femia Penaredondo Rakstang
“ ‘I knew it! You talk nasally, your accent!’ When I say I’ve lived in Denver for 30 years, I’ve been told, ‘Yeah, but you still have that Chicago accent.’ ”
Barbara Wheeler Troxel
“I know you miss the food.”
Chumoni Barnett
“When I lived in California for 25 years, the most common responses were ‘Do you miss deep dish pizza?’, ‘I love Chicago, but it’s so windy’ and ‘Midwestern people are so nice.’ “
Marilyn Mueller, Jefferson Park
“ ‘How can you live in Chicago when the winters are so cold?’ ”
Laurey Tussing, 54, Wilmette
A woman walks in the middle of Glenlake Avenue in Edgewater after a snowstorm.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Sun-Times
” ‘Oh! I love Chicago!’ “
Shirlee Berman
“They bring up Al Capone or the violence in Chicago like that’s the only place violence occurs.”
Tony Williams
When they say ‘Chicago’ but mean suburbia
“If they are from a suburb, they begin to clarify they aren’t from the city. If they are from the city, the conversation moves to what neighborhood and high school.”
Earvin Young
“I used to drive a tour bus in Las Vegas. If someone was from Chicago, I would ask where, and their whole face would change. They knew they were caught. Then, they would tell me someplace that you would only know if you’re from Chicago.”
Dwayne Bennett
Identifying a fellow Chicagoan
“If they pronounce Paulina and Devon correctly.”
Erin McGovern
“The accent!”
Lisa Marie Lukaszewski
“Winter doesn’t bother them.”
Danny Aponte
“The neighborhood they are from.”
Tiffany Banks-Williams
“Putting up your hand when walking or driving in an intersection.”
Veronica