Wednesday, November 16, 2005

It's called the Windy City 'cause it's windy, stupid

Hooray, it's winter in Chicago. For those of you not lucky enough to be enjoying today's 25 degree weather with sustained 25 mph winds gusting to 35 (making it feel like 9 degrees outside for those keeping count), here's some fun filled Chicago trivia for you:

Those in the know will tell you that Chicago got its nickname not because of the winds, but because of the hot air coming from her policitians. Specifically, that it was coined by New York Sun editor Charles Dana in an article about Chicago's bid for the World's Columbian Exposition circa 1893.

Well, those in the know are wrong. Even the Chicago Public Library weighs in. Well, according to the CPL, no one has located a copy of the original editorial Dana wrote that supposedly coined the phrase. At the very least, it was in use far before the 1893 Exposition popularized it nationwide.

Now I'm no etymologist, but geez, you think maybe the nickname started because of the wind? The freezing cold, horrible wind?!?

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