The Loop is Chicago's center -- its cultural capital and political focal point -- and, along with the Near North, in the mind of many, the Loop is Chicago. Not to sleight the dozens of exciting neighborhoods surrounding it (enclaves some locals refer to as the "real" Chicago), the Loop area is without doubt the core and hub of all things Chicago, including the Sears Tower, the Art Institute, and manifold historical and architectural treasures. Buckingham Fountain and newly-completed Millennium Park lie to its east, while the river lines its west and north. [More]
