[ConservativeMind]

My wife and I always visited the Water Tower Place, when visiting Chicago.

Michigan Avenue was a great draw, and we always walked it, and the surrounding area. Even with the occasional bums, they were always polite.

We don’t want to visit again and have our fond memories ruined.

[1Old Pro]

We don’t want to visit again and have our fond memories ruined.

I feel the same about D.C.

[nopardons]

We haven't been back for quite some time now ( long before the horrors took hold ), so I have my memories too.

When we moved to Chicago ( early '70s ), Michigan Ave. was quite different; no Water Tower Place, only two major department stores, lots of boutiques, small shops and exclusive stores. It was quite nice, but not a patch on Manhattan's Fifth Ave.!

Then things suddenly changed and it really did become 'THE MIRACLE MILE"; though still a far cry from Fifth Ave. in its GOLDEN period.

It was always a VERY safe and elite area; except for one summer Saturday, when the "garbage" invaded North Beach. But at least they weren't looting and shooting, and worse! And they were eventually made to leave when they began to get rowdy.

I wish that I had a time machine..........*sigh*; but we still have our memories.