Although I am totally immersed in Chicago each time I visit I saw but never fully recognized the impact of the building going on around me. The cranes dotting the city skyline just sort of blended in with my surroundings. Every new trip showcased a new townhouse, condo, or restaurant. The new additions to McCormick Place which began as a slow sprawl have now taken over a good portion of South Loop, its impact huge on the economy in that area. Sometimes we get so lost in our daily routines that we fail to see the bigger picture taking place around us. Chicago has always been the leader of great architectural wonders and for the last decade or so has produced a rash of new construction throughout the city especially in South Loop. We are second city to none. We are Chicago.