Age: 27.

Occupation: Project manager.

Family Members: My husband, Martin.

I’ve lived here for: Five years.

I live here because: Chicago is a large city with a small-town feel.

My neighborhood: Lincoln Square.

My favorite restaurant: Topo Gigio ( www.topogigiochicago.com).

If you go to this restaurant, be sure to order: Conchiglie alla Sarda (seashell pasta in a tomato-and-cream sauce with sausage, peas, and Pecorino).

My favorite tourist destination: The Art Institute of Chicago (www.artic.edu).

Best insider spot: The Lincoln Park Lagoon (312-742-7529). Rent swan paddleboats and enjoy great views of downtown. Frolic around the lagoon, which is right next to the zoo.

Best place to go shopping: Armitage Avenue, in Lincoln Park, ranges from high-end trendy boutiques to consignment shops.

When you visit, don’t forget to pack: Hand and body cream, because of the dry air.

But leave room in your suitcase for: State Street Frango mints.

The one local cuisine you should try when you’re in town is: Deep-dish pizza.

The best way to get around: Take the “L” train.

The one thing most outsiders don’t know about this city is: It was nicknamed “the Windy City” because of the long-winded and boastful speeches of Chicago politicians throughout history.

I tell my friends to stay at: Hotel Burnham (www.burnhamhotel.com). This is a four-star hotel and one of the first glass-and-steel buildings in Chicago. It is centrally located and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

If I had to describe this city in one word, it would be: Charming.

They say “Virginia is for lovers.” So fill in the blank: Chicago is for...culture and fun with a midwestern flair.