Chicago is *gorgeous* in October. Perfect weather for walking around. The Symphony's back downtown. (I also associate October in Chicago with the beginning of fall quarter - a lovely, all-things-are-possible sensation of wanting to cram together a trip to Chinatown with poking around art museums with window-shopping along Michigan Avenue *in addition to* thinking one will get through all of the reading at a leisurely scholarly pace with time left over to take a train to the North Side to catch an improv show... :-)