The Great Iowa Street Expedition: A Quest Not for Longitude, But for Latitude!
Ah, Chicago. City of wind, of deep dish delights, and apparently, a geographical enigma. You see, folks, I recently embarked on a mission of the utmost importance: to determine how far north Iowa Street stretches in the Windy City. Now, you might be thinking, "Isn't that a simple question? Just whip out a map and voila!" But my friends, this is where the plot thickens (and possibly involves a rogue tumbleweed).
East is East, and West is...Also West, But Maybe a Touch More North?
Chicago, in its infinite wisdom, decided to bless us with not one, but two Iowa Streets. One runs nice and neat along the west side of town, while the other takes a more leisurely stroll on the east side. Now, for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of directional dominance, this might seem like a trivial detail. But for the intrepid explorer (me), it presented a conundrum worthy of Indiana Jones (minus the fedora and bullwhip).
Consulting the Oracle (of Google Maps)
Naturally, I first consulted the almighty Google Maps, the undisputed cartographer of our digital age. But to my surprise, the answer wasn't a definitive north-south measurement. Instead, I was greeted with a plethora of addresses, each with its own numerical claim to fame. 3200 North? 5730 North? My head started to spin faster than a deep dish on a tourist's fork.
Taking to the Streets (Figuratively, No Taxis Were Harmed)
Determined to crack the code, I decided to delve deeper. I ventured into the wild world of Chicago forums, where residents with usernames like "Da Bears Fan" and "Windy City Wanderer" debated the true northness of Iowa Street with the fervor of a presidential debate. One user, claiming to be a retired cartographer (though their avatar was a suspiciously pixelated picture of a hot dog), insisted Iowa Street reached all the way to the Canadian border (unfounded rumour, folks, unless Canada has a serious hankering for Chicago-style pizza).
The Verdict: North is a State of Mind (and Maybe a Little Bit of a Map)
In the end, my quest for the ultimate "northness" of Iowa Street wasn't about a single number. It was a journey of discovery, a hilarious exploration of Chicago's street system, and a testament to the never-ending quest for knowledge (or at least some mildly interesting trivia). So, the next time you find yourself pondering the geographical peculiarities of the Second City, remember: north might be a direction, but it's also a state of mind. And who knows, maybe you'll even stumble upon your own quirky adventure along the way.
P.S. If you ever do find yourself at the absolute northernmost tip of Iowa Street (in either east or west side glory), please send photographic evidence. For science, of course.
