Nussbaum at BusinessWeek makes a case that Chicago is the most innovative city in America:

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/

He talks about several major initiatives by the city government as well as the IIT Design center, but does not mention the CME center for financial innovation or the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame:

http://www.cmegroup.com/company/center-for-innovation/

http://www.uic.edu/cba/ies/ehf.html

And to top it off the Cubs and Sox are both in first place…and the Bulls have a new coach and first draft pick…and the Bears of course are on the cusp.  All of this my first summer NOT in Chicago…