Chicago Is No. 1 at These 12 Things. Suck It, Every Other City.

We know Chicago is the greatest city known to man -- it's not like we need any validation from outsiders... although it is nice to have your ass kissed once in a while. Or 12 times in a while. So here are 12 recent polls and studies that place the Second City second to none (excluding our in-house Thrillist lists; that would be insider trading or collusion or something).

So the next time someone asks how you can put up with all this stuff, hit them with any of these reasons.

Chicago drinking
Flickr/Kendra

From throwback Prohibition-era bars to new micro-gastro-brew-pub-taverns, no one can drink like the people of Chicago and, according to GQ, we’ve just hit our boozy stride.

funny chicago
Flickr/John W. Iwanski

[witty commentary goes here]

Chicago blackhawks logo
Flickr/Matt Lilek

As if hoisting three of Lord Stanley’s Cups in the past six seasons wasn't enough (it's not!), The Hockey News went ahead and named the Blackhawks' logo the best in the league for its "vibrant color combination and the respectful way it honors a WWI battalion and a Native American chief." In your face, Carolina Hurricanes' Toilet Bowl logo.

Uberx
Flickr/Derek Clark

The next time you curse to the heavens over surge pricing, know that, overall, we have cheaper UberX rates than anywhere in the country. For the same 10-mile, 20-minute ride you’re paying around $15 for in Chicago, some jerk in the Hamptons is paying more than $60.

ditka mustache
Flickr/Eric B.

Chicago is America's most mustache-friendly city, and we have you to thank for it, Mike Ditka.

Moving truck
Flickr/Daniel Hoherd

Transplants are jumping ship from other metro areas (see: hot garbage NYC) and making Chicago the most popular moving destination in the US.

Chicago pizza
Sean Cooley/Thrillist

We’ve got a healthy (or unhealthy, depends how you look at it) respect for pizza of all shapes and sizes, and that makes us the best. Pay no attention to Providence, RI, finishing second.

Art Institute
Flickr/JR P

Guggenheim, Shmuggenheim.

rats chicago
Flickr/Chris Freeland

Live-action Ratatouille opportunities abound.

bed bugs
Flickr/get directly down

Hey, wait a second, that also sucks. Damn you, Orkin!

sunda bloody mary
Rockit Ranch Productions

Now that’s more like it. Our track record of ridiculous Bloody Marys and breakfast food concoctions speaks for itself.

tipping
Flickr/Brandie Heinel

Some people don't believe in tipping (mostly just Mr. Pink and Dave Infante). Luckily they don’t live here, because, with 63% of customers tipping an average of 16.7% gratuity, we're the most generous tippers out of any major US city.

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This article was originally published on October 21, 2014.