The 'Windier' City?

[XNASA]

These billboards have been appearing in Chicago recently. They strike me as somewhat odd.

[KitchenWitch]

1. That is a rather "interesting" ad campaign

I know it is to spark tourism, but to me it seems kind of creepy.

[Little Wing]

2. dayum

I've never in my life ever had the remotest interest in visiting New Orleans. This certainly isn't helping.

[Fran Kubelik]

3. I felt the same way until I went there.

It's a fascinating city, though, filled with history. And good food.

[Fenris]

4. That's a rather morbid ad campaign.

"The winds here are so powerful that thousands upon thousands of people have been displaced; almost two thousand people are confirmed dead; and life as we know it has been altered, perhaps permanently. Come down and see us sometime!"

[hedgehog]

5. Everyone knows that the "Windier City" is

Buffalo, New York!

[lutefisk]

6. It's an aggressive ad campaign- showing "swagger"

I can see the thinking behind it, but the Chicago ads really are "creepy"

"Forever New Orleans" is an international branding campaign marking
a major shift in New Orleans hospitality marketing...

...A new series of advertisements to be used in outdoor and print
campaigns. Using headlines such as "New Orleans is Open. To Just
About Anything.", "Soul is Waterproof", "Old World, New Promise" and
other phrases, the advertising campaign is designed to celebrate a
spirit of swagger, showcasing the hospitality industry's confidence
in New Orleans as a destination, and appealing to the meetings
industry, travel trade professionals and the traveling public."

http://www.poe-news.com/features.php?feat=67454

http://www.neworleanscvb.com/index.cfm

[KamaAina]

7. Maybe they could have one on O'ahu that says

"Visit America's Newest Island". :P

It may seem morbid or creepy to you, but that is entirely in keeping with New Orleans' signature dark, twisted sense of humor. Mr. Bill (or at least his non-clay creators) is a local boy, while Harry Shearer is a part-timer.