October 11, 200816 yr Washington...I would even put up with the summers. The DC part of Washington, parts of it, is almost like an East Coast version of San Francisco...with a totally different climate and without the ociean. But it seems to have a somewhat similar cultural and insular feel, as well as both being very urbane.
October 11, 200816 yr Now THAT is just silly. Most large cities I've been to have MAJOR identity crises and have populations that don't understand the concept of community. Some cities are small, have great a great sense of community, but have very few amenities. Some cities are huge, have more amenities than would ever be needed, but have last all will to through a block party or have a community social. I happen to believe that there's a peak ratio for cities and that population lies somewhere around 1-2 million people. Please note that I'm using the metro area as the population of the city...so this would include places like Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Boston, Kansas City, Denver, and Portland. Now I know some of these cities fall outside that 1-2 million range, but I hope you get my point. Just because a place in considered by most to be the center of the universe, that does not make it the most livable and likable place. If I EVER had a choice between going to NYC or Grand Rapids, I would choose Grand Rapids in a heartbeat. I guess it all depends on how one defines city. To me nothing in the States can match up to NYC for its city-ness. Some places are indeed more livable, clean, less congested, etc. But to me that is what is to be expected in a city to a certain extent. I don't think it is unreasonable to say that most people use NYC as their benchmark for what a great city is to have. That in and of itself makes NYC #1.
October 11, 200816 yr For me it would be San Francisco or DC, just for the attractions, nightlife, and landscape. Chicago and Boston are up there, but Chicago loses on winter weather and Boston loses on the hard-shelled New England attitude. New York is definitely a great city, and in many ways, our truest city of all, but every time I visit I am ready to leave after a few days - too many people coming at you everwhere you go, and it almost makes me feel claustrophobic. Of course all these cities are the most expensive real estate markets in the country so that makes a move a little less enticing, considering any 20-30% bump would not make up for the double or triple home prices. BTW could the reference in the picture actually be meant for Megan Mullalley, whose character could "suck the alcohol from a deodorant stick"? I think she looks more like her.
October 11, 200816 yr Having been shamefully negligent of UO for the past few months, I thought I'd chime in. I lived in a few cities, but since I chose to live in San Francisco about 23 years ago and still do, this must be my favorite. Don't hate anywhere else, this is just home. It is walkable, has almost too much going on, is such a hodge podge of conflict and jumble of cultures that it fascinates me. I have friends visiting today from Columbus and I walked them until they could barely move, and we hardly saw anything the city has to offer. Plus it is physically beautiful. Occasionally it makes me frking crazy, but that is would be the same anywhere. I would chose Chicago as my second favorite, but the weather is just too much for me. One winter day would do me in. New York is like SF on steroids. Just too much of a good thing, and I would never have enough money to be happy there. I'm broke enough here! Still love Columbus though. Don't know why.....just do. Again, could never tolerate the weather.
October 11, 200816 yr The disparities of these cities is remarkable. I LOVE Cincinnati, and it is my hometown, but it doesn't hold water against cities like NYC, DC, Philly, SF, LA, or Chicago. I almost gagged when I saw two people make comments about Louisville as being their favorite. That's just silly. BTW, the reason I feel so strongly about NYC is that NYC is the city in America. Now THAT is just silly. Most large cities I've been to have MAJOR identity crises and have populations that don't understand the concept of community. Some cities are small, have great a great sense of community, but have very few amenities. Some cities are huge, have more amenities than would ever be needed, but have last all will to through a block party or have a community social. I happen to believe that there's a peak ratio for cities and that population lies somewhere around 1-2 million people. Please note that I'm using the metro area as the population of the city...so this would include places like Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Boston, Kansas City, Denver, and Potrland. Now I know some of these cities fall outside that 1-2 million range, but I hope you get my point. Just because a place in considered by most to be the center of the universe, that does not make it the most livable and likable place. If I EVER had a choice between going to NYC or Grand Rapids, I would choose Grand Rapids in a heartbeat. NYC has tons of block parties (though I'm sure there's a little more anonymity). They get sponsored by high profile people like Marc Ecko :-D
October 11, 200816 yr Having been shamefully negligent of UO for the past few months, I thought I'd chime in. I lived in a few cities, but since I chose to live in San Francisco about 23 years ago and still do, this must be my favorite. Don't hate anywhere else, this is just home. It is walkable, has almost too much going on, is such a hodge podge of conflict and jumble of cultures that it fascinates me. I have friends visiting today from Columbus and I walked them until they could barely move, and we hardly saw anything the city has to offer. Plus it is physically beautiful. Occasionally it makes me frking crazy, but that is would be the same anywhere. I would chose Chicago as my second favorite, but the weather is just too much for me. One winter day would do me in. New York is like SF on steroids. Just too much of a good thing, and I would never have enough money to be happy there. I'm broke enough here! Still love Columbus though. Don't know why.....just do. Again, could never tolerate the weather. Wah wah...wrong answer. This is the non-Ohio city thread. Unless you're talking about Columbus, IN which is pretty much the coolest city of it's size in the world.
October 11, 200816 yr ^You did read the rest of his response right...? He said SF is his favorite, Chicago # 2, and still loves Columbus.
October 18, 200816 yr San Diego is very nice. Clean for a big city, right on the ocean. Somewhat conservative due to a major military presence in the area. Has some of the best weather in the United States. Very close to Mexico if you want to take a trip and do some shopping. San Francisco is absolutely stunning architecturally. Surrounded on 3 sides by water, very hilly. A huge diversity of neighborhoods. Los Angeles is a major hell-hole.
October 19, 200816 yr Agree about LA, but mostly because of the traffic. It is just unreal. The city isn't pretty to begin with, and then the hassle of driving everywhere. There are busses and there is a rail system (which goes exactly nowhere), but you have to have a car there. People are surprisingly bad drivers for as much time as they spend behind the wheel.
October 19, 200816 yr Agree about LA, but mostly because of the traffic. It is just unreal. The city isn't pretty to begin with, and then the hassle of driving everywhere. There are busses and there is a rail system (which goes exactly nowhere), but you have to have a car there. People are surprisingly bad drivers for as much time as they spend behind the wheel. AMEN!!
October 22, 200816 yr I voted for other, because I can't really make up my mind. I've visited and really liked Denver, DC, Chicago and New York, but I don't like any of them enough to call them my favorite. I've visited and disliked a bunch of other cities on and off the list above. (If someone mentions El Paso, I'm going to get kicked off this board for my response to them.) Actually looking back at the list there's only a couple that I haven't been to. (or haven't spent enough time recently to clearly remember much about them.) Philly is kind of a crappy town in my mind, but its special to me for personal reasons. Colorado Springs and Santa Fe are nice cities, but I don't have any emotional attachment to them. I've lived in or near Savannah GA, Charleston SC, San Antonio TX, and Columbia SC any of which I'd be happy to visit again, (well, maybe not Columbia) but living there once was enough. Now, if someone wanted to poll favorite foreign city, that I could pick.
October 22, 200816 yr I voted for other, because I can't really make up my mind. I've visited and really liked Denver, DC, Chicago and New York, but I don't like any of them enough to call them my favorite. I've visited and disliked a bunch of other cities on and off the list above. (If someone mentions El Paso, I'm going to get kicked off this board for my response to them.) Actually looking back at the list there's only a couple that I haven't been to. (or haven't spent enough time recently to clearly remember much about them.) Philly is kind of a crappy town in my mind, but its special to me for personal reasons. Colorado Springs and Santa Fe are nice cities, but I don't have any emotional attachment to them. I've lived in or near Savannah GA, Charleston SC, San Antonio TX, and Columbia SC any of which I'd be happy to visit again, (well, maybe not Columbia) but living there once was enough. Now, if someone wanted to poll favorite foreign city, that I could pick. El Paso! YeeeHaaa! :evil:
October 23, 200816 yr I voted NYC. Hey, it's home, and my brother still lives in Brooklyn. There's just something very comfortable about being there for me.
October 23, 200816 yr I am going to give some play to Baltimore just because my friend lives there and I have always had a good time when I go down to visit him. Besides the ultra dense housing it really reminds me a lot of midwest industrial cities like Cleveland. Also I can stay with him, go out and then ride the MARC into DC in the morning when I have to go there for work. I still hate their football team though.
October 23, 200816 yr Let me get this straight... you moved to Ohio from New York City? Well, yeah (don't sound so surprised), but not as directly as you're making it out. Grew up in NYC (caveat: actually Staten Island, which while technically NYC, isn't exactly Manhattan), my folks moved upstate during my teen years, I went to college at Syracuse, and then followed my now wife out here. So I've been traveling the NYS Thruway / Rt 90 my entire life. Also, keep in mind I'm now married w/ 3 kids. NYC is a fantastic place, but not necessarily one where I'd look to raise a family of 5. Cost prohibitive for one thing, and a little more frenetic a lifestyle pace than I want at this point in my life.
October 23, 200816 yr CHARLESTON S.C. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 23, 200816 yr El Paso! YeeeHaaa! :evil: :shoot: LMAO! I bet a shoot out is exactly what El Paso was like! LOL
October 23, 200816 yr CHARLESTON S.C. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Architecturally speaking, it's awesome! At least I didn't say Charlotte! :wink:
October 24, 200816 yr CHARLESTON S.C. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Architecturally speaking, it's awesome! At least I didn't say Charlotte! :wink: You got a good point. Sorry I forgot about that, I was just on the mindset of thinking that Charleston was another southern boomtown. A southern boomtowm with character is one that I can respect.
October 24, 200816 yr I am in Houston now and it sucks! Except the food. I like Texmex and BBQ I warned you.
October 24, 200816 yr Let me get this straight... you moved to Ohio from New York City? Well, yeah (don't sound so surprised), but not as directly as you're making it out. Grew up in NYC (caveat: actually Staten Island, which while technically NYC, isn't exactly Manhattan), my folks moved upstate during my teen years, I went to college at Syracuse, and then followed my now wife out here. So I've been traveling the NYS Thruway / Rt 90 my entire life. Also, keep in mind I'm now married w/ 3 kids. NYC is a fantastic place, but not necessarily one where I'd look to raise a family of 5. Cost prohibitive for one thing, and a little more frenetic a lifestyle pace than I want at this point in my life. That's a legit reason. I respect you for having kids and doing what's in their best interest and putting them first. The only way I'd raise kids in the city is if it was in a decent neighborhood with a reasonable amount of space and certainly thats hard as hell to do in a city like New York, even if you're making bookoo money.
October 25, 200816 yr That's a legit reason. I respect you for having kids and doing what's in their best interest and putting them first. The only way I'd raise kids in the city is if it was in a decent neighborhood with a reasonable amount of space and certainly thats hard as hell to do in a city like New York, even if you're making bookoo money. The outer boros and North Jersey are so very different than manhattan. It's possible to raise a child in many neighborhoods. Now raising children plus ad in a "quality of life" aspect....now thats a different story.
October 25, 200816 yr (If someone mentions El Paso, I'm going to get kicked off this board for my response to them.) well....you didn't look back on this thread before you said that did you? but don't get thrown off the board!
October 27, 200816 yr OMG, the potential VP of this country got her credentials from THAT building? Another pick city of mine is Kenosha WI. Proving that rail works in cities of ANY size.
October 28, 200816 yr That's a legit reason. I respect you for having kids and doing what's in their best interest and putting them first. The only way I'd raise kids in the city is if it was in a decent neighborhood with a reasonable amount of space and certainly thats hard as hell to do in a city like New York, even if you're making bookoo money. The outer boros and North Jersey are so very different than manhattan. It's possible to raise a child in many neighborhoods. Now raising children plus ad in a "quality of life" aspect....now thats a different story. It's certainly do-able. My good friend lives in Harlem with his wife a 2 kids, and my brother lives in Bensonhurst with his wife and daughter. My brother actually owns a free standing house with a garage, etc. It's not huge (about 1200 sf), but it's in a nice neighborhood, and his inlaws live right down the street, so they help with the kid. Staten Island also has a lot of free standing houses / yards, etc., while still maintaining a decent amount of density. I loved it as a kid. I had a park a block away, could walk to any number of places (including school), and a bunch of friends within a couple blocks.
October 28, 200816 yr It's certainly do-able. My good friend lives in Harlem with his wife a 2 kids, and my brother lives in Bensonhurst with his wife and daughter. My brother actually owns a free standing house with a garage, etc. It's not huge (about 1200 sf), but it's in a nice neighborhood, and his inlaws live right down the street, so they help with the kid. Yeah but Central Harlem is out of reach for everyday, middle class families to own. You can still find a deal in Spanish Harlem, Sugar Hill or Washington Hts. But even Eastern Washington Hts. that's adjacent to Central Harlem has gotten expensive. There is a brownstone near me listed in the 2.5 million range (and I didn't pay that even after my top to bottom renovation) and condos listed at $800k for approx. 1k square feet. It's crazy. Staten Island also has a lot of free standing houses / yards, etc., while still maintaining a decent amount of density. I loved it as a kid. I had a park a block away, could walk to any number of places (including school), and a bunch of friends within a couple blocks. and dont forget you also had that dump! :-D
October 28, 200816 yr I haven't visited enough to give an informed vote. I've traveled through more Canadian and Mexican cities than I have American. For example, I've been to the New York and Los Angeles of Canada (Toronto), but have yet to visit either of it American counterparts. East to west, I've been to Boston (haven't been since I was a young teenager, don't remember a whole lot) Worcester (Downtown only), DC, Cleveland, Columbus (duh), Cincinnati, Louisville, Chicago, and San Antonio. Driven through a couple others, but that doesn't count.
October 28, 200816 yr I haven't visited enough to give an informed vote. I've traveled through more Canadian and Mexican cities than I have American. For example, I've been to the New York and Los Angeles of Canada (Toronto), but have yet to visit either of it American counterparts. East to west, I've been to Boston (haven't been since I was a young teenager, don't remember a whole lot) Worcester (Downtown only), DC, Cleveland, Columbus (duh), Cincinnati, Louisville, Chicago, and San Antonio. Driven through a couple others, but that doesn't count. Sugar you gotta get out more. Live a little! :wink:
October 28, 200816 yr (If someone mentions El Paso, I'm going to get kicked off this board for my response to them.) well....you didn't look back on this thread before you said that did you? but don't get thrown off the board! Actually I did look back but apparently I missed your comment. Its been a couple days so I will now say as politely as I can that either; we have had very vastly different experiences with that city, we have very different ideas of what consitutes a pleasant city, El Paso has changed dramatically for the better in the decade since I last visited, or you're on crack.
October 28, 200816 yr ^ :laugh: so were you by chance in the military in el paso? i have recently taken a passing interest in armour, south dakota. it seems they have a pretty cool old movie theater there :clap: http://www.armoursd.com/lorain.html
October 29, 200816 yr I´m sorry. Armour, South Dakota is a troll answer. Everyone knows Pierre is where it´s at.
October 30, 200816 yr ^ Bismarck, ND, baby. Hands down. It has the Aliens Grill & Bar. Finest eating establishment emulating a space ship in which you will ever eat. I was there a number of years ago for work. At the car rental place at the airport, I asked the lady at the counter where my hotel was, and she replied. "oohhh, it's way on the other side of town", so I got in my car, drove through the center of town, and was at the hotel in 3 minutes.
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