NYT Greatest City on Earth?

[wgerrard]

Very few of us have the time and money needed to finance an renting an apartment for a few months to see if we like a city. We either visit them for a few days or are swept into them by jobs and careers.

Among the things a city an provide, I know what are important to me and what are not. I judge a city -- as a possible place of residence -- by my ease of access to those things, whether on foot, by car, bus, or subway. An easy drive beats an obnoxious subway ride, and vice versa.

Much of an individual's preference for one city versus another is emotional. I don't particularly like NYC, but that's my taste. I lived for 20 years in the near D.C. suburbs, and haven't had a desire to return to the suburbs or the city since I left, but the place is certainly jampacked with amenities and is one of the few places in the States where a life without a car -- one of my long-time fantasies -- can be successfully managed. I like Boston, San Francisco, Toronto, and London, to which I'd likely move if only my income would magically double.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Very few of us have the time and money needed to finance an renting an apartment for a few months to see if we like a city. We either visit them for a few days or are swept into them by jobs and careers.

Exactly. And if we can't adapt to the good, and bypass the bad, it's our problem.

You can get to know anywhere, with time. But to confuse getting to know somewhere with what a place is like as compared with anywhere else, is grievously parochial. I love my village, but I am sure that there are many villages as good. I suspect there may be a few places that offer a better compromise, e.g. Arles (though I'm not sure). Choosing a city on the basis of branch libraries, on the assumption there are no other good libraries anywhere in the world, seems... well... parochial.

Cheers,

R

 

[Bobbie]

Parochial?

Is this "the word of the day"?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Parochial?

Is this "the word of the day"?

No, but it's the best word to describe people who imagine that their own parish (precinct, village, whatever) has a monopoly on excellence. NYC? OK. London? OK. Delhi? OK. St. Petersburg? OK. Paris? OK. But anyone -- New Yorker, Londoner, Parisian, whatever -- who thinks their city is THE BEST, simply because they are used to it, is being parochial and naive.

As are those who think that big cities are better than the countryside, or small towns better than either, etc. As with choice of focal length, it's personal choice. The trouble is, big city dwellers (the post originally read, 'New Yorkers') all too often tend to assume an air of superiority, for no defensible reason. The same is true of those who get up early and go to bed early, as against those who get up late and go to bed late. I suspect it may be something to do with puritanism and a dislike of comfort or peace and quiet.

Cheers,

R.

 

[kxl]

I'm out here on the left coast, but used to travel quite a bit to NYC on business. For the longest time, I thought "the city" referred specifically to Manhattan.

In any case, NYC as "the city" is implied just from the fact that another great US city is sometimes referred to as the "Second City."

Of course, for pure hedonsim, neither one compares to "Sin City."

 

[wgerrard]

I've lived in a number of places in the U.S. as well as in the UK, the Middle East and southern Africa. My less-than-profound conclusion is that big cities in each of those places are remarkably similar. They have much to offer and they have much that irritates. One's affection for a particular big city may well depend, I suspect, on one's tolerance of the irritations that must be endured to get to the good parts.

 

[FPjohn]

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/08/a...-again-the-best-defense.html?pagewanted=print

New Yorkers have a parochial view of the world - with themselves at the center of it. Steinberg's map has altered in detail but not perspective.

I have know Londoners, Parisians, Neapolitans, Edinburgunians and Haligonians. All are defined, proudly, by their citizenship of a city. I suspect Italy of being a polity of city states still.

I led a parochial life for over two decades as an Isthmusian.

We can let the New Yorkers alone.

yours
FPJ

 

[Silva Lining]

Slightly left-field, but I always believe that, in the UK at least, the definition of a CITY was a town that had its own cathedral. Hence relatively small towns like Wells in Somerset are actually Cities. Also the Queen, if she so wishes, can grant city status to a town, which is how my better half's home town of Newry, Norn Iron has become a CITY...

Me, well I was born in the country but moved to London, (Not the City of London though!) I love London it's a truly great city for so many reasons, not all of them good. I also love New York and have spent some time there and hope to spend some more, but my favourite city would probably be Edinburgh......

 

[Gumby]

Personally speaking, I eschew (my candidate for the new "word of the day") parochial discussions about home towns. But I thought NYC was known as "The Naked City" and "Gotham City". How many different names does that place need?

 

[wgerrard]

Slightly left-field, but I always believe that, in the UK at least, the definition of a CITY was a town that had its own cathedral. Hence relatively small towns like Wells in Somerset are actually Cities. Also the Queen, if she so wishes, can grant city status to a town, which is how my better half's home town of Newry, Norn Iron has become a CITY...

Me, well I was born in the country but moved to London, (Not the City of London though!) I love London it's a truly great city for so many reasons, not all of them good. I also love New York and have spent some time there and hope to spend some more, but my favourite city would probably be Edinburgh......

As far as I know, you are correct about the cathedral thing, although I don't know if that has any legal impact.

Here in the States, I believe the individual states determine who gets the city brand and who doesn't.

 

[Bobbie]

Paris is also called the City.

No way. Paris (France) is a town.
In French "Citie" or "Cité" equates with "The projects" or in the UK a "Council estate".


In UK English when people refer to "The City" it is not London but only the business/financial district: The City of Westminster.


I LOVE NEW YORK.

 

[Eric T]

New York is truly a great city.
But my favorite is Sydney, Australia.

 

[ZeissFan]

I've been lucky enough to live and/or work in Los Angeles, New York, Texas, Maine, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Germany, London, Brussels, Hong Kong and Beijing, as well as spend time in a lot of other places.

The more you see, the more you want to see, and after a while, you begin to realize that every place has its good and bad, interesting and dull. I've always felt grateful to have been able to see all of these places and always look forward to seeing more before I check out -- lens first, hopefully.

 

[ZeissFan]

Here in the States, I believe the individual states determine who gets the city brand and who doesn't.

That's right. It's more of a legal definition, according to that municipality's bylaws, charter and such. That's why there are hamlets, boroughs, municipalities and cities and other designations.

 

[Damaso]

I'd have to agree.... but then again I was born here...

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

I have know Londoners, Parisians, Neapolitans, Edinburgunians and Haligonians. All are defined, proudly, by their citizenship of a city. I suspect Italy of being a polity of city states still.

Halifax, Nova Scotia? Surely not! Dartmouthians (the Brooklyn of Halifax) perhaps ... 😀

 

[Silva Lining]

In UK English when people refer to "The City" it is not London but only the business/financial district: The City of Westminster.

No, its not. The City of Westminster is quite distinct from the City of London (which does contain the financial district).

Westminster was until 17th Century a separate settlement from the Walled City of London and was based around Westminster Abbey (hence its city status),

The City of London is based around the Cathedral of St Paul and contains the Square Mile or financial district.

These two cities along with Southwark form the three original settlements that grew in to modern day London.
Sorry to be pedantic😱

 

[zeezea]

I just don`t understand what this whole controversy is about. If it`s printed in the NYT, then it must be true.🙄

Regards

 

[Trius]

You guys slay me. First off, everyone knows Toronto is the centre of the universe.

Secondly, the best city is NO CITY, i.e. where the flock do you think your food , lumber and iron ore come from? Unless you have an urban farm and enough vegetation to offset your CO2 production, why talk about you superiority?

 

[Gumby]

Unless you have an urban farm and enough vegetation to offset your CO2 production, why talk about you superiority?

Good point. I'll stop breathing.
















On second thought... maybe I'll just skip every tenth breath to reduce my useless CO2 production.