America's Favorite Cities

[ClendonRoss]

Rankings from a Travel + Leisure survey:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/amer...te-cities/2011

Take the rankings for what they're worth, but it's interesting because you can look at the rankings breakdown of each city or compare cities head-to-head.

The funniest part to me about this was looking at the rankings for Dallas. In every single category, the residents of Dallas ranked the city higher than the visitors did. (I didn't see any other city where that was the case.) The best example: in the People category, Dallas residents rated themselves the 10th most Attractive, while visitors ranked them No. 32!

[Bitterwhiteguy]

Dallas is such a clusterf*ck.

[PFD]

Originally Posted by Bitterwhiteguy

Dallas is such a clusterf*ck.

Did I understand from a prior post that you're in Addison?

[Bitterwhiteguy]

Originally Posted by PFD

Did I understand from a prior post that you're in Addison?

I have lived there, but I'm not there now. I've lived in Dallas, Garland, Addison, & Plano to this point.

[PFD]

Originally Posted by Bitterwhiteguy

I have lived there, but I'm not there now. I've lived in Dallas, Garland, Addison, & Plano to this point.

Out of curiosity, in what part of Dallas did you live?

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I've generally found criticisms of the "214" from "972" people to be rather empty.

[Bitterwhiteguy]

Originally Posted by PFD

Out of curiosity, in what part of Dallas did you live?

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I've generally found criticisms of the "214" from "972" people to be rather empty.

I lived in a terrible part, near Northwest Highway & Skillman. That's not the only thing that forms my opinion of the town though, it's everything from Deep Ellum to Fair Park to 635 to the bike lanes(or complete lack thereof) amongst other things that formed my opinion.

For the record, when I say 'Dallas' I'm speaking about everything east of DFW airport. This isn't me sh*tting on Dallas proper & thinking The Colony or Anna is better or something like that; I haven't been a fan of the metroplex for years. I only stayed this long because of the girlfriend, I would've been back in Austin years ago if I was still single. If you like this town, awesome. Many people obviously love the place, it just didn't agree with me. It has its good things, but about the only things I'll miss when I move are The Ticket & Fuel City Tacos.

[TENHORN]

Originally Posted by ClendonRoss

Rankings from a Travel + Leisure survey:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/amer...te-cities/2011

Take the rankings for what they're worth, but it's interesting because you can look at the rankings breakdown of each city or compare cities head-to-head.

The funniest part to me about this was looking at the rankings for Dallas. In every single category, the residents of Dallas ranked the city higher than the visitors did. (I didn't see any other city where that was the case.) The best example: in the People category, Dallas residents rated themselves the 10th most Attractive, while visitors ranked them No. 32!

Nashville area people were ranked much more attractive than Dallas people. I will remain humble about my contribution to that.

[ClendonRoss]

Originally Posted by TENHORN

Nashville area people were ranked much more attractive than Dallas people. I will remain humble about my contribution to that.

I'd say the likes of Nicole Kidman and Taylor Swift have a lot more to do with it than you do!

[PFD]

Originally Posted by Bitterwhiteguy

If you like this town, awesome. Many people obviously love the place, it just didn't agree with me. It has its good things, but about the only things I'll miss when I move are The Ticket & Fuel City Tacos.

Some days I like living in Dallas. Some days I don't. I simply see Dallas for what it is. It's a place that's driven primarily by money and ego, of which there are a lot of silly and embarrassing symptoms. It does, however, have lots of upside, too, e.g., pro sports (and, as you noted, entertaining sports talk radio); great restaurants; arts & culture (Meyerson, Winspear, SMU's Tate lectures, etc.); etc.

IMO, the key to being content in a place like the Metroplex is finding a neighborhood or a town that suits your style. For me, that's east Dallas/Lake Highlands. There is a sense of community, much less pretense than other parts of Dallas, lots of outdoor recreational opportunities in and around White Rock, and plenty of good, non-"chain" places to have a meal or a beer.

My wife and I used to think that we wanted to get back to Austin. However, as I get older and begin to raise a family, I like east Dallas more and more. By contrast, a number of my friends in places like Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth--cities that I would readily acknowledge as "cooler" than Dallas--complain often about the headaches of trying to make a living and raise a family in those cities.

So, I'll admit that my fondness for Dallas has increased over time, relative to other cities in Texas. I should also note that I get out of the Metroplex frequently, for work, for hunting & fishing, etc., so I get frequent breaks from all the concrete and traffic.

[PFD]

Originally Posted by ClendonRoss

The funniest part to me about this was looking at the rankings for Dallas. In every single category, the residents of Dallas ranked the city higher than the visitors did. (I didn't see any other city where that was the case.) The best example: in the People category, Dallas residents rated themselves the 10th most Attractive, while visitors ranked them No. 32!

Not surprising at all. Self-awareness is in short supply around here.

[SAhornfan]

Originally Posted by PFD

Some days I like living in Dallas. Some days I don't. I simply see Dallas for what it is. It's a place that's driven primarily by money and ego, of which there are a lot of silly and embarrassing symptoms. It does, however, have lots of upside, too, e.g., pro sports (and, as you noted, entertaining sports talk radio); great restaurants; arts & culture (Meyerson, Winspear, SMU's Tate lectures, etc.); etc.

IMO, the key to being content in a place like the Metroplex is finding a neighborhood or a town that suits your style. For me, that's east Dallas/Lake Highlands. There is a sense of community, much less pretense than other parts of Dallas, lots of outdoor recreational opportunities in and around White Rock, and plenty of good, non-"chain" places to have a meal or a beer.

My wife and I used to think that we wanted to get back to Austin. However, as I get older and begin to raise a family, I like east Dallas more and more. By contrast, a number of my friends in places like Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth--cities that I would readily acknowledge as "cooler" than Dallas--complain often about the headaches of trying to make a living and raise a family in those cities.

So, I'll admit that my fondness for Dallas has increased over time, relative to other cities in Texas. I should also note that I get out of the Metroplex frequently, for work, for hunting & fishing, etc., so I get frequent breaks from all the concrete and traffic.

Of all the Texas cities, San Antonio is the most conducive to raising a family, unless you live out 281 north of 1604.

[Bitterwhiteguy]

Dallas was just named the worst cycling city in American by Bicycling Magazine:

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2...-country.html/

[SAhornfan]

Originally Posted by Bitterwhiteguy

Dallas was just named the worst cycling city in American by Bicycling Magazine:

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2...-country.html/

Instead of defecting to Austin, maybe you should stay in Dallas and work to rectify the situation.

[Bitterwhiteguy]

Originally Posted by SAhornfan

Instead of defecting to Austin, maybe you should stay in Dallas and work to rectify the situation.

Why do you hate me?

[mdhorn]

Originally Posted by PFD

Some days I like living in Dallas. Some days I don't. I simply see Dallas for what it is. It's a place that's driven primarily by money and ego, of which there are a lot of silly and embarrassing symptoms. It does, however, have lots of upside, too, e.g., pro sports (and, as you noted, entertaining sports talk radio); great restaurants; arts & culture (Meyerson, Winspear, SMU's Tate lectures, etc.); etc.

IMO, the key to being content in a place like the Metroplex is finding a neighborhood or a town that suits your style. For me, that's east Dallas/Lake Highlands. There is a sense of community, much less pretense than other parts of Dallas, lots of outdoor recreational opportunities in and around White Rock, and plenty of good, non-"chain" places to have a meal or a beer.

My wife and I used to think that we wanted to get back to Austin. However, as I get older and begin to raise a family, I like east Dallas more and more. By contrast, a number of my friends in places like Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth--cities that I would readily acknowledge as "cooler" than Dallas--complain often about the headaches of trying to make a living and raise a family in those cities.

So, I'll admit that my fondness for Dallas has increased over time, relative to other cities in Texas. I should also note that I get out of the Metroplex frequently, for work, for hunting & fishing, etc., so I get frequent breaks from all the concrete and traffic.

My wife loved teaching at Lake Highlands (Jr. High). I like Lakewood a lot and I enjoy a few bars and restaurants but overall, I'm glad I left. Too much driving and what was great about Austin and DC is that they are very walkable cities. Dallas--not so much. Fort Worth is underrated.

[mdhorn]

Richmond and Baltimore are two fine cities that are affordable and within striking distance of other places of interest. Richmond reminds me of Austin a while back--lots to do outdoors, outdoor concerts, great art museum, lots of artists, and lastly great non-chain restaurants and bars. You can get around most of the city by bicycle.

[SAhornfan]

Originally Posted by Bitterwhiteguy

Why do you hate me?

Don't feel like I'm singling you out; I hate everyone.

[golfhorn]

mdhorn,
I agree on Foat Wuth. I like that town.

[PFD]

Forth Worth is a great place. Great food, music, arts, sports, etc. But finding reasonably priced housing and/or good public schools in Fort Worth proper is very difficult. I've had several friends make the move from Dallas to Fort Worth in recent years, and they all lament these issues.

[AugustaHorn]

Originally Posted by mdhorn

Richmond and Baltimore are two fine cities that are affordable and within striking distance of other places of interest. Richmond reminds me of Austin a while back--lots to do outdoors, outdoor concerts, great art museum, lots of artists, and lastly great non-chain restaurants and bars. You can get around most of the city by bicycle.

I was born in Richmond, and lived there for the first 11+ years of my life. I've visited often since, and have noticed the overall improvements you've mentioned.

As for MY favorite city, it's easily Austin. Despite Austin's wild growth in recent decades, with its accompanying problems, Austin is still the best city in America IMHO.