Downtown Battle: Philadelphia vs Boston vs DC (state, largest, compared)

[TheWereRabbit]

I'd say

NYC
Chicago
Boston
SF
DC

I have never spent any serious time in Philly so can't accurately place it, but it obvious fits in somewhere with these 5 as the top 6 downtowns.

We can argue about placement of 2-6 all day, but the bottom line is we know what the top 6 downtowns are.

[DC's Finest]

Downtown DC is twice the (physical) size of Downtown Boston and Center City

Restaurants - DC (More options than Philly and Boston)
Food Trucks/Food Stands - Philly
Museums - DC
Art Scene - DC National Gallery of Art
Diversity - DC
Vibrancy - Philly
Pedestrian Friendly - Tie
Transportation - DC then Boston
Architecture - Tie
Work Force - DC
Skyline - Philly
Cleanliness - Boston
Nightlife - DC (Philly nightlife sucks) Everything closes at 2:00 a.m.
Hotels - DC
Housing Stock - Tie
Shopping - Boston
Parks/Squares - National Mall
Live Music Venues - Don't Know
Tourist Attractions - DC

[BigCityDreamer]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

Downtown DC is twice the (physical) size of Downtown Boston and Center City

Restaurants - DC (More options than Philly and Boston)
Food Trucks/Food Stands - Philly
Museums - DC
Art Scene - DC National Gallery of Art
Diversity - DC
Vibrancy - Philly
Pedestrian Friendly - Tie
Transportation - DC then Boston
Architecture - Tie
Work Force - DC
Skyline - Philly
Cleanliness - Boston
Nightlife - DC (Philly nightlife sucks) Everything closes at 2:00 a.m.
Hotels - DC
Housing Stock - Tie
Shopping - Boston
Parks/Squares - National Mall
Live Music Venues - Don't Know
Tourist Attractions - DC

I'd say this is a fair assessment - except for nightlife, as Boston seemed more interesting than DC. Actually, architecturally DC is also ahead of Philadelphia and Boston if you take into account the federal buildings, memorials and National Cathedral. The American Institute of Architects ranks 6 of DC's structures in the top 10 of America's favorite architecture.

DC's downtown is a case where looks can be deceiving because it doesn't have skyscrapers and has low-rise buildings and federal buildings instead. But the facts reveal DC's downtown is actually very competitive with Philadelphia and Boston.

[TheWereRabbit]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

I'd say this is a fair assessment - except for nightlife, as Boston seemed more interesting than DC.

DCs nightlife must be pretty stagnant...

[DC's Finest]

DC'S nightlife is much better than Boston's. No comparison.

[BigCityDreamer]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

DC'S nightlife is much better than Boston's. No comparison.

Okay, I admit I'm not up to date on this. It's been some years since I experienced the nightlife in either city, except for Georgetown on Halloween and New Years if you count that. I'm not big on clubs and bars these days. Got a family. So, it's hard for me to assess.

[tmac9wr]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

DC'S nightlife is much better than Boston's. No comparison.

Boston's downtown nightlife is considerably better than DC's. No comparison. DC's downtown is beautiful...but nightlife isn't an area downtown DC thrives in. The overall nightlife of DC is good, but remember we're comparing downtowns. Downtown DC is a ghost town at night.

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

Downtown DC is twice the (physical) size of Downtown Boston and Center City

Restaurants - DC (More options than Philly and Boston) Philly. The overwhelming majority of DC's best restaurants are not downtown...unless, of course, the Oceanaire, McCormick and Schmick's, and Rose Mexicana are your idea of great restaurants.
Food Trucks/Food Stands - Philly. Agreed.
Museums - DC Personally, I like the PMA better than the National Art Gallery. It's like comparing Pier 1 Imports to Thomasville. But to each his own.
Art Scene - DC National Gallery of Art. Totally disagree. There's way more art and artists living in CC than DC. Philadelphia Art Galleries: Philadelphia Art Galleries and Museums - Philly Gallery Guide
Diversity - DC I don't know how you measure the diversity of a DT, but I'd give this to Philly or Boston simply because of the size of their Chinatowns.
Vibrancy - Philly Agreed
Pedestrian Friendly - Tie Yep
Transportation - DC then Boston I'do go with Boston after the completion of the Big Dig stuff. I was glad when they completed the Silver Line
Architecture - Tie between Boston and Philly, slight edge to Boston. DC's DT is too sterile.
Work Force - DC Does this just mean size?
Skyline - Philly I like the Prudential Center and the big Citgo sign near Fenway, so it's a tie b/w Philly and Boston for me
Cleanliness - Boston I say DC. They wash the sidewalks at night and there are trashcans on every corner
Nightlife - DC (Philly nightlife sucks) Everything closes at 2:00 a.m. Tremont St is more happenin than any street in downtown DC
Hotels - DC Uhh...I don't know about this one. I never stay in hotels, but this would probably be DC or Boston
Housing Stock - Tie Downtown DC is almost entirely new construction . Beacon Hill and Society Hill crush anything in Downtown DC
Shopping - Boston Yep...because of Newbury St and Copley
Parks/Squares - National Mall Rittenhouse Square is more exciting than the Mall.
Live Music Venues - Don't Know
Tourist Attractions - DC Agreed

Overall, DC has the worst downtown of the three.

[BajanYankee]

Chinatown DC



Chinatown Boston



Chinatown Philly

[BajanYankee]

McPherson Square (DC)



Boston Common



Rittenhouse Square (Philly)