[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by norcal2k19

Not sure why Boston is put on a pedestal here besides the concentration of universities. It's nightlife is mediocre and for a place with such a hub of education, it really lacks in creativity and the ability to think beyond its own borders (surprisingly a bit of a provincial place - I find New Haven and Providence more worldly in their own ways at times).

I suggest CT takes a look at many examples (including but definitely not limited to Boston) to study how we can improve innovation in this state and then execute on that well. The good news is that the quality of life in CT is already at a high bar yet we must innovate as well.

Lol what. Boston is the second most innovative city in the US after The Bay Area? This post just sounds mad.

Boston isnt my favorite city, but I know a lot about it. And this really isnt true.

[masssachoicetts]

JayCT... yes! CT has the second best agglomeration of universities from the college belt. From New Haven to Amherst the area is loaded with GREAT universities. CT should capatilize on this.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Lol what. Boston is the second most innovative city in the US after The Bay Area? This post just sounds mad.

Boston isnt my favorite city, but I know a lot about it. And this really isnt true.

NorCal once said New Haven had the best art scene in New England. And CT has never been in better shape.... Its gets weird.

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

NorCal once said New Haven had the best art scene in New England. And CT has never been in better shape.... Its gets weird.

Well people in FFC aren't really totally in the New England circle, I don't expect them to know a whole lot about New England bar FFC. Its more in the NYC sphere, so judgement usually is centered around a NYC POV over a New England POV. A lot are just transplants from the five boroughs + Westchester County. What exactly would they know about Boston or other New England spots? While they are in New England, at the same time, thats not their focus.

[CTREInvestor]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

JayCT... yes! CT has the second best agglomeration of universities from the college belt. From New Haven to Amherst the area is loaded with GREAT universities. CT should capatilize on this.

How did Boston "capitalize on this"?

[CTREInvestor]

If the economic climate is so great due to our universities, why do the overwhelming majority of graduates leave the state permanently? I'm really perplexed by this discussion. It's pretty clear that recent college graduates are voting with their feet.

[CTREInvestor]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Wesleyan, Fairfield, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, University of Hartford, etc. These are pretty highly rated by US News. It may be the one of the highest concentration of universities in the country. Jay

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/ct

Sacred Heart is primarily a commuter school. Come on. What does that school have to do with the economic climate of the state?

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by CTREInvestor

If the economic climate is so great due to our universities, why do the overwhelming majority of graduates leave the state permanently? I'm really perplexed by this discussion. It's pretty clear that recent college graduates are voting with their feet.

Curious. Where do you see overwhelming majority of grads leaving CT?

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Well people in FFC aren't really totally in the New England circle, I don't expect them to know a whole lot about New England bar FFC. Its more in the NYC sphere, so judgement usually is centered around a NYC POV over a New England POV. A lot are just transplants from the five boroughs + Westchester County. What exactly would they know about Boston or other New England spots? While they are in New England, at the same time, thats not their focus.

No, I get that totally but its like..cmon man. New Haven is a fine city for sure but Boston doesn't have peer or competitor cities until you get to Philadelphia 5 hours away. We sometimes elevate a place like Providence or Portland for food or nightlife but the reality is that because they have a lot less to offer besides those things so they become central to the identity. The way you are introduced to those smaller cities and the way you interact with them is very different. In Boston, visitors are much more likely to be interacting witht hee city specifically for work or school. Less likely to be the case in Portland or New Haven which are smaller employment basins and have fewer schools. If you go up to like Portland its probably specifically for food. Or for Providence its specifically for nightlife.

Whereas Boston has a different central identity and its much larger and varied. But its offerings in nightlife, and dining are still much deeper than other cities in New England due to the sheer scale and ethnic diversity. Most of us here haven't even been to all parts of Boston let alone touched onto all its unique arts, and food. This is applicable to me too I just found out about another Afrobeats/Hip Hop Night club Montien, which is a Thai Bar by day. In another thread, I just found out about Ruka a Peruvian-Japense bar in Downtown Crossing. Im in Downtown Crossing all day for year- never heard of it. As we talk about Arts Massachusetts is the only state in America with a State-funded public arts universitity

For someone down in FFC their comparing everything ot NYC and theres very little chance theyve delved deep enough into Bosotn to understand who ProBlakc is, what the Boston youth Mural Crew is, have visited the ICA , the National Museum of African American Arts, the Sound Factory.


One example- https://www.fiftygrande.com/a-guide-...on-street-art/
Boston usually conjures images of college campuses in the fall, revolutionary scenes from the country’s earliest history or more modern moments from that famous baseball park. It also has a history as a beacon for the arts, but lesser known is rough and tumble graffiti past. More recently, Boston has come into its own as a global mural destination. Visitors can find great fine-art galleries concentrated in Boston’s South End neighborhood, but the city’s public art scene requires an entire metro-wide adventure.

The city government also keep a mural map, with images https://www.boston.gov/departments/a...ston-mural-map

And an urban arts park: https://streetartchat.com/undergroun...rban-art-park/

All things that should be looked up before making definitve statements. And should be considered when discussing attracting and retaining young talent in New England and why Boston is the head honcho for the region.


As for FFC and its relation to the rest of CT it has become clear to me that people in the state and outside the state have an overreliance on using that County to gauge attitudes and prosperity within the state as a whole.


Back to the point. The Economic Climate of CT would be helped expeditiously if it could find a way to minimize the impact of competition with larger states and cities that have younger populations and if it could increase synergy, regional planning, and corporate connections with MA as well as NYC and NY. The corporations follow young talent, and innovation. If you are going to compete then that goes back to my point about creating a unique niche and activating natural advantages MA NJNY might be overlooking or taking one to their weaknesses and making it a strength of CT and broadcasting it to the world over. But the political will has to be there. I think in this new, disrupted world. Governments will have to force action due to the sheer unpredictability of Markets and the world today in general. This goes for MA too, maybe even more, no more coasting off past success.


One other thing I used to lament in CT and still hear to this day is so many of the good Concerts and shows skip CT and go to Boston or NYC. Some do stop by the XL Center, the Casino and I think theres some outdoor amphitheater in CT too... but I do notice oftentimes the entirety of CT is skipped.

[SteveM85]

Can we just start a "How great is Boston" thread?