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Do not mention Scranton? Are you trying to give me a stroke!
All kidding aside, I think it is important to promote other medium-sized Rust Belt cities that used to be American industrial power houses but have now fallen off the face of the earth in terms of popularity.
Pittsburgh, PA has to be one of the nation's most chronically "forgotten" cities. With a population of 300,000 in a metropolitan area of around 2.5 million, the region is only a fraction of its former size, but it still packs quite a cultural punch. The population loss in Pittsburgh might actually be viewed as a mixed blessing because professional sporting events, freeways, parades, concerts, etc. are all less crowded and congested than they are in other cities. I'd love to post a few images of the Pittsburgh skyline to help "wow" you all, but I was given an infraction the last time I did so.
Youngstown, OH is practically the high-crime sister city of Scranton. The populations are similar. Both cities have a higher percentage of "whiners" than "boosters." Both cities also have some beautiful historic neighborhoods, nice shade trees, and families who have had homesteads firmly entrenched and established for generations. I think Youngstown's strategic position between Pittsburgh and Cleveland will benefit its impending revival in the same sense that Scranton's proximity to New York City and Philadelphia has begun to benefit it.
Binghamton, NY is a city that has an image that trails what I saw when I visited as a first-time tourist last year to do a comprehensive photo tour of the city, which is also the home of late Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling. I saw a downtown replete with historic brick buildings that, while largely vacant, could VERY easily be renovated into wonderful showplaces to house niche boutiques, sidewalks cafes, etc. to cater to the downtown's rebirth.
Chicago is the city of broad shoulders
- it is where the first steel skyscraper was built (1885), has usually been home to tallest building in US
- currently building the Western Hemisphere's first 2000 feet tall building
- population of city proper grew from 29,000 in 1850 to 3.6 million in 1950
- the Labor Day holiday was formed to honor the 7 people executed for helping workers unionize in Chicago's Forest Park
See? People helping people. I do really like Louisville. Approaching from the north, with the city spread along the river, it really is a sight to see. I pass through there a few times a year, and have stopped a few times to spend some time in the town. A very cool town.
I actually think Dallas is bigger than Houston...I just think metros are more accurate than arbitrary city propers.
What is the boundary between Philadelphia MSA and the New York City MSA in Central Jersey? Kinda arbitrary if you ask me. Second of all why should cop-out suburbanites count? The only time MSAs matter is when we are making markets based on radio propagation.
Now off to the original question: Los Angeles. Vibrant, exciting, huge, diverse, and unique for a city and state surrounded by the Wild Wild West. Famous for it's entertainment industry and less known as an important place for the auto, aerospace, and oil industries.
miami - south beach, north beach, miami proper, key biscayne. latin flavor. tropical. can't get a bad mojito if you tried. only 2+ hrs away by plane. great beaches. and the skyline is as good as any i've seen outside of nyc.
What is the boundary between Philadelphia MSA and the New York City MSA in Central Jersey? Kinda arbitrary if you ask me. Second of all why should cop-out suburbanites count? The only time MSAs matter is when we are making markets based on radio propagation.
Pittsburgh's region is not just a fraction of it's normal size. Yes the city population itself did lose population, but the region has lost some, but it isn't a fraction.
This city has a great lakefront. It is home to some large fortune 500 companies, it has so much history and culture, and the canals that run through the downtown, the restaurants that sit on the canals, its one great city. It gets overlooked a lot because of its big neighbor to the south. Chicago gets all the attention.
I live in Baltimore but will throw a shout out to Milwaukee:
1. The beautiful parkland all along the lakefront is unreal. It is great for biking, hiking, swimming, people watching and I even skied down there in the winter.
2. The downtown area is quiet but has many beautiful older buildings that give the city an air of dignity.
3. The great food all over along with a bar on every corner.
4. Biking can be accomplished all along the shore. I biked to Racine toward the south and Port Washington toward the north.
5. Cooler weather right along the lakefront in the summertime.
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