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What makes an American city a world class city?
In my view a world class city has:
-a population with a variety of interests.
-cultural activities (from conventional to controversial, where the latter is not held in some back room attended by no more than a dozen people). Music concerts for varied tastes. Art shows that exhibit art, not crafted (or mass produced) ornaments and decorations.
-cosmopolitan ( a variety of racial and ethnic origins, evident in events and foods).
-different religions and non-believers as well.
-produced well known intellectuals, not just sports stars and entertainment celebrities.
-(to me, very important) a window to the world, that is, the people take an interest in current events, other nations, and cultures. That local media reflects this attitude.
-educational institutions that signify more than providing sports action.
Maybe somebody can add to this list.
Do you think there are American cities that like to label themselves as world class without knowing what world class is?
world class cities should have economies and cultures that influence the world...
LA, NY, Chi
I'll second this. Most large groupings of people in the US fit the criteria Visvaldis lists to varying degrees. Omaha does, Des Moines does, but that doesn't mean I'd put any of those cities on the same status as London, Paris, Toyko, New York, etc... or even Boston, Seattle, Madrid, Sydney and so-on.
I think one thing that is factored in is name recognition, which I guess goes alongside having an influencial economy and culture. If you were to name some random Chinese city with a population of three million, the overwhelming majority of us would have no clue as to what the place was about. If you would go virtually anywhere in the world and say "Paris", "London", "New York", everyone would know what you're talking about.
I agree that Omaha fits all of those categories, but I also agree that its not up to the standards of world class cities.
I think most places fit the OP's list and that is where it is flawed. I also think it shows a degree of misunderstanding in larger communities as to the extent of amenities, diversity and general connectedness that exists in places beyond their urban islands. I'm not saying that anyone in this thread is doing that necessarily, but it is something that is seen on this forum regularly and this illustrates it well.
I'll second this. Most large groupings of people in the US fit the criteria Visvaldis lists to varying degrees. Omaha does, Des Moines does, but that doesn't mean I'd put any of those cities on the same status as London, Paris, Toyko, New York, etc... or even Boston, Seattle, Madrid, Sydney and so-on.
I think one thing that is factored in is name recognition, which I guess goes alongside having an influencial economy and culture. If you were to name some random Chinese city with a population of three million, the overwhelming majority of us would have no clue as to what the place was about. If you would go virtually anywhere in the world and say "Paris", "London", "New York", everyone would know what you're talking about.
Baltimore - John Hopkins, The Peabody, US Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame, Great Blacks in Wax, Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, H. L. Mencken, Cab Calloway (born elsewhere, but raised in Baltimore), etc.
Boston - Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston University, Art Institute of Boston, the Boston Pops, Aerosmith, 'Til Tuesday, etc.
New York City - Dealt with enough.
Philadelphia - Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute, Patti LaBelle, McCoy Tyner, Will Smith, Bill Cosby, etc.
I've been out much of the day so my mind is blanking.
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More of a small, plains, growing American city.
