SF vs NYC - please help (San Francisco, Oakland: moving, beaches, train)

[rickca]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

That's the reason why I like L.A. over S.F. I only like S.F. for cool temps unlike L.A.'s warm ones. But I wouldn't want to live in either those cities because of the location; they are in the West, the most dangerous place to live. Those wildfires are making me think twice about the West. They are great to visit but not to live in. I'll just visit California from Chicago once I move there. After all, it's much safer.

A wildfire has never threatened San Francisco, earthquakes sure but its way too damp on the peninsula for wildfires to ever be a danger.. they happen further inland.

[NYCBoy1212]

Originally Posted by kierbaudy

I'm contemplating a move to SF, have visited numerous times over the years. Although I love NYC where I live for the variety and being used to seeing people around, it's becoming more and more yuppie and less interesting. It is very safe now. I don't think the city of SF is as safe, especially at night. If you like the burbs, then the bay area is indeed a nice place to live. If you prefer the city life, NYC wins. Outdoor activities are much more accessible in SF and the year round weather is better. I think the food in SF is great, particularly the asian food.

Outdoor activities are much more accessible and we have way more activities and events. For the last two saturdays The Mayor closed 7 miles worth of NYC (manhattan) streets for the public it ends this saturday. Im going there this saturday to take a 7 mile hike. There are more locale events too. especially in the summer.

Summer Streets - Route

[astrozombies2]

what I am saying is , all of the things that made the city cool in the 70's,80's and maybe early 90's, have been moved out to the smaller areas outside of the city proper. Only the super rich can afford the living in the cool spots of manhattan (below 14th st) so due to the gentrification the city has lost its melting pot facet which made the city so interesting.

Manhattan is NYC everywhere else is not the city . JMO

read this

Gentrification as Benign Ethnic Cleansing - City Room - Metro - New York Times Blog

Originally Posted by tkindred

Hmm, Brooklyn is New York City, so don't get what you are saying. It is the most populated of the boroughs. I lived there for a little while. It was nice.

[hsw]

It's a subjective definition of what makes some people cool and interesting to be around....

Being poor or working as an "artist" may/may not be interesting to some....

Nearly all cities, incl NYC/SF, are far less economically/intellectually relevant than they were even 10-20 yrs ago....

In SF region, would argue vast majority of really smart guys live/work in SiliconValley and rarely bother visiting SF (in fact, many have a rather negative view of SF's IQ levels)...

Similarly, in NYC region, many rather smart hedge fund guys live/work in Greenwich and rarely visit Manhattan...

If any place becomes too costly/heavily taxed, too uninspiring, etc, in a dynamic economy, everyone, incl the rich/middle-class/poor, is free to move to more desirable places.....prefer to see people "vote" w/their feet and their dollars....

[SF1]

Originally Posted by rickca

A wildfire has never threatened San Francisco, earthquakes sure but its way too damp on the peninsula for wildfires to ever be a danger.. they happen further inland.

San Fransisco is the only place people where jackets in July

[CubsGiantsIndiansfan2008]

Wow. Some of the New Yorkers quotes are truly funny. I'm sorry the rest of us dumpy hick stupid redneck trailer trash Americans can not live in your wonderful beacon of light. You New Yorkers are the most hypocrtical creatures i've come across(that includes Republicans) Calliing us big headed. HA. I'm sorry some us like the fact that we know all the people who live on our streets or that we can see stars at night. And saying that San Francisco is a "small dump with nothing to do, no culture, and is not cosmpolition" WOW!!!

-San Francisco has wonderful public trasnportation, not just in the city, but also in the suburbs(I haven't used my car in three months), and unlike yours it's clean.

The Bay Area and NoCal:

Alcatraz Island • Cable Cars • City Hall • Cliff House • Coit Tower • F Market & Wharves Historic Streetcar Line • Ferry Building • Fort Mason • 49-Mile Scenic Drive • Ghirardelli Square • Golden Gate Bridge • Grace Cathedral • Lombard Street • Mission Dolores • Nob Hill • Painted Ladies • Pier 39 • San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge • San Francisco Public Library • Transamerica Pyramid
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco • Aquarium of the Bay • Cable Car Museum • California Academy of Sciences • California Palace of the Legion of Honor • Cartoon Art Museum • Chinese Historical Society of America Museum and Learning Center • Conservatory of Flowers • Contemporary Jewish Museum • De Young Museum • Exploratorium • Haas-Lilienthal House • International Museum of Women • Musée Mécanique • Museum of Performance & Design • Museum of the African Diaspora • Randall Museum • Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum • San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park • San Francisco Museum of Modern Art • San Francisco Railway Museum • USS Pampanito • Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts • Yerba Buena Center for the Arts • Zeum

[twotogo]

I have lived in Chicago, NY, and SF...I'm currently living in the SF Bay Area.
I'm surprised by some of the overgeneralizations about these three cities----and on a lot of these city forums...don't believe everything you read, unless it's from someone who has lived there and knows.
IF you are looking for the biggest, boldest, world-recognized and revered place on earth, move to NY. It has everything you would expect such a big city to have...a LOT of everything city. An enormous range of people---nice ones, not-so-nice ones, etc---along w an enormous range of theater, culture, shopping, etc. An experience of a lifetime, for many who live there.
IF you are looking for a tamer, more midwest version of big, move to Chicago. A city you can figure out in a matter of days rather than months. Maybe 25-30% of everything NYC has to offer.
IF you are NOT looking for a big city; just a really beautiful place to live that happens to have a a few mid-sized cities within reach (San Francisco, Oakland/Berkeley, San Jose) and range of jobs to keep yourself employed, then SF Bay Area may be for you. From a career standpoint, choose the Bay Area if you want to get into high-tech and ride that wave...hopping between Apple, Google, etc. I know it's an overgeneralization but, people generally don't choose the Bay Area to make it big in any other industries, as most large co's have far smaller 'outposts' in SF....from finance to advertising, etc.
In terms of people, I've found that anywhere there's a concentration of wealth, you will find a concentration of 'priviledged' behavior...self-centered snobbery. Some of this in all three cities, although here in the Bay Area it does seem to be more self-absorbed across economic classes than other places I've been. Maybe too much yoga or something in the froth of the organic lattes.

[CubsGiantsIndiansfan2008]

Saying San Francisco isn't a big city is like saying Bush is a good president.

[popalnet]

Originally Posted by twotogo

I have lived in Chicago, NY, and SF...I'm currently living in the SF Bay Area.
I'm surprised by some of the overgeneralizations about these three cities----and on a lot of these city forums...don't believe everything you read, unless it's from someone who has lived there and knows.
IF you are looking for the biggest, boldest, world-recognized and revered place on earth, move to NY. It has everything you would expect such a big city to have...a LOT of everything city. An enormous range of people---nice ones, not-so-nice ones, etc---along w an enormous range of theater, culture, shopping, etc. An experience of a lifetime, for many who live there.
IF you are looking for a tamer, more midwest version of big, move to Chicago. A city you can figure out in a matter of days rather than months. Maybe 25-30% of everything NYC has to offer.
IF you are NOT looking for a big city; just a really beautiful place to live that happens to have a a few mid-sized cities within reach (San Francisco, Oakland/Berkeley, San Jose) and range of jobs to keep yourself employed, then SF Bay Area may be for you. From a career standpoint, choose the Bay Area if you want to get into high-tech and ride that wave...hopping between Apple, Google, etc. I know it's an overgeneralization but, people generally don't choose the Bay Area to make it big in any other industries, as most large co's have far smaller 'outposts' in SF....from finance to advertising, etc.
In terms of people, I've found that anywhere there's a concentration of wealth, you will find a concentration of 'priviledged' behavior...self-centered snobbery. Some of this in all three cities, although here in the Bay Area it does seem to be more self-absorbed across economic classes than other places I've been. Maybe too much yoga or something in the froth of the organic lattes.

Well said! Much better and less offensive than the way I would voice my opinion. If weather constant mild weather is a top priority, then SF wins easily.

[popalnet]

Originally Posted by CubsGiantsIndiansfan2008

Saying San Francisco isn't a big city is like saying Bush is a good president.

That's a confusing response because if someone considers Bush a good president would think one thing versus someone who thinks Bush as a bad president. But since I'm for Obama I understand.

Comparing any city in America to NYC is going to make that city seem small. Even LA and Chicago is small compare to NYC. So SF is very small in relative terms to NYC.