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I've heard both Philly and Chicago characterized as a "Mini-golf" New York City ( a rude way to put it, but possibly accurate, nonetheless).
Which city do you think fits this crude, but somewhat apt comparison. Chicago is obviously more midwestern and "brawling" as Carl Sanburg one described it. Philly's influence stems from both NYC and the mid-Atlantic, on top of it being a city in Pennsylvania (which has it's own regional influence).
I've heard the same said about San Fran, but I think that's malarkey. Density, bridges, and somewhat reliable public transportation don't immediately make a city "New York-ish," especially a city as unique as SF. Chicago and Philly get the comparison the most, however, so I'm focusing on these two.
The Loop/Downtown area of Chicago is similar to Manhattan but the rest of the city is not very similar to New York in anyway.
Most of Philly has some very strong similarities to NYC. Most of Philadelphia is similar to Brooklyn with sprinkles of Manhattan here and there while the Northeast section of the city is very comparable to Queens/Staten Island. Some areas of Philadelphia are unique to only Philadelphia, but some areas can be compared to other places though. Like for instance, Beacon Hill in Boston and Society Hill in Philly are VERY similar. Spruce Hill, Clark Park, Cedar Park neighborhoods in West Philly can be compared to areas of Pittsburgh or St. Louis. Manayunk is similar to some areas of San Francisco. So there can be comparisons made all over in any city, but overall Philly is most comparable to NYC.
Philadelphia would be the closest, but I don't think there's such a thing as a mini-NYC. The dynamics of this city are too one-of-a-kind.
Our country's other megacity, Los Angeles, is the same way. There aren't really any equivalent cities.
Sometimes I wonder if New York and Los Angeles are the way they are as a function of size responding to importance, or importance responding to size...
It's interesting that that the two most prominent cities in our nation are almost complete opposites. Apples and Oranges. I can't think of a greater difference between two cities than NY and LA.
It's interesting that that the two most prominent cities in our nation are almost complete opposites. Apples and Oranges. I can't think of a greater difference between two cities than NY and LA.
Boston and Jacksonville.
LA and NYC are definitely very different but there are plenty of cities that are mote different.
It's interesting that that the two most prominent cities in our nation are almost complete opposites. Apples and Oranges. I can't think of a greater difference between two cities than NY and LA.
I think it's just that NYC and LA are so high profile that there's a tendency to want to make them "x vs. y." In reality, nowhere else in the country is remotely like NYC. If anything, LA is more similar to NYC on a social/demographic/cultural level than most other places in the US. To me, it never makes sense to compare other american cities to NYC because there's really very little to compare on.
but yes, they really made it easy with the whole apples/oranges thing....
I think it's just that NYC and LA are so high profile that there's a tendency to want to make them "x vs. y." In reality, nowhere else in the country is remotely like NYC. If anything, LA is more similar to NYC on a social/demographic/cultural level than most other places in the US. To me, it never makes sense to compare other american cities to NYC because there's really very little to compare on.
but yes, they really made it easy with the whole apples/oranges thing....
Very little to compare on? You can compare on appearances and the way somewhere looks.
For example
Where is this?
Now where is this?
People make comparisons because of the similarity in appearances and the similarity of feel at street level. Not because of the cultural or economic impact of a city.
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