Boston vs Chicago vs SF vs Toronto vs Washington DC on sophistication (compare, parks)

[Ice Cream Man]

Please compare these cities in terms of sophistication. This would include wealthy suburbs, performing arts, education level, upscale dining, museums, shows, art, history of old money, politics, upscale parks, upscale shopping, fashion.

Please feel free to add in anymore as noted.

For U.S. cities only use their MSA's to be brcause they have more square miles than Toronto metro.

[the Instigator]

Oakland

[Mahatma X]

This is difficult. I feel as though all of these cities are tied.

[Ice Cream Man]

Originally Posted by the Instigator

Oakland

Lol, good one. You have me laughing.

Oakland is sophisticated as a government handout!

[BLAXTOR]

Boston

Especially old money but all of these cities are close IMHO

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by BLAXTOR

Boston

Especially old money but all of these cities are close IMHO

I picked Boston as well - though all are pretty sophisticated and generally on the same level.

[OyCrumbler]

NYC by sheer "amount" though not so great per capita-wise. Boston is great in both ways, though perhaps much more prominent in the past (Boston Brahmins).

[BajanYankee]

Which one has more billionaires?

Which one has more embassy parties?

Urban canyons?

Transit-oriented development around suburban rail stations?

Nightclubs with red carpet leading to the entrance?

Celebrity chefs from New York?

I'll vote based on the answers to those questions.

[Lucky Clover]

It's close, some of that criteria sticks out with certain cities, but when you take all of that criteria together, I just don't know. I'd like to say Toronto or SF, but I'm just not really sure.

[King of Kensington]

Washington certainly wins for education levels.