The Next Portland, Austin, or Pittsburgh? (places, people, cons, size)
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Certain cities in this country have been "hip" and "trendy" in recent years. First it was Portland. Then Austin. Now Pittsburgh seems to be the recipient of much adoration and attention and has recently been the setting for movies and video games. What city do you feel will be the next to rise in national prominence and popularity, attracting hordes of younger educated job-seeking migrants, hipsters, and media praise?
Certain cities in this country have been "hip" and "trendy" in recent years. First it was Portland. Then Austin. Now Pittsburgh seems to be the recipient of much adoration and attention and has recently been the setting for movies and video games. What city do you feel will be the next to rise in national prominence and popularity, attracting hordes of younger educated job-seeking migrants, hipsters, and media praise?
Austin and Portland haven't reached a peak to gain that title. Pittsburgh still hasn't made the transition from being branded a steel manufacturing city to a progressive one as yet.
DC and SF will hold onto the criteria you mentioned. No cities have shown they are capable of competing with those two cities yet.
Austin and Portland haven't reached a peak to gain that title. Pittsburgh still hasn't made the transition from being branded a steel manufacturing city to a progressive one as yet.
DC and SF will hold onto the criteria you mentioned. No cities have shown they are capable of competing with those two cities yet.
I lived near DC for two years recently, and I certainly wouldn't classify it as being hip, exciting, creative, etc. in the same manner as people regard places like Portland, Austin, or Pittsburgh. I'll give you SF, although I feel like SF has matured whereas Portland, Austin, and Pittsburgh are all rising in terms of popularity with the "creative class". Anyone who still thinks of Pittsburgh as a "dying steel town" needs to get out more.
I simply don't see how Pittsburgh fits on the list next to Portland or Austin in terms of national "hip" reputation. Brooklyn (Williamsburg) has held that mantle recently. Portland is recognized mostly because of Portlandia. Austin has been hip for a long time, partly because of SXSW. San Fran has been a constant.
I haven't seen any city seriously on the rise. Most people still seem to move to NYC/San Fran/Austin and the Pac NWest at a much higher rate than elsewhere.
Pittsburgh is a very nice city and it's quite underrated, but I'm sorry - it's not in the same class as the above towns, and no one is moving across the country to Pittsburgh because of the arts. It doesn't really even hit above its weight when it comes to bands/arts/etc.
Good call on Asheville, though it has a long way to go before it's as powerful a magnet as some of the "usual suspects." Surprisingly, I know numerous people who have moved to Las Cruces, NM because of the weather/region/arts. I myself have never been there.
Also, Detroit and Memphis have consistently been "hip" spots with great bands and so forth, but they aren't a destination, it's about the local populace/culture/history.
Certain cities in this country have been "hip" and "trendy" in recent years. First it was Portland. Then Austin. Now Pittsburgh seems to be the recipient of much adoration and attention and has recently been the setting for movies and video games. What city do you feel will be the next to rise in national prominence and popularity, attracting hordes of younger educated job-seeking migrants, hipsters, and media praise?
There's a video game set in Pittsburgh? I'd like to check that out, sounds interesting...
As far as your question goes--maybe Milwaukee could be on the list... Though who really knows? Just look at mid-sized cities fairly close to already popular destinations with good older housing stock and somewhat historic neighborhoods that already have a sort of local artistic scene or colleges. Like Providence, Rhode Island or Richmond, Virginia.
One thing to remember is that Portland and Austin were attracting bohemians and artsy folks(both transplants and homegrown) for many many years before suddenly the New York Times figured they were worthy of national attention and the stream of transplants become a flood... I mean Austin had a music scene going back to the 1960s and earlier... It wasn't until recently though that the cities became more than just mid-sized cities/metros with a few funky neighborhoods and suddenly became yuppie tourist destinations...
There's a video game set in Pittsburgh? I'd like to check that out, sounds interesting...
As far as your question goes--maybe Milwaukee could be on the list... Though who really knows? Just look at mid-sized cities fairly close to already popular destinations with good older housing stock and somewhat historic neighborhoods that already have a sort of local artistic scene or colleges. Like Providence, Rhode Island or Richmond, Virginia.
One thing to remember is that Portland and Austin were attracting bohemians and artsy folks(both transplants and homegrown) for many many years before suddenly the New York Times figured they were worthy of national attention and the stream of transplants become a flood... I mean Austin had a music scene going back to the 1960s and earlier... It wasn't until recently though that the cities became more than just mid-sized cities/metros with a few funky neighborhoods and suddenly became yuppie tourist destinations...
Good call on Providence-forgot to mention it.
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