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I always wondered why the rivalry between NYC and Boston considering that Philly is larger than Boston and a lot closer to NYC. Does anyone have an explanation?
Boston is considered to be more "cosmopolitan" than Philadelphia. The erudite Harvard/Back Bay/Beacon Hill gentry is comparable to the upper-crusty East Side Manhattanite.
They were also the first two cities to build subways in North America.
And the first two cities to build major infrastructure.
Philadelphia rounded out the third, but it came much later.
They were basically the first two 'major' cities in the United States. Boston was actually considered to be more significant
(banking, financial), in the early 19th century. Then New York passed them up, in finance, in infrastructure, and obviously in population, and Beantown's been, very grudgingly, in New York's shadow ever since.
Then of course, there's baseball.
The rivalry is sorta one-sided. In the 18th and part of the 19th century, Boston wore the crown.
New York took the crown.
Boston will (realistically speaking) never get it back.
Boston hates New York.
Philly was always sort of a one horse town, way back then. Industrial, not really a mover and shaker during the 19th century.
It was kinda like the original Cleveland, or Detroit, so to speak. Industrial, manufacturing, and not much else.
I'll still take Philly over Boston any day, though. It's alot more fun, not nearly as uptight and snooty, and those
cheesesteaks and hoagies are oh so GOOD!
To be fair to Philadelphia though its Center City area is becoming one of the most affluent in the nation with housing costs that rival those of some Manhattan neighborhoods and more high-rises cropping up each year. I think Center City Philadelphia could easily rival Boston's Beacon Hill. A lot of white-collars are now moving to Greater Philadelphia and then hopping a train to commute back to work in Greater New York City. If anything these two cities will merge to form a very large combined statistical area (CSA) by about 2020 or 2030 as so many folks commute between both cities. By doing so the new New York City/Philadelphia CSA will easily be the largest in the nation for many years to come.
From my observation, Philadelphia has more of a national recognition than Boston. I have traveled to many cities and everyone immediately knows about Philadelphia when I tell them it's my former home town. Boston on the other hand is quite different. Most people, outside of New Yorkers and Philadelphians do not know very much about Boston at all. In my opinion, Boston is one of those cities that you don't really appreciate or realize how large or cosmopolitian it is until you go there to visit. Then, one realizes " wow, Boston is a big city". At least that's how it was for me. For years I followed Celtics/Philadelphia Basketball and for some reason, thought Boston was a small "whole-in-the-wall" town....until I made a visit.
Now, to answer the original question...I believe the rivalry between Boston and New York than Philadelphia (in sports, economy, etc) has a lot to do with the large Irish influence and presence which both cities shared during the early years. I believe Bostonians and New Yorkers recornize that and gravitate toward each other. Being from Philadelpia, I can hardly distinguish the difference between a New York and Boston accent.
SWB you're right. Center City is sizzling. Monster condos are going up everywhere which offen start at $800K. Street life is booming and Philly's becoming a world city in terms of its restaurant quality. Walnut Street trumps Boston's Newbury (sp?) street in terms of foo-foo shoping/dining, although Philly's struggling with only 1 achor department store: Macy's in John Wanamaker's historic space @ Center Square (though now downsized to 3 measly retail floors)... And the fact that Philly sits btw NYC and DC on Amtrak's Acela line is bringing more and more businesses to town... Yet, even though the arts are very strong, Philly will always have a New York inferiority in terms of arts; people will never appreciate theatre, for example, if all you have to do is drive up the turnpike or hop a train up to NYC and Broadway... And Philly, though better downtown, still has to address its Filthydelphia trash image; it's the dirtiest big city I know; New York included.
Philly was always sort of a one horse town, way back then. Industrial, not really a mover and shaker during the 19th century.
It was kinda like the original Cleveland, or Detroit, so to speak. Industrial, manufacturing, and not much else.
Hey watch it pal with the Cleveland bashing...though it has suffered a lot of Rust Belt problems and population loss w/ poverty, it's still one of the major arts towns in America, with an orchestra that rates above Philly's and an art museum that's at least comparable. And until Philly's spanking new Comcast tower edged out our Key Center, Cleveland had the tallest skyscraper btw New York and Chicago. And there's much more, too ... not bad for the alleged "Mistake by the Lake" sitting amidst Midwestern cornfields, eh?
Philly was always sort of a one horse town, way back then. Industrial, not really a mover and shaker during the 19th century. It was kinda like the original Cleveland, or Detroit, so to speak. Industrial, manufacturing, and not much else.
Hey watch it pal with the Cleveland bashing...though it has suffered a lot of Rust Belt problems and population loss w/ poverty, it's still one of the major arts towns in America, with an orchestra that rates above Philly's and an art museum that's at least comparable. And until Philly's spanking new Comcast tower edged out our Key Center, Cleveland had the tallest skyscraper btw New York and Chicago. And there's much more, too ... not bad for the alleged "Mistake by the Lake" sitting amidst Midwestern cornfields, eh?
My mistake.
Not trying to knock anyone's home town.
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