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Whenver you think an American city (like Chicago) reflects any old world culture, you can be sure Toronto goes at least a step further. I think, in the US, Detroit might have the most conspicuous Greek Town.
I'm referring to a town on the gulf coasf of Florida settled by Greek sponge seekers. I visited the town a long time ago and it was nice. I hope they haven't turned it into a theme park.
I know, I've been there, walking down the street eating a hand-filled container of calamata olives bought from a street vendor. But even then (about 1980), it was getting very touristy. Took my kid out on the sponge boat to see the guy go down in the old-fashioned divers suit with lead boots like from the giant-clam movies.
My city, Melbourne, and it's not even up for debate. Melbourne's status as the largest Greek city outside Greece is well known. It's less obvious now ,but still obvious. I even live opposite a Greek Orthodox Church. There are many around the city, as well as Greek delis, butchers, restaurants, stores.etc. There's a Greek Precinct in the city and many areas that are heavily Greek with signs in Cyrillic everywhere.
My city, Melbourne, and it's not even up for debate. Melbourne's status as the largest Greek city outside Greece is well known. It's less obvious now ,but still obvious. I even live opposite a Greek Orthodox Church. There are many around the city, as well as Greek delis, butchers, restaurants, stores.etc. There's a Greek Precinct in the city and many areas that are heavily Greek with signs in Cyrillic everywhere.
I use to think this as well, but I've been to New York and they have all the same things as well, greek run diners everywhere, more greek restaurants than melbourne and the largest greek populated suburb in the world (astoria 17,000 greeks) by contrast melbourne's largest greek suburb oakleigh only has a little over 5,000 greeks, so i did a bit of research and it appears as though melbourne's greek pop has dipped in the last 20 years, I know many returned to Greece in the 90s, as it stands the New York metro area has more Greeks than Melbourne, of course it doesn't help that melbourne's original greek district only has 3 greek shops left, even the once heavily greek influenced neighbourhoods have been gentrified beyond recognition ( northcote/Brunswick), in addition to that New York still has a viable greek nightlife scene, in melbourne this basically died in the late 90s. New York also has the largest attended greek Independence Day parade and a local greek cable tv channel...we have nothing of the sort here.
Once upon a time melbourne apparently had 250-300k greeks, now it's dwindled down to around 150k, I'd say theirs very little to seperate the 2 cities nowadays in terms of greek influence. This topic really got me thinking when I was holidaying in Greece last year, it was very clear to me that the locals consider New York to be the main centre of the greek diaspora, when I'd mention melbourne they would look at me like I'm a weirdo.
NYC will often have the mostest of any emigrant nationality but that does not mean it has the biggest "feel" of the old country. It is probably too diverse and big to have the feel of any single country.
I would say Melbourne or New York. Both have BIG populations. Toronto has a pretty big community too.
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