CL Best Cities

[Taeler]

I just got my CL and San Diego is not in the top 20 Best Cities?! How can this be? We are known for the most perfect weather in the world (that's not an exaggeration either) and everyone lives off of rabbit food cause half of them don't have enough sense to wear actual clothing (they just run around in various sized pieces of string). And we have beautiful Balboa Park, the most awesome zoo (a total workout) and the wild animal park (both dedicated to preservation and education). Then we have the gaslamp district downtown with exceptional restaurants and shopping. Yet Las Vegas and Minneapolis made the list?! Come on! :mad:

[stacy7272]

Weather is terribly important to me as well so I don't always think the cities they list are all that great but lists like these usually take into account job opportunities, school systems, and the like. I haven't seen the list so I don't know about that one but sometimes things that aren't important to you will be very important to the list makers.

San Diego is very expensive for one thing. That would count against it.

[mcgee]

I just got my CL and San Diego is not in the top 20 Best Cities?! How can this be? We are known for the most perfect weather in the world (that's not an exaggeration either) and everyone lives off of rabbit food cause half of them don't have enough sense to wear actual clothing (they just run around in various sized pieces of string). And we have beautiful Balboa Park, the most awesome zoo (a total workout) and the wild animal park (both dedicated to preservation and education). Then we have the gaslamp district downtown with exceptional restaurants and shopping. Yet Las Vegas and Minneapolis made the list?! Come on! :mad:

I haven't seen the article (haven't received Dec. or Jan yet :( )so don't know what criteria they used to come up with the list but, perhaps the high cost of living was a factor.

But I'm right there with ya - I looove San Diego. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area but would move to San Diego in a heartbeat.

[mcgeiger]

And they put St Louis in the top 20:confused: :confused: Have they been to St. Louis? Have they seen the people, the smoke, the overall horrible-for-you food (yes there are some good places, but they are not average), the lack of bike lanes outside of Forest Park????
:confused:

[sarah2397]

I have not seen the list but agree that San Diego is a great city. It's in my top 20!

[Grace]

I agree about St. Louis making the list. I saw that and thought :confused: :confused: I haven't been in a few years so I wondered if maybe things had changed recently? Apparently not - gotta wonder about that particular selection.....

[Varaile]

What's wrong with Minneapolis? :eek: Minnesota was recently rated the healthiest state in the nation by...drat, I forget which magazine. :mad:

Minneapolis and St. Paul have a huge network of biking/running/hiking trails, lots of places to swim in the summer, great food, and a thriving arts community to mention just a few great things. Even the winter activities are outdoor related with ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing being very popular. And the Twin Cities are within easy driving distance to a number of state parks and long distance biking trails.

Though I must admit I am surprised that San Franscico was omitted and St. Louis added! :confused:

Could somebody post the top 20 and some of the criteria they used? Maybe that would help clear up some of the confusion. :(

[Taeler]

What's wrong with Minneapolis? :eek: Minnesota was recently rated the healthiest state in the nation by...drat, I forget which magazine. :mad: . . .

Could somebody post the top 20 and some of the criteria they used? Maybe that would help clear up some of the confusion. :(


Forgive me, I knew I'd offend, but really . . . San Diego vs. Minneapolis :p

Here is the list in order from 1 to 20:

Seattle
Portland
Washington, D.C.
Minneapolis
San Francisco
Boston
Denver
Milwaukee (what is this about :confused: )
Philadelphia
Tucson (careful not to get sucked into any supernatural vortex here!)
Baltimore
Coloradon Springs
Pittsburgh (see Milwaukee)
St. Louis
New York
Atlanta
Austin
Las Vegas (don't even get me started, this is quite possibly my least favorite)
Kansas City

[SugarNSpice]

Taeler: I'm sure some people on this board really love Minneapolis and maybe even Milwaukee....I even like Las Vegas :rolleyes: Maybe San Diego didn't make the list because there are thousands of cities considered and only 20 spots available.

[Robyn1007]

Taeler: I'm sure some people on this board really love Minneapolis and maybe even Milwaukee....I even like Las Vegas :rolleyes: Maybe San Diego didn't make the list because there are thousands of cities considered and only 20 spots available.

I agree. Some may think San Diego's weather is perfect but personally, I would hate it because I like winter. I think it's very hard to judge a city based on perceptions, short visits and such as they don't give a true representation of what living there is like.

I am proud that two Colorado cities made the list and it is obvious when you live here. Most people are very active and even though I regularly ski and in the summer bike and swim I still feel like a lazy bum at times. :p In Denver there is a great restaurant and night life scene and they are actively growing the museum community (they just opened a new building a few months ago). I don't know what the criteria were (and I don't have my magazine here and haven't even opened it yet) so it's hard to say why San Diego didn't make it and other places did.

[stefania4]

My guess is that they have neither a large advertising client nor subscriber base in San Diego (and at least one of those two in St. Louis). Atlanta - my home - is plenty nice, BUT we have terrible air quality that literally sends me to the ER every July and August.

[jjsooner73]

I'm for one glad my city didn't turn up on the list. I don't want the secret to get out. :)


There are quite a few cities on there that I feel are nice places to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. I'd think San Diego's biggest drawback is the cost. I surely couldn't afford to own a house out there, at least not anywhere I'd want to live. We all have different preferences, which could explain the all very different cities--warm/cool, southern/northern, oceans/landlocked, etc.

[Canice]

These lists are generally meaningless because:

1. they're meaningless
2. as others have said, people have different tastes (I'm one who would choose Minneapolis over San Diego)
3. the criteria used may not be your own criteria
4. there's no room for nuance in these things
5. see reason #1 :p

[cookieee]

I just got my CL and San Diego is not in the top 20 Best Cities?! How can this be? We are known for the most perfect weather in the world (that's not an exaggeration either) and everyone lives off of rabbit food cause half of them don't have enough sense to wear actual clothing (they just run around in various sized pieces of string). And we have beautiful Balboa Park, the most awesome zoo (a total workout) and the wild animal park (both dedicated to preservation and education). Then we have the gaslamp district downtown with exceptional restaurants and shopping. Yet Las Vegas and Minneapolis made the list?! Come on! :mad:

And don't forget the nicest man on the BB, your own Sandy eggo Mike (Hammster) ;)

[SusanMac]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is this a list of? Best cities for what? Most magazines produce best cities for x (best for working moms, best for single life, best for entrepreneurs, best for outdoor sports). Since it's CL, I assume it's food related, but it could be grocery stores, restaurants, cooking groups, etc.

Can someone fill me in?

(P.S. I agree that San Diego doens't have perfect weather. Weather is a totally relative/subjective thing! And, while I hate Las Vegas, they have some phenomenal dining, so if that's what the list is, then I'm not surprised)

[tbb113]

Well...since they have SF, Washington DC, and NY on the list, cost of living surely wasn't included in their criteria ;)

[JLS]

Baltimore ??? I don't get how Baltimore could be ranked higher than Austin or Atlanta :confused:

[Kevlar]

The happiest day of my life was eighteen years ago, when we moved from Pittsburgh to San Diego county. Not that Pittsburgh isn't a lovely city with excellent education, medicine, great restaurants, culture, sports teams, etc, but the gray skies day after day were so hard to take.
Yesterday morning, I went for a run and later on started pruning my roses. What a perfect way to start the new year. Today the sky was again what I call "relentless blue." I am holding off on pruning some of the roses because they are still blooming!
Having grown up in Baltimore and lived all over the country, I have experienced plenty of seasons and shoveled many tons of snow. I guess I am lucky to live in a place where people come for vacation. :)

[Gumbeaux]

The choice of some of these cities is just not right.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/alphawolfau/Smileys/BS_flag.gif

[Kristilyn1]

I guess I am lucky to live in a place where people come for vacation. :)


I'm really glad you love your adopted home, but ummm, most of us live in areas where people come to vacation?! All year long even. We even run outside all year too! Again, not trying to knock your place----I think it's a fantastic area as well, but your take on it being perfect weather is purely subjective. Also, the traffic alone in Southern CA to me, makes it probably one of the last places I would want to live. But then, that's one of more than a few reasons why I don't live in Boston either!

Kristi

[Taeler]

Writing is a tricky thing, and a couple of you sound a little ticked, just a friendly reminder that most everyone loves their hometown, and a good many people simply can't stand other places! Don't take it too seriously ;)

On another note, did I mention that San Diego totally should have been #1 :D

I'll trade the traffic for the perfect weather any day :p

[Robyn1007]

Writing is a tricky thing, and a couple of you sound a little ticked, just a friendly reminder that most everyone loves their hometown, and a good many people simply can't stand other places! Don't take it too seriously ;)

On another note, did I mention that San Diego totally should have been #1 :D

I'll trade the traffic for the perfect weather any day :p

I think that what got me and others ticked is the negative comments about other cities. Saying you love San Diego and don't understand why it wasn't in the top 20 is very different than saying "careful not to get sucked into any supernatural vortex here!" regarding another city.

Oh, and I put up with challenges as well for what I believe is the perfect weather. (Says the woman who's been through 2 blizzards in 2 weeks, which is truly abnormal.) :D

[Goin' Coastal]

HMMM............nothing from Ohio.. Go figure.

[VictoriaL]

The happiest day of my life was eighteen years ago, when we moved from Pittsburgh to San Diego county.

You actually moved from Pittsburgh to San Diego?!?! How on earth did you manage not to die from happiness? Yes, I agree with the city's plusses but, for heavens sake, we get an average of 110 sunny days per year. And, walk down any street in almost part of the city-- unhealthy restaurants and lots of overweight people. Sure, we now have a Whole Foods and a TJs, but try to find a decent place to eat where you don't have to special request a relatively healthy meal.

Nope, this Pittsburgher (who has lived in the area for 25 years) says that there absolutely has to be better out there! CL wasn't looking too hard, were they?

[Canice]

I don't know which suprises me more, that you genuinely do not understand what's offensive in your comments, for example:
Forgive me, I knew I'd offend, but really . . . San Diego vs. Minneapolis :p

or that you put it down to "Writing is a tricky thing". As Robyn noted, saying, "Hey I *love* my hometown!" is one thing, feeling compelled to make unpleasant comments about other places to underscore your point is something else all together. It's really not tricky at all.

As you put it, "just a friendly reminder that most everyone loves their hometown...."

[Curiosity Hears]

You actually moved from Pittsburgh to San Diego?!?! How on earth did you manage not to die from happiness? Yes, I agree with the city's plusses but, for heavens sake, we get an average of 110 sunny days per year. And, walk down any street in almost part of the city-- unhealthy restaurants and lots of overweight people. Sure, we now have a Whole Foods and a TJs, but try to find a decent place to eat where you don't have to special request a relatively healthy meal.

Nope, this Pittsburgher (who has lived in the area for 25 years) says that there absolutely has to be better out there! CL wasn't looking too hard, were they?

Victoria, I must respectfully disagree with you. I am proudly from Pittsburgh and I really love it there. In my opinion it does deserve to be on the list it has much to offer. While I did move to southern California almost twenty years ago, I really miss it back there. The first ten years by the beach were great. Now I live a little further inland. As I get older I find I really miss the change of seasons and sometimes there can be just too much sunshine.

[Taeler]

Wow Robyn and Canice, I didn't even think of you guys when I said some people sounded ticked (And I mean that in all seriousness). In fact, Canice, I thought you hit the nail on the head with your first post (about these "best of" lists being meaningless) and I was just having a little fun. I think this suddenly got way too serious. There was a fairly obvious air of "Oh my ball team is better than yours! Go Lakers, Boo, boo "X" team" going on in lots of replies. Well, since you guys were so offended I offer you an apology.

[Hammster]

And don't forget the nicest man on the BB, your own Sandy eggo Mike (Hammster) ;)


:o :o Aw, gee thanks Cookieee. :o :o

I need to read that article and see what the criteria are so I can understand why certain cities were picked.
Altho, I must agree with Taelor, we do have a great city here. Dining isn't as great as some cities, but better than others.

[PAMMELA]

Plano didn't make the list??? :eek:

[Gumbeaux]

Obviously, the cost of living and real estate prices weren't considered. Some of the cities listed you'd have to be a millionaire to live there.

In my area you can buy a 2,700 sq. ft house on a two acre wooded lot, in a nice neighborhood for $160,000. Gasoline sells for $2.10 a gallon and the average commute is only 15-20 minutes.

[scout1222]

I was surprised San Diego didn't make it either, but then I read the criteria.

One of them (and the one I feel was what made us not as attractive) was that the city was accessible on foot - and maybe also mass transit, I can't recall for sure. That is definitely something we are not very good at.

Cost of living was not a factor in this article, by the way. I wish I had my issue with me so that I could post them.

[misskitty100]

In my area you can buy a 2,700 sq. ft house on a two acre wooded lot, in a nice neighborhood for $160,000. Gasoline sells for $2.10 a gallon and the average commute is only 15-20 minutes.

That would make my list!!! I kept trying to get DH to move south....

In this area the medium home price is about $450,000 and for all that money you could be the proud owner of a 30 year old home that probably hasn't been updated (think metal window frames, spongy/warped siding, 30 year old appliances etc) and live on a street where all the neighbors own 6 vehicles each but don't park any of them in their garages . :eek: I haven't gotten this issue yet but I am assuming CL left this part out???? :rolleyes: So, Seattle was number 1?

[hollysmom]

Obviously, the cost of living and real estate prices weren't considered. Some of the cities listed you'd have to be a millionaire to live there.

In my area you can buy a 2,700 sq. ft house on a two acre wooded lot, in a nice neighborhood for $160,000. Gasoline sells for $2.10 a gallon and the average commute is only 15-20 minutes.

If you don't mind the occasional hurricane :eek:

N'awlins will be a great city once again.

Houston is nothing to brag about - but you can afford to buy a house here, practice another language, and eat any type of foreign cuisine without leaving town (and in some cases, without leaving the SW side).

SSM

SSM

[Gumbeaux]

I'm on the northern end of the state, totally out of the hurricane zone.

Basically, the entire U.S. is in peril of some kind-tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and a lot of other stuff.

[leightx]

I'm surprised Austin made the list if mass transit was considered. Ours is horrible, and even through we have really nice hike and bike trails, it's not what I would call a "walking city". The food is outstanding though, and housing is more affordable than it is in CA (although home owners insurance is much higher, and taxes are too).

I love San Diego and am surprised it didn't make the list. And after spending a weekend in downtown St. Louis last year, I'm fairly shocked that it made the list. Maybe I just didn't see the nice parts of town. Wasn't it also recently rated as the most dangerous city in the US??

[Lauren]

In my area you can buy a 2,700 sq. ft house on a two acre wooded lot, in a nice neighborhood for $160,000. Gasoline sells for $2.10 a gallon and the average commute is only 15-20 minutes.

This is why I was just telling DH I would like to leave New England. But he reminded me about the summer humidity in the South. :eek:

[GingerPow]

What is the criteria here - has it been determined what this list is the "best" of?:confused:
Why did Raleigh, NC not make the list? That city is usually on everybody's list!

[slknight]

This is why I was just telling DH I would like to leave New England. But he reminded me about the summer humidity in the South. :eek:

Yeah, around here, 160K might not even get you a parking space for your car. :rolleyes: :p

http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/11/27/sold_1_open_air_parking_space_in_the_back_bay_for_ 250000/

Having grown up in Virginia though, I think I'd take the weather here almost any day over that wretched HHH (hazy, hot, and humid) weather.

[Robyn1007]

What is the criteria here - has it been determined what this list is the "best" of?:confused:
Why did Raleigh, NC not make the list? That city is usually on everybody's list!

It's a combination of a lot of different factors (cost of living NOT being one of them). I don't have the magazine in front of me so I can't say specifics.

[Lauren]

Yeah, around here, 160K might not even get you a parking space for your car. :rolleyes: :p

I don't know what the average house costs! :eek:

[cindy47031]

The Criteria were:

1. Does the city have critically acclaimed Food Professionals?
2. How do its restaurants rate?
3. Is organic dining part of the local dining scene?
4. How many chefs work there?
5. Do they earn more than a living wage?
6. How many farmer's markets?
7. Do residents make use of fresh produce?
8. Are gourmet ingredients available via national chains
9. Are residents in good health?
10. What are the cities with the lowest rates of diabetes?
11. What are the cities where residents maintain the healthiest weights?
12. How important is exercise to the cities residents?
13. How much greenspace does the city provide, and is it well maintained?
14. Is the city easy to explore on foot?

[Hammster]

The Criteria were:

1. Does the city have critically acclaimed Food Professionals?
2. How do its restaurants rate?
3. Is organic dining part of the local dining scene?
4. How many chefs work there?
5. Do they earn more than a living wage?
6. How many farmer's markets?
7. Do residents make use of fresh produce?
8. Are gourmet ingredients available via national chains
9. Are residents in good health?
10. What are the cities with the lowest rates of diabetes?
11. What are the cities where residents maintain the healthiest weights?
12. How important is exercise to the cities residents?
13. How much greenspace does the city provide, and is it well maintained?
14. Is the city easy to explore on foot?

The 14 criteria were then quantified from various sources such as the CDC, tourist bureaus, and other data gathering entities. So, they weren't just impressions or such but actual hard data that was then compiled to come up with the 20 cities. The criteria were then fit into Cooking Light's 3 main themes, eat smart, be fit and live well.

[DanaSD]

former San Diego resident poping in. Well the first 3 criteria explain why it wasn't on the list. While San Diego has some nice restaurants they're not best in the country and nothing original - most of the best ones have a great view. And while you can purchase organic food, the organic restaurants are limited.

I loved living in San Diego but don't miss the traffic or high cost of living. And the public transportation is horrible.

[GingerPow]

Okay - knowing the criteria for their picks now makes the list much more interesting and understandable. Thank you, Cindy and Hammster for clarifying.

I'm glad Philly is on that list - we have fun exploring the restaurants.

[Canice]

.... While San Diego has some nice restaurants they're not best in the country and nothing original - most of the best ones have a great view....

Well, that's interesting! It's a commom lament that the "view" restaurants in SF are generally terrible: midiocre-bad food, high prices, indifferent-poor service. Coincidentally, the notable exception is Greens -- organic and vegetarian.

[DanaSD]

By "best" I meant considered popularly know as a great restaurant but I think people are considering view as one of the factors. There are a few that have really good food (but not anything unique or best in the country) along with the view but definately in the pricey range.

[Rhi-Anon]

The Criteria were:

1. Does the city have critically acclaimed Food Professionals?
2. How do its restaurants rate?
3. Is organic dining part of the local dining scene?
4. How many chefs work there?
5. Do they earn more than a living wage?
6. How many farmer's markets?
7. Do residents make use of fresh produce?
8. Are gourmet ingredients available via national chains
9. Are residents in good health?
10. What are the cities with the lowest rates of diabetes?
11. What are the cities where residents maintain the healthiest weights?
12. How important is exercise to the cities residents?
13. How much greenspace does the city provide, and is it well maintained?
14. Is the city easy to explore on foot?

I was talking with my SIL today. She lives in Pittsburgh and was surprised to hear that the city came in 13th on this list. In fact, I read down this list of criteria and she had definite opinions about how Pittsburgh does not rank well in #'s 3, 9, 10, 11, and 12. And she laughed when I told her that CL singled out one restaurant, the LeMont. Apparently it's an older, stuffy restaurant, not very creative when it comes to using healthy ingredients (she owns a business and clients try to impress her by taking her there-- the view is excellent, though, she admits!).

She e-mailed me a link to one of her favorite restaurants and their anniversary menu. It looks as though, since CL mentioned the (1950's style) Steak Diane at the LeMont, they might have better typified the new-style of local cuisine by featuring this menu from a restaurant called Soba:

course one
Appetizer Trio

Pork Dumplings, Crispy Tofu, Barbeque Duck Maki Roll

course two
Pan Seared Bass

lump crab-potato rissole, tempura asparagus, spicy mango relish, cashew-basil coconut sauce

course three
Petite Filet Mignon

chili-garlic mashed potatoes, baby bok choy, roasted tomato-oyster sauce

course four
Cashew Terrine

chocolate ganache, mango and raspberry coulis

Makes me want to go and visit her... lack of sunshine and all! ;)