what's your favourite city in the world, and why?

vodka

Miss Take
my favorite city is Portland. this is probably because i live here. but there are many reasons i like it. mostly it's just a feeling. it feels right.

i've been to some other cities, but not a lot of cities. i haven't liked them as much as i like Portland.

my mom said the only other city she could live in is San Francisco. i haven't been there but i hear it's very beautiful, however it is crowded and the traffic is bad.

no, you don't need a car to live in Portland. we don't have a sales tax. you don't have to pump your own gas. the tram is scary. it rains a lot. if you don't like rain don't move here, although the fall is very very beautiful. all the seasons are fairly mild, though.

if any of you decide to move here, let me know. i will buy you a cup of coffee.

also i think we were voted like the 'friendliest city for dogs' or something of that nature. that's good if you like dogs.
 
This is really a good question and one that's been on my mind a lot of late.

I've never been to Portland and the PNW but the region holds an allure for me. In 2003 I came thisclose to moving to Port Angeles in Washington state.

Six months shy of my 50th birthday, I've lived long enough to watch cities, and the infrastructure of major cities, change a lot over the decades. The problem with the last two cities I have spent a lot of time living in -- Los Angeles and my hometown, San Francisco -- is that both violate the fixed point rule: there is no center, no fixed point in L.A. or S.F. In Los Angeles, your center is usually the so-called "downtown" or shopping district of your community (and there's a lot of communities to choose from in L.A.) In San Francisco, one's center is at the heart of the neighborhood you live in. But even that can be a point of contention: some North Beach residents see Caffe Trieste as the center, others cite Washington Square Park, and me, I go for Vesuvio and City Lights Books.

What I'm getting at in this ramble is that I have yet to find a favorite city. In California, I've lived in S.F., the East Bay (Hayward, San Leandro, San Lorenzo), Vacaville, and in SoCal I've spent time in many fine communities: mostly Glendale and Burbank but also West L.A., Mar Vista, Santa Monica, Van Nuys, Studio City, and North Hollywood. I relocated to Las Vegas in November '07 and I like it just fine here but I pretty much stay home and work or relax. I'm not part of the club and casino scene, never have been, never will, so I can't give the complete low-down on Vegas because I don't really know the town outside my own neighborhood (there's that fixed point rule again).
 
Sedona

vodka,

Portland has a lot going for it. Almost moved there years ago but I knew that the low cloud cover and the rains would get me down in 10 seconds flat. I ended up in the sunny climate of Sedona after living in the Silver Lake-Hollywood area for a number years... The size of Portland feels just right - not too big; not too small. I love the parks full of green, growing things. The people are friendly and it's easy to get around. Still have a dear friend there who used to travel a lot during the rainy seasons. Nice city... Sedona is my current favorite because the climate overall is ideal. I never have to lock my car or apartment. People come from all over the world to live within its spectacular beauty and they're creative, adventuresome and open... neighbors help each other out. There are the monsoon rains that CA doesn't have and nature becomes radiant... there's great air and there will never be a smog problem. The drinking water is pure. Sedona has a decidedly western feel too, like the wild west... some even wear guns... and CA is only about 7 hours away where family is. It's been a good home for going on 15 years... Anyway, glad you like Portland and may it continue to be a good home for you and your family. If I'm ever in Portland again, I'll take you up on your coffee offer.

Best wishes.
 

vodka

Miss Take
would love to buy you one.

i love the rain. it depresses me when it doesn't rain, i think. for too long anyway.

i think i might like to see edinburgh. i hear it's beautiful. anyone ever been there?

i know it's cliche also, but i'd love to see new orleans. and also, i've never been to new york. but i think it might frighten me.
 
Interesting thread here. Can't say I have a favorite city. I do recall really loving the scenery of S.F. when I was there as a youngster. I've always had an attraction to Oregon. Gresham, Portland, Bend. Never been there though. Heard great things about the Willimet Valley area.
I do really dig the town I'm in now. Nice triangle downtown, farmers market and city band on Wednesdays in the warm months. There's 2 great lakes. Rock, the big one we spend a lot of time on and near. Excellent parks, one of my favorites anywhere overlooking Rock Lake. What a sight. Then there's the smaller lake, Mud Lake. Not a house or building in sight. Very isolated and quiet. Well, 'cept for all the geese and Sandhill cranes. Love them big birds. Overall, a real friendly town. Plus, there's two major rivers nearby too. I haven't been to them lately for some reason. I'll have to remedy that before winter.
 
San Diego....It is americas finest city and I live there. The weather is always good and we have an ocean to surf in. I love it here.

But nobody else should move here...It is already too crowded
 
I felt very restless and boxed in the entire two years I lived in San Diego (well, Bonita and Chula Vista if you wanna get technical and I don't so there). You have Mexico to the south, the ocean to the west, Arizona to the east, and the vast wastelands of Orange County to the north. It was not for me.
 
Well, after all this time, and all you left-coasters and all, Boston is the fucking nuts. Screw the weather; bollock up and grab a shovel. Can't imagine living too far from this place ever in my life. Arts, sports, dining, architecture; it's home.

Did dig Amsterdam, though.
 

the only good poet

One retreat after another without peace.
i'm kind of feeling sentimental over london. i've just relocated, after having spent most of my life there, to a small scottish village in the middle of nowhere. london is fine if you are single, or have the money to raise your family in a decent area.
 

Ponder

"So fuck Doubleday Doran"
RIP
Well, after all this time, and all you left-coasters and all, Boston is the fucking nuts. Screw the weather; bollock up and grab a shovel. Can't imagine living too far from this place ever in my life. Arts, sports, dining, architecture; it's home. Did dig Amsterdam, though.
Loving Boston, favorite place: The Paradise Theatre.
In the eighties I lived in Amsterdam.
Nice memories.
In october I'm going to Montreal.
 
Do you mean the Paradise Rock Club on Commonwealth Ave? It was split into a lounge side and a club side not too long ago.

And Montreal is great, particularly the strippers! ;)
 

LickTheStar

Sad Flower in the Sand
Well, after all this time, and all you left-coasters and all, Boston is the fucking nuts. Screw the weather; bollock up and grab a shovel. Can't imagine living too far from this place ever in my life. Arts, sports, dining, architecture; it's home.

Did dig Amsterdam, though.

I miss visiting Boston from when I was living in MA... But I'd never want to live there. Too many one way streets, in addition to too many Masshole drivers, combined with an especially crazy ex-girlfriend... Just too much for me.

But I miss the North End bakeries... Every day.
 

Ponder

"So fuck Doubleday Doran"
RIP
Do you mean the Paradise Rock Club on Commonwealth Ave? It was split into a lounge side and a club side not too long ago.

And Montreal is great, particularly the strippers! ;)

Yes the rock club, I liked the café at the front.

I don't like strippers.
 
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Lifelong Bostonian moved to Calif just about a year ago. I miss alot of friends there but do not miss the bad weather, the traffic, the racism, the dirtiness, the politics etc. etc.
 
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