Reviews and impressions of cities you have recently visited

[Northsider]

Detroit; Very misunderstood/under-rated. I think Detroit gets too much of a bad rep. Sure it has it's problems but what city doesn't, right? I love midtown, downtown, I have a friend that lives there and he is (I think) a popular Dj around town, so hanging out with him was alot of fun, got to see some stuff most people wouldn't.

I agree with you on Detroit. I actually really like this city.

[krudmonk]

disappointed to hear that Cordoba was "meh"

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Northsider

Just got back from my 3rd tour of NYC. Certainly a wold class city, but completely overhyped in my opinion:

The bad:

1. The subway. Subway is completely confusing. I've had no problems in Paris, London, Berlin...NYC subway for some reason was completely confusing. Poor signage. If you get on the wrong side, it's difficult or impossible to cross to the other side of the tracks (for side platforms). The naming scheme is stupid, sorry NYers. My wife, who is transit clueless also had no problems in Paris and London, even took it herself often, had lots of difficulty with NY subway.

Interesting. I thought the London Underground was much more confusing than the NY subway. Paris on the other hand was very easy to navigate. I never needed to ask for help using the Metro which says a lot since I only know how to say two things in French: 1. do you speak English? and 2. Where is the bathroom?

While NY's system isn't nearly up to the level of convenience as Paris, I feel it's far more "do it yourself" than London. But if you visit NY on a weekend then I can see how the subway would be very confusing to an outsider due to all of the weekend construction and service changes that the MTA doesn't do a great job of explaining/publicizing ahead of time.

[Northsider]

While NY's system isn't nearly up to the level of convenience as Paris, I feel it's far more "do it yourself" than London. But if you visit NY on a weekend then I can see how the subway would be very confusing to an outsider due to all of the weekend construction and service changes that the MTA doesn't do a great job of explaining/publicizing ahead of time.

I did have lots of problems with canceled service and reroutes on the weekend that were confusing as all hell, especially to visitors. That's not exactly why I thought the system was bad...during normal service it was confusing as well.

The signage on the Tube and Metro are so easy to follow, especially for transfers, direction signs, etc. On the subway, I had to check, and re-check my direction and line. Standing on the platform, many stations don't have perpendicular signage (aka, you can't look down the tracks and see a destination/direction...I had to walk down the platform to find a sign near the entrance. As I mentioned, at many stations you can't crossover without re-paying if you got on the wrong side.

Also, the number/letter naming for the lines is HORRIBLE. There's a reason every other system in the world uses specific colors. I basically had to:
1. Find a station
2. Take the correct stairs or else I'd be on the wrong side
3. Check my destination and direction
4. Check my line (4-5-6, Q-R-W, X-Y-Z, etc)
5. Check my destination station to make sure that particular line stops there

6. Once on the train, many of the cars had no line maps, I had no idea if I was on the correct train, correct direction. Also, many of the cars had no automated station announcements, which meant I had to be aware or try to comprehend the garbled announcement the operator would make.
...I dunno, I just found all of this utterly painstaking. God forbid an MTA employee help us too...my wife stood at a kiosk for like 5 full minutes while the employee blabbed on his phone. London Underground is a piece of cake (besides endless walking up and down stairs)

[massp88]

In the last year I have been to the following cities with rankings with 10 being the best.

Philadelphia: 8
Boston:9
Indianapolis:3
Detroit:6
Chicago:9
Minneapolis:7
Seattle:9
Houston:4
Cleveland:2

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by massp88

In the last year I have been to the following cities with rankings with 10 being the best.

Philadelphia: 8
Boston:9
Indianapolis:3
Detroit:6
Chicago:9
Minneapolis:7
Seattle:9
Houston:4
Cleveland:2

Pretty accurate in my opinion

[diablo234]

I would rank Houston and Cleveland above Detroit since it has mass transit and it is much less rundown but that's just me.

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by diablo234

I would rank Houston and Cleveland above Detroit since it has mass transit and it is much less rundown but that's just me.

I wouldn't. There's something about Detroit that I just love. Watching True Romance brings a tear to my eye.

[mhays]

Cleveland seems to have a certain mojo too, though I haven't spent enough time there to really get it.

[spencer114]

I just spent a week in Denver. I've been there about a dozen times (have family there). While this was by far the best time that I've had there I have to say that I truly loath that city. There is nice density downtown (has a nice brick Midwest/NE look to it) but it has been too dumbed down for the benefit of small children. Spending a Saturday downtown is like spending the day at an amusement park.

The art museum was worst one that I've ever visited. Not only was the collection terrible the way that it is presented is atrocious. The insane amount of kids running around and all of the bells and whistles added to appease their tiny attention span were really distracting. Here's an example... in hallways connecting galleries projections of bubbles glided across the floor. Dozens of children ran around chasing them, bumping into parents and other guests alike. There were also activity tables in front of all of the elevators and adjacent to each gallery. Hideous. Plus the new building was already really dated. That's the problem with in-your-face architecture. It has a very short shelf life. I'm talking to you DIA (which is also all kiddied up).

The neighborhoods are ugly, the houses even uglier (the new houses are nice, but the inner city stuff is fugly). The people, outside of those at the Denver Wrangler, are dumpy. Not a fan.

That said, the backdrop is gorgeous and I do love the plains.

[Resident]

Ha! I used to live a block from the wrangler, fun bar.

[Ichiban]

I really do have to laugh at Detroit getting a 6 while other cities get less in that list. So a city with a ridiculously high crime rate and the worst urban decay are slightly above average in some peoples' eyes?

I give Richmond, CA a 15

[Nexis]

Originally Posted by Northsider

Just got back from my 3rd tour of NYC. Certainly a wold class city, but completely overhyped in my opinion:

The bad:

1. The subway. Subway is completely confusing. I've had no problems in Paris, London, Berlin...NYC subway for some reason was completely confusing. Poor signage. If you get on the wrong side, it's difficult or impossible to cross to the other side of the tracks (for side platforms). The naming scheme is stupid, sorry NYers. My wife, who is transit clueless also had no problems in Paris and London, even took it herself often, had lots of difficulty with NY subway.

2. The people. Good lord. Learn how to walk! The sidewalks are one giant clusterfuck. People stand in the way and/or walk slowly. I expected everyone to keep pace with me since I'm a brisk walker. Not so. I was more frustrated with pedestrians in NYC than anywhere else.

3. The people, part II. Yes, no question...NYC is full of douchbags. The few people who were actual fun to talk to and generally nice were tourists. Go figure.

4. The trash. The city smells like garbage. Literally. Most likely because people put their trash on the sidewalks.

5. Cost. Everything is ridiculously expensive, for what reason? At least I got some relief when I went to Queens and found some decently priced restaurants.

The good:

6. The subway. Yes, I also had this on the bad...but it's seriously extensive and much faster than driving/taxi.

7. Diversity. I gotta give it up for NYC on diversity. While I still prefer London over NYC, even Toronto I feel has better diversity, NYC is where it's at if you want to find anything!

8. The food. While I almost put this in bad, I feel it should be in good. I had some seriously mediocre meals in Manhattan (and EXPENSIVE!). It wasn't until I ventured into Brooklyn and Queens did I find some good eats.

9. Central Park. Hands down THE best urban park in the world. HANDS DOWN. I loved it there! It's what a park SHOULD be: Trees, water, rocks, paths. It felt like I was in a forest preserve, not just some giant open field of grass with some trees here and there. Awesome.

Ambivalent:

10. Street vendors. They were cool at first, then got annoying. They are probably the reason for #2 and the issues with walking anywhere. I found some cheap gifts but over all I found the street vendors annoying.

11. Cityscape. Don't get me wrong, I love the cityscape of NYC, but with all the hype it definitely under-delivered for me. Brooklyn and Queens reminded me heavily of Chicago...that's not a bad thing, I was just expecting something to blow me away. Speaking of blowing me away, once I got over the "holy shit" moment of Manhattan, I found it to be less than satisfying. I expected much better architecture, but the real gems I thought were too few and far between.

F-ing AWESOME

12. Bridges. Holy crap. They are awesome. 'nuff said.


These are just my opinions on NYC based on all of my travels.

As a born New Yorker all i have to say is shove it to you on the bad points you had , you act like Chicago is better some how?....also how do you rate NJ?

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by Nexis

As a born New Yorker all i have to say is shove it to you on the bad points you had , you act like Chicago is better some how?....also how do you rate NJ?

A little defensive are we? You were expecting all rave reviews? I'm more realistic than that. You can't seriously tell me NYC has no bad points whatsoever. You are in complete denial if you do.

Chicago better how? Well for one thing we don't have piles of trash in the middle of our sidewalks. Ohh, and I don't have to shell out 15+ bucks for a decent meal here.

My opinions of NJ if floating around here somewhere. I seriously doubt you want to read it.

Feel free to trash Chicago like I've seen you do, it's your opinion. However, I think you just trash it for no other reason than just as a retaliation. Stay classy NY, stay classy.

[Nexis]

Originally Posted by Northsider

A little defensive are we? You were expecting all rave reviews? I'm more realistic than that. You can't seriously tell me NYC has no bad points whatsoever. You are in complete denial if you do.

Chicago better how? Well for one thing we don't have piles of trash in the middle of our sidewalks. Ohh, and I don't have to shell out 15+ bucks for a decent meal here.

My opinions of NJ if floating around here somewhere. I seriously doubt you want to read it.

Feel free to trash Chicago like I've seen you do, it's your opinion. However, I think you just trash it for no other reason than just as a retaliation. Stay classy NY, stay classy.

Well yes the city is dirty......wait a minute why am i even defending NYC.....piece of shit , NJ is 10x better....

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by Northsider

I wouldn't. There's something about Detroit that I just love. Watching True Romance brings a tear to my eye.

True, the city does have a cool grity quality to it especially on film.

I liked the way they depicted the city in 8 Mile and Four Brothers.

But as far as living I'd definately pick Cleveland over Detroit anyday, although some of the suburbs are pretty nice from what I have seen.

[amigoendf]

Originally Posted by klamedia

Mexico:

Oaxaca: No other reason to go to Mexico other than to see the vast amount of astounding pyramids, visit the glorious Museo Nacional de Antropologia and to visit Oaxaca. I can go on for hours of how amazing and culturally rich Oaxaca is developed to the rest of Mexico. The food alone! Wah wah Oaxaca!!

Playa Del Carmen: It's America with European onlookers.

Mexico City a/k/a DF: An incredibly urban city but very provincial and not as sophisticated than I had hoped. Even Oaxaca beats it in the last category.

Guadalajara: Home. The city with open arms. The nicest and most comfortable with itself cities that I visited in Mexico. Nowhere near as urbanized as DF but who said that skyscrapers and density are what always makes a city grand? It's basically a pink cupcake.

So sad you didn't like my city.

[Northsider]

piece of shit , NJ is 10x better..

haha

But as far as living I'd definately pick Cleveland over Detroit anyday, although some of the suburbs are pretty nice from what I have seen.

The east part of Detroit definitely has some charm (Grosse Pointe, etc) and the suburbs are pretty nice (Southfield, Royal Oak). I really wish Cleveland utilized its lakefront better than an airport.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Northsider

Also, the number/letter naming for the lines is HORRIBLE. There's a reason every other system in the world uses specific colors. I basically had to:
1. Find a station
2. Take the correct stairs or else I'd be on the wrong side
3. Check my destination and direction
4. Check my line (4-5-6, Q-R-W, X-Y-Z, etc)
5. Check my destination station to make sure that particular line stops there

6. Once on the train, many of the cars had no line maps, I had no idea if I was on the correct train, correct direction. Also, many of the cars had no automated station announcements, which meant I had to be aware or try to comprehend the garbled announcement the operator would make.
...I dunno, I just found all of this utterly painstaking. God forbid an MTA employee help us too...my wife stood at a kiosk for like 5 full minutes while the employee blabbed on his phone. London Underground is a piece of cake (besides endless walking up and down stairs)

Just curious, which line were you primarily using?

The color coded system on the NYC trains refers to the Avenue line that the train operates on between lower and Midtown Manhattan (e.g. green line = Lexington Avenue line, red line = 7th Avenue line).

I can see how a person might get a little confused about NY's express train system, but frankly the express lines are what set it apart from other transit systems. It's incredibly convenient once you know how to use it. And it sounds like that's what you had confusion with since you were trying to figure out whether a train stops at a particular stop on a line? Local trains stop at every station.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by diablo234

I liked the way they depicted the city in 8 Mile and Four Brothers.

Four Brothers wasn't filmed in Detroit. I believe it was filmed in Toronto. I think significant portions of 8 Mile were also filmed elsewhere.

Personally, I think Detroit 1-8-7 has done the best job of capturing the city on film. Especially as the series has progressed through this season, since the first episode or two was filmed in Atlanta.