American cities that aren't perceived as gritty, but actually are - Page 7

WeimieLvr · July 6th, 2012, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musiccity

When it's over 100F I just stay inside. lol

But it would be nice to have a lot of snow, I've always found snow to be beautiful.

Oh I agree. Snow definitely is beautiful a couple of times each year.

hudkina · July 6th, 2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal_Escapee

San Franciscans view overhead wires as "green". They exist to power the transit system because the city owns a hydroelectric dam in the Sierra and gets free electricity for the electric trolley busses. Also, there's the fact that the electric busses can make it over hills that diesel busses can't. May not look so great, but when it's functionally necessary I'd hardly call it "grit".

I was actually referring to power lines.

***musiccity*** · July 6th, 2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

Oh I agree. Snow definitely is beautiful a couple of times each year.

I'm not talking about the 1 - 2 inches we get here that melts the next day.

I mean really snow like 1 - 2 feet!

jbkayaker12 · July 7th, 2012, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal_Escapee

Well, as somebody who has spent most of my life in cities, I think the artificial world of Las Vegas has very little in common with real cities anywhere. By the standards of American cities, San Francisco just doesn't have much grit. But as others said, Richmond and Oakland across the Bay do.

But I really suggest for you a visit to East Baltimore or South Philadelphia or Detroit or even the Bronx to learn what real "grit" is.

It is pretty obvious you are referring to the Strip, our entertainment district. I've got news for you and it might shock you, there is life and communities beyond the Strip. End of discussion.

WeimieLvr · July 7th, 2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musiccity

I'm not talking about the 1 - 2 inches we get here that melts the next day.

I mean really snow like 1 - 2 feet!

Ask someone living in Rochester how beautiful the snow is when February rolls around.

Yeah, it's beautiful on tv, but living in it is not so beautiful.

The beauty of most of our snow in the South IS that it rarely stays around for more than a day or two.

hudkina · July 8th, 2012, 07:21 AM

The only time snow is a hazard is when it accumulates on cement/asphalt. Contrary to what many southerners think, that doesn't happen all that often each year, though obviously cities that get Lake Effect snow get more. Cement holds heat so even if the air is cold and snow falls, the cement can be above 32 degrees, causing the snow to melt on contact. It also helps when the roads are salted, as the melted snow won't refreeze as ice even at temperatures into the teens.

The funny thing is that in the south, 1/2 inch of snow is a hazard causing major accidents, school closures, etc. In the north, you won't get that kind of response unless there's at least 8 to 12 inches or more.

WeimieLvr · July 8th, 2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hudkina

The only time snow is a hazard is when it accumulates on cement/asphalt. Contrary to what many southerners think, that doesn't happen all that often each year, though obviously cities that get Lake Effect snow get more. Cement holds heat so even if the air is cold and snow falls, the cement can be above 32 degrees, causing the snow to melt on contact. It also helps when the roads are salted, as the melted snow won't refreeze as ice even at temperatures into the teens.

The funny thing is that in the south, 1/2 inch of snow is a hazard causing major accidents, school closures, etc. In the north, you won't get that kind of response unless there's at least 8 to 12 inches or more.

I wasn't talking about the snow being a hazard, but just that you get tired of it and it's not so beautiful anymore when there is a foot of it on the ground for weeks at a time. I have had many friends over the years from Chicago, Buffalo, Toronto, etc. who didn't mind the snow so much when we talked about in June, but in January they were really sick of it.

Snow in the South is kind of like high temperatures in the Northeast. We are more equipped to deal with the heat here much like you are more equipped to deal with the snow. The response to each (and other natural occurrences) varies between regions based on the regularity of it.

Cal_Escapee · July 8th, 2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbkayaker12

It is pretty obvious you are referring to the Strip, our entertainment district. I've got news for you and it might shock you, there is life and communities beyond the Strip. End of discussion.

You're right. This discussion is about grit and Las Vegas will only have it once the vacant houses start falling apart so it's not a fit subject for this thread. You really would find it interesting to see real grit sooner in the places I mentioned, though.

Northsider · July 8th, 2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

when we talked about in June, but in January they were really sick of it.

More like late February or March. And it isn't the snow, it's the cold.

WeimieLvr · July 8th, 2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northsider

More like late February or March. And it isn't the snow, it's the cold.

It's the snow AND the cold, at least for the people I'm talking about. It's a combination.

hudkina · July 8th, 2012, 11:41 PM

I don't think anybody minds snow on the ground once the initial "fall" is over. I would much rather have a white landscape than a brown landscape.

WeimieLvr · July 9th, 2012, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hudkina

I don't think anybody minds snow on the ground once the initial "fall" is over. I would much rather have a white landscape than a brown landscape.

Okay...I was just sharing what I had been told by natives of the areas I mentioned, so some people actually do mind. It's fine if you don't (and it's July and hotter than the hinges of hell), but others do.

hudkina · July 9th, 2012, 08:07 AM

I think most people around here would agree with me that if its cold, we might as well have the snow on the ground...

Northsider · July 9th, 2012, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

It's the snow AND the cold, at least for the people I'm talking about. It's a combination.

Meh, I disagree. Snow is...whatever. It's pretty for 10 minutes then it's brown, slushy, and ugly. It's just there, like grass. The cold though is biting and painful (especially with Chicago winds off the Lake). In December it's ok. In January it starts to get annoying. In February it's really annoying. By March it's just WTF, cold still?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by hudkina

I think most people around here would agree with me that if its cold, we might as well have the snow on the ground...

Agreed.

WeimieLvr · July 9th, 2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northsider

Meh, I disagree. Snow is...whatever. It's pretty for 10 minutes then it's brown, slushy, and ugly. It's just there, like grass. The cold though is biting and painful (especially with Chicago winds off the Lake). In December it's ok. In January it starts to get annoying. In February it's really annoying. By March it's just WTF, cold still?!

Agreed.

There are areas that get A LOT more snow than Chicago. Maybe that's the difference here.

Innsertnamehere · July 9th, 2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musiccity

When it's over 100F I just stay inside. lol

But it would be nice to have a lot of snow, I've always found snow to be beautiful.

you say that now, then you realize that it is not all pretty white fluffy stuff, but rather dirty, heavy, crunchy crap that is annoying to shovel off your driveway 2 times a week for 6 months of the year that also makes your life extremely dreary..

Northsider · July 9th, 2012, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

There are areas that get A LOT more snow than Chicago. Maybe that's the difference here.

Amount has nothing to do with it. It's only a problem while it's falling and the plows can't keep up with it, then it's just plowed off the road or melted with salt. Honestly, it's the cold that friggin sucks, not the snow. Days when it snows are almost always warmer anyways.

WeimieLvr · July 9th, 2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northsider

Amount has nothing to do with it. It's only a problem while it's falling and the plows can't keep up with it, then it's just plowed off the road or melted with salt. Honestly, it's the cold that friggin sucks, not the snow. Days when it snows are almost always warmer anyways.

Okay, that's your opinion. Other people have different experiences (note Insertnamehere's post above yours) and have shared them with me in the past, and those are the people I was referring to - not you. The way you feel about it is not universal.

Let's drop it.

Cal_Escapee · July 10th, 2012, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northsider

it's the cold that friggin sucks, not the snow. Days when it snows are almost always warmer anyways.

As somebody who doesn't have to put up with it very often, I LOVE both the cold and the snow and I plan vacations to experience them both. Here's a bit of 2 winters ago:

Central Park

Manhattan rooftops in the snow

***desertpunk*** · July 10th, 2012, 05:42 AM

That was probably the last time NYC actually had a winter!

July 8th, 2012, 07:21 AM	#126
hudkina Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 4,570 Likes (Received): 8	The only time snow is a hazard is when it accumulates on cement/asphalt. Contrary to what many southerners think, that doesn't happen all that often each year, though obviously cities that get Lake Effect snow get more. Cement holds heat so even if the air is cold and snow falls, the cement can be above 32 degrees, causing the snow to melt on contact. It also helps when the roads are salted, as the melted snow won't refreeze as ice even at temperatures into the teens. The funny thing is that in the south, 1/2 inch of snow is a hazard causing major accidents, school closures, etc. In the north, you won't get that kind of response unless there's at least 8 to 12 inches or more. Last edited by hudkina; July 8th, 2012 at 07:27 AM.

July 10th, 2012, 05:42 AM	#140
*desertpunk* Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ELP ~ ABQ Posts: 29,633 Likes (Received): 1360	That was probably the last time NYC actually had a winter! __________________ We are floating in space...

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July 8th, 2012, 11:41 PM	#131
hudkina Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 4,570 Likes (Received): 8	I don't think anybody minds snow on the ground once the initial "fall" is over. I would much rather have a white landscape than a brown landscape.

July 9th, 2012, 08:07 AM	#133
hudkina Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 4,570 Likes (Received): 8	I think most people around here would agree with me that if its cold, we might as well have the snow on the ground...