I Resent That
Travel Blog • Sophia Dembling • 01.15.09 | 11:37 AM ET
“Business Week” recently ran a list of America’s Most and Least Favorite Cities, and my home town of Dallas ranked ninth least favorite. Adding insult to injury, the article says, “The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were the people—their backgrounds, talents, and perspectives (49%); environment—climate, park space, natural resources (39%); and image (38%).”
Well. Harumph.
C’mon, we’re not all J.R. Ewing. (That show ended in 1991, people.) Or even W, who will soon return to Dallas. We are reasonably diverse—Texas may be red but Barack Obama won Dallas county and Cathedral of Hope is the world’s largest gay and lesbian congregation. Dallas has trees, parks, great restaurants, distinct neighborhood and even art. Lots of major institutions vied for the late Raymond and Patsy Nasher’s outstanding collection of contemporary sculpture, but it stayed right here. We also have Fort Worth, which has even more art. Oh, and here’s my favorite piece of Dallas trivia: Local PBS affiliate KERA was first in the nation to broadcast “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” I think that’s pretty nifty.
Sure, we have problems. I’ve been known to gripe a little. OK, a lot. It’s a hobby. But really, what place doesn’t? Please, next time you’re in Dallas, get out of the airport. You only think you know what the city is all about.
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Dallas-based writer Sophia Dembling is co-author of the Flyover America blog and author of "The Yankee Chick's Survival Guide to Texas." She would love to hear your tales of America, so drop her an email.
Chris 01.15.09 | 12:49 PM ET
Dallas? Are they serious? You’re talking about the same state that has flat, high-crime, high-traffic, ugly 110-in-the-shade Houston, and they put Dallas on the worst-of list?
Jenna Schnuer 01.15.09 | 1:54 PM ET
Sophia—I am dismayed on your behalf. And, yes, I owe Dallas (outside the airport) a visit.
NYC as a top pick gave me a good laugh (even though I live here and do love it), especially the bit that said “[e]ntertainment was cited by 51% of respondents”—cause once the 20something years wear off, many New Yorkers spend more time coming up with excuses to stay home than they do going out to enjoy all that entertainment. Except for restaurants. We do like our going out to dinner. But going to a show or any of that other entertainment is, usually, reserved for nights when out of town guests force us to do it.
Sophia Dembling 01.15.09 | 6:31 PM ET
Even Texans seem to hate Dallas more they hate Houston. Go figger. The only Texas city that gets everyone’s stamp of approval is Austin. And I do like Austin, but it annoys me too sometimes.
New York was also the top pick for worst city, so go figger again. Is your glass half empty or half full?
Chris 01.15.09 | 10:56 PM ET
Keep Austin Weird!
Michael Yessis 01.15.09 | 11:00 PM ET
New York finished worse than rotting Detroit? Mystifying.
Sophia Dembling 01.15.09 | 11:07 PM ET
Several of the cities (NY, Chicago, Las Vegas, LA) are on the best and worst lists, which I guess either means there’s no pleasing some people or we have a hard time remembering all but a few cities.
Jenna Schnuer 01.15.09 | 11:11 PM ET
Ms. Sophia—I was just posting that very same thing making the very same points (though worded differently). So…what Sophia said.
Sophia Dembling 01.15.09 | 11:13 PM ET
I wonder where Providence ranks. Dayton. Billings. Portland (Oregon or Maine.) Kansas City. Atlanta. So many cities…
Jenna Schnuer 01.15.09 | 11:16 PM ET
Fargo!
These cities need love. It’s bad enough to be hated—but to be ignored!
Sophia Dembling 01.15.09 | 11:17 PM ET
Oh, Austin is still weird-ish but not as weird as it used to be. Now it’s crowded and expensive, for Texas. (Still cheap for California, which is why it’s getting full of Californians.)
Sophia Dembling 01.15.09 | 11:18 PM ET
Yes, but at least Fargo has a great movie. A very great movie.
Meg 01.16.09 | 9:24 AM ET
Interesting list that mostly looked like crap. I don’t think their ‘survey’ was that scientific at all and didn’t look like it was based on what people that actually live there (or even been there) think. Seeing that several cities were on the best and worst lists, your personality will probably dictate what city is right for YOU, not some survey.
Sophia Dembling 01.16.09 | 9:29 AM ET
Well, they explain how the survey was conducted: “about 2,500 employees and entrepreneurs ...were asked about 40 large cities. The questions asked were “Imagine you were offered your dream job that required you to relocate. Which region in the following list would you be most likely to choose? … and which city region … would you be least likely to choose?” The survey-takers were asked to choose the top three attributes for each city. The best and worst cities were then ranked based on the total number of first-, second-, and third-choice votes as a percentage of total votes.”
So it is about perception, not about reality. Which actually is better information for the cities than for anyone planning a move. (So Dallas has an image problem—well, that’s not news) And, of course, most people know a lot more about NYC than about Fargo.