The coolest cities in the US and Canada

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

It's the off season so why not.
No surprise to me to see Cincy and MIKE make the list!

The coolest cities in the US and Canada

https://blog.betway.com/casino/coolest-cities-us-and-canada/

Ever wondered which American cities are officially the ‘coolest’? We’ve revealed the trendiest locations in the US and Canada to live, work, and visit.

From the eastern shores of NYC to the California sun, we all dream of living, working, or visiting somewhere cool, chic, and trendy. But which cities in North America best-offer this lifestyle? We decided to investigate!

Comparing every US and Canadian city across a range of factors, including the number of record stores, microbreweries, tattoo studios, vegan restaurants, and thrift stores, online slots site Betway have been able to reveal the best locations to enjoy the hipster lifestyle. There are certainly some surprises…,

(Continued)

[WhiteTrash]

Based upon the factors for the ranking, I'd agree Portland is a 'cool' town.

Having visited it regularly in past 12 years, it is no longer a city I would live in or not even visit.

[lawdog77]

I would switch out thrift stores with bookstores, and add live music venues instead of tattoo parlors.  That's more my knid of "cool"

[NCMUFan]

With some buddies backpacked the Bruce trail on the Georgian Bay near Tobermory, Ontario.
On the way back we got some lunch in Goderich, Ontario.
The sign in Goderich town square said "Most Beautiful Town in Canada".

[Hards Alumni]

Having only glanced at the map, I would think Edmonton would easily be considered the coolest city of the bunch.  I can't, for the life of me, understand why anyone would consider Houston cool.  Same with Tampa and Orlando.

Strange list, indeed.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Based upon the factors for the ranking, I'd agree Portland is a 'cool' town.

Having visited it regularly in past 12 years, it is no longer a city I would live in or not even visit.

Cmon man, you just have to hang out in the neighborhoods.  i heard they are thriving.

[Dickthedribbler]

Cmon man, you just have to hang out in the neighborhoods.  i heard they are thriving.

Yeah. He'll have a riot.

[pbiflyer]

Having only glanced at the map, I would think Edmonton would easily be considered the coolest city of the bunch.  I can't, for the life of me, understand why anyone would consider Houston cool.  Same with Tampa and Orlando.

Strange list, indeed.

Unless Edmonton has changed considerably in the past 10 years, other than the world's second largest fringe festival, I would not consider it cool. But haven't been there in a decade.

Agree with your opinion on Orlando and Tampa. If you look really hard, you can find some cool things in both cities, but you have to look really hard and would not consider those wide spread.

Ottawa is underrated on that list and Montreal should be higher. 

[lawdog77]

Unless Edmonton has changed considerably in the past 10 years, other than the world's second largest fringe festival, I would not consider it cool. But haven't been there in a decade.

Agree with your opinion on Orlando and Tampa. If you look really hard, you can find some cool things in both cities, but you have to look really hard and would not consider those wide spread.

Ottawa is underrated on that list and Montreal should be higher.

I think you missed his dad joke.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I think you missed his dad joke.

We aren't used to Hards making a joke that is moderately funny.

[dgies9156]

I've been to all but two of these cities and I'd rate them this way:

1) Vancouver, BC -- This is just an incredible, cosmopolitan place that's lot of fun, interesting and just culturally different to be intriguing.

2) Seattle -- Every time I go here, there is something new. Haven't been there since Covid-19 ended and anarchy prevailed on Capital Hill, but this is someplace really nice. There's no place prettier than here on one of the 10 clear days a year!

3) Chicago -- My home for 44 years. Still fascinating. Still fun. Probably the most American of American cities.

4) Miami -- Ignored it until relatively recently but this is an interesting and very cosmopolitan city. Not as many old people as one might think.

5) San Francisco -- I think I have been here so many times, I'm San Franciscoed out. But it's a very different city and if Chicago is what America is, San Francisco is what it thinks it is. Homelessness wasn't as bad last July as I thought it would be.

[Hards Alumni]

We aren't used to Hards making a joke that is moderately funny.

It was a test.  The thinkers outstrip a lot of the brain power around here.  I guess I'll stick to low hanging fruit from now on.

[JWags85]

Tampa is bizarre for a number of reasons, not least of which St Pete is far more developing and interesting these days

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Cmon man, you just have to hang out in the neighborhoods.  i heard they are thriving.

[pbiflyer]

It was a test.  The thinkers outstrip a lot of the brain power around here.  I guess I'll stick to low hanging fruit from now on.

I can’t believe I missed that! D’oh. My daughter would be so disappointed in me.

[4everwarriors]

Handsome guy. Profound, aina?

[Dr. Blackheart]

The thinkers outstrip a lot of the brain power around here.

So it's true, you do work at the Sugar Shack.

[tower912]

Handsome guy. Profound, aina?

Brutal takedown through subtlety.   So of course you missed it.

Could have gone with
'Nah, I've seen all the others.   Anything different this time?'

Or, 'wait, which indictment was this picture for?'

'Who?'

'Oh, was that this week?  I lose track when I am on vacation'

He went for subtlety.

[Hards Alumni]

So it's true, you do work at the Sugar Shack.

For nickels and dimes

[real chili 83]

What, no Flin Flon?

[ATL MU Warrior]

What, no Flin Flon?

Ha!  Been there when I was a little kid. Great fishing

[real chili 83]

Ha!  Been there when I was a little kid. Great fishing

Not much else up there. Drove there once…only once. Flew from Winterpeg the other times.

[JWags85]

Not much else up there. Drove there once…only once. Flew from Winterpeg the other times.

Winterpeg is hilarious.  My good friend and former roommate was staffed on a project in Canada in his CPA days.  Company was based in Ontario, but was told it would be a bit further west.  He assumed Winnipeg...NOPE!  Saskatoon on a project stretching from late October through the end of their fiscal year in February.  We were all calling it Trashkatoon by the time he was done.  Winnipeg is a balmy cosmopolitan metropolis in comparison

[MU82]

What, no Flin Flon?

Birthplace of the great Bobby Clarke IIRC.

[Jockey]

London is a pretty cool city. A real college town feel to it.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

London is a pretty cool city. A real college town feel to it.

2000+ years of history and your contribution is "a college town feeling"? 

Delete your account.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

2000+ years of history and your contribution is "a college town feeling"? 

Delete your account.

I'm not sure if you're kidding or not

[WarriorFan]

I've been to all but two of these cities and I'd rate them this way:

1) Vancouver, BC -- This is just an incredible, cosmopolitan place that's lot of fun, interesting and just culturally different to be intriguing.

2) Seattle -- Every time I go here, there is something new. Haven't been there since Covid-19 ended and anarchy prevailed on Capital Hill, but this is someplace really nice. There's no place prettier than here on one of the 10 clear days a year!

3) Chicago -- My home for 44 years. Still fascinating. Still fun. Probably the most American of American cities.

4) Miami -- Ignored it until relatively recently but this is an interesting and very cosmopolitan city. Not as many old people as one might think.

5) San Francisco -- I think I have been here so many times, I'm San Franciscoed out. But it's a very different city and if Chicago is what America is, San Francisco is what it thinks it is. Homelessness wasn't as bad last July as I thought it would be.

This is kind of my list too EXCEPT San Francisco is just too disgusting these days.  The parts of it that one used to visit for the "culture" are now completely off limits.
If you get a non-rainy day or two, Seattle is amazing.

As for the original list - subtract points for homeless population and murders per year and then you'd end up with a pretty decent result. 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and add that I spent a few nights in Omaha recently and got to really explore the city center.  Definitely enjoyed it.  Intelligent and purposeful re-development.  The Old Market is what the 3rd ward could have/should have been. 

[PorkysButthole]

ATL and Orlando have no place on this list!  MKE is way more interesting than both places combined and should be higher.   And Porky knows ATL extremely well.   Orlando not as much but still.....C'mon!  The inclusion of Tampa Porky also finds curious, but having never been there, Porky can't judge with certainty.   

It's population may be too small to qualify, but In Porky's no so humble opinion, Asheville, NC is by far the coolest city in the deep south.  Had the publication done more research, Porky believes they would agree.

[MU82]

Not sure if they're lumping in St. Petersburg with Tampa, but downtown St. Pete is much cooler than any part of Tampa.

I actually didn't know that until a couple years ago when we visited my cousin, who lives in a wonderful neighborhood of mostly restored victorians (and other large, old, southern-charm homes) that is within walking distance of downtown and the waterfront. We loved it there.

[pbiflyer]

ATL and Orlando have no place on this list!  MKE is way more interesting than both places combined and should be higher.   And Porky knows ATL extremely well.   Orlando not as much but still.....C'mon!  The inclusion of Tampa Porky also finds curious, but having never been there, Porky can't judge with certainty.   

It's population may be too small to qualify, but In Porky's no so humble opinion, Asheville, NC is by far the coolest city in the deep south.  Had the publication done more research, Porky believes they would agree.

There are places in ATL that are interesting. Decatur, little 5 points area, the area around the Oakland cemetery, Piedmont park, Ponce City Market, Hapeville.  But it’s just to spread out.

Orlando has Winter Park and Lake Ida. And then there’s um, did I mention Winter Oark and Lake Ida?
Tampa is a red neck, older version of Orlando. St. Pete, as someone mentioned upthread is more interesting.

[WhiteTrash]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and add that I spent a few nights in Omaha recently and got to really explore the city center.  Definitely enjoyed it.  Intelligent and purposeful re-development.  The Old Market is what the 3rd ward could have/should have been.

Agree on Omaha. Not suggesting its a great vacation spot like Vegas, NY or Miami, but for a Warriors game v Blue Jays or College WS it is a good town. Just big enough, Fortune 500 money, Old Market and new development done thoughtfully. And it gave us the Reuben sandwich, so it can't be that bad.

[dgies9156]

There are places in ATL that are interesting. Decatur, little 5 points area, the area around the Oakland cemetery, Piedmont park, Ponce City Market, Hapeville.  But it’s just to spread out.

Orlando has Winter Park and Lake Ida. And then there’s um, did I mention Winter Oark and Lake Ida?
Tampa is a red neck, older version of Orlando. St. Pete, as someone mentioned upthread is more interesting.

I travel through Orlando all the time. It's the home of plastic mice and people-eating alligators. And that's its good qualities.

Orlando is what happens when you have an unconstrained version of Wisconsin Dells.

Besides, central Florida has the worst weather in the country, bar none!

[Jockey]

2000+ years of history and your contribution is "a college town feeling"? 

Delete your account.

The title of the thread is “The Coolest Cities in the US and Canada”.

Try to keep up, Roqqet.

[Pakuni]

The title of the thread is “The Coolest Cities in the US and Canada”.

Try to keep up, Roqqet.

There's more than one city on the planet named London?
Whoa. Who could have imagined?

[MU82]

On our last Charlotte-to-Chicago drive, we stopped in London, Ky., so my wife could go to Starbucks.

The line of cars at the drive-thru was very long, suggesting that London must be a real cool place for coffee products.

We never saw Big Ben, though.

[JWags85]

On our last Charlotte-to-Chicago drive, we stopped in London, Ky., so my wife could go to Starbucks.

The line of cars at the drive-thru was very long, suggesting that London must be a real cool place for coffee products.

We never saw Big Ben, though.

Big Ben is actually an obese London, Ky local who normally hangs out in his signature booth at Texas Roadhouse, so would make sense you missed him at Starbucks

[lawdog77]

London Kentucky is the 4th larget London in the world. Thank you, Google.

[Jockey]

London Kentucky is the 4th larget London in the world. Thank you, Google.

More importantly, it’s the 2nd largest London to have been graced by my presence.

[Herman Cain]

On our last Charlotte-to-Chicago drive, we stopped in London, Ky., so my wife could go to Starbucks.

The line of cars at the drive-thru was very long, suggesting that London must be a real cool place for coffee products.

We never saw Big Ben, though.

Had an excellent lunch once in London, KY

[JWags85]

Had an excellent lunch once in London, KY

What did you have at Texas Roadhouse?  And was it a seasonal fall item that you were reminded of in late October that you were so motivated revive a 2 month dormant thread to mention?

[Herman Cain]

What did you have at Texas Roadhouse?  And was it a seasonal fall item that you were reminded of in late October that you were so motivated revive a 2 month dormant thread to mention?

https://localhoneylondonky.com/

[Jockey]

Spent today in Sedona. Definitely qualifies.

[Skatastrophy]

Spent today in Sedona. Definitely qualifies.

Sedona resident average age is 60 years old. It does not qualify as cool, but it nearly qualifies for medicare.

[Jockey]

Sedona resident average age is 60 years old. It does not qualify as cool, but it nearly qualifies for medicare.

Vast majority of people were nowhere even. Close to 60.

[ATL MU Warrior]

All right so since this was revived, I’m going with the family to Vancouver next summer. Any recommendations on what to see/do appreciated.

[Skatastrophy]

Vast majority of people were nowhere even. Close to 60.

It's just the reality of the town's demographics.

[JWags85]

All right so since this was revived, I’m going with the family to Vancouver next summer. Any recommendations on what to see/do appreciated.

There is a new geotagging/scavenger hunt style game in Vancouver called “find a house for sale for under $1MM”…I’ve heard it’s basically impossible to accomplish

[Jockey]

It's just the reality of the town's demographics.

Not on the trails.

[JWags85]

Not on the trails.

Thats actually not surprising at all. 

I was gonna make a joke about maybe the 60 year olds look like youngins to you 

Reminds me of a friend who went to Naples to visit his friend's parents and was pretty ignorant to it in general other than it being nice.  They lived nearer to downtown.  He was raving about how cool and young Naples was.  Which is a big WTF to anyone who knows Naples.  Turns out he went to beach near one of the nicer hotels, and bars and newer restaurants all during late March.  So yea, you basically found the only young people in Naples while visiting, not at all representative of the population.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Vast majority of people were nowhere even. Close to 60.

Per 2020 Census, the median age of Sedona, AZ is 59.8.

For comparison's sake, the median age of Milwaukee is 31.4

[Jockey]

Per 2020 Census, the median age of Sedona, AZ is 59.8.

For comparison's sake, the median age of Milwaukee is 31.4

That’s meaningless to me. I wasn’t visiting residents in their homes. Nice restaurants, great outdoor activities, superb scenery are much more important.

Somebody must agree with me - there are basically 3 roads into town. Two of the three were backed up well over a mile as I was leaving town early Saturday night.

[WhiteTrash]

That’s meaningless to me. I wasn’t visiting residents in their homes. Nice restaurants, great outdoor activities, superb scenery are much more important.

Somebody must agree with me - there are basically 3 roads into town. Two of the three were backed up well over a mile as I was leaving town early Saturday night.

Beautiful area and top notch for alternative medicine, mystical healing and crystals.

[pbiflyer]

All right so since this was revived, I’m going with the family to Vancouver next summer. Any recommendations on what to see/do appreciated.

Spend time in Stanley park. Rent a bike, ride the ring around the park. Eat dim sum in Chinatown.

[muwarrior69]

Fairbanks Alaska: all time coolest -66 degrees F and average January temp is 2 degrees F.

My dad was stationed there during WW2. No sunset during the Summer  and no sunrise during the Winter solstice. I'll have to find that photo of him sweeping snow off the barracks steps in mid May.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Used to love Portland and was a frequent visitor but No Mas. Friend tells me downtown is dead. I would concur on Ashville and add Greenville,SC as one of the top choices for best city. Beautiful downtown park with river park coursing through. Plenty of restaurants and unique shops. Lovely town with a great vibe.

[panda]

I feel like everyone is sleeping on st Louis. They have a great take on pizza as well as unique architecture in the form of parabolas in the sky.

[WhiteTrash]

I feel like everyone is sleeping on st Louis. They have a great take on pizza as well as unique architecture in the form of parabolas in the sky.

My daughter was recruited to Washington U for grad school this spring. She passed on the school because of the city (after a visit). She was fortunate to have offers from equally good schools so the city became a decision point.

[MU82]

Used to love Portland and was a frequent visitor but No Mas. Friend tells me downtown is dead. I would concur on Ashville and add Greenville,SC as one of the top choices for best city. Beautiful downtown park with river park coursing through. Plenty of restaurants and unique shops. Lovely town with a great vibe.

We haven't made it to Greenville yet but I keep hearing what a great place it is. We are planning to spend a weekend there in 2024. Thanks for your perspective.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Used to love Portland and was a frequent visitor but No Mas. Friend tells me downtown is dead. I would concur on Ashville and add Greenville,SC as one of the top choices for best city. Beautiful downtown park with river park coursing through. Plenty of restaurants and unique shops. Lovely town with a great vibe.

Downtown ain’t dead

[pbiflyer]

We haven't made it to Greenville yet but I keep hearing what a great place it is. We are planning to spend a weekend there in 2024. Thanks for your perspective.

While I agree with the assessment of Greenville being nice, curious as to why you are choosing to spend a weekend there? Part of a larger trip?
I stay there for work when I have customers in the area, but wouldn't really make it a destination.

Oh, and for excitement, you should go down the highway to Spartanburg and the the worldwide headquarters of Denny's. I know its not Arby's but close. (Just kidding, Spartanburg is the antithesis of cool, but probably a good place to buy crack).

[tower912]

Wherever Rico is, obviously.

[MU82]

While I agree with the assessment of Greenville being nice, curious as to why you are choosing to spend a weekend there? Part of a larger trip?
I stay there for work when I have customers in the area, but wouldn't really make it a destination.

Oh, and for excitement, you should go down the highway to Spartanburg and the the worldwide headquarters of Denny's. I know its not Arby's but close. (Just kidding, Spartanburg is the antithesis of cool, but probably a good place to buy crack).

We live only a couple hours away, so you're right, probably could (and should) do it in an overnight or even a day trip. Haven't looked into it enough yet or decided when we'd go. Thanks for your input.

[Uncle Rico]

Wherever Rico is, obviously.

I don’t leave the gated community except for driving my truck to the business park

[ATL MU Warrior]

While I agree with the assessment of Greenville being nice, curious as to why you are choosing to spend a weekend there? Part of a larger trip?
I stay there for work when I have customers in the area, but wouldn't really make it a destination.

Oh, and for excitement, you should go down the highway to Spartanburg and the the worldwide headquarters of Denny's. I know its not Arby's but close. (Just kidding, Spartanburg is the antithesis of cool, but probably a good place to buy crack).

There is a huge (and hugely out of place) Marriott in downtown Spartanburg that I've stayed at once or twice.  Can't recall the name but a decent Irish pub within a couple of blocks with a whole bunch of decay surrounding those two fine establishments.

[muwarrior69]

Downtown ain’t dead

...life support?
https://www.koin.com/news/portland/portland-city-council-passes-tax-incentive-to-lure-central-city-businesses/

[WhiteTrash]

...life support?
https://www.koin.com/news/portland/portland-city-council-passes-tax-incentive-to-lure-central-city-businesses/

Used to be a 'cool' city. Fiends who live there are considering leaving after 15 years. They are very much environmentally conscious and apparently the homeless are trashing the parks, forests, trails, steams and river. They have had to go further out of town to hike with their dogs due to safety concerns. Hopefully Portland can find a balance with the homeless issue. 

[Jockey]

Used to be a 'cool' city. Fiends who live there are considering leaving after 15 years. They are very much environmentally conscious and apparently the homeless are trashing the parks, forests, trails, steams and river. They have had to go further out of town to hike with their dogs due to safety concerns. Hopefully Portland can find a balance with the homeless issue.

You guy need to talk about the real problem cities. Miami, Jacksonville, New Orleans. Way higher crime rates than LA, SF, and Portland.

Betcha Faux News never let you in on that.

[Uncle Rico]

You guy need to talk about the real problem cities. Miami, Jacksonville, New Orleans. Way higher crime rates than LA, SF, and Portland.

Betcha Faux News never let you in on that.

It’s why the Jaguars are leaving Jacksonville

[Pakuni]

Used to be a 'cool' city. Fiends who live there are considering leaving after 15 years.

I thought they were the problem in Portland. Good thing they're leaving.

[MU82]

You guy need to talk about the real problem cities. Miami, Jacksonville, New Orleans. Way higher crime rates than LA, SF, and Portland.

Betcha Faux News never let you in on that.

Not to mention the growing home-insurance crisis.

From Yahoo Finance:

Florida's insurance crisis is threatening the closing of Gernelle Bokuniewicz’s clients for their dream retirement home in Winter Park, Fla.

Frustration began to brew when her client received a premium quote of $17,000 a year for homeowner’s insurance, even though the current owner is paying just $5,000 for the same coverage. Things got worse when the insurance company retracted its quote, citing the high risk associated with the property, leaving Bokuniewicz’s clients scrambling for another insurer before the deal dies.

"I've run into issues before but nothing like this where I couldn't find any insurance for home," Bokuniewicz, the founder of Lively Real Estate, told Yahoo Finance. "It's pretty scary if there is nobody to provide insurance."

That’s becoming a bigger reality — and problem — for Florida homebuyers who typically must obtain homeowner’s insurance as a condition of a mortgage. But as multiple insurers pull out of the state altogether due to rising costs, that’s getting harder to do at a reasonable price and as mortgage costs in general rise.

"It has outrageous prices and trying to get coverage is a problem," Bokuniewicz said.

Floridians already pay the highest home insurance premium in the nation at an average of $6,000 a year in 2023, a year-over-year increase of 42% and 3.5 times higher than the US average of $1,700.

"If you were to go back to 2019, our average premium in this office was about $900 for a home," David Pojero, insurance agency owner based in Debary, Fla., told Yahoo Finance. "It’s $2,400 today."

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

...life support?
https://www.koin.com/news/portland/portland-city-council-passes-tax-incentive-to-lure-central-city-businesses/

People do like to attribute a lot of the problems to an out of control homeless population and it is true it is a noticeable and pressing issue when in some of the spots named in that article, mainly Oldtown/China Town (greyhound station, location of rescue missions), Lloyd center (dead shopping mall).

But the other two neighborhoods seeing that relief are from 1. Lower Albina: a warehouse and brewery district that has been affected by the consolidation of the craft beer industry and its relative lack of accessibility (tight windy roads and hills) for heavier industry, and 2. Downtown - which has been greatly affected by the migration away from full time office work.

To say it is on life support isn't really accurate, as the area around my office has been pretty active in the past year. Sure there still are more vacancies than pre pandemic but I have been seeing more things opening than closing.

(By the way, local Portland news sites like nothing more than to fear monger the city to suburbanites.)

Take it from someone who knows a person who works at TravelOregon, the lowest opinions surveyed of the city are from those who have not set foot in it in six months or longer. People make an opinion from national press coverage and they tend to keep it.

Of course, no one is forcing anyone to spend time here! Just two cents from someone who works downtown and has lived here for nearly a decade.

[Jockey]

Santa Barbara sucks, but seeing the sun rise over the Pacific was unexpected.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

People do like to attribute a lot of the problems to an out of control homeless population and it is true it is a noticeable and pressing issue when in some of the spots named in that article, mainly Oldtown/China Town (greyhound station, location of rescue missions), Lloyd center (dead shopping mall).

But the other two neighborhoods seeing that relief are from 1. Lower Albina: a warehouse and brewery district that has been affected by the consolidation of the craft beer industry and its relative lack of accessibility (tight windy roads and hills) for heavier industry, and 2. Downtown - which has been greatly affected by the migration away from full time office work.

To say it is on life support isn't really accurate, as the area around my office has been pretty active in the past year. Sure there still are more vacancies than pre pandemic but I have been seeing more things opening than closing.

(By the way, local Portland news sites like nothing more than to fear monger the city to suburbanites.)

Take it from someone who knows a person who works at TravelOregon, the lowest opinions surveyed of the city are from those who have not set foot in it in six months or longer. People make an opinion from national press coverage and they tend to keep it.

Of course, no one is forcing anyone to spend time here! Just two cents from someone who works downtown and has lived here for nearly a decade.

PLM  How about the Pearl?  I used to love Portland for its quirkiness and being a foodie paradise with many affordable ,excellent restaurants serving unique locally sourced meals. I remember "Dave" was the source for salmon at one of my favorite haunts.  I was a frequent visitor and am right now planning a steelhead trip for next year. Convinced my son and SIL to join me so I am looking forward to seeing for my self.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

PLM  How about the Pearl?  I used to love Portland for its quirkiness and being a foodie paradise with many affordable ,excellent restaurants serving unique locally sourced meals. I remember "Dave" was the source for salmon at one of my favorite haunts.  I was a frequent visitor and am right now planning a steelhead trip for next year. Convinced my son and SIL to join me so I am looking forward to seeing for my self.

My office is in the Pearl. It has its moments with people but new things are starting to cycle in. I have never had any issues walking to and from my car aside from the odd tweaked out person talking to themselves. But I have encountered that in most of the cities I visit.

My favorite park in the city is Tanner Springs and it is for the most part kept pretty clear and clean, really good sandwich spot with fresh baked bread right there I go to often. Same with the fields park, I go and get a Moroccan coffee at Ovation and watch the dogs chase each other in the park.

They did just put in a Shake shack by Powell's, utilizing the foot traffic that brings but that's not as much my cup of tea. They have done a ton of building up of Slabtown right next to the pearl and it has some really good places (Jojo arguably best fried chicken in the city). Nob hill right past that is still doing nicely.

I used to live in the Mississippi Ave area and have office space there, and that place has recovered nicely from Covid and is absolutely hopping on nice days. A good stretch to get coffee, drinks, food, you name it.

I live over close to 82nd and even that "unique" stretch is starting to get nicer. I think the Montavilla neighborhood right by Mt. Tabor has two of the better restaurants in the city in Observatory (Montavilla) and Coquine (Tabor). RIP the hot tub by hour place though.

Obviously you know of it being a foodie paradise so I don't have to go on too much further in those details. But for the people who have visited me in the last two years, generally I do a brief jaunt around downtown and then kinda wander the East side neighborhoods more. A lot of people want nature though and I live pretty close to the Gorge so I like taking people to hang out in Hood River, which has some awesome places and tasting rooms with unbeatable views.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Santa Barbara sucks, but seeing the sun rise over the Pacific was unexpected.

There's a U2 song about this.
California (There Is No End To Love)

The blood orange sunset brings you to your knees..,..........

[Jockey]

There's a U2 song about this.
California (There Is No End To Love)

The blood orange sunset brings you to your knees..,..........

Except it was a sunrise - not a sunset. I didn’t expect that on the California coast.