Ok, so I'm burning out a bit from studying 10 hrs/day for the past 5 weeks (with 1.5 weeks to go). So I'd like to look forward in time a little bit and solicit advice for "best city to live in as a young professional."
Provide some good AND less good aspects of any city you have lived in or somehow just know a lot about (preferably in the US, but hey I'm curious to hear from places around the world as well). Some things that I would like, but do not require, of a city are (and yes, I realize having all of these things in one city is probably impossible):
1. Warm/sunny weather for a majority of the year. 2. A nice variety of things to do for fun, e.g. outdoors stuff, parks, theaters, cafes, nearness to usable bodies of water, etc. 3. A good diverse foodie culture. This is something I really plan on exploring a lot more after 8 years of cafeteria/dining hall/fast food. 4. A decent local sports scene to follow. 5. Asian supermarkets and restaurants in the vicinity would be nice. 6. Not having to look/pay for parking all the time. 7. Low crime rate always a plus.
Definitely have SF and Seattle in consideration, although I definitely don't know them well. Don't know much at all about the twin cities. Some more details about those places would be nice and appreciated
1. Warm/sunny weather for a majority of the year. 2. A nice variety of things to do for fun, e.g. outdoors stuff, parks, theaters, cafes, nearness to usable bodies of water, etc. 3. A good diverse foodie culture. This is something I really plan on exploring a lot more after 8 years of cafeteria/dining hall/fast food. 4. A decent local sports scene to follow. 5. Asian supermarkets and restaurants in the vicinity would be nice. 6. Not having to look/pay for parking all the time. 7. Low crime rate always a plus.
1. Spring and summer range from warm to unbearably hot (ignore these freakish past few weeks). Winter, on the other hand, is admittedly annoying but it could be much worse. 2. NYC has unmatched free, outdoor activities during the Spring and Summer. Nonstop concerts, events, parades, etc. I just danced in the street with my borough president last night during a parade. Seriously, this cannot be overstated - there is ALWAYS something free and incredible to do in NYC. We've got beaches, beautiful parks .. on and on. 3. NYC has incredible food ranging from the extremely cheap to the ridiculously expensive. I don't even know if I have to defend this one. We've got literally everything and, with the exception of Mexican food (our Hispanic population leans more toward Puerto Rico), we've usually got some of the best of it. 4. NYC sports is unparalleled. Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Jets, Giants, Rangers, Islanders - way more than I can list. 5. Depends on the neighborhood but you'll have an easy time finding one if you put in the time. 6. This depends on the neighborhood. Manhattan sucks (mostly). The 4 outer-boroughs do not. 7. NYC is the safest big city in America.
1. Warm/sunny weather for a majority of the year - Covered. Beautiful, balmy North Carolina weather where it's sunny and warm all the time 2. A nice variety of things to do for fun, e.g. outdoors stuff, parks, theaters, cafes, nearness to usable bodies of water, etc. - Of course! Close to many state parks, running trails abound, Jordan Lake for canoeing, camping, etc. You can explore local culture and stuff. Durham's been revitalized with places such as Brightleaf Square (a charming shopping district with some pretty upscale shops and live jazz on weekend nights), as well as being a center of education by Duke and NCCU. 3. A good diverse foodie culture. This is something I really plan on exploring a lot more after 8 years of cafeteria/dining hall/fast food. - Yep. Lots of restaurants in Brightleaf, with mid-range prices (about 30$ a meal per person for most restaurants there). Also check out some local hot spots and home of North Carolina BBQ! 4. A decent local sports scene to follow. - Eh, Durham Bulls Baseball is about it. If you like college sports, then Duke is right in the middle and they have excellent sports teams (basketball!). 5. Asian supermarkets and restaurants in the vicinity would be nice. - There's a huge Asian supermarket, but it's about half an hour away (it's in Cary). 6. Not having to look/pay for parking all the time. - Ezpz. You'll find parking everywhere. 7. Low crime rate always a plus. - If you're not stupid then it should be ok. Just don't go wandering around alone at night.
EDIT: From U.S. News and World Report's "Best Places to Live 2009":
Durham, North Carolina Once a tobacco town, Durham, N.C., has evolved into a world-class center of all things advanced. This city of 206,000, located halfway between the Atlantic coast and the Great Smoky Mountains, is called the "City of Medicine" because of its expansive healthcare industry. And although widely known as the home of prestigious Duke University, it's also a thriving technology hub. At the same time, Durham's mild climate allows residents to get out and explore the region's abundant outdoor attractions. Consider hiking one of the many distinct trails and greenways or heading over to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for an afternoon baseball game.
And you're a young professional? Perfect. You're within driving distance of Research Triangle Park, one of the foremost research and technology centers in the world. Companies like IBM, Cisco, GlaxoSmithKline, etc., all have massive businesses there. Wikipedia it. You'll fit right in and love the climate/weather/environment/culture.
EPT
