I came to the conclusion today that I'd rather be dead than spend the rest of my life in Philadelphia (although it does mean I get to go to Contact this weekend).

What's so great about your city that I should move there?

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Answers

I'll ignore the Philly dis and move directly to the many virtues of Toronto. 1) Good, reliable public transportation. The TTC rocks my socks so well that I have no need for a car. Which is good, b/c I don't have one. 2) Excellent, cheap live music. Good venues abound here, and tickets for smaller acts are generally very reasonable (under $20, tax included). Extra bonus: T.O. is the Manhattan of Canada, so everyone plays here. 3) Nice, friendly people. Canadians really are nicer than Americans, even here in the big bad city. People step on your feet on the crowded subway during rush hour, but then they apologize and move aside. 4) We have two Chinatowns, both packed with great restaurants and more bargains on wicker ware, produce, and sanrio than you can shake a stick at. 5) Honest Ed's. It's like a little bit of off-price Las Vegas in the heart of downtown. I'm really going to miss this place when I leave this summer.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2002

Methinks Toronto sounds incredible. The whole culture scene is very me. I had a prof from there who used to lament daily that he couldn't be French-Canadian. ("All I ever wanted to be was French Canadian. But I'm English, fucking English.) However, I dunno. An American ex-patriot in Canada? Besides the fact, I wouldn't have bar certification in Canada.

I get to make a Philly dis. I've lived here my whole life, except for when I was in college. Yeah, it's got the arts and all the rest of it. Unfortunately, there's no city culture for those of mixed and uncertain ethnicity. You have to belong to an ethnic, religious, or socioeconomic group to really belong here. Lastly, my family is here and that, I think, is not a great thing.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Atlanta, baby. Everything you could possibly want to eat, read, see, hear, or do is available. Mostly, it's just the high spirits that are unbeatable - I swear, they will throw a parade for anything. Fantastic music scene, CHEAP GAS (76 cents in Marietta in December!), and friendly lovable people.

Not that I'm there or anything. No, I'm stuck in State College, PA wishing that I lived closer to Philly or Pitt.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Well, since I'm white, I can't really speak to the issues facing multi-ethnic people in Philadelphia, but I can say that I'm hoping to return to it after I finish grad school up here. My family's there, as are many of my friends, and it's home to me.

Toronto does indeed rock, but I can see how the not being a member of the bar thing would be a deterrent for you. Being an American expat in Canada isn't so weird, though: most Canadians I meet are impressed that I moved up here, the more so b/c of the serious brain drain of Canadians who leave for the lower taxes and better job market of the States.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Sophie, I'm essentially white...mostly, anyway. What I mean is that Philly tends to be segmented into Italian, Irish, Jewish, and African- American. I don't know...maybe all cities are like that. Maybe it's time to visit Canada. It's been right across the border for a long time now. :)

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Atlanta, huh? Been hearing a lot of good things about it lately. I find the South intriguing. The south-est I've ever been is Houston and Houston is west-ish. Other than that, never been further down than Virginia. Cheap gas would be nice. Course I'd have to get a car. And I hate to drive. But whatever...

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Jessa, there's no doubt Philly is a very segregated town. I feel you there. I guess I basically fit in in the agnostic Jewish segment.

There are a couple of places in the South I'm very curious about: specifically, Birmingham AL and Knoxville TN. There are some interesting-looking academic librarianship jobs in both places, and I feel like now is the best time for me to pick up and head somewhere new before returning to the ancestral homeland of the Delaware Valley. Isn't Allison from Birmingham? Have any of you been to Knoxville?

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Al is indeed from B'ham.

I am just waiting for Pineapple to get in here and represent for Austin. I have much love for Austin, but she can say it better. Also, she actually lives there.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Sophie, I am from B'ham and I love it, and will always love it.

It is a beautiful city between two mountains, and has a lot of cool stuff to do. If you do, indeed, think of visiting there, I would be happy to provide myself as a tour guide. The people are nice and the food is good and the homes are lovely.

I don't know in what part of town this job is located, but e-mail me if you like, and I will give you all the deets I know.

I've been on Knoxville a few times, and did not love it, mainly because it is the home of the hated TN Vols, and I believe those people lack culture. But I do believe that Tennessee is a beautiful place, mostly, and lots of people adore Knoxville.

However, were I to have to choose, I would not hesitate to pick The Magic City, also known as Birmingham.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

I can't believe you left out Birmingham's main attraction, in my opinion (and not the Southern Living test kitchens, which is what I think T feels is its main attraction):

The world's tallest iron man. Currently headless, no less.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Currently, not even standing there, actually.

The statue of Vulcan, a monument to iron, stands tall over Birmingham, wearing nothing but an apron, and mooning all of downtown. He is currently down for cleaning and repairs, but soon his iron ass will shine again and happiness will return to the city.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Al, thank you so much for offering your tour-guiding services! I may just take you up on it. The job is in the Mervyn H. Stern library at the U of Alabama. Is the school in a nice/interesting part of town? I haven't even applied yet, but even before your praises of Birmingham, I was inclined to give it a whirl. And now, between the scenery, the fun stuff to do around town, and the Southern Living test kitchens, to say nothing of the ass-baring iron man, I'm really intrigued. I have to laugh at myself, though, 'cause I'm such a ridiculous Southern wannabe: my entire knowledge of the South derives from reading Florence King.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Mervyn H. Stern library at the U of Alabama

That would be the U of Alabama at Birmingham, a distinction you have to make because of the rabid people who attended The U of Alabama (in Tuscaloosa), such as...well... myself.

UAB is in the Southside of B'ham, which is the coolest part of town in the estimation of many, moments away from Five Points South. Um... it is also very near downtown, which can be scary, like most downtowns. The school itself is less than pretty, but not too bad, and has a lot of cool stuff going on most of the time.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Sophie, I fear that Allison isn't giving you the full picture of UAB. It is primarily a medical school - and one of the best in the nation, I might add. They are also on the cutting edge of research and technology. It is an excellent school. However, it sprawls over the hills and valleys of Southside and there is no formal campus, per se. They are working to make it more like a college but it still has a way to go. They have a good basketball team and are growing a football team. Since it is a medical school it is fairly multi- cultural. Like Al told you, it is beautiful here with lots of good places to eat, good music, etc. Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama and UAB is its largest employer. Try it, you'll like it!

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Thanks for the skinny on UAB & your hometown, Lowe family! I appreciate it so much, not least because you can tell me so much more than any guidebook can. JoLowe, when you say that UAB is mainly a medical school, does that mean it's all grad students, or do they also have an undergraduate population? It sounds like the school is going through an interesting time. I'm going to apply!

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

HUGE undergrad population. + all those great Pre-Meds and Interns! Come on down!

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2002

Further to JoLowe & Al's enthusiasm for Birmingham, I just received a very nice letter from the search committee at UAB, telling me that my application is under review & that I should look forward to hearing from them soon. Whee!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the latest Southern Living feature a decent article on Birmingham? That might be helpful to check out if you are still wanting additional info.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2002

Thanks, Missy! I'll check that out.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2002

Is anyone in the MATH+1 extended family familiar with either Oxford, MS or Auburn, AL, or both? I want to apply for a job at Ole Miss and a residency at Auburn, and I'm lookin' for the dirt (good & bad) on both cities and their respective institutions of higher learning. Thank you!

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2002

While having never been there myself, I have a friend in a PH.D. program at Ole Miss. She says the town is very small and there is almost nothing to do outside the University, not to mention the oppressive heat in the summer, but otherwise she likes it.

Being involved with a Lowe family member, I have never been to Auburn. Hell, I could get smacked for just saying that word in the house.

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2002

Oxford is a beautiful, fun town - if you stay right near Ole Miss and the square. Plus, it boasts the best independent bookstore in the south (Square Books). Tailgaiting there is a blast, from what I understand.

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2002

Ok, here's sort of the same question, phrased somewhat differently: what kind of culture shock do you predict for a football-hating* Yankee city slicker girl who moves to a town like Oxford with her cosmopolitan pursuit-lovin' English country boy fiance?

*"hating" is too strong a word. It's more like general ignorance of the sport.

Follow-up question: can those who don't care much for the ball we call foot enjoy tailgating? Anyone? Beuller?

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2002

Oxford's not exactly cosmopolitan, but it's moreso than Auburn. And if you're into music, all of the best bands play around Oxford. They're both huge party schools, and I can't tell you much more than that with my limited knowledge. But! Jimmy Buffett went to Miss and got a gig writing for Rolling Stone while he was there. The only person I know (Slickery knows him too) that went to Auburn was in the veterinary program, and while he was a very bright boy, it doesn't appear to me to be a very challenging educational environment.

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2002

I'd go for Oxford. Also, you definitely don't have to give a whit about football and still enjoy tailgaiting in the Grove. There are great bands in Oxford, and I think that if you're going to rank by intellectual population, Oxford makes Auburn look like a bad pre- school. Also, Oxford is only about 45 minutes from Memphis, so you can get to a big-ish city for anything you can't get in the county.

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2002

can those who don't care much for the ball we call foot enjoy tailgating? Anyone? Beuller?

From what I've seen, anyone can tailgate here, in Pittsburgh.

I don't know if y'all heard, but we used to have this stadium called "Three Rivers Stadium". A year ago, they decided to blow that beeeatch up because they didn't need it anymore. On a Sunday morning. At 8am.

I ended up coming down from Mt. Washington around 6am because the part I was at ended up breaking up.. regardless, there were people tailgating.

At 6am.

On a Sunday.

With hot dogs, and fire, and beer.

I love this town.

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2002

sophie, please don't break my heart by going to Auburn.

If you're choosing between there and Oxford, all it will take is one visit to each to make your decision. Auburn is about as scenic as the parking lot of a strip mall. And, let me say that, yes, I AM biased, but I have good reason.

Oxford is truly lovely, indeed, and the home of many great dark Southern moments in history.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Have I mentioned lately how incredibly helpful y'all are? Thank you, everyone! I'm sending my application off for the Ole Miss job tomorrow (would have done so this afternoon, were it not for the insanely long line at the post office coupled with a wicked hard pounding in my head), and have decided to bag the Auburn gig. The Ole Miss one has the potential for tenure, which the Auburn job does not. That, and everyone's tactful but clear indications that the town is a pit along the lines of College Station, TX, have swayed me.

Al, you have no idea how your assumption that I'm making a *choice* right now warms the cockles of my as-yet unemployed heart. When you apply for the academic librarian jobs, you are playing the patience-draining waiting game of a lifetime. And I've only just begun!

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Hmmmm. I dug up this topic because I remembered there being stuff about Auburn, AL in it. I did not remember that it was stuff about how unsavory Auburn is.

Allison, can I ask what your ick about Auburn is? See, I ask because I happen to have just made plans to road trip there with two friends who are architects who are visiting the Rural Studio (apparently Samuel Mockbee, the architect who was head of the program at Aub. U is/was a big fave of my friends).

Did I just agree to a really crappy trip?

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2002

Man, I wish I could say "no."

Actually, there are pretty little rural towns outside of Auburn. Waverly, AL for instance is very pretty and historical, as I remember from driving through there several times.

I went to The U of Alabama, which is where the ick originates, but honestly, Auburn is not a pretty campus - I'm not just saying that because of the rivalry. I'm sure the Rural Studio will be cool, though. I'll be interested to hear how your trip goes.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2002

The Rural Studio has been everywhere lately. There was a piece in The Oxford American, in The New Yorker, in the New York Times, and in , of all places. Let us know how that visit goes. Although, you might not be spending that much time in (icky) Auburn - as I understand it, most of the houses built by the Studio are designed by Auburn students, but their mainly in way rural Alabama and in the Mississippi Delta.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

They're, I mean. Dammit.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

Reasons why Atlanta rocks:

1) Because you can occasionally spot Clark Howard at a 7-11.

2) Dogwoods.

3) That one week in March when all the daffodils bloom.

4) Trees, and more trees, and did I mention trees?

5) 'Cue.

6) Family there.

7) Boy there.

8) Al, T, the MOC, and now Hannah Beth there.

9) Me there. As of late this summer, most likely.

WOO-HOO!

Ahem. Carry on.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

Man, I wish I could say "no."

Hee. Well, it's cool anyway. I wanted to go on the trip for the rides to and from AL and NY with one of my oldest dearest friends in her convertible. Everything in between the trips is gravy.

And really, for this Yankee who's never been south of Virginia, seeing any of Alabama will be interesting and fun. I will totally report back with my impression of the rural wastelands of Auburn.

And on topic, I live in NYC and I love it for a million reasons, one of which is that, even when I don't like it very much, I still love it. Kinda like family.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

Backing up WG, Atlanta does truly rock, even in spite of the following facts:

During Spring, no matter color your car is, it will turn yellow from pollen.

It is impossible to make a left hand turn off of, or on to, any major road at any time, except at 7am on a Sunday morning.

There is no such thing as "the best way" to get somewhere because any way you take will consume an hour of your time, except on Sunday at 7am.

If you get directions to somewhere that includes the phrase "turn on to Peachtree", make sure you ask which Peachtree since there are at least 20 different streets that are name Peachtree something or another.

Flying out of Hartsfield Airport apparently now requires 6 hours of prep time and the handing over of your first child.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

Flying out of Hartsfield Airport apparently now requires 6 hours of prep time and the handing over of your first child.

Flying out of LaGuardia requires eight hours, an oath sealed in blood that you will never speak ill of the Port Authority, performing the Dance of the Seven Veils for the security guards, and, on occasion, reciting the Preamble to the Constitution, backwards, while hopping up and down on one foot while rubbing your stomach and your head.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

I live in San Francisco and there's a huge list reasons why this city rocks, but I'll just mention a few: A plethora of excellent bookstores, museums, and art galleries. Stunning scenery and views almost anywhere you turn. Enough restaurants that if every citizen of SF went out for dinner on the same night they could all find a seat (yes!). A huge diversity of cultures which gives you those great restaurants and also clothes, music, etc. And so much more. Come! Visit! I'll show you the good stuff tourists don't know about.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

Wow, Clark Howard! There's a major selling point!

Who's Clark Howard?

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

Sorry. Clark Howard is a local-syndicated consumer-advice expert. He's on the radio every weekday afternoon and his website is here. He'll tell you how to get to Denver from the East Coast for $150 and all sorts of nifty things. He even considered running for mayor in '97 -- it would have been interesting.

T found him once in a 7-11, getting a refill on his Big Gulp, and wrote about it in her journal.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

Well Kay, I could take you up on that sometime. I live in Fremont and have never been particularly fond of San Francisco (bear in mind, you don't see me posting the virutes of Fremont here. It's OK, but there aren't many good restaurants). Last time I had to drive through S.F. I nearly had a heart attack. My son thought the city was incredibly cool though.

I second Kim's recommendations of the museums and restaurants in San Fransisco. You can find a great restaurant without even trying. I've never been disappointed.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

The Rural Studio was basically the only reason I was even considering applying for that gig. Back when I worked for a medical publisher, I was the lucky editorial assistant working on large animal veterinary books. We had a number of authors (specializing in goats & sheep!) who were at Auburn, and none of them had nice things to say about it. Not that the university sucked, just that it was kinda boring and, as Al pointed out, it's ugly. I picture it in my head as the College Station of the Deep South.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

I've only been here five days, but I have to say that Atlanta does rock. It's so beautiful. And I'm keeping my eyes out for Ludacris.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2002

Y'all, San Francisco rocks HARD. I am listing some of our meals because I am still full and they were spectacular.

-Burgers at Barney's. Y'all, my bacon cheeseburger had TOO MUCH crispy bacon. I didn't know there was such a thing.

-Tapas at Zarazuela (sp)? You can't go wrong with tapas, of course.

-Brunch at Rex Cafe. Best homefries ever. And at 3 in the afternoon, which we had worried might be past the brunching hour. (But, you know, if you can't get eggs at 3 on a Sunday, you're letting the terrorists win.)

-Sushi at Tokyo Go Go. If you like not particularly traditional but very particularly yummy rolls, this is the place.

I won't mention the many, many other spots where sangria/margaritas/martinis and more were consumed. But I may just have to move there.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Seriously, if any of you come out to SF let me know and I'll hook you up with some places to see and things to do. Some touristy stuff, and some "shh, only the locals know" stuff, too. San Francisco does have its problems (a city government I sometimes swear has maybe half a clue) but every time I see the fog come creeping over Mount Sutro like stretched out taffy with a fiery sunset in the background, I know I'm hooked.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

I can't believe sophie knocked College Station. I love College Station. It's a great little town, and NOT just because Texas A&M is there. (Yes, I attended the school.)

But, now that I'm living in Austin, I'd have to say that it rocks for being the Live Music Capitol of the World. There's so much diversity in the people and the thinking here. You never know if you're sitting next to a hippie with millions in the bank or the head of some major corporation. Lots of great restaurants, beautiful Hill Country...and of course, 6th Street, which houses Pete's Piano Bar. There's all the reason you will ever need to come to Austin.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002