Which Cities Have "Pedigree", and why?

[Razor]

This is just for discussion and fun.

My criteria for having Pedigree is not necessarily largeness, but it has to have a style, some sort of notoriety, and something signature about it.

For example, I think that Chicago has lots of pedigree for threefold.

1) It was the birthplace and home of the electric blues scene in the 50's.
2) Al Capone and gangsters. I can see the trench coats and Tommy guns.
3) Chicago Deep dish pizza.

More and why?

[iheartthed]

Wouldn't they all have it? At least all of the major cities.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Wouldn't they all have it? At least all of the major cities.

A lot of smaller and medium sized cities too.

[Handro]

Originally Posted by JManc

A lot of smaller and medium sized cities too.

Yep. Nashville, Austin, Denver immediately come to mind.

San Diego and San Antonio, while both perfectly nice cities, would be an example of the opposite. Both good sized cities without much pedigree, as I define it, at least...

[pj3000]

The term "pedigree" is being used incorrectly here...


Interesting things/history/etc. endemic to a particular city have nothing to do with pedigree.

Basically, what is being asked is, "Which cities' local culture do you find interesting?"

[spoonman]

Originally Posted by Handro

Yep. Nashville, Austin, Denver immediately come to mind.

San Diego and San Antonio, while both perfectly nice cities, would be an example of the opposite. Both good sized cities without much pedigree, as I define it, at least...

In San Diego's case, I would think that having one of the largest military installations on earth would count as "pedigree", at least in military circles and compared to things like blues music or hot dogs. The same could be said about Biotech.

I suppose pedigree is in the eye of the beholder or most often has to do with things like academics (well know universities and the like).

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Handro

Yep. Nashville, Austin, Denver immediately come to mind.

San Diego and San Antonio, while both perfectly nice cities, would be an example of the opposite. Both good sized cities without much pedigree, as I define it, at least...

I think the Alamo gives San Antonio "pedigree." San Diego is more of a blank slate.

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by spoonman

In San Diego's case, I would think that having one of the largest military installations on earth would count as "pedigree", at least in military circles and compared to things like blues music or hot dogs. The same could be said about Biotech.

I suppose pedigree is in the eye of the beholder or most often has to do with things like academics (well know universities and the like).

Eye of the beholder indeed. Why, San Diego has been called the "birthplace of California." That should give it *some* "pedigree."

[Buckeye Native 001]

"Birthplace of California" is such a cop out. Good job guys, you founded an entirely new state a few miles north of the present-day Mexican border!

Originally Posted by spoonman

I suppose pedigree is in the eye of the beholder or most often has to do with things like academics (well know universities and the like).

I have a bad feeling that this thread will start to get very stupid, very fast sometime around the end of page two or beginning of page three when people start trying to argue subjective opinions as objective facts.

If not that, it'll become a versus thread.

My usual caveat: Is [city] being the best [city] it can be?"

[spoonman]

Originally Posted by pj3000

the term "pedigree" is being used incorrectly here...


Interesting things/history/etc. Endemic to a particular city have nothing to do with pedigree.

Basically, what is being asked is, "which cities' local culture do you find interesting?"

this

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

"Birthplace of California" is such a cop out. Good job guys, you founded an entirely new state a few miles north of the present-day Mexican border!

I was actually being somewhat facetious when I said that. But indeed, San Diego does bill itself as being the "Birthplace of California."

And I believe you were looking at "California" from the modern American sense of the word. San Diego is the birthplace of Alta California, historically, when you think about it, in terms of 16th century Spanish Empire and then later, newly independent Mexico, when California wasn't yet part of the United States.

[JAYNYC]

Originally Posted by Handro

San Diego and San Antonio, while both perfectly nice cities, would be an example of the opposite. Both good sized cities without much pedigree, as I define it, at least...

This is an extremely questionable opinion that I believe most people would disagree with.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

I was actually being somewhat facetious when I said that. But indeed, San Diego does bill itself as being the "Birthplace of California."

And I believe you were looking at "California" from the modern American sense of the word. San Diego is the birthplace of Alta California, historically, when you think about it, in terms of 16th century Spanish Empire and then later, newly independent Mexico, when California wasn't yet part of the United States.

Oh, I was just deliberately being an idiot.

[JManc]

San Diego's claim to fame is KVWN channel 4

[Steely Dan]

Additionally, "San Diego" means "a whales vagina" in German, and if that ain't an interesting pedigree, then I don't know what the hell is.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Wasnt it also where Tom Cruise killed Anthony Edwards in some sort of aviation mishap?

[xzmattzx]

I'll go ahead and name some place small, since any large city has some degree of pedigree.

Asbury Park, NJ, has the pedigree of having a famous music scene. Most notable is that it was the homebase for Bruce Springsteen, but many other musicians have ties to the town as well.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by pj3000

The term "pedigree" is being used incorrectly here...


Interesting things/history/etc. endemic to a particular city have nothing to do with pedigree.

Basically, what is being asked is, "Which cities' local culture do you find interesting?"

Yes, perhaps your description is more suitable for what I'm looking for..Legacy, identity, style, local culture, etc.

My own city, while a beautiful city to live in, is pretty vanilla and is missing that certain something something that makes it identifiable and iconic.
When I look South, Nashville has some of that..San Fran and by extension the Bay area has it in spades..I associate it with Alcatraz, The fog in the bay, the birthplace of Hell's Angels and especially the counter culture of the late 60's.

[JManc]

^ Don't forget Rice-A-Roni and Full House for the Bay Area as well.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by JManc

^ Don't forget Rice-A-Roni and Full House for the Bay Area as well.

Too Close for Comfort for me!