August 6th, 2013 4:10 PM by Stephen McClain
Here’s an article I found really interesting- America’s Snobbiest Cities. Now doesn’t that immediately peak your interest? After a complete read, there were some rankings I found surprising and some not so surprising. Regardless, It’s always fun to find out who ranks and who doesn’t on any list of who’s who. Selfishly, I was disappointed to find my own home, Austin, TX, coming in at # 19 but hey Austin is hip, modern, up and coming, and full of wealth, academians and politicians. So hey, no city is perfect. I think we should be in the top 10 but who’s counting- right? We still have the best live music scene, some of the best places to eat and more to do than one person can get to. So I’ll take it. Read on. Maybe your favorite place is listed.
America's top 10 snobbiest cities revealed...and you may be surprised
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 16:22 EST, 2 July 2013 | UPDATED: 16:22 EST, 2 July 2013
It's the list that proves being cool can be both a blessing and a curse. Your neighborhood might have the best coffee, food, galleries and fashion - but people will probably hate you for it.
Travel + Leisure has revealed America's top 10 most pretentious cities, with San Francisco topping the list and New York City and Boston not far behind. In the annual survey of America’s favorite cities, readers were asked to rank 35 major destinations for their level of snobbery. 'To determine which city has the biggest nose in the air, we factored in some traditional staples of snobbery: a reputation for aloof and smarty-pants residents, along with high-end shopping and highbrow cultural offerings like classical music and theater,' Travel + Leisure posted on their website.
But 21st-century definitions of elitism were also considered, including over-the-top eco-consciousness (you threw the coffee cup where?), tech-savviness and arty coffeehouses. The most vain included cities with distinctive 'cultures' - like Charleston's quaint southern cooking scene - but weren't necessarily loathed.
WHAT'S WITH THE VELVET-ROPE ATTITUDE? ALL EGO
1. San Francisco 2. New York City 3. Boston 4. Minneapolis/St. Paul 5. TIED: Santa Fe & Seattle 7. Chicago 8. Providence, RI 9. Washington, D.C. 10. Charleston, SC
11. Portland, OR 12. Savannah, GA 13. Nashville 14. TIED: Kansas City, MO & Philadelphia 16. Los Angeles 17. Houston 18. Portland, ME 19. Austin, TX 20. San Juan, PR
Known for its vibrant gay scene and antique cable cars, now San Francisco can add 'Most Pretentious' to its list of attributes. San Fran tops the snob list because its foodie scene has resonated with readers, who gave the food hub top marks for its fine dining, ethnic restaurants, hip boutiques and galleries. But there are some curious contradictions in this result. The City by the Bay also ranked first in the survey for being gay-friendly and welcoming. Can you be snobby and welcoming? And how can a city claim to be cool when it was the backdrop for American sitcom Full House?
Coming in second was New York City - and no doubt, competitive New Yorkers would hate missing out on the top spot. From the exclusive clubs of Manhattan’s Meatpacking District to the cool underground bars of hipster Brooklyn, the diversity, action and vibrancy of New York make it a city locals are proud of - and justifiably snobby about.
Just three hours north from NYC lies the country's third most up itself city - Boston. Reeking with history and saturated with Ivy League-caliber minds, it's inevitable this town has a certain air of superiority. While the driving habits of Bostonians was ranked near the bottom of the survey, it dominates the snob list for its high-concept bookstores, old school museums and expensive universities.
Coming in at number four was Minneapolis/St Paul - the list's first Midwest entry. The City of Lakes residents were highly ranked for being fit and outdoorsy - no wonder with the number of waterways it boasts - and for being exceptionally tidy. Its indie scene pushed this city up in the rankings, with locals watching bands when they're not hiking, paddling, or even ice-surfing.
The next two cities share the fifth spot. To the consternation of many locals for whom flannel is considered formal wear, Seattle made the list. 'Of course San Francisco and New York would make Travel + Leisure’s top 20 list of “America’s snobbiest cities.” Those are definitely big-ego cities,' a Seattle Pi blogger wrote. 'But Seattle? Aren’t we a bunch of laid-back, come-as-you-are types who are maybe prone to some hipsterism, but still earthy enough?' The number five spot was shared with Santa Fe in New Mexico, considered a cultural getaway with an abundance of museums. Although their sports bars weren't a hit with readers.
Not far behind was Chicago, renowned for its theater scene, serious architecture and delicious pizza.
Clinching the eighth spot was Providence, Rhode Island, for its cafe culture and cutting edge performance art. It also ranked highly for its burgers, not traditionally considered 'snooty' food.
Predictably, Washington, D.C. also made the list because it has so many free things to do, even if readers thought the locals were unfriendly, while Charleston, in South Carolina, rounded out the list at number 10 thanks to its old-school southern fare.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2353534/Americas-10-snobbiest-cities-revealed--surprised.html#ixzz2a0OsgJOA
So there it is folks. The best of the best. The most uppity, the most snobbiest cities in the big ol’ US of A. Now having had the privilege of visiting several of these cities, I would have to say I take issue with some of the rankings. I find some of these cities to be great areas for living, for entertainment, for business or just hanging out in for a long weekend eating Brie and drinking a bottle of Ghost Pines Cabernet. But then, hey maybe that’s just the snob in me.
Stephen B. McClain is the licensed Broker Owner of Cornerstone New Home Solutions. He is also a certified instructor for the Texas Real Estate Commission under Champions School of Real Estate. He has a career spanning over 30 years in homebuilding and real estate. He can be reached at smcclain@cornerstonenewhomesolutions.com or conerstone125@wordpress.com.