[Snow]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on a little project right now and collecting picture reference and info. I’ve been doing a lot of research on Canadian and U.S. cities. I’m trying to find all the things that give the big cities their identity. I’m trying to keep the list small but it varies from city to city. Some have tons of important buildings Like New York or Chicago, while others don’t have that many. So I don’t have a real limit on the number I need for every place. Maybe somewhere around 10 on average. Some examples of the stuff I'm looking for...

Landmarks:
- CN Tower
- Statue of Liberty
- Even the Hollywood sign.

Important Historic Buildings:
- Marine Building (Vancouver)
- Hotel Vancouver
- Smith Tower (Seattle)
- those cool little hotels along Miami beach (The old ones with the neon lighting).

The most important buildings, whatever their size so long as they are important enough. New buildings or those under construction count too (Chicago Spire, Vancouver Convention Centre).

- Libraries
- Stadiums
- Monuments
- Museums
- LAX (Los Angeles)
anything worth including.

Bridges:

- Golden Gate and Bay Bridges (San Francisco)
- Burrard and Lions Gate Bridges (Vancouver)

Even Vancouver’s Skytrain or Seattle’s double decker highway in downtown. L.A. and it’s highways too, all these things give a city it’s identity.

If your city is famous for it’s huge ports, or industrial facilities then include that too. I want to make my work a true representation of the actual location.

Finally, if there is anything else that’s really important but not man made, they should be included as well. Stanley Park (Vancouver) is a good example (3rd largest urban park in N. America).

I’ll post info on what I’m working on once it’s complete or nearing completion. This is a project I’m working on alone in my spare time so It will take a while (especially since I’m a full-time student). This is a huge project in terms of the research being put in to it.

I hope you guys decide to contribute to the lists and help make them better. I think some of you might like the end result. All the help will be greatly appreciated :)

[Chicago2020]

WELCOME SNOW!!!!

Well I can't think of any for my current hometown of Phoenix. There's nothing unique here except maybe the mountains and the tall castus'.

[Snow]

Thanks for the nice welcome Chicago2020 :)

I was curious and googled some pics of downtown Phoenix. Also looked up wikipedia. For some cities 10 things might be a lot but I saw several that would work. I would probably have gone with the Veterans Coliseum(listed as "Chase Field" in the diagrams section) since it really stands out on the aerial pics. From there probably the tallest 4 buildings and any others that stood out in any way. I guess maybe I shouldn't really have said the "most important". Sometimes the best looking buildings that you would probably remember if you were visiting the city. For that I think I might have picked "Hyatt Regency Phoenix" and "Phelps Dodge Corporate Headquarters" since they look kind of interesting.

One of the toughest things for me is picking any historic buildings since I don't know any history behind a lot of these cities. Figuring this stuff out will probably take a lot longer than doing the actual work. At least I sort of got Phoenix done now, unless anyone can add to this :P

[zimfar]

I suppose Brooklyn, while part of NYC, has its own distinct history and Identity.

Big Willy (the Williamsburg Bank Building-tallest in the borough for many decades)
Verrazzano Narrows Bridge (longer than the Golden Gate). Also the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges.
Grand Army Plaza Arch (Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch, Brooklyn’s version of the Arc de Triomphe.)
Brooklyn Museum/Brooklyn Botanical Gardens/Prospect Park (by the same designers of the MET and Central Park in Manhattan).
BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music- great architecture as well as an institution).

To scratch the surface...

[bryson662001]

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/797px-Independence_Hall.jpg

[WilliamTheArtist]

Interesting thread. But I would argue that its not only the buildings that give a city its identity. Austin is seen locally as a hip, "wierd"lol, young, city with a great music scene. None of that really has anything to do with the buildings. The New Orleans "Big Easy", New Yourk "Big Apple",Paris "City of Love", etc are monikers that show something about a cities identity. But again its not so much buildings as, attitude and lifestyle of the people living there.

A photo can capture the "feel" and image of a city. A group of musicians in the French Quarter, A cafe along a street with the Eiffel Tower in the background, Times Square, as examples.

My hometown of Tulsa has been discussing the fact that it Doesnt have an identity. Whats the one or two things that you immediately think of when you think of Tulsa? Whats its identity? What aspect of our city should we promote to the outside world, even to ourselves to grow and nurture? The city actually hired a firm to come in and find out. They explored the city, got impressions, did interviews, took polls, etc. Then came up with an "I AM TULSA" campaign, that is a piece of crap imo lol.

So "What gives your city it's Identity?".... You suggesting we have one? lol If you know what it is, or have any ideas, please let us know. :-P

[PA Pride]

Pittsburgh, PA: Known for it's beautiful topography, rich culture, and huge surplus of Universities and technology development.

Just kidding!

We are known for being a smoky, rundown steel town.

[donybrx]

....... Paris "City of Love", etc are monikers that show something about a cities identity. But again its not so much buildings as, attitude and lifestyle of the people living there.


Actually, Paris is known as the "City if Lights" but is incomparably romantic so "City of Love" could serve as unofficial title.....

[SpongeG]

WELCOME SNOW!!!!

Well I can't think of any for my current hometown of Phoenix. There's nothing unique here except maybe the mountains and the tall castus'.

that mountain thing set against green golf courses is what i think of when i think of phoenix and I've never been there

[Minato Ku]

Actually, Paris is known as the "City if Lights" but is incomparably romantic so "City of Love" could serve as unofficial title.....

Paris City of love. :lmao:
Only tourists and non Parisian believe on this.

When you live in Paris, we are far to be in the wondeful world in the most stressed city in Europe.
When you see the subway in the rush hour, it sad but happy faces are not commun.

Pictures taken by me
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/1746/cimg2843zf2cc2.jpg

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/441/cimg0631hc7wn9.jpg

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4363/cimg0370iy6ob4.jpg

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/3695/cimg0043tr8.jpg

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/4679/cimg0031xl9.jpg

Paris is romantic if you are rich or tourist, but most inhabitants of Paris are not this. :(

Parisians don't give at Paris a good reputation.
Haussmannian buidings and monuments (wich are not the majority of Paris buildings ) give at Paris a very good reputation. :)

[villelumiere]

To be honest Minato one could make the same point about any city. The quotidian reality for people on metro, tube or subway is remarkably similar.

is every major city stressed? Yes. Increasingly multi-ethnique? Yes. Increasingly globalised and banalised (giving the word its french meaning)? Yes.

However what we are dealing with is that which gives a city difference and character not what makes it simply a copy of everywhere else. I am not Parisian by birth but I spend most of my time working there and regard it as home. It is romantic. it is impossibly beautiful by the standards of its competitors. it is well planned by international standards. The cuisine is good. the Shopping is equalled only by manhattan and West end and bettered nowhere. These may be cliches but they are true.

You are essentially pointing out that nowhere is more misunderstood. In that you are right but that is because no city worldwide - I think I can say without contradiction - has such a strong "brand" image: Ville Lumiere, City of Love, Capital of l'art de vivre. That branding is in itself hugely important and makes the city the world's most visited and most loved.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Don't have time for the pictures Snow, but this may help you out with Phoenix (if you're interested):

Landmarks:
- Arizona State Capital (historical building)
- Heard Museum
- Camelback Mountain
- Squaw/Piestewa Peak
- South Mountain

Important Historic Buildings:
- Arizona State Capital (historical building)
- Luhrs Tower
- Phoenix City Hall (the oldest of the three buildings from the early 1900s)
- Westward Ho

The most important buildings:
- Taliesin West (Scottsdale, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's homes)
- Grady Gammage Auditorium (ASU, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright)
- Chase Tower (tallest in Arizona at a whopping 483 feet)
- 44 Monroe (highrise apartments/condos)
- Summit at Copper Square (another residential tower)
- Sheraton Downtown (or as Don calls it, "The Tower of Mordor" ;) )
- Phoenix City Hall (the building that opened in 1994)
- Arizona State Capital (the ugly-ass 1970s addition behind the Copper Dome)
- Phoenix Cityscape (they've got fences and signs around the proposed site, so its finally getting built)

Libraries:
- Burton Barr Downtown Library

Stadiums:
- University of Phoenix Stadium
- Jobing.com Arena
- US Airways Center
- Chase Field
- Sun Devil Stadium (ASU)
- Veterans Memorial Coliseum
- Wells Fargo Arena (ASU)

Monuments:
- USS Arizona Memorial

Museums:
- Heard Museum
- Phoenix Art Museum
- Arizona Science Center
- Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- ASU Art Museum
- Mesa Arts Center

Airports/Air Force Bases:
- Phoenix/Sky Harbor International Airport
- Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport
- Luke Airforce Base

[Black Box]

^I would not knock people for not looking happy on the Metro. Commuting is usually a time for contemplating what your day will be like or what your day has been like. There are exceptions, like when you're traveling with friends. Otherwise, most people tend to keep to themselves while in transit. It happens in many places that I have lived or currently live in (Seattle, New York, Minneapolis, Portland, OR) and in many places that I've visited.

[Minato Ku]

To be honest Minato one could make the same point about any city. The quotidian reality for people on metro, tube or subway is remarkably similar.

The problem it is worse in Paris than in other european cities.
I took those pictures the saturday and sunday, not in an average workday. :(
"City of love" or "Joie de vivre" could not be true in a city of 12 million inhabitants, even if these are wrong it don't change the fact that the city is cool.

Paris "city of lights" is only the only that I think right.

[totheskies]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on a little project right now and collecting picture reference and info. I’ve been doing a lot of research on Canadian and U.S. cities. I’m trying to find all the things that give the big cities their identity. I’m trying to keep the list small but it varies from city to city. Some have tons of important buildings Like New York or Chicago, while others don’t have that many. So I don’t have a real limit on the number I need for every place. Maybe somewhere around 10 on average. Some examples of the stuff I'm looking for...

Landmarks:
- CN Tower
- Statue of Liberty
- Even the Hollywood sign.

Important Historic Buildings:
- Marine Building (Vancouver)
- Hotel Vancouver
- Smith Tower (Seattle)
- those cool little hotels along Miami beach (The old ones with the neon lighting).

The most important buildings, whatever their size so long as they are important enough. New buildings or those under construction count too (Chicago Spire, Vancouver Convention Centre).

- Libraries
- Stadiums
- Monuments
- Museums
- LAX (Los Angeles)
anything worth including.

Bridges:

- Golden Gate and Bay Bridges (San Francisco)
- Burrard and Lions Gate Bridges (Vancouver)

Even Vancouver’s Skytrain or Seattle’s double decker highway in downtown. L.A. and it’s highways too, all these things give a city it’s identity.

If your city is famous for it’s huge ports, or industrial facilities then include that too. I want to make my work a true representation of the actual location.

Finally, if there is anything else that’s really important but not man made, they should be included as well. Stanley Park (Vancouver) is a good example (3rd largest urban park in N. America).

I’ll post info on what I’m working on once it’s complete or nearing completion. This is a project I’m working on alone in my spare time so It will take a while (especially since I’m a full-time student). This is a huge project in terms of the research being put in to it.

I hope you guys decide to contribute to the lists and help make them better. I think some of you might like the end result. All the help will be greatly appreciated :)

A hearty welcome to you Snow... and great thread, hopefully it will last.

I'll try for Houston.

Landmarks
-San Jacinto Monument (actually in La Porte)
-Williams Tower
-The Astrodome

World Known Areas
-Galleria-- our most advertised shopping district
-Texas Medical Center

Big Festivals/Events
-Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

[villelumiere]

The problem it is worse in Paris than in other european cities.
I took those pictures the saturday and sunday, not in an average workday. :(
"City of love" or "Joie de vivre" could not be true in a city of 12 million inhabitants, even if these are wrong it don't change the fact that the city is cool.

Paris "city of lights" is only the only that I think right.

Personally I also prefer City of light as its surname. I use it as my username. However all generalisations are going to be inaccurate. Are there 9,000,000 Chicagoans forever going on about how Chicago is better than NY? No. However that windiness of boastfulness IS part of its character. Is every Londoner an achingly hip, street casual financial master of the universe? No. However london IS the only truly global financial full service city. Is every New Yorker full of life and vim? No. However manhattan is wired for energy.

Generalisations are untrue and true at the same time adn one thing that can be said of parisian generalisations is that they are uniformly positive adn this is proved by world beating tourism figures. So don't fix what isn't broken. The world wants to believe it so it is true in a fashion.

[WilliamTheArtist]

Not to hijack the thread here, but speaking of Paris... I have been to many other European cities. For instance I loved London and when I stayed in Paris for a few weeks. I found that I didnt really "feel" for it all that much. Perhaps it was because I was traveling alone at the time. (though I did run into this adorable, aspiring Norwegian model and spent an "evening" together. Wasnt love but it was lust lol) But anywhoo... for some reason, of all the cities I have been to, Paris still sticks in my mind and seems to want to pull me back. I think it was some of the incredibly beautiful and memorable moments, despite the rest of the time not being all that great lol.

However I have wanted to point out something that I have seen in several different threads that have photos of Paris in them. When I was there about 15 years ago, I dont remember the people looking the way they do in the pics I see now? People in the photos I see now look very.... American. Hope thats not too insulting lol. But there seem to be far more minorities, and definitely the attire has changed. I remember you could spot the tourists right off. they were the ones wearing blue jeans and tennis shoes. Sure some wore jeans, but I dont remember hardly anyone wearing tennis shoes. I had blonde hair and felt like an alien. I dont think I saw another blonde person the whole time I was there. Most of the guys wore the requisite black pants and black shoes and the women were more stylish as well. They were very French. In the pics I see now the mix and dress of the people look like what you see everywhere else. If you would have dressed like most of the people on that subway look, you probably would have been given dirty looks. They look like slobs. Heck, people from Western Europe in general used to dress better than Americans. Parisians definitely had a distinctive look. Those subway pics above could be from anywhere. Or is my memory wrong?

[rockyi]

For the Quad Cities: (Davenport, Bettendorf Iowa/Rock Island, Moline Illinois)

-The Figge Museum of Art (architect, David Chipperfield)
-John Deere World Headquarters (architect, Eero Saarinen)
-John O Donnell stadium (one of the most beautiful minor league stadiums in the country, see link below)
http://mysite.verizon.net/charliesballparks/stadiums/davenprt.htm
-More "Fests" then we know what to do with.
-Centennial bridge. (1940)
-I-74 bridge (1936/1959) one of the only twin-span suspention bridges in the world.
-The Mississippi River running east to west here instead of north and south.
-Lack of identitiy because there is no main city to focus on and poor signage so visitors NEVER know where the hell they are.
-The "Arsenal"
-All of those damn casino boats.
-The most "self loathing" people on earth.
-And, perhaps the most hated structure in town (by locals, at least) this skybridge:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/rockyi/1687a5d2.jpg
(I kind of like it)

[hauntedheadnc]

In a nutshell, my city's identity is defined by...

mountains...

ltujvEv7fb0

...art deco architecture...

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/hauntedheadnc/Asheville091002.jpg

...and a really, really big house.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/hauntedheadnc/Asheville100203.jpg

[villelumiere]

Not to hijack the thread here, but speaking of Paris... I have been to many other European cities. For instance I loved London and when I stayed in Paris for a few weeks. I found that I didnt really "feel" for it all that much. Perhaps it was because I was traveling alone at the time. (though I did run into this adorable, aspiring Norwegian model and spent an "evening" together. Wasnt love but it was lust lol) But anywhoo... for some reason, of all the cities I have been to, Paris still sticks in my mind and seems to want to pull me back. I think it was some of the incredibly beautiful and memorable moments, despite the rest of the time not being all that great lol.

However I have wanted to point out something that I have seen in several different threads that have photos of Paris in them. When I was there about 15 years ago, I dont remember the people looking the way they do in the pics I see now? People in the photos I see now look very.... American. Hope thats not too insulting lol. But there seem to be far more minorities, and definitely the attire has changed. I remember you could spot the tourists right off. they were the ones wearing blue jeans and tennis shoes. Sure some wore jeans, but I dont remember hardly anyone wearing tennis shoes. I had blonde hair and felt like an alien. I dont think I saw another blonde person the whole time I was there. Most of the guys wore the requisite black pants and black shoes and the women were more stylish as well. They were very French. In the pics I see now the mix and dress of the people look like what you see everywhere else. If you would have dressed like most of the people on that subway look, you probably would have been given dirty looks. They look like slobs. Heck, people from Western Europe in general used to dress better than Americans. Parisians definitely had a distinctive look. Those subway pics above could be from anywhere. Or is my memory wrong?


The French call it banalisation. The effectsof globalisation leading to a sameness.

Also I hope Minato doesn't mind my saying this because I mean no offence but he does have an agenda to show Pairis as multi ethnique and multi racial and consequently and possibly sub consciously his pics tend to show a very high number of non whites. I hope Minato does not take offence and I feel he has every right to show that side of the city but the majority, the vast majority, of Parisians are white frenchmen who are slightly less likely to "dress american" than immigrants.

I'm making no value judgments. I'm simply stating what I see.

[krudmonk]

technology and a hockey team

[SuburbanNation]

Survival, perseverance, and redemption in an anti-urban nation in one of the most anti-urban, divisive, and spiteful states of them all.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s29/warwickland/fstl.jpg

Of course theres the red brick, the history of flying under three nations flags, the river, local culinary quirks, old ambiance, the mansard roofs, etc...i can't do the city justice. see: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=143526

[Snow]

Thanks guys, some good info here.

I stumbled on emporis again yesterday and noticed for the first time that they had a "most important buildings" section. I wish I noticed that earlier, damn :P They have a pretty good list for some cities but others seem pretty incomplete. Oh well, a little here, a little there and I will piece it all together somehow.

I hope I get my computer fixed by tuesday, I'm sitting on an :ancient: one at the moment. Can't wait to get a bit more done before school starts. That will definately limit my time on this.

You guys are also right about their being more to the identity than the physical aspects. I'll try to include some of those things as well once the visual bits are completed.

[MobyLL]

I'll give you some ideas for Miami and Denver plus I have to add one to Zimfar's excellent Brooklyn list... gotta add Coney Island (parachte drop, Cyclone roller coaster, boardwalk, nathans hot dog stand, etc.).

Miami/Miami Beach -- the Art Deco hotels (as you mentioned), Lincoln Road, Vizcaya mansion, Turquoise water, Royal Palms, Everglades Nat. Park, Versailles Cuban restaurant, Downtown Skyline with Cruise ships in Foreground.

Denver -- Rocky Mountains, D&F tower (Daniels and Fisher), 16th Street mall, Bronco's Mile High Stadium (Invesco Field), Union Station, 16th Street Pedestrian Bridge, Coors Brewery in Golden.

[louisville_sky]

Churchill Downs (although many around the country probably associate that w/the entire state, not the city itself), the Old Louisville neighborhood, the Louisville Slugger...

oh, and the most important of all... Kentucky Fried Chicken :yes:

[UrbanImpact]

Fort Fort Lauderdale, FL USA:

We are known as the venice of America and the Yatch capital of the world. What gives the city it's identity is it's Beach, Canals, Boats, Gays (there is a large conecentration here) and Tourism.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markkramer/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/1169744896_b146563c40_b.jpg

[FrancoRey]

Here are some photos from another thread about Denver I created, which make Denver, Denver!

1-The Daniels and Fisher Tower (Tallest Building in the Western US when built in 1910, later passed by the Smith Tower in Seattle)

skyscrapercity.com
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7581/img3436denverdanielsfishertowe.jpg

2-Union Station in Lodo (and LoDo as a whole)

Friends of Union Station.org
http://www.friendsofunionstation.org/images/slide6.jpg

3-The Colorardo State Capitol and Denver City Hall in Civic Park

coloradoconventions.org
http://www.coloradoconventions.org/images/statecapitol.jpg

imagesofcolorado.com
http://www.imagesofcolorado.com/apix/civiccenterpano147can2c480h.jpg

4-The Colorado Convention Center

ymtram.mashke.org
http://ymtram.mashke.org/usa/denver/photos/denver13030.jpg

5-Daniel Libeskind's 'The New Denver Art Museum'

daniel-libeskind.com
http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/typo3temp/pics/b8def2d1d7.jpg

6-Denver International Airport

denverairporttransportation.com
http://www.denverairporttransportation.com/images/dia.jpg

7-And last, but not least, The Wells Fargo Center, aka the 'mailbox top' the 'cash register', etc. (52 stories)

www.hines.com
http://www.hines.com/toolkit_images/Project%20Photos/Wells%20Fargo%20Center%20Denver/Wells%20Fargo%20Center%20Denver_lres_web.jpg


The Rocky Mountains, though not a DENVER wonder

coloradohomefinder.com
http://www.coloradohomefinder.com/Images/StarterImages/Denver-real-estate-map.gif

Coors Field

www.denver.org
http://www.denver.org/pictures/ImageType1_8_0md_hr_07coors.jpg

Invesco and the Broncos!

TheOnion.com
http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Denver-Broncos.jpg

Others

The Denver Botanical Gardens
Elitch Gardens
The Denver Mint
The Molly Brown House :)
Water World (lol)

Go Denver!!! :banana:

[urbanpln]

The French call it banalisation. The effectsof globalisation leading to a sameness.

Also I hope Minato doesn't mind my saying this because I mean no offence but he does have an agenda to show Pairis as multi ethnique and multi racial and consequently and possibly sub consciously his pics tend to show a very high number of non whites. I hope Minato does not take offence and I feel he has every right to show that side of the city but the majority, the vast majority, of Parisians are white frenchmen who are slightly less likely to "dress american" than immigrants.

I'm making no value judgments. I'm simply stating what I see.

I don't know about that. I was there in May 2007 and it looked very multi-ethic to me. There were tons of asians, africans(including north africans), middle eastern. I even ventured into some of the edgy neighborhoods like chinatown. I would have to say currently, Paris is one of the most diverse cities on the planet.

[spark317]

Seven Cities

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4065/19102873it2.jpg

Military - U.S. Navy in particular
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1587/c032025hh1.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6900/fortmonroeaerialbestvieqd8.jpg

Food Processing
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/7458/smithfieldpr00000njc7.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/4347/1500007000planterspeanuyg7.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5504/anheuser20busch20beerbc3.jpg

Cradle of America - Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4241/imagetq7.jpg
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9496/800pxcolonialwilliamsbuwl6.jpg
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1066/yorktown06011bulf5.jpg

Virginia Beach, Great Dismal Swamp
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8345/800pxvirginiabeachfromflx8.jpg
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8430/virginiabeachhx8.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4026/swampxp7.jpg

Railroad Industry
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8530/ns20norfolk20southern20cd0.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/533/csx5502qg8.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2499/amtrakzu6.jpg

Maritime Industry - Shipbuilding, Tall Ships, Long Ships, Ports, Attractions
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/334/h96764jl8.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6270/shipyard1rb2.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2741/sailvirginadk8.png
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1825/gw911ready500yk5.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3320/ppiaerialdec20042bg5.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8620/oc07062037cw8.jpg

Bridges & Tunnels
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4655/hrbttt3.jpg
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2526/t047377bfa7.jpg

PETA vs. Michael Vick (and one of his dogs)
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/796/peta20hq2ou2.jpg
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4200/vickdogin4.jpg

All photos are web finds

[JackStraw]

Pittsburgh
-Cathedral of Learning
-Funiculars
-hills (Appalachia)
-three rivers/Confluence
-Steelers/Penguins
-some crappy baseball team, with a nice ball park
-Warhol Museum
-Bridges and lots of them
-golden triangle/nice skyline
-Ketchup
-Donnie Iris

[pdxtex]

Portland, Oregon is probably the strip club capital of America. No, really!!

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Los Angeles

So many...

Hollywood
Downtown LA Skyline
Fires
Freeways
Hollywood sign
Capitol Records Building
Venice Canals
Santa Monica Pier
Smog
Mountains
Palm Trees
Disney Hall
SFR's
Movie Stars
Beverly Hills
Rodeo Drive
Celebrities
Staples Center
Dodger Stadium
Colosieum
Rose Bowl
Lakers
Dodgers
USC
UCLA
Rose Parade
The Getty
Bums
Gangs
Low Riders
Graffiti
Kodak Theater
Taco Trucks
Sushi
and probably more...

[PA Pride]

Pittsburgh
-Cathedral of Learning
-Funiculars
-hills (Appalachia)
-three rivers/Confluence
-Steelers/Penguins
-some crappy baseball team, with a nice ball park
-Warhol Museum
-Bridges and lots of them
-golden triangle/nice skyline
-Ketchup
-Donnie Iris


Not alot of people know the Warhol museum is in Pittsburgh. I was at a concert a couple years ago and I was in the bar talking to this guy from New York City and he was like, "yeah, i'm going to Cleveland tomorrow to see the Andy Warhol museum." And I told him: "That's in Pittsburgh; It's on the northside". and he kept saying: "no way, it's in Cleveland". And I was like: "Dude, i'm from Pittsburgh, I know where the museum is."

I don't think he ever believed me. For all I know he went to Cleveland the next day to try and find the Andy Warhol museum.

[LucasS6]

Most of the guys wore the requisite black pants and black shoes and the women were more stylish as well...Heck, people from Western Europe in general used to dress better than Americans.

I hope you're not referring to tight black jeans, but rather black slacks. Because if you're saying black jeans (and that's how the French people I saw dressed), that's not a good look. Looking like a garage emo-band from the Inland Empire usually isn't a good thing.

[PA Pride]

Pittsburgh's Identity:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/bigimage_22.jpg

[mrherodotus]

Pittsburgh's Identity:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/bigimage_22.jpg

What do you do when the thing you are most known for largely ceases to exist? Should we call ourselves "The Former Steel City"?

Most people know about the three rivers, but it's amazing how many people come to Pittsburgh and are shocked at the rugged landscape.

[Kilgore Trout]

The French call it banalisation. The effectsof globalisation leading to a sameness.

Also I hope Minato doesn't mind my saying this because I mean no offence but he does have an agenda to show Pairis as multi ethnique and multi racial and consequently and possibly sub consciously his pics tend to show a very high number of non whites. I hope Minato does not take offence and I feel he has every right to show that side of the city but the majority, the vast majority, of Parisians are white frenchmen who are slightly less likely to "dress american" than immigrants.

I'm making no value judgments. I'm simply stating what I see.

That's not at all what I saw in Paris. In fact, it seemed a lot less white than London. I don't know how you can possibly claim that the "vast majority" of Parisians are "white Frenchmen" when that clearly isn't the case to anyone who has ever walked the city's streets.

I also do not agree that immigrants are more likely to "dress American" than whites. I saw plenty of black, Arab and Asian people with a typically French sense of fashion.

[Nutterbug]

Vancouver:

the harbour
Stanley Park
Canada Place
Science World
North Shore mountains
Stanley Park
beaches
sidewalk cafes
ports
East Asians
South Asians
highrise condos
cruise ships
ferries
movie productions

And how could I forget...the Downtown Eastside

[Peanut]

As Far as Syracuse goes i would say

Syracuse University
http://www.pbase.com/peanut2k4/image/29442801/medium.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/peanut2k4/image/29442796/medium.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/peanut2k4/image/29442793/medium.jpg

Syracuse's City Hall
http://www.pbase.com/peanut2k4/image/29057253/medium.jpg

Downtown Cuse

http://www.pbase.com/peanut2k4/image/28802461/medium.jpg

Niagara Mohawk building(Courtesy of Syracuse.com)
http://blog.syracuse.com/yourphotos/large_caught_061220_nimo.jpg

Carrier Dome, Sorry no picture

[PA Pride]

What do you do when the thing you are most known for largely ceases to exist? Should we call ourselves "The Former Steel City"?

Most people know about the three rivers, but it's amazing how many people come to Pittsburgh and are shocked at the rugged landscape.

That's the problem; When your economy is so overwhelmingly one industry, the nicknames (Steel City) and reputation is hard to shake when theres not an easy one word explanation for the new economy (healthcare/technology/service jobs, doesnt really roll off the tongue).

[elsonic]

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/1746/cimg2843zf2cc2.jpg

jeezzsch I am in this picture, wich is quite disturbing, considering the population, density and complexity of Paris.

[JackStraw]

Not alot of people know the Warhol museum is in Pittsburgh. I was at a concert a couple years ago and I was in the bar talking to this guy from New York City and he was like, "yeah, i'm going to Cleveland tomorrow to see the Andy Warhol museum." And I told him: "That's in Pittsburgh; It's on the northside". and he kept saying: "no way, it's in Cleveland". And I was like: "Dude, i'm from Pittsburgh, I know where the museum is."

I don't think he ever believed me. For all I know he went to Cleveland the next day to try and find the Andy Warhol museum.

LOL, What moron doesn't know how to use google these days (or a couple years ago) to get directions and find out they know for certain where the Warhol Museum is at.

[bryson662001]

LOL, What moron doesn't know how to use google these days (or a couple years ago) to get directions and find out they know for certain where the Warhol Museum is at.
I made a special trip to Pittsburg to see the warhole museum. But honestly, most of the structures mentioned here in most of these city's would not be recognised by a visitor. Phoenix City Hall? Hotel Vancouver? Po-leaseeeeee!

[PA Pride]

^Is that an intentional misspelling of Warhol? (warhole) did it suck or something?

I've never been there. But i did read recently where the Warhol collection on the Northside is expected to be next appraised at over a billion dollars.

[JackStraw]

Getting off topic - I am not a big Warhol fan myself. I would rather go to the Carnegie art museum, or drive to Philly and go to the Philly museum. I was fortunate enough to see the Dali paintings they brought to the philly museum when I lived there.

[bryson662001]

^Is that an intentional misspelling of Warhol? (warhole) did it suck or something?

I've never been there. But i did read recently where the Warhol collection on the Northside is expected to be next appraised at over a billion dollars.
My mistake......I enjoyed the museum very much.......maybe because i am a child of the 60's/70's. I had read his Diary and a couple of bios and lived in NY during his era.

[edluva]

With Los Angeles, it's identity is, you know, ironically it's lack of identity, or something deep and profound as such :rolleyes:

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

With Los Angeles, it's identity is, you know, ironically it's lack of identity, or something deep and profound as such :rolleyes:

How predictable you are! :cheers:

[mrherodotus]

With Los Angeles, it's identity is, you know, ironically it's lack of identity, or something deep and profound as such :rolleyes:

I always associate LA with showbiz.

[IconRPCV]

For San Diego:

Animals, both the Zoo and Sea World.
Board Culture, surfing and skateboarding.
Increasingly downtown and Petco Park.
Sailing
High Technology
Balboa Park
Fish Tacos

[samne]

Toronto:

CN Tower
Streetcars
Lake
Islands
Trees
Tim Hortons
Banks
Skydome
Chinatown
Multicultural
Nightlife
Condos
Commie blocks
Hockey

[Rufus]

Toronto:

CN Tower
Streetcars
Lake
Islands
Trees
Tim Hortons
Banks
Skydome
Chinatown
Multicultural
Nightlife
Condos
Commie blocks
Hockey
Trees? What about trees? That is so general. Banks, too.

[Echo Park]

With Los Angeles, it's identity is, you know, ironically it's lack of identity, or something deep and profound as such :rolleyes:

Haha, yeah I love this. Trying to intellectualize LA as a place "without identity" is just a nice way of saying what LA actually is: apathetic and mediocre.

[DJM19]

^nein!

LA has lots of cool stuff.

[samne]

Trees? What about trees? That is so general. Banks, too.

Outside the CBD Toronto is one big canopie with some tall apartments sprouting up.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/MonkeyRonin/Toronto/IMG_9776.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/MonkeyRonin/Toronto/IMG_9767.jpg

thanks MonkeyRonin

Banks. The five national banks are all headquartered* in Toronto. Each with their own skyscraper that makes up the bulk of the CBD. Banking/finance dominate the CBD for office space and employees. Everyone is related or knows someone working in some aspect of the industry.

[Nutterbug]

^ Lovely smog.

[kool maudit]

language and vice.

[Segun]

Chicago - Gangs, corruption and blues.

[MplsTodd]

Minneapolis:

Lakes
St. Anthony Falls
Minnehaha Falls
Prince
Mary Tyler Moore "oh, Mr. Grant!"
Wheaties & Cheerios
Target
Flour Milling (historic identity)
COLD WINTERS!
Skyways
Scandinavian heritage
'80s indie rock (Husker du, Replacements)
People who say "Yah, sure, yoo betcha, don't ya know"
High Taxes

[sprtsluvr8]

Atlanta:

1. Civil War history and the burning of Atlanta
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1195/889561347_cb2afe826d.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10264053@N02/889561347/


2. World's busiest airport
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/74336970_9c91a253ee.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyhymes/74336970/


3. Headquarters of Coca-Cola, CNN, Home Depot, UPS, Turner Broadcasting, Delta
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/3/6598786_64ae264680.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/114/291724704_3373a68586.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/107083438_43b805f342.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jekemp/6598786/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/remiprev/291724704/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyhymes/107083438/


4. Traffic, sprawl
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/188/370383927_5bab68f926.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/6822258_ac6667d401.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmac0381/370383927/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/evetsggod/6822258/


5. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1338/995637397_4ec6232b65.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pastorjason/995750185/


6. 1996 Summer Olympics
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/412202325_9cdbfd7d27.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clintjcl/412202325/


7. Capital of Georgia
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1360/1020487359_4bc2ad1b13.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zir6/1020487359/


8. Major Universities: Georgia Tech, UGA, Emory, Georgia State, Morehouse, etc.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/221/499029617_0f7413bc5c.jpg?v=0 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/60/221383956_d04fb627fd.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/foto-leo/499029617/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/vppso/221383956/


9. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/1342890244_aa2671856f.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/352050776_874260f89a.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moopus/1342890244/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/67165210@N00/352050776/


10. Entertainers
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1166/871162302_595a98b338.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/266479443_994221fc0c.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elfworld/871162302/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpscene/266479443/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1240/874669221_55a301feec.jpg?v=0http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1119/534605910_5ed82659e0.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/88/280142522_ac929560a0.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedietstartsmonday/874669221/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/missfunkster/534605910/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jorgeq82/280142522/


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/351218739_ea6191d3c5.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/1699036137_3db9917fb4.jpg?v=0http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/750162888_7eb817d699.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73157650@N00/351218739/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/51616104@N00/1699036137/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sexyblackdiva/750162888/

[mexibone]

great thread!

[PhilippeMtl]

Montreal:


Canadian Sin City

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1164/531394476_21f79cbed9_b.jpg
Thanks to gorriti

Churches

Montreal got 140 Catholic Roman churches for a 1.7 M of population
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/365126132_d973eefffd.jpg
Thanks to djof

Triplex and Stairs
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/32661982_ee35007eb3_o.jpg
thanks to petersawatzky

Bilinguism
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/514914542_b7cfc01087_b.jpg
thanks to beccaplay