Name a city that you appreciate that others tend to look down on...

Going to start with smaller cities:

I have a tremendous appreciation for Memphis and Baton Rouge, and both for the same reason. They both have an under-rated food scene, and they are home to some of the nicest people I've met. Both feel like overgrown small towns, which I really like. Memphis has the Grizzlies, and Baton Rouge has LSU sports - although I can understand not liking either if you are not into the NBA or college athletics.

Memphis accents are also pretty awesome. Which is weird because people from the Arkansas side of the river have a little bit different twang that sounds horrific. And if you happen to meet a stranger from Memphis and Baton Rouge, they are more likely to be a friendly and down to earth person - can you reliably say that about Dallas, Atlanta, or one of the midwestern cities?

Memphis and Baton Rouge are both casual, laid back southern towns. They differ from other southern towns like Jackson, Montgomery, and Shreveport because they have a very strong economic pulse with at least some upward mobility and growth. Memphis has some incredible Fortune 500 companies, and Baton Rouge is one of the few cities of its size in the south that has retained (and even expanded) its already massive and powerful industrial base. I definitely prefer LSU over University of Memphis or Rhodes, but both cities do have a huge student population that keeps them feeling relatively young. I also like that you can pretty easily find restaurants and smaller venues that host live music in both towns - at least before the pandemic. I hope they can retain that.

Neither is going to be mistaken for the more watered down cultures of Atlanta or Dallas, and that's a damn good thing sometimes. Memphis is IMO the unofficial capital of the south IMO and Baton Rouge is pretty much a 1/6th sized version of Houston. Both are meant as compliments.


Memphis:


Baton Rouge:


Now for the large cities:

My personal favorite is Chicago. Among America's giant cities, Chicago seems to get the most heat for the perceived crime problems and corruption. Both of those issues are real definitely....but you are highly unlikely to encounter any major issues unless you venture into the south side or in the west side near Austin or Humbolt Park.

Chicago my favorite large city in the country.

The food is really good, the summer weather is incredible, and the people aren't quite as prickly as their counterparts in Boston or Philadelphia. The costs of living is relatively low considering the size. The public transit is awesome, and the airport is damn solid.

The homeless problem isn't nearly as bad as NYC and Los Angeles (likely b/c of the winters), and the cleanliness issues that plague both of those competing cities don't seem to be as pervasive in Chicago's loop and surrounding areas. There are incredible museums and one of the country's best parks right there along Michigan avenue.

The winters are miserable, but they aren't much worse than the winters in Boston or Philly.

Chicago:
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