Rittenhouse Review on Brooklynization of Philly
The Rittenhouse Review: "Attracted by a thriving arts and music scene here and a cost of living that is 37 percent lower than New York's, according to city figures, a significant number of youngish artists, musicians, restaurateurs[,] and designers are leaving New York City and heading down the turnpike for the same reasons they once moved to Brooklyn from Manhattan."
I'm all for growth in Philadelphia, expanding the tax base, and sprucing things up a bit. But welcoming New Yorkers? Particularly those of the 'trendy' and 'hip' sorts? Promoting the already disturbing New-York-ification of this city? That's taking things too far.
'Wait a minute,' you say. 'Didn't you move to Philadelphia from New York?'
Well, yeah, but that's different."
posted by Victor Laszlo @ 8/15/2005
2 comments
2 Comments:
ok, they got more than a few things wrong about the city, but the general feel for it is, I think, about right. But, you know, the thing about new yorkification is that it never really works. It always mutates and becomes something else. That is a risk I am willing to take, if it bumps up the creativity and next generation of arts.
Williamsburg was never and will never be a mini manhattan, the Hamptons, while overpriced, still maintain a sense of their old fishing village charm (most in Montauk, but still).
What I like about philly is the combo of attitude and inferiority complex that makes us inherently likable.
It is like when you stand in line. What is better, being first in line or being next in line? I think being next in line is better. There is more anticipation, more interest in being just one step behind. you don't look over your shoulder as much, because, hey, you are next. And all the good stuff is in front of you. That is how I see Philly. These little nuggest of really interesting things that crop up that are similar to, but different than new york or anywhere else. And even if they are plopped down wholesale from the upper east side, it is a lot of fun watching those people adapt when their normal "I come from a place that is important" lines are dismissed by people in philly. Don't you just love that? Don't you really want to see more of it? I do. Bring 'em on.
When I first moved here, I used to compare everything to nyc. Then I realized it's a very bad comparison. Few cities in the world can compare to nyc. Note in the article the focus is on Brooklyn, not nyc as a whole or manhattan. I was at a party once and someone claimed philly was basically a suburb of ny. Now I'm sorry but that's going too far.
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