civic pride: do you find yourself being quite proud of your city when you are showing a newcomer around?

Question

are you proud of where you live, especially when 'showing it off' to a first time visitor? or are you (not necessarily embarrassed) typically downplaying your city?

what things/places do you like to show off? what do you avoid?

Answer 1

Well, my city now is not the same as the city I grew up outside of, so I'll have to take this question in two segments.

Buffalo, New York: This is the city I grew up just outside of (I was actually born in California) and the one I more or less consider "home" (even though I've not lived there in 10 years).

Because Buffalo suffers from a negative stereotype (i.e., it's always cold and snowing), I tend to defend it when discussing it our "showing it off" to outsiders/newcomers. I guess the best analogy is that just as Jewish comedians can do Jewish jokes and African-American comedians can do African-American jokes, my fellow Buffalonians and I can do Buffalo jokes. But, as with our Jewish and African-American friends, we'll take offense and become very defensive if outsiders try doing Buffalo jokes. So watch it!

Seriously, when playing tour guide in WNY, I tend to focus on the more positive aspects of the place while still trying to give a balanced perspective. Yes, the winters are long and miserable, the springs virtually nonexistent, the economy and job market atrocious and the two major sports franchises (my Sabres and Bills) viewed as unable to win the big one.

However, the summers and falls are beautiful (unlike this hot, hazy, humid swamp I currently reside in; more on that later), the housing market astonishingly affordable and those same Sabres and Bills as hard-working, entertaining and fan-friendly as most US cities could ever wish for. Buffalo is a community in the truest sense (again, unlike this zoo I'm currently inhabiting) and the people, while seemingly gruff, are some of the friendliest and most helpful you'll find anywhere.

Admittedly, when introducing new visitors to WNY, I tend to include Niagara Falls (particularly the Canadian side) as part of the package because of its natural beauty and the simple fact most have heard of it, of course. There are some other little gems both in and around Buffalo which I also tend to put on display when showing people around. It's a mixed bag, to be sure, but what city isn't?

Annapolis, Maryland: This is where I am currently residing but I do not call it "home." I've been here for about a decade now (aside from two years spent in Japan) and I still feel uncomfortable here.

For those who don't know the geography, Annapolis is located between Washington, DC (to the west) and Baltimore (to the north) in a sort of triangle. The historic city center is beautiful, much of it preserved from colonial times (there are strict building and zoning codes which prevent high rises, office blocks and other blots on the landscape). The old, narrow streets leading up from the docks to the capitol are quaint, well-preserved and populated with buildings which date back to the 17th century. This is very definitely where I take visitors from out of town.

On the other hand, the rest of this town looks like any other sprawling, unattractive suburban nightmare terrain in America. Congested arteries clogged with strip malls and apartment complexes litter the landscape. As with the DC metro area in general, the region is overpopulated, rife with crime and -- not surprisingly -- absolutely zero sense of community.

As I wrap this up I find myself considering the prospect that what I've written of these two seemingly disparate cities is fairly representative of much of America. There is bound to be good and bad everywhere and, barring a truly unique (even exotic) locale, I rather doubt there is much to distinguish one community from another. Older, more established towns have deeper roots and thus a better sense of belonging. But with that usually comes dwindling populations based on the loss of industry and the jobs which depended on it (see the Northeast and Midwest).

Newer, Sunbelt cities have transient populations which are growing faster than the infrastructure can handle. The sprawling, congested, claustrophobic effect breeds fear, distrust, violence and crime. There is no sense of community because no real community exists. Cities like Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Phoenix may be more physically attractive and have nicer weather (very definitely a subjective judgment call, that) than places like Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo but at what cost? What makes a city a city? What makes a community a community? And most important, what makes a home a home?

Answer 2

I am always very excited to show off my city, take guests to the defining things in town, teach a little of the history, and find the best places to relax. Every city has great things, you just have to think like a tourist... call the Chamber for ideas and read local newspapers.

Answer 3

I was thinking of this question but you already have an excellent answer,Patz!

I'm very proud of the city where I live now,a very beautiful place,of the city where I was born,São Paulo,Brazil and of my country!!:)

I love to receive friends and family who live in other cities and countries and always try to show them the best places,without hiding the problems(some VERY embarrassing ones!),which I try to explain,the best I can.

I NEVER downplay my cities or my country!!

The most beautiful places to show people,where I live now,are the beaches and a 500 years old convent on the top of a hill,just in front of our apartment.I can see it from my bedroom's window.:)

Answer 4

Everyone who uses "Corelle ware" to eat off of, is made here, and there is a local museum of glass, and real life glass blowers, who make beautiful glass pieces, that you can sit and watch through the whole process.. Very interesting.

We also have the Watkins Glen International Race Track, people come from all over the WORLD to this race track, and its such a small town too.... Beautiful Indian trails, and the Glen Gorge, 3 miles of beauty....

Just to name a couple....thats fun!

Answer 5

Nope. When people refer to my town, it is known as "BadNewz" and the east end of our town has a "reputation" for being the worst. (Dealers, prostitutes, murders, etc). The west end or "uptown" (where I live) isn't bad, it's got high-end homes and everything, but it's still not great because there is nothing to do here, there are too many people, the traffic is horrible, and it's only getting worse.

Answer 6

NO. my town is boring