Which city has the best to offer for arts, culture, and humanities? (Other than NYC, LA, SF, Boston, or CHI)?

Question

Please, other than NYC, LA, San Francisco, Boston, or Chicago. If your only city listed is one of those four cities, you will not get 10 points. No way, no how!

There are other cities well known for its arts and cultural diversity and opportunities. Three cities that really come to mind for me are Louisville (I despise the city but otherwise LOVE their arts), Fort Worth (I love that city and they have an ever-expanding arts community) and Cincinnati (4 or 5 great art museums are there.) Others are Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, Miami, Washington, DC, Detroit, St. Louis, and Denver.

What are your picks?

Answer 1

I live in St. Louis, so I may be a little biased, but it really is a great city for what you're looking for. We have Forest Park, which is actually larger than NYC's Central Park. Within this complex is the St. Louis Art Museum, Zoo, History Museum, Science Center, Muny (performing arts), and the World's Fair Pavilion with a boathouse with gondolas.

Downtown and Midtown is still coming back from a slump that lasted about 50 years. There you have the famous Fox Theatre (Broadway shows, worldwide touring dance companies, and famous writers/entertainers come here), St. Louis Symphony (one of the oldest in the country and always reviewed in the top 5 nationwide), Jazz at the Bistro (hosting all the current and traditional greats), the St. Louis Contemporary Art Museum, The Pulitzer Art Foundation, dozens of architectural gems including those designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and the first official "skyscraper" called the Wainwright Building, designed by Louis H. Sullivan in 1891, and of course the Arch by Eero Saarinen.

One of the most enigmatic and yet popular places downtown is called the City Museum which is part gigantic playground complex, part recycled art monument, part arts education facility and part nightclub.

St. Louis is also known for its unique flavor of neighborhoods. From hip and trendy to bohemian to art outsiders, you can find a little of each from areas known as University City (check out the Delmar Loop), South Grand, Central West End, Soulard and Lafayette Square.

If you like being lost in a world of flora and fauna with cascading water and bridges and secret pebble paths, you would like the Missouri Botanical Garden, which is acres of one of the most famous parks of its kind.

The people are certainly a mixture of ethnicities and backgrounds. There is a fairly large Asian population and a strong Latin community. We also have the largest Bosnian neighborhood in the country. Outside of New Orleans, St. Louis also has a more thriving gay community. We just had Pridefest this weekend that took over all of Tower Grove Park in the southern part of the city in which approximately half of the businesses in that area are gay-owned.

St. Louis is caught between a glorious past and a creative culture future. It's the best of both worlds without being as expensive as the coastal big cities.

Answer 2

You forgot a few.New Orelands,before the storm ,was a culture filled city with the local arts and celebrated cuisine.Let's hope that it's restored as soon as possible.I have a special place in my heart for Chattanooga TN.Red brick streets,old time atmosphere.Museums featuring the life of southern America in olden times and a wonderful homey feeling.You should check it out.

Answer 3

I'd have to say Pittsburgh, for the Andy Warhol (sp?) Museum. Not much to offer as far as cultural diversity, though there are quite a few Eastern Europeans, Russians, and Jewish people from various countries (including Israel).

Answer 4

Philadelphia

Answer 5

Minneapolis

Answer 6

What about Omaha, talk about a booming art and music scene. there is actually a jazzfest/summer art festival going on right now.

Answer 7

Come to INDIA man! u will find them all in almost every region

Answer 8

chicago because i just reently found out that they jave alot of successful students that have graduated from there