The best 29 cities in the world you can live in
Everyone is looking for a peaceful and calm place to live where employement is not a problem. Where money is in abudance, here is the complete list of 29 best cities in the world.
29) Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, a position it has held since 1437. It is the seventh largest city in the United Kingdom and the second largest Scottish city after Glasgow. The City of Edinburgh Council is one of Scotland’s 32 local government council areas.
Well-educated and young population With some incredible history, stunning architecture and a high concentration of cultural venues including art galleries, museums and theaters, Edinburgh is a city where you can experience something new every night of the year. In addition to the iconic Edinburgh Fringe festival, the city also celebrates jazz, film, television, books, and science annually, and is famous for its wild New Year’s Eve celebrations. Every year Edinburgh also hosts some top-class international rugby during the Six Nations rugby tournament.
It is a prosperous city, with at least three Michelin-starred restaurants, numerous bars and a vibrant atmosphere to cater for the strongest per capita economy in the United Kingdom, outside London. Edinburgh residents are especially affluent, as living costs compare favorably with many cities. The city punches far above its weight, given that some 46% of the 468,000 residents fall into the well-educated, young adult bracket, and it is a city in which romance is obtainable: more than 52% of the population is female.
New green spaces and a stable economy
With the effervescence of the myriad festivals throughout the year constantly bringing in new people and influences, Edinburgh is a city which will remain popular with tourists and young people through 2009 and into the future. While Edinburgh cannot compete in terms of its weather, it does enjoy a dramatic and verdant environment, a perfect setting to complement the high class entertainment it offers.
The city has recently embarked on an urban forest program, and is also completing a tram network to help reduce its environmental impact. Despite the economic downturn, Edinburgh’s house prices have remained robust, suggesting that the city is well equipped to ride out this storm over the coming months. If you want a lively, exciting, prosperous place to live in 2009, Edinburgh is a city which will provide much of what you are looking for.
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany (after Berlin), and is the most populous non-capital city in the European Union by population within city limits. The city is home to approximately 1.8 million people, while the Hamburg metropolitan area (including parts of the neighboring Federal States of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein) has more than 4.3 million inhabitants.
Shop for the latest men’s fashion from Gucci to Zegna, dine in any one of 11 Michelin Guide one-star restaurants or sample a celebrity chef’s creation. Take in the annual film festival or a concert or play, keep fit along the shores of the Alster lake or Elbe river in the constant stream of clean, fresh air from the North Sea. Enjoy the greenery under the canopy of a tree population that outnumbers the city’s own 1.77 million inhabitants. Enjoy the nightlife with no fixed closing time in a variety of trendy neighborhoods with a German beer or two at about $4/half-liter.
It’s also a good place to look for work. Hamburg’s unemployment rate fell and the number of jobs grew at a rate of 2.5% although the figures for the coming year are likely to reflect the worldwide downturn. Hamburg is Germany’s media capital, employing 70,000 people with another 60,000 working in information technology. Hamburg is also home to a major Airbus plant employing more than 10,000 people.
Topping it all off, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall with its audacious rolling wave design will be completed within the next year and is set to become the city’s new iconic landmark to rival that of the Sydney Opera House as a harbor gateway center piece.
Hamburg is home to all of Germany’s top-tier sports leagues and will host the UEFA Europa League European club soccer 2010 championship game in the 57,000-seat covered HSH Nordbank Arena. HSV is playing near the top of Germany’s premier soccer league, and you can also see the Hamburg Freezers play top-level ice hockey or the 2007 European Handball champions HSV play in the modern Color Line Arena.
Cape Town is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the City of Cape Town. It is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa
Cape Town may be classified as the most beautiful place in South Africa, but it’s not without reason that it has also become the money-making center and most sought-after location to buy properties, find jobs and settle down permanently. With some of South Africa’s finest health care facilities, gyms, spas, and boutiques, not to mention the breathtaking beaches and abundance of ways to have fun, there’s no wonder why the city is South Africa’s hot ticket for investment.
Gearing up for FIFA World Cup 2010
Now is the time for you to watch Cape Town, with South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Soccer stadium developments are in place and income has risen remarkably due to new job opportunities and services being created for 2010. Home to professional soccer, rugby and hockey teams, this city boasts a wide array of sporting facilities for spectators and players alike.
In being South Africa’s most cosmopolitan city, you will find high fashion, exclusive menswear stores and celebrities jetting in and out of all the trendy night spots, open until the wee hours of the morning such as Hemisphere, Cape Town’s most popular club.
Some evenings, the sun doesn’t set until 9 p.m., and when you’re sipping an after-work cocktail overlooking the Camps Bay beachfront while watching the sunset, it makes a lot of sense to stay. The coming year is going to be one of Cape Town’s biggest yet, and it’s the ideal time to come and take advantage of all the growth surrounding World Cup 2010. If you come to town now you’ll already have your favorite bar stool staked out for watching the games alongside your new friends.
Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation (Greater Santiago). It is located in the country’s central valley, at an elevation of 520 m (1,700 ft) AMSL. Although Santiago is the capital, legislative bodies meet in nearby Valparaíso.
By day, commuters travel in one of the cleanest, most efficient subway systems in the world. By night, singles flock to bars and discotecas where wine and pisco, the national liquor, complement dancing. Any night out can turn big, especially in the city’s bohemian quarter, Bellavista, where the clubs stay bumping until 3 or 4 a.m. all nights of the week.
Need to get away for the weekend? Santiago is situated only one hour from both ski and surf. With a climate often compared to that of California, hiking, river rafting, snowboarding, and scuba diving are all feasible day trips.
Soccer is so popular in Santiago that four teams make their home here. Additionally, all home games played by the national squad take place in the city, bringing some of the world’s top teams to compete in qualification rounds every year.
Santiago is also usually a stop on the tours of the world’s biggest bands: The Police, 50 Cent, Madonna, Nine Inch Nails, and Incubus have all stopped here in the past two years. Fortunately, concert tickets cost about half of what you’d would expect to pay in the U.S.
While many cities offer entertainment and nightlife of international renown, Santiago does so inexpensively and with a particular enthusiasm. With job security in question for many people, Santiago seems like an island of stability in an ocean of bad news.
Tel Aviv
Open-minded social scene
From April through July of this year, Tel Aviv will be celebrating its centennial. Spring and summer are packed with street fairs and nights of music and dancing along the beach. Tel Aviv’s bars only close when the last customer is satisfied, which means you won’t find too many bars in residential neighborhoods. Instead, head to the industrial part of town where pulsing music emerges from clubs tucked between garages and car showrooms all night long.
Tel Aviv is where Israel’s young people come to mingle and meet. For what its worth, the city used to be famous within Israel for the incidence of bar-bathroom hookups, and although club owners have cracked down on people getting busy in the stalls, there’s still a pickup scene that would be the envy of any American city.
100th birthday celebrations
From the Mediterranean beach to Ha’Yarkon park,Tel Aviv is a best-kept secret among cities. This year, Tel Aviv is celebrating its 100th birthday. In the last century a city founded on empty sand dunes has turned into a vibrant metropolis, a center of Israeli culture, fashion, business, and nightlife. The climate is ideal: bikinis in summertime and sweaters in winter. This is the ultimate city for living your life outdoors. All year long Tel Avivians are packing the outdoor cafes, shopping at open markets or walking along tree-lined boulevards. This is a city where your commute from work to the beach is unlikely to be longer than 15 minutes. Tel Aviv is one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world, mostly populated by people with European and Middle Eastern backgrounds.
Economically, Tel Aviv has become a hub of business from Africa to Russia and from Europe to central Asia. On any given day you’ll hear 20 different languages being spoken at the Azrielli business towers. Tel Aviv has the geographic advantage of being a convenient midpoint if you’re building an Asian market from New York. The airport is served by 129 airlines with connections to over 200 cities. All Israeli college graduates are fluent in English and at least one other language: French, German and Russian are popular options.
Melbourne is the more common name for the geographic region and statistical division of the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area. It is the second most populous city in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.8 million (2007 estimate) and serves as the state capital of Victoria.
Without question, Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia. Aside from winning championships in almost every major national sporting league (AFL, rugby, soccer), the city annually hosts world class events, such as the Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament. The city’s vast infrastructure and renowned stadia have seen it a prime hosting candidate for once-in-a-lifetime events.
The region’s undisputed cultural hub, the city annually hosts international fixtures such as the Melbourne International Film Festival and the International comedy festival. The National Gallery of Victoria regularly shows works by Picasso, Rembrandt, Bernini, and Tiepolo. Modern art forms like digital installations, contemporary dance and street art are a constant fixture in the central business district (CBD), built around the city’s renowned cultural center, Federation Square.
However, it’s the way that these elements come together that makes Melbourne so special. The city has proven infrastructure and resourcefulness on a world class scale, but it’s never impersonal. From the sophistication of Greville Street’s fashion strip to the unmistakable character of the CBD’s boutiques, Melbourne is arguably one of the world’s very best. Indeed, Melbourne has ranked as the world’s most livable city three times in the past decade by various publications.
Economic and urban growth
2009 is a year that will see Melbourne expand rapidly. Dockland’s district, by the water in the city’s CBD, is set for large residential growth since the introduction of the Waterfront City in 2008. The district continues to be a strong source of economic growth. Today, Melbourne is a business hub in its own right, home of five out of 10 of the country’s biggest companies (ANZ, BHP Billiton, the National Australia Bank, Rio Tinto, and Telstra). The city has risen to the challenges of the global recession, recently overtaking Sydney as the strongest local tourist economy.
Melbourne continues to develop its superior transport and infrastructure system, with a brand new world-class stadium set for completion in the CBD, joining the likes of the MCG, Etihad Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, and Hisense Arena. Aside from holding championships in almost every major national sporting league, Melbourne will host the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, as well as the Melbourne Cup racing carnival.
Most importantly though, Melbourne is at the center of the Australian male shortage: There are over 70,000 extra females in the central urban district alone — not a bad predicament to be in, you’d have to say.
Lyon, also known as Lyons in English, is a city in east-central France. Lyon is the second-largest French urban area, the first being Paris and the third Marseille.
Its economy has suffered in the recession, but it enjoys far lower living costs than many major cities, making it an attractive place to ride out the storm. France has suffered for a long time with high unemployment, which has provoked the government to introduce a shorter working week to get more people into work. The positive byproduct of that initiative is that in Lyon you can enjoy a rare balance between work and life, which is more than you can say for almost any other city on earth.
The success of its soccer team, which looks set to continue in 2009, means residents will enjoy elite European soccer. All these elements combine to make Lyon a very attractive proposition for the coming months. If you are looking for a vibrant yet relaxed place to live, you could do far worse than Lyon.
Portland United states
There’s a good reason Portland is called Beervana. This Pacific Northwestern metropolis is the beer capital of the world, with 32 breweries within the city limits — 38 if you consider the entire metro area. That’s more than any other city in the world. If beer is not your thing, consider that Portland also has a growing distillery population with many small craft distilleries creating some fantastic local vodka, gin and whisky.
Need to work off some of that beer or booze? Portland offers hundreds of miles of bike trails, both off track and around the city’s many parks. Mount Hood is a short drive away for world-class skiing, as is the coast where visitors can stroll the many art galleries and enjoy the beach.
Most Portlanders aren’t that concerned in making the big bucks, but that doesn’t mean you have to starve. Look in the dictionary and you’ll find a picture of Portland under “creative class.” Boasting a world-class advertising school, the powerhouse ad agency Weiden+ Kennedy (think Nike) and coffee-fueled designers, fashionites, web gurus, and artisans, you can’t swing a dead cat in Portland without hitting someone who works in the creative class.
In its typical DIY style, Portland boasts many up-and-coming fashion designers, musicians and artists creating some off-the-charts clothing, design and art.
Expanding high-tech and green industries
Like any city, Portland is experiencing financial hardships. Unlike many cities, Portland is ripe for a renaissance as a high-tech incubation center. Will it surpass the Silicon Valley anytime soon? Not likely. However, it does have a solid base of passionate, technologically knowledgeable workers, along with new and profitable tech companies flourishing with a huge interest from big-time venture capitalists.
Are you interested in a green-collar career? Portland is an early adopter in the sustainable and green industry with many clean tech and solar companies relocating here or growing in place.
It’s not all work though.
The foodie scene in Portland continues to shine (and gets lots of national press) with unique and funky restaurants pushing the blade and offering hungry patrons distinctive and daring dining choices from offal to pigeon, and of course the traditional steak and local seafood.
Need a place to live? You’re in luck. Portland is on the tail end of a condo boom, meaning buyers can get some good deals on new lofts and condos with views and amenities in Portland’s chic Pearl District or on the new waterfront community. There are many established neighborhoods in Portland from bohemian and tree-lined to upscale and glossy.
Panama City is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 813,097, with a total metro population of 1,063,000, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal
While its days of looting pirates, iconic dictators and deadly mosquitoes have been relegated to the history books, Panama City’s appeal is a tempting combination of first-world comfort and third-world mystery; it’s a modern spin on the classic banana republic.
As if having the eighth fastest growing economy on the planet isn’t enough, Panama baffles visitors with beaches and jungles rivaling Costa Rica, infrastructure superior to its neighbors and sexy women that make $60 bottle service seem unbelievably cool. Panama hosted Miss Universe twice, and annually holds the world’s second largest carnival after Brazil.
Montreal is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec and the second-largest city in Canada. Montreal was the largest city in Canada up until 1976 when it was surpassed in size by Toronto.
Hot, single women
People who live in Montreal work to live, not the other way around. A little piece of Europe in North America, this city understands joie de vivre and sex appeal. Leonard Cohen’s effortless cool and is emblematic of his hometown and its artistic flair. Montreal is a wellspring of creativity, an epicenter for some of the most exciting art, music and film in both English and French.
Great food and fine dining are both givens, but as added appeal keep in mind it’s been said that the most beautiful women in the world are from Montreal. If you take a walk down St. Laurent Blvd. on a hot and steamy summer’s night, it’s hard to disagree. Not only are the women beautiful, but almost half of them are single. If you want to score, you’d better not drag your coattails as Montreal is home to some of the most effortlessly fashionable men and women. Moreover, with so much of the city’s population bilingual, you can look forward to having sweet nothings whispered in your ear in both French and English.
Still-affordable housing and good hockey
In 2009, there’s no better place to be. Not only does Montreal have its mind-boggling festival season that seems to never end (the festival count is now up to 40 a year, so it’s not just the world-renowned Jazz Festival that gets people to take to the streets), but Montreal has clocked steady job growth over the past few years, landing itself at the top of the heap in Canada, and in the top 5 in North America. Even in the face of the financial crisis, Montreal has and will continue to weather the storm, perhaps because Montrealers can deal with just about anything. (Check the city out in February or ask anyone about the constant underlying movement to separate from Canada for evidence.) Most likely, it’s because the cultural industries are so vital. The French film and television industry thrives in the face of the entertainment behemoth next door, and Montreal is a haven for American movie shoots as well.
In addition to its reputation for having one of most exciting music scenes (think Arcade Fire), Montreal’s legendary 24-time Stanley Cup-winning Canadiens hockey club celebrates 100 years in the city, and you’re not likely to find more dedicated fans on either side of the border. Perhaps most relevantly, Montreal beats both Toronto and New York City hands down for affordable housing options, both to buy or rent. In 2009, this shows no signs of changing.
Los Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the second largestUnited States. Often abbreviated as in the L.A. and nicknamed The City of Angels, Los Angeles is rated as a world city,has an estimated population of 3.8 million and spans over 498.3 square miles (1,290.6 km2) in Southern California. Additionally, the Los Angeles metropolitan area is home to nearly 12.9 million residents, who hail from all over the globe and speak 224 different languages.
Sunshine and Hollywood
It’s tough to beat the weather in Los Angeles. Comedian Daniel Tosh had it right; when referring to the city he said: “I love seasons. That’s why I live in a place where we skip the sh*tty ones.” The weekends in L.A. revolve around outdoor activities, and on any given Sunday you could find yourself playing beach volleyball in Santa Monica or hiking in the Malibu hills. As the entertainment capital of the world, the City of Angels attracts many beautiful, intelligent and most importantly single women from all parts of the country. Most are just looking for a good time in the sun and maybe a shot at fame.
There are plenty of lucrative job opportunities in Hollywood, as well as in hedge funds, legal affairs and sports. The headquarters of a variety of conglomerates are based here and with all of the money floating around the city it is an ideal setting to climb the corporate ladder. Angelenos live to network, and there is a limitless supply of restaurants, bars and clubs to conduct business after hours. You can find a happy hour somewhere around town at almost any time of day, after 12 p.m. of course. Los Angeles is a perfect place for a professional, motivated, unattached guy to settle down for a while.
Live music, Kobe and Manny
You should move to Los Angeles now because the social scene this year will be second to none. The city is arguably the live music capital of the world and home to famous venues like The Viper Room and Whisky a Go Go, where bands like The Doors got their start. 2009 will be no different, and these clubs will continue to attract the hottest new acts in town. More established groups always include L.A. in their world tours, and this year Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and Flight of the Conchords will all be hitting the stage.
There’s never a dull moment in this sports epicenter. The Dodgers made two great decisions last year by picking up manager Joe Torre and signing Manny Ramirez. They will likely resign Ramirez in 2009 and reenergize the franchise. Off of his MVP Award last year, Kobe Bryant could potentially take the Lakers all the way to the finals in June — not to mention the two indestructible college franchises, USC football and UCLA basketball.
Need a further dose of culture? The L.A. Film Festival in Westwood and Fashion Week in Downtown never disappoint. Add to the list, premier restaurant openings like Cecconi’s (Venetian fare) and Rivera (contemporary Latin) and you can’t go wrong.
Vienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria’s primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million (2.3 million within the metropolitan area), it is by far the largest city in Austria
Plenty of restaurants, pubs and expats
Prepare to be surprised and delighted by Vienna. It is a small city (1.7 million people) that packs a big punch. Vienna has 70 theaters, four opera houses and over 100 museums — together with lots of music and dance festivals. There is a big expatriate population (300,000) and some of the cinemas are specifically for English speakers.
Vienna oozes class. From fabulously old and very well-preserved buildings and monuments to some truly spectacular restaurants and cafes, this city has it all. The city center district is only a few square kilometers but boasts more good food, culture and entertainment than one could manage in a lifetime. That landlady’s nightmare Mozart lived in 13 different houses in Vienna and even he didn’t get to see it all.
From the very chic and expensive Meinl Am Graben to the award-winning Plachutta in the Wollzeile, there are more than 11 restaurants that have been awarded two or more points by Gault Millau. At the other end of the scale there are hundreds of very reasonably priced restaurants, every one of which will serve you a decent Wiener Schnitzel and an excellent beer. As for clubs and pubs? Vienna is a pub crawler’s dream city. Unfortunately, at €3.50 per pint you‘ll run out of money well before you run out of pubs. What about wine? Some of the Gruner Veltliner from the Wachau Valley is worth crawling over broken glass for.
Opportunities in business and science
As globalization shrinks the world, it’s useful to find yourself in a small, comfortable city in the middle of everything, which is an accurate description of Vienna. The city is a major commercial and banking center, but is also home to OPEC, some United Nations agencies and is a major European scientific research hub.
The women are fabulous, well-paid, well-educated and well-dressed. Of course, you can’t see much of them in winter, but anyone who comes here has to have both money and an imagination. Don’t let it surprise you that most of them will speak English better than you do.
Definitely follow the Austrian skiers and ski jumpers because they are terrific, but to avoid frequent, bitter disappointments don’t pin your hopes on the Austrian soccer team.
On the downside, it is hard to get permanent work permits unless you have particular skills or are sponsored by an employer. However, it’s nice work if you can get it, because Vienna is truly one of the most beautiful cities on earth.
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is the third-most populous municipality in the European Union after Greater London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the fourth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, and the Ruhr Area
Easy living and high life expectancy
When you walk down the streets of Madrid, you can’t help but feel electrified by the buzz in the air. Madrileños have enjoyed an eight-year boom that has turned their city into a beacon of success and progress in Europe, and shown the world that even the truest of “old Europe” cities can reinvent itself into an example of 21st-century living at its best. Top-notch medical facilities have been attracting doctors from around the world and Spain’s exemplary two-tier medical system has been studied and envied by many countries.
Madrileños show off their success, not only in their public services, but also in their style: Madrileños of all ages love their luxury cars, designer clothing and high-end accessories. Madrid can also boast over 3,000 hours of sun a year, allowing everyone to soak up some sunshine during the standard two-hour lunch break at one of the many patios open year-round. With Madrid’s laid-back yet thriving atmosphere, it’s no wonder that it has the world’s third highest life expectancy. And any city as devoted to bullfighting as Madrid gets high marks in our book.
Public works and an influx of creative talent
Although Spain was hit hard by the global economic crisis, Madrid is expected to maintain an unemployment rate somewhat lower than that of the rest of Spain, as it did in 2008. The recession has hit the construction sector the hardest, but many public works programs are underway in Madrid (such as the extension of the subway system, working on the BBVA campus, and the general improvement of Madrid’s elaborate highway network) which should help to balance the negative effects of the crisis.
Nonetheless, Madrid’s recent success has attracted tons of creative, technological and athletic talent. Madrid hosts several International fairs such as Cibeles Fashion Week and Fusion Madrid — a week of gastronomic science by the world’s top chefs. For the avid sports fan, watching any of Madrid’s many professional sports teams is a great way to spend the afternoon, whether over a caña (half-pint) and chips at the local bar or at the newly finished stadium. Spain is relatively inexpensive by European standards, which makes Madrid a great place to live in 2009.
Miami is a global city in southeastern Florida, in the United States. Miami is the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida. With an estimated population of 409,719 in 2007, Miami is the largest city within the Miami metropolitan area, which is the seventh-largest metro area in the United States with over 5.4 million residents. The Miami Urbanized Area (as defined by the Census Bureau) was the fifth most populous urbanized area in the U.S. in the 2000 census with a population of 4,919,036. The United Nations estimated that in 2007, Miami had become the fourth largest urbanized area in the United States, behind New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago
Vibrant nightlife and healthy lifestyles
Also known as the “Magic City”, Miami is home to a very diverse population who enjoy not only the warm weather and blue skies, but also living the American Dream at its fullest. With a vibrant nightlife, world-class hospitality and an exploding entertainment industry, Miami is the ideal playground for men on the make. Social introductions are easy to make and receive here — useful both in the dating scene and in business.
For the past few decades, Miami has become home to headquarters of major national and international corporations. It’s generally easy to relocate management-level staff and recruit qualified employees, all while having access to national and international cities via the Miami International Airport — the third busiest airport for passengers in the United States. Miami is very much South America’s gateway to North America, and if you have any Spanish language skills you’ll be in luck both in terms of employment and socially.
Miami has the perfect climate for exercising outdoors, and you’ll see plenty of people working on their physiques on the beach. Healthy lifestyles are definitely de rigeur here, but don’t let that fool you into thinking people don’t like to party.
Great deals on housing
In the turmoil of an uncertain global economy, Miami stands strong; a temporarily suffering real-estate market allows new buyers and new residents to find amazing deals on homes and new apartments. Brand new condominiums are being transformed into rental communities, and a wave of new residents is expected to populate areas such as Miami Downtown, Brickell and Midtown in the next couple of years.
In the meantime, new high-end resorts, luxury high rises and fine dining restaurant keep opening their doors knowing that there is a financially stable portion of the population that keeps spending their dollars to maintain their lifestyles. Large expos and shows are already scheduled to come back to Miami, including Art Basel Miami Beach, the largest contemporary art fair in the world, Miami International Boat Show, the second largest boat and yacht expo in the United States, and this year the show to end all shows, the Super Bowl, will revisit the Magic City.
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America.
Diversity and a surplus of singles
The nearly 2.5 million residents of Toronto (5.5 in the Greater Toronto Area), know their city is the place to be. And with Toronto’s population growing on an annual basis, it’s clear others feel the same way. Dubbed the Center of the Universe by its residents, Toronto is Canada’s most racially diverse city and the hub of its business and entertainment sectors. The city is known for welcoming newcomers and visitors with open arms, and that means as a man, you’re in luck. Toronto’s women outnumber its men and more than half those women are single.
If you’re a student, Toronto has plenty of appeal — its downtown universities draw thousands of young minds each year, as do its colleges. One of the city’s most recent urban face-lifts, the rejuvenation of Yonge-Dundas Square, provides residents and visitors alike with regular shows, fairs and concerts, right in the heart of downtown.
Busy sports and social calendars
Each year brings countless reasons to consider moving to Toronto, and 2009 is certainly no exception. With a social calendar that rivals Paris Hilton’s, Toronto is chock-full of things to see and do on an almost daily basis. In addition to its pro sports teams in baseball, basketball, Canadian football, hockey, and soccer, the World Baseball Classic’s first round this March featured games in Toronto. The city’s bars and clubs close at 2 a.m., but you might not want to be out any later, given Toronto’s busy days in addition to its renowned nightlife. If fashion is your thing, the city’s fashion week in March will pique your interest, while if you’re a movie buff, there are few festivals with more pomp than September’s Toronto International Film Festival. June’s jazz festival is one of Canada’s best, the summer’s Caribana celebrates the city’s growing Caribbean community. Whether you’re shopping in one of the city’s many mega malls or perusing the high-end boutiques of Yorkville, you’ll work up enough of an appetite to make a reservation at any of the restaurants staffed by a who’s who of Food Network Canada chefs. Toronto truly feels like the city of the future: safe, diverse, clean, and seemingly packed with intelligent and hardworking people.
14) Tokyo is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, each governed as a city, cover the area that was once the city of Tokyo in the eastern part of the prefecture, totalling over 8 million people.
Despite a ratio of 1.06 men to every woman in Tokyo, many of the single women are waiting later to marry. While enjoying their independence and exercising their spending power, you may find that many of these women have a healthy appetite for indulging in all that Tokyo has to offer, especially fashion and food!
Curious about fashion? Take the Harajuku Walking Tour for the sights and sounds of Takeshita-dori. Stroll into the Shibuya or Omotesando districts for some people watching and check out the designer stores and street vendors. Afterward, sit back at the open-air Anniversary Café to enjoy a bowl of mocha or a glass of champagne.
Tokyo has long been a favorite international destination. Narita International Airport connects to just about anywhere in the world. You can also catch a concert, play or a sporting event such as sumo wrestling, soccer, baseball, basketball, and even American football. Tokyo is home to two major baseball teams and soccer teams.
Newcomers to Tokyo may feel that Japan has a complicated and confusing food culture, but it’s hard to resist exploring some great gastronomical delights at a celebrity chef-helmed restaurant or at one of 36 Michelin-rated restaurants (nine of which have been awarded three stars). Many expats in Tokyo can be found rubbing elbows at a cool sake, shochu, wine or champagne bar spilling diatribe among friends until 5 a.m. Others may seek the quirky and adventurous side of Tokyo by indulging in a lingerie salon, maid cafe or one of the entertainment districts such as Kabukicho or Roppongi.
13) Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina. Currently the third largest city in South America, it is succeeded only by Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It is located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent.
It’s a mystery how Argentines maintain their fit physiques considering the gastronomic specialties of the region are beef and wine. There are tons of restaurants to choose from, and a typical steak dinner for two including wine, appetizer, main dish, dessert, and coffee can run for as little as $50, however, the cuts and quality of meat are far likely to exceed that of a New York steakhouse. Most restaurants offer local wines at a fraction of the cost of what they’re sold for outside the country. Dinnertime starts around 10 p.m., but the real nightlife begins after midnight and lasts well into the early hours of the morning. Although people are very fashionable, dress is informal, so you can trade in your suit and tie for a more business-casual wardrobe.
Speaking Spanish is not a prerequisite for living in Buenos Aires as many Argentines are fluent in English and are willing to practice their language skills with foreigners. Whether you’re looking to get back up on your feet and reinvent yourself — learn a new language, cultivate some new interests — or simply ride out the financial storm in an environment where the dollar is strong and life is easy, Buenos Aires is the city for you.
12) Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio,and is Italy’s largest and most populous city, with 2,726,539 residents in an urban area of some 1,285.5 km2 (496.3 sq mi). It is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber river.
History, sports and beautiful women
With over 2,000 years of continuous history and architecture, which can be explored with a meandering walk through its surprisingly compact center, Rome is a feast of culture and style. With Old World menswear boutiques dotted all over the city, you can guarantee a level of sartorial elegance that befits an Italian gem like Rome. The city is also home to a wide array of museums, art galleries, theaters, and opera houses, as well as regular festivals ranging from fashion to jazz to comedy. With hundreds of incredible restaurants and cool bars to choose from, there’s no shortage of places to take one of Rome’s 850,000 single women on a date.
Rome hosts one of the fiercest sporting rivalries in the world between its two hometown football teams, Roma and Lazio. Despite this stressful biannual face-off, Romans enjoy significantly below global average rates of heart disease, and a very respectable life expectancy of over 77 years.
UEFA Champion’s League final coming in May; Rome Master’s tennis tournament
2009 is likely to be another big year in Rome’s history. With the UEFA Champion’s League final being hosted at the Olympic Stadium in May, it will play host to one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Rome is also home to the national rugby team, which along with the Rome Masters’ tennis tournament ensures more top-class sport fills the calendar.
The Italian economy has recently entered a recession, but its cautious banking system has largely avoided the worst of the financial crisis that has gripped many cities around the world. Given that this is a global problem, however, there are many less attractive places to try and ride it out. They say that once you’ve visited Rome, you’ll certainly return someday, but once you have lived there, you may never leave.
11) Vancouver is a coastal city and major seaport located in the Lower Mainland of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest city in both British Columbia and Western Canada and the second largest after Seattle in the Pacific Northwest.
Rugged, natural surroundings, healthy lifestyle
The crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest, Vancouver was recently named the world’s most livable city in a study conducted by The Economist. That’s because its temperate climate, tolerant sociocultural environment, cleanliness, and economy make it one of the most desirable locations on the planet. Of course, the real attraction for most of Vancouver’s residents is the city’s incomparable beauty. Surrounded by the Strait of Georgia on one side and the majestic Coast Mountains on the other, Vancouver is a true nature lover’s dream.
The city’s rugged landscape allows its citizens to enjoy year-round golfing, an endless array of hiking and biking trails, unsurpassed sailing and paddling opportunities and some of the finest skiing in the world. With so many recreational options available it’s hardly surprising that Vancouverites have the longest lifespan of any Canadian citizens, with an average life expectancy of 81.1 years. The city’s health-conscious inhabitants also have the lowest smoking rates and the lowest rates of heavy drinking in all of Canada. And that’s a shame, because when it comes to Vancouver there’s so much worth toasting.
Gearing up for the 2010 Olympics
You’ll have to excuse Vancouverites if they’re bursting with pride these days. After all, the city is less than a year away from hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These eagerly anticipated events promise to bring Vancouver an unprecedented amount of attention as it welcomes the rest of the world into its backyard. Sports aficionados can look forward to witnessing the Olympic torch relay as well as a number of adrenaline-pumping Olympic tune-ups at the city’s sparkling new sports venues. Culture vultures can also look forward to the Cultural Olympiad, an interdisciplinary festival showcasing the best in Canadian and international arts.
Vancouver has a well-earned reputation for being Canada’s laid-back city. There are tons of cafes and parks for chilling or tossing around a Frisbee, and the Granville Island Public Market will introduce you to the mind-boggling local produce and craft-brewed beers from British Columbia. From amateur athletics to professional pursuits, Vancouver clearly has something for everyone.
10) Paris is the capital of France and the country’s largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region.
Elegant atmosphere of museums, galleries and parks
No city in the world has the reputation for glamour and romance like Paris. However, there is far more to Paris than glamour, with a multitude of world-famous landmarks, museums and art galleries to visit, as well as a rich history stretching back more than a millennium. Indeed, enjoying Paris’ sights isn’t just for tourists; it’s common for locals to wile away a weekend wandering through parks and museums.
Paris has long been a cultural Mecca, with myriad artists, writers and composers spending creative periods of their lives here over the centuries. The city is also home to a wild array of wonderful restaurants, bars and clubs, catering to almost any taste. The cost of living in Paris is one of the highest in the world, but in return, you get elegance and style that is quite literally second to none.
A comfortable place to wait out the recession
As with many European cities, Paris is home to a great many international events. The French Open tennis championship and the finale of the Tour de France top the excellent sporting schedule, which also includes international rugby and soccer. Paris Fashion Week and the Summer Arts Festival complement the year-round musical and theatrical performances, which appear regularly in the city. The arts are a cornerstone of Parisian society, and you would be hard-pressed to find a city as passionate about these pursuits. Although they have suffered for a long time with high unemployment, the government has taken proactive measures to address this issue, and a man of talent will always be able to find work here. The notoriously parsimonious banking system has also insulated Paris from the worst of the financial crisis so far. With urban regeneration a priority for the government, it is likely to maintain its reputation as a great and beautiful city.
That said, Paris is a notoriously fickle mistress, and in recent times has suffered from strikes and rioting. Increasingly, city life around the world has become about the daily grind, from commuting to eating a frozen dinner by yourself in a sterile box of an apartment at the end of the workday. Paris is simply not on that wavelength. If it’s passion you seek, in all its furious splendor, Paris is the place to be in 2009.
9) Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban area with a population of 1,153,615 (2008) and a metropolitan area with a population of 1,881,000 (2008). Copenhagen is situated on the Islands of Zealand and Amager.
Happiest people in Europe and most number of breweries
With the world’s highest tax rate, Copenhageners might not be laughing all the way to the bank, but does that really matter when it looks like they are laughing all the way through life? When it comes to Copenhagen statistics, there’s just one little thing that kills off all international competition, and that’s the blissful fact of being the capital of the happiest people on earth (as well as the world’s least religious, for what it’s worth).
For a while now, Copenhagen has been a hidden jewel for stylish urban connoisseurs, but last year Tyler Brûlé and his staff at the classy magazine Monocle caved and shared the city with the rest of the world when they named it the world’s best place to live.
Many elements make up the world’s best place to live, but our guess is that having Europe’s most breweries per capita was pretty helpful. Copenhagen also has 2,000 free bicycles for visitors who prefer to see the city on two wheels instead of from the back of a crammed bus. It probably didn’t hurt either that the city boasts more long-legged blondes than you could ever imagine. That’s actually a proven fact.
Green reputation; Outgames mean lots of unaccompanied women Predicted to go down in history as the summit with the power to do some serious environmental damage control, the UN Climate Change Conference has picked Copenhagen as its green location. Change is obviously a big issue here, so it is no surprise that Obama himself is rumored to make an appearance. If it’s good enough for Obama…
Next on our list of reasons why you should check out Copenhagen is the world-famous Outgames, aka the Gay Olympics, which comes to town in July. You may wonder why we would advise you to go watch a bunch of gay men getting all sweaty. Well, it’s their hot and heterosexual female friends you’ll want to stay attentive to here. You see, the Outgames offer a very rare opportunity to meet women in an environment where you will be among very little competition.
At this point there really shouldn’t be much doubt left in your mind about Copenhagen being the place to go, but if you’re looking for one last argument, here it is: The recession has hit Copenhagen fairly late compared to many other European cities, which is to say that things here are not looking quite as grim as other spots of the world. Even a global financial crisis can’t beat the optimism of the happiest people on earth
8) Hong Kong officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia, bordering the province of Guangdong to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south. It has a population of 7 million people but only 1,108 km2 (428 sq mi) of land, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world
Diversity, luxury restaurants and beautiful women
Hong Kong is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city where East meets West, the lights are bright, the weather is always warm, and there’s a palpable sense of possibility in the air. It’s a place where people of all races, nationalities and religions live and work together, and you’re likely to make friends who hail from countries all over the globe if you move there.
The public transportation system is the best in the world and it’s one of the world’s safest major metropolitan areas to live in. There are tons of world-class restaurants overseen by celebrity chefs like Alain Ducasse and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. And then there are the many, many beautiful women. Although they certainly date Asian men, many are especially taken by “gweilos” (gwhy-lows), a Cantanese word for men from the West.
One major area of Hong Kong to go to when you want to blow off a little steam is called Lan Kwai Fong. In the heart of central Hong Kong, LKF consists of four streets that form a square, each street occupied by bars, nightclubs and the occasional restaurant. Eventually the fun spills out into the streets and it becomes one big street festival.
New West Kowloon Cultural District, global business center
In 2009 Hong Kong will be experiencing some major changes, potentially raising its global profile significantly. The development of the West Kowloon Cultural District is underway. When completed, the area will boast an art museum, a large concert venue for major acts, a harborside boardwalk as well as shops, restaurants and residential high-rises.
Like New York is to America and London is to Europe, Hong Kong is the financial heart of Asia. Home to thousands of investment bankers and other professionals in the financial sector, Hong Kong is unabashedly materialistic and if it can be sold, you will find it for sale there.
While Asia continues to surge forward despite economic troubles, Hong Kong is a good bet. The enduring presence of Western business interest means there’s an easier way in than, say, Beijing, and a large expat community will also help you get settled.
7) Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million within its city limits, Berlin is the country’s largest city. It is the second most populous city and the eighth most populous urban area in the European Union. Located in northeastern Germany.
Affordable and cultured
Berlin is famous for its surplus of young, single women who are attracted to the city’s vast creative sector and quality of life: Think multicultural, young, sexy, creative types. There are tons of places to meet people, some of which you’ve probably never experienced before like at a spa, for example. Mixed nude spas and saunas are standard in this liberal city.
Berlin is healthy: Locals munch organic food, love yoga and Pilates, and go to the gym to keep in shape. Berliners live on two wheels, cycling everywhere down wide bike lanes. Berlin is one of the greenest cities in Europe with many parks, forests and lakes within the city limits. The imposing Olympic Stadium hosts soccer team Hertha and countless sporting events. Berlin’s ice hockey and basketball teams dominate nationally.
Rents are low compared to the rest of Europe. It’s easy to find a roomy apartment — double the size of a London flat at half the price — in which to entertain your friends and lovers. Dozens of cinemas with movies in English, concert halls, world-class museums, and a vibrant experimental stage scene provide endless ways to impress dates. Culture is the driving force of the local economy: Berlin has become Europe’s hot spot for contemporary art with festivals and fairs, and the Berlinale Festival is one of the global film industry’s crucial get-togethers. Berlin has transformed into a major hub for music, media, publishing, fashion, design, and research. Finally, Berlin is synonymous with freedom: You can drink beer on the street, and you can take your Pilsner anywhere, including the movies! In a nutshell: great women, great beer — you’ll never be bored
Bread & Butter fashion fair, Berlin Festival, strong soccer team
2009 is the year to move to Euro-hipster hot spot Berlin. While the rest of the world is stricken by financial woes, the German capital has emerged pretty much unscathed. The metropolis survived WWII and 40 years of the Berlin Wall, so a global recession is taken in stride. Not only does Berlin boast one of the world’s best film festivals, this year Europe’s largest fashion fair, Bread & Butter, comes to town in July (just before Fashion Week) and will be held in the iconic 1930s Tempelhof Airport. In short: networking and parties galore.
The Berlin Festival is a killer outdoor indie music fest in August. The sports calendar is equally full: The Berlin Marathon in September attracts tens of thousands of runners. Soccer squad Hertha are looking strong this season, so expect Champions League action. For eccentrics, we have the World Chess Boxing Organization, a brainy local invention headquartered in Berlin.
Berlin is well-positioned to weather the global cash crunch: It’s Germany’s largest and most diverse city, a hub linking Western and Eastern Europe. Property prices are stable, fueling an ongoing building boom which includes the construction of a huge new airport, scheduled to open in 2011. Young talents from around the world are flocking to live in Berlin. Germany is Europe’s largest economy and it’s a stone’s throw from the emerging markets of Eastern Europe. Berlin’s low rents and well-educated workforce make it an ideal launch pad for international entrepreneurs.
6) New York also referred to as New York City, and formally known as The City of New York, is the most populous city in both the state of New York and the United States. The New York metropolitan area ranks among the world’s most populous urban areas. It is a leading global city, exerting a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, and entertainment.
Huge variety of entertainment and dining
New York City is a man’s paradise, and not in a Las Vegas kind of way, where a guy feels dirty after two days and has to get shots afterward. New York appeals to the complete male with sex, culture and power. Single females outnumber single men by more than 200,000. Professionally minded women flock to the Big Apple for ambitious careers, leaving most of them in no hurry to settle down and with a handy ability to match men intellectually and financially.
Plus, this is where the American fashion industry lives. Supermodels literally roam the streets. When a man’s mouth isn’t gaping at eye candy, he can stuff it with amazing pizza and beer. New York is a top destination for foodies. With immigrants from all over the world, food tastes just like mom used to make whether she’s from Lafayette or Lithuania. It’s the original New World melting pot with renowned museums, Broadway theater, top fashionites, and a music scene that’s birthed everything from hip-hop to punk rock. Stumble upon the next Vampire Weekend before the world hears of them. It’s an expensive city, you say? You get what you pay for. With dozens of Fortune 500 companies here, leaders in every industry keep apartments in the city. To be the best, it helps to live among the best.
Opportunities and closeout deals
The best part of New York is wandering the city and discovering something new every day. The streets are lined with bars, restaurants and top men’s fashion boutiques.
People complain about the cost of living here, but with so much competition in a wounded economy, businesses are constantly running specials and outdoing each others’ happy hours. Get drunk on $3 Jameson shots and see why New York is the best city in the world for one-night stands. It’s all right, no one has to drive; the subway takes you home.
The next day, see if your new friend from last night wants to get you know you better and check out a game. This sports city has two of every team and both the Mets and Yankees have brand new stadiums this season. Or if she’s more into entertainment, get discount tickets to a Broadway show or catch a band or comedy show. With the recession, the city is booming with creativity and acts thirsting for audiences. The economy has officially shaken the old guard to its core. Industries are shedding dead skin and searching for fresh ideas and talent. Working in New York is to be on the cutting edge of how companies will compete in the coming decades.
5) Sydney is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million (2008 estimate). It is the state capital of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British colony in Australia. It was established in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip, admiral of the First Fleet from Britain. A resident of the city is referred to as a Sydneysider.
Stylish, fit women and a healthy population
Life’s good for Sydney’s eligible bachelors, with 100 women vying for every 82 of them — but that’s not all. Shadowed only by San Francisco, this harbor city is the second-largest gay capital in the world. Why should this appeal to you? Picture cutting-edge men’s fashion, a thriving arts culture and an army of fit, intelligent women who can’t find a mate to save themselves.
Sydney is a city that cares, providing universal health care and reasonable pensions for the unemployed. It’s little wonder Australians have the sixth-highest life expectancy in the world — or maybe it’s something in the water as there’s plenty of it. Sydney has 37 beaches, most within 30 minutes’ drive of the city center. Not that Sydneysiders have much time to tan; in the world’s 15th most expensive city it’s all about the climb, with households earning a lavish median income of $42,559.
In fashion terms, Sydney stands proudly alongside Paris and Milan. Each neighborhood has its own style, from beach bums to sharp suit-and-tie types. Sydney coffee runs circles around the dishwater they serve in the States (the truth hurts, we know), and its restaurants serve some of the freshest, most affordable and diverse cuisine in the world.
New bars opening up, low unemployment, World Masters Games 2009 The economic crisis may be deepening, but Sydney isn’t struggling to preserve the good life. That might have something to do with its Prime Minister, who handed out $1,000 to any adult with a bank account over Christmas 2008. Unemployment hit a 33-year low of 4.3% in April 2008, and as of January 2009, was still at 4.8%.
One thing the downturn isn’t stopping Sydney siders from doing is drinking. Until recently, a perennial complaint from Sydney barflies was the dearth of good bars in the city. Thanks to new licensing laws, however, there’s a new wine bar opening almost weekly, giving rival city Melbourne a run for its money.
Besides the slew of annual cultural events, Sydney will also host the World Masters Games in 2009, a kind of poor man’s Olympic Games, which is open to people of all abilities and most ages. Organizers expect 25,000 people from more than 100 countries will compete in 70 venues across the city. For locals who remember the festivities of the 2000 Olympics, the specter of another international sporting event is something to look forward to.
4) London is the capital of the United Kingdom and the Constituent Country of England, and is the most populous city in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, London’s history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its beginnings, London has been part of many movements and phenomena throughout history.
Diversity and prestige
The English poet and novelist Samuel Johnson said that, “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,” and we couldn’t agree more. London is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting and rich places on this planet to live.
Provided you have a job that eases the financial strain of living in a city that’s routinely ranked among the top three most expensive in the world, the sheer amount of choice is what attracts people to this city. With over 300 languages spoken, London is a true microcosm of the world and consequently provides access to the very best in international cuisine and culture. In 2008, London restaurants were awarded a total of 52 Michelin stars, and the entertainment options are staggering as well. Whether it’s sports, shopping, theater, live music, or museums that strike your fancy, you can do no better than London.
The city also has a lot to entice the single man since there are 7.5 million people here and crucially the majority of them are women. In 2005, a nearly 1% female surplus meant that there were comfortingly 78,000 more female bodies than there were male.
Preparing for the 2012 Olympics and other major sporting events
Each year millions flock to London to enjoy its world-class events and 2009 will be no exception. As the city prepares itself for the 2012 Olympic Games, new infrastructure is popping up all over the city.
If style is your thing, the world famous London Fashion Week promises to be as glamorous an event as they come. For sports fans, soccer is the main draw and with five teams in the English Premier League, London is rightly considered the “home of football.” Add to that the annual return of NBA and NFL games to Wembley Stadium, the Wimbledon tennis championships, Six Nations Rugby, and the ICC World Twenty20 cricket competition, and you have essentially got a year-round sports schedule.
Prior to the economic downturn, London had a thriving economy and it is still one of the most important business cities in the world, which will surely be among the first to rebound. More than 1/3 of the workforce in London is employed in the creative field, making it awash with opportunity. Of course, a common complaint by those who live here is the weather, but with five airports serving 155 destinations worldwide, it’s easy to get in; and out and the sunny beaches of Spain are a mere two hours away.
3) San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the 13th most populous city in the United States, with a 2008 estimated population of 808,976. It is the most densely populated city in the state, the second most densely populated major city in the U.S., and is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the larger San Francisco Bay Area, a region of more than 7 million people. The city is located at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Francisco Bay to the north and east.
Parks, bars and tech stars
San Francisco is a cityscape of irresistible drama. Steep hills and skyscrapers overlook a gorgeous bay that changes color with the sky. That drama filters into every aspect of the city’s life, from its topsy-turvy power politics to its go-hard recreation (3,480 acres of parks including three golf courses) and go-harder nightlife (including 2,870 bars). Since the days of the Barbary Coast, San Francisco has boasted one of the great bar and dining cultures, and is home to some of the best restaurants in North America, claiming one restaurant for every 279 people.
The louche life notwithstanding, San Francisco was the healthiest city in the U.S. in 2008, at least according to USA Today. Just outside the city lay miles of vineyards producing some of the world’s great wines. The city abounds with classic men’s stores including local favorites Cable Car Clothiers and The Hound. San Francisco is a creative sector powerhouse, with LucasArts located right in the city’s famed Presidio. The city’s boy-to-girl ratio (male: 51%; female: 49%) doesn’t seem promising at first, but remember this is San Francisco, so you can shave a good 8% to 10% off the competition right there. Be advised that women here are the cream of the brain trust — San Francisco was named one of the top 10 smartest cities by Forbes last year — so the kind of “hey baby” come-on that works in L.A. or Miami Beach ain’t gonna work here.
Mission Bay development, Outside Lands Music and Arts fest
In recent years, San Francisco has undergone a number of dramatic transformations, some of them occasioned by natural causes, such as the quake of ’89, others by changing demography and more aggressive city planning. San Francisco today is home to one of the most stunning waterfronts in the world, arguably the country’s best baseball stadium, AT&T Park (which true locals call Mays Field, after the legendary Giants player Willie Mays) and one of the world’s most dynamic business cultures. The culture of innovation is the result of a continuous influx of highly educated new media creatives, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. In fact, economic recovery in the Bay Area is expected to lead the nation, bouncing back in the third quarter, according to the Association of Bay Area Governments. A new thoroughly modern urban development, called Mission Bay, has risen south of Market Street. The new neighborhood is home to a number of high-end condominiums alongside scientific research facilities, restaurants and shops.
This year promises a bumper crop of cool events in the city that invented both the Irish Coffee and Burning Man. The centerpiece will be the three-day Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, which debuted in ’08, and is set to rock the socks off of Coachella. Things are looking sunny for the foggy city; and by the way, when in San Francisco, do yourself a favor and don’t ever call it “‘Frisco” or worse, “San Fran.” It’s always “San Francisco,” pronounced more like “Sanfren-cisco” than “San FRAN-cisco.”
2) Barcelona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, with a population of 1,615,908 in 2008, while the population of the Metropolitan Area was 3,161,081. It is the central nucleus of the Urban Region of Barcelona, which relies on a population of about 5.5 million
A distinct culture, beautiful nearby beaches
For hundreds of years, Barcelona, capital of the autonomous region of Cataluña, had distanced itself from the rest of Spain culturally, artistically and linguistically. This sense of separatism gives Barcelona a robust international flair that’s quite different from Spanish cities like Madrid and Seville that have strong Castilian identities. Geographically, Barcelona sits closer to the rest of Europe, and natives will greet you first in Catalan, switch to English, and finally address you in Spanish if they must.
Despite this upturned-nose of cultural uniqueness, Barcelona welcomes visitors with open arms. Located near the southern border of France, Cataluña borders the Mediterranean Sea, which provides a mild climate all year and a beach utopia during the summer. Beach culture is big in Barcelona, where sailboats line the docks, outdoor cafes are crammed up against the crashing waves and beach beauties promenade in bikinis. Between suntan lotion applications, catch an FC Barcelona game, where superstars compete in Spain’s fierce national league.
A healthy economy
It’s full speed ahead for Cataluña’s capital. When the Olympic Committee chose Barcelona to host the 1992 games, the antique metropolis underwent a modern face-lift. Since then, Barcelona’s already booming tourism sector has grown steadily.
Airplane and automobile manufacturing make up most of the city’s industry, while international banking and finance play a significant role as well. As the international economic downturn has gripped Spain worse than any other European country, Barcelona’s economy has managed to remain relatively strong, with unemployment lower than any other major Spanish city. Even in the worst of times, Barcelona has a magnetism that would make it an ideal place to spend a few years, especially if you have the means to support yourself. Its atmosphere can be almost surreally beautiful and free-spirited, and it definitely doesn’t feel like any other part of Europe. If you’re in the mood to lose yourself for a while, Barcelona is an ideal destination.
1) Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the third-most populous city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents.
Fine culture and greasy food
As the largest city in the Midwest, Chicago strikes the perfect balance between cosmopolitan and comfortable, combining all of the culture, entertainment and sophistication of an internationally renowned destination with an affordable lifestyle and down-to-earth work hard/play hard character.
World-class cultural fixtures like the Art Institute, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago International Film Festival and a vibrant theater scene are complemented by popular festivals like Jazz Fest, Blues Fest and the recently revitalized Lollapalooza, Outdoor Film Festival, and Second City, which happens to be the source of 39% of the U.S.’s greatest comedians (a scientifically calculated fact!). Chicago possesses one of the world’s most vibrant, diverse and innovative restaurant scenes, from culinary luminaries like Charlie Trotter, Grant Achatz and Rick Bayless to an astounding variety of hole-in-the-wall neighborhood joints to Chicago’s signature greasy trinity of deep dish pizza, Italian beef and Chicago-style hot dogs.
A hardcore sports town, Chicago covers all of the professional leagues (some twice) with teams that actually have history, both famous and infamous. And while the winters are rough, Chicagoans make the most of the warmer months, taking their love of sports to the beaches, courts, paths, and parks of Chicago’s beautiful lakefront, set aside as public land for the entire city’s enjoyment.
Lollapalooza, the Hawks and the Cubs
This year, Chicago is a city abuzz. The International Olympic Committee announces the 2016 host city this October, and Chicago’s glitterati and power brokers are schmoozing it up as they create numerous support committees in the hopes that Chicago is selected. Lollapalooza is already a music fan’s Mecca, and with Jane’s Addiction now back together, where better to catch Perry Farrell this year than headlining his own festival?
On the cultural front, the new modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago will be opening in May, and history buffs living in the Land of Lincoln will be busy checking out the numerous exhibitions celebrating his bicentennial. Chicago is always fertile ground for political junkies, but Obama’s election paired with the Blagojevich and Burris fiascoes have turned an always entertaining political scene into a full-blown three ring circus that even those who aren’t armchair pundits will find fascinating.
After years in the standing’s wilderness, the Blackhawks — one of the original six teams in the NHL — are once again a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, the Cubs are projected by most to be tops in the National League, and a World Series victory would set off a citywide party of the century — literally.
courtesy askmen
Hey there, You’ve performed a great job. I’ll certainly digg it and in my view recommend to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this website.