The author quotes Petula Clark's song, "Downtown" when relating the thrill he felt when visiting downtown Baltimore. Have you ever felt this way about a city's core? Are some large cities more vibrant than others?

The author quotes Petula Clark's song, "Downtown" when relating the thrill he felt when visiting downtown Baltimore, opining that "Downtown was where it was happening, baby" (p. 12). Have you ever felt this way about a city's core?

Are some large cities more vibrant than others? Do you feel the association of downtown with excitement and activity has changed over time? How do you think one's age plays into one's opinion of downtown, if at all?

I loved that song! Large cities can be exciting because there's do much to see and do. Each has it's own culture and history so it's difficult to rate one over another. I've found joy in many cities. Some were exciting, some charming, some historical, and some very modern with lots going on.
I also know you can find joy in visiting smaller cities and towns. Look for the uniqueness in each and you will be rewarded.
Age does pay a part in perception. The I was young, I wanted excitement and many activities. Now I love the character of the city's history and environment. It's definitely a change of perspective.

Oh my gosh how I remember that song! To this day I consider myself a city girl, and feel like downtown is the place to be. Even in Portland where downtown is currently a mess, I'd live in a condo in the city's core if I could. I still consider it a hive of activity - particularly for the arts.

I think cities have a life of their own that kind of ebbs and flows. Right now, Portland's core feels like it's dying, but I'm sure it's temporary. When the pandemic hit a lot of people left downtown (here & elsewhere) to work from home, and a lot of workers never went back. I grew up in Cleveland and it was the same thing. When I left for college the city was pretty much a wreck, but it had a resurgence perhaps 20 years later.

I have always felt this way about Chicago. It’s a magical place in my heart.

I remember the first time I visited Chicago and was impressed by the energy of the city. Same thing with NYC. Yes, I think cities have personalities.

I also loved that song. Growing up in DC there was a real downtown, some of it unaccessible to a young Black girl. Still, it was fun when my parents took us. Now there is no designated downtown, which is the case for most large major cities. I now enjoy the quaintness of small towns when I travel.

I get energy in the city. I like all the crowds, the hustle and bustle, the noises and activities. I agree with him.

Can't say I've ever associated a song with any city I've visited but I do enjoy going to Chicago and feeling the "beat" of that city especially though I enjoy visiting all large cities as there is a "hum" and vibrance to the experience. And, while I don't necessarily live in the largest city in the US, downtown Grand Rapids, MI, is still fun to experience as it has its own vibe and interesting sights.

I grew up near San Francisco and loved visiting "downtown". I would often drive up by myself and explore different parts of the City, or simply park and walk around on the busy streets. Kimk earlier mentioned the current state of Portland, and unfortunately, SF is in the same boat. No longer fun to visit.

I have two kids living in Chicago, and I get the same old buzz when I walk around the river, Michigan Ave., etc., so yes, I do think some cities have managed to stay vibrant and fun to visit.

I definitely feel there is something about some big cities. Visiting NYC and Washington, DC on the same trip in high school, I was captivated by both locales. I think the political bug really dug into me that trip. It's a feeling, an emotion, a true transformation of mind as you wander certain cities like these.

I grew up in the Colorado suburbs, and went to DC on a short trip when I was in college. I felt exactly that way about the city! BTW--I moved to DC a year later--and I'm still here! I just spent a weekend in NYC, and that was really exciting too (and expensive!) Totally different feel from DC though. Boston/Chicago/Dallas--each one is completely different.

I am of the same generation as the author, and I remember that song so well! I live in NYC and felt that way when I first visited here from a suburb in Connecticut. I moved here a few years after that visit and have now been here for more than 40 years. I was impressed by the energy of Chicago when I went there for business. I've often been to downtown Baltimore. While I love Baltimore as it is now, when I first started going, it was a much "grittier" city, and there was something maybe more special about downtown, so I identified with what he wrote.

I love that song.I agree some larger cities have a more exciting atmosphere than some. NYC and Chicago come to mind. In some cities the downtown seems more desolate and empty especially since Covid.Some of the protests in recent years have caused a lot of damage to the downtown areas in a lot of cities. I live in Dallas and the amount of damage was terrible.

I also loved that song as a child, and it was Chicago that came to mind....and Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat into the air in downtown Minneapolis.