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?