How tired are you of some industry-niche magazine making a list that rags on Philadelphia?
In 2000, Men’s Fitness ranked Philadelphia as the fattest city in the nation, a distinction not helped considering the American Obesity Association put the cradle of liberty among the ten plumpest towns every year from 2000 to 2005. People took seriously the cause to move away from that, and we have, though we can’t seem to shake that image.
We’ve come along way, though. Magazines have said nice things about us.
- In October 2005, National Geographic labeled Philadelphia the ‘Next Great City.’
- Food and Wine magazine recanted its criticism of Philly’s food culture and, after a revisit with respected Inquirer food critic Craig Laban, labeled this city one of the nation’s best dining stops. (Scientists have long found correlations between good food and big tummies).
- But, then this. Travel and Leisure Magazine, with the help of CNN Headline News (the hardest-hitting journalism cable news has done in some time), ranked 25 American cities by a host of criteria in eight categories.
- But all you heard about was Philly’s rank as the ugliest. Which is unfair for too many reasons for me to post on, but not least of all on the fact that Philly got lots of props on lots of things. Oh, but everyone got a big laugh out of it.
- Travel and Leisure boasted some 60,000 responses, most of whom, I would think, base their tenets on assumptions. Miami – ranked the most attractive – is associated with sun, fun and bikinis. Philly, D.C. and San Antonio – at the bottom – are known more for historical importance. History isn’t necessarily hot, setting aside Ben Franklin as the sex icon that he is/was/will always be.
- But that’s what sucks. The 215 was ranked among the 10 best in all seven Culture categories, a height equaled only be San Fran and NYC. It was in the top 5 of eight categories overall, and it came dead last in looks. Admittedly, the looks count was actually pretty lopsided against us, but New York, a city so often held on high, found itself last three times.
Magazines long ago figured out that Americans love competition enough to read and fight over articles with lists. It’s easy. It brings attention to their product because idiot talking heads will blog on it. Enough people know Philly that we’re easy to pick on.
