Best Hipster Cities

[Alidar Jarok]

Link

There’s a quirky new microbrew in Seattle: Churchkey Can Company produces a pilsner in a flat-top can, which requires an old-fashioned “church-key” opener to drink it. A beer blog promptly declared it the “most hipster beer in the world”—which may or may not be a compliment.

The list has the obvious ones like Seattle and Portland (two Portlands, actually), but it also includes San Juan, Puerto Rico. This might have to do with it's reliance on objective criteria or maybe San Juan really is that "not" trendy. What do people think of this list?

ETA: For those who just want to see the list:

Spoiler: List

Seattle
Portland, OR
San Francisco
New Orleans
Portland, ME
Providence
Austin
San Juan
Philadelphia
Denver
Savannah
New York
Santa Fe
Chicago
San Diego
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Boston
Los Angeles
Nashville
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Charleston
Memphis
Baltimore
Honolulu
Houston
Anchorage
Miami
Washington, D.C.
San Antonio
Phoenix/Scottsdale
Atlanta
Orlando
Salt Lake City
Dallas/Fort Worth

 

[thestrangequark]

I read that article a few days ago, and thought it was hysterical. I live in Brooklyn. I was sick of hipsters before being sick of hipsters was cool.

 

[sojourner]

I think the definition of "hipster" is being abused. Orlando??? really? Miami??

 

[auntiehill]

Austin? Oh HELL yeah. Houston? HOUSTON???? The entire hipster population is regulated to one area south of downtown and they are rarely allowed in to intermingle with the uber-red neck nouveau riche. I think it's one of those invisible fence barriers, like they use on dogs.

Houston couldn't be hip if the freakin' oil prices depended on it.

 

[Timby]

I'm rather shocked that Madison, Wisconsin, isn't on the list.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I think the definition of "hipster" is being abused.

As I said in another thread: living in the fashionable side of the universe, I still have troubles understanding the definition of "hipster". If we are talking about "hipster style" clothes, most young people here dress like that, with a whimsical mix of modern and retro. If we are talking about a self-ironic, self-conscious, accurately planned attitude of projected nonchalance, well... that's just being European.

 

[Satyrquaze]

I think Minneapolis/St. Paul should be much higher on the list, and not counted as one entry. Minneapolis is much trendier than St. Paul.

 

[doubleohfive]

Silver Lake in Los Angeles is definitely a hub for hipsters... but hot damn, it has some fun places to go out to eat.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

There is nothing hip in San Antonio. San Antonio is lame. Keep San Antonio lame.

 

[iguana_tonante]

As I said in another thread: living in the fashionable side of the universe, I still have troubles understanding the definition of "hipster". If we are talking about "hipster style" clothes, most young people here dress like that, with a whimsical mix of modern and retro. If we are talking about a self-ironic, self-conscious, accurately planned attitude of projected nonchalance, well... that's just being European.

And right on cue, I found a Sunday Time's article from 2011 calling Bologna (my home city) the best place in Italy "for hipsters and hedonists".

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I think Minneapolis/St. Paul should be much higher on the list, and not counted as one entry. Minneapolis is much trendier than St. Paul.

While I do think they should be counted as one, I agree that I'm shocked they weren't higher. They are up there with Seattle as cities I think of having to do with Hipsters.

 

[Satyrquaze]

I think Minneapolis/St. Paul should be much higher on the list, and not counted as one entry. Minneapolis is much trendier than St. Paul.

While I do think they should be counted as one, I agree that I'm shocked they weren't higher. They are up there with Seattle as cities I think of having to do with Hipsters.

Seriously, I was raised in one of the more Hipstery parts of Minneapolis. The reputation is well earned.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I showed the list to my brother, here's his criticisms:

Visitors and residents rated the cities in a whole bunch of areas (such as quality of luxury stores, coffee, museums, etc.). Then, they took some of those areas related to "hipsters" and compared them. But it all hinges on the original ratings, which just aren't very good. Just taking classical music (which is rated by classical music sites), Dallas is listed as worse than Austin (despite Dallas having a good symphony and Austin not) and Cleveland (considered #2 in the country) isn't listed at all. Taking it one step further, it doesn't weigh the criteria at all, so in overall city comparisons, antique shops is ranked equal with friendliness.

That being said, I do think the list has quite a few that are right even if the order isn't.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I think the definition of "hipster" is being abused.

As I said in another thread: living in the fashionable side of the universe, I still have troubles understanding the definition of "hipster". If we are talking about "hipster style" clothes, most young people here dress like that, with a whimsical mix of modern and retro. If we are talking about a self-ironic, self-conscious, accurately planned attitude of projected nonchalance, well... that's just being European.

My personal post of the month. Love ya!

 

[CorporalClegg]

Interesting that Santa Fe is so high on the list and topped so many of the subcategories. Of course those subcategories relate to it as a travel destination. It's definitely a great place to visit, but not so much as a place to live. The cost of living is astounding (especially considering its size) and is greatly amplified by the number of celebrities who live there.

The people who work in all those wounderful art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants all live in Los Alamos and commute.

And all those 'hipsters' who clog the Praca on summer Saturday afternoons all live here.

I think Minneapolis/St. Paul should be much higher on the list, and not counted as one entry. Minneapolis is much trendier than St. Paul.

Totally agree. Minneapolis has been one of the countries beatnik epicenters for 40 years and is abound with culture. STP is it's whimsically lazy slob of a little brother.

 

[RoJoHen]

I work at a total hipster bar. It's awesome.

 

[TheBrew]

When did 'hipster' mean cultured? I thought the hallmark of "hipster" was manufactured elitism?

 

[RoJoHen]

"Hipster" to me means skinny jeans, iPhones, microbrews, and coffee shops.

My jeans are the only thing preventing me from being a total hipster.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

When did 'hipster' mean cultured? I thought the hallmark of "hipster" was manufactured elitism?

It's manufactured elitism because they think they're cultured. However, a certain kind of culture does appeal to Hipsters.

 

[Winged Victory]

snip

I think Minneapolis/St. Paul should be much higher on the list, and not counted as one entry. Minneapolis is much trendier than St. Paul.

Totally agree. Minneapolis has been one of the countries beatnik epicenters for 40 years and is abound with culture. STP is it's whimsically lazy slob of a little brother.

We shouldn't be building the new light rail corridor to St. Paul-there should be a wall built to keep the STP non-hipsters from coming to Minneapolis!