American Style Magazine

We Love N.Y.

By Christine Kloostra

AmericanStyle readers love New York. And not just the city. Your affection extends beyond the boroughs all the way to western New York and the Finger Lakes region.

The votes for the 2006 Top 25 Arts Destinations are in, and reigning king New York City once again tops our list of Top 25 Big Cities, claiming the No. 1 spot for its third consecutive year. Buffalo, N.Y., muscled its way back to the top position on our Mid-Sized Cities list, while Corning, N.Y., claimed the No. 3 spot among the Top 25 Small Cities and Towns, behind Santa Fe, N.M., and Asheville, N.C.

The members of this year's Top 25 Big Cities remain virtually unchanged from 2005, with a single newcomer, San Jose, Calif., joining the list at No. 25. Behind the Big Apple are Chicago, Ill. (No. 2), Washington, D.C. (No. 3), San Francisco, Calif. (No. 4), and Boston, Mass. (No. 5).

Buffalo's ascension to the top spot from its 2005 ranking of 23rd is one of several dramatic swings in the Top 25 Mid-Sized Cities category. Albuquerque, N.M., held onto its No. 2 position, but emerging glass mecca Pittsburgh, Pa., jumped from No. 10 in 2005 to No. 3 this year. Rounding out the top five are Scottsdale, Ariz., and New Orleans, La.

Joining Santa Fe, Asheville and Corning at the pinnacle of the Top 25 Small Cities and Towns are Charleston, S.C., in the No. 4 position and Sedona, Ariz., at No. 5.

Category 1: Big Cities
(Populations of 500,000 and over)

1. New York, N.Y.
2. Chicago, Ill.
3. Washington, D.C.
4. San Francisco, Calif.
5. Boston, Mass.
6. Seattle, Wash.
7. Baltimore, Md.
8. Philadelphia, Pa.
9. Columbus, Ohio
10. Portland, Ore.
11. Austin, Texas
12. Los Angeles, Calif.
13. Milwaukee, Wis.
14. Denver, Colo.
15. Phoenix, Ariz.
16. San Diego, Calif.
17. Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
18. San Antonio, Texas
19. Houston, Texas
20. Nashville, Tenn.
21. Indianapolis, Ind.
22. Detroit, Mich.
23. Memphis, Tenn.
24. Jacksonville, Fla.
25. San Jose, Calif.

Category 2: Mid-Sized Cities
(Populations of 100,000 to 499,000)

1. Buffalo, N.Y.
2. Albuquerque, N.M.
3. Pittsburgh, Pa.
4. Scottsdale, Ariz.
5. New Orleans, La.
6. Savannah, Ga.
7. Athens, Ga.
8. Atlanta, Ga.
9. Minneapolis, Minn.
10. Cleveland, Ohio
11. Miami, Fla.
12. Alexandria, Va.
13. Ann Arbor, Mich.
14. Salt Lake City, Utah
15. Charlotte, N.C.
16. Kansas City, Mo.
17. Cincinnati, Ohio
18. Las Vegas, Nev.
19. Providence, R.I.
20. St. Petersburg, Fla.
21. Colorado Springs, Colo.
22. St. Louis, Mo.
23. Tacoma, Wash.
24. Tampa, Fla.
25. Salem, Ore.

Category 3: Small Cities and Towns
(Populations under 100,000)

1. Santa Fe, N.M.
2. Asheville, N.C.
3. Corning, N.Y.
4. Charleston, S.C.
5. Sedona, Ariz.
6. Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
7. Taos, N.M.
8. Key West, Fla.
9. Burlington, Vt.
10. Boulder, Colo.
11. Carmel, Calif.
12. Laguna Beach, Calif.
13. Eureka Springs, Ark.
14. Aspen, Colo.
15. Cumberland, Md.
16. Sarasota, Fla.
17. Chapel Hill, N.C.
18. Saugatuck, Mich.
19. Naples, Fla.
20. New Hope/Lahaska, Pa.
21. Annapolis, Md.
22. Brattleboro, Vt.
23. Portsmouth, N.H.
24. Benicia, Calif.
25. Tubac, Ariz.