Comments on: A utopian blueprint, sans winged creatures.

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:23:46 +0000

I am, as always, late to this party. And it looks like your commenters are leaning heavily towards the northwest. HOWEVER, I would feel remiss if I didn’t recommend Cambridge, MA. If you don’t mind cold winters, it’s got all of your requirements. (Average rents are somewhat high, but you can definitely find deals if you dig, like I did with my current and last apts. Both gems!) Your wishlist sounds almost exactly like mine, minus the in-building workspace, because I have an office just a couple blocks away. If you haven’t already set plans in motion for one of the above suggestions and want to throw this one into the pot, feel free to email me with any questions I might be able to answer.

By: Karen Murphy

Karen Murphy — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:04:28 +0000

Oh, also, hello, COFFEE. On every corner. With wi-fi.

Also no one knows this until they get here, but ARTISTS. And writerfolk. Shh…

By: Karen Murphy

Karen Murphy — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:02:33 +0000

Bellingham, WA. BETTER THAN PORTLAND. Here’s why:

1. The Roller Betties.
2. Trails everywhere (2 blocks! from my house!)
3. Only about 50,000 peeps. Portland swallows people.
4. Treeees.
5. College town.
6. The scent of patchouli greets you throughout the downtown area.
7. Liberry.
8. Proximity to foreign countries! Well, one. I hear there are Polar Bears! In Canadia! And if you come next month you can experience all the Fun and Glamour and Lack of Homeless People that is the Olympics.
9. No one has heard of it.

By: jessica

jessica — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:49:35 +0000

If your sparkly utopia would like to exchange buildings for rows of corn and rollergirls for wrangler sporting white supremacists, have I got the state for you.

By: Librarian Girl

Librarian Girl — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:13:47 +0000

You have just described, to a tee, Seattle or Portland. Come to the PNW, lady!

By: Jeff Lee

Jeff Lee — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:53:36 +0000

You appear to be describing the Uptown area of Minneapolis. I lived there for several years and it has all of the amenities you are describing. Beautiful lakes to job around, a kick-ass library, and lots and lots of trees. It even has most of the letters of Utopia!

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:35:14 +0000

Ok, I get that Portland is fabulous, and I would really like to go visit because I hear nothing but greatness…except for the rain, oh the rain. HOWEVER…my vote is for Charlotte, NC. A veritable hodgepodge of personality types, from southern to crunchy granola, from all over the country. My sister has lived there for ummm 15? years and I will eventually be moving there (which makes in awesome as well). transportation isn’t that fabulous, though they are working on it. all the other points are well taken care of, plus NICE weather, still get the seasons, but mild-ish winter. roller girls: http://www.charlotterollergirls.com/
etc etc

By: Shannon C.

Shannon C. — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:20:13 +0000

I am fourthing or fifthing Portland, although Seattle does have the awesome Rat City Roller Girls and it is fucking beautiful here. But Portland is very cool and more affordable than Seattle, and also beautiful with many many urban parks. I’d go with Portland.

By: irretrievably broken

irretrievably broken — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:37:36 +0000

YOU are the website I wish I had found, lo those many months ago! Better late than never, I guess. Very pleased to make your acquaintance.

By: Tara

Tara — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:30:05 +0000

may I suggest the awesomeness that is Houston? 4th largest city, but also one of the cheapest. great library. great arts scenes. small town feeling in a huge city. When I moved here in 2001, I never dreamed I would love my fair city so much, but here I am still.
Plus, we could be friends. In real life.