Posted on Tue, Jun 26, 2012 : 7:15 p.m.
Ann Arbor tied for 4th place on list of most creative cities
By Cindy Heflin
Ann Arbor, home to some of the world’s most accomplished scientists, doctors and researchers, and launching ground for numerous high-tech startups, has landed on a list of most creative cities in the country.
Ann Arbor, where Google chose to locate its AdWords headquarters, has been named to a list of 20 most creative cities in the country.
Boulder, Colo., another university town and one often compared with Ann Arbor, tops the list. San Francisco and Boston are in third place.
It’s the latest in string of recent accolades for our fair city, which was recently named one of the 5th happiest city in America and best place for singles.
Comments
mixmaster
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
Richard Florida is a shameless self promoter who makes lists for a living. The Daily Beast is a blog. Being on their top ten list is like being on similar list compiled by annarbordotcom. Oooooh! Top Ten! For all it does contribute to Ann Arbor, we cannot ignore the downside. To the exclusion of almost everyone and everything else, those who struggle to not only survive but seek recognition as part of the local culture, the UM dominates the political, cultural and social scenes here. When creativity is mentioned, I hardly think of Ann Arbor. It's a conservative status quo town dominated by a huge institution with little regard for its host city, its residents or its local culture.
andralisa
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
No where near the creativity boom as Portland Oregon - no comparison!
timothy
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
Ann Arbor is a great city and yes, I believe creative and special. Im glad the negitivity on this board doesnt reflect the true happy personality of Ann Arbor. Tim.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
If there is 4 ounces of liquid in an 8 ounce glass both the following statements are true: 1. the glass is half full 2. The glass is half empty. In addition its also true that the people who subscribe to true statement #1 will spend an inordinate amount of time and energy chastising those who subscribe to true statement #2. Thus, and ironically, they become the very people they chastise.
sigdiamond
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
The sheer, unbridled misery on these annarbor.com message boards is a thing to behold.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 11:13 p.m.
a realist is not inherently miserable. A realist doesn't blindly "drink the Kool-Aid" . A realist wants to know who made the Kool-Aid and what exactly is in the Kool-Aid before they drink it. Some people just blindly suck it down with no mind for what they are consuming as long as it tastes good.
PattyinYpsi
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. I wondered why these Gloomy Guses continue to live here, but then I realized they'd be just as negative and miserable wherever they lived.
Madeleine Borthwick
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
Too Right, siggy.
Titus
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
wahhh wahhh wahhh. I'm cranky. I don't LIKE people saying nice things about my city. Wahhh. I don't like people saying nice things about the University of Michigan. And professors. And students. And people with jobs. Wahhh. Wahhh. Wahhhhhh...
spm
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
That about sums it up with so many of these comments. Never understood the negativity. Are there problems with our town, sure there are, but can't we at least celebrate the good this town has to offer? If you don't like being on a top ten list then move to Flint...and be on the bottom of everything instead.
Basic Bob
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.
All the *best and brightest* can take a sigh of relief. You have been recognized. For what is unclear.
mixmaster
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 11:37 a.m.
The Daily Beast is a political blog trying to expand its "readership". It has little credibility and these kind of "stories" are meant to drive recognition in regions where they want to grow.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 10:41 a.m.
I would like to remind all you creative folks out there to be sure to lock your doors and windows as there has been a rash of break-ins.
pvitaly
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
I have an aluminum one next to my night stand :)
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.
are we talking wood or aluminum?
Madeleine Borthwick
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
hey Craig, I get you. we do lock our doors and windows, but if some misguided person tries to break into our home we have a baseball bat near the door and I can be verrrry creative with it.....
Dog Guy
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
Ann Arbor's one leader urges us to become bolder and Boulder, but we fall short. How do we place in ratings by The Daily Savage and The Daily Rodent?
CynicA2
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 2 a.m.
Richard Florida!!! YAAAAAAAAAKKKKKK! Don't believe a word that hubris-soaked windbag says... PollyAnna and Rosie Scenario, all rolled into one.
spm
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
I like reading his articles in Atlantic Cities. He's not as bad as all that!
Madeleine Borthwick
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
wow, cynicA2, I get what you're saying but maybe you should switch to decaf.
mixmaster
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 12:54 a.m.
Let's make the distinction here. This isn't about personal or artistic creativity, it's about how businesses can profit from the so called "Creative Class". Ann Arbor's creativity or lack thereof, is demonstrated by the non functioning fountain in front of an ugly public building. Which was decided upon by supposedly creative people. If you want to see and experience creativity that isn't oriented towards increasing a businesses bottom line or anything the UM produces which dominates the arts in Ann Arbor to the exclusion of everything and everybody else, go to Ypsilanti or Detroit. The creative factor in both those places far outstrips the exclusionary status quo in Ann Arbor.
jcj
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 12:03 a.m.
It seems the perception of our "fair" city is better the further away you are! A2.com comes in #1 for the most meaningless list.
Commoncents
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
Cheer up, life is short!