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-   -   SEXIEST U.S. SKYLINE? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/sexiest-u-s-skyline-641582/)

Newsboy Aug 24th, 2006 08:24 AM

SEXIEST U.S. SKYLINE?
 
I was reading some old posts from 4-5 years back about America's most overrated and underrated cities, and was taken aback by the endless negative opinions about my hometown, ATLANTA. Several of the comments suggested the posters had never even been to the place (and changing planes does not count). Among my favorites:
• "I hear it's like L.A. but with a Southern accent." Yo! Say what?
* "I was surprised so many people from the Northeast have moved there ... maybe it's getting better." Scarlett called 'em Carpetbaggers
* "The subway is limited ..." Hello? At least we got one, and it goes to the airport.
... AND THE REASON FOR THIS POST ...
* "Boring architecture." Dude ... GET OFF THE BUS!

I'LL AGREE --: Manhattan's is powerful, Chicago's is macho, Miami's is la vida loca, SF's a flawless canvas, Seattle the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. But for sheer sex appeal, Atlanta wins hands-down ... especially right at dusk when the sun dips below the western horizon and bathes the city in a firey glow. Thanks to geography and the preference for addresses on Peachtree Street, Atlanta's skyline has always been unique ... instead of huddled together, the city's landmark buildings stretch for miles along a ridge of Stone Mountain granite, the highest points in the city at some spots, from downtown through Buckhead to the northern suburbs. A couple of striking new towers have recently been topped out in Midtown, where they can't build the high-rise condo towers fast enough (FYI ... the city of Atlanta added 10,000 new residents in 2005 alone, the Census reported recently). I'm biased of course, but I don't see how anybody could drive through the city at night and not be a little aroused.

AND NOW THAT I'VE SET THAT UP ... WHO WANTS TO DISAGREE AND OFFER THEIR OWN SEXY SKYLINE?

SpeedBuggy Aug 24th, 2006 08:34 AM

I think Dallas has a pretty sexy little skyline. Not sure why, maybe it's all the neon, or maybe it's the association with a great weekend there. :)

JJ5 Aug 24th, 2006 08:52 AM

I don't know about sexiest skyline, but my town just got the U.S. Commerce Department Tiffany crystal bowl award for best economic development achievement in the USA. We just beat out San Antonio, and Los Angeles. What company we are keeping!! LOL!

After Naperville winning the "best" category and now this- well, eyes have started to turn away from the skyline (hey, even Mayor Daley had to show up with Sandy Baruah at the Tinley Park Convention Center for this one) to places where people can walk, have their own people functional "downtown" that also offers great cultural and food choices with train travel to that other macho place.

I have to give Atlanta credit for another best too. It has the best and fastest drivers on that crosstown expressway that I have ever personally seen in any city on this or any other continent that I have visited. Better than the Autobahn, IMHO.

seasweetie Aug 24th, 2006 09:06 AM

Speedbuggy, Dallas was the first to come to my mind as well - that's strange. I'm not sure I'm allowed back there after my last trip.

But Atlanta and San Francisco would be my other top two picks.

Suerich68 Aug 24th, 2006 09:56 AM

What constitutes a sexy skyline? Is it shape, size or substance?

brandie346 Aug 24th, 2006 10:15 AM

Actually, I always kind of enjoyed New Orleans' skyline...

GoTravel Aug 24th, 2006 10:23 AM

Don't throw things at me but I've always loved the Las Vegas skyline for those gorgeous mountains in the background.

Driving through Jacksonville, Florida on I-95 at night and the city lit up with the skyline reflecting off the river is beautiful.

The distant view of Charlotte's skyline from the new terminal in CLT airport is cool.

Lastly, Washington DC with the sunset behind the Lincoln Memorial and watching it light up.

Atlanta? No, I've never thought of Atlanta's skyline as sexy. What is cool about Atlanta's skyline is watching a football game at GaTech, you have a really cool view of the Atlanta skyline.

ncgrrl Aug 24th, 2006 10:26 AM

Never thought of Atlanta as sexy.

For true sex appeal, look at the Bank of America corporate headquarters building in Charlotte.

Here's a link to a photo of the building
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=121698

GoTravel Aug 24th, 2006 10:27 AM

ncgirl, the view at the top of the page looks like the view from the new concourse at the Charlotte airport!

lizziea06 Aug 24th, 2006 11:04 AM

wow - phallic much?

KE1TH Aug 24th, 2006 11:04 AM

If a building looking like an appendage on the masculine half of the population is your definition of "sexy", then the Swiss Re building in London wins hands down.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_St_Mary_Axe

ncgrrl Aug 24th, 2006 11:06 AM

When the BOA (then NationsBank or maybe NCNB) building was finished, people commented that the building looked like, well, a part of the male body.

Judge for yourself, and see if it does have sex appeal.

OO Aug 24th, 2006 11:13 AM

I immediately thought of the Dallas skyline too. Approaching at night on I-35 where it stands out on the horizon--wow!!

placeu2 Aug 24th, 2006 11:17 AM

OK ladies, I need some equal time here. Check out this portion of the Milwaukee skyline:

http://www.planetware.com/i/pt/mitch...ukee-wi048.jpg

SpeedBuggy Aug 24th, 2006 12:00 PM

Check out the Dallas skyline . . .. .the photo to the left of the webcam. http://www.earthcam.com/usa/texas/dallas/

Not the best picture, but still pretty sexy! ;-)

SpeedBuggy Aug 24th, 2006 12:09 PM

LMAO. You got that right, Keith!

However, my wife swears that part of the human anatomy is not the least bit sexy. She likes lean and fit and must have the *complete* picture in order to qualify as sexy . . .. .. don't know why she married me! :-D

michelleNYC Aug 24th, 2006 12:10 PM

People, people... *nothing* beats NYC's skyline. ;)

SpeedBuggy Aug 24th, 2006 12:13 PM

Yeah, Michelle, but NYC is in a class of its own. We're talking about the rest of the US. :)

Newsboy Aug 24th, 2006 02:42 PM

NCGRRL ... I have to laugh for you to think Charlotte sexy over Atlanta in any form or fashion! Unless you mean in a more clean-cut, wholesome way ... Now you probably know that Atlanta's Bank of America tower is intentionally taller than the HQ in Charlotte outta pride. It was already underway when they announced the merger/move with C&S, and the architects added the chicken-coop spire to ensure its place in the history books. It remains the 6th tallest building in the US and tallest outside Chicago (Sears, Aon, J. Hancock) and NYC (Empire, Chrysler).

THANKS for digging up the link to that terrific skyscraper Website www.emporis.com a guide to every building taller than 12 floors in every city in every country on every continent in the world ... AMAZING! Fitting for this topic, they even have a SKYLINE RANKING of the world's cities based on the visual impact of their skylines! CHECK IT OUT!

nytraveler Aug 24th, 2006 03:25 PM

New York - hands down - due to the vast variety in age and style of buildings - as well as sheer number.

As for Atlanta - and I have been there many times - in the downtown I always feel like I'm in some sience fiction movie - in which all the people have been sucked into ships and taken away. Lots of buildings, a few cars, but NO people.

And the skyline - nothing much - but then I can say that about most cities in the US - all modern and much of a muchness.

Paris has a great skyline.


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