The Standard-Examiner breathlessly announces on the front page this morning that Ogden City has again found itself on another of those infernal "top ten" magazine lists. From this morning's Jeff Demoss story:
OGDEN — The city’s efforts to attract young, outdoor-oriented residents are getting a boost from a major magazine geared toward the same crowd.This should make us all very proud, we think. After all, Ogden finished near the top of the heap, only two clicks down from...
Outside, which claims to be the leading magazine for active lifestyle enthusiasts, has placed Ogden at No. 3 on its annual list of the “Best 10 Towns in America.”
We are not making this up...
Washington, D.C.
What an honor. We swear it doesn't get any better than that.
Don't all chime in at once.
16 comments:
According to the SE, this makes the third "top ten places" list Ogden has made in outdoors-oriented publications this year. The Outside issue has a profile on Mr. Lowe and his involvement with Ogden Climbing Parks as well.
Of course, all such lists are arbitrary ones. No argument. But even given that, Rudi, the Washington choice isn't so odd. The criteria the mag used included cities with cultural and/or natural attractions and where there was an emphasis on fitness. Washington scored high on the "cultural attractions" scale I imagine, Ogden on the natural attractions scale. And DC is awash in joggers, bikers, walkers and paddlers. So the ranking doesn't seem so odd to me.
DCers seem especially to like sidewalk cafes. They're all over Adams-Morgan and other mixed-use areas of the city. Of course, DC has an advantage. Its people can sit down at a sidewalk cafe and order a cooling glass of vino without being asked to buy a club membership, or being told they can have a salad and a glass of wine if they like, but they'll have to move over there, because where they're sitting is the beer only section, no wine allowed. And so on.
Still, I think Ogden is missing a beat with its dearth of sidewalk cafes on 25th Street. If the goal is a walking city downtown, as Hizzonah tells us it is, sidewalk eateries and drinkeries would seem a key element of the plan. There's the courtyard at Rooster's, and a few tables outside Two Bit Cafe, and that's about it, I think.
Oh wow we are now up there in the towns of slumlords and Godfrey being one of them is just on fire with this.
I would be embarrassed by it.
Don't forget that the DC area has an absolutely first-rate rapid transit system.
To emphasize a point Curmudgeon and others have made time and time again -- this #3 ranking, validating what we already know about Ogden, was bestowed with nary a gondola in sight.
Curm
"I think Ogden is missing a beat with its dearth of sidewalk cafes on 25th Street."
I imagine you mean that that is what would be nice down on 25th Street...yet you yourself haven't taken up any cause to open one? If you see an niche fill it.
Oh yeah, I understand, much easier just to point out issues than to do anything about them...perhaps that is why no one does.
Blah:
Ah, I see. I'll just take several hundred thousand that I don't have, borrow more, and open a business I know absolutely nothing about. There's a plan that can't fail!
Curm, you just passed lying little matty's home school course on business. Congradulations!!!!!
IN re: Dan's noting that DC has a magnificent public transit system [rail and bus] --- which it does. I saw a report on DC TV when I was there earlier this year reporting that some major hotels were moving their locations... to be close to Metro [the DC subway system] stops. Clients were choosing hotels based on their proximity to the Metro so they could get around DC without having to use cabs or to drive themselves in DC traffic. So some business hotels were building entirely new venues near Metro stops and closing older ones not near.
There's a message in there someplace I think....
Happy 4th, People:
Since I plan to be otherwise engaged on the morrow, permit me to wish all [Godfreyites, Gondolistas, opponents thereof, summer ice climbing enthusiasts, Sierra Clubbers, trail bike riders, students, faculty, business owners, Chamber members, city councilmen and women, state legislators, baristas --- even Republicans] a safe, pleasant and celebratory 4th.
And if, perchance, your plans should involve raising a stein or two in honor of the republic, allow me to suggest an appropriate toast, taken from a list of toasts drunk in a colonial tavern during the struggle against England:
"Perpetual itching without benefit of scratching to the enemies of American liberty!"
Washington, D.C. is also bicycle friendly. They have a lot of trails, bikeable streets, and quite a few bicycle commuters. I was impressed. If we are truly a top "Outdoors" town then this is one area we really need to work on - create a bike plan and start implementing it! Speaking as a daily bike commuter, I know some work has been done, but there is a lot more that needs to happen.
Slim:
Exactly. Good post, Slim. Does the city have a bike committee working on this? If not, it should.
Curm-
I have heard that there is a bicycle committee in Ogden, possibly a subcommitte of the Sustainabale Ogden Committee. Don't know much about it, though. There is a section on bicycles in the general plan - it is a bit brief and could definitely be expanded.
Curm, Call you sidewalk restaurant a ice climbing wall and the council will give you 100 grand to open it.
I had a dinner/meeting down on Historic 25th tonight, and got to see the new horses that are in town for Pioneer Days.
I love them! What a wonderful touch.
Whoever gets credit for doing this, thanks. They're a great addition to the "scene" down there.
I noticed Griener bought one, did the Mayor pony up out of his leftover election campaign funds for a horse? (no pun intended)
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