If you are looking for a second city to call home, check out these 11 destinations the Resident profiles. They may never be New York but each city offers its own attractions. Phoenix residents enjoy low housing prices and fine weather. Atlanta has great football and fine dining. If you prefer to be close to nature, consider Santa Fe for its proximity to the mountains and deserts as well its sophisticated cultural events.—Sascha Brodsky
SANTA FE
ATLANTA
BOSTON
LOUISVILLE
PHOENIX
PALM BEACH
5 More Places To Consider
You’re more likely to see mountains than high-rises in Santa Fe, the third largest city in New Mexico. Similar to New York, “The City Different” experiences four seasons but has a moderate climate, and is gaining recognition as a cultural center.—Kerri Fortune
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Among the trendiest and priciest neighborhoods on the eastern side of the city are Historic Eastside, Canyon Road and Southeast Santa Fe, close to the downtown area. People look to live there because of proximity to museums, shops and the Santa Fe Opera. Areas in the middle of town hemming the Rail Runner commuter train – which will connect to Albuquerque when it’s completed in 2008 – are also experiencing gentrification.
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Since it’s the capital city, government employees abound. The tourism and art industries are popular in Santa Fe, since it has a museum district with several museums committed to preserving and exploring the city’s Spanish and Native American roots. The film industry is becoming more prominent due to incentives, tax breaks and loans from the state.
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With an average of 300 sunny days a year, there’s plenty of time to frolic outdoors in one of the state’s national parks. Lovers of Mexican food will rejoice in this city, and at celebrity chef Mark Miller’s Coyote Café, tourists and locals mingle while chowing down on Southwestern staples. The rooftop cantina gives patrons the feel of an old Mexican town. A popular watering hole among locals is the Dragon Room Lounge at The Pink Adobe because of its authentic local vibe and artwork by the owner. The museum district offers everything from Spanish colonial to modern art. For classical entertainment, attend performances of the Santa Fe Opera and Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
FAMILY
For $15,930, you can send your 7th-12th graders to Santa Fe Prep School.
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The city has gained international panache since hosting the Olympics in 1996 and offers lots of amenities. But New Yorkers relocating to Atlanta should think twice before moving to an affluent suburb like Alpharetta. Though buying a roomy house may be an enticement, you’ll spend countless hours of your life in some of the nation’s worst traffic. — Cotton Delo
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Atlantans crow about Buckhead,
the city’s Old Money neighborhood, and the character of this rarified enclave is becoming even more exclusive with the surge of mixed-use developments. The trend is epitomized by The Streets of Buckhead, an 800,000-square-foot community to include luxury residential units alongside hotels, restaurants and boutiques when it’s completed in 2009.
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Atlanta is a mecca for suits, contain-ing the third most Fortune 500 company headquarters in the nation after New York and Houston. Companies like Coca-Cola, Home Depot and UPS have set up shop in the city and its sprawling suburbs, but the definitive local tycoon is Ted Turner, whose cable TV empire – which includes CNN – is based in the Atlanta metro area.
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Dubbed “Hotlanta” by partisans, it’s a far cry from New York since you’ll have to drive – a lot – to get around. But sports nuts can easily form new allegiances in this football- and baseball-mad city, though NFL fans might want to think twice about surrendering their affections to the Falcons in light of quarterback and dog killer Michael Vick’s indefinite suspension. For gourmands, Atlanta is known for patio dining, and the French brasserie Au Pied de Cochon – open 24 hours a day – is a good bet if you’re looking to stay in Buckhead. For a nightcap, you can drop in at Sambuca Jazz Café, a supper club that hosts top crooners and musicians. Shopaholics will be relieved to hear of the development of “Midtown Mile” on Peachtree Street; it’s been conceptualized as a counterpart to LA’s Rodeo Drive.
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hildren of Buckhead gentry, The Westminster Schools, a K-12 Christian day school on 180 acres, readies students for colleges like Duke and Vanderbilt, as well as elite Northern institutions. Yearly tuition is $18,000 for 6th-12th graders.
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While Boston conjures images of cobblestones and cardigans, a new wave of cash from the financial sector is fueling a luxury housing boom that looks a lot like the one taking place in New York. Those making the move to this New England city may be surprised though – in the most desirable neighborhoods,
prices rival those in Manhattan. — Heather Corcoran
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A strong historical society and preservation movement has kept the picturesque brownstone facades of the Back Bay (which was formerly a stagnant pool) and historic Beacon Hill, though many have been gutted to create lofty two-family residences that frequently top $5 million. Other popular properties have a more Manhattan feel – hotel living in the downtown waterfront from familiar names such as the Mandarin Oriental and the under-construction W hotel. They offer amenities, but these properties can reach $1,300 per square foot, with two-bedrooms starting at $900,000.
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Boston’s traditional industries – fishing and shipping – have faded; now the city thrives thanks to new interest in tourism and banking. Big bucks from the financial sector grease the city’s wheels, but the many universities and high-tech companies are also major employers. Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, Merck and Houghton Mifflin all call the area home.
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Though Boston has its fair share of beer-swilling frat boys, there are enough fine-dining options to keep the city’s famed TV host, the Phantom Gourmet, sated. The North End reflects Boston’s Italian heritage with a wide range of classic restaurants including Giacomo’s Ristorante and Maurizio’s. Of course, catching a Red Sox game can be a nearly religious experience for Bostonians, especially at Copperfield’s and the Cask ’n Flagon, right behind Fenway Park. Just be sure to leave your Yankees hat in Manhattan.
FAMILY
With so many universities in the area, it’s no surprise that Boston offers competitive schools that promise entree into the Ivy League, such as the prestigious Milton Academy which costs about $35,000 per year (including board) to be added to a list of alumni that includes T.S. Eliot and Robert F. Kennedy. The city also has strong public schools: Boston Latin, the oldest school in the nation, has a highly selective admissions process for its rigorous program for 7th-12th grades.
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At the crossroads of the Midwest and the South, Louisville has a bit of an identity crisis. New arrivals expecting a backwater town may be pleasantly surprised by the lively arts scene, but the downside is that you’ll be stranded in the middle of Kentucky. A 15-minute drive from the city center brings you to places that are decidedly countrified, so if you lack a taste for horse country and bluegrass music, you might want to move elsewhere. — Cotton Delo
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The once sparsely populated river-side area next to the central business district has experienced a surge in new construction and redevelopment in the last few years – spurred on, perhaps, by the influx of professionals from other cities who brought their notions of loft living to Louisville. The recently completed park fronting the Ohio River is another enticement. Elsewhere in town, Old Louisville is lined with brick Victorian houses that can be had for a song compared to what you’d pay in New York. High-end rentals aren’t much en vogue, since one of the city’s main inducements is cheap real estate.
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The health care industry is said to employ 45,000 people in the city – mostly in the downtown area – and Fortune 500 companies Humana and Kindred Healthcare are headquartered there. Louisvillians also take pride in the presence of Brown-Forman, the distiller of Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniels, among other labels, and one-third of all bourbon whiskey is made in Louisville. Ford and General Electric also have major operations there.
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Louisville has surprisingly diverse dining options – including Vietnamese, Thai and Jamaican – in addition to dependably good comfort food, but if you want a serious meal, head to Le Relais, which serves up French cuisine in 1940s art deco environs. Though the refreshingly unpretentious vibe of the city is arguably at its best in neighborhood bars, you can find interesting cocktails and wine lists at restaurants like Avalon. Lovers of thoroughbred racing and mint juleps will appreciate Churchill Downs, though it might be wise to avoid the track during the Kentucky Derby, when drunkards from across the nation converge. The city also has a serious college basketball fixation, working itself into a frenzy over the University of Louisville’s (U of L’s) rivalry with the University of Kentucky. The city has its own Central Park in Old Louisville, designed by none other than Frederick Law Olmstead. The Actors Theatre of Louisville, a renowned regional company, is also in town.
FAMILY
Many Louisvillians of means send their kids to Louisville Country Day School, where tuition is $14,780 for grades 6-12.
A competitor is Louisville Collegiate School, where annual
fees are $16,500 at the middle and upper schools.
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The stratospheric growth in Phoenix has slowed since the 2005 housing boom – which saw prices go up as much as 50 percent – hit the fan, but demand has stayed high for the luxury properties in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, driven by winter visitors looking for a second home. Bargains abound, although it’s not surprising to see newly constructed homes sitting empty, as well as foreclosures. — Heather Corcoran
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The urban sprawl in the city’s outlying areas has been hurt most by the combination of a glut of new construction and rising gas prices that make commuting to the city expensive, and Phoenix is seeing a revived interest in central neighborhoods like the Biltmore area. Phoenix offers a wide array of property types and around the Biltmore hotel, apartment-style condos start at $350,000, while mansions top out at $14 million for 14,000 square feet. The exclusive, and expensive, gated spa and golf-course communities remain relatively unaffected in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, where buyers pay cash for $1 million-plus properties and are less affected by the nationwide mortgage crisis.
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People come to Arizona to relax and enjoy the outdoors, not to work. For those not ready to retire, Phoenix, the largest state capital in the U.S., employs many in government and military jobs. Scottsdale and nearby Tempe are home to the Fortune 500 companies Allied Waste Industries and the US Airways Group, respectively, and Intel has a large base in the area as well.
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The desert heat can make a soothing day at the spa more enticing than a wild night out, and luxury resorts like the Royal Palms and Spa are a big tourist attraction. In Phoenix, hearty Southwestern fare rules at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, though it may be telling that one of the city’s most popular restaurants is a chain. A better bet is Monti’s La Casa Vieja to the southwest in Tempe, which looks like a hybrid between an adobe house and a New York steakhouse. Also in Tempe, Casey Moore’s Oyster House is popular with locals as well as students from the sprawling Arizona State University. The former brothel is an Irish pub with a neighborhood vibe.
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About two hours from Phoenix, Verde Valley School in Sedona is an International Baccalaureate boarding school with 126 students from 14 countries. Tuition is about $20,000 for the day school and $37,000 for boarding students. Pinnacle High School in Phoenix’s Paradise Valley School District has received national attention for its high performance.
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The shore is your backyard and palm trees are your neighbors in this barrier island town that teems with senior citizens. For retired New Yorkers, its Mediterranean-style mansions and high-end stores like Tiffany & Co. may conjure a more ostentatious, gray-haired version of the Hamptons. Welcome to world famous Palm Beach, where for decades New Yorkers – including Donald Trump, whose estate is on the market for $125 million – have flocked to escape bitter winters. — Bosede Adenekan
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Offering single-family houses and condos, the center of town – between Wells Road and Worth Avenue – is desirable for those seeking proximity to shops and boutiques. The majority of Palm Beach’s grand estates are located south of Worth Avenue, however.
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According to 2000 U.S. Census data, more than half of Palm Beach’s population is 65 and over, enjoying retirement. But given the wealth of many residents and winter vacationers, it’s no surprise that retail is big business in Palm Beach. Between international boutiques and unique specialty stores, there’s no shortage of fabulous places for retirees with few demands on their time to shop, as well as employment opportunities for aspiring shopgirls.
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If you have little interest in beaching or golfing, you can explore shops and restaurants dotting the middle of town. On Worth Avenue, locals rave about the cosciotto di vitello al Milanese at Bice, an upscale Italian restaurant. When the sun goes down, Cucina dell’arte becomes a popular destination for trendy young professionals to unwind, mingle and show off their dance moves.
FAMILY
The existence of Palm Beach Day School, encompassing Prek-9th grade, is proof that there are children living year-round in this notorious retirement enclave. Tuition ranges from $11,000 to $20,000 per year, with prices increasing for subsequent grade levels.
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DENVER
Despite the thin air in the Mile High City, Denver is still riding high off the 1970s energy boom as a hub for transportation, shipping and business. Thanks to its location and lack of nearby competition, Denver’s 17th Street is even called the “Wall Street of the West.” The presence of major companies at the Denver Tech Center translates to lower taxes and a high quality-of-life for wealthy families in neighboring cities like Cherry Hills Village and Greenwoods Village, and about a year ago the light rail system was extended to ease the commute. Don’t come looking for diversity, though – there is a growing population of immigrants from Mexico, but Colorado remains overwhelmingly (92 percent) white.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
San Juan is the industrial, political and financial center of Puerto Rico, as well as one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean. The city, with a population of more than 440,000, has facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, brewing and distilling. It produces cement, pharmaceuticals, clothing and tobacco, and many U.S. banks and corporations maintain branches there. The city is composed of a variety of neighborhoods with distinct personalities, highlighted by Old San Juan and the upscale residential section, Miramar.
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL
Although they are referred to as “The Twin Cities,” Minneapolis and Saint Paul have distinct personalities. With its broad boulevards and modern architecture, Minneapolis is usually considered the more sophisticated twin, while more conservative St. Paul — the capital of the state — moves at a more leisurely pace. Both cities are celebrated for their strong economies, beautiful riverfront parks and high overall quality of life. The cities are the cultural and arts capital of the upper Midwest, with more theater seats per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. outside New York City.
SAN DIEGO
With its magnificent weather and laid-back lifestyle, many consider San Diego the perfect place to live. Snuggling up to both the Pacific Ocean and Mexico (the city shares a border with Tijuana), San Diego’s population of 1,250,000 makes it the second largest city in California. The city’s celebrated attractions include Seaworld (home of Shamu), the San Diego Zoo, the Hotel del Coranado, and the posh oceanfront neighborhood La Jolla, an area that boasts some of the most expensive real estate in the U.S. Though the city abounds with fine dining, locals get most excited by the cheap and plentiful fish taco stands.
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
Though travelers thronging to Costa Rica for its pristine beaches and teeming rainforests will likely avoid the grittier city, San Jose is filling up with expats – from executives at companies like Hewlett-Packard to savvy investors to retirees. Foreigners tend to gather in the towns of Escazu and Santa Ana, located a short drive to the west – often in gated compounds and high-rise condo towers with security guards. Costa Rica has been a beacon of political stability in a volatile region, but San Jose still has plenty of street crime, though mostly of the pick-pocketing, bag-snatching variety.
