Liverpool ‘like San Francisco — but greyer’
Amusing article in the British newspaper The Guardian, comparing Liverpool and San Francisco. Liverpool is said to have “greyer weather” (though you wouldn’t know it by the rain here Thursday) and is also artsy and bohemian to a degree.
Hmm, if you say so. I found this Aug. 2005 BBC piece where they asked young people “What’s living in Liverpool like?”
Where are your favourite places to go?
Kerri — ‘Quiggins, because it’s more unique than other shops and you can buy more unusual clothes. Also, the docks, because you can chill down there and it’s a good place to do art work.’
Lyndsey — ‘I love walking around town, because of all the shops and people.’
Andrew — ‘Newsham Park, because that’s where I go every weekend to play footie with my mates.’… What else do you like doing?
Kerri — ‘Art work. The museums and galleries are always good to inspire me for my art, but I find inspiration outdoors and all around Liverpool as well.’
Andrew — ‘Going out with my mates and listening to music. I like anything with good guitar in it, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but also Snoop Dogg.’
Lyndsey — ‘I like spending time with my mates and going to the gym.’
Admittedly a small sample, but they managed to mention the art. So score one for Liverpool’s arts scene.
Looking at the media, the arts section of the Liverpool Echo, the local tabloid, lists theater, opera, and art galleries (plus a whole section devoted to “Beatles news”). Score three more, subtract one for the Beatles section. (I adore the Beatles but face it, worship of a rock band that’s been 35 years gone is not going to invigorate a city’s arts scene.) And here’s another online arts section which I believe is the city’s main newspaper’s arts and entertainment section. Minus another point for leading with another Beatles reference, there do seem to have been a few interesting things happening in the last few days.
Perhaps most instructive is this interview with the director of the Tate Liverpool museum.
Compaing this to San Francisco doesn’t seem quite fair, but perhaps it’s the closest you can come in the U.K. to San Francisco. But, hmm, what about that Edinburgh arts festival every summer? Oh well, you go. Liverpool. Got to be something to keep the kids from scooting off to London.
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Hmm. I’d still vote for Amsterdam. When I stayed at an apartment in Page Street I almost thought I was home … 7000 miles away. Very much the same as your average Amsterdam backyard/courtyard. Same relaxed people too.
All respect to Liverpool but nah! You must be kidding. Football shirts and trainers dominate the streets there. ‘Art’ there is a picture of a footbalplayer …
uh huh. My first Euro comparison would be to Amsterdam as well. Then Barcelona. Sorry Liverpool. I’m sure you’re funky lovely. But you never would have tripped my Top 20 Comparison radar. If anything, because of its sizable gay community and rave history, fellow northern UK city, Manchester, would pop up in mind first.
Amersterdamers laid back? Not the impression I got at all, I found that to be the rudest city in my visits across Europe.
Amsterdam is rude, but tolerant, and also very beautiful. It’s a wonderful city.
As a Liverpudlian who lived in Amsterdam for 10 years, I think it’s interesting to compare the places. Although there may be more facilities for enjoying the arts in Amsterdam, I think that there are far more people involved in the arts (at least, per capita) in Liverpool. The quality of live music (grassroots, rather than big gigs) is much higher.