July 19, 2006
Arlington Elevates Zombie Alert Level to Orange
It may not be possible to resolve the great Nearlington vs. Farlington debate. But there's a compromise available: apparently we can start calling both halves of the county Smartlington. If for some reason we wanted to.
Via the Examiner, it seems that Money Magazine has named Arlington the most educated city in the country thanks to an impressive 35.7 percent of its citizens holding graduate degrees (apparently this was enough to make up for the fact that it isn't actually a city). Towson, Bethesda and Alexandria also made the top ten.
Having been born and raised in Arlington, I can't say I'm too surprised. It's got wealth, proximity to the government, and a level of density that allows for a suburban lifestyle that's relatively urban. It seems that the county's especially well-positioned to attract the over-educated class. And, Money Magazine list or no, between Arlington's boringly competent government, solid schools and good library system, it always seemed like a pretty smart place to me. Although admittedly not smart enough avoid having lines queued up outside the Clarendon Cheesecake Factory every Friday night.
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Those people lined up outside the Cheesecake factory mostly come from D.C. The big portions make great leftovers after a hot date.
I can't believe all these people who call Virginia "the sticks" and other things. I went to a private school in DC which had kids from all over. The richest of the kids were from the Potomac and Great Falls areas. Then there were maryland/virginia suburb kids. And finally, at the bottom of the invcome bracket, were the DC kids, except for those few kids from Georgetown and upper Northwest.
Go Arlington! Though I'll admit, it's not the most exciting place to live, it's efficient, clean, safe and close to DC. There are also lots of great restaurants and bars that aren't chains... Rays the steaks, Willow, Dr. Dremos.
BRAINS!!!
yeah, arlington is pretty nice, actually. and i can walk to the store without getting shot, which is nice also.
I've seen this surveys elsewhere and it seems this focus on graduate degrees is probably not the best measure of how "smart" a city is. Another list, that was at WBJ a few weeks ago didn't have any East Coast jurisdiction other than Bethesda on the list. It seems when you start looking not just at graduate degrees, but how many people have graduated from high school and college -- the East Coast doesn't fair as well. Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego, etc. all do much better.
Based on the service I get at fast food restaurants -- and the quality of the food -- I'd say that outside of the many doctorates Metro DC has the rest of the populace doesn't seem that smart.
DC1974 - Dude. WE F()*@##% GET IT that you are from the West Coast. Can you post a single goddamn thing that DOESN'T reference the West Coast? JFC.
Yeah, Arlington is great and all, but IT IS NOT A CITY! Arlington is a COUNTY. A COUNTY. NOT A CITY.
I feel smarter simply because I work in Arlington.
I echo OMFG to a point. Sorry DC1974, every day its something about how the West Coast cities are better at something than DC...and 'when I was in SF...' stories. Having said that, it's never bad to see someone else's thoughts based on their experiences elsewhere but it's becoming a bit much.
DC1974 - If the West Coast is the end all, be all of human existence, then why are you here? There is LAist and SFist, you can go on those sites and talk about how much better everything is there than it is here on the East Coast. Seriously, I don't know who's worse Texans or Californians with this nonsense.
Don't go away mad, just go away.
Three Stars and Two Bars,
Hill Rat
>>the East Coast doesn't fair as well
Really?? I think our fairs compete right up there with all the other fairs, even the ones in the country, with actual livest-- oh wait, you meant "fare."
Don't go away mad, just go away.
If that was a Poison reference, my hat's off to you.. If not, I see the Poison reference anyway.
Poison?? That's the Crue, dOOd...
Actually it was a reference to the movie "Heartbreak Ridge"
You have got to be kidding. If I hear one more crappy comment about walking through DC and being shot it may drive this pacifist to take up arms. Come on guys, get out of your Arlington bubble and live a little in the real world where there is not only racial/ethnic diversity but economic diversity as well. And to tubgirl- what planet are you from where kids from Georgetown are cool?
You have got to be kidding. If I hear one more crappy comment about walking through DC and being shot it may drive this pacifist to take up arms. Come on guys, get out of your Arlington bubble and live a little in the real world where there is not only racial/ethnic diversity but economic diversity as well. And to tubgirl- what planet are you from where kids from Georgetown are cool?
Jen,
Piss off. Calling Arlington whitebread is about as accurate and truthful as some posters characterizing DC as an East Coast Beirut.
Personally, i'd live in DC if I could afford it and still live comfortably. Can't, so it's Arlington for now. Apologies...
There's ethnic and economic diversity aplenty in Arlington which those actually living in the area full well realize. The false border of the potomac river doesn't create nearly as drastic of a change as most of your ilk would like it to.