For the last two Memorial Day weekends Amanda and I have gone to Pittsburgh, PA. To most, this sounds about as romantic as a Buy One, Get One 1/2 off chili cheese dog 25th wedding anniversary dinner. But really, no one ever said that we were Romeo and Juliet. Which is fine to me because those two fools offed themselves.

This past trip to the “Steel City” led us to a conversation about what the “Great American City” would look like based on our own experiences traveling throughout this fantastic country. I’m not sure what it was about Pittsburgh that inspired us, but I must be honest in saying that it is one of my favorite cities despite possessing no truly outstanding quality. There’s something charming to me about all of the bridges and the rivers and the countless neighborhoods. And I’m a sucker for pierogi.

Here were the categories we decided on after much laboring and explanations of their meaning (the only criteria for selection is that you have been to this city and it is in the United States, otherwise Amanda would have just picked London for all of them):

People: Vague as it could possibly be, but specific enough for my liking. There are simply some urban cultures that you like and some that you don’t. For me, this would be a place where I didn’t spend my time thinking (or saying), “That person is so annoying.” “Why do all of these people look like this?!” “(Muffled Screaming)!!!!!” The best way for me to describe this would be, “The place where you were least annoyed by all of the locals.”

Design: Is this an easy city to understand (“get around) or is it a labyrinth of wonder, amusement, and pure unadulterated frustration?

Quality of Life: A place where the vast, super majority (or as close as we can possibly get to it) can make a good living, housing is priced reasonably for the common woman and man, goods and services are easy to come by, etc.

Food: If I lived here, would I weigh 285 Lbs. and be happy about it?

Transportation: The place where it is easiest to get around to any part of the city (in my opinion, this is the easiest).

Entertainment: I need more in my life than unironically drinking PBR 5 nights a week until Jimmy closes up the bar. I need a place where an art gallery isn’t looked at as “for them educated types.” Sprinkle in a museum or two, some theatres that don’t just show Megan Fox movies, and maybe even a farmer’s market.

Weather: We all have our own idea of “perfect weather.” What city comes closest to that for you?

Rather than rattle off my answers to these, I’d like to read everyone else’s. If you haven’t given up on Mid-Atlantic Bias because I don’t write about sports anymore, add in your choices in the comments section, or email them to me at jason.botelho@gmail.com. I would love to see your list. I’ll share mine when I receive a few others. Enjoy!