Postcard: Salt Lake City 7/28/2020
The Selection Process
How I choose the Backseat Cities
First and Second Century Roman Busts, Cleveland Museum of Art, September 2018
Reading time: 2 minutes
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The Selection Process
*** I am currently seeking representation ***
I have rules for selecting Backseat Cities.
- According to 2017 Census Bureau estimates, the MSA (metropolitan statistical area) has an approximate population between 250,000 and 2.5m people
- It’s not a widely recognized tourist destination, and is not particularly close to one
- In general, if you tell people you’re going there on vacation, they make a face and ask why
- Exception to the rule above: If you live near the city in question, it’s common to visit for the day or a long weekend
- It’s not a beach town
- My choices allow for balanced geographical distribution in the United States
Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY. Aug 2018 |
Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Lafayette, LA. Oct 2018 |
I have visited the Backseat Cities for Book 1. I've written 52,800 words: an introduction, plus chapters on Rochester and Lafayette. Finished manuscript should be 95K words.
Populations below are 2017 estimates for the MSA.
Book 1
| City | Population | MSA Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 2,058,844 | 33 |
| Rochester, NY | 1,077,948 | 51 |
| Boise, ID | 709,845 | 80 |
| Lafayette, LA | 491,558 | 108 |
Tentative follow-up projects:
Book 2
| City | Population | MSA Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 1,576,236 | 39 |
| Richmond, VA | 1,294,204 | 44 |
| Wichita, KS | 645,628 | 89 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 242,799 | 189 |
Book 3
| City | Population | MSA Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 2,028,614 | 34 |
| Tulsa, OK | 990,706 | 54 |
| Spokane, WA | 564,236 | 98 |
| Lincoln, NE | 331,519 | 154 |
State Capitol, Boise, ID. Sep 2019 |
Book 4
| City | Population | MSA Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 2,128,912 | 30 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 1,059,113 | 52 |
| El Paso, TX | 844,818 | 68 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 556,548 | 99 |
Guidelines
I tried to follow these guidelines when visiting a Backseat City:
- Visit at least two museums of any kind
- Visit at least two historical sites or monuments
- Go to a market, if there is one
- Do the most touristy thing there is
- Do something stereotypically [city name here]
- Do something you think you will dislike or find boring
- See the oldest thing in the city
- See the newest thing in the city
- Eat where there is live music
- Eat the local specialties in different neighborhoods
- Play games
- Read local newspapers or magazines
- Participate in one of your interests with locals
- Visit parks or gardens; sit on benches and watch people
- See a government building
- Walk as much as possible
Read more
- About Backseat Cities
- The Selection Process
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