Buffalo, N.Y. more artsy than Scottsdale, reader poll says

Scottsdale, which last year readers of AmericanStyle magazine named fourth best arts destination among mid-sized U.S. cities - after highest-ranked cultural meccas Pittsburgh, Albuquerque, N.M., and Las Vegas - has moved up a couple of notches.

When the publication, which defines itself as "the national arts lifestyle magazine for art enthusiasts, collectors and travelers," repeated the readers' poll this year, Scottsdale came out second best.

Behind Buffalo, N.Y.

Randy Jones, co-owner of Scottsdale's Duley-Jones Gallery, was speechless at first and then roared with laughter when he heard about the city's rise in the art magazine's esteem.

"I've never been to Buffalo and never seen their arts scene," Jones said after he composed himself. "I'm shocked."

Fellow gallery owner Vicki Boyce, of Victoria Boyce Gallery, was equally amused. "We've really fallen on tough times if we're behind Buffalo," she said. Boyce admitted that Buffalo's Albright-Knox Art Gallery, which recently announced plans for an expansion, is "one of the best small museums in the country," and a $16 million project to develop 60 working artist lofts is impressive.

Still, she was amazed that Scottsdale's expansive cultural offerings would take a back seat to those of the frozen municipality on Lake Erie, more renowned for measuring snowfall in feet than having a flourishing arts scene.

AmericanStyle editors were also surprised by Buffalo's astounding leap from 14th in the 2007 poll to first, said Jean Thompson, spokeswoman for the publication.

"But this is a readers poll, and the results depend on the enthusiasm from the community," Thompson said. "The Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Arts Council put out the word, and enthusiasm and intensity was extremely high from Buffalo."

The AmericanStyle poll is aimed at helping tourists who choose vacation destinations based on cultural offerings, figure out where to go, Thompson said.

Readers who named Scottsdale tops included comments such as "That place has a ton of local, working artists and they are all talented and cool!" and "offers really nice art opportunities for its size."

"I have been there and I enjoyed the art," enthused one reader who voted for Scottsdale.

Boyce said she's happy to get a mention in the magazine.

"It's a curious situation," she said. "I hope they spelled our name right."

AmericanStyle magazine’s 2008 readers’ poll of top arts destinations.

Top Small Cities & Towns

(Populations of fewer than 100,000)

1. Santa Fe, N.M.

2. Asheville, N.C.

3. Sedona

4. Corning, N.Y.

5. Taos, N.M.

Top Mid-Sized Cities

(Populations of 100,000 to 499,999)

1. Buffalo, N.Y.

2. Scottsdale

3. Pittsburgh

4. Savannah, Ga.

5. New Orleans

Top Big Cities

(Populations of 500,000 or greater)

1. New York

2. Chicago

3. Washington, D.C.

4. San Francisco

5. Boston