FACES & PLACES
The Arts May 2005

AmericanStyle magazine recently rated New Hope as the Number One Art Destination of 25 small cities and towns.

Here is the related press release:

New Hope/Lahaska Named Top "Small Cities and Towns" Arts Destination

Top 25 Lists Spotlight Cities of All Sizes in All Regions

Baltimore, Md. (April 26, 2005)‹Revealing its readers' passion for arts-related travel, AmericanStyle magazine today announced the results of its 8th annual Top 25 Arts Destinations readers' poll. This year's ballot allowed readers to vote for their favorite arts destinations based on city size, reflecting the importance cultural tourism plays in communities across the nation.

In the Small Cities and Towns category (populations under 100,000), New Hope/Lahaska, Pa., took the No. 1 spot after a three-year hiatus from the list. Berkeley Springs, W.Va., captured the No. 2 spot, and at No. 3, Saugatuck, Mich., achieved its highest ranking in its five consecutive years on the list.

Sunshine states Florida and California dominated the rest of the Small Cities and Towns category with Benicia, Calif., at No. 7, Sarasota, Fla., at No. 10, Carmel, Calif., at No. 13, Naples, Fla., at No. 17, Laguna Beach, Calif., at No. 19 and Key West at No. 20. Aspen, Colo., made its debut on the list at No. 11.

This is the first time AmericanStyle has structured its annual poll according to city size. As a result, big cities with major arts institutions and high concentrations of artists were measured against each other, while smaller cities and towns broke free to show their cultural assets against a group of same-sized contenders. The three size categories in the readers¹ poll were: Big Cities (populations over 500,000); Mid-Sized Cities (populations of 100,000 to 499,999); and Small Cities and Towns (populations under 100,000).

Results of the annual readers' poll and profiles of the top three cities in each category are featured in the June issue of AmericanStyle, on newsstands in early May.

About AmericanStyle
AmericanStyle magazine is the exclusive arts lifestyle magazine for enthusiasts and collectors, showcasing the homes of collectors and the studios of artists who create two- and three-dimensional works of art. AmericanStyle magazine is published bimonthly and can be found online at www.AmericanStyle.com. AmericanStyle was named Baltimore's Best Niche Magazine by Baltimore magazine in 2003.