It is a debatable definition but it certainly predates the Romans and has a full 1500 years at least over New York.
I voted for Other - namely:
Toronto! When I think World-City I think Multiculturalism. IMO Toronto beats all of the cities on that list when it comes to true multiculturalism, NYC excepted. Any while NYC is bigger (and has the UN), I think Toronto’s ethnic mix and government approach to multiculturalism gives it a slight edge.
I forgot to add, Toronto’s skyline has a phallic symbol worthy of alien attention 
I voted New York. Second choice would be London, but the skyscrapery parts of NYC kinda look the part of an alien-impressing metropolis, even if it does lack a bit of history. I’ve never been to Tokyo or Beijing though.
I don’t see why “modern” is a criteria. If the visitors are coming to use from another planet, their technology is obviously more advanced than ours. So even our most modern stuff is going to look backwards to them. We’d be better off choosing a location that’s rich in culture and history.
If we’re going off “mostly visual” as a guide, I would not recommend any American city. I’d be hesitant to offer many Asian cities too because despite the grand new building projects, they almost all have slummy parts to it too.
Dubai is probably the most scenic - and it’s massive to boot.
Well for those who live there it is the center of the universe.
NYC. But traffic is bad enough already so go away.
Jerusalem?
Washington DC
…and asterisk’d with the BIG DIG.
Uh, no.
Well, depends on the alien anatomy, then, doesn’t it? Maybe we need to pick St. Louis, instead.
Besides, don’t the aliens always land in corn fields in the middle of nowhere? I’d vote for “somewhere in Iowa,” but that wasn’t a choice.
My thread, and I say the aliens are all about the bling, yo.
And what is this human thing you call “rock and roll”?
Seconding this, Hong Kong has the second largest concentration of skyscrapers in the world after NYC I think. If we wanted to impress aliens though, Dubai might be a good choice also.
I think some people aren’t reading the qualifications in the OP and are just picking whatever city they think is the world’s best/coolest/whatever.
The main requirement is that this place look “spectacularly grand and modern.” New York is too run down; London and Paris are not modern enough. This puts us in one of the booming modern cities of Asia or the Middle East. My first thought was Hong Kong (best skyline ever; totally modern), but Shanghai or Tokyo may have it beat (dunno; never been to either).
Dubai is impressive and may get the number one spot some day, but it still feels like it’s in its growing stages. The view from the Burj Khalifa makes it look like an unfinished city.
So my vote goes to Hong Kong (or Tokyo…or Shanghai).
Now if the question is which city is capital of the world, aside from the qualifications in the OP? London - no doubt.
One kid’s almanac said New York, since it’s where the UN is headquartered. But purely for looks, I’d say Istanbul (restored to Constantinople.)
Not a bad idea. Toronto has connections to everywhere in the world, and is spectacularly grand and modern (and surprisingly clean) while connecting to its past; and thanks to its multiculturalism, all world delegates should be able to find a place where they fit in.
Sounds good to me!
[ul]
[li]In sheer modern impressiveness, I think Hong Kong fits the bill, it is getting a bit too Chinese and less international these days though. [/li][li]In terms of historical grandeur and intertwining cultures, I think Istanbul would be good. Plus, it is in the middle of the world, so it is very accessible. It isn’t the richest of cities but it has no significant poverty and it would be affordable for even the poorest of countries to have an office in. [/li][li]In terms of being better better than New York in every way that matters, London fits the bill(Sorry, I couldn’t help it)[/li][/ul]
I’d pick Istanbul
I’m going with Miami. Adequate skyline, but I hear the hookers and blow are out of this world,
I voted for Singapore, but really, any of the Asian cities on the list would do. Seriously, capital of The World and NY and London are leading by a large margin? I think people are really unaware where most of The World really is.
In fact, I’d love to find a map of the “centre of gravity” for world population. Whichever city is closest to that, that’s the one we should go with.
ETA: In fact, it turns out there is such a thing - so, what big city is nearest to Kashmir? New Delhi?
ETA2: It looks like you can do the same thing for economics, and that’ll end up even further East soon - I stand by Singapore