Athens, American and Otherwise

I have just learned the Boston has been nicknamed "The Athens of America" (possibly due to its multitude of cultural and educational institutions) in the 19th century. That's a WAAAY cooler nickname than "Beantown". Coincidentally, Tomsk has been nicknamed "Siberian Athens" for roughly the same amount of time. Now if I can just live in actual Athens for the next 16 years, I'd be a true Athenian, no?