Cincinnati or Columbus (Wooster, Kenwood, Mariemont: house, job market, neighborhood)

[giakitty]

After recently moving to Cincinnati from Columbus, I felt the need to give my opinion. I'm 22 years old, raised in Youngstown, went to OSU, and now live in Cincinnati. Columbus, in my opinion, is the better city. Cincinnati has the awesome architecture and history but it can only be found in OTR which is the most worn-down part of Cincinnati (worst than Youngstown, in my opinion). Hyde Park is nice, but it's full of yuppies and is almost completely white (ie not diverse at all). I have never witnessed as much segregation as I have seen here in Cincinnati. Or as much racial tension. Columbus has tons of things to do...Grandview's shop/restaurants, Clintonville's antique stores and farmer's markets, German/Victorian Village's parks and tour of homes, Bexley's museums and Drexel theatre. I can't find anything in Cincinnati that even compares (except for parts of N.Kentucky...and maybe Findlay's Market as long as you don't mind risking your life).
Columbus may have suburbs-galore, but so does Cincinnati. I will say that I love Mt Adams and Eden Park and I love the woods of Cincinnati. I'm trying to love Cincinnati as much as Cbus (and I'm not even a crazy buckeyes fanperson), but I just can't see many positives.

[sfs08]

Originally Posted by giakitty

After recently moving to Cincinnati from Columbus, I felt the need to give my opinion. I'm 22 years old, raised in Youngstown, went to OSU, and now live in Cincinnati. Columbus, in my opinion, is the better city. Cincinnati has the awesome architecture and history but it can only be found in OTR which is the most worn-down part of Cincinnati (worst than Youngstown, in my opinion). Hyde Park is nice, but it's full of yuppies and is almost completely white (ie not diverse at all). I have never witnessed as much segregation as I have seen here in Cincinnati. Or as much racial tension. Columbus has tons of things to do...Grandview's shop/restaurants, Clintonville's antique stores and farmer's markets, German/Victorian Village's parks and tour of homes, Bexley's museums and Drexel theatre. I can't find anything in Cincinnati that even compares (except for parts of N.Kentucky...and maybe Findlay's Market as long as you don't mind risking your life).
Columbus may have suburbs-galore, but so does Cincinnati. I will say that I love Mt Adams and Eden Park and I love the woods of Cincinnati. I'm trying to love Cincinnati as much as Cbus (and I'm not even a crazy buckeyes fanperson), but I just can't see many positives.

If I'm assuming correctly, you being 22 means that you just graduated from college. Therefore you have been in Cincy for less than one year.

Don't you think that may be a reason? Not to come off as brash, but have you been to clifton? The houses there are as eclectic and ''cool'' as the ones in OTR. The gaslight district will make a fun, creative day for anybody that comes its way. Go to within a half mile down ludlow from the intersection of ludlow and clifton. Even just to stop by Sitwell's coffee for a little bit.

Also, even just the recent thread in this forum titled ''cincinnati's numbers game'' is full of idea's on stuff to do.

Go to yahoo answers and search nightlife cincinnati, or search bars cincinnati.

I know in your mind it sounds like I'm proving your point by saying these things need to be looked up, but all of the things you mentioned doing in C-bus can be found in the 'Nati.

How about the museum's here? Even if I remember correctly in Eden Park every Saturday there's a free artsy function every Saturday? Have you been to Northside?

Give this fair town a chance. Experience it, and it you still find it lacking, I can fully respect your outlook. Until then, might as well make the most of it.

I hope you enjoy your stay here, however long it may be.

[HuskerDu]

Previous poster:

Clintonville has only a handful of antique shops (if that) between North Broadway and Weber on High, and there are no farmers markets there... do you mean the tiny co-op in northern campus?? Also, please tell me where the museum is located in Bexley? Honestly, I applaud your decision to brave this town and all of the obvious faults that are at least discussed instead of brushed under the rug as is done in Columbus. You have plenty of the same complaints I did after a year and change, but stick with it for a while. Cincinnati really is closer to being a real city without the chill and emptiness you would find in...oh, let's say Cleveland.

Other Posters:
I grew up in the Short North area of C-bus and watched it grow from a white slum into an interesting mix of a neighborhood that the gay community eventually embraced while suburbanites shuddered at the thought of setting foot anywhere close to Buttles and High Street. For a while (mid 80's to mid 90's) it was an amazing hotbed of genuine growth that now, with the development of the Arena District and Skycap, is watered down horribly with non-chain-wannabe...well, chain places and the snowball effect of a generic Dublin/Powell crowd that made my decision to move away from my old neighborhood turned urban-suburb in order to relocate to the Queen City an easy one. For every new bistro within the three to five mile radius of the Columbus Convention Center that outshines an upstart in Cincinnati, there are at least 10 neighborhoods of potential to explore down here. I only hope any one of you take the time to check some of them out while visiting.

Whenever I hear someone who grew up in C-bus and relocated to Chicago or NYC, saying "I moved away, but had to return to Columbus" it makes me laugh. It's not that there is some magic involved that brings them back. It's just that spending any amount of time in Columbus really didn't prepare them for what was outside of that comfy little bland/milktoast environment they were accustomed to. Cincinnati, if nothing else, is a much better stepping stone in adjusting to bigger things.

I've consumed a few beers and will probably get ripped apart for this. Have at it.

[giakitty]

Originally Posted by sfs08

If I'm assuming correctly, you being 22 means that you just graduated from college. Therefore you have been in Cincy for less than one year.

Don't you think that may be a reason? Not to come off as brash, but have you been to clifton? The houses there are as eclectic and ''cool'' as the ones in OTR. The gaslight district will make a fun, creative day for anybody that comes its way. Go to within a half mile down ludlow from the intersection of ludlow and clifton. Even just to stop by Sitwell's coffee for a little bit.

Also, even just the recent thread in this forum titled ''cincinnati's numbers game'' is full of idea's on stuff to do.

Go to yahoo answers and search nightlife cincinnati, or search bars cincinnati.

I know in your mind it sounds like I'm proving your point by saying these things need to be looked up, but all of the things you mentioned doing in C-bus can be found in the 'Nati.

How about the museum's here? Even if I remember correctly in Eden Park every Saturday there's a free artsy function every Saturday? Have you been to Northside?

Give this fair town a chance. Experience it, and it you still find it lacking, I can fully respect your outlook. Until then, might as well make the most of it.

I hope you enjoy your stay here, however long it may be.

It's true; I've only been here 3 months (!).
I did visit a restaurant on Ludlow in Clifton this weekend and it did give me hope that Cincinnati isn't all that bad. I forgot to note that Clifton is my favorite part of Cincinnati. I'm hoping that my outlook will change (I'm here for at least 5 years) and that it's just the impact of change that's making my judgment a bit cloudy.
I honestly am trying to give it a shot...I guess I just miss the 'bus.

[giakitty]

Originally Posted by HuskerDu

Previous poster:

Clintonville has only a handful of antique shops (if that) between North Broadway and Weber on High, and there are no farmers markets there... do you mean the tiny co-op in northern campus?? Also, please tell me where the museum is located in Bexley? Honestly, I applaud your decision to brave this town and all of the obvious faults that are at least discussed instead of brushed under the rug as is done in Columbus. You have plenty of the same complaints I did after a year and change, but stick with it for a while. Cincinnati really is closer to being a real city without the chill and emptiness you would find in...oh, let's say Cleveland.

Other Posters:
I grew up in the Short North area of C-bus and watched it grow from a white slum into an interesting mix of a neighborhood that the gay community eventually embraced while suburbanites shuddered at the thought of setting foot anywhere close to Buttles and High Street. For a while (mid 80's to mid 90's) it was an amazing hotbed of genuine growth that now, with the development of the Arena District and Skycap, is watered down horribly with non-chain-wannabe...well, chain places and the snowball effect of a generic Dublin/Powell crowd that made my decision to move away from my old neighborhood turned urban-suburb in order to relocate to the Queen City an easy one. For every new bistro within the three to five mile radius of the Columbus Convention Center that outshines an upstart in Cincinnati, there are at least 10 neighborhoods of potential to explore down here. I only hope any one of you take the time to check some of them out while visiting.

Whenever I hear someone who grew up in C-bus and relocated to Chicago or NYC, saying "I moved away, but had to return to Columbus" it makes me laugh. It's not that there is some magic involved that brings them back. It's just that spending any amount of time in Columbus really didn't prepare them for what was outside of that comfy little bland/milktoast environment they were accustomed to. Cincinnati, if nothing else, is a much better stepping stone in adjusting to bigger things.

I've consumed a few beers and will probably get ripped apart for this. Have at it.

I've been to at least 5 different antique shops in Clintonville (I guess a handfull but I haven't seen any in Cincinnati! I must be looking in the wrong places...) and by farmer's market I mean the one every Saturday on High Street after N.Broadway..I want to say close to the Wendy's? Fine, I guess Cincinnati does have an art museum and a conservatory...

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by giakitty

Fine, I guess Cincinnati does have an art museum and a conservatory...

Damn straight we do ... one of the highest ranked in the nation. Actually, it tied the Chicago Museum of Art in the Zagat survey ... also, one of the largest collections in the nation and one of the first art museums in the nation.

We also have the Contemporary Art Museum, and Taft Museum.

Our history museum is world class with nothing close to it in Cbus, arguably the state.

We also have the oldest continually running market in the state of Ohio.

Cincinnati=The Arts

Architecture/Vibrancy:

Downtown/already there
OTR/on it's way, fast
Walnut Hills/East Walnut Hills/parts are good, others, not
Prospect Hill/already there
Mt. Auburn/needs help
Clifton/Gaslight/already there
Mt. Adams/already there
West End/needs help
Northside/on it's way fast
Newport/already there
Covington/already there, but declining
Hyde Park/already there
Columbia Tusculum/on it's way fast
Mariemont/already there
Oakley/already there
Mt. Lookout/Already there

[urbancharlotte]

This almost sounds like that dreaded Raleigh/Charlotte debate that I hear about too often in NC. Well, here is my 2 cents. I've only visited Columbus and Cincy. I love both towns. I think Columbus is more of the younger college city and Cincy is more of the older big league city. I prefer Cincy because Cincy has that "big city" feel hands down. Columbus has it too, but Cincy's is just more obvious (no offense Columbus folks). I also like Cincy's Kings Island and the riverfront!!! Both cities are great!!! At least with Columbus and Cincy we are comparing "apples" to "oranges". Charlotte/Raleigh is like comparing an apple to a baseball LOL!!!

[1watertiger]

IMO cinci hands down over c-bus ! NO comparison. pro sports,culture,entertainment,big-city feel, etc. etc.... cinci would literally have to completely stop growing/sprawling for 100 yrs. for cbus to even come close to the great cinci metro in terms of size/population/entertainment.... sorry cbus, but i know your bland town too well to ever vote cbus over cinci !

[aquila]

Originally Posted by giakitty

I've been to at least 5 different antique shops in Clintonville (I guess a handfull but I haven't seen any in Cincinnati! I must be looking in the wrong places...) and by farmer's market I mean the one every Saturday on High Street after N.Broadway..I want to say close to the Wendy's? Fine, I guess Cincinnati does have an art museum and a conservatory...

There are lots of antique stores around the area:

Wooden Nickel

Duck Creek Antique Mall

Greg's Antiques

Federation Antiques

Ohio Valley Antique Mall

Grand Antique Mall


Why do I always have to do the searching for people at this site when they say "Cincinnati doesn't have this or that"...? My gosh, people....just LOOK! It's not that hard to use Google. Seriously, stop presuming things about Cincinnati.

Sorry, I'm in a bitchy mood tonight. Maybe they don't have bitchy people in C-bus.

[HuskerDu]

Originally Posted by aquila

There are lots of antique stores around the area:

Wooden Nickel

Duck Creek Antique Mall

Greg's Antiques

Federation Antiques

Ohio Valley Antique Mall

Grand Antique Mall


Why do I always have to do the searching for people at this site when they say "Cincinnati doesn't have this or that"...? My gosh, people....just LOOK! It's not that hard to use Google. Seriously, stop presuming things about Cincinnati.

Sorry, I'm in a bitchy mood tonight. Maybe they don't have bitchy people in C-bus.

Oh... don't forget this little place around the corner from my house in Norwood (um, no it is not Hyde Park). It's that one room shop with all of the Cincinnati memorabilia and classic beer neon signs across the road from Norka Futon and The Wine Merchant. I hit that place a few Saturdays ago after breakfast (and a beer) at The Pilot Inn and scored a 1960 Shoenling beer sign with a lighted Cinci skyline for $75 instead of the $150 that was listed on ebay. They had some antique radios and cameras also.