how awesome is Des Moines? (tech jobs, buy, best schools)

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Davenport has an East Village too. Those cities don't think theirs is basically as cool as New York's though, on a smaller scale. Des Moines is in this special category of city (along with Omaha and Indianapolis) where regular cities pretend they are internationally-known. Narnian cities.

Again...how is this comment helpful..in any CONSTRUCTIVE way?

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Again...how is this comment helpful..in any CONSTRUCTIVE way?

And (sorry to keep clogging this thread) who said people in Des Moines think their city is as cool as New York (besides RonnieJonez)? That is just ridiculous and not true.

[steel03]

^^Wish I could rep you for that, capitalcityguy, but it wants me to "spread the love."

Indianapolis is internationally known. Indy 500. Come on.

Okay, everybody start ignoring RonnieJonez in 3... 2... 1... GO!

[moonsparkle]

hmm i agree

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by steel03

^^Wish I could rep you for that, capitalcityguy, but it wants me to "spread the love."

Indianapolis is internationally known. Indy 500. Come on.

Okay, everybody start ignoring RonnieJonez in 3... 2... 1... GO!

I know! CD really wants us to be promiscuous (sp?)

I'm ready to ignore.

[tollfree]

First...doesn't seem like DSM was too high on the OP's "move to list".

It's also relevant to someone moving from an internationally-known city on a coast, to move to a smaller city in the midwest, but then arrive there and realize that the smaller, regular city in the midwest, thinks of itself as being more liberal, trendy, progressive, etc. than the city on the coast (which actually is these things).

There's no reason that is not relevant. It's very relevant. Also, the weather is not the only reason someone may not like Des Moines. Apparently, the whole world should aspire to live in Des Moines, lol.

[nrogers1122]

My impression was always that most people in Des Moines had a pretty realistic idea of what the city is and what it isn't. They look at the East Village as a nice place to occasionally grab lunch, or paruse during some festival or on a trip to the State Government Complex. They know that Des Moines is a small-potatoes place with charm and quality living.

That being said, it seems like there is a narrow group of people (one might refer to them as "yuppies" or "hipsters") who choose to spend every free waking moment in places like the East Village. Those are the individuals who seem to express the strange dichotomy of believing the East Village is bears resemblance to NYC, while at the same time judging their self-worth by the amount of connections they have to NYC.

Unfortunately, it seems like some people find themselves immersed in this subculture, and they think that the whole city views itself the way the hipsters do. Others aren't exposed to hipster culture, and find it unbelievable that anyone could operate in that mindset (a logical assumption, considering how ridiculous it is).

[tollfree]

I'd agree with the first part of what you said. Most do have a realistic idea and don't even really care, they are more concerned with having picnics in Waukee, backyard volleyball, and beer during college football season. It's not just the hipsters though (there aren't even that many), it's the local media (Juice, Cityview, etc) combined with all these civic organizations that have this viewpoint, and the local art/wine crowd. They are straight up CATTY. There is also pressure in some of the larger companies once you reach middle-management to join some civic organization or committee. This can be said for anywhere, but having lived in several places, it's tough to encounter it to the level you do in Des Moines.

Not everyone wants to run for mayor either, they need to understand that. Too much civic fanaticism, it starts to get cult-like, and the masses simply refuse to see what's right in front of them. While I think Des Moines is a nice town, and I've said that several times, I also feel like I have experience living in a cult.

[nrogers1122]

Juice, Cityview . . . AKA DSM Hipster Tribune.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by nrogers1122

Juice, Cityview . . . AKA DSM Hipster Tribune.

I wouldn't lump those 2 papers together. Juice is light hearted and fun and a great place to find out what is going on for the week like live music, etc. They post pics of people out about town and have some silly stuff in there, too. They review bars and restaurants, etc. too. I like to read Juice; it's upbeat and more frivilous.

Cityview is more serious, IMO. A lot of political rantings, bashing the city and state government, etc. (Like the whole Paid For By The Taxpayers section) It's not as fun to read, IMO.

I don't really consider either to be all the "hipster."