Springfield, IL -- ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? (Chicago, Peoria: home, theater)

[eldroch]

Okay, I moved here with my wife from Champaign a couple years back. I swear, I'm very optimistic, but I can't find anything redeeming about this place. Don't get me wrong, I still giggle at the hilarity of guys in their 30's blasting their stereos with Metallica or Limp Bizkit; or the post-apocalypse setting that seems to be gripping MacArthur Blvd. Something just seems really "wrong" about this place.

Seriously, I'm just waiting for some midget to jump out of the fake back-drop that's hiding the 'real' Springfield and say "You got Punk'd!" and then all of the residents can slap me on the back and laugh for a while.


okay...flame away.

[Steve-o]

Metallica and LB? Heck, thats better than when I lived in TN and heard Vanilla Ice being blared.

[linicx]

Springfield is an old political town with old money. If Lincoln had not lobbied to have the state capital moved from Vandalia, it would still be there. IF Lincoln had not been elected President, New Salem State Park and the Lincoln relics would not be tourist attractions, and Springfield would be just another little town in the prairie. .

I don't know that much about Springfield but I managed to find Lake Springfield, the big park, Knight's Water Park, White Oak Mall, the State Library, the Capitol building tour at night, the STate Fair and some pretty good food. I missed the zoo. I'll bet there are some things you have not discovered yet.

My personal feeling is if the Government offices were all in Springfield, and not in Chicago, it would be an entirely different town. I'm still trying to figure out why the State Tourism Office is in Chicago and the only thing it promotes is Chicago and Springfield. Maybe the Gov should close the Chicago offices and live in his mansion the tax payers supprt.

There is a lot of Illinois besides Springfield and Chicago. Have you driven to the confluence in Southern Illinois or been to any of the venues at the Colosseum in Bloomington? There is certainly plenty to do and see in and around Peoria that is virtually free.

[Central Illinois 1]

Originally Posted by eldroch

Okay, I moved here with my wife from Champaign a couple years back. I swear, I'm very optimistic, but I can't find anything redeeming about this place. Don't get me wrong, I still giggle at the hilarity of guys in their 30's blasting their stereos with Metallica or Limp Bizkit; or the post-apocalypse setting that seems to be gripping MacArthur Blvd. Something just seems really "wrong" about this place.

Seriously, I'm just waiting for some midget to jump out of the fake back-drop that's hiding the 'real' Springfield and say "You got Punk'd!" and then all of the residents can slap me on the back and laugh for a while.


okay...flame away.

You will find guys in their 30s blasting their stereos and the post-apocalypse settings anywhere. To me anyway, migrating from Champaign to Spfld. does not represent a big step down. Other than the presence of UIUC in Churbana, the two towns are similar in many/most ways. I'm not saying that Springfield doesn't have its bad characteristics. I am only saying that it is white-bread midwestern and, to me anyway, isn't alot better or worse than most other midwestern towns of its size.

[Maintainschaos]

Meh, most of central Illinois is one in the same. It is what it is.

[linicx]

What do you expect? Illinois is A farm state. Central Illinois is probably in the heart of the midwest beef and grain belt. The only Cities in Central Illinois that are not surrounded by wheat, corrn, cows and sheep front one of the large rivers. Of these Peoria is the largest with an MSA of nearly 400,000. It is entirely different than Champaign, Springfield or Bloomington. It is the oldest town in Illinois - and it certainly can not be accused of being flat or boring with is diverse religions and culture, community of artisans, Performing Arts, indie music and theater, rolling hills, steep bluffs, kids summer art camp and large park system.

[yort]

Eldroch you need to get out more, make some friends. There's so much to do in this town, especially during the summer. There's lake club party's every weekend, take your wife to the route 66 drive-inn, go see a play at the Muni, go to the beach, get a boat and do some water skiing, go to a Sliders ball game, do some camping at New Salem, go listen to a good band at one of our many drinking establishments, go to a museum, go to a car show. There's corn festivals, home coming festivals, carallon festivals, ethnic festivals, parades, county fairs, motorcycle races, the state fair, the Hot Rod Nationals, downtown celebrations, fireworks almost every weekend somewhere, the list goes on and on....

Man if you can't find something redeeming in this town you must be in a coma!

[ILRef]

I'll agree with Yort. Eldroch is another person who just wants to come on here and be negative and complain. Springfield is a nice place to live and it's similar to pretty much any similar sized Midwestern city. No, it's not NYC or Chicago, but it is suits most people just fine.

[rose125]

Originally Posted by linicx

What do you expect? Illinois is A farm state. Central Illinois is probably in the heart of the midwest beef and grain belt. The only Cities in Central Illinois that are not surrounded by wheat, corrn, cows and sheep front one of the large rivers. Of these Peoria is the largest with an MSA of nearly 400,000. It is entirely different than Champaign, Springfield or Bloomington. It is the oldest town in Illinois - and it certainly can not be accused of being flat or boring with is diverse religions and culture, community of artisans, Performing Arts, indie music and theater, rolling hills, steep bluffs, kids summer art camp and large park system.

Sorry maybe I'm wrong... but I've always been taught that Cahokia was the oldest town in Illinois founded in 1699-- Peoria was founded in 1813 and Springfield was not founded until 1819 if I recall correctly.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by rose125

Sorry maybe I'm wrong... but I've always been taught that Cahokia was the oldest town in Illinois founded in 1699-- Peoria was founded in 1813 and Springfield was not founded until 1819 if I recall correctly.

Peoria is the oldest 'community.' I am not sure what is the oldest 'city'.