Does anyone think Indy is the best city in the midwest besides people who live in the city? (Indianapolis: house, job market)

[zenderna]

Love Chicago, but for weekend visits. It's just in a different league. My family vote goes to Indy burbs, with Columbus, OH (northside burbs like Dublin, Hilliard, Westerville) second. Columbus, OH is just too far from Chicago though

like the Chicago burbs like Schaumburg, Naperville (have lived in both and also Rosemont, Bensenville), but theyre just a little too busy for me, and their biggest advantage imo is proximity to Chicago.... well that and better jobmarket and ethnic food..and the burbs up there seem to get newer restaurants and stores first, even before Indy.

[kwr]

Indy is nowhere near being one of the best cities in the Midwest. It is a sterile city and the suburbs are even more sterile. There is no MLB team or int'l presence. Indy also lacks culture and character as well as has no access to a "true" body of H2O. 2nd tier city at best.

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by kwr

Indy is nowhere near being one of the best cities in the Midwest. It is a sterile city and the suburbs are even more sterile. There is no MLB team or int'l presence. Indy also lacks culture and character as well as has no access to a "true" body of H2O. 2nd tier city at best.

But consider the competition in the "Midwestern City" category before you say Indianapolis is "nowhere near" the top. There's Chicago, and then what? Every other city is 2nd tier. Some might prefer Cincinnati or St. Louis to Indianapolis, I suppose, but among the rest of the bunch: Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Louisville, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee, I think Indianapolis holds its own pretty well. None of those cities are big on character or culture, most aren't on a "true" body of water (meaning, I suppose, a great lake as opposed to a river), and they all have sterile suburbs.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by Naptowner

But consider the competition in the "Midwestern City" category before you say Indianapolis is "nowhere near" the top. There's Chicago, and then what? Every other city is 2nd tier. Some might prefer Cincinnati or St. Louis to Indianapolis, I suppose, but among the rest of the bunch: Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Louisville, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee, I think Indianapolis holds its own pretty well. None of those cities are big on character or culture, most aren't on a "true" body of water (meaning, I suppose, a great lake as opposed to a river), and they all have sterile suburbs.

Have to disagree. Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Minneapolis ... all have deep history, culture, tradition that are only in these places. What is Indy known for? A car race? A football team? Indianapolis is the newest city in the midwest, it's still very very young. Detroit, Cleveland ... lots of history in those places. I think that the only other place that is comparable in Columbus, OH ... what's there besides OSU?

Another thing that I find odd about Indy is that people are so incredibly defensive about it. If you like Indy, cool, great, love Indy, but don't bash those that just don't get into Indianapolis.

Again, Indy is nice ... nice ... nice. That's it.

[kwr]

Detroit with all its perils has more character and culture than Indy. The suburbs of Indianapolis just don't compare favorably to the Detroit suburbs (Troy, Bloomfield Hills and the like). Yes I am talking about "track home" central in Carmel, Fishers and to some degree Zionsville. Certainly Washington Township is in a league of its on. It is the hidden gem in the Indianapolis area. Indianapolis is nice, but let's be honest it is mainly known as the headquarters of Eli Lilly and Speedway. No one outside of Indy cared about the Colts until about 5 years ago.

[REM]

Chicago is the best in the midwest. I would put indy in second place. Really people don't know sh$% enough about the city to really talk about it, that's why i'm so defensive agaist it. I have people here from DC saying stuff like " i like the people here but i'm tired of just going to the movies eveyweekend." We hold the biggest cultural event in AMERICA people!!!! I'm a teen and i always can find something to do on a friday night in the summer at least. People really don't give my city enough credit. Fact is we are one of the fastest growing cities in the country right now and really just 20-25 years ago had nothing to our name. That said there is always room for improvment. The thing is i don't even want to live here, New york is the only place that i have really seen that has sparked my interest 100%. Still i know indy for what it is and it is more than just a stale corn city.

[Zippy7fo]

I would rate it...

Chicago-1
Minneapolis-2
Columbus-3
Indy-4

[makeme]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Personally, I think that Cincinnati and St. Louis are better cities than Indianapolis, but my favorite city is Chicago ... just no comparison there.

Another thing about Chicago is the architecture. Downtown Indy looks sort of plain. Buildings look like blocks. Columbus has great architecture, but it's too small for my taste. Heck, Indianapolis is too small for my taste.

I've never been to St Louis, might make that a weekend getaway this summer.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by makeme

Another thing about Chicago is the architecture. Downtown Indy looks sort of plain. Buildings look like blocks. Columbus has great architecture, but it's too small for my taste. Heck, Indianapolis is too small for my taste.

I've never been to St Louis, might make that a weekend getaway this summer.

You can't even compare Chicago to Indy ... Chicago is a world class city with a midwest heart.

You can't compare NYC to Indy either .... wha???

I think I've said this in every post. Indy is the youngest city in the midwest. It's still finding it's footing and being landlocked, there wasn't any reason to even consider Indianapolis because it wasn't on a water route. When the railroads came in, well, Indy was a logical hub, but that's all it was known for at that point. The Lilly family put Indy on the map commercially. But what else is there? They try, they really do ..

What event are you talking about REM?

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Another thing that I find odd about Indy is that people are so incredibly defensive about it. If you like Indy, cool, great, love Indy, but don't bash those that just don't get into Indianapolis.

I will say this, the only time I get defensive is when people are insulting to me about living in Indianapolis. I do not mind when people say they don't like Indianapolis. There are places I also do not like, it is all a matter of opinion. However, I have buddies from Chicago who are beligerant and condescending about it. When they cross the line from opinion to attacking, I will get defensive. I get defensive not because of their opinion per se, just the attitude, condesening and insulting nature of their comments. It is stuff like that which gets old and under my skin.