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

[rajmelk]

Originally Posted by LouisvilleJake

My biggest "problem" with Indianapolis isn't the city itself; it is the citizenry of the city who try to pump the place into something it isn't. And I don't blame the people of Indianapolis for doing it because they are really told on a daily basis that Indianapolis is something more than it is. Indianapolis is a family-oriented city that is affordable and offers a great suburban lifestyle.

Regarding this last thought...does anyone else remember the ridiculous PR campaign in the early 80s comparing Indy to NYC--"Apple is our middle name" (Indian-Apple-Lis)? This was the pre-Colts days, if I remember...maybe it helped after all!

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by domergurl

DC ... sweetie ... love your city and don't be defensive about Indy. That's one of the most annoying things I find about Indianapolis. You all sit there and jump up and down, holding your breath until someone agrees that the city is as great as they say it is. It's not. LJ is right, it is generic .. woo hooo!!! 1 Russian restaurant .. ye ha! Where do you go after you've been there one or two times? Yea, you move on to Applebees across the street.

Look, Indianapolis is NICE, just NICE. You can't compare it to Chicago. You compare Chicago to LA, NYC, SF, Seattle, Atlanta. And Indy people do have Chicago envy, otherwise the hissy fitting wouldn't happen.

The reason I get worked up is not because I have Chicago envy, it is because I get tired of people from Chicago telling me how inferior Indy is. And really, how many russian restaurants does one need? When I get bored with russian food, I hit the Greek places, or the Italian, or the American, etc. None of which, by the way, are Applebee's. It gets tiring having people from Chicago tell me how un-impressive Indy is. It is not an envy of Chicago, but a defense against annoying people who choose to constantly slam us.

For the record, I have never compared Indy to any of the cities you listed (at least not that I recall).

[arizona sunset]

Originally Posted by Dom13

I'm from Indianapolis, Indiana and I personally think that it is the best city in the midwest. But a lot of people from the city also think that. I want to know what people from different cities think.

I was actaully in Indy about six months ago, and have to say, that I was honestly impressed. For a city that you really never hear much about, it seemed clean, well laid-out, and the people were very welcoming and friendly. It seems that Indy has really escaped the traditional rust belt image that many have of midwest cities in general. Would I go as far to say it is the best city in the midwest, maybe not. But I would say that it is city that has a lot going for it, with no apparent signs of slowing down. Of course I don't live there, but from an outsider's views, it seemed to be on the up 'n up. Good job Indy! Keep up the good work and I'll see you in about five months from now.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by DC 38

The reason I get worked up is not because I have Chicago envy, it is because I get tired of people from Chicago telling me how inferior Indy is. And really, how many russian restaurants does one need? When I get bored with russian food, I hit the Greek places, or the Italian, or the American, etc. None of which, by the way, are Applebee's. It gets tiring having people from Chicago tell me how un-impressive Indy is. It is not an envy of Chicago, but a defense against annoying people who choose to constantly slam us.

For the record, I have never compared Indy to any of the cities you listed (at least not that I recall).

No DC ... Indy has a major inferiority complex. Here's a secret, shhhh ... Chicago has an inferiority complex with NYC. I'm not kidding. But most Chicagoans just blow it off because it doesn't matter anyway. It's people coming into Chicago expecting it to be a little smaller NYC and it's not. Adapt or leave as they say.

Indy is NICE ... NICE ... NICE.

[Success2gether]

I was born and raised in Chicago for 30+ years, and now I live in Indy. I never felt "superior" just because of where I'm from. These are 2 TOTALLY different animals, and I don't think Indy's trying to be another Chicago. Indy's so much more laid back, the cost of living is TREMENDOUSLY low, and you CAN prosper in this city much quicker and easier. The people are more friendly and open. I seem to receive a lot of respect - not envy when people ask me where I'm originally from. They all mostly say "chiii-town" lol. Keep your expectations in check. Don't go to Indy looking for Chicago, you'll never find it.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by DC 38

The reason I get worked up is not because I have Chicago envy, it is because I get tired of people from Chicago telling me how inferior Indy is. And really, how many russian restaurants does one need? When I get bored with russian food, I hit the Greek places, or the Italian, or the American, etc. None of which, by the way, are Applebee's. It gets tiring having people from Chicago tell me how un-impressive Indy is. It is not an envy of Chicago, but a defense against annoying people who choose to constantly slam us.

For the record, I have never compared Indy to any of the cities you listed (at least not that I recall).

I don't see Chicagoans ripping Indianapolis any more than people do to other major cities.

Originally Posted by domergurl

No DC ... Indy has a major inferiority complex. Here's a secret, shhhh ... Chicago has an inferiority complex with NYC. I'm not kidding. But most Chicagoans just blow it off because it doesn't matter anyway. It's people coming into Chicago expecting it to be a little smaller NYC and it's not. Adapt or leave as they say.

Indy is NICE ... NICE ... NICE.

I don't know anyone in Chicago who has an inferiority complex to New York. People here don't go around comparing Chicago to any other city.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by thePR

I don't see Chicagoans ripping Indianapolis any more than people do to other major cities.



I don't know anyone in Chicago who has an inferiority complex to New York. People here don't go around comparing Chicago to any other city.

When I worked for an NYC law firm in Chicago, we constantly had to tell people that Chicago is not new york, doesn't want to be new york and will never be new york. But yet, there were some people there who whined about it. Maybe it was an isolated incident because of my work, but it was there.

Don't go jumping on me like the people in Indianapolis do when I say that Indy is a NICE town. Chicago is still my favorite place.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by domergurl

When I worked for an NYC law firm in Chicago, we constantly had to tell people that Chicago is not new york, doesn't want to be new york and will never be new york. But yet, there were some people there who whined about it. Maybe it was an isolated incident because of my work, but it was there.

Don't go jumping on me like the people in Indianapolis do when I say that Indy is a NICE town. Chicago is still my favorite place.

I didn't even mention Indianapolis in my post, I'm fine with you calling it "nice."

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by domergurl

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.

I'm not sure if you think my post was "incredibly defensive" or not. All I'm saying is that the list of Best Midwestern Cities pretty much begins and ends with Chicago. All the other cities are 2nd tier, and many of them, including Detroit, Cleveland, Louisville, Milwaukee, and Columbus, don't have a whole lot going for them, not much more in my opinion than Indianapolis. And while I live in Indy now, I haven't always lived here, and I've spent some time in most of these other cities without finding them all that special. History and culture are just one aspect, and even then I'm not sure how much that aspect helps Milwaukee, for example.

I just asked the poster to consider what other cities might be on that list before making the bold statement that Indianapolis is nowhere near the top of it. Can you really claim that Milwaukee or Cleveland are anything more than "nice, nice, nice?" Just as you correctly say that Chicago is never going to by NYC, Indianapolis is never going to be Chicago. If your criteria for best city includes as a prerequisite that the city was booming before the Civil War, then obviously Indianapolis loses out. But you can't judge a city by that standard alone. If that were the case, where would Los Angeles be?

Indianapolis IS nice, it's livable, it's not too expensive. It isn't the best city in the midwest, but if you judge it as it is today, I don't think it's at the bottom of the list either. And I don't think I'm being incredibly defensive to say that.

[hal512]

I went to boarding school near South Bend then on to Purdue and lived in Indy and commuted to W. Laf. Indy is okay but it has no character it is generic. Chicago I love (could not live there) try to get back and visit every couple of years. I'm now a Texas girl and will never go back to the midwest. I miss the seasons and the beauty of the midwest but many (not all) places lack character. The midwest has the best schools (Purdue, Notre Dame, Michigan, you all know them) and the best work ethic. One thing Texas lacks "A hard days work for a hard earned dollar". My son who is six lost his tooth so we left 8 quarters under his pillow as it was his first and he came home to tell us his friends get $20. Twenty bucks for a tooth, maybe we will move back to old fashioned values...