Indianapolis or Pittsburgh (Columbus, Carmel, Marion: crime, homes, employment)

[NLay]

I am from Pittsburgh and currently live in Indy. I agree that living in Pittsburgh is the better choice. Yeah I like my house here better but everything else is better in Pitt
I have traveled all over and just my opinion people here are trying to keep up with the jones and much ruder. Not all people just like common courtesy things. You should come here for a few days and go all around Indy. There might be some stuff to do here but Pitt is a lot more fun!

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by NLay

I am from Pittsburgh and currently live in Indy. I agree that living in Pittsburgh is the better choice. Yeah I like my house here better but everything else is better in Pitt
I have traveled all over and just my opinion people here are trying to keep up with the jones and much ruder. Not all people just like common courtesy things. You should come here for a few days and go all around Indy. There might be some stuff to do here but Pitt is a lot more fun!

Having only been to Pittsburgh once, I guess I must've missed something. What's to do in Pittsburgh that can't be done Indy (sans the NHL)?

[domergurl]

Warhol Museum man!

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Warhol Museum man!

OK. That's one.

[Toxic Toast]

If you live in Pitt, how many times are you going to go to the Warhol Museum in a year? I am guessing as often as a tourist from Erie does.

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

If you live in Pitt, how many times are you going to go to the Warhol Museum in a year? I am guessing as often as a tourist from Erie does.

Just like a lot of people who live here won't go to the museums or go duckpin bowling in Fountain Square very often. It's a neat idea, but once you've been a couple times the novelty wears off.

I don't know much about Pittsburgh so I can't comment.

[jcamber]

I've been to Pittsburgh several times. I liked the topography and city in general. It did seem very old and dirty however. I think that's where I see the main difference. Indy is a much younger city. Oh and traffic is considerably worse in Pittsburgh.

[domergurl]

the food is better, but I think that's been said before

[plaidmom]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

Having only been to Pittsburgh once, I guess I must've missed something. What's to do in Pittsburgh that can't be done Indy (sans the NHL)?

Attend CMU (sorry, sorry! )

Ride an Incline
Duquesne Incline, historic cable car railway serving commuters and tourists since 1877, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Drink Beer in Church
Church Brew Works, Award-Winning Microbrewery and Restaurant

Ride your Bicycle to Washington D.C.
Allegheny Trail Alliance - Maps and text describing a trail system that will connect Pittsburgh PA with Washington DC

So those are just fun and quirky things.

What makes Pittsburgh more city-like than Indy is hard to define. Things are just more "tight" and close. Neighborhoods have a distinct "vibe" (The Strip, Squirrel Hill). It's possible to live car-free in Pittsburgh, in Indy that is more problematic. Pittsburgh is also closer to major East Coast cities (NYC, DC, Philly) and one can access those by rail. Also closer to the East Coast (OP mentioned fear of being land-locked).

So, if Indy could pick up IU and Kirkwood Ave and 4th(?) Street and plop them next to Butler, schooch them both closer to Broadripple, then expand both Mass Ave and Fountain Square (and possibly Lockerbie), bring the hills of Brown County to Meridian-Kessler, and plunk the whole thing on the shore of Lake Monroe/and/or the Ohio river, with daily rail lines connecting us to Chicago? That would make it kind of like Pittsburgh. Hope that helps.

[LIS123]

Originally Posted by plaidmom

Attend CMU (sorry, sorry! )

Ride an Incline
Duquesne Incline, historic cable car railway serving commuters and tourists since 1877, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Drink Beer in Church
Church Brew Works, Award-Winning Microbrewery and Restaurant

Ride your Bicycle to Washington D.C.
Allegheny Trail Alliance - Maps and text describing a trail system that will connect Pittsburgh PA with Washington DC

So those are just fun and quirky things.

What makes Pittsburgh more city-like than Indy is hard to define. Things are just more "tight" and close. Neighborhoods have a distinct "vibe" (The Strip, Squirrel Hill). It's possible to live car-free in Pittsburgh, in Indy that is more problematic. Pittsburgh is also closer to major East Coast cities (NYC, DC, Philly) and one can access those by rail. Also closer to the East Coast (OP mentioned fear of being land-locked).

So, if Indy could pick up IU and Kirkwood Ave and 4th(?) Street and plop them next to Butler, schooch them both closer to Broadripple, then expand both Mass Ave and Fountain Square (and possibly Lockerbie), bring the hills of Brown County to Meridian-Kessler, and plunk the whole thing on the shore of Lake Monroe, with daily rail lines connecting us to Chicago? That would make it kind of like Pittsburgh. Hope that helps.

This is a good post. It's often hard to say city A is better than city B b/c of X, Y and Z. It's usually more of a vibe/overall feel that defines one place over another. I'm moving to Indy soon and it did seem pretty slow to me. It's definitely safer and cleaner than many other cities, but the overall feel was lacking. That opinion may change.