Is there anything to do in Cedar Rapids? (Des Moines, Iowa City: relocating, home)

[WoodwardGirl]

LOL! I couldn't figure out what you were talking about, Minnehahapolitan... then I realized that you took my "don't end a sentence in a preposition" as an admonition to someone else, when it is just something I always say to myself when I end a sentence in a preposition and am too lazy to go back and reconstruct the sentence -- nothing intended to any other poster.

I disagree that boringness depends on what the majority of people would feel... I think that qualifying someplace for the majority does everyone a disservice. We are not all alike, and even among the majority there are a lot of individual preferential differences. The elements you cite for non-boringness appear to all apply to visitors -- and I have admitted in other posts that I don't think Cedar Rapids has a lot to offer to visitors of the type that want to stay in one central area and be entertained by walkable-distance bars, although others have taken me to task on that. However, if you live here, as the original poster does, I really can't see any reason to be bored. Most of the things the original poster was looking for are here, you just have to dig them out because you haven't had the 20+ years of living here that you had to find them in your old neighborhood.

I agree that the Lincoln Cafe has the best food around, but Cedar Rapids doesn't have 250,000 people. That is our MSA, our Metropolitan Service Area, which includes Iowa City (which includes the University, so the population of the area is always a debatable subject!) Cedar Rapids has more like 120,000 people, and, while I agree that it would be great to have some unique shops, restaurants, etc., the truth is that, as you have observed, what you tend to get is what appeals to the majority, and so, for the city overall, you get the lowest common denominator, which is chain restaurants and malls.

I lived in Iowa City and commuted to CR for 11 years because I just couldn't imagine living in boring, stodgy Cedar Rapids. What I finally realized was that it wasn't because I was actually ever taking advantage of any of the nightlife or shops in Iowa City, but just the Cedar Rapids image that I didn't like. I moved up here and now have an extra hour plus in my day with no commute to pursue the activities that I enjoy. Cedar Rapids is a great place to live and there is no reason to be bored here unless you require surf or mountaintops; I gotta admit, we can't give you those -- if you're bored here, you'd be bored anywhere.

But I will also bet that when I plan a visit somewhere, I look for entirely different things than you do. If there are walkable bars and so on in a walkable downtown area, I wouldn't have a clue because those things aren't what I'm visiting for... but if a destination doesn't have a genealogical society museum and library, a llama show, model train setups, an independent mystery book store, or my other trip magnets, I don't think that makes it boring, just not my particular cup of tea (oh, and a tea shop! With eccles cakes!)

What I wish people would do on this forum is to look inside themselves and figure out what they are looking for, then ask about that. You have done that, and I admit that we don't have what you in particular look for. I'm sorry that makes you sad, but I wouldn't waste my time on it -- find places you do like.

just my $0.02.

[bassdog65]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

First, It is kinda rude to correct peoples' grammer, especially on the internet. There will always be people who find the lining of the city and derive some sort of pleasure from it. People always find something to do, but Cedar Rapids doesn't make that very easy. Downtown was depressing, and most activity has moved out to the mall. I wasn't looking for new York City, but I think most of us would expect a city of 250,000 to have some pedestrian life, a few bars or patios, a place to stay the night downtown, a unique neighborhood. It just wasn't there. I think by most peoples' definition, that would constitute as a boring place. While boringness is subjective, you have to look at what a majority of people would likely feel. For the record, I had to go to Mt. Vernon's Lincoln Cafe to find a top-notch meal. It made me kinda sad.

Have you even been to Cedar Rapids?

There are like 6 bars on 2nd Ave downtown all within 2 blocks, and people drunkenly wander up and down while hitting them all. Dublin City is a very popular bar. Across the parking lot in the middle of the bars is a huge hotel, used to be the 5 Seasons Hotel, now the Crowne Plaza. There are bars all over town that have patios and live music, all of which are entertaining.

Cocktails in Marion is a great bar with a patio and a more relaxed atmosphere than the drunken culture downtown.

A unique neighborhood? I don't know what you mean by this, but we have czech village downtown, not a stunning beacon of activity, but it offers a little more culture. If you are looking for diversity, its not the place to go, but lets not pretend that we don't have bars and hotels.

Element is on 1st avenue down a ways from the downtown area, and its more of a dance club, packed wall to wall, loud music, always people there on the weekends.

Everything you have listed that we don't have...we have...you just aren't looking in the right place.

Tell me, what else don't we have?

[DSMGuy]

Here's a few things:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/1200284-post48.html

[WoodwardGirl]

Originally Posted by DSMGuy

Here's a few things:

DSMGuy, you're not paying attention. Cedar Rapids, even if you include "The Corridor" which pulls Iowa City into the figures, is HALF AS BIG AS DES MOINES. No, Cedar Rapids doesn't have all the attractions of Des Moines, because it is LESS THAN HALF AS BIG. Population -- and their disposable incomes -- play somewhat of a role in determining the range of "stuff there is to do" in an area. Incidentally, we do have many of the things that you claim that we don't, and a few that Des Moines doesn't have, but I'm not going to go into a point-by-point comparison because it is, literally, pointless. It's like saying Adel can't compare to Ames for entertainment and cultural options. Des Moines is great. Cedar Rapids is great. If one or the other is not to your taste, then c'est la vie.

[DSMGuy]

Sorry about that!

[rsruss6399]

Just like you I faced the same problem 8 years ago when I came to CR from the Chicagoland area to attend Mount Mercy. I have to say that the first year was the hardest. I came from a Metro area of 8.5 million people, it seemed that there was always something going on.
After graduation I decided to stay in CR and make it my permanent home. Have not regreted it, this is truly a great place to call home and I defiantley fit in better here then some yuppie neighborhood on the North Side of Chicago. There are a ton of things to do in Cedar Rapids! Just have explore the attractions and get a feel for what the city and surronding area has to offer.
Brucemore Estate is my favorite in CR. Have been there numerous times and continue to go back to learn more. The Czech and Slovak museum is a great cultural center right in the heart of Czech Village. The Art museum and History center offer a glimpse into the area's past and showcase renowned local artists such as Grant Wood.
After 8 years of living in Iowa I have become a huge Hawkeye fan. For the past two seasons I have had season tix... Who needs pro sports (Go Bears LOL) when you have a great Big Ten school 20 minutes down the road!
Not sure if your 21, but there is a bar on every corner in CR. I have come to find out that bars in this town are truly a meeting place for friends to mull over the weeks frustrations and have a few beers. Another great thing to do is just get in the car and explore the many small towns around the area. Often in the Spring and Summer months many of these small rural communities have festivals, these are a blast and often involve great Iowa food, beer, music, and the most hospitable people in the world.
My last suggestion would be to get involved on campus, I know that Mount Mercy doesn't alwayas offer the most interesting or "crowd attracting" events in the world but a few times a year they have great lecturers and guests come to campus. At least when I was in school basketball games were always fun.
Hope my suggestions help you. Good Luck on your education at MMC.

[MikeyToo]

I lived in Cedar Rapids for 1 year, way back in 1968. It was rather boring, as least for a young person out of school. Good thing Collins went on strike, so moved to Minnyapples.
I did remember that Cedar Rapids had a lot of bad smells. Is that still true today?

[Chicago60614]

The Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area has gone from 230,000 in 1968 to 320,000 today. It's gotten a lot better, at least in the restaurant/retail area.

[RonnieJonez]

Originally Posted by WoodwardGirl

DSMGuy, you're not paying attention. Cedar Rapids, even if you include "The Corridor" which pulls Iowa City into the figures, is HALF AS BIG AS DES MOINES. No, Cedar Rapids doesn't have all the attractions of Des Moines, because it is LESS THAN HALF AS BIG. Population -- and their disposable incomes -- play somewhat of a role in determining the range of "stuff there is to do" in an area. Incidentally, we do have many of the things that you claim that we don't, and a few that Des Moines doesn't have, but I'm not going to go into a point-by-point comparison because it is, literally, pointless. It's like saying Adel can't compare to Ames for entertainment and cultural options. Des Moines is great. Cedar Rapids is great. If one or the other is not to your taste, then c'est la vie.

lol, at least Cedar Rapids isn't delusional about what it is.

[mfrerkes]

How easy it is to take one or two isolated negatives, blow them up with hyperbole, and make irrational conclusions to support a pre-constructed premise.

Example: (Premise - Chicago is a bad place to live.) "God, Chicago is such a run-down city with crime everywhere you look. There were four murders there last week alone! And the cost of living is terrible. Apartments are like $800 per month for little crappy ones in the ghetto. Anybody who lives there is stupid and must like crime or over-priced housing."

I suspect people who spout such negativity about a city do so based on a pre-conceived notion.