Des Moines or St Louis? (Rockford: gated, living, low cost)

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by DSMGuy

Sounds like you're in a bad mood.

Bad mood? No. Ready and enthusiastic to defend a place I've lived in for 17 years against one-sided proclamations that it has no amenities comparable to Des Moines? YES.

This forum is replete with such statements. Forgive me if I feel it necessary to challenge them from time to time.

[DMRyan]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

Read the above post I made in replying to capitalcityguy. "Nearly identical" is far more accurate of a comparison than "not by a long shot."

BTW, this whole Iowa Forum has heretofore been predicated on the notion that Des Moines is the only city in Iowa with cultural and entertainment offerings. Why do Des Moines posters become so indignant when somebody has the impertinence to question that myth?

That's not true. Aside from Des Moines, Iowa City is also a cultural hotbed that no one ever doubts.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

That's not true. Aside from Des Moines, Iowa City is also a cultural hotbed that no one ever doubts.

The availability of cultural events/activities in the Quad Cities is fully comparable to that of Des Moines or Iowa City.

The boilerplate argument offered time and time again on this forum that culture can only be found in Des Moines (and sometimes Iowa City) is misleading to outsiders not familiar with the state. I'm tired of seeing this line of rationalization repeated ad infinitum, without being challenged.

I believe you would have the exact same reaction if the shoe were on the other foot.

[DMRyan]

My comment was meant to be reactionary and you're right, if the shoe were on the other foot, I would be on the offensive too.

I won't dispute the cultural and quality of life amenities of the Quad Cities, but I don't buy the splitting hairs arguement on all fronts. Fort Dodge has a small zoo, an art center and a Target that sells some of the merchandise that Bed Bath and Beyond and Williams and Sonoma does. This is a dramatic example, but is comparing Fort Dodge's amenities to the Quad Cities' or Des Moines' amenities splitting hairs too?
There are certain things that I still think Des Moines well excels or just flat out has more of over the Quad Cities and just because you have one of something found in both cities doesn't make that one of something comparible. Just as the Quad Cities has things that I in Des Moines am envious of, mainly the historic development pattern and history that comes along with being a Mississippi River city.

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

It's ridiculous, these pissing contests, but unfortunately necessary to rebutt such distorted assertions as the Quad Cities is out of Des Moines' league in quality-of-life factors. That's absolutely ridiculous.

Contests? You are the one starting a "contest." I was just stating the Quad Cities doesn't offer as much as Des Moines - it doesn't, there are way more neighborhoods and suburbs around Des Moines that offer much more to do.

No one is impressed with the Quad Cities. The place feels like the rust belt aside from new areas of Bettendorf.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by Northern Traveler

No one is impressed with the Quad Cities. The place feels like the rust belt aside from new areas of Bettendorf.

You speak for everyone now? I don't think "everyone" got the memo.

Once again the impetus of your statement seems to be centered on tearing other places down, which has been a recurrent theme of most Des Moines posters here. It's not enough for you to be personally happy living in Des Moines. You must also point out how crumby other cities are, and how stupid people must be for wanting to live/move there.

Keep showing your classy side, Des Moines. People are getting an idea what you're all about.

[urbancharlotte]

Ok, I do not live in either city, but I have visited both. I will say that St. Louis is larger, but I had TONS of fun in Des Moines!!! When I was in town (2003), I went to a club downtown. That night they had a bar crawl going on that got you into all of the participating clubs in the area and all of the beer you wanted for just $14 (if my memory is correct). After the clubs closed, the "drunk taxi" took you back home FOR FREE!!! HELLO!!! That's what I'm talking about!!! Being that I am happily married now, I will not go into anymore details about that night LOL!!!! Let's just say Des Moines (as I can recall) was and probably still is off the chain!!!

I say pick Des Moines hands down!!!

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

I won't dispute the cultural and quality of life amenities of the Quad Cities, but I don't buy the splitting hairs arguement on all fronts. Fort Dodge has a small zoo, an art center and a Target that sells some of the merchandise that Bed Bath and Beyond and Williams and Sonoma does. This is a dramatic example, but is comparing Fort Dodge's amenities to the Quad Cities' or Des Moines' amenities splitting hairs too?

Splitting hairs can be excused. Deriding the place a person lives or is seeking to live because of minutiae (e.g. the town only has "A" baseball instead of "AAA", or doesn't have a big enough zoo) is ridiculous. How many people really care THAT MUCH about zoos or minor league baseball, anyway?

Yet, that seems to be the criteria Des Moines posters have reduced quality of life to when comparing other cities in Iowa. There's no real mention of the important factors like crime, cost of living, or schools. That's because these statistics are all pretty even from city to city. Every principal Iowa city has its "crime spots", its cheap/affordable housing, and good/bad schools.

In order to obscure this fact and retain a self-proclaimed Iowa superiority, these Des Moines posters have arbitrarily invented a whole new set of criteria. And, of course, anyone who doesn't conform to this obtuse equation:

state's tallest building + state's most "AAA" minor league teams = state's best city

...is told how stupid they are and how much their city sucks because it isn't Des Moines.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

Ok, I do not live in either city, but I have visited both. I will say that St. Louis is larger, but I had TONS of fun in Des Moines!!! When I was in town (2003), I went to a club downtown. That night they had a bar crawl going on that got you into all of the participating clubs in the area and all of the beer you wanted for just $14 (if my memory is correct). After the clubs closed, the "drunk taxi" took you back home FOR FREE!!! HELLO!!! That's what I'm talking about!!! Being that I am happily married now, I will not go into anymore details about that night LOL!!!! Let's just say Des Moines (as I can recall) was and probably still is off the chain!!!

I say pick Des Moines hands down!!!

Well, there's a ringing and wonderfully articulated endorsement if I ever heard one.

Des Moines...a great place to enjoy, as long as you're drunk and get free taxi rides. BTW, whose memory ISN'T correct after consuming copious amounts of alcohol?

Too bad Saint Louis doesn't have any bars downtown and a "drunk taxi". That's what living is all about, right?

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

Well, there's a ringing and wonderfully articulated endorsement if I ever heard one.

Des Moines...a great place to enjoy, as long as you're drunk and get free taxi rides. BTW, whose memory ISN'T correct after consuming copious amounts of alcohol?

Too bad Saint Louis doesn't have any bars downtown and a "drunk taxi". That's what living is all about, right?

Hmmmm??????? This person must be sad and sober....

Originally Posted by shooeyg

Im a 24 year old female originally from Davenport, Iowa but joined the military in 2003 and haven't been back to the midwest since. I would like to see some opinions on whether to move to Des Moines or St louis. I want to be fairly close to my family so these two cities seem to make sense, considering Chicago is too expensive. Which city has more to offer as far as night life and general happiness? Thanks!

Young military girl wants an opinion on Des Moines or St. Louis when it comes to NIGHT LIFE and GENERAL HAPPINESS....

Well, the last time I experienced life at night in Des Moines, generally speaking, I left town quite happy!!!