Would you ever leave LA to live in the Midwest? (Los Angeles: eat, metro area)

[RoaminRebel]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

I found an amazing radio station in Dubuque, Iowa. Super Hits 106. 70s and 80s with variety (something that any station in L.A. is sadly lacking). Then I listen to their weather reports... "12 degrees with blowing snow", and I say, "I'm so thankful for the Internet!"

Dubuque's Super Hits 106

K-Earth 101 plays that now... Guess time passed you by like it did for me and you didn't realize 80's were considered "oldies" now!! I thought oldies were ragtime or something like that!

[NorCal Dude]

Originally Posted by chessgeek

Chicago, IL unemployment 9.6%

Minneapolis, MN unemployment 4.6%

Size of the overall economy has less relevance than the health of the economy and its growth potential. MSP has all the major pro sports and several cultural attractions along with hundreds of lakes; three river systems. Chicago has a lot going for it, too. Decision between more to do...Chicago (though both have a lot) and less crowded...Minneapolis.

Minneapolis= seattle of the midwest.

Dreary, isolated, snobby, and upset that the rest of the country does not give them a second glance.

Large enough that there is stuff to do, but small town enough that locals still ask each other where they went to high school.

As for unemployment, that is irrelevant. That's like comparing irvine to la. Yea irvine has a lower unemployment rate, but la could coat irvine multiple times over with its gainfully employed population.

[SandyCo]

Originally Posted by RoaminRebel

K-Earth 101 plays that now... Guess time passed you by like it did for me and you didn't realize 80's were considered "oldies" now!! I thought oldies were ragtime or something like that!

K-EARTH 101's playlist is only 400 songs, and they're very heavy on the repetition of a few songs, like "Miss You", "Don't Stop Believin'", and "Tainted Love". Considering that 80s music was popular thirty years ago, I'm not surprised that it's considered oldies now.

On the other hand, I'm hearing songs on 106 Super Hits that I haven't heard in twenty or thirty years! If it wasn't for the weather, I'd actually consider moving 1,900 miles away. (And then when the station changes formats or disappears entirely, I'd probably move back here! )

[JohnSoCal]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

K-EARTH 101's playlist is only 400 songs, and they're very heavy on the repetition of a few songs, like "Miss You", "Don't Stop Believin'", and "Tainted Love". Considering that 80s music was popular thirty years ago, I'm not surprised that it's considered oldies now.

On the other hand, I'm hearing songs on 106 Super Hits that I haven't heard in twenty or thirty years! If it wasn't for the weather, I'd actually consider moving 1,900 miles away. (And then when the station changes formats or disappears entirely, I'd probably move back here! )

I can't believe that a radio station would have an influence on where to live. If you like the music so much, buy the CDs or subscribe to XM radio.

[chessgeek]

Originally Posted by NorCal Dude

Minneapolis= seattle of the midwest.

Dreary, isolated, snobby, and upset that the rest of the country does not give them a second glance.

Large enough that there is stuff to do, but small town enough that locals still ask each other where they went to high school.

As for unemployment, that is irrelevant. That's like comparing irvine to la. Yea irvine has a lower unemployment rate, but la could coat irvine multiple times over with its gainfully employed population.

Bribe me with deep dish pizza for life and we call it a draw. Kidding! Then I would have to exercise a whole lot more than I do now. I understand your point and I understand why someone would move to Chicago if they chose the Midwest. BTW, I visited Minneapolis (my hometown) in 2005 and did not encounter "snobby" at all. Isolated from huge crowds aside from a few areas is a good thing. On the first day visiting there (Oct 1, 2005) the high was 77. Probably got lucky. They have more clear days than people realize.

Both cities have dreary winter days. I am not a Chicago hater and understand why that would be the first city to try in the Midwest, but think the MSP economy today is very good and a decade from now may put it on equal footing as a Midwest choice to Chicago if current trends continue.

Thanks for sharing!

[chessgeek]

I have to add that the growth rate for MSP shows that they are not only getting a second glance (LOL!), but real growth which is impressive considering the climate. Quality of life and the economy are the reasons.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by NorCal Dude

Minneapolis= seattle of the midwest.

Dreary, isolated, snobby, and upset that the rest of the country does not give them a second glance.

Large enough that there is stuff to do, but small town enough that locals still ask each other where they went to high school.

As for unemployment, that is irrelevant. That's like comparing irvine to la. Yea irvine has a lower unemployment rate, but la could coat irvine multiple times over with its gainfully employed population.

As an Irvine resident who has lived in the Midwest, this post is (almost) spot freakin' on.

People from Seattle and Minneapolis are both very superficially polite and I enjoy meeting and talking to people from both cities honestly, but their Scandinavian heritages can probably make it difficult to really warm up to people for a long time (or vice versa).

But to fit your description, what you say about Minneapolis actually describes another Midwest city, Louisville, KY. Buncha arseholes those people were when I lived there, and the inferiority/superiority complex they have when comparing theirselves to surrounding cities is simply bazaar.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by NorCal Dude

Minneapolis= seattle of the midwest.

Dreary, isolated, snobby, and upset that the rest of the country does not give them a second glance.

Large enough that there is stuff to do, but small town enough that locals still ask each other where they went to high school.
As for unemployment, that is irrelevant. That's like comparing irvine to la. Yea irvine has a lower unemployment rate, but la could coat irvine multiple times over with its gainfully employed population.

How is that much different than Chicago locals who ask what neighborhood you grew up in? Some of the older Catholic Chicagoans still even identify themselves and others by what parish you're from.

Not sure if LA-Irvine is a good analogy to Chicago-Minneapolis, as Irvine is essentially part of the greater LA metro area. Maybe comparing LA-San Diego would be a better comparison to Chicago-Minneapolis.

[Fontucky]

Another "city vs city that aren't L.A." topic in the L.A. forum. FUN! It's almost as if there wasn't already a City vs City forum at C-D.

Here's a graphic that demonstrates how much the L.A. forum cares about the comparison between Chicago and whatever that other city is:

[lrmsd]

Originally Posted by NorCal Dude

Minneapolis= seattle of the midwest.

Dreary, isolated, snobby, and upset that the rest of the country does not give them a second glance.

Large enough that there is stuff to do, but small town enough that locals still ask each other where they went to high school.

As for unemployment, that is irrelevant. That's like comparing irvine to la. Yea irvine has a lower unemployment rate, but la could coat irvine multiple times over with its gainfully employed population.

I don't think MN is dreary per se, though your other comments seem spot on, based on my experience. But...I LOVE Minneapolis for visiting. It's a great, livable [except for those winters, true] city....Cool spot, but then again, I visited severasl times, and stayed with a native who lived in one of the particularly lauded neighborhoods. I do see parallels to Seattle, esp. all the time spent on CD forums discussing how great they are and how they really *are* world renown cities/metro areas, etc. I'm always thinking that cities really like that are not really discussing it, especially on internet forums. They are too busy fielding requests from people wanting to move to their cities instead [ie, NYC, LA, SFO, even SD]. Insecurity is an ugly trait...lol.