What is Binghamton like? (Ithaca, Vestal: cul-de-sac, new home, neighborhood)

[JDBEARS70]

Lol, Binghamton is yucky. You can go somewhere else and it would be much nicer.

[upstate--uk]

Originally Posted by homeward bound

No slur on Binghamton intended, but be sure to check out Ithaca as soon as you can. You'll likely find it very satisfying. It's a pleasant drive, too, in nice weather.

Best of luck on your move and hope you'll post about your experiences.

Ithaca is quite a different scene from Binghamton, and it would likely have a lot of what you are looking for--however, as has been discussed before...not a good drive if you need to do it frequently and during the winter. My sister attended Cornell for a graduate degree and she lived in Endicott (suburb of Binghamton) at the time. The commute was possible and more easily manageable because it wasn't every day.
Rent in this area is cheaper than many places but you will find that many apartments are older than those available in other cities/towns. I have lived in an apartment here recently that was considered "good" by area standards, but was built in the 80's, I think. Appliances looked to be the originals also. But it was nice and very pleasant surroundings. I think some newer apartments may have been built in the Endwell area, around Taft Avenue...don't know if anyone else knows more about this.

[HomerBrink]

Lioness: Welcome to the Binghamton area. Like all places it has its pros and cons.
Remember the city of Binghamton is a part of the Binghamton area or what they call now "Greater Binghamton". $800.00 a month should get you a nice apartment and perhaps a decent house in a good neighborhood. Some of the photos above are misleading as a few of those buildings (the one with the truck in front) are undergoing renovation although it seems to be taking a while. And as homewardbound said above, Ithaca is not too far away. I don't think, unfortunately, you'll find much in the way of bookstores but there is some life theater (Know Theater group) just opened and the Anderson Center at UBing has many performances of talent from around the world.
Also check out ART Mission::HOME.

[HomerBrink]

That should be "live" theater......

[Tioga]

Bookstores?....Well...Barnes and Noble in Vestal isin't a bad place to spend a little time. My spouse and I went over there one weekend evening in February....a 2 hour hunt for some interesting new books w/a coffee break at their small "deli" inbetween. As for something a bit different, visit the Riverrow bookstore in Owego...ask to go upstairs.....many old/rare books and prints. Head up towards Ithaca...there are(were?) 2 v.good bookstores (in old barns) on the way.

[mtutiger]

Hello, I'm a student who will be on an internship in Binghamton this upcoming summer. I've got family in the area, Ithaca to be specific, but I'll be living in the Binghamton area this summer (I've arranged for this already).

I've visited Upstate New York a lot over the years (since my mom and her family live in Ithaca), but I've resided most of my life around Bay City, MI. My experience with this particular area is pretty much limited to Ithaca, Elmira (where my dad was born), and Syracuse. So I'm coming in pretty green on the Binghamton area. When I was in town for the interview, I thought it was very unique how it is a rather large area nestled into valleys borne out of the intersection of the Chenango and Susquehanna Rivers, which lends for some nice scenery.

However, the actual city itself, I'm less sure about. As someone who'll be spending (starting in May) around 3 1/2 months in the area, I'm interested to hear about some interesting things, events, etc. associated with the area, things to do, etc. Having read this thread, I ask for a more positive answer to this question, since it's apparent that many do not like the area. I'd rather be optimistic about my time in Binghamton!

[upstate--uk]

Originally Posted by mtutiger

Hello, I'm a student who will be on an internship in Binghamton this upcoming summer. I've got family in the area, Ithaca to be specific, but I'll be living in the Binghamton area this summer (I've arranged for this already).

I've visited Upstate New York a lot over the years (since my mom and her family live in Ithaca), but I've resided most of my life around Bay City, MI. My experience with this particular area is pretty much limited to Ithaca, Elmira (where my dad was born), and Syracuse. So I'm coming in pretty green on the Binghamton area. When I was in town for the interview, I thought it was very unique how it is a rather large area nestled into valleys borne out of the intersection of the Chenango and Susquehanna Rivers, which lends for some nice scenery.

However, the actual city itself, I'm less sure about. As someone who'll be spending (starting in May) around 3 1/2 months in the area, I'm interested to hear about some interesting things, events, etc. associated with the area, things to do, etc. Having read this thread, I ask for a more positive answer to this question, since it's apparent that many do not like the area. I'd rather be optimistic about my time in Binghamton!

Binghamton CVB: Greater Binghamton Convention and Visitors Bureau

This website should be of help...check calendar of events for specific ideas...there is always the spiedie fest which happens the very beginning of August and draws crowds up to 100,000. Otherwise, this is the best time to be in Binghamton because of the weather...many outside events and festivals.

[ScranBarre]

Also don't forget that Syracuse, the Finger Lakes, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Poconos, Catskills, and many other unique points of interest are within a 60-90-minute drive of Binghamton (Bingo), so even if the town seems a bit "dull" on some weekends you should be within a reasonable drive of something specatcular. I'm very fond of the Upstate NY/NEPA area, and apparently many NYers are fond of my area too, judging by the fact that every other car on I-81 is from the Empire State!

[mtutiger]

Originally Posted by SWB

Also don't forget that Syracuse, the Finger Lakes, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Poconos, Catskills, and many other unique points of interest are within a 60-90-minute drive of Binghamton (Bingo), so even if the town seems a bit "dull" on some weekends you should be within a reasonable drive of something specatcular.

This is true as well... to be quite honest, I'm really looking forward to my time in Binghamton. I didn't mean to sound like I thought it would be dull in my first post.

My family, for the most part, comes from Upstate NY, and when I was young, we moved to Michigan. I can see elements of places like Elmira or Binghamton in places like Saginaw or Bay City out here, towns that are in the beginning stages of the death of their manufacturing.

With that being said, I've never quite had the fondness of these places, because there's nothing unique about the area which I grew up in. Upstate NY always had scenic beauty, which is something that rust-belt cities in Michigan never had going for it.

The main difference between the two is that light might actually be at the end of the tunnel for a place like Binghamton. And based off your posts (and being someone who is studying Civil Engineering), it really interests me to see if a place like Binghamton, or other Upstate cities, can make a comeback.

For what its worth, it meant a lot that I was told my the person who I'll be working under in Binghamton that the place really is on it's way back. I found it surprising, but based off the pictures you have posted, it might be. I love Upstate NY, so I'd love to see it happen. You never know, I may be a part of it.

[Lioness181]

Still searching for an apartment in the Binghamton area! If anyone lives in a development they like, or has a really good landlord that might be able to help us, let me know! We have a few appointments set up to see some places, but its so hard when we know nothing about the area! We'll be in town on May 2nd and 3rd to look around and we'll be here for good on June 1st! Hope to hear from some of my soon-to-be neighbors!