Perfect City (for me) in the Northeast (New York, Buffalo: school, colleges)

[softmachine]

I am moving under unusual circumstances: I work online and can basically, live anywhere I choose. I have always loved the Southern Tier of New York, but the cities and people themselves are far too small and conservative (I'm a jazzbo hipster...I can admit it). I live in Niagara Falls and have always hated how flat and industrialized it is in this area. I love snow and cold weather, so I would also like to live in an area (in the northeast) that gets both. I have discussed my living options a great deal, and many people have told me that Ithaca would be idea. I tend to agree with these sentiments, but fear that I might prefer a city that is a little bigger. If anyone could suggest a city in the northeast that is like Ithaca, but bigger, I would greatly appreciate it. I realize that this might be asking too much.

[mels]

How big of a city are you looking for? While Ithaca would fit the bill, Burlington, VT would as well. You might also like Portland, ME. All are great cities.

[softmachine]

Buffalo is too big for me. I've always like the size of Niagara Falls, just not the look and feel of it.

P.S. Is'nt Burlington only a little bigger (like 40,000) than Ithaca?

[Lauri_25ny]

I can only speak for Ithaca, not other places like it. I really don't think there is any other place like it!

Ithaca is alot bigger than what you might think. Not really in the literal term, but in the term that everything that you are looking for in a place to live, it has.

There's the downtown area, then there's the area "on the hill". Which is actually considered to be Lansing, but is an extension of ithaca.

Personally speaking, I don't like Ithaca at all. People are just "too earthy" for my liking. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's just not for me. My brother loves Ithaca. But he's into that kind of thing.

I really think it is the type of area that you're looking for, though.

Good luck!

[softmachine]

Yeah, I love "earthy places". I also got the impression that it is very artistic and free-thinking (in Ithaca) which always struck me as special for the northeast. I am just wondering if Ithaca is just another college town--a wonderful place to go to school at, but no place to really live. I have lived in college towns before; they seem like utopia, but no one is a real resident there. They are basically like conveyer belts of people moving in and out every 4 to 8 years and any permanent residents are either under 18 or over 35.

I was also wondering about places like Manchester/Concord NH and Hartford CT. They seem very cosmopolitan, but very conservative and fast paced. Is this assumption correct? Portland seems very intriguing as well. Anyone have some opinions of Portland.

[garmin239]

Ithaca
New Haven CT
Burlington

[Lauri_25ny]

softmachine~

Ithaca is unique in that the colleges are just one aspect of it. Living there year round, it really is a beautiful and vibrant place.

Cornell is basically it's own little city, which can get a little hectic during the school year, but is another unique place to visit whether school is in session or not.

While I don't like Ithaca for myself, as I said, I am a little biased toward this area. I really do believe that Ithaca is what you're looking for in a place to live.

[Ex-Ithacan]

Portland is a great smaller city, and very attractive imo. However, it is a bit isolated, even more so than Ithaca.

Maybe you could spend a weekend in Ithaca in the summer, visit the Farmer's Market, go to a couple of art galleries, see some of the natural wonders, and spend some time on the Commons. Might convince you that it's the place you find fits you.

[vicarian]

I have to agree with Ex-Ithacan. Portland is a wonderful place, if but a bit isolated.



This is Ithaca's downtown. You can just see the art museum on Cornell campus on the right side of the photo. This photo is a little old, because the garage in the foregound is being renovated at the moment.
If you get the chance, you should take a week or two during the summer and have a "grand tour" of the northeast, and the cities you might be interested in moving to(Ithaca but larger...? Maybe Burlington would be a good place to consider). There are many beautiful places to choose from in this region, and if you look hard enough, you'll find a place that is right for you .

[softmachine]

First, I would like to say that these responses are extremely timely and informative. Second, I would like to know how Portland is more isolated than Ithaca. It is considerably larger and is very close to Manchester and Boston. To me, it always seemed like the New England coast could be its own state, being completely distinct from its rustic conterparts in the mainland--and the mainland areas of ME, NH, VT, and Mass. in turn, being just as similiar economically, socially, and politically.