Cinci vs Dayton (Cincinnati, Florida: coupons, stores, suburbia)

[Ohiogirl81]

Having lived in both cities myself -- although some wouldn't call spending four years at UD actually "living" in Dayton even though I paid my rent and my taxes and voted just like everyone else -- I'd say the biggest difference is Cincinnati's overwhelmingly conservative mindset, where Dayton is a little less strait-laced. Dayton also has the ability to laugh at itself, where Cincinnati is incapable of it -- maybe there's something in the water.

Originally Posted by JefferyT

Though Cincinnati is on the Ky border, Dayton seems more "southern blue collar" due to the mass migration of Appalachians to the place starting in WWII. [snip] Cincy got this too, but it didnt overwhelm and transform the local culture the way it did in Dayton.

Maybe this has to do with the fact that the Appalachians in Cincinnati spread out from the Appalachian "ghetto" -- Over-the-Rhine -- where the Appalachians in Dayton still inhabit pretty much the same neighborhoods they have since the 40s.

Prior to that Dayton was more like one of those great lakes factory towns, with a lot of Germans and some Eastern and Southern European ethnics...there are still Hungarian, Lithuanian, and Polish parishes here, about as far south as you'd find that.

One area that Dayton has over Cincinnati. Once I moved to Cincinnati, I really missed the variety of ethnic groups I was used to, growing up in Erie, Pa., and being the grandchild of Polish immigrants myself. A girl needs her fresh pierogi.

Originally Posted by JefferyT

Now its about 45 minutes from the south suburbs of Dayton to downtown Cincy, in good traffic (if you speed its quicker).

Speed? Me? I once made it from Milano's on Brown Street to my house in Madisonville in 26 minutes.

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

I'd say the biggest difference is Cincinnati's overwhelmingly conservative mindset, where Dayton is a little less strait-laced.

Don't you live in Lebanon?

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

I really missed the variety of ethnic groups I was used to, growing up

There is not a more diverse neighborhood in SWOH compared to Clifton or Northside.

Speed? Me? I once made it from Milano's on Brown Street to my house in Madisonville in 26 minutes.

Aren't you the one that said you can't make it from Cincinnati to Lawrenceburg in 20 mins.?

[hillside]

ok...the conservative thing is getting old...

cincinnati is in a unique spot. it's the only major city on the mason-dixie that's in a northern state, so people need to stop acting shocked at the conservatism in the SUBURBS (which is everywhere) and in certain aspects of the city.

i guess african-american isn't ethnic anymore...

[maestro]

I always heard the "conservative" talk when I was there, but I never really felt that people were overly buttoned-up, or more conversative then places I've been in the Midwest.

[Ohiogirl81]

I don't live in Lebanon. I live outside of Philadelphia. I did live in Lebanon, years ago. I've also lived in Cincinnati, Euclid, Painesville and Dayton. What's your point?

So tell me: Where are the Polish neighborhoods in Cincinnati? The Slovenian neighborhoods? That's the kind of ethnicity both JeffreyT and I are talking about.

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

Aren't you the one that said you can't make it from Cincinnati to Lawrenceburg in 20 mins.?

Too many lights -- and slowpokes -- on River Road.

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

I don't live in Lebanon. I live outside of Philadelphia.

Pardon me then, I guess I'm getting two forumers mixed up.

I did live in Lebanon, years ago. I've also lived in Cincinnati, Euclid, Painesville and Dayton. What's your point?

Lebanon, Euclid, and Plainsville all scream diversity to me. For someone that "really missed the variety of ethnic groups" ... you know how to pick 'em.

So tell me: Where are the Polish neighborhoods in Cincinnati? The Slovenian neighborhoods? That's the kind of ethnicity both JeffreyT and I are talking about.

You said:

I really missed the variety of ethnic groups I was used to, growing up in Erie, Pa., and being the grandchild of Polish immigrants myself.

Diversity does not equal Polish immigrants. Diversity is (from M-W): "1: the condition of being diverse : variety ; especially : the inclusion of diverse people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization."

In other words, if an area is mostly black, white, Polish, Hispanic, etc ... It isn't very diverse is it?

I sat in the window one time at that Skyline Chili on Ludlow and within the time it took me to finish my 4-way, I saw literally every type of ethnicity, race, & culture known to man (obviously I'm exaggerating a little), but you see my point. If you live in DT, Clifton, or Northside, you'll probably agree that the area is diverse. If you live in Lebabon, you more than likely won't, especially with it being more than 90% white.

[1watertiger]

cinci over dayton hands down !! that would be like comparing cleveland to akron.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

Diversity does not equal Polish immigrants. Diversity is (from M-W): "1: the condition of being diverse : variety ; especially : the inclusion of diverse people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization."

Sweetie, you're missing the point. I wasn't talking about your modern definition of diversity, nor was JeffreyT. I wasn't talking about diversity at all. We were talking very specifically about the lack of southern and eastern European immigrant groups and culture in Cincinnati.

Case in point: When I lived in Dayton, nobody batted an eyelash when they'd hear my last name. When I lived in NE Ohio, and people would hear my last name, they'd ask if I were related to brothers-in-law or friends of theirs. When I moved to Cincinnati and people would hear my last name, they'd ask how to spell it. Now, I've got about the most common Polish surname there is, and it's spelled phonetically (no foreign vowel combinations!). So when I spell it for them, they say "Oh, just like it sounds." Duh.

I will hand it to Tina's on Fourth Street, though. They make some mean pierogi.

And it's Painesville.

[Cincy-Rise]

So, in other words ... you didn't mean a diverse area, you meant a Polish area?

I guess it wouldn't matter now that you live in greater Philly, but did you ever check out The Meetup.com website is not currently available or Polish Society in Cincinnati, OH


Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing with you about the Polish areas ... I honestly don't know. I'll be the first one to tell you that we lag big time in our Hispanic population, I'm not on here to state something that isn't true. Most Hispanic areas in Cincy, are ironically in the Northern burbs, i.e. Springdale, Fairfield, etc ... weird. The only point I was making that if you want to be in a diverse area, you'll have to move to one and if it were a priority on my list, I'd be in Clifton. There's a reason you can find a church for whatever religion you take part in within 1 mile in uptown.