Request for information about Yellow Springs (Columbus, Dayton: fit in, cliquey, houses)

[plath]

Hi all,

My husband and I are considering a move back to Ohio, this time to the Yellow Springs area. My husband is a professor and is considering taking a job at Antioch--a great school. As some background we've lived in PA (by Jersey); Cincy; Washington, DC; Durham, NC; and Georgia (outside of Atlanta). I am a literary writer and am particularly sensitive to issues of "place" and have found from moving about that I need a lot of culture, stimulation, good (ethnic) food, openness, and variety, as well as a city that is walkable. And it doesn't hurt if everyone is a liberal.

We've been to Yellow Springs once (quite a while back), and what I remember of it is that it's artsy and hip--all great things that I look for. However, I have some persistent concerns about the possible move. Can you guys set me straight and/or give feedback on the following issues?

1. Although Yellow Springs is a great little town, I'm concerned that after a while it might be a little *too* small and not offer enough variety. The closest larger city is Springfield, and even after living in Ohio for three years, we never visited that city! Does that offer good ethnic food? Interesting places to visit? Theater? Good live jazz? Orchestra? We know already from living outside Atlanta (about 45-50 minutes away from the city) that although we make the trips into the city for Indian food, Ethiopian food, Thai, Japanese, etc., as well as for entertainment, we don't do it nearly as much as we would like due to our schedules, so it's unlikely we would get into Dayton often enough (for sanity's sake if things get boring). For those of you who have lived in Yellow Springs a long time, does it give you what you need? I am worried I will feel terribly restless but am prepared to be pleasantly surprised.

2. I am concerned about the campus culture, again mostly because of the size of the town. We value our privacy quite a lot, and I worry that space issues might be a concern. Is it one of those cases where everywhere you go you see someone you know? I don't mind this at all sometimes--I like to be social--but all of us have times when we just want to keep to ourselves, too. And the college: Anyone know about expectations for "friendliness" with students/colleagues/etc.? Some colleges believe that profs deserve their own down-time and privacy, and some expect that their hires should be on 24-7—like a corporate America model of “we own you”. I know of some colleges that require their profs give students home phone numbers and have students over to their houses regularly, be available all the time, etc. Was wondering what the (unstated) expectations are, if anyone happens to know.

3. Is it difficult to "fit in" in Yellow Springs? We always think of Santa Fe and how great and hip a place that is, but after speaking to people who recently moved there they all said it is actually pretty cliquey and not particularly warm to outsiders/new arrivals. Is Yellow Springs this way? Or in your experience has it been open and friendly? It seems like it prides itself on the latter, so I am hopeful.

Okay that's it. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. We regret our move to GA, mostly because we are surrounded by very conservative Bible-belters and there isn't enough to keep us stimulated the way we need to be. I'm sorry if I sound overly cautious and/or negative--I don't mean to sound that way at all. I just think I am a little shell-shocked from this last move and want to be extra careful this time around. I just want to find out as much info. from folks who actually live in this place day in and day out. There’s a huge difference between visiting and living in a place.

Much appreciated!

[JefferyT]

Yellow Springs is a small, somewhat insular college town.

Springfield is a small, dead industrial city with minimal culture. They are bringing more things to town, though, to a new performing arts center recenlty built downtown.

Here are some Springfield cultural offerings:

Symphony:

http://www.springfieldsym.org/cspac.html

Arts Council:

http://www.springfieldartscouncil.org/SAC-home.htm

Kuss Auditorium:

http://pac.clarkstate.edu/events.html

Art Museum:

http://www.spfld-museum-of-art.org/

Living in Greene County you will be surrounded by fairly conservative people once you leave Yellow Springs. Nearby Cedarville, Yellow Springs' "evil twin sister", is home to a Southern-Baptist affiliated college (sort of the opposite of Antioch). The county seat, Xenia, is as bible belt as any place in the South.

In Yellow Srings itself you will certainly be surrounded by liberals, progressives, and alternative types of various sorts there, as Yellow Springs seems to collect that type from around the region.

I can't tell you more about local life, but I would assume it is somewhat cliquey as it is a small and somewhat insular community, though it has grown somewhat thus perhaps new blood is in town.


Aside from the limited offerings in Springfield, Dayton (30 minutes or so away) would be your major cultural attraction for performing arts. Dayton does have a symphony, opera, ballet, contemporary dance, and live theatre, as well as touring things of various sorts. Yellow Springs does have a chamber music ensemble, though.

Dayton has quite a bit of ethnic food. More on the Indian side, and now Mexican. Also quite a few oriental places (Thai, Korean, Chinese). There is even an Eastern European ethnic place that serves Lithuanian and Polish dishes. One place, El Meson, specializes in South American specialties, with a rotating menu every month. There are two Lebanese places, one Turkish place, and a Punjabi place.

Possibly the best restuarant in Yellow Springs is the Winds, and this is one of the best in the region. Here is their website

http://www.windscafe.com/

To be honest, from what you've said, I think you really need to live in a larger city. Yellow Springs may be too small for you. It is very urbane, but it is, after all, a small town.

[noname]

Why don't you look at Dayton in addition to Yellow Springs? Dayton has a fantastic and inexpensive stock of older homes, plus more to do than Yellow Springs or Springfield. The commute wouldn't be terrible for your husband... except in the winter.

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by noname

Why don't you look at Dayton in addition to Yellow Springs? Dayton has a fantastic and inexpensive stock of older homes, plus more to do than Yellow Springs or Springfield. The commute wouldn't be terrible for your husband... except in the winter.

As a newcomer to the Dayton area, I'd think Yellow Springs OR other places in the dayton area would be decent places to live. And, noname, I'm not even sure the winter commute would be that bad. Just like anywhere else; take your time and drive safely. I drive a truck in the Dayton area and I don't think our winters are that bad, IMHO.

[plath]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the feedback from all of you. I will check into Dayton. If we do move, maybe it will be better to pick a larger city and commute.



Sandy (Plath)

[Crew Chief]

Sandy, ya still could look at the AJC's "Vent" column from OH like I do!!!

[JefferyT]

Places to live in Dayton, with character, is the older suburb of Oakwood, east of Far Hills avenue. This is developing into a fairly progressive community, with acadamics and professionals of various types.

For the city itself, the historic districts would be best. Oregon, South Park, and St Annes Hill are recommended by me, with Oregon being the most thoroughly restored (and most expensive). The Rubicon area between University of Dayton and Miami Valley Hospital might be worth looking at, too, as it is being renovated.

[Asy]

I am from Yellow Springs and lived most of my life there. From the sound of it it is and is not what you want. It is very liberal so you'll have no problem there. For being such a small town it's very diverse. There are a lot of interesting shops and as one person said, The Winds Cafe has very good food. Beyond that and maybe Current Cuisine, you'll have to go out of town for dining. There are some things in Beavercreek, but otherwise the Dayton area will be your best bet. Springfield doesn't really have anything to offer (sorry folks), Xenia is not going to add anything to your experience. You will have to bank on Dayton and even to Columbus for that. The problem you'll find with YS is that you will quickly exhaust what there is to do. It's a very small town.

With your concern of knowing people, well, once you are known to people you will begin to almost always see someone you know when you go downtown. It's just not big enough to avoid it.

Antioch is an interesting school. It used to be very famous and very well known, over the years it has begun to decline. I personally feel that this is due to the way it's being run. They are taking liberal minded to a new and ridiculous level there. The students destroy the dorms and protest just about anything they can think of to find fault in. I don't mean to knock it, but they just go too far in trying to be "weird" and "different". As a profesor I don't think you'll have a problem with it seeming corporate. Office hours and availability should be flexible. The students, I don't know how they are in the classroom just outside.

You should find all people in the town and college to be pretty open to new people. There are cliques but it's not too bad. They will be curious about you and want to find out about you, but I'm sure that's not too much to deal with. Generally I've found that new people don't have trouble fitting in, making friends and being accepted. I hope this helps.

[plath]

Asy, Jeff and Crew Chief,

Thank you so much; all of the info was helpful, and Asy--as a person part of the YS community--I really appreciate your additional insight and input. You've helped clarify my perspective, and I appreciate it.

Many good regards to everyone.
sandy

[Horace]

Yellow Springs is a great little town. In regard to Antioch, you might wish to look very closely at that possible career choice. Antioch College seems to be drowning in a sea of red ink. That's nothing new. Now, they are looking at a "merger" of Antioch College and Antioch University. What does that mean? Well, the college has tenured professors, the University doesn't. Goodbye, tenure. Antioch College is running on bare bones. The student body has shrunk to levels that are not sustainable. Retiring faculty are not being replaced. Key staff are being let go in the never-ending quest for "fiscal restraint." While you might be very happy in Yellow Springs I think that you might realize, if you accept a position at Antioch College, that you have made the biggest mistake of your life. I speak from experience of all these entities.