Fly Over Country? (Chicago, Ohio, Detroit: theatre, to live in, restaurants)

[Drover]

For all the dismissive comments about the Midwest being boring and "flyover country" and how easy it might be to see little beauty in it if you've been living here for 30 years, it still astonishes me how many people I hear from out west say it's absolutely beautiful around here because everything is green instead of brown. They even think the corn fields are lovely. In this case, the grass literally is greener...

[brinegar312]

This thread made sense when I posted it but it seems to cause too much controversy. Let me rephrase the question:
Other than Chicago, what cities are seen as economic engines around the midwest?
Detroit seems to be falling further down the ranks, as does Cleveland.
Minneapolis holds itself pretty well, from what I see.
What about StL and Indy?

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by brinegar312

This thread made sense when I posted it but it seems to cause too much controversy. Let me rephrase the question:
Other than Chicago, what cities are seen as economic engines around the midwest?
Detroit seems to be falling further down the ranks, as does Cleveland.
Minneapolis holds itself pretty well, from what I see.
What about StL and Indy?

St. Louis is still largely a dying city, in spite of some very positive changes in a small area. Indy's economy was less industrial to begin with, so it's transitioned to a service-based economy better than others. But it is probably the most boring major city in the midwest (and by "major city", I'm talking about large enough to support multiple professional sports teams). Chicago and the Twin Cities have been the most successful at adapting to the new economy. I really thought Milwaukee was rebounding for a while, but those efforts seem to be stagnating a bit lately. Most midwestern cities (including St. Louis and Cleveland) have seen substantial gentrification and revitalization, but are not nearly as healthy as they should be for long-term viability. I really like these cities, though, and hope they continue to turn it around.

[MassVt]

...with Drover; many Western states suffer from a serious lack of rainfall (or snow), and as a result, look as though they are parched. Green cornfields look lush by comparison.

Minneapolis has always been a great place to visit or live; it has largely avoided the effects of heavy industry, and remains very affordable. Warm-weather types might not enjoy it, but it remains a very pleasant place to live.
One of the nation's best kept secrets.

[At1WithNature]

The winters of minnesota are the worst of the entire nation...just saying...it doesn't get any colder than a Minnesota/North Dakota winter...beautiful and all. just saying...i know you said warm weather types might not enjoy it. but i think the majority of people wouldn't enjoy a minnesota winter!

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

St. Louis is still largely a dying city, in spite of some very positive changes in a small area. Indy's economy was less industrial to begin with, so it's transitioned to a service-based economy better than others. But it is probably the most boring major city in the midwest (and by "major city", I'm talking about large enough to support multiple professional sports teams). Chicago and the Twin Cities have been the most successful at adapting to the new economy. I really thought Milwaukee was rebounding for a while, but those efforts seem to be stagnating a bit lately. Most midwestern cities (including St. Louis and Cleveland) have seen substantial gentrification and revitalization, but are not nearly as healthy as they should be for long-term viability. I really like these cities, though, and hope they continue to turn it around.

Agreed. If we can get the green economy rolling though I think you'll see substantive changes in many of these former industrial cities. St. Louis is well positioned for this as they already have Monsanto and the area has a few very interesting start-ups doing materials science, semi-conductor and so forth work.

[At1WithNature]

There is no denying that america would fall apart without the business and hard working people of the midwest. it's the "fun" factor that has the coastal elitists calling it flyover country.

[DC's Finest]

I think the term fly over is an attempt to insult the Midwest by coastal people. I have never really heard of it and I lived in NY & DC practically all my life. I think the Midwest has a bad rep because there are no really cosmopolitan cities other than Chicago.

[gichicago]

Eh, I dont care for the term, but it doesn't bug me. Just another dumb generalization based on region. Like saying people from the West coast are fake, people in the east coast or uptight and rude, people in the south are dumb country bumpkins, etc...

[raleightransplant]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

I think the term fly over is an attempt to insult the Midwest by coastal people. I have never really heard of it and I lived in NY & DC practically all my life. I think the Midwest has a bad rep because there are no really cosmopolitan cities other than Chicago.

I'm not sure I agree with that. Minneapolis-St. Paul is pretty cosmopolitan. At least on the level of a Seattle or Portland, OR.