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I've seen many posts that list NOLA as a world-class city (or at least world-class travel destination) and on those same lists Cincinnati is almost nowhere to be found. People regularly confuse Cleveland and Cincinnati despite them being completely different. My question is, "Why?"
Cincinnati's architecture is on par with New Orleans. Over-the-Rhine is the largest historic district in the country, including the French Quarter. Cincinnati has equally impressive (if not more impressive) landmarks than New Orleans. Cincinnati has a unique culture that isolates it completely from its surrounding area, much the way New Orleans does. Cincinnati has unique culinary specialties like cincinnati chili and goetta. Lastly, Cincinnati feels old and historic, has the slow-pace lifestyle, and is beautifully built into the land much like New Orleans.
In having these conversations with people as I travel, I often hear provincialism touted as a reason why Cincinnati isn't highly regarded. However provincialism is exactly what makes New Orleans noteworthy. New Orleans has just as much corruption, crime, and disinvestment. New Orleans' neighborhoods are more rough than Cincinnati's and have more blight. New Orleans' suburbs are far more conservative than Cincinnati's. New Orleans has just as much tattoo wearing, substance smoking, free thinking, counter-culture as Cincinnati. Yet for some reason, these aspects are met with contempt in reference to Cincinnati and either seen as a non-issue or are highly regarded in reference to New Orleans.
I'm not trying to argue that Cincinnati is an any way better than New Orleans. I'd just like to start an honest debate as to why the nation and world view two cities with similar qualities so differently.
Cincinnati has gorgeous architecture, but it's largely abandoned or neglected. It will take significant investments to restore the many blocks of neglected neighborhoods (I'm speaking of Over-the-Rhine) but Cincy can truly be a San Francisco of the Midwest if it manages to pull off a recovery.
Lol..Whats in Cincinatti?...Cincinnatti is not really known for nothing and really doesnt have a solid image in peoples mind like new Orleans or st louis....show me a picture of St Louis and say Louisville...I could point out St Louis INSTANTLY....but show me a pic of Cincinatti and Louisville...I couldnt tell you the differnece...and plus Cincinnatti has been losing population so that futher detracts from its image
I think I drove through Cincinatti one time when I was a little kid on the way to Detroit ....but that was back in the 90's so I kinda forget
Cincinnatti needs to build a super bad World class Monument or tourist attraction or have a wild annual festival....or come up with a specialized food like Maybe Cincinnati BBQ...(opps no Memphis already has that title) Umm Maybe Cincinatti Lasagna or World Famous Cincinatti Popcorn or something ....it needs to do one of these things to get an Image for its self
If all else fails heck jus find a big street and throw a bunch a clubs that stay open all night and let women raise their shirts for beads and free alcohol like Bourbon Street and Beale Street lol
In your post...you talk like your from Ohio by saying things like The Rhine district..and Cinninatti has awesome archticture....you should take your self out of an OHIOIAN mindset and view Cincinatti as if you were from somewhere else to see why Cincinnatti isn't compared to places like New Orleans....The Rhine District you mention may be nice to YOU and folks in Ohio...but do you think people in Oregón or Texas ever heard of the Rhine District...do you think People in New York care about Cincinnatti Architecture.....I can tell you one thing,...I have never heard of the Rhine Historic district and Nobody in Nashville is saying Gosh Yall...look at all dem pretty buildings in Cincinatti
If you werent from Ohio...would you care about Cincinatti?.......for what its worth tho im sure if I was there I would enjoy myself
Last edited by SteveTime; 07-19-2013 at 03:45 PM..
Its a mixed bag with New Orleans. People love it or hate it. Generally its just the party, sometimes the food that give it the reputation. Its got the French quarter thats a huge draw, but its mixed with the party atmosphere. The temperate winter weather allows year round....party. Cincy doesnt have an equivelant draw.
In your post...you talk like your from Ohio by saying The Rhine district..and Cinninatti has awesome archticture....you should take your self out of an OHIOIAN mindset and view Cincinatti as if you were from somewhere else to see why Cincinnatti isn't compared to places like New Orleans....The Rhine District you mention may be nice to YOU and folks in Ohio...but do you think people in Oregón or Texas ever heard of the Rhine District...do you think People in New York care about Cincinnatti Architecture.....I can tell you one thing,...I have never heard of the Rhine Historic district and Nobody in Nashville is saying Gosh Yall...look at all dem pretty buildings in Cincinatti
If you werent from Ohio...would you care about Cincinatti?.......for what its worth tho im sure if I was there I would enjoy myself
... I'm originally from Los Angeles, spent some time in San Francisco, and now I live in Seattle. Now having established that, I'll again say that Over-the-Rhine has tremendous potential. Way to make some false presumptions, bud.
I guess I should've clarified. I'm not from Cincinnati. I grew up in Wisconsin and Minnesota, went to college in Milwaukee, then lived in Chicago for a bit before moving to Cincinnati for Grad School. I'm now studying Urban Design and having spending countless hours studying many cities across the country, I truly feel they are more similar than different. But as I mentioned, people FEEL very differently about them as evidenced by the above posts.
New Orleans has a higher profile because it is a world-class party town, as opposed to Cincinnatii -- which isn't. The Mardis Gras has made NOLA famous world-wide. It is probably the most renowned street festival/parade/public celebrations in the entire country and one of the few such events non-U.S. citizens know about.
New Orleans also has a higher profile worldwide becuase of its history as the birthplace of jazz, one of America's biggest cultural exports. I mean everyone has heard of Louis Armstrong.
I suppose Cincinatti has Procter & Gamble. But Mr. Clean and Duracell just aren't as sexy as Mardi Gras!
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