http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2012/09/worlds-leading-cities-fashion/3182/

 

Columbus is #3, behind NYC and LA... for the US, not the world.  Cincinnati is #9.

 

Not sure about Cincinnati, but Columbus makes a lot of sense as the home of The Limited and Abercrombie & Fitch.

Macy's is in Cincinnati, right?

^Yes.

Macy's is in Cincinnati, right?

 

Well there you go, Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Probably the largest department store chain in the nation now unless Dillard's is bigger.

Yuh, my hometown representing:

 

Top 10 Small Towns, 2012

5. Chardon, OH

 

Chardon, OH, may be the smallest town on our list, but this place packs a whole lot of amenities.

 

Smack dab in the center of Ohio's maple syrup industry and the snow belt, Chardon provides its residents with a serene, peaceful atmosphere and a host of amenities. The town's crime rate is less than half of the national average and the unemployment rate is under 6.5 percent. Residents take pride in the town square, known as Chardon Square, which has a New England feel.

 

A bandstand on the square becomes the focal point of many community events including a summer concert series. Chardon is home of the Geauga County Maple Festival, an annual event held in the spring, which draws approximately 10,000 guests with its music, parade, bathtub races and the can't-miss tradition of the maple stir, which involves stirring a small bowl of warm syrup until it turns into thick maple candy.

 

Among the town's 30 or so restaurants, diners rave about the tiny Noce Gourmet Pizzeria on Main Street. Chardon BrewWorks & Eatery, another interesting standout downtown, opened in 2010 on the square as the first brewery in Geauga County since prohibition

 

Read More at: http://livability.com/top-10/top-10-small-towns-2012/chardon/oh

Macy's is in Cincinnati, right?

 

Well there you go, Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Probably the largest department store chain in the nation now unless Dillard's is bigger.

 

Macy's is much larger.  Dillard's has a little more than 300 locations (according to Wiki) and revenue of about $6.2 bn.  Macy's has approximately 800 locations and revenues of nearly $25bn. 

Right, and you know, I forgot to mention JC Penney and Sears about Macy's size.

Yep--I think that JCP, Kohl's and Sears are certainly closer to Macy's in number of locations and sales, though I haven't looked them up.  Dillard's seems like it might be the most direct in terms of concept/product mix, just based on when I am in the stores. 

Bloomberg BusinessWeek's list of the Top 50 U.S. cities:

 

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities#slide1

 

Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland all make the list. 

Thats a funny one....  Best how..?????  Very random stuff that they mention like with Cincinnati they mention the orchestra and then Cleveland they dont..??!!!  I mean Cincinnati has a good orchestra, one that has actually improved the past few years, but Cleveland has a great and legendary orchestra.. I guess maybe that is already known?

According to the methodology, it's based on "leisure attributes (the number of restaurants, bars, libraries, museums, professional sports teams, and park acres by population); educational attributes (public school performance, the number of colleges, and graduate degree holders), economic factors (2011 income and June and July 2012 unemployment), crime, and air quality."

 

I'm guessing that the things they mention are just sort of picked haphazardly as they highlight what a city has; it does not necessarily sound like they are qualitatively rating things like orchestras or symphonies (either you have one or you don't, basically). 

Indianapolis, Lexington, and Pittsburgh all make the Bloomberg Businessweek list.  So the  "Ohio Valley" is well-represented.  That Cincy and Pbgh are on the list speaks well for this part of the US.

 

I see they also pick up Milwaukee, which is one of the "sleeper cities"...cool interesting places that people dont know much about.

 

 

Thats a funny one....  Best how..?????  Very random stuff that they mention like with Cincinnati they mention the orchestra and then Cleveland they dont..??!!!  I mean Cincinnati has a good orchestra, one that has actually improved the past few years, but Cleveland has a great and legendary orchestra.. I guess maybe that is already known?

 

It mentions the pops orchestra. You are thinking symphony. Cincinnati has both a strong symphony and pops orchestra, but Cincinnati and Boston are considered the top two for pops.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek's list of the Top 50 U.S. cities:

 

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities#slide1

 

Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland all make the list. 

 

The image used for Columbus is not a good one. 

^I thought the same thing. That parking lot looks terrible in that photo.

 

I don't think Cincinnati's is too great either. It shows downtown from the back (Mt. Adams). I would rather have it be a skyline shot from the Kentucky side or a shot of OTR, UC's Campus, Hyde Park, or Northside.

10 unexpectedly romantic U.S. cities

 

Cleveland, Ohio

For rock 'n' roll nostalgia and more

 

What can be more romantic than reliving special musical moments together? And where better to do that than at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum? The Beatles exhibit alone includes some 70 artifacts (stage outfits, hand-written musical arrangements). Also catch the Grateful Dead exhibit (through 2012), and many others, including Jimi Hendrix, U2, and the Doors. On a totally different musical note, catch the Cleveland Orchestra at the handsome Severance Hall. Finish a day of touring at Edgewater State Park, where you can picnic while you watch the sun slip down into Lake Erie. Perhaps enjoy a nightcap at the Velvet Tango Room, a modern-day “speakeasy” in the Tremont neighborhood. Shop for retro fashion, antiques, and bargains in Larchmere. Grab a tasty lunch, including some interesting Japanese fare, at Flying Cranes Café on nearby Shaker Square. Extend your trip a bit by a drive out to Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island, north of Sandusky. Book rooms at the Vineyard Bed and Breakfast, a century-plus-old farmhouse set among lovely vines, and with its own private beach.

 

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/10-unexpectedly-romantic-u-s--cities.html?page=all

^I couldn't help but laugh at that article. They really were fishing deep with a lot of these. I can only imagine the meeting that went on before it. "Guys, let's just pick a bunch of cities no one goes to for romance, get some cheap stock photos, throw in some random anecdotes about a couple of decent restaurants, and then forget about the fact that most of these places are cities with hardly any tourism, let alone romantic getaways."

 

Put-in-Bay? Have they been there on a Saturday? I don't think romance as much as day drinking with Toledoans and Clevelanders looking for "what happens at Put-in-Bay stays at Put-in-Bay, but it sure itches like hell." Anyone who knows the islands would list Kelleys or Pelee instead. It's just more proof these writers have no idea what they're talking about. And Sacramento just completely kills any ounce of credibility this list had. "Yeah, San Francisco is played out, but you know where people should start having romantic weekends? Sac Town I tells ya!" I'm surprised they didn't list Detroit and Stockton while they're at it...and Lake Tahoe is Reno territory not Sacramento territory.

 

Salt Lake City is even worse (boring)...but at least it's surrounded by beauty.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek's list of the Top 50 U.S. cities:

 

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities#slide1

 

Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland all make the list. 

 

Talk about perception being everything...Pittsburgh at #11 and Cleveland at #48?  C'mon.

 

 

Put-in-Bay? Have they been there on a Saturday? I don't think romance as much as day drinking with Toledoans and Clevelanders looking for "what happens at Put-in-Bay stays at Put-in-Bay, but it sure itches like hell." Anyone who knows the islands would list Kelleys or Pelee instead. It's just more proof these writers have no idea what they're talking about.

 

"Honey, when I saw that guy put a bucket on his head I knew this getaway was worth it."

Bloomberg BusinessWeek's list of the Top 50 U.S. cities:

 

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities#slide1

 

Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland all make the list. 

 

Talk about perception being everything...Pittsburgh at #11 and Cleveland at #48?  C'mon.

 

Have you been to Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is nice! It has a lot going for it, too. I'd take Pittsburgh over Cleveland or Columbus, just not Cincinnati. That's just me.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek's list of the Top 50 U.S. cities:

 

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities#slide1

 

Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland all make the list. 

 

Talk about perception being everything...Pittsburgh at #11 and Cleveland at #48?  C'mon.

 

Have you been to Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is nice! It has a lot going for it, too. I'd take Pittsburgh over Cleveland or Columbus, just not Cincinnati. That's just me.

 

I've been to Pittsburgh many times.  I really like it.  I feel it's in the same ballpark as Cleveland and Cincinnati, though, not on a whole different level.

Have you been to Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is nice! It has a lot going for it, too. I'd take Pittsburgh over Cleveland or Columbus, just not Cincinnati. That's just me.

 

I love Pittsburgh, but it has a surprising number of rednecks (count the confederate flags on Pittsburgh houses sometime). Yet it's urban density, enabled by its many developed valleys, exceeds that of any of Ohio's Big 3. It's transit is on par if not slightly better than Cleveland's. Its cultural offerings are equal to Cleveland's too. But that redneck thing really bothers me, something I also see too much of in Columbus and Cincy.

Have you been to Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is nice! It has a lot going for it, too. I'd take Pittsburgh over Cleveland or Columbus, just not Cincinnati. That's just me.

 

I love Pittsburgh, but it has a surprising number of rednecks (count the confederate flags on Pittsburgh houses sometime). Yet it's urban density, enabled by its many developed valleys, exceeds that of any of Ohio's Big 3. It's transit is on par if not slightly better than Cleveland's. Its cultural offerings are equal to Cleveland's too. But that redneck thing really bothers me, something I also see too much of in Columbus and Cincy.

 

I pretty much agree with all of this (both the good and bad of Pittsburgh).  I would add, though, that as impressive as some of their neighborhoods within the city limits are, their downtown is pretty dead and downright scary many nights.  Surely not as active as Cleveland's.

 

Have you been to Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is nice! It has a lot going for it, too. I'd take Pittsburgh over Cleveland or Columbus, just not Cincinnati. That's just me.

 

I love Pittsburgh, but it has a surprising number of rednecks (count the confederate flags on Pittsburgh houses sometime). Yet it's urban density, enabled by its many developed valleys, exceeds that of any of Ohio's Big 3. It's transit is on par if not slightly better than Cleveland's. Its cultural offerings are equal to Cleveland's too. But that redneck thing really bothers me, something I also see too much of in Columbus and Cincy.

 

All 3 C's have a pretty large population of Appalachians and Southerners that moved there for jobs, and Pittsburgh is pretty much the capitol of Appalachia, so yeah, they have it even more so.

I was gonna say, it isn't exactly Cleveland that is "redneck-free" either.  All four cities have high Appalachian populations for obvious geographical reasons.

Rednecks are everywhere, - at least what your definition of one is. There's a huge difference in my book between a redneck and a hillbilly, though. People in Appalachia are Hillbillies. Rednecks you find more in like Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia. I like Hillbillies, I don't like Rednecks.

I prefer the term "hilljack" myself.

I was gonna say, it isn't exactly Cleveland that is "redneck-free" either.  All four cities have high Appalachian populations for obvious geographical reasons.

 

Yes, but Cleveland does the decent thing by trying to herd most of them into a confined part of the metro area where the rest of us can't hear their country music, or see their trucks' Yosemite Sam mudflaps, or smell their grits. You know the place I'm talking about.......

 

Akron.

 

Incoming!!!

I was gonna say, it isn't exactly Cleveland that is "redneck-free" either.  All four cities have high Appalachian populations for obvious geographical reasons.

 

Yes, but Cleveland does the decent thing by trying to herd most of them into a confined part of the metro area where the rest of us can't hear their country music, or see their trucks' Yosemite Sam mudflaps, or smell their grits. You know the place I'm talking about.......

 

Of course I know the place you're talking about...the west side!!! :)

 

You guys are so elitist it's ridiculous.  You all don't like hipsters, don't like hillbillies, who the hell do you like? Just Yuppies or what?

Anyone ever watch "How The States Got Their Shapes"? There is a distinct difference between rednecks and hillbillies, and it relates to geography.  The former work on farms (hence their necks are red from the sun), while the latter live in the hills and mountains.

I was gonna say, it isn't exactly Cleveland that is "redneck-free" either.  All four cities have high Appalachian populations for obvious geographical reasons.

 

Yes, but Cleveland does the decent thing by trying to herd most of them into a confined part of the metro area where the rest of us can't hear their country music, or see their trucks' Yosemite Sam mudflaps, or smell their grits. You know the place I'm talking about.......

 

Akron.

 

Incoming!!!

 

CDM will be the first to point out that is NOT in our metro.  Now, I have dealt with my fair share of hillbillies and rednecks.  They are a very rare species north of I-80.  I am not sure what you would label the species of folks you find west of the Cuyahoga who wear cut off Def Leopard shirts, still rock the mullets, and spit every 15 seconds.... but they are not rednecks or hillbillies.  You occassionally see their male counterparts with that style too. 

You guys are so elitist it's ridiculous.  You all don't like hipsters, don't like hillbillies, who the hell do you like? Just Yuppies or what?

 

Now that is funny.  Made my morning. 

 

 

CDM will be the first to point out that is NOT in our metro.

 

I'm glad I stay on your mind (by simply piggy-backing off X).

I'm just glad I pre-empted the CSA vs. MSA fit you were gonna throw

Hts121 thinking of "CDM" actually caring about CSA/MSA in a thread titled "Another dumb-a$$ list" is getting towards Clint-Eastwood-Obama-Chair territory.

Comparing just the cities proper, Cleveland is an absolute mess compared to Pittsburgh.  And I say that as a homer, as a Cleveland partisan.  We're trying to come back from a full scale collapse that's not even over yet.  Pittsburgh never really did collapse. 

 

None of this has anything to do with hills.  That's just an excuse for Cleveland's ridiculous policy of trying to remake itself as a suburb.  Pittsburgh could have done that too, hills or no hills, but different choices were made.  They preserved their built environment, accented it with appropriate infill, and supported urban retail at multiple levels.  Cleveland could have done that too, with its flatter surface allowing for more density, not less.

^ I don't think you can say that Pittsburgh never really collapsed. The steel industry suffered a complete collapse in the 70s/80s leaving tens of thousands of people out of work almost over night.

Have you been to Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is nice! It has a lot going for it, too. I'd take Pittsburgh over Cleveland or Columbus, just not Cincinnati. That's just me.

 

I love Pittsburgh, but it has a surprising number of rednecks (count the confederate flags on Pittsburgh houses sometime). Yet it's urban density, enabled by its many developed valleys, exceeds that of any of Ohio's Big 3. It's transit is on par if not slightly better than Cleveland's. Its cultural offerings are equal to Cleveland's too. But that redneck thing really bothers me, something I also see too much of in Columbus and Cincy.

 

All 3 C's have a pretty large population of Appalachians and Southerners that moved there for jobs, and Pittsburgh is pretty much the capitol of Appalachia, so yeah, they have it even more so.

 

I deal with my fair share of hillbillies from Pittsburgh at work and I wholeheartedly agree. Every time I find myself in Pittsburgh, some mulleted jackass at a crowded bar eventually tries to pick a fight with me for no reason at all--a problem that simply does not exist in Cleveland. I don't care how nicely they've paved the streets; until their residents learn how to conduct themselves like urbanites who have triple-digit IQs, I'm never going to like the place.

 

Call me a snob, but I feel like we have a lot more in common with New Englanders than we ever will with the Appalachian folk. There's good reason for that--this area was originally settled by people from Connecticut, whereas the original Appalachians were all fresh immigrants from Germany and Eastern Europe. I spent a few months in Marietta a while back and experienced a positive culture shock. Those are people who love Pittsburgh.

I love how people like to view Pittsburgh through rose colored glasses. The reality is it is still bleeding population. I don't see how that is "turning the corner".

^ I don't think you can say that Pittsburgh never really collapsed. The steel industry suffered a complete collapse in the 70s/80s leaving tens of thousands of people out of work almost over night.

 

They lost their main industry, but that loss did not result in the devastation we've seen here.  Cleveland still has steel mills but so what.  It's not always about jobs, look at Portland.

^^ My brother lives in Pittsburgh and I visit every once in a while. I can see why people like it. I also can see why people hate it. It is kind of struggling for identity IMO. Pittsburgh does seem to be a great place to live if you have a comfortable job. My brother has lived in the neighborhoods of Shadyside and North Oakland (both just east of the Hill District and CBD). Both are beautiful and examples of great urbanism. Five minute walk to BRT, walkable neighborhoods, nice streetscaping, densely populated, plenty of bars and restaurants, etc.

 

Pittsburgh has also seen an uptick in population in the 2011 estimate (though we all know how that worked out for Cincinnati. And if you are unaware, the estimates were off... by a lot). The entire North Shore area is also coming along pretty nicely. They just expanded their subway system. There is a lot to look forward to if you live in Pittsburgh.

^ I've got to hand it to them, they're a good example of smart urban renewal and it looks really nice in several places. It definitely has improved in the last five years, but I think Pittsburgh's perennial status as a second-tier city is going to impede a full recovery. It's still a wreck in a lot of places, crime is bad, and the housing stock is expensive and wrecked in most neighborhoods. And there are 18 bridges, 3 rivers, and all the roads are uphill. :>

Pittsburgh is an appalachian city, must more like the Ohio Valley.  Cleveland is a Great Lakes city, much more like Detroit, Milwaukee, Buffalo.  I never understood the constant comparisons.  Pittsburg reminds me 10x more of Cincinnati or Charleston than it reminds me of Cleveland.  Totally different people and totally different feel.

^^ Driving in Pittsburgh is awful! I would rather drive in DC or NYC (maybe) any day than try to navigate Pittsburgh. Every road is a hill and none of them run in any logical direction (aside from along the valleys and the hillsides). If you are ever lost in Pittsburgh, ask someone for directions. You will not get there by just guessing.

 

Also, none of their highways are more than 3 lanes (most are 2 lanes) because of the space constraints and there is no way to expand them without tunneling. And I can't imagine driving in the winter with the snow...

^ I don't think you can say that Pittsburgh never really collapsed. The steel industry suffered a complete collapse in the 70s/80s leaving tens of thousands of people out of work almost over night.

 

They lost their main industry, but that loss did not result in the devastation we've seen here.  Cleveland still has steel mills but so what.  It's not always about jobs, look at Portland.

 

The manufacturing economy is positively a red herring in this region. We fought and lost that battle in the 70s and 80s, and by that time the Rust Belt cities were already declining. Personally I think you'll find far more convincing evidence that city management in a post-integration society makes a much bigger difference than availability of certain types of jobs. White flight devastated most cities proper--some came back quickly, others didn't. What's the difference between Lakewood and Cleveland? Not much physically. The better schools in Lakewood are the primary driver for building a solid, stable resident population there--something that Cleveland still sorely lacks. Pittsburgh managed to root out corruption and reform its government years ago. We're following in their footsteps with county government reform, and we're now beginning to see the good benefits that they saw from good management.

What's the difference between Lakewood and Cleveland? Not much physically. The better schools in Lakewood are the primary driver for building a solid, stable resident population there--something that Cleveland still sorely lacks.

 

I think you've got that backwards.  The solid, stable resident population in Lakewood is the driving force behind the "better" schools.  In reality a lot of it also comes down to perception.  There are certain schools in CMSD (actually a number of them) where students can get an education equal to or superior to anything they would get in Lakewood.  The problem is that the district as a whole has a bad reputation for a lot of reasons (not the least of which is the fact that so many troubled/challenging students are enrolled).

 

I wonder what the public school system in Pittsburgh is like?

^Also, Pittsburgh feels a lot smaller than CLE. And, Cleveland seems far more culturally diverse than Pittsburgh, at least by seeing the people on the streets the few times I've been there.

I've had to pull out stats to convince people that Pittsburgh isn't the bigger of the two.  To many casual observers, Cleveland looks and feels smaller.  Press them for analysis and, without using the exact term, they describe an overall lack of density.  And while Pittsburgh's downtown may lack ideal entertainment activity, it has no gaping holes at the skyline level or the street level.

^That's odd.  I find common perception, especially from people who aren't familiar with either area, to be the exact opposite.