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Memo to New York: Wake up and smell the sushi
BY SANDRA ALI
I grew up in New York City. My family still lives there.
Although my career and love of travel have taken me to other parts of the country and world, many of my New York friends and relatives were concerned about my moving to the "Queen City." They were under the misconception that Cincinnati is backward, out-of-touch and frankly a little boring.
Now that I have lived and worked here for nearly six months, I can write this to let them know how wrong they are, and trust me, that's something New Yorkers hate to hear.
The Top Five Things New Yorkers Would Be Surprised to Know About Cincinnati:
1. You can get sushi here.
Actually, it's readily available AND it's good. So, contrary to what my friends think, I don't have to hop a flight to LaGuardia just to get my beloved spicy tuna roll.
2. Cincinnati has a flourishing arts community.
From the symphony, touring companies of Broadway productions, and renowned ballet and opera, the performing arts here are phenomenal. In addition, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art provide opportunities for growth and learning you can only get in Cincinnati.
3. There IS a nightlife for young single people.
Being a single twenty-something woman in any new city is always a big challenge. How do I fit in? Where are all the hip, trendy hangouts? Is this a good city for singletons?
Let's just say, I've figured out firsthand Cincinnati has so many options when it comes to nightlife, I can't even list them all. You don't have to worry about me sitting home on Saturday nights. There's so much to do and enjoy, my social calendar is chock-full. I'm having a blast!
4. There's a Starbucks on every corner, just like other major cities.
Yes, folks, this IS a major city. Whether you find it a plus or not, those warm, inviting little coffee houses with that very familiar green sign are scattered throughout the city.
5. There are stylish clothing stores and boutiques selling trendy fashions that are NOT located inside of a shopping mall.
Many New Yorkers, my friends included, have the impression the local mall is the hub of culture for Midwesterners. That may be true for some people, but not for everybody. In fact, I've found some truly terrific hidden gems that are a shopper's paradise.
Well, that's it for Queen City 101. I'm trying to get my nay-saying friends and family out to visit soon. Who knows, maybe after they see all that's available here and how friendly people are, they'll want to stay. Well, maybe that's pushing it, but at least they won't worry so much about me.
Sandra Ali is an evening news anchor for WLWT-TV (Channel 5). Before coming to Cincinnati, she was a reporter at WJBK-TV in Detroit.
I grew up in New York City. My family still lives there.
Although my career and love of travel have taken me to other parts of the country and world, many of my New York friends and relatives were concerned about my moving to the "Queen City." They were under the misconception that Cincinnati is backward, out-of-touch and frankly a little boring.
Now that I have lived and worked here for nearly six months, I can write this to let them know how wrong they are, and trust me, that's something New Yorkers hate to hear.
The Top Five Things New Yorkers Would Be Surprised to Know About Cincinnati:
1. You can get sushi here.
Actually, it's readily available AND it's good. So, contrary to what my friends think, I don't have to hop a flight to LaGuardia just to get my beloved spicy tuna roll.
2. Cincinnati has a flourishing arts community.
From the symphony, touring companies of Broadway productions, and renowned ballet and opera, the performing arts here are phenomenal. In addition, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art provide opportunities for growth and learning you can only get in Cincinnati.
3. There IS a nightlife for young single people.
Being a single twenty-something woman in any new city is always a big challenge. How do I fit in? Where are all the hip, trendy hangouts? Is this a good city for singletons?
Let's just say, I've figured out firsthand Cincinnati has so many options when it comes to nightlife, I can't even list them all. You don't have to worry about me sitting home on Saturday nights. There's so much to do and enjoy, my social calendar is chock-full. I'm having a blast!
4. There's a Starbucks on every corner, just like other major cities.
Yes, folks, this IS a major city. Whether you find it a plus or not, those warm, inviting little coffee houses with that very familiar green sign are scattered throughout the city.
5. There are stylish clothing stores and boutiques selling trendy fashions that are NOT located inside of a shopping mall.
Many New Yorkers, my friends included, have the impression the local mall is the hub of culture for Midwesterners. That may be true for some people, but not for everybody. In fact, I've found some truly terrific hidden gems that are a shopper's paradise.
Well, that's it for Queen City 101. I'm trying to get my nay-saying friends and family out to visit soon. Who knows, maybe after they see all that's available here and how friendly people are, they'll want to stay. Well, maybe that's pushing it, but at least they won't worry so much about me.
Sandra Ali is an evening news anchor for WLWT-TV (Channel 5). Before coming to Cincinnati, she was a reporter at WJBK-TV in Detroit.
posted 1/11/2005
18 comments
18 Comments:
Sushi and Starbucks does not necessarily a great urban culture make.
Now what's this about your being single???? [[Grin]]
Sandra, welcome to the Queen City. If you need a tour guide, let me know.
(For the benefit of readers who happen to be my girlfriend, the suggestion is completely tongue-in-cheek.)
WF
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Jeez people. Lighten up. This is why people leave this city. Someone tries to say something positive and people tear each point apart. I for one am thrilled there's one more booster for this damn city, regardless of why that person likes it here. Different people like different things.
Of course, everybody knows it's not perfect and criticism is needed. And population decline will not reverse by opening more Starbucks. But let's try the the following: "Sushi is great, but we need more Middle Eastern restaurants like other cities." Or "There may be an arts scene but it's too expensive. They should have more student nights" Or "Channel Cincinnati can be more like Channel All Night Free Drinks"
As opposed to "Ooh! Sushi!" and "Social calendar? How many FREE tickets do you get, hmMMMMMM??!"
And there IS a nightlife anonymous. It may not go until 4 am, but 2 is late enough for me anyway.
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I agree with gerard - just give the poor lady a break! Are we not allowed to have opinions in this city without them being shot down? He is right - that IS why people leave the city because they get tired of people being so mean! Even people in the schools are mean, not just adults. So next time YOU give an opinion, be grateful people are actually letting you give it!
I think all you jokers are missing the point here: Sandra Ali is smoking hot.
Cincinnati is better than NYC because she's here and no longer there. If she moves, well then we can argue the details. But not before. Now go watch the news.
Did you know Cincinnati has a subway?
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I AM REPOSTING FUNNELCAKE'S COMMENT - THE LONG URL WAS BREAKING THE PAGENightlife? Here: Click HereHere: http://www.cincyupdate.com
Here: http://www.cinweekly.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
Just to name a few. If you can't find a night life you aren't trying very hard.
-Funnelcake
Note: In trying to remove funnlecake's original post so that I could reformat it so that it would fit on the page properly (still doesn't look great - blogger doesn't like hard returns sometimes, I guess), there was another post accidentally removed. The post was not removed for any editorial reason.
If the original poster would like to repost their comment, please feel free.
Well, here's a question ...
Has Sandra Ali's world-wind media career (what with having a cameo in Bowling For Columbine and all) given her enough time to become a Monied Elite and perhaps even in the position at some point to start, oh, say, a production company of some sort so that we more artistically-oriented Cincinnati dwellers might have some work of some IMPORT?
You see, whether or not we have off-Broadway productions or Starbuck's is insufficient to break the despondency triggered by having people breathing down your neck all day with such stuff as, "Do you think we can trim a third of a cent off the price of that piece of paper?"
If we had something of some significance to do during the day we might find it easier to have a more positive attitude about Cincinnati.
What? You don't like your day job?
The problem with most of you native Cincinnatians is that many of you bitch and complain without actually venturing past the 6th street viaduct. I fell in love with this city 10 years ago and I'm still here and still loving it. You need to make your own life here and if you don't have one than grow some gonads and admit you don't and figure out how to get one. There is so much more here than you think especially the history. So get your head out of the sand, stop playing with your X-box and take a good look around. If you need me to take you on a tour I'll be more than happy to tie you to my bumber and drag you around town to show you the sites. BTW Sandra, a little history lesson. One of the reasons I came here was because it is alot like NYC but smaller. The Roebling Bridge (Blue Suspension Bridge) was the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge, The Carew Tower was the prototype for the Empire State Building and as NYC it borders a river. Lets not be stupid enough to forget about the Indy music scene. Sandra, welcome to Cincinnati, one New Yorker/Cincinnatian to another.
Yes, we ARE familiar with the architecture -- (for those not familiar with the architecture you can check out some of my best shots here, but what we really could go for are some decent people to socialize with -- people of some intelligence with something of some IMPORT to contribute to the world, and, more importantly, we need some people like that to WORK with.
This "bean counting" orientation that seems to be so prevalent around here is demoralizing beyond description.
Welcome to Cincinnati, Sandra! I'm glad you're here. I like News 5.
I'm a native Cincinnatian-- I've lived here all of my life, with the exception of 4 years away in college. But as soon as my fiance finishes school, we'll be moving.
Based on my experience, and the experience of the many, many young adults I went to high school with who have left, the reason the "creative class" is leaving isn't because they can't find sushi (or middle eastern food, for that matter). It's not because there's no art or music (as another poster noted, there is a thriving and eclectic indy music scene). It's mostly because in the actions of the city and those in power, no one seems to care about us or have the same values. It's because people dicker about moving Fountain Square over four feet, but can't manage to rehab afforable housing in Over-the-Rhine. It's because of Timothy Thomas and Roger Owensby and a pervasive subtext of racism (and for the record, I'm white, and from Anderson Township). It's because of the kinds of older residents (including, unfortunately, my mom) who say the tsunami victims "deserved" their fate because "they're all crazy & evil and they hate us anyway." It's because Cincinnati is a city of stolid surbuban enclaves that does not really do anything to create a vibrant, inclusive urban center. Instead it's "let's put another bar on Main St.! Let's build our own "Newport on the Levee in Oakley." It's about commercial expansion instead of people and communities.
I don't mean to imply that there aren't a lot of nice, open-minded people here--there are, all over. I love this city and will always have a soft spot for it (and Skyline chili!). I just want to point out that there are a lot of pretty valid reasons-- way beyond Starbucks or Sushi-- that young people often leave.
Just for the record, you certainly can't find a Starbucks on every corner (or even in every zip code) on the west side of Cincinnati. Hard to even find espresso over there. Thank God for Panera.
Man, anonymous, you sure are negative. Sure, some people here are extremely ignorant with statments such as the one you pointed out, but that is EVERYWHERE. What, you don't think people in Chicago or New York said that? As an Arab-American who is Muslim, I hate to hear that. But EVERY major city in the US has hicks that are racist, mean, or just plain stupid. Cincinnati is no different. And don't bring up Thomas...that is just another excuse the citizens in OTR use to cause trouble. Anyway, Sandra, welcome to our city. You will love Opening Day, Oktoberfest, Taste, and all the other great activities here. You'll love the views that the hilly terrain gives you. About the only think you won't love is the weather in the early spring and mid to late winter, but as long as you can make it through that, you'll be alright.
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