Underrated US Cities

[Letsgohuskies11]

Maybe it was the really sunny weather but I didnt think Cleveland was half as bad as made out to be. Maybe it's come a long way from where it was but it wasn't some bombed out dystopia that I was thinking it was going to be.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Random, but any love for Ipswich? I'm heading up there for two nights in June for the first time.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Random, but any love for Ipswich? I'm heading up there for two nights in June for the first time.

The historic district is nice. Lots of very old homes. A visit to Privateer is definitely worthwhile, even though Maggie Campbell is now gone. The coastline is quite nice, but mostly not "beachy". I went up a few times, mostly to go to Privateer release events. It's just a wicked pain in the neck to get to. Ipswich Ale brewery is there too. I never made it out to the beach at Castle Neck.

 

[TyroneShoo]

bankruptcy ..Pretty sure United bought Norwegian planes. They are just stashing them Norwegian trying to restructure.

 

[Waquoit]

Random, but any love for Ipswich? I'm heading up there for two nights in June for the first time.

Try the Clam Box.

 

[UConniki]

Salt Lake is really nice but it’s dead after 7pm.

I’d vote Burlington VT, Murfreesboro TN, and Savannah GA

lot of zombies huh???

 

[SportsFan88]

Bridgeport, CT LOL

 

[SportsFan88]

Portland Maine. Go to the bowling alley on Muntjoy Hill or the Blue Spoon. Plus zJohn Ford, the famed director (Grapes of Wrath, Stage Coach) grew up there and there is a statue, not of him but of his brother in town. That would be kind of like putting up a statue to Chuck Lincoln, Abraham’s less successful brother who Abe kept in jobs, but hey, they have their reasons I guess. Great restaurants. Great location. Great Views. Solid brews. And a nice arts scene. And if you go to a Seadogs game on Wednesdays you might win a free washing machine in Washing machine Wednesday promotion which to me is the ultimate minor league baseball promotion by a mile. Terrific beaches 20 minutes away. Excellent skiing within an hour. Oh, and New England’s smallest lighthouse to boot.

I remember my aunt taking my brother and I on a camping expedition that was along the St lawerence river on the Maine/Canada border that was set up with her job. On the ride up we stayed a night in Portland so she takes us to this restaurant out there and I’ll never forget the 3 of us walked in and because we were 3 people they probably don’t see a lot of I’ll never forget the whole place going silent and just look at us in amazement LOL

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Bridgeport, CT LOL

I'll vouch for Bridgeport.

• You want authentic ethnic food at a reasonable price due to low rent?
• Webster Bank arena is a totally acceptable place to watch hockey, basketball, other stuff. Also, they are converting the Bluefish stadium to an amphitheater.
• Black Rock (RIP Acoustic Cafe)
• The steady development of the old warehouses right near I-95 (Monger's Market, etc)
• New-ish entertainment options in downtown (The Stress Factory, Bijou Theatre).
• Great artist community (large spaces for cheap rent, really one of the few places in the state where an actual working artist can afford to work).

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I'll vouch for Bridgeport.

• You want authentic ethnic food at a reasonable price due to low rent?
• Webster Bank arena is a totally acceptable place to watch hockey, basketball, other stuff. Also, they are converting the Bluefish stadium to an amphitheater.
• Black Rock (RIP Acoustic Cafe)
• The steady development of the old warehouses right near I-95 (Monger's Market, etc)
• New-ish entertainment options in downtown (The Stress Factory, Bijou Theatre).
• Great artist community (large spaces for cheap rent, really one of the few places in the state where an actual working artist can afford to work).

This is a good post. I like hearing about places that the conventional wisdom says are dumps. A place like Portland, Maine that gets written about in every other travel magazine is not underrated.

 

[pepband99]

I'll vouch for Bridgeport.

• You want authentic ethnic food at a reasonable price due to low rent?
• Webster Bank arena is a totally acceptable place to watch hockey, basketball, other stuff. Also, they are converting the Bluefish stadium to an amphitheater.
• Black Rock (RIP Acoustic Cafe)
• The steady development of the old warehouses right near I-95 (Monger's Market, etc)
• New-ish entertainment options in downtown (The Stress Factory, Bijou Theatre).
• Great artist community (large spaces for cheap rent, really one of the few places in the state where an actual working artist can afford to work

All legit. I'll take Joseph's Steakhouse over pretty much anywhere else in CT, too.
The ethnic food bit is legit, too. Only Bridgeport could have somewhere like Bloodroot - it's awesome.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

didja ever notice that, unlike many other 'cities' in 'murica, Bport is never a cauldron of destructive energy whenever a wave of crankiness befalls us? that's cuz people get along there quite nicely in an imperfect world. sumthin in the water, i guess. and by 'people,' i mean the broad spectrum of humankind living there as the population profile is astounding, however the recent invasion by new yakkers might have an impact going forward. let's hope they just keep their pieholes shut, since it's already obvious that they've brought their insane driving habits with them. ugh.
fun story from last week. a nice, tight little cape with a decent yard was sold in great gramms hood. seller tells me 'u know where they're from, clif.' no news there. the news was 'they said it is their 'dream house. the couple is 94 and 99!'
spare me the joke aboot 'it'll soon be for sale,' and instead let's just hope for a long and happy retirement by them. 'hey gramms, u ain't the oldest homeowner on the block no more!' like lenny grimaldi is known to say, 'Only in Bridgeport.'
Bridgeport - The Park City. cuz it is.

 

[storrsroars]

Only Bridgeport could have somewhere like Bloodroot - it's awesome.

Hate to be picky about this, but pretty much any blue city with affluent/gentrified neighborhoods has at least one Bloodroot, as do many college towns. That a reputedly depressed city like Bridgeport supports one is the story.

If you like that kind of thing, visit Apteka next time you're in Pittsburgh. It's one a few, but it's routinely reviewed as best of that lot. It's pretty much all Eastern European vegan, if you like unique.

 

[Jaker]

bankruptcy ..Pretty sure United bought Norwegian planes. They are just stashing them Norwegian trying to restructure.

Isn't Norwegian backed by the Government?

 

[TyroneShoo]

upstart Norse Atlantic is trying to take the discount long haul idea....flying the wide bodies. sone of the same execs. They have like 12 of the Dreamliners they are going to lease. Norwegian is gone In America. Many are trying to stop Norse Atl from getting allowed into US airports. Sone say- Drives down prices below reasonable levels ..while leaking huge losses. Many think Norwegian was not feasible model- Even before the basic Dreamliner repairs and the 737 grounding . ( 737 grounding for US pilots was nonsense. There is nothing wrong with the plane. but, you have to be able to actually fly it.....United Delta American pilots etc. all love it. A guy at Ethiopian airlines with 1500 hours is only cool until the system demands someone grab the control and do something).

 

[awfuldan]

Hate to be picky about this, but pretty much any blue city with affluent/gentrified neighborhoods has at least one Bloodroot, as do many college towns. That a reputedly depressed city like Bridgeport supports one is the story.

If you like that kind of thing, visit Apteka next time you're in Pittsburgh. It's one a few, but it's routinely reviewed as best of that lot. It's pretty much all Eastern European vegan, if you like unique.

Apteka is super good. I'm vegan and have travelled the country extensively by car, and Apteka is one of the most memorable spots I've eaten at.

For Bridgeport vegan stuff, I'm a Bloodroot fan but Shandal's is the true gem.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Apteka is super good. I'm vegan and have travelled the country extensively by car, and Apteka is one of the most memorable spots I've eaten at.

For Bridgeport vegan stuff, I'm a Bloodroot fan but Shandal's is the true gem.

Shandal’s! Yes! Went there before a Sound Tigers game and it was really awesome! The food was just “good” but the vibes were awesome. The owner is super nice and very could hang out there for hours.

 

[Waquoit]

The fact that Portland OR has only been mentioned twice in over 500 posts proves that it's the answer doesn't it? Portland ME has been mentioned tons of times yet the OR version has everything ME has except more and better.

 

[Guapo]

The fact that Portland OR has only been mentioned twice in over 500 posts proves that it's the answer doesn't it? Portland ME has been mentioned tons of times yet the OR version has everything ME has except more and better.

i think both Portlands are properly rated

 

[Waquoit]

i think both Portlands are properly rated

Noted

 

[SportsFan88]

Being

I'll vouch for Bridgeport.

• You want authentic ethnic food at a reasonable price due to low rent?
• Webster Bank arena is a totally acceptable place to watch hockey, basketball, other stuff. Also, they are converting the Bluefish stadium to an amphitheater.
• Black Rock (RIP Acoustic Cafe)
• The steady development of the old warehouses right near I-95 (Monger's Market, etc)
• New-ish entertainment options in downtown (The Stress Factory, Bijou Theatre).
• Great artist community (large spaces for cheap rent, really one of the few places in the state where an actual working artist can afford to work).

i be trying to tell people the food here in BPT is really good

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

The ethnic food bit is legit, too. Only Bridgeport could have somewhere like Bloodroot - it's awesome.

I think that Noel & Selma might wonder about feminist vegetarianism being implied as an ethnicity. As to the later mention here that Blood root isn't all that unique, it sure was 40 years ago when I declined in puzzlement the desert suggestion of pumpkin tofu cheesecake.

I remember a huge whiff of ganja coming out from Shandal's when I first encountered it by happenstance a dozen year ago. I've had similarly fine Caribbean vegetarian food in Jamaica, Queens near JFK, in New Haven's 9th Square, and at Fire & Spice on Capitol Ave in Hartford. It's definitely an identifiable cuisine.

Back to Bridgeport specifically, my first indoor restaurant meal in quite some time was at Ceviche Palace on East Main Street a couple Sundays ago after wandering the vast Mongers Market for a couple hours.

Might be doing a bike tour in Bridgeport tomorrow morning, as well. I suppose that Bridgeport as to New Haven can play out somewhat like Oakland or St Paul do to San Francisco or Minneapolis respectively.

 

[storrsroars]

I think that Noel & Selma might wonder about feminist vegetarianism being implied as an ethnicity. As to the later mention here that Blood root isn't all that unique, it sure was 40 years ago when I declined in puzzlement the desert suggestion of pumpkin tofu cheesecake.

Having lived in Bridgeport in the late 80s, I'd never heard of Bloodroot before I moved there. But I'd known about Moosewood in Ithica for years and I'd never even been to Ithica at that point and really wanted nothing to do with vegetarian or vegan places. Moosewood inspired hundreds of vegetarian/vegan restaurants at a level similar to Alice Waters inspiring farm-to-table restos.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Having lived in Bridgeport in the late 80s, I'd never heard of Bloodroot before I moved there. But I'd known about Moosewood in Ithica for years and I'd never even been to Ithica at that point and really wanted nothing to do with vegetarian or vegan places. Moosewood inspired hundreds of vegetarian/vegan restaurants at a level similar to Alice Waters inspiring farm-to-table restos.

All true.

I've been visiting my sister during her summers (and now year round) in Ithaca & north for nearly three decades, so I'm well-acquainted with Ithaca & Moosewood

As to Bloodroot, by my perception, it has often given off a chilly vibe toward men, but things jumped noticeably in my favor after one time when I encountered my original yoga teacher. A connection was made because one of the two restaurant partners did a class at a different time & location with Sophie, one which I later joined occasionally. It was like I got issued a credible ally card.

Then again, it had felt like an understandable, "Yeah, we don't get treated so great out in most of the world, so allow our cold attitude to raise your consciousness some." I've known men who have stayed away.

 

[superjohn]

All true.

I've been visiting my sister during her summers (and now year round) in Ithaca & north for nearly three decades, so I'm well-acquainted with Ithaca & Moosewood

As to Bloodroot, by my perception, it has often given off a chilly vibe toward men, but things jumped noticeably in my favor after one time when I encountered my original yoga teacher. A connection was made because one of the two restaurant partners did a class at a different time & location with Sophie, one which I later joined occasionally. It was like I got issued a credible ally card.

Then again, it had felt like an understandable, "Yeah, we don't get treated so great out in most of the world, so allow our cold attitude to raise your consciousness some." I've known men who have stayed away.

Sounds like a really strange business model.

 

[Umami Zen]

All true.

I've been visiting my sister during her summers (and now year round) in Ithaca & north for nearly three decades, so I'm well-acquainted with Ithaca & Moosewood

As to Bloodroot, by my perception, it has often given off a chilly vibe toward men, but things jumped noticeably in my favor after one time when I encountered my original yoga teacher. A connection was made because one of the two restaurant partners did a class at a different time & location with Sophie, one which I later joined occasionally. It was like I got issued a credible ally card.

Then again, it had felt like an understandable, "Yeah, we don't get treated so great out in most of the world, so allow our cold attitude to raise your consciousness some." I've known men who have stayed away.

Did you ever see the albino deer in or around Ithaca? Pretty wild..Was there for a wedding and they were walking around right off of the campus of Cornell

 

[SportsFan88]

I think that Noel & Selma might wonder about feminist vegetarianism being implied as an ethnicity. As to the later mention here that Blood root isn't all that unique, it sure was 40 years ago when I declined in puzzlement the desert suggestion of pumpkin tofu cheesecake.

I remember a huge whiff of ganja coming out from Shandal's when I first encountered it by happenstance a dozen year ago. I've had similarly fine Caribbean vegetarian food in Jamaica, Queens near JFK, in New Haven's 9th Square, and at Fire & Spice on Capitol Ave in Hartford. It's definitely an identifiable cuisine.

Back to Bridgeport specifically, my first indoor restaurant meal in quite some time was at Ceviche Palace on East Main Street a couple Sundays ago after wandering the vast Mongers Market for a couple hours.

Might be doing a bike tour in Bridgeport tomorrow morning, as well. I suppose that Bridgeport as to New Haven can play out somewhat like Oakland or St Paul do to San Francisco or Minneapolis respectively.

Disagree with your last take but being a BPT head I might be a little biased

 

[Hoophound]

Did you ever see the albino deer in or around Ithaca? Pretty wild..Was there for a wedding and they were walking around right off of the campus of Cornell

My dad gives off a bit of the Clark W. Griswold vibe sometimes. I’ll never forget driving through the California mountains on our way to Point Reyes or Yosemite or something in the mid 80’s. My dad was eagerly reading all the great things to see and do and telling us kids about them as my mother drove. Most of it was not very exciting to us at all. My dad said, “Guys, look out for an albino deer, apparently there are a few around and they are extremely rare.” I looked out the window and said, “There’s one”. My dad was like “yeah right”. Standing right there, 20 feet away, was a big, white albino deer. We still laugh about that.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Disagree with your last take but being a BPT head I might be a little biased

It was a speculative comment, and actually meant as a positive.

I lived in the North End on Lake Forest for 7 years, before moving to Westville. I prefer New Haven overall, though I like having familiarity with and access to both cities.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Did you ever see the albino deer in or around Ithaca? Pretty wild..Was there for a wedding and they were walking around right off of the campus of Cornell

I've only known of them as living within the former Seneca Army Depot, a bit north of my sister.

Somewhere I got the impression that they were rounded up and now have a paid admission tourist attraction status. Never seen them in or out of captivity.