The good things about your hometown

[michchick98]

Detroit has gotten such a bad rap in the news over the past years, that I decided I'd start this thread for anyone who was proud of the city or state they lived in.

While we don't have the greatest sports teams in the world (uh...can you say Detroit Lions? LOL) we do have some of the best fans in the world.

Loyalty to our hometown teams runs true and deep. Never have I met anyone who didn't speak with passion about their favorite team from Detroit including the Lions, even sometimes with a tear in their eye.

My father was a die-hard Tigers fan. He'd been watching them since he was 12 years old. I've often believed the Detroit Tigers were his one true love. He loved them unconditionally, win or lose. He'd scream and shout at the TV when they were doing crappy, as many sports fans do, and he'd sing their praises when they were doing well.

My brother is a die-hard Red Wings fan. He's much like my father in expressing his dislike or his acceptance of his boys in red.

My passion is also the Red Wings. Win or lose, I love watching them play. I haven't gotten to indulge in watching them much over the past few years, but they're never far from my thoughts during hockey season.

Detroit isn't only known for its great sports teams and passionate fans. Detroit was the birthplace of Motown. Great musical talents like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross owe their fame to the legendary Berry Gordy, one of the founders of Motown Records.

I haven't been there myself, but there's even a museum in honor of this great part of musical history. The Motown Historical museum. Perhaps one day when I have time, I'll get down there and check things out.

And of course, Detroit is also The Motor City. Automobile Capital of the World. Oh sure, GM and Chrysler are pulling themselves up by their bootstraps right now, but I have no doubt "The Big Three" will rein supreme in the auto industry once more. It may take a few years, but they'll be there.

On top of all that, we have The Detroit Institute of Arts, The Detroit Zoo, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. With the last two, taking a trip to the past is always fun. I haven't been to the Henry Ford Museum or Greenfield Village since I was a kid, but my memories of both places are fond ones.

Then there's the Detroit Science Center and Cranbrook Institute of Technology. The Renaissance Center, Campus Martius (pronounced Marshus) Park, Greektown, MGM Grand and Motor City Casinos. The Ambassador Bridge, The Tunnel to Canada and of course, Belle Isle.

So while no one ever hears anything good about Detroit, those of us who've lived here all our lives or have moved here from elsewhere, know about all the great things Detroit has to offer.

So what about you? Tell us about the city where you live.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I've lived around Tampa Bay all my life. I'm a 7th generatrion Floridian. Family has been on Tampa Bay since the 1830s.

TB was paradise back in the 1950s but sux the weener today. Immigrants from the North killed paradise. I stay cuz I keep hoping God will send back-to-back hurricanes, like in 1848, and give Tampa Bay a big enema.

 

[michchick98]

I've lived around Tampa Bay all my life. I'm a 7th generatrion Floridian. Family has been on Tampa Bay since the 1830s.

TB was paradise back in the 1950s but sux the weener today. Immigrants from the North killed paradise. I stay cuz I keep hoping God will send back-to-back hurricanes, like in 1848, and give Tampa Bay a big enema.

What part of "the good things about your howetown" didn't you understand there, Jimbo? The GOOD things. No one cares about the bad things from a biter, lonely old man who has nothing better to do with his time than spout hatred about the people and things (and city) in his life.

 

[rgraham666]

In spite of being a big city Toronto is safe, walkable and has lots of green space.

It has a great public transit system as well.

 

[Miss_Pixie]

My hometown has AWESOME fireworks on the 4th of July. And I mean come on... I'm from there so what's not to love... lol just kidding.

But seriously, my Tiny ass hometown is home to the ONLY program, in the state of Indiana, that's specifically designed to teach school and work skills to immigrant children.

It's run through the TVHS spanish program. Teachers pair children up with high schoolers and for one hour 3 days a week, the high schoolers help them with homework, tutor the kids when they have trouble, and be positive influences.

I was a part of this program for 3 years in High School and it was AMAZING.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

What part of "the good things about your howetown" didn't you understand there, Jimbo? The GOOD things. No one cares about the bad things from a biter, lonely old man who has nothing better to do with his time than spout hatred about the people and things (and city) in his life.

Whats a howetown?

GOT CONTROL ISSUES?

 

[michchick98]

In spite of being a big city Toronto is safe, walkable and has lots of green space.

It has a great public transit system as well.

And a hockey team that gives the Wings a run for their money every season!

I went to Toronto with my parents when I was a kid, but unfortunately I don't remember much of it.

My hometown has AWESOME fireworks on the 4th of July. And I mean come on... I'm from there so what's not to love... lol just kidding.

That's one of the things I forgot to mention about Detroit. The River Days Festival, which used to be the International Freedom Festival.

Tons of things to do in the weeks leading up to the last day of the Festival, which is the fireworks, dubbed one of the best in the country, to celebrate Canada Day (with Windsor) and The Fourth of July.

The fireworks kinda loose their oomph though when they're televised. My brother's been in person a few times, he says they're awesome.

I gotta get out more.

But seriously, my Tiny ass hometown is home to the ONLY program, in the state of Indiana, that's specifically designed to teach school and work skills to immigrant children.

It's run through the TVHS spanish program. Teachers pair children up with high schoolers and for one hour 3 days a week, the high schoolers help them with homework, tutor the kids when they have trouble, and be positive influences.

I was a part of this program for 3 years in High School and it was AMAZING.

Sounds pretty damned cool. More cities, big and small, need programs like this, Pixie.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The L. A. Times refers to Lakewood as "soulless". I think that must mean we either don't sit around drinking chardonnay and eating brie or that our crime rate (one of the lowest in the county) keeps us from being 'gritty'. F**k that. From the air it looks like we live in a forest, the street trees are so big. We have more parks than you can believe, city government is small, orderly and efficient and though their skin color has diversified a bit since 1950, the residents are exactly the same kind of folks as founded the place. Family-friendly city 'R' us!

 

[cloudy]

The school that the youngest goes to is tiny when compared to most city schools: last year there were 22 kids in his fourth grade class, and that's average size for the school. The teachers, administrators, etc., all know the parents, and encourage them to call whenever they feel the need, even going so far as to give parents their home phone numbers.

I don't have to show ID at the bank. Haven't shown it since the first time, and I cash my husband's check with my signature on it.

Everything is at the most a twenty minute drive from my house (it's a small city/town).

One of the best bass fishing lakes in the country is a ten-minute drive from my house - in fact, if my house sat up a little higher, I could see the lake from here. They hold championship fishing tournaments there every year.

I'm within a two-hour drive of several major cities: Chattanooga, Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville, and just a little further to Nashville.

People are NICE here. Southerners believe whole-heartedly in good manners, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

People help, even when they don't know each other. When we were putting up a fence around 11 acres, people we didn't even know stopped by to help, bringing a tractor with an auger, etc, and by noon, there was close to fifteen people helping us put up posts, string wire, etc.

Everyone wants to feed you...all the time, and southerners, by and large, are some of the best cooks in the country.

Sweet tea - 'nuff said.

 

[Boxlicker101]

The best thing about my home town is that I am thousands of miles away from it. Seriously, I can't think, offhand, of any good thing to say about the damn place.

ETA: It's too small to amount to anything, and it's not the least bit friendly, the way small towns are alleged to be.

 

[michchick98]

The L. A. Times refers to Lakewood as "soulless". I think that must mean we either don't sit around drinking chardonnay and eating brie or that our crime rate (one of the lowest in the county) keeps us from being 'gritty'. F**k that. From the air it looks like we live in a forest, the street trees are so big. We have more parks than you can believe, city government is small, orderly and efficient and though their skin color has diversified a bit since 1950, the residents are exactly the same kind of folks as founded the place. Family-friendly city 'R' us!

So kind of a "Leave It To Beaver" kind of place, huh?

The school that the youngest goes to is tiny when compared to most city schools: last year there were 22 kids in his fourth grade class, and that's average size for the school. The teachers, administrators, etc., all know the parents, and encourage them to call whenever they feel the need, even going so far as to give parents their home phone numbers.

I don't have to show ID at the bank. Haven't shown it since the first time, and I cash my husband's check with my signature on it.

Everything is at the most a twenty minute drive from my house (it's a small city/town).

One of the best bass fishing lakes in the country is a ten-minute drive from my house - in fact, if my house sat up a little higher, I could see the lake from here. They hold championship fishing tournaments there every year.

I'm within a two-hour drive of several major cities: Chattanooga, Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville, and just a little further to Nashville.

People are NICE here. Southerners believe whole-heartedly in good manners, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

People help, even when they don't know each other. When we were putting up a fence around 11 acres, people we didn't even know stopped by to help, bringing a tractor with an auger, etc, and by noon, there was close to fifteen people helping us put up posts, string wire, etc.

Everyone wants to feed you...all the time, and southerners, by and large, are some of the best cooks in the country.

Sweet tea - 'nuff said.

I haven't been too far south in awhile, Cloudy. The last time I was I think it was mid-90s. I went to visit some friends in West Virginia. Beautiful state. And very nice people. They heard my "Yankee" accent and simply smiled. Of course, they could've been laughing on the inside...LOL. That's okay, though, I have fond memories of my visit there and I'd love to go back, even though my friends who lived there have long since moved.

And true to being a "Yank," I prefer my tea without any sweetener, sugar or anything but tea and water.

The best thing about my home town is that I am thousands of miles away from it. Seriously, I can't think, offhand, of any good thing to say about the damn place.

ETA: It's too small to amount to anything, and it's not the least bit friendly, the way small towns are alleged to be.

Too bad, Box. But what about where you are now? Is it better than your hometown?

 

[Liar]

Everything is at the most a twenty minute drive from my house (it's a small city/town).

20 minutes? You Americans have a weird concept of small.

Or really slow cars.

 

[Liar]

My new home (moved here just two weeks ago) is a two minute walk from the lakeside, I can practically throw pebbles from my balcony and hear them go *plop* in the water.

It's a five minute walk to a marina and ferry dock, where you can pull pike and perch direcly from the quay.

It's a seven minute walk to a busy 20th century town centre with all the shops, banks, bakeries, bars and more you'll ever need. Plus the best Thai restaurant I've ever been to.

It's a fifteen minute walk to vast, primeval forestland that stretches for leagues.

That's the beauty of the place. It IS a real little city, but you can step outside, put one foot in front of the other, and before you know it, you're somewhere entirely different. Not even a background hum of traffic.

And it's still just a twenty minute drive, or a fifteen minute train ride, from the big city.

Like I said, I just moved here. I'm sure i'll find out what stinks about it too, eventually.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

20 minutes? You Americans have a weird concept of small.

Or really slow cars.

Yeah, our concept of small is odd. It's even worse out here in the West. For me, 20 minutes is just down to the fishing pier. Back east, it's an entire other state! You can drive an speed (like . . . 70+mph) for eight hours and still be in California. In Europe you wouldn't even be in the same country . . .

And, yeah, if you looked down my street you'd expect to see June Cleaver leaving for the market.

 

[ms.read]

Box and I must have lived in the same hometown...

Anyway, I live two and a half hours North of there now, and I get to see fresh fallen snow in the winter, swim in the atlantic during the summer, and the town (technically a city) is the self titled "greenest in the state." I love it here, but damn, I want to visit where cloudy lives! It reminds me of the ideals my mom brought me up with...

 

[TE999]

The city where I was born and grew up is no more...it's there, but it's part of the amorphous blob of urbanization stretching from Miami to West Palm Beach.

The town where I've been living for the past 14 years is wonderful...mall shopping 25 min away...we have a Wal-Mart and a Home Depot in town...roads busy, but not congested...it's 15 minutes to Atlantic beaches...5 minutes to a brackish lagoon...7 minutes to a fresh water river...no structure permitted over three stories tall...big houses on big lots...acre upon acre of undeveloped land...state wildlife sanctuaries all over the place...it's not perfect, but it suits me fine.

 

[glynndah]

I live on the outskirts of a village ~ 550 people, according to the sign. It's a typical small town, about ten miles from Mayberry. No, really.

The guy who delivers the mail stops by the house whenever I have a package, knocks on my door and hands it to me. The people at the little store where I buy gas let me fill up and then drive back to the house if I've forgotten my checkbook or just tell me they'll catch me next time I stop in. I'm on a first name basis with the mayor, the postmaster and just about everyone else in town.

 

[michchick98]

I live on the outskirts of a village ~ 550 people, according to the sign. It's a typical small town, about ten miles from Mayberry. No, really.

The guy who delivers the mail stops by the house whenever I have a package, knocks on my door and hands it to me. The people at the little store where I buy gas let me fill up and then drive back to the house if I've forgotten my checkbook or just tell me they'll catch me next time I stop in. I'm on a first name basis with the mayor, the postmaster and just about everyone else in town.

That sounds like an ideal place to live, glynndah. Thanks for sharing it with us.

By the way, good morning everyone! I hope wherever you call home is bright and sunny today and if it's not, I hope it's at least a good day for you.

 

[driphoney]

I grew up in a small village in one of the most economically distressed areas of Ohio, and the US. And one of the most beautiful. Consequently, almost everybody left. I left. This meant that there was a large ratio of older folks to younger, at least in my tiny, dying hamlet. I sat on the porch and wiled away the hours with a lot of widows. Mrs. P, Mrs. J, Mrs. W., Miss S., the old maid sisters across the way . . . . They had a lot of great stories of their childhood and younger life in a bygone era and extending on up through recent times. It gave me an appreciation for history and the elderly. I spent a lot of dull days wishing there was more to do, but now I wouldn't trade it for anything.

We had two little stores, kept going by liquor sales, no stop lights, even the few streets weren't named. Everyone knew everyone . . . and their past. Naturally, there was all the back-biting and gossip that comes with it, but your own family has a lot of influence when you're a kid, and mine never indulged. My family had flaws galore; we weren't pointing fingers. I had to wait and listen with wide-eyed shock as my friends shared the town secrets and grudges pasted on by their own families.

My friends and I spent time roaming the countryside, playing in creeks and barns, begging for trips to town.

http://www.rd.com/home-garden/road-trip-scenic-southeastern-ohio/article116694.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76475621@N00/2832719417
I loved the comment under the above photo. So true!

Now I live in Suburbia, USA. I actually like it. The best part is the people. Most are transplanted Mid-westerners with their open friendliness and generosity. I just wish we weren't all so holed-up in our homes and over-packed lives.

Now I'm homesick.

 

[mynameisben]

And, yeah, if you looked down my street you'd expect to see June Cleaver leaving for the market.

And if you looked in her window, you might see the Beaver.

 

[michchick98]

I grew up in a small village in one of the most economically distressed areas of Ohio, and the US. And one of the most beautiful. Consequently, almost everybody left. I left. This meant that there was a large ratio of older folks to younger, at least in my tiny, dying hamlet. I sat on the porch and wiled away the hours with a lot of widows. Mrs. P, Mrs. J, Mrs. W., Miss S., the old maid sisters across the way . . . . They had a lot of great stories of their childhood and younger life in a bygone era and extending on up through recent times. It gave me an appreciation for history and the elderly. I spent a lot of dull days wishing there was more to do, but now I wouldn't trade it for anything.

We had two little stores, kept going by liquor sales, no stop lights, even the few streets weren't named. Everyone knew everyone . . . and their past. Naturally, there was all the back-biting and gossip that comes with it, but your own family has a lot of influence when you're a kid, and mine never indulged. My family had flaws galore; we weren't pointing fingers. I had to wait and listen with wide-eyed shock as my friends shared the town secrets and grudges pasted on by their own families.

My friends and I spent time roaming the countryside, playing in creeks and barns, begging for trips to town.

http://www.rd.com/home-garden/road-trip-scenic-southeastern-ohio/article116694.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76475621@N00/2832719417
I loved the comment under the above photo. So true!

Now I live in Suburbia, USA. I actually like it. The best part is the people. Most are transplanted Mid-westerners with their open friendliness and generosity. I just wish we weren't all so holed-up in our homes and over-packed lives.

Now I'm homesick.

I'm lucky enough to remain in the same state I was born in, and roughly the same area, within 30 minutes or so. Most of the people who lived in the neighborhood I did when I was a kid have moved or passed away, but I still drive down the street every now and then. The house I lived in looks so small now, and I remember thinking it was so huge when I was a child.

Then the other neighborhood I lived in through my pre-teen and teen years hasn't changed much, many of my neighbors are still there and I stop by on occasion to chat.

But even just driving through those old neighborhoods, it reminds me we're never too far from the bustling metropolis that is Detroit. It shows all around, in the suburbs, on the bumpers or windows of the cars on the road, on the t-shirts and/or jackets people wear.

And not just the team logos either. Radio stations, restaurants, bars, casinos, museums. Detroit is full of culture and I wouldn't trade living here (or even in a suburb) for anything.

 

[Boota]

There are a lot of opportunities here to make very good money, when the economy is good, that is. The housing prices are fairly low and a lot of blue collar people live at a higher standard here than they would in a lot of other places.

It is unlikely that you'll be assaulted or killed as long as you stay out of the drug trade.

Lots of cool stuff was invented here earning the nickname City of Firsts.

Most of the evil, corrupt cops have retired. Some have died.

Our Christmas display at the courthouse, to avoid religious controversy, has lighted dinosaurs instead. Still pissed the Xtians off, though.

We're not very far from Indianapolis or Fort Wayne, where all the major concerts come through, and three hours from Chicago.

 

[driphoney]

I'm lucky enough to remain in the same state I was born in, and roughly the same area, within 30 minutes or so. Most of the people who lived in the neighborhood I did when I was a kid have moved or passed away, but I still drive down the street every now and then. The house I lived in looks so small now, and I remember thinking it was so huge when I was a child.

Then the other neighborhood I lived in through my pre-teen and teen years hasn't changed much, many of my neighbors are still there and I stop by on occasion to chat.

But even just driving through those old neighborhoods, it reminds me we're never too far from the bustling metropolis that is Detroit. It shows all around, in the suburbs, on the bumpers or windows of the cars on the road, on the t-shirts and/or jackets people wear.

And not just the team logos either. Radio stations, restaurants, bars, casinos, museums. Detroit is full of culture and I wouldn't trade living here (or even in a suburb) for anything.

Welll, since you're from Detroit and failed to mention the certain university, I suppose we can still be friends.

For any non-American who might be reading, this is huge. Because Ohioans and Michiganders pass a scornful eye over one another, especially in the fall. Living in Texas, the UT-OU football rivalry makes an attempt to come close to the OSU-Mich one, but after the game, these TX-OK folks will actually marry each other!

Here's a link for the curious.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_–_Ohio_State_football_rivalry

As for those shrinking homes of our youth. Isn't that true! But then, my area's always been impoverished, so homes would tend to be smaller. There's a lot of decay. That's hard to look at when I go home. I suppose it was always there, but when it's all you know, it doesn't stand out.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

michchick98, I grew up a few miles north of you, and while I have fond memories of my misspent youth, I am nonetheless happy that I relocated. It is sad to see my hometown wither and die. I guess the things I that I remember most fondly are beaches along the Great Lakes, picking cherries in the summer and apples in the fall, ice skating on the creek behind my house in winter, and skinny dipping at the rock quarry outside Ann Arbor. The Red Wings are still my favorite professional team, but I will be buried in Maize and Blue. The four years in Ann Arbor remain the source of my happiest memories.

 

[oggbashan]

My current home town is beside the sea. So is my house.

I've lived here for thirty years and the town has improved considerably in that time with better community facilities including a new swimming pool, a small two screen cinema replacing the 1930s monster, an improved sea front, and more large shops while retaining some of the individual specialist retailers.

Crime and public disorder, while still a nuisance, is much less than it was thirty years ago. Even then it was at a low rate. The fear of crime, particularly among the elderly, is still much higher than the reality. Our town's kids are basically reasonable but can do stupid things after too much cheap alcohol. It isn't our pubs and clubs that supply that alcohol but one or two unscrupulous retailers - and more often the kids' parents!

The town has a real sense of community and so many clubs and societies that it is almost impossible to keep track of them all. I've been trying for thirty years to make a comprehensive list. I keep finding new-to-me ones that have been around for years.

The downside is that there are still unemployed, unskilled youngsters. We have lost the basic jobs that their parents used to do. Unemployment is low compared with national statistics but it is disheartening for those who want to work when there are no suitable vacancies.

I wouldn't move from this town. I like it and many seem willing to tolerate me.

Og