Wow! Welcome to the Queen City. I've been here just over a year now.

Are you enjoying it thus far?

And, how do you go about making friends around here. I'm so lost! :confused:

Welcome! I have been here for 4 1/2 years! :D
What helped me make friends partially is my sorority membership and through my job.

I'm enjoying everything except the I-77 and Independence Blvd. traffic. LOL, but I'm used to it now so I just enjoy the ride.

I'm still working on that. Being involved with Sigma helps. But I talked to someone when I'd just moved and she said it took her a year to really get to know people a develop real friendships...

Wow.......I can't believe it's been over 4.5 years already.....

Yup! I moved just in time to hang with the Omegas at their Charlotte conclave in 2002. In 2007, the week of my birthday, Phi Beta Sigma will be in town for their conclave. :)

That's funny - I thought you were referring to my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, which is also named The Queen City. I would never move back there - it's like Birmingham, AL in the '60s. I did also live in Columbus, Ohio and loved it there but now I live near Atlanta. I haven't been here long but I love it here - seems like there's so much opportunity here for young black females.

I'm loving Mesquite, Texas. It's right outside, nearly on top of Dallas. We moved here from Long Beach almost two years ago. Although I thought I'd never leave Long Beach, the gang rivalries (two muders walking distance from my door in two months) and housing situation is erradicating the middle class in California. Who pays $410,000.000 for West Side Long Beach for a 3br 1ba that comes equipped with Crips & Longos?
Here my kids have a great education, are safe to play outside, and dangit, my house is da bomb!!!!

I'm from Philly.
Good Grad Schools: Temple, Villanova, UPENN, Drexel, etc.
The price of living isn't too ridiculous.
Lots to do and see, especially if you're into the arts and history.
Weather is temperate, nothing too extreme.

But crime is...rising, as most inner cities. Just remember to lock your door and carry a knife and you should be alright. jk. :p

FBI 10 Most Dangerous Cities in the USA
1. St. Louis, MO
2, Detroit, MI
3. Flint, MI
4. Compton, CA
5. Camden, NJ
6. Birmingham, AL
7. Cleveland, OH
8. Oakland, CA
9. Youngstown, OH
10. Gary, IN

Well I am from Chicago...I am proud to say that I am!

Good Points:
-So many things to do! Downtown always has things going on and the ourskirts of downtown have alot of fun places to go to for the entire family (e.g. Navy Pier, Field Museum, Sears Tower, John Hancock).
-Good eating! Chicago is very diverse and it's reflected in our diet :D We have food ranging from Soul Food, Mexican, Indian, Greek, Italian (DEEP DISH IS THE CITY'S DISH), Chinese, Ethiopian, Nigerian, Russian, Puerto Rican, Colombian, Polish and many more

-Very Diverse! The neighborhood where my school is located (Rogers Park) is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the nation, you can find pretty much everyone from everywhere here!

-Various cultural institutions! Being that Chicago has one of the largest Black populations in the country, it is not too difficult to find some culture in the city from the DuSable Museum of African American History, RAINBOW/PUSH Coalition, Nation Of Islam, Bronzeville, Chatham, Hyde Park, Kenwood, South Shore and Harvey, IL. Chicago is also home to one of the largest Mexican populations in the world, so again you can find alot of culture in the neighborhoods of Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards, the SW Side, and museums like the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Museum of Mexican American culture, the art galleries in Pilsen and Little Village.

Bad Points:
-Very Segregated. Chicago, I believe, is the #1 Metropolis in regards to segregation. It is also very overt (tracks/viaducts/parks), so you can easily see who lives where. The "El" line services also reflect the disparities as there are more stops and frequent service in public transportation among richer, predominantly white neighborhoods than in poorer, Black neighborhoods (even a Black Middle Class Neighborhood like Chatham doesn't get great service compared to the North Side neighborhoods of Wrigleyville, Boystown, and Lincoln Park).

-HORRIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. While we are lucky compared to other cities, the service can be better! A good amount of the city takes public transportation but the same woes arise regarding construction, frequency, late arrivals/departures, and disparities among neighborhoods as mentioned before, lack of public transportation in depressed neighborhoods only contributes to degression of these neighborhoods as it is the only means of getting to work, since there are little to no jobs in the neighborhood.

-Politics, Dirty Politics. Things ranging from Gentrification, corruption in city hall, police activity, are still alive in my city. The one that hits closest to home is Gentrification as "Da Mare" is quickly pushing out low income folks (dominantly of color), out to the burbs by approving the building of condos and townhomes in their neighborhoods, it seems as a new shift is occuring where more residents of color are being pushed out of the inner city and moved to the inner ring suburbs and outskirts of the city, and more suburbanites are moving into the inner city.

Cincinnati
 

[QUOTE=Mercedes_Girl;1376322]That's funny - I thought you were referring to my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, which is also named The Queen City. I would never move back there - it's like Birmingham, AL in the '60s.[QUOTE]


I just moved to Cincinnati last August for graduate school. SIGH. I'm not a big fan of this city. I guess I didn't realize segregation was still so pervasive.
This is the 6th most segregated city in the US. I really want to get out of here and soon. This coming from someone who went to school in New Orleans (pre-Katrina)! I think I'm missing a majority black vibe to a city. I just visited friends in DC/MD area and ATL last fall and it was so refreshing to see so many black ppl doing well.


I was briefly in Seattle at UW (2001) and LOVED the city!!! :) There was so much to do and see and the ppl were nice. UW has a great rep to

I'm originally from Detroit. I left 2 months after I turned 18 and haven't lived there since. I think it is a horrible place to live. It's dangerous. Yes, it may no longer be the murder cap., but it's still very dangerous. The job outlook is dismal and the segregation is like 1960s Alabama.

I moved to small town Ohio and have to say that I get more surprised every year about how easy living can be. I love it here, but my next stop will be down South.

[QUOTE=Lyoness;1412771][QUOTE=Mercedes_Girl;1376322]That's funny - I thought you were referring to my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, which is also named The Queen City. I would never move back there - it's like Birmingham, AL in the '60s.Welcome to the Queen City! I know Cincinnati is not all that great of a place, but it's still home for me. Once I graduate from college, I plan on moving to Charlotte. Which will be in 08'