Most Miserable Cities in America

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:23 pm

My daughter moved to New Orleans at age 18. She got mugged, threatened with a knife, almost raped, fired from her job and lived a week with only two cans of corn to eat. When her girl buddy roommate got drunk and tried to brain her with a baseball bat, she called me to come get her.
When she came home she said, "I never knew we were rich." She referred to New Orleans as "the gray city" and never returned there again.

Rev Rob · Post by **Rev Rob** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:45 am

In reply to "Bort" - cut Baltimore some slack. I lived in the city for 26 years. It is no better or no worse than any other large metro east coast city. I even used to drove through east and west Baltimore. Of course I was a very careful driver - that is an area of the city where you do not want to have an accident. But all things considered a great music city - Peabody Conservatory comes to mind, as well as a fine symphony. Even though I am here in Montana and enjoying it very much - I am proud to say: "I am from Baltimore.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:42 am

bort wrote:I'm surprised to not see Baltimore on the list. Any city (like Philly or Detroit) that has entire sections of town (like West Bmore or East Bmore) that you "should just not go to" has a major problem.

In Minneapolis, it's not the crime, it's the climate. And the repressed emotions and passive-aggressive temperament of many of the people. That should get me in trouble, but those whom I have offended will think it not nice to say so, heh.

And you forgot South Baltimore.

But I think Memphis has everything Baltimore has, except acceptance. Nothing like low expectations to stave off misery.

Rick "who now works in Baltimore" Denney

bort · Post by **bort** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:18 am

Rev Rob wrote:In reply to "Bort" - cut Baltimore some slack. I lived in the city for 26 years. It is no better or no worse than any other large metro east coast city. I even used to drove through east and west Baltimore. Of course I was a very careful driver - that is an area of the city where you do not want to have an accident. But all things considered a great music city - Peabody Conservatory comes to mind, as well as a fine symphony. Even though I am here in Montana and enjoying it very much - I am proud to say: "I am from Baltimore.

I agree that there are some great parts of the city, and there is a lot going for it. I was born and raised there, and only recently moved, and had my eyes opened to the fact that "it's not like this everywhere?" But there are nice parts, and there are certainly a lot of positive things about it.

Yes, there are other crappy places on the East Coast, and plenty of run down neighborhoods in DC, Philly, NYC (outside of Manhattan)... I'm just most familiar with Baltimore. It's my hometown, and I do have pride in it. But there are SO many "dead zones" in Baltimore, I can't help but think it should have been on the misery list.

bort · Post by **bort** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:23 am

Rick Denney wrote:
bort wrote:I'm surprised to not see Baltimore on the list. Any city (like Philly or Detroit) that has entire sections of town (like West Bmore or East Bmore) that you "should just not go to" has a major problem.
In Minneapolis, it's not the crime, it's the climate. And the repressed emotions and passive-aggressive temperament of many of the people. That should get me in trouble, but those whom I have offended will think it not nice to say so, heh.

And you forgot South Baltimore.

But I think Memphis has everything Baltimore has, except acceptance. Nothing like low expectations to stave off misery.

Rick "who now works in Baltimore" Denney

You nailed it Rick -- it's that classic Baltimore apathy towards nearly everything except football.

South Baltimore can mean a few things: directly south of Federal Hill (nice part, including Fort McHenry), down to the rail yards (sketchy), to Cherry Hill (one of the most murderous inhabited parts of the city).

What part of town are you working in, Rick? That's a big commute for you now!

djwesp · Post by **djwesp** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:17 pm

Rick Denney wrote: In Minneapolis, it's not the crime, it's the climate. And the repressed emotions and passive-aggressive temperament of many of the people. That should get me in trouble, but those whom I have offended will think it not nice to say so, heh.

Too funny, too true.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:43 pm

bort wrote:What part of town are you working in, Rick? That's a big commute for you now!

10 S. Howard Street. Yes, that's right in the middle of downtown, across the street from Mariner Arena.

And, yes, it's a big commute. Normally, I only have to go to the office two or three days a week, but because of the furlough earlier this week, we are off our normal schedule and required to show up every damn day until next Friday. That added quite a bit of insult to the injury of losing two days' pay.

Rick "150 miles round trip, but an hour each way faster than commuting into DC" Denney

bort · Post by **bort** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:32 pm

Make sure you go to Lexington Market often for lunch. Just don't get shot, haha (no, seriously, the person who owns the Utz Potato Chip stand there recently got busted for also selling guns there).

You know, I speak tough of that city, but it's home sweet home.

I don't envy your commute though. I will also warn you, once baseball season starts up, especially when the Yankees or Red Sox are in town, traffic will be butt *** terrible on Friday afternoon/evening. Hope those are at-home days for you!

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:55 pm

When I was a boy we lived in a shoe box in the middle of the road.....

sorry I just had to..... my town is worse than yours.... na na na na na naaaa

according to this article, Reading, PA is the poorest city in the nation with an average per capita income of $14K. I teach in the suburb just north of Reading, where next to Reading is the cheapest real estate in the county and over 40% of our kids in the elementary receive free or reduced lunch. I think the Reading school district it is almost 100%.

http://www.portfolio.com/business-news/ ... alifornia/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

ke k

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:09 am

bort wrote:Make sure you go to Lexington Market often for lunch. Just don't get shot, haha (no, seriously, the person who owns the Utz Potato Chip stand there recently got busted for also selling guns there).
...
I don't envy your commute though. I will also warn you, once baseball season starts up, especially when the Yankees or Red Sox are in town, traffic will be butt *** terrible on Friday afternoon/evening. Hope those are at-home days for you!

Yes, Tuesdays and Fridays are my telework days.

And I'll be traveling so much on my commute days that I doubt I'll be spending that much time in the office in any case. (Rick to Future Co-Worker: "I'm a little afraid of that monster commute." Response: "Don't worry about that; you'll be traveling so much it won't matter." Great.)

My boss came up from Atlanta and one day we wandered over to Lexington Market. Um, we stood out. But those were among the best crab cakes I've ever had.

Rick "who buys his guns in Virginia" Denney

bort · Post by **bort** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:50 am

Yes, you will stick out. But mind your own and you'll be fine. Go at lunchtime, and there will be other stick-out people too. Worth sticking out to get a Faidley's crab cake for lunch.

When summer rolls around, be sure to stop off at one of the stands and get a large half and half (lemonade/iced tea -- doesn't make sense, but it seems extra good there). The fresh UTZ chips are great, and pick up some Berger's cookies. The harbor is nice to go walk around at too, if you have time at lunch. But not really a great place to eat unless you like chain restaurants. People love that cheesecake factory!

Thomas Maurice Booth · Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:13 am

FYI - drinks consisting of 1/2 Lemonade and 1/2 Tea are usally referred to as "Arnold Palmer's" pretty tasty concoction.

Also, Arizona Beverage Company now cans an "Arnold Palmer".

http://tunagolf.wordpress.com/2009/01/2 ... old-palmer" target="_blank

TMB

bort · Post by **bort** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:53 am

Yes, I've heard that too. My only point was that if you walked into Lexington Market and asked for an Arnold Palmer, I doubt they'd know what you were talking about!

(Reminds me of being at an Irish bar a while ago -- "I'll have a Smithwicks [I pronounced it as I'd heard them say it many times before, almost like "Smiddix"] Bartender says "sorry, we don't have Beck's." So then I said, "ok, can I have a Smith-wick's," got my beer and was on my way.)

Rev Rob · Post by **Rev Rob** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:40 pm

Re: Most Miserable Cities in America

Postby Rick Denney » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:42 am

In Minneapolis, it's not the crime, it's the climate. And the repressed emotions and passive-aggressive temperament of many of the people. That should get me in trouble, but those whom I have offended will think it not nice to say so, heh.

After a few winters you will realize the folks in the Twin Cities know how to deal with snow. You will find out that even the thought of getting snow, the people in Baltimore freak out. This winter they received snow measured in feet. I believe they are still in shock and still trying to suffer through this abundance of snow. But having spent my formative years in Minnesota (it was in Plainview, Minnesota where I learned how to play tuba), I do agree with what you said about the temperament of the people. Sometimes when you swim in the sea, someone needs to point out to you that you are a fish.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:41 am

Rev Rob wrote:After a few winters you will realize the folks in the Twin Cities know how to deal with snow.

Necessity begats expertise, or at least experience. Take those passive-aggressive Minnesotans and let them spend a summer in, say, San Antonio, and you find them coming out of their shell a bit. Granted, you may have to perform a Norgectomy. A little real sunshine can help. Maybe it's a Vitamin D deficiency.

Baltimorons don't know how to deal with snow because they rarely see it in such quantities. But I'll bet they have skills Minnesotans don't have related to the trials and tribulations of living in Baltimore.

Rick "who just bought a tractor with a front-end loader" Denney

JCalkin · Post by **JCalkin** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 4:09 pm

Thomas Maurice Booth wrote:FYI - drinks consisting of 1/2 Lemonade and 1/2 Tea are usally referred to as "Arnold Palmer's" pretty tasty concoction.

Also, Arizona Beverage Company now cans an "Arnold Palmer".

http://tunagolf.wordpress.com/2009/01/2 ... old-palmer" target="_blank" target="_blank

TMB

I LOVE a good Arnold Palmer in the summer, since I always make my own tea and lemonade and can sweeten to taste.

That Arizona stuff is a travesty. It's a "LITE" drink containing all artificial sweeteners and is quite awful, IMO. I'm just doing a public service sine I missed the "LITE" on the can the first time I tried it and got a nasty surprise. I wouldn't want others to share my fate, heh, heh.

Mojo workin' · Post by **Mojo workin'** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:11 pm

Bloke wrote:
http://cbs3.com/local/Police.Respond.Th ... 79054.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

According to the video/story, there seems to be a racial component to the 'flash mob'.

I'm sure the very objective news media will no doubt include this aspect in the reporting of future incidents. (sarcasm dripping).

rocksanddirt · Post by **rocksanddirt** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:07 am

bloke wrote:I just can't see "high art" or in western civilization-based cities lasting much longer (museums, art galleries, ballet, symphony orchestras, theater, etc.)

http://cbs3.com/local/Police.Respond.Th ... 79054.html

it's really going to depend on the city. and the 'art' program's finacial structure.

Arkietuba · Post by **Arkietuba** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 2:11 am

Yeah, I'm surprised Memphis didn't make #1...

I thought I was from a bad area of North Little Rock (i.e. gangs renting out the apartments across from us, drive by shootings, high-speed chases and the hilarious ghetto single-mom chasing her cheating boyfriend down the street with a butcher knife) but the few times I've been to Memphis I felt unsafe and it takes a lot to do that. I despise going there by myself now.

Oh and I'm surprised Pine Bluff isn't on there either (even with the "low" population). Pine Bluff is not a pleasant city to visit. It's a lot like Memphis, only about 1/10 the size. There are some good parts and I've played some GREAT gigs down there but they were for wealthy people and on the nice side of the tracks. It wasn't too long ago that Pine Bluff actually held the title as Murder Capital of America...it's a tough town.

Rev Rob · Post by **Rev Rob** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:05 pm

I will soon be traveling back to Baltimore. I hope to visit the Baltimore Brass Co. music store. I just hope I haven't lost my mean street awareness. What scares me the most is trying to drive in downtown Baltimore traffic with a Silverado 2500 diesel pickup, with a manual transmission. I am used to wide open spaces and no traffic.