Any members in Iowa?

A friend is moving there and wants me to move with her. Now, Savannah isn't exactly the most exciting place in the world, but Iowa? Anyone here from there, and how is it?

depends where at in iowa. i'm from the quad cities - illinois side, but iowa was just across the river. quad cities is an all right place - des moines & iowa city (college town) both have things to offer.
i mean, there are places that are just cornfields ... but the state does have people

Stay away, stay away.

Born and raised in Iowa for 27 years. There are good things and bad things about it.
Good: Cheap living. There are things to do In the Des Moines/Iowa City/Quad Cities areas. East side of Iowa has lots of places to visit.

Bad: People out in the country areas can be narrow minded. Lots of country music stations. Not much out in the Western Iowa until you get to Sioux City or Omaha/Council Bluffs.

I can think of worse states..Arkansas, Nebraska, West Virginia..I can go on.

[Edited on Jul 28, 2004 by Buaku]

I grew up in Cedar Rapids and travel there regularly for some good ol' home cookin. I live in Ames now and go to Iowa State. As for whats going on, I think no matter where you live, its about who you surround yourself with. Ames is a university town and pretty liberal, also close enough to Des Moines where theres lots going on. Cedar Rapids has plenty of stuff. Buaku is right, lots of country music. I appreciate it, but one can only take so much. If you like meat, you can't beat Iowa beef or porkchops. Best ever. But yeah.
You have to expect its not going to be a mecca of art and music and what not; our state is a leading producer of corn and hogs, you know what I mean?

[Edited on Jul 28, 2004 by Frog]

Damn, I forgot about porkchops...and sweet corn...drool.....

Sorry, forgot to mention where I would be moving. EIther Coralville or Iowa City, but they are right next to each other. And can anyone get me a job?

I'm from Dubuque -- about an hour and fifteen minutes NE of Iowa City. I fucking love it there. I've been away for seven years, but visit as much as possible. Iowa City has great people/places/music scenes depsite its small size. Dubuque (very close) is right on the Mississippi and just started the largest/only interpretive center on the river and has a historic downtown, great people, the works.

Go visit. Then, make up your mind.

I live in Iowa.

It sucks.

Don't move here.

Iowa City - I have been here for two years, and have one more to go.

Some things here: The Writer's Workshop is supposedly ranked the best writing program in the USA, with several Pulitzer winners in the faculty - A lot of public reading goes on. Hancher Auditorium with several shows per year (classical, world, jazz, ballet, and even circus and musical) - Just to name a few past events, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, a ballet from Moscow, another from Taiwan, Nederlands Dans Theater, African drummers, a French circus, Mamma Mia, etc. etc. Other smaller theaters. A quite active art cinema (the Bijou), plus regular cinemas, and a very good Film Theory program (emphasis on the word theory.) A lot of folk music around, including the Fiddler's Workshop. Over 50 bars downtown, and two (three ?) hospitals, plus some clinics (bar, then hospital, got it ?) Organic-food supermarkets (New Pioneer Co-op), regular supermarkets, and several decent restaurants (a few are great.) Zillions of beautiful girls - tons and tons and tons. Nice cafes (Different cafes for different people - I am the Java House type.) If you drive, it is a few hours from Chicago. If you do not, then there is a reasonable bus system, and taxi companies (hmmm ... in rush hour, the taxi may have to be collective.) Most people are polite and laid back (Well, the kids get drunken in the night), and many hide their exoticism behind that. Top history library. Superb bioscience programs. A lot of sport activities going on. Coral Ridge Mall, a reasonable mall in Coralville (and others around, including in Iowa City.) Some bookstores (Prairie Lights, Iowa Books, those in the mall, etc.)

Important: In spite of its name, and the classification as a city, it seems more a town than a city to me. The police is known to be tough.

Take a look at the U Edition of the local student newspaper Daily Iowan, which covers things mostly ... locally.

Good luck,

Lord_Frous

[Edited on Aug 04, 2004 by Lord_Frous]

P.S.: According to some people (and I cannot really endorse what I am quoting), jobs here can be tough to get sometimes - Many people are overeducated, and some decide to take positions for which they are overqualified just because they want to live here. In general, living in Iowa City is more expensive than in Coralville.

[Edited on Aug 04, 2004 by Lord_Frous]

I forgot about Hancher Theater, I havn't been in a long time. My mom works at the Veterans Mem. Hospital in Iowa City. She was saying how they 're understaffed a lot. You could check there, but whatever they have might require some sort of experiece or skills. My frined Amanda works for U.S. Cellular there, I could check that if youre interested. Drop me a note if you are.

As a Berkeley alum who has traveled to Iowa city every summer for the past few years to visit a friend, I can attest to this fact. It's a remarkably cool town, with a lot more diversity than one might expect to find in Iowa. Plenty of good music and cool little cafes too. I've always had a good time when visiting there. According to my friend though, surrounding areas not affiliated with university can be pretty "rednecky." So take that for what it's worth.

Hmmmm ... We should plan some SG get-togethers here.

bring this up in SG Midwest too. might get some more response there too.

then again, being midwesterners that we are, you might not.

Ooooh ! See these resources.

*bump* Any Iowans still around?

-Will

I'm at a conference at the University of Iowa for the week - any suggestions of things to do outside of the conference? (I have to get around by public transportation - which may or may not be possible if someone could tell me how that may work... I heard that the bus system is pretty good and people bike a lot... ).