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Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

nationaljournal.com

81–90 of 92 posts

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#81
post #29
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Minneapolis should be on that list. I don't live there anymore, having moved to the SFBA. I don't live in an urban area, but if I did I think it would be MPLS.

A friend of mine just moved to Minneapolis from the DC area. Incidentally, we were talking about this just yesterday and he told me he was surprised at how good the public spaces are there: lots of nice parks, walking/biking paths, urban infrastructure, bookstores, cafes, libraries, &c. Downside is the winter, but I guess that's what Thinsulate was invented for.

That's what Thinsulate was invented for, and in Minnesota. http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Thinsulate_Insul...

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#82

Almost everyone commenting here falls into two camps: A) "NYC/SF is great" and B) "I've been to Des Moines, it's great." But nobody here really seems to be comparing the two. If I live in SF/NYC and I want to move to Des Moines, what are the upsides? What are the downsides? Sure, Des Moines is a nice place with fun stuff -- but so are a hundred other cities in the US. What makes Des Moines different or a good enough…

I might be able to help here. I'm a native Iowan. I've lived all over that state. I've also lived years in downtown Chicago and Austin. I've also lived overseas in France. I've been to the bay area, NYC, Miami, pretty much everywhere among other hot spots, but haven't lived in those places. I'm going to be honest, I know DSM well and if it were so great I'd be there now. I'm not sold on the growing hype train about D…

Second BuckRoger's post, in general. I'm a native rural Iowan, who lived in Des Moines (DSM) part of my career, and am there often for family purposes.

My recommendation is simple:

Unless you are a CPA, actuary, lawyer or some other bureaucrat, don't move to DSM. In fact, I've advised many people to move away.

The reasons are simple.

While there are both tech and brick/mortar startups in DSM, the scene isn't huge and it does have life-span issues. Startup City closed up shop this fall after 2-3 years. Gravitate--the co-working spot mentioned in the article--is the latest in a series of attempted co-working spots over the past several years.

Regular employment options are a huge concern too. DSM is government, insurance, mortgages and banking, with a handful of ag and convenience-store companies thrown in the mix. The common refrain I hear from old colleagues and family working for insurance/financial services companies is how unsatisfied/miserable they are, and how they wish there was someplace better to go.

The marketing, advertising and publishing companies shouldn't be forgotten either. (Hint: re-read that last sentence in context of the article.)

Another huge thing people don't often consider is airfare costs. DSM International traditionally has had very high airfares--so high, many companies have sent their employees to Omaha or Kansas City to catch flights, because it's more cost effective--even with mileage and hotel bills.

Ignore the hype. There are much better places to live and work than Des Moines. I now live and have my own business in the Minneapolis/St. Paul (Twin Cities) metro, and couldn't be happier. For everything the article states about Des Moines, MSP is several orders of magnitude better.

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#83
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's great that this has changed in the 25 years since he wrote this, and even longer since he lived it. I live in Des Moines. I choose to. There are many people intent on improving Des Moines. It's easy to get in touch with the people that have the political and economic ability to drive that change. Zach is an example of this.

Bryson actually has a number of kind things to say about Iowa; that's the first bit of the book, and it's probably written to hook you. I think overall it's a pretty funny and interesting read about his travels throughout the US, although yes, it's been in print a while. As a native of Oregon, I'm still a bit bitter that he skipped the Pacific Northwest entirely, though.

I get that. However, I was responding the quote that has been used multiple times to describe Des Moines, which is from an experience that ended before I was born.

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#84
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A friend of mine just moved to Minneapolis from the DC area. Incidentally, we were talking about this just yesterday and he told me he was surprised at how good the public spaces are there: lots of nice parks, walking/biking paths, urban infrastructure, bookstores, cafes, libraries, &c. Downside is the winter, but I guess that's what Thinsulate was invented for.

Des Moines gets similar comments, and we have less snow. I went up to Minneapolis for a conference last summer. They had 2-3 feet of snow on the ground. I haven't seen more than 6" in central Iowa in a very long time. Oh, and central Iowa has over 600 miles of bicycle trail.

Tell me more about the bicycle trail in Iowa. I've never heard about that.

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#85
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand your hostility. In this article and many others recently, there is an implication that you can't do anything big in NYC anymore, especially in the arts. This is patently untrue. That, and only that, is what I'm responding to. The comparison with the Des Moines Social Club was not based on intuition, it was based on the description in the article. Edit: as far as the level of conversation goes, you'…

Fair point. I wasn't meaning to be hostile but I can see how it came across that way. My point was just that you acted awfully sure of something that you seemed to have no factual information on. Statements beginning "I guarantee" and "I'm sure" that aren't backed up with details are not helpful. Your argument that it's possible to do new things on the coasts is strong enough by itself, no need to throw in suppositio…

All this could've been avoided if you didn't type this sentence: "But please stop talking out of your ass about something you're so clearly uninformed on."

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#86
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No PDX? Half the cost of SF or the Valley, located conveniently between SF and Seattle.

Yeah, I'd be interested in folks' thoughts on Portland/Seattle. Considering a move up the west coast from SF.

Amazing things to eat and drink, small and friendly, extremely walkable and bikeable, verdant and fresh, and is extremely close (30 min) to beautiful gorges, mountains, forests, and coastlines. You can get a 1br for $800, or a really fancy studio for $1k, or pay $500 with some roommates.

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#87
post #44
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A newly established startup that just needs an Internet connection maybe could be created anywhere - but a company, which at some point may want to bring in more seasoned talent as it grows, is probably better off near the coastal areas, with a few exceptions.

That view is still too limited in my opinion. There are massive companies coast to coast in the USA, and they seem to have no problem finding talent (to the extent that of course they do - who doesn't? - but it's survivable). Dallas for example has a large concentration of Fortune 500 companies, which is about as "grown" as you can get.

There are many "enterprise" programmers who don't know how to program. These are not the people who are going to scale your startup. If you think they are, you're going to probably go out of business finding out the cost of B and C players.

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#88
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Des Moines gets similar comments, and we have less snow. I went up to Minneapolis for a conference last summer. They had 2-3 feet of snow on the ground. I haven't seen more than 6" in central Iowa in a very long time. Oh, and central Iowa has over 600 miles of bicycle trail.

Tell me more about the bicycle trail in Iowa. I've never heard about that.

http://www.cyclecentraliowa.com

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#89
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A newly established startup that just needs an Internet connection maybe could be created anywhere - but a company, which at some point may want to bring in more seasoned talent as it grows, is probably better off near the coastal areas, with a few exceptions.

"Bring in seasoned talent.." All seasoned talent needs is an Internet connection. A successful company doesn't require a ping pong table. Basecamp makes more money each year than most startups ever will and they're entirely remote. I love in the south of France and work just fine without having to go to company HQ in New York. The only folks working in the office are just the sales guys and even they could do their w…

[deleted]

Re: Do the Most Hipster Thing Possible – Move to Des Moines

#90
post #70
post #41

You misspelled Berlin.

The last thing that Berlin needs/wants is more hipsters from NYC. The amount of resentment by the German people for that group is pretty high. Go to a nightclub, they'll deny you entry if you don't speak German or look American.

I'm an American someone who's been called a hipster who moved from NYC to Berlin.

I walk into Berghain whenever I want. Then again, I care about the community, took the time to learn German, and have established connections in my city of residence.

If you're obnoxious, you're going to be shunned anywhere you go. Your misconceptions aren't helping Berlin or NYC.

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