Columbus isn't perfect, but it's livable
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4/9/2013
I've read a lot of comments on here that are biased in saying that Columbus is either heaven on earth or hell on earth. Columbus is neither. I have lived here with my family for the past five years and as like getting used to a different place, it took some adjusting.
First off the weather is sporadic. One year it cold snow, a lot, not like in Cleveland or northern Ohio, but enough to close the roads down and the next year it could not snow as much, barely at all. One year we could have a long winter from October to Mid-April and another year winter could start in December and end in March, you just never know. One day it could be hot and the next day over cast and rainy. It's not ideal weather but it is not as cold as Cleveland, NY or WI by any means.
The cost of living in Columbus, depends on the part of town you live in. If you live in downtown Columbus and pay $400 in rent, don't let the nice houses fool you, because you are in the middle of the ghetto. If you want to live in an area with decent schools, Columbus city schools have a bad reputation, then you have to live in a suburb where a condo/apartment could cost you $900+. Also since we live in the Midwest, we have to pay utilities like gas, which in other parts of the country are unnecessary. So if you can afford it, by all means, head to the burbs.
I heard that the people in Columbus are ruder than people in NY, and if you're in the ghetto or in a very uppity part of town, then yes people can be trashy or rude respectively, just like in every city in the country! Columbus is no different.
I also read a comment where it mentioned that Columbus has nothing to do and to throw your nice clothes away because there is no where to go. So Columbus isn't NY or LA or Miami, or Chicago. You have to remember you are in the MIDWEST! Columbus has corn fields for crying out loud! The people are simple, down to earth, and hardworking, and that is something you can not say about NY or LA or Miami. People aren't pretentious or superficial. They are not the friendliest and warmest people in the world but they are generally very polite.
The restaurant chains in Columbus are it's downfall where one part of town could have an Olive Garden where another part of town doesn't so you have to drive eight miles to get Olive Garden. It's like trying to find a needle in a hay stack sometimes finding an address because everything is so nondescript and the roads are confusing if you don't know the area. Invest in a GPS or smartphone when looking for an address here.
Columbus has several theaters like the Palace theater and Southern theater, the Ballet Met holding several shows a year, art galleries with an annual Gallery Hop, a vibrant local music scene, an up and coming poetry scene with a different coffee shop open mic reading every night M-F, along with the many conventions, fairs, festivals that happen around the city annually. There are good places to eat in The Short North, the famous North Market to visit, along with a nationally ranked Jack Hannah owned zoo. The children's museum, COSI is also nationally ranked. There are dozens of parks where they have community gardens, bike trails, walking paths, and The Park of Roses in Clintonville.
The University holds all sorts of events from performing art productions, to festivals, the Ohio State Fair, art museum, holds different concerts featuring orchestras and bands alike. Along with all the other things to do near campus, there is the Gateway Film Festival showing a broad range of artsy independent films.
The Nationwide Arena holds several different sporting events relating to the Hockey team.
The Ohio State games are a very big deal here whether they are Football or basketball and are a sight to see if you ever get to see the TBDBITL perform in all its glory on the field.
Central Ohio is home to nearby Amish Country which is a nice day trip to take with the kids.
In other words, if you get bored in Columbus, it's your own fault and maybe you don't belong in a city with culture. If you need more culture than that then by all means, NY and LA are calling your name.
If you get sick in Columbus, head to The Ohio State Hospital, with a nationally ranked Heart and Cancer center.
All in all, its a great small city to live in. A lot of the things in Central Ohio are nationally ranked places to visit from the galleries to the hospitals. If you can deal with the weather, understand that no place is perfect, and can steer clear of the sketchy areas of town you'll like it here.
Ari | Gahanna, OH