Reviews & Comments
South Bend, IN
The livin's easy, but not enjoyable -
10/15/2007South Bend - what is there to say? This town is Notre Dame-saturated; if you like the college scene and more sports bars than you can handle, you'll like the area. If you're a fan of Wal-Mart and NASCAR, you'll like the area. If you're a gangbanger wannabe who'd rather spend your money on car rims and pit bulls than decent food and clothing besides sweatpants, you'll like the area.
The preceding isn't really overly pessimistic - that's the general vibe this area gives off. Geographically, the area is nice - great beaches close enough to spend an afternoon, nice woods and preserves, decent distance from Chicago.
And we do have the Morris Civic Performing Arts Center that attracts some big names, a minor league baseball town, and plenty of history because of our stopover distance between Detroit and Chicago.
But the town itself isn't much. There's either the poor vibe of gritty, smoky bars incessently playing Guns n' Roses, or the trying-to-be-downtown-Manhattan socialite feel of overpriced restaurants and dinner clubs.
Of course, you will have this in any decent-sized city, but it still stinks.
I can say without hesitation that things of interest worth looking at are Tippecanoe Place (for the food and historical architecture), the Studebaker Museum, Fiddler's Hearth (for authentic Celtic lovers), the Humane Society dog park (technically in Mishawaka, but I had to give a shout out), and numerous other treasures hidden here and there if you can find them. But in my opinion, which probably isn't widely shared, it is not enough to keep me languishing here.
If you're thinking of moving, think again and try St. Joseph, MI, 45 minutes NW on the lake, or perhaps farther north to Grand Rapids, MI for that city feel without the ickiness of South Bend, IN.
South Bend, IN
Nothing to get excited about -
10/12/2007South Bend. This area, geographically, is very nice, but culturally, it's nothing. It seems to be a lot of gang wannabes and NASCAR folk, with the community of Granger to the northeast providing the "Please don't breathe on me" aspect of high so-sigh-ettee.
The preceding, of course, is a bit of a generalization, but it's not terribly far off. If you're me, a 23-year old with no interest in drinking, smoking, or sports, it's not the place to be. The only non-sports-oriented bar in the area seems to be Fiddler's Hearth, a refreshing breath of Celtic air to the stuffy and overwhelming football presence. Of course, I can always move somewhere that isn't saturated in every aspect of Notre Dame.
There is also the Morris Civic Performing Arts Center, which attracts some big names. Some very good restaurants can be found, but there's just not much to DO.
If you're thinking of moving, check out New Buffalo and St. Joseph on the lake; they have a nice marina feel to them and still within good time of Chicago. Or if you're still wanting big city, check out Grand Rapids to the north.
Lemont, IL
Picturesque! -
10/12/2007Pulling into Lemont off of 55 via Lemont Rd. is quite nice. My husband's aunt and her family reside in a subdivision in Lemont, and it seems quite a nice little town. More upscale than your run-of-the-mill burb outside Chicago, I think, but normal enough to attract all kinds of folk. Definitely worth a look!
Niles, MI
Livin' is easy, but not enjoyable -
10/12/2007I have lived in Niles since I was 3, and I'm looking to leave as soon as funds allow. Niles is a very closed-minded town, small in stature and progression. It has a beautiful downtown on the river that was surely gorgeous in the 30's and 40's, and aside renovation of the facades and structures in the last couple of years, I don't believe Niles ever progressed beyond the 60's, maybe 70's. This is a town that loves their Wal-Mart and NASCAR. A few perks are the Riverfront Cafe right downtown, looks like it belongs in Chicago; the Wonderland Cinema on the river is cheap and houses many screens; Veni's Confectionary on Main Street is delightful, and I do enjoy the Apple Festival every September, but the nicest thing, in my opinion? 35 minutes to Lake Michigan and great beaches and an hour and a half to downtown Chicago. If you must, it's a fairly cheap place to live, but if you want a life, look elsewhere.