# Dayton, Ohio or Birmingham, Alabama? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560 "2005-09-20T17:30:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/61 "2005-09-21T13:17:49Z")
> [@gardentraveler](#): > > Several friends are graduates of the Catholic university where Crafter\_Man works (I’m guessing, since I’m pretty sure there’s only one). Okay, why not dispense with the coyness? I’m guessing we’re talking about the University of Dayton, the capital of Marianist education and the would-have-been beloved alma mater of Martin Sheen (if he had not have purposely flunked the entrance examination). > [@Scribble](#): > > I’ve been to Dayton, and there used to be a huge bookstore there that I loved. Was it Books & Co. in Kettering? > [@E. Thorp](#): > > Circleville? OK, now we’re getting somewhere. (I’m from Chillicothe.) I lived in Chillicothe for three years in the early 1990s. ---
**Author:** ![Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phedre_no_Delaunay)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/62 "2005-09-21T13:35:15Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Plus, Vulcan looks like he’s not wearing pants. You gotta love a city that has a big statue that appears to be mooning it. 😃 To be fair, Vulcan is _facing_ Birmingham, he actually moons Homewood, a small city that is right next to Birmingham. I have never been to Dayton, so I’ll have to say Birmingham as my answer to the poll question. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/63 "2005-09-21T13:38:10Z")
I’ve been in Dayton maybe three or four times, visiting the USAF Museum (hey, they’ve got an XB-70 Valkyrie, and most of the former Air Force Ones). A good friend from college is from Dayton, and I visited one summer. Also went to a seminar there once. Nice place, although the downtown area isn’t terribly lively. Never been to Birmingham yet, but I’m not actively avoiding it… ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/64 "2005-09-21T14:40:37Z")
Okay, the tally at this point is 29 for Dayton, 11 for Birmingham, with 5 splitters. The whys and the wherefores are interesting, but I’m just glad to see that there’s some support for my pet theory. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/65 "2005-09-21T16:11:02Z")
> [@Phèdre nó Delaunay](#): > > To be fair, Vulcan is _facing_ Birmingham, he actually moons Homewood, a small city that is right next to Birmingham. This _has_ been an issue in years past. There have been (not making it up) several movements to put pants or a kilt on those “buns of iron”. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/66 "2005-09-21T17:19:34Z")
My first real summer job was in Dayton, in the construction office where my parents were both working on the addition and renovation of the Salem Mall. I loved running errands onto the construction site where burly men in hardhats called me “jail bait” (16-yr-olds have no sense). Dad and I went back to see that mall a couple of years ago - shwooo, they might as well take a bulldozer to it. He was working on another project in downtown Dayton, the Schuster Performing Arts Center. Our family visited Wright-Pat and the Dayton Air Show, naturally. And my husband’s Aunt and Uncle are rabid Wright State basketball fans. Absolute maniacs. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/67 "2005-09-21T17:35:16Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > This _has_ been an issue in years past. There have been (not making it up) several movements to put pants or a kilt on those “buns of iron”. Capris? Levi’s 501s? Assless Chaps? Wait, that wouldn’t solve the problem would it. How bout tying an iron sweater over those “buns of iron”? How bout a floor length iron mink? After all it does get cold on that mountain. ---
**Author:** ![PigBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@PigBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigBoy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/68 "2005-09-21T18:48:23Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > Dad and I went back to see that mall a couple of years ago - shwooo, they might as well take a bulldozer to it. I think that’s pretty much the plan, if it hasn’t happened already. The Salem Mall is dead and the site is going to be redeveloped. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/69 "2005-09-21T19:17:44Z")
Let’s see. I live in Cleveland, and used to date a girl who was going to school in Cleveland who’s parents lived in Dayton. Her dad was in the Air Force and worked at Wright-Patterson air base there. As for Birmingham, my only connection is that I watched a number of Alabama vs. Auburn football games on TV back when they used to play that game at Legion Field in Birmingham. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/70 "2005-09-21T19:26:57Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > They’ll be complaining about the fifth straight day of sub-zero temperatures in hell before I set foot in Alabama, so Dayton, Ohio it is. I sure hope they have some upscale shopping there… Dayton has the _worst_ shopping. When I was stuck there for the wedding I mentioned, I tried to go shopping to console myself over the complete lack of even one single male with which to flirt (what’s the point of being a bridesmaid without hot young groomsmen?). But, wow, they sell the most hideous shoes there. I swear I didn’t see a single heel over and inch and a half. (Birmingham, OTOH, has [Parisian](http://www.parisian.com/default.aspx) which is an excellent upscale department store.) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/71 "2005-09-21T19:37:45Z")
> [@tremorviolet](#): > > Dayton has the _worst_ shopping. When I was stuck there for the wedding I mentioned, I tried to go shopping to console myself over the complete lack of even one single male with which to flirt (what’s the point of being a bridesmaid without hot young groomsmen?). But, wow, they sell the most hideous shoes there. I swear I didn’t see a single heel over and inch and a half. > > (Birmingham, OTOH, has [Parisian](http://www.parisian.com/default.aspx) which is an excellent upscale department store.) There is a Parisian in Fairfield Mall in Beavercreek. (East of Dayton, near the Air Force base.) Just so’s you know for next time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/72 "2005-09-21T19:44:08Z")
> [@tremorviolet](#): > > Dayton has the _worst_ shopping. When I was stuck there for the wedding I mentioned, I tried to go shopping to console myself over the complete lack of even one single male with which to flirt (what’s the point of being a bridesmaid without hot young groomsmen?). But, wow, they sell the most hideous shoes there. I swear I didn’t see a single heel over and inch and a half. > > (Birmingham, OTOH, has [Parisian](http://www.parisian.com/default.aspx) which is an excellent upscale department store.) :dubious: There’s a Parisian within a mile of my parent’s place in Beavercreek. So where did you “try” to go shopping exactly, just within a few blocks of your disappointing wedding reception? I’m sure even in Birmingham you have to actually find out where the good stores are – they don’t just magically appear in front of you. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/73 "2005-09-21T20:08:38Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > :dubious: There’s a Parisian within a mile of my parent’s place in Beavercreek. So where did you “try” to go shopping exactly, just within a few blocks of your disappointing wedding reception? I’m sure even in Birmingham you have to actually find out where the good stores are – they don’t just magically appear in front of you. I was down at the big newer mall that’s south of Dayton. Dunno which one. I was unimpressed. Even the in chain stores that we have here in Austin, I saw a much less interesting selection of merchandise. And the DSW (first I’ve seen in a mall) had a really, really boring selection of shoes compared to ones in other cities. Hmmm, I didin’t realize Parisian was located up north, it’s always been connected with Alabama in my mind. I am willing to concede there may be some neat little boutiques tucked away in downtown Dayton, I didn’t get a chance to explore that area much. But I was really struck by the difference in the selection at the chain stores… ---
**Author:** ![Mirasol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Mirasol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirasol)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/74 "2005-09-21T20:24:43Z")
I have family that live in Dayton (ok, Beavercreek), and I’ve been there a couple of times. Never been to Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/75 "2005-09-21T20:29:39Z")
I can’t think of a single neat little boutique downtown. Like most rust belt cities the downtown has taken a beating over the last 30 years. To Dayton’s credit, there has been a push to redevelop downtown and they’ve added a very, very nice performing arts center (Shuster Center), built a new stadium for a new minor league baseball team, (Dayton Dragons) and converted several old warehouse buidlings into lofts/downtown living. It’s not bad all together, although much more needs to be done. But, the progress over the last decade has been admirable. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/76 "2005-09-21T21:44:14Z")
My sister is currently residing in the lovely town of Dayton, Ohio, and I spent one night and day there with her last spring. Never been to Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/77 "2005-09-21T23:08:55Z")
> [@tremorviolet](#): > > I was down at the big newer mall that’s south of Dayton. Dunno which one. Dayton has two malls: **The Dayton Mall** , which is located in Miami County (about 10 miles south of downtown), and **The Mall at Fairfield Commons** , which is located in the Beavercreek/Fairborn area. The Dayton Mall has been there for quite a while; I think it was built in 1966. It has undergone many renovations, and the immediate vicinity is chock full of stores. The Mall at Fairfield Commons is pretty new; I think it was built in the early 1990’s. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/78 "2005-09-21T23:18:52Z")
As mentioned, I grew up in **Dayton, Ohio** , and I currently work at a university located in Dayton. FYI, Dayton is famous for the following: **Hometown of the Wright Brothers**. You know, the guys who “invented powered flight.” A really big **flood** that happened in March of 1913. **Inventions**. Lots of famous inventors hail from Dayton. **National Museum of the United States Air Force** , which is the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum. **Hamvention / Hamfest** , which I believe is the largest regularly-scheduled ham radio convention in the world. **Wright Patterson Air Force Base**. WPAFB was the home of the Dayton Peace Accords on Bosnia. It’s also one of the most important AFBs in the country, and is the home of the Air Force Research Lab. Dayton is the hometown for the **Amateur Trapshooting Associating**. (And guess where they shoot? Where else but the airport!) **NCR headquarters**. The **Dayton Air Show** , which is one of the largest air shows in the country. **Huber Heights** , which is touted as being America’s largest community of all brick homes. While I’m at it, I should also mention that the City of Dayton is famous for having one of the **worst public school systems in the country**. It’s also a very racially-divided city, with (for the most part) blacks living on the west side of the river and whites living on the east side. And some funny/interesting things about Dayton: The Great Miami River snakes its way through downtown Dayton. Interstate 75 crosses the river **five times** over a distance of roughly **five miles**. The Great Miami River is an “invisible river” in Dayton. No one seems to even acknowledge its existence. We don’t have a major sports team. Everyone who lives here wants to move to Florida. Immediately outside the Dayton area, jobs are plentiful, the homes are nice, and the cost of living is low. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/79 "2005-09-21T23:30:06Z")
I really have nothing to choose between these two locations. Never been to either (never been to either state, actually), don’t have family in either, no friends, relatives or other connections with either place, either now or in the past. Lessee…Lynrd Skynrd mention Birmingham in “Sweet Home Alabama” and that’s a rockin’ song. Don’t know any songs that mention Dayton, so put me down for Birmingham. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560/80 "2005-09-22T00:17:07Z")
> [@Laughing Lagomorph](#): > > Don’t know any songs that mention Dayton. Randy Newman wrote a song called [Dayton, Ohio 1903](http://www.all-good-tabs.com/lyrics-bands-randy_newman-dayton_ohio__1903-62776.html). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayton-ohio-or-birmingham-alabama/322560.md?page=5)