Okay, so technically we’re about halfway between Cleveland and Akron as of last month.
For a great many reasons my girlfriend and I made the decision to move out of sunny southern California last year. For a smaller number of reasons we’ve landed in the lovely and talented northeast Ohio region. We’ve traded sun for what seems to be constant snow. We’ve traded pollution and traffic for the always annoying search for new jobs. We’ve traded incredibly high property values for the opportunity to buy a house and start a family sometime soon, without living off of noodles and peanut butter for the next 10 years to pay for it.
Unfortunately, we had to leave behind some very good friends. While we’re not going to trade them away(as they’re very good friends), it would be nice to meet some new friends with which to hang out with and do fun things.
So, are there Dopefests out here? We’re missing being social with smart, funny people. And where better to find smart, funny people than here, huh?
Hey, halfway between Cleveland and Akron - that’s where I am too Mind sharing what city?
I love Northeast Ohio and I looove hearing stories about people moving here. I mean, so sorry that you guys had to leave your friends behind but it makes me really proud to know that you chose our region here.
What industries are you two in?
Sorry I can’t be more help with socializing - I suck at it haha. I made all my friends by growing up in the area - haven’t been able to make too many extras since!
We’re in Hudson. My girlfriend also has family in the area, which was one reason we ended up here. So far, other than a bit of homesickness now and again, we love it. The people here are genuinely nice, something that was absent for the most part where we came from.
As far as careers go, we’re both admin/office support types. My girlfriend also has a bit more background with education and such.
We’ve been out a little, looking for fun things to do. Been to the Science Center and went to the Metropark Zoo a couple of days ago, which was really amazing. Now we just need to find a decent bar to go to on Wednesdays.
Thank you! Yeah, we’ve heard it’s a bit more than normal. although I have to say I’m enjoying it so far. We’re in Hudson, so not far from you. Akron is one of the cities we’re including in the job hunt since it’s reasonably close.
You picked a nice area - one of my very best friends lives in Hudson. We both grew up just north of there.
Unfortunately I can’t offer much in the way of socializing, as I don’t live there any more and only come up once a year to visit my parents, but I can at least recommend a restaurant - give The Vue in downtown Hudson a try.
Alesci’s in Solon makes the best Italian bread. They also do takeout and catering.
If either of you are musically inclined there’s a fun community band there you could join. Hudson is waaaaaaay more community minded than any other place around here. All of us around them make fun of how nice and proper they are but we’re just totally jealous. It’s definitely a great place to raise a family.
Definitely take hold of the idea that you are equa-distant from Cleveland and Akron. You can very easily work in either place, just need to jut down 303 to get to Rt. 8 and you are halfway there. Sometime soon all of that construction on Rt. 8 will be done and the commute will be even easier!
I also moved from southern California for the Ohio area. 5 years in San Diego followed by 13 years in Burbank. My salary in Burbank enabled me to rent a 1 bedroom apartment, in ohio I have been able to by a 4 bedroom house!
Yes we have Dopefests! Matter of fact, the most recent 2 have been at my place. We haven’t had one in about a year so we’ll have to have one soon. They absolutely rock, 2 or 3 moderators and lots of fascinating people.
Hudson is a jewel. I grew up next door in Stow myself, so I’m quite familiar with your city. It is a very charming community.
We’ve heards good things about The Vue and we’ll definitely check out Alesci’s. Thank you!
Macedonia is just a cool name. Makes me feel all Indiana Jones whenever we head that way. And we’re not instrumentally inclined around here, unless you count karaoke or kazoos.
Hudson is pretty nice so far. Not sure where we’ll end up on a permanent basis yet. We want to take some time and explore around before we get serious about buying a house or anything.
We’re slowly learning our way around. We’re just a few minutes from the 8 and the turnpike, so that makes it quite easy.
Thank you! The cost of living is one big reason we’re here. We lived on the Burbank/Glendale border and definitely know what you’re talking about. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for any upcoming get-togethers.
I moved out of the San Francisco Bay area (Walnut Creek, specifically) to Pittsburgh in the summer of 07.
Buy some warm coats and boots, and some more sweaters and warm winter pants. You will also want a warm hat, especially if you don’t buy a coat with a hood. And you’ll need gloves or mittens. Lands End and LL Bean are good online sources for that kind of thing. Lands End also has silk long underwear, which is also helpful in weather like this.
If you brought your car with you, get new tires and new windshield wiper fluid ASAP. The tires you have won’t be very good on snow, as there’s no reason why generic car tires you get in parts of California where it doesn’t snow would be. You want all-weather tires, which will give you much better traction when you have to drive in snow. You probably also have windshield wiper fluid that will freeze at a relatively high temperature (my Honda Civic did when I brought it from the Bay Area), and you will want to replace it.
Take it easy driving in the snow if you’re not used to it (I wasn’t). Slow down. Be especially careful on hills or curves/turns. Don’t follow other drivers closely (you might slide into them). Don’t stop if you don’t have to, especially going uphill- you may not be able to get started again. Buy a box of kitty litter and keep it in your car trunk. If you get stuck on a snowy or icy road, you scatter the kitty litter around in front of your tires to give yourself more traction. When parking when it’s icy or snowy, always try to be coming into the space from uphill if possible, because that makes it less likely you’ll get stuck. Driving on snowy or icy roads is something I do only if I really have to. Give yourself extra time to drive anywhere if it’s icy or snowy.
Always sweep/scrape any snow off your car before you start driving. It’s very rude and very dangerous to drive around with big chunks of snow flying off your car at random, or with your view through the mirrors or windows blocked. You can probably buy an ice scraper at your local grocery store. If they’re not there, someplace like Target would probably have them. Keep it in your car, in case you are at work or out shopping when it starts snowing. Be sure to clear all the windows (windshield, back, and side windows), the side-view mirrors, the roof, and the headlights and taillights before you get in your car.
You’ll need ice-melt stuff for your driveway and sidewalk. It comes in either big bottles or huge bags. You don’t want to touch that stuff with your bare hands, as it can irritate your skin, so I prefer the bottles. You’ll also need a snow shovel. It wouldn’t hurt to have these things even if you’re renting an apartment- you may still need to clear the way to get your car out of the garage or parking lot. You can get ice melt and snow shovels at places like Target, Home Depot, or Lowe’s. You should get them now- when there’s a big snowstorm and the roads are bad and you need it, they tend to sell out of that stuff.
Houses or apartments with garage parking are far better than ones with street or lot parking when it snows (as you may have already discovered).
Oh, by the way - Farinacci Pizza is a Nordonia landmark (Nordonia = school district of Macedonia, Northfield & Sagamore) but now Hudson has been graced with its own location. Pizza tastes exactly the same, and they have the same crazy rules (no delivery, no credit card). Lucky you!
Welcome! I live in Wooster, which is kinda the most southwestern part of northeast Ohio. Nice college town with a real downtown, kinda like Hudson’s. If you want to do the whole Amish country tourist thing, come on down!
I’ll probably be exhibiting at Hudson’s Art on the Green arts & crafts show in August. We can have a micro-Dopefest!
I’ve been in Akron since 1971. Nice area, although the cold this year is getting a bit boring. Not usually this bad.
As Brian (Malion) said, we’ve had at least two or three dopefests at his house the last few years. The previous 2-3 in Cleveland were at elmwood’s, but he unfortunately lost his job and has found a new one in Texas.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see one this Spring/Summer. Count on it.
Depending on your budget, just down the road from Hudson, on olde Rt 8, is Russo’s. This guy’s been around for about 30 years, has a Cajun specialty, trained under Paul Prudhomme, but is a down to earth cook. Nice place, nice people, great food.
I’m jealous - Mrs. Pagan won’t consider relocating to Cleveland (my home town)… not sunny enough for her tastes. But we’re up there visiting family periodically and always enjoy ourselves. (I have yet to time a visit to coincide with the relatively frequent DopeFests.)
I spent my childhood in Cleveland Heights and Chagrin Falls. The Coventry area of Cleveland Heights is probably worth a visit if you’re into a Bohemian arts / bars scene. Chagrin Falls is, like Hudson, a nice example of a Western Reserve Village. It has excellent schools but the real estate isn’t cheap (by local standards anyway).
Hudson is also where (Chagrin native) Bill Watterson was living when he first started publishing Calvin and Hobbes, though I don’t expect they’ve put up a sign.
Welcome to town! Maybe now we can have a DopeFest (okay, let’s wait until the snow melts) since we missed the opportunities at Halloween, Elmwood’s Leaving, Bmalion’s Natal Day, and last Saturday…though my birthday is coming up…hint, hint!
Glad you like the area so far…be sure to come up to Cleveland and do the Natural history museum and the Art museum…
Just wanted to say that since you’re in Hudson you should definitely check out Great Lakes Baking Company. Great bread baked fresh everyday and awesome brownies. (Why yes, I did used to work there and the brownie recipe is mine. )
Also, check out 89.7 or their website www.wksu.org for lots of interesting local events.
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