any of you faggots live or ever live in Syracuse?

**glenplake** · 01-25-2008, 10:30 PM

i'm contemplating a move, tell me your thoughts.

oh, and the title should be *M*aggots... not *f*aggots sry about that.

**trainnvain** · 01-25-2008, 10:36 PM

"Cause the F key is so close to the M key.
What would it matter where you are coming from in regards to where you are going?

**huckbucket** · 01-25-2008, 10:37 PM

I'm right down the road.

Western NY ... high taxes, but relatively low cost of living.
Four seasons and easy access to the finger lakes with their world class wines and ADK's.
4 hours from NYC.
Can't comment directly on Syracuse, but if it's anything like Roch, it's got a struggling economy, yet pockets of brilliance. It'll have little culturally interesting nuggets, but nothing substantial.

Oh and I ain't no faggot.

**nikster140** · 01-25-2008, 10:37 PM

I'm from Rochester. Syracuse is a little smaller and a little crappier. There's like one road of bars, an awesome college bball team and lots of rain.

The good things - about 4 or 5 hours from Vermont for skiing and there's a pretty big lake nearby if you're into that kind of stuff.

The housing is cheap the people are unattractive...what else do you want to know?

It depends on whether you're coming from somewhere cool. If so, you will be disappointed.

**Tippster** · 01-25-2008, 10:46 PM

I love the whole "World Class Wines" thing. Nobody outside the EC ever drinks them. Seriously. They're not even a blip on the wine radar, and these days the Long Island wines are outclassing them in almost every way.

**Adolf Allerbush** · 01-25-2008, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

I love the whole "World Class Wines" thing. Nobody outside the EC ever drinks them. Seriously. They're not even a blip on the wine radar, and these days the Long Island wines are outclassing them in almost every way.

Reminds me of some friends opinions on Wisconsin cherry wine in the Midwest. No one fucking drinks that swill.

Imagine walking into a wine shope "yeah, where exactly are your upstate NY wines?" or, "where can I get a nice cherry wine"

**huckbucket** · 01-25-2008, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

I love the whole "World Class Wines" thing. Nobody outside the EC ever drinks them. Seriously. They're not even a blip on the wine radar, and these days the Long Island wines are outclassing them in almost every way.

My current fav;

Riesling

Can't beat that price and quality ... not even with a stick

**huckbucket** · 01-25-2008, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Adolf Allerbush

Reminds me of some friends opinions on Wisconsin cherry wine in the Midwest. No one fucking drinks that swill.

Imagine walking into a wine shope "yeah, where exactly are your upstate NY wines?" or, "where can I get a nice cherry wine"

This guy at the New York Times seems to think Western NY makes the nation's best Rieslings. Do you know something Howard Goldberg doesn't?

article

**Tippster** · 01-25-2008, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by huckbucket

My current fav;

Riesling

Can't beat that price and quality ... not even with a stick

There are quite a few Washington State sticks that beat both price and quality, especially in consistency. We won't even mention the German and Alsatian wines that are in a wholly different league and still sometimes cheaper.

I'm not saying that there aren't any good wines from the Finger Lakes. Hell, I just had an outstanding Bordeaux blend wine from Colorado and a pretty kickin' Pinot from Michigan, but you cannot call these wines "World Class..." anything until they prove that on the world stage.

Edit: That Goldberg article was from 7 years ago. Things have changed.

BLOOD SWEAT STEEL · 01-25-2008, 11:26 PM

I want a bumper sticker that says

"Syracuse; a great place to be FROM."

**huckbucket** · 01-25-2008, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

There are quite a few Washington State sticks that beat both price and quality, especially in consistency. We won't even mention the German and Alsatian wines that are in a wholly different league and still sometimes cheaper.

I'm not saying that there aren't any good wines from the Finger Lakes. Hell, I just had an outstanding Bordeaux blend wine from Colorado and a pretty kickin' Pinot from Michigan, but you cannot call these wines "World Class..." anything until they prove that on the world stage.

Edit: That Goldberg article was from 7 years ago. Things have changed.

Granted, I probably shouldn't have used the phrase "world class." Further, I'm not really sure which international competitions are recognized as legit (rather than just another excuse to get together to drink wine). However, this little dry Reisling from Dr. Franks an hour south of me in the finger lakes appears to be cleaning up all over the place. Does that qualify as "world class." I retract my prior statement and say ... "I don't know." But the whites in general around here are damn good.

2006 - Tasters Guild Consumers Competition: GOLD
2006 - New York Wine & Food Classic: GOLD
2006 - Indy International Wine Competition: BEST OF CLASS, GOLD
2006 - Los Angeles Int'l Wine Competition: PLATINUM AWARD, BEST IN CLASS AND GOLD
2006 - Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition: GOLD
2006 - Great Lakes Wine Competition: GOLD
2006 - New World International Wine Competition: GOLD
2004 - Riverside International Wine Competition: GOLD
2004 - Tasters Guild Wine Competition: GOLD
2004 - San Francisco Wine Competition: DOUBLE GOLD
2004 - Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition: CHAIRMAN AWARD BEST IN CLASS
2004 - New York Wine & Food Classic: GOLD
2004 - American Wine Society Competition: GOLD
2003 - Great Lakes International Wine Competition: DOUBLE GOLD
2003 - Tasters Guild International Wine Competition: GOLD
2003 - Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition: GOLD
2003 - Dallas Morning News Wine Competition: GOLD
2003 - New World International Wine Competition: BEST OF CLASS
2003 - Monterey Wine Competition: GOLD
2002 - Dallas Morning News Wine Competition: GOLD
2002 - Los Angeles County Fair: BEST OF CLASS, GOLD
2002 - Long Beach Grand Cru: BEST OF CLASS, GOLD
2002 - Indy International: GOLD
1999 - Tasters Guild International Wine Competition: GOLD
1999 - Great Lakes Competition: GOLD
1999 - New York State Fair Wine Competition: GOLD
1999 - International Eastern Wine Competition: DOUBLE GOLD
1995 - Tasters Guild: DOUBLE GOLD

I'm now officially done thrunting.

edit: I found this too. The Dr. Frank's reserve riesling won gold at the 2001 - World Riesling Championships. Seriously, I have no idea if that counts for shit. Just throwing it out there.

**Benny Profane** · 01-25-2008, 11:54 PM

Some of the finest road biking in the East is within the triangle with Syaracuse, Binghamton, and Albany at it points. Downstate taxpayers pay for finely paved roads in farm country that would be dirt if it wasn't for tax and spend.

The only two towns I like upstate are Saratoga Springs for party time and location, and Ithica for it's smaht culture. You'll wind up drinking yourself to death elsewhere, with nothing to do. Hope you have a nice job offer, because, north of Westchester, there ain't none.

Oh, one more thing. It's really fucking cold up there from November to April. Stay away from oil heating.

**glenplake** · 01-26-2008, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by trainnvain

"Cause the F key is so close to the M key.
What would it matter where you are coming from in regards to where you are going?

I'm coming from florida.

And regarding economy, I've got a potential healthcare job lined up.

**glenplake** · 01-26-2008, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by nikster140

I'm from Rochester. Syracuse is a little smaller and a little crappier. There's like one road of bars, an awesome college bball team and lots of rain.

The good things - about 4 or 5 hours from Vermont for skiing and there's a pretty big lake nearby if you're into that kind of stuff.

The housing is cheap the people are unattractive...what else do you want to know?

It depends on whether you're coming from somewhere cool. If so, you will be disappointed.

I'm not familiar with the other aspects, but I didn't think there was a shortage of attractive girls. But then again, I may have had a limited sample given that I was predominately hanging around the college.

**glenplake** · 01-26-2008, 12:36 AM

how is the weather like? i know it snows a shit ton, but what about the spring and summer? does it tend to rain a lot when it's too warm for snow?

thanks for all the help so far, guys.

**Benny Profane** · 01-26-2008, 12:47 AM

As far as your "potential" job, be careful. Upstate NY is actually a very depressed area in many places. Spitzer, when campaigning for Governor year before last, compared some places to "Appalachia". He didn't create much of an uproar with that one. There is not much in the way of business in many places outside of farming, and no real immediate, or I think, long term hope that industry will come to town. Makes living cheap, but, if you lose or don't like your job, you have to leave. Like 90% of young people who are smart and ambitious.
The weather is ALL season. Cold as shit in winter, which is long, and can be hot as hell in summer. I lived in Saratoga Springs, so I don't know what the bug situation is like more west, but it was basically impossible to hike or mountain bike from May to early July or more due to black flies and their colleagues.
There's much better places to live in America. And much closer to skiing. Health care? Shit, don't they need you everywhere?

**rideit** · 01-26-2008, 12:49 AM

Where is this 'Syracuse'?
Near Boise?

Hugh Conway · 01-26-2008, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by glenplake

And regarding economy, I've got a potential healthcare job lined up.

Originally Posted by glenplake

I'm not familiar with the other aspects, but I didn't think there was a shortage of attractive girls.

Originally Posted by glenplake

how is the weather like? i know it snows a shit ton, but what about the spring and summer? does it tend to rain a lot when it's too warm for snow?

It appears you've got no standards that's a requirement for successfully living in Western NY.

Seriously? It's not horrible, but I wouldn't go back to Rochester. Low cost of living (buy a home for $100k!). Salaries that match the cost of living. Not many people under 35 not affiliated with a University. Not many people into outdoor recreation. Not much for good/great outdoor recreation excepting the Adirondaks.

Of course all of that is still 100x better than FL

**Benny Profane** · 01-26-2008, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

Of course all of that is still 100x better than FL

You sir, have never spent a day on your sailboat or on the beach in January, go home and grill up some fish on the patio, and hit one of the finer strip clubs before continuing to a fine dance club or something like that. It ain't fucking Syracuse.

Hugh Conway · 01-26-2008, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

You sir, have never spent a day on your sailboat or on the beach in January, go home and grill up some fish on the patio, and hit one of the finer strip clubs before continuing to a fine dance club or something like that. It ain't fucking Syracuse.

I'm not from NY I'll never understand the appeal of Florida

If you want a place out in "the country" with some land upstate has some fine places that a mortal could actually afford and still have a reasonable commute. Impossible to find that anywhere west of the Rockies.

That's about as appealing to me as Florida which is why on the west coast.

**wandering, not lost** · 01-26-2008, 02:49 AM

Syracuse is one of the grayest places in the country, but that does mean it doesn't get nearly as cold as New Hampshire can, where there aren't as many clouds to keep the heat insulated in.

Fall can be really nice (but I also got a snowday the day after Halloween growing up, so it can be short), and spring/summer are hard to predict. I can remember years of sun nearly every day in the summer and years when it would rain 4 times a week. There aren't any mountains there (I know, I tend to state the obvious), which is the main reason I'd never move back, but the hills out in farm country are really beautiful.

**huckbucket** · 01-26-2008, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

As far as your "potential" job, be careful. Upstate NY is actually a very depressed area in many places. Spitzer, when campaigning for Governor year before last, compared some places to "Appalachia". He didn't create much of an uproar with that one. There is not much in the way of business in many places outside of farming, and no real immediate, or I think, long term hope that industry will come to town. Makes living cheap, but, if you lose or don't like your job, you have to leave. Like 90% of young people who are smart and ambitious.
The weather is ALL season. Cold as shit in winter, which is long, and can be hot as hell in summer. I lived in Saratoga Springs, so I don't know what the bug situation is like more west, but it was basically impossible to hike or mountain bike from May to early July or more due to black flies and their colleagues.
There's much better places to live in America. And much closer to skiing. Health care? Shit, don't they need you everywhere?

I think we've gotta be careful we don't confuse "upstate" with "western" where gp is relocating. Yes syracuse is not on anyone's top ... ah ... 100 list of places to live and I'd recommend he look elsewhere, BUT he'd close to some seriously nice surroundings. For example, Canandaigua lake and the surrounding area has some seriously nice attractions. Great hiking/camping, as you mentioned, if you're at all into road biking, it's a fantastic place to be. Home prices on that lake there are sky high for a reason.

**Benny Profane** · 01-26-2008, 09:02 AM

Upstate is anything above Newburgh.

Can't enjoy a place if you have no money in your pocket.

**Tippster** · 01-26-2008, 09:07 AM

Oh, it's purdy. Real purdy. Like yer mouf. You gots a purdy smile.

Seriously, tho - I had family that lived in E. Syracuse whom we had to visit every summer growing up. The one thing I remember is they had cable long before we did (late 70's, early 80's) and that a neighbor girl showed me and let me play with her boobs while we hid behind the car on cinder blocks in her yard.

I seem to remember playing on a "beach" on lake Oneida as well. I always thought it was stupid that we'd go to W. NY to go to a beach w/no waves when we had the Atlantic 2 hours away from DC.

**wandering, not lost** · 01-26-2008, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Tippster

I seem to remember playing on a "beach" on lake Oneida as well. I always thought it was stupid that we'd go to W. NY to go to a beach w/no waves when we had the Atlantic 2 hours away from DC.

At least you weren't at a beach on Onondaga Lake... that would have been a bad choice...

Also, Syracuse is smack dab in the middle of the state, east-west, making it in Central New York, not WNY.