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I recently accepted a job offer that is smack dab in the middle of Peoria, Illinois (Well geographically, I don't know where, but the address is in Peoria) Anyway, I want to know more of what to expect. First-hand knowledge would be especially welcome, but anything would be fine. All I could really find was YouTube videos talking propagating how great their expo center is, and this gem of a quote: quote:Want to really know what Peoria is like? Climb inside of a dumpster and stay there. At least you can't get shot inside of a dumpster. You can get shot inside of a dumpster in Peoria. I should note, I'm going no matter what a shithole it is. I've lived in the worst places in Eastern Europe so I'm not picky. (Plus, in this economy, who can turn down a paying job!) Also, I'm from upstate NY, if that helps anything. So, what say you? I literally have know preconception of this city. I don't even know any movies or anything that give some representation of Peoria. At least North Dakota has the film "Fargo". I can't even tell you a single non-Chicago thing about Illinois. Update: Oh, I did find this gem, though Wikipedia: Will it play in Peoria? I would love to hear: Things you've heard about Peoria, good places to live in Peoria (I have not found a place yet, I have a bit of time to figure that out.) And good/bad things about living there (I heard cost of living is low?) Pocket DeSade fucked around with this message at 00:04 on Mar 29, 2014 |
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Mar 28, 2014 23:55
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| # ? Apr 19, 2024 11:58 |
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It's basically a big city farming community. It doesn't have fantastic night life or tons of poo poo to do on the weekends. Enough bars to hang out in if that's your thing, Bradley Students will fill up college bars during the school year if you are around that age. There is a hockey team and a Minor League Baseball team. Decent parks around town. There is a casino to lose your hard earned caterpillar paycheck at every week. Day 1 go to Burger Barge. Do it. I've lived in the area most my adult life, so feel free to ask anything else specific.
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Mar 29, 2014 00:40
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Athanatos posted:I've lived in the area most my adult life, so feel free to ask anything else specific. From the looks of it, my job is going to be in the northern part of the city, near the river. Know any decent neighborhoods to live in (or avoid)? Is the cost of living as low as I hear?
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Mar 29, 2014 00:53
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If you are out at Mossville anything there or in Chillicothe will be ok. (I am only assuming Caterpillar, it's kinda the only thing in town that pulls people in) Stay away from anything near Downtown or Adams street along the river to the south...for a general area idea I guess South of 150 avoid. If you want super nice area, Peoria Heights is the place to look. Morton also if you dont mind a ~20min commute. EVERYTHING in Washington too, but again that's a ~20min commute. Bartonville will be a lower priced area, low income but not much crime out that way if you are up more near the Downing airport. East Peoria same deal as Bartonville for the most part. It also really depends on if you are planning on renting or buying. I wouldn't mind renting anything near-ish Bradley campus, but I doubt I'd ever buy anything over that way. If you dont mind commutes any of the little farm towns in the area will be nice price and zero crime. But that kind of living is not for everyone who is use to being able to walk to any store...or even having a store/gas station in town.
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Mar 29, 2014 01:42
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It is surrounded by the Great Corn Desert. Chicago is a three hour drive, Indianapolis about the same, St. Louis about the same. Living in upstate New York you will marvel at 1) how cheap everything is 2) how fresh the produce is (go to a farmer's market or get a farm share) 3) how friendly everyone is (if you're white) and 4) how loving flat and treeless it is. Having a college located there will get you some culture. Housing is pretty crazy cheap (get a house with a basement, this is Tornado Alley, and Peoria is no stranger to getting hit).
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Apr 14, 2014 15:15
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Athanatos posted:Day 1 go to Burger Barge. Do it. I just casually make a point to remember that, but now that I'm telling people I'm going to Peoria, everyone is recommending this. Even people who don't even know a thing about Peoria. Is it really that amazing? Like 5 people mentioned it to me, and I don't know why. Subliminal advertising?
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May 7, 2014 22:20
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Pocket DeSade posted:Is it really that amazing? Yes.
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May 11, 2014 20:48
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I actually currently live in Peoria area (Washington). I'll be moving soon to Alabama. I've lived here since summer of 2000. Burger Barge is delicious. Eat there. Frequently. Honestly, for bad as a rap Peoria gets, the local communities are fairly nice and pleasant places to live. Although, if you're looking for lots of excitement it's definitely not an ideal location. There's usually not a lot happening. Housing in the communities is fairly nice. Dunlap, Peoria Heights, Morton, Metamora, Pekin and Washington are all nice communities. Washington's housing is currently terrible, but that's due to a tornado wiping out most of the apartments/renting complexes along with a fair number of houses. You're 3 hours from any of the major cities (St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis), and it's fairly easy to take a day or weekend trip to any of them. There's some nice spots of Peoria: Shops at Grand Prairie, a mall, plenty of shopping outlets scattered throughout. There's also bad too. Stay away from the projects and the southside of Peoria in general. It's usually okay during the day, but at night it's fairly dangerous. Gangs, shootings, violence and what not. Any other specific questions? I'm more than happy to answer any you may have.
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May 13, 2014 22:21
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Pattycakes posted:
Food/Groceries are pretty important to me, so I've been loving the Indian markets in the area, but do you happen to know what happened to Lin Hing International Market? I was looking forward to having a good asian grocer in the area, but I went to scope it out today and it looked abandoned, but there were also a lot of other people walking up, seeing it closed, and looking confused.
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May 15, 2014 21:46
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Pocket DeSade posted:Food/Groceries are pretty important to me, so I've been loving the Indian markets in the area, but do you happen to know what happened to Lin Hing International Market? I was looking forward to having a good asian grocer in the area, but I went to scope it out today and it looked abandoned, but there were also a lot of other people walking up, seeing it closed, and looking confused. It's closed? I usually buy my Korean foods from there. I know there was construction going on in the area, but last I knew it was opened. If it's closed that's a drat shame. I'm not certain if there's anything else like Lin Hing, but I have a friend who enjoys his Asian food so I will ask if he gets his from someplace besides Lin Hing.
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May 15, 2014 23:27
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Pocket DeSade posted:Food/Groceries are pretty important to me, so I've been loving the Indian markets in the area, but do you happen to know what happened to Lin Hing International Market? I was looking forward to having a good asian grocer in the area, but I went to scope it out today and it looked abandoned, but there were also a lot of other people walking up, seeing it closed, and looking confused. It actually just closed this week, was a good store.
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May 16, 2014 23:07
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Damnit, literally the week I move here. Any substitutions at the moment?
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May 16, 2014 23:43
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EG posted:It actually just closed this week, was a good store. drat. That's disappointing. Pocket DeSade posted:Damnit, literally the week I move here. Any substitutions at the moment? I checked and there's no true substitute for that store in Peoria. Closet one you could go to is Shanghai Market in Bloomington about an hour away.
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May 18, 2014 01:29
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Lived there most of my life. It's in Illinois so get used to corruption: http://www.vice.com/read/how-a-power-mad-illinois-mayor-launched-a-police-crusade-against-a-parody-twitter-account Check out Dixon's at least for the smoked salmon jerky stuff. Enjoy this geocities era website: http://www.dixonsseafood.com/
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May 19, 2014 07:09
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Dunno what goes on in Peoria over the summer, but Champaign has a ton of cool events over the next few months. Consider coming over on Saturday June 28th...downtown Champaign will be hosting the Blues Brews & BBQ Festival and a Corvette festival with 500+ cars lining the streets (assuming it doesn't rain like last year). Peoria isn't bad, but it's not great. Champaign-Urbana is probably tops in Central Illinois, followed by Bloomington-Normal. I think everyone else's problem is the lack of a twin city. It's been a while since I've been to a Chiefs game, but if you like baseball those are fun. Also there are palm trees in the outfield for some reason.
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May 23, 2014 04:27
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| # ? Apr 19, 2024 11:58 |
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after some desperate research, I managed to find a local substitute! http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140521/News/140529767 Fresh Asian Market, on Asian Market, 3016 N. University It's pretty decent, I can't speak to how it compares to the old place, but I'm from NY and I think it's pretty decent.
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May 27, 2014 15:52
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