Dayton, OH?

[RacerX1166]

I'm getting pretty far along in the interview process with a company located in Vandalia, OH which is more or less a Dayton suburb. I love Richmond, VA and realize I'll be kissing certain things goodbye like good shrimp & grits and BBQ. Beyond that, my experience with the area only consists of a biz trip or two to Dayton and a drunken pledge bolt 20+ years ago to Columbus.

I'd appreciate any input with regard to the area. Plus, minus, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by RacerX1166

I'd appreciate any input with regard to the area. Plus, minus, etc.

I only have two real data points. Two very good friends of mine were stationed in Dayton as Naval Officers assigned to the Air Force.

One worked in the Joint Trainer Office (the Texan) and the other was the Executive Officer at the Air Force Institute of Technology, both at Wright Patt.

One lived in the really nice, historical neighborhood of Oakwood, the other in Beavercreek, which is also nice, just not Oakwood nice.

Both had children so schools, etc. were important.

At the end of their respective tours, one decided to retire there since his family, wife especially, loves it there. They live in Beavercreek still and don't plan on moving. They got very involved with the community and really like the Mid-west.

The other folks are from the Mid-west and couldn't wait to leave...he said he felt land-locked just like he had growing up in Indiana (he went to Notre Dame).

Having spent a month or so total there, I could hack it for a few years. There are some really neat college towns in the area, plenty to see it you know where to look.

Coming from Richmond you will miss the relative proximity to mountains and the sea/bays.

[wdfifteen]

I've lived near Dayton for years. The weather here is more severe than Richmond, traffic is better, it's not exactly flat here but much less 3D than Virginia. It's a LONG way to the beach. We have a fair amount of cultural activities, but if sure nothing like Richmond. There are 8 or 10 colleges in the area and they bring some life and vibrance to the place. The weather kind of sucks because you have to air conditioning and a damn good furnace. Temps can range from -20 to 100+ but seldom get that extreme. If I was considering moving to this area to work in Vandalia I would try to live in Troy (8-10 miles north). It's a nice clean town with lots of good restaurants and a lot of civic activity. Stay away from Xenia. That town is a tornado magnet.

[Carrerax]

I have lived in Dayton most of my life. I like it here. What was said earlier is true but it is a good place to live. We also have a huge car enthusiast community and awesome Porsche shows as well as Cars and Coffee etc. We are also 2 1/2 hours from Mid Ohio Shoot me a PM if you want to chat.

[RacerX1166]

Thanks for the input so far. As it turns out, I'll be in the area this week to check things out. Sounds as though we're minus on the food but I think I might be able to make up in other areas with Columbus being fairly close.

I'm not a beach person, so no loss there to me. Schools don't matter as I'm single and have no kids (and at 47 not planning to).

I'll miss not having the mountains close by but the terrain looks similar to Richmond, which is flatter than you might think. But it looks like there are some mountains within an hour or two. I understand they won't be Blue Ridge awesome but are they worth the trip?

[Carrerax]

We actually do pretty well as far as food goes. You will be surprised. As for the mountains, you need to go south or south east for that. That said, there are several PCA organized drives that can be fun.

[RacerX1166]

So long as I'm not stuck with a bunch of chain restaurants. Made me chuckle when the HR gal started pitching the area - 'There's plenty of dining options as we have all the chains.' Ugh...

Surprisingly, the six hour trip to the bottom of the Blue Ridge Parkway isn't much longer than it is from here. A bit longer from the top but at least making the trip isn't out of reason.

Great to hear there's a strong PCA presence, too.

Maybe I'll be adding to the 993 population. This company seems to be pretty interested in both my skill set as well as my willingness to relo to OH. Apparently, they haven't found many candidates willing to do so. I love a company that's desperate!

[Carrerax]

We have this coming up soon:
Rallye Porsche Mariemont - Home Page

You just missed this:
P2O® Granville July 25-27, 2014 | A Casual Porsche Party

And this:
https://www.pca.org/event/2014-06-21/red-brick-reunion

[HardDrive]

We moved to Columbus (about an hour east) last year after 10 years in Seattle. No, central OH does not have the physical beauty of the coasts. But I've been pleasantly surprised for the most part. Much more cosmopolitan than I anticipated. Very strong car communities here.

Winter sucks. I wouldn't drive a P-car in winter here, even it was a 4wd. Absolute salt bath. I have a Ford F-150 as my wintertime beater.

[wolds]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but are you a PCA member? I'm out in Newark and belong to MORPCA.

Originally Posted by HardDrive

We moved to Columbus (about an hour east) last year after 10 years in Seattle. No, central OH does not have the physical beauty of the coasts. But I've been pleasantly surprised for the most part. Much more cosmopolitan than I anticipated. Very strong car communities here.

Winter sucks. I wouldn't drive a P-car in winter here, even it was a 4wd. Absolute salt bath. I have a Ford F-150 as my wintertime beater.

[mgatepi]

I am a long time Dayton area resident, actually just west of Vandalia. Vandalia isn't much, just north there is Tipp city and Troy. Both are great little towns, I personally prefer Tipp and have considered moving there several times. There are some very good non chain restaurants in this area!! Cost of living is relatively cheap and for the most part the public schools are good.
Stay out of Dayton proper!!!
As for the weather.........damn hot and humid in the summer and cold as ---- in the winter!!
Good luck!!

[RacerX1166]

Call me dense but I just google mapped the run from Columbus and yeah it's an hour. The chick from HR told me it was half that, which I saw as an encouraging option to Dayton. I haven't been impressed by this company's org skills so far. They dropped the 'we need you to come in Thursday' on me over the weekend. 'Then you can spend the day seeing the area on Friday.' But their itinerary hasn't gone beyond Thursday at noon but it seems they want me to stay until Saturday. Uh I don't need a day and a half to look the area over, thank you. Still waiting for a return call on the topic. If I weren't semi out of work, I'd be inclined to call them and say skip it. If they can't get their acto together for an interview, what will they like to work for?

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by RacerX1166

Sounds as though we're minus on the food

That's a no.
We have a lot of great dining options. Most of the chains are here, but we have the Pine Club for steak, Jay's for seafood, The Winds in Yellow Springs for eclectic, sometimes weird, fare, Basil in Troy, Carolines in Troy, a dozen or so local Mexican places (El Riacho in Fairborn is my favorite), lots of good local pizza places, Greek, Arab, and Indian restaurants, and of course Skyline Chili.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

We have a lot of great dining options. The Winds in Yellow Springs for eclectic, sometimes weird, fare...

I have had both lunch and dinner at The Winds. I enjoyed the place immensely. The town of Yellow Springs is very cool as well.

[wdfifteen]

^^
I'm sitting in my office in Yellow Springs right now. I used to take clients to the Winds but you never know what's on the menu unless you've been there recently. The menu changes every month. I took a couple there one time they served this dish with a fancy name that turned out to be a piece of cold baked fish with cold white beans and some fresh herbs on it. It was awful. But they sometimes have meals that are to die for.

[RacerX1166]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

That's a no.
We have a lot of great dining options. Most of the chains are here, but we have the Pine Club for steak, Jay's for seafood, The Winds in Yellow Springs for eclectic, sometimes weird, fare, Basil in Troy, Carolines in Troy, a dozen or so local Mexican places (El Riacho in Fairborn is my favorite), lots of good local pizza places, Greek, Arab, and Indian restaurants, and of course Skyline Chili.

I'm encouraged to hear there a number of fine options in the area; truly, that means a lot. However, I've grown accustomed to the good BBQ and genuine Southern cuisine here that I don't see me being able to find in OH. I wouldn't expect to be able to grab a bowl of really good shrimp and grits there and I'm not 'trashing' the area for not having that option. It's no different from when I moved here from Central PA, where you can find really good donuts and other PA Dutch desserts that aren't available here. OMG, the donuts suck here!

So, the food is going to remain a minus.

[Shuie]

There are definitely decent places to eat in Dayton. It's also only an hour away from Cincinnati.

City BBQ is pretty good Q, IMO. The South Park Tavern downtown near UD is one of the coolest places I've ever been to anywhere for pizza, wings & beer. There is a real good Vietnamese place near WPAFB called Linh's. There are 2 really good Chinese places on Far Hills in Centerville (China Cottage & North China). There are a couple of decent Thai places in the area (Pearl Bay in Fairborn is the one I remember, not Thai 9). Tickets Pub in Fairborn is good. These are all good local places. Im sure there are many more I have forgotten.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Shuie

There are definitely decent places to eat in Dayton. It's also only an hour away from Cincinnati.

City BBQ is pretty good Q, IMO. The South Park Tavern downtown near UD is one of the coolest places I've ever been to anywhere for pizza, wings & beer. There is a real good Vietnamese place near WPAFB called Linh's. There are 2 really good Chinese places on Far Hills in Centerville (China Cottage & North China). There are a couple of decent Thai places in the area (Pearl Bay in Fairborn is the one I remember, not Thai 9). Tickets Pub in Fairborn is good. These are all good local places. Im sure there are many more I have forgotten.

+1
I have lunch at Tickets a couple of times a month and I'm at Pearl Bay the same. Pearl Bay is next to the best Mexican place in the area (IMHO). But no shrimp grits. It might be best if he stayed in Richmond.

[RacerX1166]

Too bad I won't have time to check some of these places out while I'm here. Just got to my hotel and am flying out tomorrow afternoon.

Lest anyone think I'm in any way speaking negative of the available food in the area, I'm not. As noted, I hate that I can't get certain things in Richmond that I could in PA. Now that I've lived in VA for awhile, I've grown fond of certain dishes. The world won't end if I can't get them. Hell, I can make things myself if I miss those dishes enough.

Just tell me there's a good supply of dry aged prime beef locally and I'll be happy.

[imcarthur]

Kettering in southern Dayton seems very nice. One of my best dealers has a store there. But I don't know commutes in the area.

Ian

edit: And I have taken them for a steak dinner nearby that was very good.