The Harbaughs :: Amanda & Josh

It's been a few months now since this annual report was release that listed the top cities in the United States as far as safety. Unfortunately, Cincinnati was on the bad end of this list being listed at #16 just below Youngstown, OH and above Gary, Indiana.

We've been living here in the Cincinnati area for awhile now (since November, which is coincidentally when this report was released), and we've never really felt particularly unsafe at any point while walking around downtown. Granted, we don't actually live in the more urban locales of the Cincinnati valley, but the city of Hamilton is not exactly far from the downtown scene or Kentucky for that matter.

A post at the blog of Marenda outlines the cities listed in the Safe and Dangerous categories. I find it interesting that so many cities in Ohio are listed on the Dangerous side. Thankfully none of them cracked the Top 10.

Dangerous:

• Cleveland, OH (#10)
• Youngstown, OH (#15)
• Cincinnati, OH (#16)
• Dayton, OH (#19)

Safest:

• Parma, OH (#23)

We can only hope that these cities drop off the list in the near future, as it is a rather annoying blemish to have on the record of your state. On a side note, way to go Columbus for not making the list. It's a bummer that you didn't make the Safest list, but at least you didn't add to the Dangerousness (… that can't be a word) of Ohio cities. On a side-side note, poor Detriot. The loss of many major auto manufacturing facilities from their economy really put a strain on the city as a whole. It shows in something like this.

Today, IKEA officially opens its first Ohio retail location to throngs of folks out to “get the deals”. IKEA is was* a Swedish furniture retailer that is known for hip-n-trendy interior furniture and accents that will not leave you out of house and home. Otherwise, what’s the point right?

The fact that the retail store is being opened not more than five miles from out apartment is irrelevant. We’d drive to - and have on several occasions - the second closest location which is actually located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The little township of West Chester is going to be a bustling metropolis for the next couple of weeks while all the avid fans and inquisitive shoppers flock to the 344,000 square foot store.

Jonathan Coulton wrote a catchy little tune about the hip retailer. You can listen to the track here.

* According to an Economist.com article entitled, “Flat-Pack Accounting”, IKEA hasn’t been strictly Swedish since the 1980s

Ohio is finally getting an Ikea. it will be open in spring of 2008 and located in West Chester, Ohio. West Chester is a great city located just outside of Cincinnati. Josh and I drove by it the other day and it looks big and beautiful. pictures to follow when it opens!

I love the new Family Video in Coshocton. I have pined for blockbuster since I left phoenix, and this fills the void so nicely, actually it's even better because the movies are a MUCH better deal. I could care less that there is an adult movie section. It is tastefully hidden in a separate room. For all of those who think its terrible, imagine what I went through in Payson AZ where porn was on the top shelf in plain sight!