does anyone else live within the Niagara Region?

sickest beast · #1 11-01-2011, 10:31 AM

just wondering about other Niagara Region bassists. does not include golden horseshoe, basically from Grimsby to the Niagara River.

I'm in Niagara Falls. Born & Raised.

Anyone else?

sickest beast · #2 11-01-2011, 10:33 AM

MJ5150 · #3 11-01-2011, 10:59 AM

I was there last Tuesday. Does that count? Here is my wife and dog checking things out.....

-Mike

macaroni tony · #4 11-01-2011, 11:37 AM

I am envious

iamlowsound · #5 11-01-2011, 12:20 PM

I live just North of the area in Kitchener and I'll be passing through on Saturday on my way to Buffalo.

lowsound

sickest beast · #6 11-01-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

I am envious

You really shouldn't be. lol

macaroni tony · #7 11-01-2011, 01:55 PM

Well....it looks nice at least

metron · #8 11-01-2011, 01:57 PM

I grew up a few miles south in north tonawanda. Its true, dont be envious.

rr5025 · #9 11-01-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

Well....it looks nice at least

It's a cool place to visit once. After that it gets kind of old. The strip clubs are pretty nice though...

Mike N · #10 11-02-2011, 04:12 PM

I live an hour or so from there. Does that count?

sickest beast · #11 11-02-2011, 06:06 PM

The problem with this town is that it caters towards the tourists more than the locals. The locals suffer through extreme seasonal employment, or else work out of town. The local media is skewed in order to show the city in a good light. They want the town to look good for tourism, right? You never hear about the fact that Niagara Falls has the highest unemployment rate and drug addiction rate per capita in Canada.

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, that's not why I started this thread.

I think I may be the only resident of this city on TalkBass.

sickest beast · #12 11-02-2011, 06:15 PM

Strip clubs, cheap motels, mob run italian restaurants and massive gambling facilities.

I always thought of Niagara Falls as Las Vegas: Canada. It's built much on the same concepts, but instead of being the middle of the desert, it's exploiting a natural wonder of the world.

I have an intense love/hate relationship with my hometown.

sickest beast · #13 11-02-2011, 06:18 PM

I wish Ontario would have preserved the area around the Falls. I honestly do. It's a real shame that it's been ruined with all the concrete and neon lights.

The US side of the Falls, despite the fact that they don't have as good of a view of the waterfall as we do, is MUCH more beautiful because it's been preserved as a State Park.

I'm in the mood to discuss this, if anyone has any opinions on this, please feel free.

MJ5150 · #14 11-02-2011, 06:25 PM

When we were there last week, we had plans on going to the Canadian side of the falls. From a distance, all we could see over there was what you describe....neon lights, casinos, and concrete. So we decided against it, and stayed on the USA side in the park until we left.

-Mike

Mike N · #15 11-02-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

When we were there last week, we had plans on going to the Canadian side of the falls. From a distance, all we could see over there was what you describe....neon lights, casinos, and concrete. So we decided against it, and stayed on the USA side in the park until we left.

-Mike

The Canadian side used to have more attractions than the US side, plus they had Molson Brador beer (6.2% alcohol) which was a plus.

Since I don't have a valid passport or enhanced driver's license I'm out of luck....... no more Canada for me.

rr5025 · #16 11-02-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sickest beast

The problem with this town is that it caters towards the tourists more than the locals. The locals suffer through extreme seasonal employment, or else work out of town. The local media is skewed in order to show the city in a good light. They want the town to look good for tourism, right? You never hear about the fact that Niagara Falls has the highest unemployment rate and drug addiction rate per capita in Canada.

I'd definitely believe that. Once you get back by the strip clubs it's definitely ghettotastic.

stratovani · #17 11-02-2011, 11:11 PM

Do you still have the Niagara Falls Flyers in the OHA?

charlie monroe · #18 11-03-2011, 07:00 AM

I'm a Canadian who has lived in Buffalo for about twenty years. Born and raised in Toronto. My brother and his family live in Fort Erie. My SIL works at Great Wolf Lodge.

While the OP is spot on about the tourism, seasonality and drug issues, Niagara Falls, Ont. is Xanadu compared to Niagara Falls, NY.

True there is a small state park adjacent to the Falls, but a mere block away the city becomes a slum. NF, NY was mainly built on big industry, with many chemical plants and the like supporting the local economy. They are pretty much all gone now, and by and large, the property values have plummeted and the citizens are also drug addled and unemployed.

Many in the region are actually jealous of the Canadian side. In our view, the Federal and Provincial and Regional governments seem to be working together, with a unified vision of the future. They are spending money on infrastructure and promoting tourism.

On our side of the river, the City is broke, the State is nearly so, and 90% of the revenue created by the State Park and the Hydro Generating Station are siphoned off to Albany and squandered in the general fund. That park is one of the few in the state that actually turns a profit, and the powers that be are looking to reduce its budget. Nothing like cannibalizing self sufficient entities.

Niagara Falls, Ont. receives about 20 million tourist visits per year, Niagara Falls, NY is lucky to see 5 million. About 10 years ago, the Seneca Nation built a Casino/Hotel about two blocks from the Horseshoe Falls. It was the first addition to the skyline since the 1920's.

Yes, life is not perfect in the Niagara Region, but you have it better than your neighbors to the south.

rr5025 · #19 11-03-2011, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie monroe

I'm a Canadian who has lived in Buffalo for about twenty years. Born and raised in Toronto. My brother and his family live in Fort Erie. My SIL works at Great Wolf Lodge.

While the OP is spot on about the tourism, seasonality and drug issues, Niagara Falls, Ont. is Xanadu compared to Niagara Falls, NY.

True there is a small state park adjacent to the Falls, but a mere block away the city becomes a slum. NF, NY was mainly built on big industry, with many chemical plants and the like supporting the local economy. They are pretty much all gone now, and by and large, the property values have plummeted and the citizens are also drug addled and unemployed.

Many in the region are actually jealous of the Canadian side. In our view, the Federal and Provincial and Regional governments seem to be working together, with a unified vision of the future. They are spending money on infrastructure and promoting tourism.

On our side of the river, the City is broke, the State is nearly so, and 90% of the revenue created by the State Park and the Hydro Generating Station are siphoned off to Albany and squandered in the general fund. That park is one of the few in the state that actually turns a profit, and the powers that be are looking to reduce its budget. Nothing like cannibalizing self sufficient entities.

Niagara Falls, Ont. receives about 20 million tourist visits per year, Niagara Falls, NY is lucky to see 5 million. About 10 years ago, the Seneca Nation built a Casino/Hotel about two blocks from the Horseshoe Falls. It was the first addition to the skyline since the 1920's.

Yes, life is not perfect in the Niagara Region, but you have it better than your neighbors to the south.

I definitely noticed that as well driving through it.

Ahh the joys of the rust belt...

DblG · #20 11-04-2011, 04:55 AM

Buffalo-Niagara region here.

@Iamlowsound...where in Buffalo you going Sat? Playing?