Relocation Stories: PJ Chmiel
1. Name and what you do for a living?
PJ Chmiel, self-employed graphic and web designer, activist, photographer, vegan food critic and scooter promoter.
2. How did you end up in Louisville?
In a very roundabout way! I'd been living in Chicago for 5 years but grew tired of the harsh winters, expensive rents, cookie-cutter condos and isolation from nature. I decided I was going to move, but didn't know where to...I'd been saving some money and have long loved road trips and motorscooters so I decided to quit my job, put my things into storage and set out on the road on a 10-week, 10,000-mile cross-country journey in search of adventure (and a new place to call home). I visited 30 states and provinces and most of the larger cities east of the Mississippi. I'd never considered Louisville as a place to move (or even visit...can you say "best kept secret?") but several of my wisest friends, including Louisville artist Kathleen Lolley (see her website at www.lolleyland.com, we both attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design) *insisted* that I come through here and check it out, and I'm really glad that I went out of my way to do so.
Deciding where to move was a difficult decision, the siren songs of Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Nashville were all strong (and I'd only spent about 24 hours in Louisville during my brief visit...the only time I'd ever been here!), but I chose this town because it offered the best of what I was looking for: a good climate, lower cost of living, quality independent stores and restaurants (I'm a vegan), fairly progressive politics, walkable neighborhoods, a nicely-preserved downtown with wonderful architecture and housing stock (one of the biggest factors for me), proximity to nature and scenery, a central location in a good part of the country, and so much more.
3. What did you think of Louisville before you moved here (if anything?)
I knew nothing about this city before my trip in 2006, save for the namesake baseball bats. My notions of Kentucky were probably typical for an unaware Northerner; caves and horses and coal-miners and banjo music somewhere off in the distance...
4. What preconceptions did you have about Louisville that have changed since moving here?
I'd say my mental image of the city is about the same as when I first visited, see 2b above, but there may be even more bearded men than I'd previously imagined.
5. How do you like living here?
I really enjoy living here, there's always something interesting to do, yet I seem to always run into someone I know when I'm out and about...so it seems less cold and anonymous than a huge metropolis. Plus it's small enough to get around without too much hassle.
6. Has Louisville been a good place to run your business?
Yes, business has been good and I think it would be easy to get more if I were out looking for it, lots of friendly acquaintances and word-of-mouth.
7. What's your favorite thing about Louisville?
Hard to choose just one! The beautiful tree-lined streets and historic architecture, the strong contingent of local independent businesses, the sense of community.
8. What is Louisville missing?
A few things that would make this a truly dynamite city would be more cohesive and greener public transit (forget about the bridges and let's lay the tracks for light rail, what are we waiting for, $10/gal. gas?!), more attention given to the marginalized parts of town...for instance the rarely-mentioned but enormous western half of the city, more diversity overall, more green initiatives like community centers and gardens, revitalized brownfields, cutting-edge green architecture, new bike trails, etc.
9. What's the one thing people should know about Louisville?
Louisvillians place way too much emphasis on college sports!
10. What's your favorite restaurant in Louisville?
Zen Garden on Frankfort. All healthy, totally delicious and made with love!
PJ Chmiel, self-employed graphic and web designer, activist, photographer, vegan food critic and scooter promoter.
2. How did you end up in Louisville?
In a very roundabout way! I'd been living in Chicago for 5 years but grew tired of the harsh winters, expensive rents, cookie-cutter condos and isolation from nature. I decided I was going to move, but didn't know where to...I'd been saving some money and have long loved road trips and motorscooters so I decided to quit my job, put my things into storage and set out on the road on a 10-week, 10,000-mile cross-country journey in search of adventure (and a new place to call home). I visited 30 states and provinces and most of the larger cities east of the Mississippi. I'd never considered Louisville as a place to move (or even visit...can you say "best kept secret?") but several of my wisest friends, including Louisville artist Kathleen Lolley (see her website at www.lolleyland.com, we both attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design) *insisted* that I come through here and check it out, and I'm really glad that I went out of my way to do so.
Deciding where to move was a difficult decision, the siren songs of Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Nashville were all strong (and I'd only spent about 24 hours in Louisville during my brief visit...the only time I'd ever been here!), but I chose this town because it offered the best of what I was looking for: a good climate, lower cost of living, quality independent stores and restaurants (I'm a vegan), fairly progressive politics, walkable neighborhoods, a nicely-preserved downtown with wonderful architecture and housing stock (one of the biggest factors for me), proximity to nature and scenery, a central location in a good part of the country, and so much more.
3. What did you think of Louisville before you moved here (if anything?)
I knew nothing about this city before my trip in 2006, save for the namesake baseball bats. My notions of Kentucky were probably typical for an unaware Northerner; caves and horses and coal-miners and banjo music somewhere off in the distance...
4. What preconceptions did you have about Louisville that have changed since moving here?
I'd say my mental image of the city is about the same as when I first visited, see 2b above, but there may be even more bearded men than I'd previously imagined.
5. How do you like living here?
I really enjoy living here, there's always something interesting to do, yet I seem to always run into someone I know when I'm out and about...so it seems less cold and anonymous than a huge metropolis. Plus it's small enough to get around without too much hassle.
6. Has Louisville been a good place to run your business?
Yes, business has been good and I think it would be easy to get more if I were out looking for it, lots of friendly acquaintances and word-of-mouth.
7. What's your favorite thing about Louisville?
Hard to choose just one! The beautiful tree-lined streets and historic architecture, the strong contingent of local independent businesses, the sense of community.
8. What is Louisville missing?
A few things that would make this a truly dynamite city would be more cohesive and greener public transit (forget about the bridges and let's lay the tracks for light rail, what are we waiting for, $10/gal. gas?!), more attention given to the marginalized parts of town...for instance the rarely-mentioned but enormous western half of the city, more diversity overall, more green initiatives like community centers and gardens, revitalized brownfields, cutting-edge green architecture, new bike trails, etc.
9. What's the one thing people should know about Louisville?
Louisvillians place way too much emphasis on college sports!
10. What's your favorite restaurant in Louisville?
Zen Garden on Frankfort. All healthy, totally delicious and made with love!
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