[the_pearle]

I'm a native Mobilian who grew up in Mobile and Baldwin counties. I have been in Northampton, Massachusetts for a year and a half because I'm attending college here.

Now that I'm getting closer to graduation, I'm researching MFA programs in Poetry, and know that I definitely want to be back in the deep south. I didn't realize how southern I am until I came here. I love my college and appreciate the experience, but New England is most definitely not home. Between the weather, the cost of living, and the cultural climate, I'm ready to load the moving truck as soon as the diploma is in my hands.

My top picks at this point are Ole Miss, GA State, and Bama. I'm leaning toward Bama because it's much closer to those beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, it's closer to both my family and my husband's family, and I'm already a resident of Alabama.

So. . . I'm wondering a few things about Tuscaloosa. Foremost, how is the restaurant industry? My husband had a great job in restaurant management in Mobile, and it took him months to find a job up here. When he did land a job, it was for less money than he made in Bama, and the cost of living is ridiculously higher here. Our rent and childcare costs are more than twice what they were in Mobile.

How accessible is the Black Warrior River? I grew up canoing and fishing, and would really love to be able to take my kids out in a canoe with some cane poles. How is pollution in the local water? When I was growing up, we could swim in Mobile Bay, but there's no way I'd let my kids swim in that water today. Is the river better?

What about the schools in the area? Both public and private--really any information would be appreciated. My daughter is a year and my son is five, so I'd need preschool and elementary by the time we move. I've looked around at a lot of sites, but the statistics don't tell things that people who have dealt with particular schools can.

What's the general culture of Tuscaloosa feel like? I've not actually been there enough to really know. I went to boarding school in Cullman County, spent a lot of time in B'Ham, spent a little less time in Auburn, and lived all over the coast, but don't really have any experience with Tuscaloosa. I'm going to head home this summer and go exploring campuses, but I'd just like to hear other people's opinions.

I'm also just sort of homesick and would like to hear from some fellow Alabamians.

[pennquaker09]

In terms of the MFA programs, I think UA is probably your best bet. I'll have to get back to you with specifics, but it's a pretty good department from my understanding.

[Southlander]

Welcome back to the South, pearle!
First, the restaurant business in Tuscaloosa is doing VERY well. Most chains are there, and there are quite a few very good locally-owned restaurants. Birmingham is 45 minutes way, and they have some truly fabulous - NYC level - restaurants. Tuscaloosa is a good-sized city, with the 30,000 UA students, so there's a lot going on in the restaurant business.
Can't say I've seen too many people swimming in the Black Warrior. It's a fairly narrow river, and a navigable waterway, so it's busy with barge traffic. Most recreation is on dammed lakes in the area, and there are some lovely recreational areas. Way back in the dark ages, my fiance and I did some canoeing there.
Schools...there were some posts several months ago on the Alabama forum about Tuscaloosa schools...do a search to pull them up. A good many people send their kids to private schools, but I believe some of the schools are good.
Culture...well, first it's a university town, and a big university, too. So there's usually something to do all the time. Jack Warner, who used to own the local paper mill, has a fabulous art museum featuring American painters. If you can't find something to please you in T-town, just drive up the interstate to Birmingham.
Here are some links:
Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau - Home
Tuscaloosa, Northport - Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, serving Tuscaloosa, Northport and West Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL - Official Website - About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama Relocation - Relocation information for the great area of Tuscaloosa, Alabama
UA does have a very good MFA program.
Good luck to you all!

[HipLib]

About the river-There are parks all along the river where it flows through Tuscaloosa. As was said before the river is fairly narrow through town and is busy with barges. There's one good boat landing and many places where you can launch a canoe, just be careful. The best recreation oportunities are north of town on the Holt lake section of the river. The river is much wider here and has some beautiful scenery along the way. North of Tuscaloosa the Black Warrior is above the fall line. It has high rocky bluffs and a few waterfalls can be found along the way. There are two good public beaches run by the corps of engineers on Holt Lake, Rocky Branch and Deerlick Creek. Below town the river falls below the fall line and has sandy or muddy banks. There are some good natural sand bars and people do swim and ski it. Farther south, in Greene and Hale county there are cypress sloughs with good fishing opportunities.