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1. Could anyone who has either lived in both areas, or has visited Portland recently, give me a simple comparison of the two areas. What is similar, what is different, and so on...
2. How are the farmer's markets in Austin? During the day on a weekend, what are some events that happen downtown? A nice jazz festival? Brewers festival? Stuff like that.
3. If you had to summarize Austin in a nutshell, what would you say? Example of mine below:
Portland: A very clean smaller city with a laid-back populace. The citizens of Portland are pretty political (not uncommon to see protests, marches, and so on), very environmentally conscious, into biking and public transit, drink a lot of coffee, religious about beer (and not much else), and educated. Portland is a very white city with not a lot of diversity. Portland rains about 9 months of the year, and the skies are gray about the entire time. At 2 in the afternoon it often looks like dusk outside, and Portlanders are very deprived of sunshine. The city can go an entire week without seeing any sun. Portland downtown is vibrant, with a lot of people out walking around, and a lot of stuff going on. There are a lot of homeless people (especially teens), but they don't bother anyone (unless you're bothered by someone spare changing). Portland is a very walkable city with quite a few distinct neighborhoods. You have your upscale Pearl district with luxury boutiques, trendy yogurt shops, clothing stores, and so on. But for the most part in Portland you have walkable streets lined with antique stores, record stores, cafes, and so on. A river runs through Portland and divides the city between East and West. Portland has some meth issues, but other than that there isn't a lot of crime.
I guess that is my simple summary... something similar would be appreciated, though you don't have to ramble like I did
I found a post I wrote four years ago and would like to share it because I think it still accurately describes what I enjoy in a city:
Quote:
First off, let me tell you that I am a student on a very fixed income. I live in the downtown area of Portland, in a little neighborhood called Goose Hollow. I pay a rent of $550 a month for a 450 square foot studio with an incredible view of The West Hills. If you wanted, you could also live on the other side of the building for an equally incredible view of downtown skyline and Mount Hood. I go to the community college here (at this point), and will be transferring to go to Oregon State (which saddens me) in a month. I believe that I can help because our situations are so similar. I do not drive, I take the max (rail) every single day, then I catch a bus to school. A pass costs me about $60 a month. I have NEVER had any problems on the max, and I find it a very enjoyable way to get around. It goes just about anywhere in the city, and they are building two new expansions (one will go to Southeast, and the other will go to suburbs Tigard and Lake Oswego). I really enjoy the goose hollow neighborhood, but I wouldn't exactly recommend it. It's a really cool little neighborhood, but you have to walk downtown to really do anything. The core of downtown is about 6 blocks away. However, I would recommend the neighborhood of Southeast. You would want to stay within a certain area though, say no further than SE 60th Ave. Around SE Clinton & SE 21st it is VERY bohemian with a really great organic market, tons of ethnic restaurants, and the typical Portland coffee shops. Also, around the area of SE 32nd & SE Hawthorne you also have another very bohemian neighborhood. The rent in these areas is a little higher, but you can get a nice 1BR apartment for about $500-$600 a month. This city also has a great live music scene. Just last week I went to see DJ Shadow at the Crystal Ballroom, and then the next day it was Regina Spektor, and the day after that it was Modest Mouse. In a few weeks I will be going to see Architecture in Helsinki. The typical music here is indie, but you can also find a lot of people who like other types of music, and there is something for them too. There is a lot of vegan food choices around here, and there is something we call a coffee culture. In the winter months it rains nonstop for a few months (which can be very difficult), but a lot of people just head to Powell's bookstore, read a book, and sip a cup of coffee. The city is very good when it comes to WiFi internet access, so you can basically take your laptop anywhere. After the months of rain, the city turns into one of the most beautiful green places. The hills are incredible, full of big green trees, and flowers everywhere. In the spring, right about now in fact, the weather is nothing short of perfect, and things begin to look up. It's amazing, but after the long bouts of rain, you REALLY appreciate the sunny spring. I personally have felt very alive and active the last month or so, just due to the amazing weather. I'm not too sure about the job situation here, but I know a lot of people who move here and have a job within a day, no kidding. There are a lot of high tech jobs, and if labor is your thing then you will have NO problem finding a job. It all depends on what your industry is. Also, Portland isn't just liberal, it's so far left that many people here are socialists -- I mean many. Me personally, I can't stand Bush, and that's one of the things I love about this area, because most people here can't stand him either. There are constant protests, marches, and tons of activist groups around here. Just about everyone has a sticker on their car denouncing the Bush regime, so if you're liberal, this is a great place for you. Also, I have lived in California (Bay Area, and Fresno (bleh)), and I can honestly say that this place is more liberal. In terms of homeless people, there is actually quite a lot of help for them. I have volunteered at quite a few shelters downtown, and I can't much of a homeless problem. To be honest, I see a lot of people blow it way out of proportion on here. I walked down to Plaid Pantry last night (a little convenience store) at 3 AM, and I had no problem. Yes, there was a homeless guy laying on the sidewalk screaming nonsense, but he was no threat. We are talking downtown Portland here. There's really not much of a problem. If you're interested in seeing what kind of volunteer activities we have here, check out Hands On Greater Portland. There is a minor problem with street kids, and sometimes they can be aggressive panhandlers, but I have never felt threatened. To be quite honest, I feel that a lot of the street people add a good flavor to Portland. Take a walk downtown during a nice day and you will see street performers playing music, acting, games of chess, and many other great things that would not be here without a lot of these people. There is a drug problem here (meth), but to be quite honest, that basically stays out in the suburbs, or areas where you (if you're like me) probably wouldn't care to live anyways. It's not like the rent there is much cheaper, so you're not forced to live in any of these areas. Basically, I end with this: every person that has come to visit me here loves it, and doesn't want to leave. This is a great city, and in my opinion, it is a better version of Seattle.
Last edited by TeaAndOranges; 04-12-2010 at 03:05 PM..
Reason: Add an old post
Makes total sense, and put in a way that is not abrasive. Thank you. In Oregon a lot of people that would be considered Hispanic in Texas call themselves Mexican. I'm not worried about being identified with illegal immigrants, but that's just me. I appreciate the clear explanation.
Well my wife wouldn't have an issue with being identified with the illegals either, but we both lean pretty far left. We're moving to Texas in May and we have had plenty of opportunities to visit Texas since her family moved there a few years ago so we feel like we know what to expect.
Like you stated earlier in the post we too feel that Dallas isn't the place for us. My wife's family moved to a suburb of Dallas (Rockwall) and we spent a month living in the city proper for one of her rotations/classes. We tried to do as many things as we could to get a feel for the city as we could but we still came away feeling as if the city didn't really have a soul... can't really think of any other way to describe it. We refuse to live in a suburb and it seems like Dallas is an endless sea of these. We really liked the North Oak Cliff area and we're intrigued by East Dallas so we'll check those places out a bit more before we write off the city entirely but thus far it's not looking good.
We've only been to Austin once but during that one visit we felt much more of a connection than we ever did in all of our times in Dallas. We prefer established neighborhoods with older homes and we saw quite a few of these in Austin that would fit the bill. We'll be living about 1 hour north of Austin in Temple for the next 3-5 years so we'll have plenty of time to explore and see if Austin is a place we could settle down long term.
I prefer to think of myself as a well travelled individual who sheds actual truth and opinions in the Austin forum that so many others overlook. Not so much a resident BASHER as you say. Ok so where are all these prius' you are referring to?? Oh wait, maybe they have already been run over by the 15 Tahoe's and F-150's back to back waiting at the stoplight at the corner of Avery Ranch and Parmer!! I guess I just don't get downtown enough.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano
For the OP - please keep in mind that Artsyguy and Eepstein are the resident Austin-bashers here. At least eepstein lives here (kind of - in a planned community suburb).
It is interesting to visit the Portland forum here on C-D. I am surprised by the amount of negative sentiment by many long time Portland residents AND those that have been there a few years. What I see is weather fatigue, a weak economy, an almost overwhelming progressive-ness, and a high cost of living.
No doubt Portland scores well on many quality of life issues but for many it it comes with a certain amount of baggage.
I'll ignore the "you should go to Dallas instead" comments.
Weather - It is warm and sunny here most of the time. Summers are hot. Last year was our 2nd hottest ever - I think 69 days over 100. Winters are mild. We have a little bit of freezing weather, usually in January and early February. But it is not at all unusual to have 70 and sunny in January. You can ride your bike, run, golf, etc. just about year round.
Ethnic food - We aren't a haven of ethnic choices. But it continues to grow. 20 years ago there were 2 Indian restaurants. Now there are dozens. Vietnamese Pho was rare, but now all over. Lots of other Asian (Thai, Korean, Japanese, etc.) foods too as the tech workforce has brought so many Asians to this part of Texas.
Music - eepstein thinks all we have here is hillbilly music. But the Austin music scene is widespread, ranging from small clubs with starter bands to national touring acts. SXSW is an industry-focused event and many great bands come here to get attention. Some of them are based here. Spoon is an example of an Austin band getting national recognition. I'd say Austin is weak in jazz. Too much "smooth jazz" in upscale venues like One World Theatre. But we have some great places to listen to music.
Schools - like most of Texas they vary widely depending on the local demographics. Most of the city of Austin is served by the Austin ISD and the quality ranges from excellent (Austin High School) to poor (Johnston high school). The suburban school districts are more uniformly good to excellent in quality.
Friendly - very friendly overall. For some reason people didn't treat Artsyguy well during his two weeks here. And Mr. Negative (eepstein) thinks every one is arrogant. I find that ridiculous as Austin people all over town, hippy or redneck to be genuinely friendly.
Neighborhood - I agree with most of the other posts here. We are short of that urban walkable neighborhood - especially that you can afford. I know people that live downtown in walking distance of Whole Foods - and they like it a lot. Not my thing, but they like it. They also have money.
Liberal - by Texas standards only. I know a few Berkley style liberals but there aren't too many. If you want an active and progressive government neither Austin nor Texas has it. (I hope it never gets it). Most Texans like to be left alone and we expect to take care of ourselves and our families. We only let our legislature work for 140 days at a time every two years. That prevents them from intruding too much in our lives.
You don't have to drive a truck or SUV to be happy here. Portland ranks #1 in the US in per capita sales of Prius cars. But Austin ranks #12.
Well my wife wouldn't have an issue with being identified with the illegals either, but we both lean pretty far left. We're moving to Texas in May and we have had plenty of opportunities to visit Texas since her family moved there a few years ago so we feel like we know what to expect.
Like you stated earlier in the post we too feel that Dallas isn't the place for us. My wife's family moved to a suburb of Dallas (Rockwall) and we spent a month living in the city proper for one of her rotations/classes. We tried to do as many things as we could to get a feel for the city as we could but we still came away feeling as if the city didn't really have a soul... can't really think of any other way to describe it. We refuse to live in a suburb and it seems like Dallas is an endless sea of these. We really liked the North Oak Cliff area and we're intrigued by East Dallas so we'll check those places out a bit more before we write off the city entirely but thus far it's not looking good.
We've only been to Austin once but during that one visit we felt much more of a connection than we ever did in all of our times in Dallas. We prefer established neighborhoods with older homes and we saw quite a few of these in Austin that would fit the bill. We'll be living about 1 hour north of Austin in Temple for the next 3-5 years so we'll have plenty of time to explore and see if Austin is a place we could settle down long term.
Good luck on your search!
Mezman, may I ask where you currently live? My brother lives out in Burleson, TX, but we spent quite a bit of time in Dallas and I never really got a good feel for the city. It reminded me of Phoenix, which can only be explained with one word: soulless. I agree with you 100%!
Honestly, it's a bit of a hijack on the thread, but I really don't feel like dropping it just because you have said so. You did not answer any of my questions. What should an ethnic Italian say when someone asks their ethnicity? My ethnicity is Mexican, so I really don't understand what is wrong with saying Mexican. Hispanic, Latino and so on refer to a lot of different ethnicities, and I am not Colombian, which falls under the term Hispanic. So, to me I am a Mexican, not some general term referring to Mexico, Central and South America.
You act like one would be offended to be a Mexican. Are you saying being a Mexican is a bad thing?
My great grandparents were German and their son (my grandpa) claimed 100% German heritage. I have a lot of German blood in me. None of us ever called ourselves German-Americans and the Italians I know don't call themselves Italian-Americans. We call ourselves Americans first, then list our descent (American of German descent, American with Italian Roots, etc...)
2 Nieces and 2 Nephews of mine are 1/2 Puerto Rican. They don't identify themselves by their Puerto Rican blood primarily. They told my husband and I that they were born in California (mom is white/dad is puerto rican), so that makes them Americans first. They aren't ashamed of their heritage, by any means, but they weren't born there so they don't claim it first.
I think this hyphenating of ones heritage is going out of style, at least in certain areas. I just keep hearing how people don't do that as much anymore.
Mezman, may I ask where you currently live? My brother lives out in Burleson, TX, but we spent quite a bit of time in Dallas and I never really got a good feel for the city. It reminded me of Phoenix, which can only be explained with on word: soulless. I agree with you 100%!
Wish I could say I live somewhere cool but we currently live in Kansas City. My wife is finishing up med school and we'll be going to Temple for her residency. Our number one choice was actually Albuquerque, NM which we really liked when we visited. We really liked the mountains and the outdoorsy lifestyle we could live there but we'll check out Texas for the next few years and maybe we'll decide to stay.
I grew up around Chicago and I really wish there was something like it in the Southern US but alas that's just not how South built up. My wife prefers warmer weather so that's the way we're heading. If I never had to drive again it would be just fine with me... but if we stay in Texas that dream will never be realized. Too much of a car culture.
My great grandparents were German and their son (my grandpa) claimed 100% German heritage. I have a lot of German blood in me. None of us ever called ourselves German-Americans and the Italians I know don't call themselves Italian-Americans. We call ourselves Americans first, then list our descent (American of German descent, American with Italian Roots, etc...)
2 Nieces and 2 Nephews of mine are 1/2 Puerto Rican. They don't identify themselves by their Puerto Rican blood primarily. They told my husband and I that they were born in California (mom is white/dad is puerto rican), so that makes them Americans first. They aren't ashamed of their heritage, by any means, but they weren't born there so they don't claim it first.
I think this hyphenating of ones heritage is going out of style, at least in certain areas. I just keep hearing how people don't do that as much anymore.
Funny enough, we're selling our house and the woman who came to see it the other day referred to herself as Italian. So who knows I guess...
I prefer to think of myself as a well travelled individual who sheds actual truth and opinions in the Austin forum that so many others overlook. Not so much a resident BASHER as you say. Ok so where are all these prius' you are referring to?? Oh wait, maybe they have already been run over by the 15 Tahoe's and F-150's back to back waiting at the stoplight at the corner of Avery Ranch and Parmer!! I guess I just don't get downtown enough.
You might accurately describe Avery Ranch! But that's not Austin. Nearly 20 years here, I don't think I've been to that intersection once!
Living central, I see plenty of Priuses every day, and lots of Smart cars too!
Our realities are true of each of us and that doesn't make the other's experience wrong! You have to get out of Avery Ranch more.
Im with you on the Houston thing, but San Antonio?? What does it have? A great freeway system and an entire city built around the idea that tourists will wait in 100 degree heat to float in a boat on a dirty stinky river!! I've lived in Austin 7 years, and been to San Antonio twice (neither times were by choice)
And i've lived in Austin 28 years and have been to San Antonio more than you and know more about it than you do you expect it to be crystal clear? it's a river I don't know where you come up with these stupid BS comments.
Last edited by bgrn198; 04-12-2010 at 07:15 PM..
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