Baton Rouge is boring . Nothing to do ... (New Orleans, Lafayette: transplants, crime)
Baton RougeMetro area
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I am not from New Orleans so maybe I will provide a more unbiased opinion. I don't think New Orleans is the best city to compare BR to because there really is no other city like Nola in the world. You cannot replicate the food, the music, and the French Quarter nightlife scene.
People go to New Orleans to experience the French Quarter and a few other neighborhoods because it is so unique. I like to visit New Orleans for a few days at a time and I do like the fact that the Quarter hasn't changed at all in many many years (restaurants, music, vibe).
I think a more accurate question would be: what do other small, more generic, cities have that Baton Rouge does not? Keep the size of Baton Rouge in mind when answering this question. Cities with metro areas between 250K to 500K. I know the Metro here is about 600K and the city is just below 250K, but this makes it easier.
Cities along these lines are Birmingham, Montgomery, Little Rock, Omaha, Anaheim, Spokane.
Baton Rouge could also be compared to college towns such as Tallahassee, Knoxville, Gainesville (although this one is small), and Athens. What do they have that BR doesn't?
Also, comparing Baton Rouge to most capital cities doesn't work because aside from Phoenix and Atlanta (and maybe a few others), most are small and crummy.
I don't think its unfair to compare BR to any city. Size has nothing to do with it in my opinion. I find Houston to be a boring, bland city even though its huge. Charleston, on the other hand, is about the same size as BR and I love it. Obviously, I prefer a different type of city than some people. I like my city to be walkable, with fun and diverse options for entertainment. I don't like living in a city where they're idea of a night out is going to a crappy sports bar. Or, a city where the best restaurant is a chain or a place like the Chimes. BR still has a small-town attitude even though its really not that small. BR is the kind of city that all the people from rural areas love because it provides people with entertainment that you can't find in a small town. But, I am from a place like New Orleans. A real city. I don't find this small-town attitude interesting at all. Nor, do I find generic, anywhere America interesting. I prefer cities like NOLA, DC, SF, NYC, Boston, etc.
Also, to the others, I don't understand why it's so hard for you to let people have an opinion. I am very aware of what there is to do in BR. I don't like it. It's not that I have some personal vendette against BR. I want BR to succeed. I just don't think it's right for me.
I'm going out on a limb here; thinking out loud. Pride, respect and money are things that seem to be lacking in much of BTR and I believe each is tied to the other. It's hard to have a sense of pride when you have poor infrastructure, poor poor eduction and no money to improve either. Maybe people throw trash out the window because they only see a dirty trashy landscape. It's hard to teach/learn to respect property and people when you're working so hard to make ends meet. IMO and based on my experience it's expensive to live in Baton Rouge. Quality groceries/produce are hard to find, flying in and out is ridiculously expensive, sales tax is outrageous and then there's state income tax. LSU is a big draw but how can kids get into college when the public schools are so bad? Forget comparisons, BTR is in a class of it's own.
Most of the " BR bashers " have been unable to refute my original post , so they stoop to making up things like " no sidewalks , can't get quality groceries " , and my favorite one , " New Orleans is magical " . This has been a real hoot .
The forum's not silly. I just don't think its disrespectful to not respond to an online question.
I disagree when it is asked due to a post that I do understand and I am asking for futher info. so maybe a solution can be found. At least We Have the freedom to state our views!!
Let's see if we can get this run-away train back on the right track.
BR is a bit of a novelty in that it is not only LA's political capital, it is also a college sports town with a huge fan base. I've been to several capital cities for business and they are the same. These are fine cities, and mostly beautiful cities that offer much to residents. My personal problem with these cities is I am not a political/business junky, and I haven't been in college in 50-years. Therefore, like the old tiger I am, I want new and different territory to prowl. This is not an unusal reaction for someone who has never lived in the heart of state politics.
College towns are traditionally small - unless it is the flagship school. Conversely the Professional teams settlle in much larger towns like Chicago (Football, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey). that can draw a large ticket base. Teams like the Cubs populate their farm teams in much smaller communities You just won't find 4 or 5 professional sports teams in cities the size of Phoenix.
My point is this ... do your own homework before you move 2000 miles to find yourself in a
State Capital. Most are located 150-200 miles from the largest city in their respective states.
I like BR as a whole. I like the food; I like the scenery. Most of all I like the people. I hate politics and I don't like sports, but I'll be back again and again and again because I like y'aall. .
Let's agree that some of the people like BR all the timm, and all of the people like BR some of the time, but not all of the people like BR all of the time, and go --> foreward. A broken pencll is pointless and so is trying to compare BR to NOLA.
And btw , Baton Rouge and New Orleans have the same sales tax rate . Not that it had anything to do with the topic .
Just another example of what I'm talking about .
Good point. Interesting tidbit, Baton Rouge and New Orleans have 9% tax rates but suburban New Orleans sits at 8.75% while suburban Baton Rouge makes it to 9.5%.
What are the food/grocery/medicine tax rates in Baton Rouge?
Good point. Interesting tidbit, Baton Rouge and New Orleans have 9% tax rates but suburban New Orleans sits at 8.75% while suburban Baton Rouge makes it to 9.5%.
What are the food/grocery/medicine tax rates in Baton Rouge?
Someone said it before. BR is a great place for an unchanging stagnant lifestyle. I don't mean this as an insult. People go to work, they may work hard, but it seems that most are content rather than ambitious to keep earning more. Once they hit the salary level that enables them to buy a home, send their kids to LSU, and enjoy a wants like LSU football tickets, that's enough for them.
Speaking of NOLA I found it boring. No buses, no city cabs, no trolleys. no parking, no restaurants open, no cops on the street, no visitors center, no shops open. I finally found a Walgreen's and a gas station that were open for business. This was on Saturday.
Instead of staying the night like we planned (we never did find a motel), and eating food that NO is famous for (no restaurant was open), we ate dinner 50 miles east at Gonzales where we found a Chinese buffet with terrific food and gracious LA hospitality - just like BR offers when we visit.
NOLA offered nothing similar. It may be a splendid city to those who know her. It is not splendid for outsiders who are not welcome to spend our money. I strongly doubt that NOLA will ever return to its pre-Katrina state. Hopefully it will, but I suspect it will still take several long years before it fully recovers, if it ever does.
Back on topic, please.
Whether or not BR is boring has nothing to do with any other city or state. Maybe instead of complaining (hint) it would be helpful to give a reference point with the discussion and a suggestion as to how to improive it. My perspective of living near a state capital is that the city as a whole is about business and politics and not much else. Entertainment is not provided; it's left to the individual to entertain themselves - as they are adults - or to the individually owned business to build it.
All state capitals and cities of size should offer a city guide to food, hotels, shopping, annual events, etc.. Most don't; shame on 'em all!
Last edited by linicx; 11-16-2010 at 09:06 AM..
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