[grapico]

Have to agree with Jono here which is the main point...especially for somebody 27, I'm currently here and I am 28 and it is the last place I really want to be...

Outside of the university and transient government workers and lawyers Tallahassee IS pretty redneck, sorry to bust you guys bubble. Maybe not redneck compared to other places in the south, but anybody from outside the south it will be VERY redneck, especially from somebody coming outside the US.

I grew up here until I was 21 and done with school and didn't realize it so much, now that I'm older and have lived several places elsewhere outside the South it is much easier to see and kind of a culture shock coming back!


Tallahassee has much more in common with Georgia and Alabama than it does with most of Florida.

There is nothing most 27 year olds would like here as far as night life... it caters to people 18-22... period.

If you think the night life here is good I am guessing you have never been out in other cities in the region which actually have young professionals in the 25-40 range... Atlanta, Miami, Tampa etc.

Tallahassee really only caters to two things, people raising families who want a slow pace sleepy town with average jobs for a city its size and university students. Just being honest. If you don't fall into one of those categories you are seriously missing out.

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

I think you need to find out how the term Redneck is used in modern times...to summarize it in two words...country person.

Can you name 20 good Thai restaurants, 20 good French restaurants, 20 good night clubs, 20 good ultra-lounges, 10 good blues/jazz clubs, 5 good shopping districts (not just malls), 5 good comedy clubs, 5 good concert venues etc? Can you walk from your apt to a nice restaurant and then walk to a bar or lounge and then to a club and walk back or wave a taxi for $10 bucks to your apt? Can you try a different restaurant every single day for a year straight and not have to repeat a single restaurant?

Those may not be your thing, but the OP wants big city amenities and Tallahassee simply does not have it, nor even come close. There are a few thousand restaurants ranging from every type of cuisine you could ever think of in San Francisco. There are over a thousand clubs/bars/night clubs etc in San Francisco. You can get anywhere in San Francisco by walking or public transportation without having to wait 30 minutes + for a bus or subway and without having to walk 1-5 miles to the nearest station or stop.

There are no good thai, french restaurants here, no good lounges, 1 good blues club but its out in the woods in Bradfordville, no good shopping, no good concert venues outside of some local stuff and OCCASIONAL stuff at the civic center but it is usually country music or rap. You don't even have to compare it to San Fran... any average size city that isn't university and government focused will offer more of this than Tallahassee... including pretty much all cities the same size or larger in Florida.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by psulions2007

Um, Tallahassee does not have over 800,000 people. Try 168,979.

Closer to 250K if you count the immediate surrounding area.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by grapico

Have to agree with Jono here which is the main point...especially for somebody 27, I'm currently here and I am 28 and it is the last place I really want to be...

If you are single with no kids, then sure - it's not the best place. Especially of you are single, female and looking - it is an awful place. Not so bad for single guys though.

Outside of the university and transient government workers and lawyers Tallahassee IS pretty redneck, sorry to bust you guys bubble. Maybe not redneck compared to other places in the south, but anybody from outside the south it will be VERY redneck, especially from somebody coming outside the US.

Everyone's perception is their own reality. I can tell from the above that you haven't spent much time with real rednecks...or equate southern with redneck, which I think might be your problem. You can't point to the MOST EDUCATED POPULATION IN THE STATE and call them redneck unless you are operating under some kind of ignorance or prejudice.

I grew up here until I was 21 and done with school and didn't realize it so much, now that I'm older and have lived several places elsewhere outside the South it is much easier to see and kind of a culture shock coming back!

And I moved here 21 years ago from metropolitan Tampa, and do not find this place redneck, period. Leon County may be redneck, Tallahassee is full of Volvos...

[quoe]Tallahassee has much more in common with Georgia and Alabama than it does with most of Florida.[/quote]

Which some of us think is a good thing.

There is nothing most 27 year olds would like here as far as night life... it caters to people 18-22... period.

No, it caters to 18-24 year olds, and to anyone raising a family. The only people that I know of that are truly unhappy with the night life are single women who are no longer in school. It's not NYC, but what do you expect from a city this size? It has MUCH more than the average college town, like Gainesville, for example.

If you think the night life here is good I am guessing you have never been out in other cities in the region which actually have young professionals in the 25-40 range... Atlanta, Miami, Tampa etc.

Well I have, and it does not compare - but why would you compare Tallahassee night life to a place like Atlanta anyway? Also, there is no shortage of 24-40 young professionals here - they are just nearly all married with kids and don't stay out all night drinking anymore. We grew out of it.

Tallahassee really only caters to two things, people raising families who want a slow pace sleepy town with average jobs for a city its size and university students. Just being honest. If you don't fall into one of those categories you are seriously missing out.

I fall into neither category and if you think this place is sleepy you should hang around Adams street during session sometime. It is a slower, more pastoral pace of life, but that's why it is so nice here, frankly. I did the big city thing. Won't do it again.

There are no good thai, french restaurants here, no good lounges, 1 good blues club but its out in the woods in Bradfordville, no good shopping, no good concert venues outside of some local stuff and OCCASIONAL stuff at the civic center but it is usually country music or rap. You don't even have to compare it to San Fran

Uhhh....all of this is just plain not true. Reangthai isn't good? Tong and Donna will be very disappointed. True, Chez Pierre sucks but Albert's was great while it lasted, and you can get really good continental dining at any of a dozen good restaurants here (Cypress is the best, IMHO). No good lounges? WHAT? When was the last time you were here? Hello!

Shopping and concerts I can't disagree with you. I wish more big-ticket acts came here.

Who would even try to compare it to Frisco?

and this:

... any average size city that isn't university and government focused will offer more of this than Tallahassee... including pretty much all cities the same size or larger in Florida.

I don't think so.

[grapico]

Strel I mostly agree with all your points, we are picking small differences. Yes I am referring to Leon County mostly and that there is Tallahassee, then, nothing else within 2 hours.. but you have to admit, they ALL come to Tallahassee to work especially on the weekends. From somebody moving here you are going to be head on with that culture I'm sure at many times unless you only stay in Killearn or Southwood or University. Reangthai is OK. For my point look at Fort Walton for instance, they have 6-7 thai restaurants...

I am actually glad you agree with the points, which is by and large what I was trying to point out.

I think I pointed out in another thread that they are all married with kids, this is not the norm in other cities honestly.

Definitely better than gainesville...

My aunt is a lawyer here and a bleeding liberal, volvo driving, lives way out in Killearn, so yes there IS much of that here too.

Me and my gf are both in late 20s and I know many grad students same age that are pretty bored out of their minds. From talking to many other people who come here, they DO think it is redneck. I am mostly OK with it myself as far as culture goes, I know its not Wewahitchka. I actually had to take my girlfriend down highway 20 to let her see what real redneck is. This was more from somebody coming from outside the south or international advice. And as you pointed out, and as the OP posted...She is a 27 year old girl from Italy thinking of going to FAMU come on... I had to give a little reality check of IMHO what she would perceive it as if she came here.

Another poster tried to compare it to SF. My gf is from that area though and in that age range you speak of that don't like it here and even though she is with me, yeah, she hates it here.

I have known many people to feel culture shock coming here from outside the south, from talking to them and looking around, I get what they are talking about.

I'd say thats pretty good, a dozen good restaurants... but clearly, just a dozen. but after that you are left with IHOP, Village Inn, Waffle house, chains and fast food. Lets think of the good restauarnts here though... mozaik, masa, i guess I can give you reangthai..., fusions, cypress, nicholsons is gone, bella bella, kool beanz, MAYBE on Harrys and bonefish... maybe, another broken egg.... saharas... Then... I might be missing here or there but the list goes down in a hurry to chubbys chicken fingers and hip hop fish and chicken and zaxbys and insert other chicken finger place, on a light note... seriously can this town have more chicken finger restaurants?

By the way, what ARE some good lounges?

BTW most of my perspective is from the late 90s and early 2000s here, they ARE improving, I'll definitely give you that.

I am mostly critical because I grew up in the area and would like to see it do better. I also like to use the word point a lot today.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by grapico

Strel I mostly agree with all your points, we are picking small differences. Yes I am referring to Leon County mostly and that there is Tallahassee, then, nothing else within 2 hours.. but you have to admit, they ALL come to Tallahassee to work especially on the weekends. From somebody moving here you are going to be head on with that culture I'm sure at many times unless you only stay in Killearn or Southwood or University. Reangthai is OK. For my point look at Fort Walton for instance, they have 6-7 thai restaurants...

I am actually glad you agree with the points, which is by and large what I was trying to point out.

I think I pointed out in another thread that they are all married with kids, this is not the norm in other cities honestly.

Definitely better than gainesville...

My aunt is a lawyer here and a bleeding liberal, volvo driving, lives way out in Killearn, so yes there IS much of that here too.

Me and my gf are both in late 20s and I know many grad students same age that are pretty bored out of their minds. From talking to many other people who come here, they DO think it is redneck. I am mostly OK with it myself as far as culture goes, I know its not Wewahitchka. I actually had to take my girlfriend down highway 20 to let her see what real redneck is. This was more from somebody coming from outside the south or international advice. And as you pointed out, and as the OP posted...She is a 27 year old girl from Italy thinking of going to FAMU come on... I had to give a little reality check of IMHO what she would perceive it as if she came here.

Another poster tried to compare it to SF. My gf is from that area though and in that age range you speak of that don't like it here and even though she is with me, yeah, she hates it here.

I have known many people to feel culture shock coming here from outside the south, from talking to them and looking around, I get what they are talking about.

I'd say thats pretty good, a dozen good restaurants... but clearly, just a dozen. but after that you are left with IHOP, Village Inn, Waffle house, chains and fast food.

By the way, what ARE some good lounges?

Well Fort Walton has the military influence...

I certainly agree that having a bunch of people married with kids in that age range isn't all that typical. It is what I call the Tallahassee Gravidy* Well. People go to school here, and either get bored or get a job elsewhere (usually). A few years later they will return either pregnant or with kids, deciding that Tallahassee was a better place to raise a family. I've known half a dozen couples at least that have done this.


I have never had to, nor ever had the urge, to eat at any of those places you list. Those places are for tourists, suckers and drunks. In fact, I pretty much avoid Monroe and Apalachee altogether, there are lots of places to eat tucked away here and there. I can't even count how many sushi places there are now (though only two are good I think).

Lounges: just go downtown. I guess I'm not sure what you mean by "good" or even "lounge" but get away from the student bars and there are some nice little places. That Irish place off Thomasville is great. Clusters and Hops (if you can tolerate the sometimes obnoxious waiter)...for local character, if you dare, there is the Leon Pub (but don't aggravate the albino with the sunglasses, he owns the place and is heavily armed). I could go on...there are lots of little hideaway bars.




*as in gravid (pregnant).

[grapico]

Originally Posted by Strel

Well Fort Walton has the military influence...

I certainly agree that having a bunch of people married with kids in that age range isn't all that typical. It is what I call the Tallahassee Gravidy* Well. People go to school here, and either get bored or get a job elsewhere (usually). A few years later they will return either pregnant or with kids, deciding that Tallahassee was a better place to raise a family. I've known half a dozen couples at least that have done this.


I have never had to, nor ever had the urge, to eat at any of those places you list. Those places are for tourists, suckers and drunks. In fact, I pretty much avoid Monroe and Apalachee altogether, there are lots of places to eat tucked away here and there. I can't even count how many sushi places there are now (though only two are good I think).

Lounges: just go downtown. I guess I'm not sure what you mean by "good" or even "lounge" but get away from the student bars and there are some nice little places. That Irish place off Thomasville is great. Clusters and Hops (if you can tolerate the sometimes obnoxious waiter)...for local character, if you dare, there is the Leon Pub (but don't aggravate the albino with the sunglasses, he owns the place and is heavily armed). I could go on...there are lots of little hideaway bars.




*as in gravid (pregnant).

lol yeah, I know what you are talking about... same experience here with people I knew, if I had a kid I might do the same. I know people that when they got about 24-25 (often earlier for those that didn't go to college) which were very smart people, or people who partied like crazy and ... then all of a sudden pop like 3 kids out in a row... I guess nothing wrong with that, just not my thing. Pretty strange. In fact, I guess that is what my parents did themselves... they were living down on the beach, then moved back to Tallahassee once I hit school age, Mom left again, my Dad will most likely also leave and retire down on the beach somewhere soon around St. George.


Of those I have been to them all but just because a group of people wanted to go, definitely not a frequenter.

When I left in 2003 there were I think 2-3 sushi places now there are 10. For people who like sushi, Masa and the new Sakura are good, Jasmine is OK... and the one that was in Market Square (but have gone downhill under new ownership, much like Alberts Provence) anywhere else you might as well pick some up at Publix.

Personally I am a seafood lover so the restaurants I see on the coast in say St. Marks, Carabelle, Apalachicola, Panama City, Destin etc. completely blow away the ones in Tallahassee and always wondered why there aren't more good ones here. (its obviously not far from the coast.)

Only been to Leon Pub many times, definitely pretty cool and one of only place with a good beer selection.

Might have to try the Irish place, I have heard good things about it.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by grapico

lol yeah, I know what you are talking about... same experience here with people I knew, if I had a kid I might do the same. I know people that when they got about 24-25 (often earlier for those that didn't go to college) which were very smart people, or people who partied like crazy and ... then all of a sudden pop like 3 kids out in a row... I guess nothing wrong with that, just not my thing. Pretty strange. In fact, I guess that is what my parents did themselves... they were living down on the beach, then moved back to Tallahassee once I hit school age, Mom left again, my Dad will most likely also leave and retire down on the beach somewhere soon around St. George.


Of those I have been to them all but just because a group of people wanted to go, definitely not a frequenter.

When I left in 2003 there were I think 2-3 sushi places now there are 10. For people who like sushi, Masa and the new Sakura are good, Jasmine is OK... and the one that was in Market Square (but have gone downhill under new ownership, much like Alberts Provence) anywhere else you might as well pick some up at Publix.

Personally I am a seafood lover so the restaurants I see on the coast in say St. Marks, Carabelle, Apalachicola, Panama City, Destin etc. completely blow away the ones in Tallahassee and always wondered why there aren't more good ones here. (its obviously not far from the coast.)

Only been to Leon Pub many times, definitely pretty cool and one of only place with a good beer selection.

Might have to try the Irish place, I have heard good things about it.

Clusters and Hops also has an excellent beer selection.

I unfortunately have to agree about the seafood. It is shocking that Tallahassee doesn't have more choices in that department.

Sakura and Osaka have the best sushi IMHO. Jasmine is OK, but not a great selection and too many caucasians behind the bar. Masa is pretty good.

Kitcho (market square) is a lot of people's favorite but I think they are inferior to the ones above. My Japanese friend preferred Osaka.

Mori is downright nasty, if it still exists. Sushilicious (Kerry Forest, right by my house), is terribad. Don't know about the others that have popped up.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by Strel

Clusters and Hops also has an excellent beer selection.

I unfortunately have to agree about the seafood. It is shocking that Tallahassee doesn't have more choices in that department.

Sakura and Osaka have the best sushi IMHO. Jasmine is OK, but not a great selection and too many caucasians behind the bar. Masa is pretty good.

Kitcho (market square) is a lot of people's favorite but I think they are inferior to the ones above. My Japanese friend preferred Osaka.

Mori is downright nasty, if it still exists. Sushilicious (Kerry Forest, right by my house), is terribad. Don't know about the others that have popped up.

forgot about osaka... definitely agree...mori is disgusting, need to stop advertising and getting some good fish. there is some other one "Fast sushi" or something off monroe that isnt' too good. I still think we are missing a few others.

Sakura ... I went there the first day they opened, one of the first customers and the place still smelled like varnish, was the best sushi I have ever had in Tallahassee.

For others... Masa is good... but way overpriced for what you can get. Jasmine is not that great, but cheap.

Kitcho is the one I was talking about, I am pretty sure they changed chefs or something because the first time I went I was surprised... this was 5 years ago or so...then came back now and SOMETHING changed...

I remember Barnacle Bills being good back in the day, I am not sure if this was my bad memory, or if it actually was that good :/

I also remember the Wharf on the parkway being good before it burned down, but also not certain if it is my memory or actually was good as I was younger then, didn't think much of the new version of it in Killearn.

[ajscratch]

or equate southern with redneck, which I think might be your problem. You can't point to the MOST EDUCATED POPULATION IN THE STATE and call them redneck unless you are operating under some kind of ignorance or prejudice.

You appear to be thin-skinned when "redneck" was used to describe the city of Tallahassee. Yet, you use the term "endemic" problems when describing FAMU. I'll agree that FAMU has had it problems financially(Ammons is reportedly cleaning that up) but that doesn't mean the problem is endemic, unless you're referring to the racial composition of the student body. If so that would mean that you're operating under some kind of ignorance or prejudice. Don't throw stones from a glass house.

Some blacks choose to attend HBCU's, not because we aren't smart enough to be accepted to predominantly white institutions, but simply, to enjoy the black college experience. Who's to say that she can't get a quality education in English from FAMU? If she works hard and studies then all will be well. The HB law school thirty minutes from me has graduated future judges who were white and our last governor. I don't think attending this institution affected their "social network" or how they viewed a particular city. A lot of people are myopic when it comes to relating to stuff that's foreign to them.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by ajscratch

You appear to be thin-skinned when "redneck" was used to describe the city of Tallahassee. Yet, you use the term "endemic" problems when describing FAMU. I'll agree that FAMU has had it problems financially(Ammons is reportedly cleaning that up) but that doesn't mean the problem is endemic, unless you're referring to the racial composition of the student body. If so that would mean that you're operating under some kind of ignorance or prejudice. Don't throw stones from a glass house.

Some blacks choose to attend HBCU's, not because we aren't smart enough to be accepted to predominantly white institutions, but simply, to enjoy the black college experience. Who's to say that she can't get a quality education in English from FAMU? If she works hard and studies then all will be well. The HB law school thirty minutes from me has graduated future judges who were white and our last governor. I don't think attending this institution affected their "social network" or how they viewed a particular city. A lot of people are myopic when it comes to relating to stuff that's foreign to them.

And what does one have to do with the other?

FAMU is cursed. Burn it to the ground and start over. Fire the whole staff. The culture there is hopelessly corrupt.

She will not get a quality education from FAMU. I know TOO much about what goes on there.