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If your looking for a music scene, I would suggest Nashville. My brother is big into music and moved to Nashville a few years ago and he absolutely loves it there. There are a lot of opportunities to break into the music industry there and the people there really appreciate their music...all kinds, not just country.
I've been to Austin, and I dont get the appeal. It has a great reputation, but I think it gets that reputation because of whats around it. I found the city to look really bland, and the music scene isn't exactly worldclass like its suppose to be, you also dont have great bands playing in little clubs all the time like what I've heard. Granted I dont know Austin outside of a few days visit, but I was really disappointed.
I lived in Portland for a year, and I remember the first time I visited there (about six months before I moved there), and I was incredibly impressed on day 1, and it just got better and better as I later got to know it from living there.
We ended up in Portland. After all the considerations, we ended up going with the place that had the best weather. Then again, since being here we've seen some snow and heat that we didn't really expect, but it hasn't been nearly as depressing as many people make it out to be. We live in the suburbs in Beaverton, housing is more affordable and we don't mind driving into Portland to do the more fun activities. I imagine job markets aren't great no matter where you go, and we do at least both have jobs, so we're better off than many. Would we be able to afford Austin or Nashville more easily? That's hard to tell, but we've been to the ocean several times here, something we couldn't do as easily in either of those other places. Plus, our car broke down when we got here so being able to get around with mass transit turned out to be a huge plus.
We ended up in Portland. After all the considerations, we ended up going with the place that had the best weather. Then again, since being here we've seen some snow and heat that we didn't really expect, but it hasn't been nearly as depressing as many people make it out to be. We live in the suburbs in Beaverton, housing is more affordable and we don't mind driving into Portland to do the more fun activities. I imagine job markets aren't great no matter where you go, and we do at least both have jobs, so we're better off than many. Would we be able to afford Austin or Nashville more easily? That's hard to tell, but we've been to the ocean several times here, something we couldn't do as easily in either of those other places. Plus, our car broke down when we got here so being able to get around with mass transit turned out to be a huge plus.
Then Im glad you enjoy it here, and I hope it works out for you.
Never been to Portland(definately a cool place though), but Austin is an absolute gem for 20 somethings. I'd strongly suggest that you at least fly down to Austin for a weekend or so to scout it out. It's one of those cities that you'll know immediately if it's for you...and if it is, then there's nothing else that'll even come close. If you like places that are relaxed yet ecclectic and offbeat, you'll think that it's amazing. Drive out to Mt. Bonnel/Mopac and check out the gorgeous and surprising Hill Country scenery, watch the bats fly out from underneith the Congress Ave. bridge at 7pm, check out the goofy little shops and restaurants along South Congress, grab a cupcake at Hey Cupcake!, catch some shows along 6th street/the warehouse district, and then spend the next day napping in Zilker Park and swimming at Barton Springs. I love Austin. It's also a stone's throw to San Antonio, which can feel like stepping into another country at times and is another amazing city, and Houston is a simple drive for truly big city opportunities. It's land locked..but not really, Lake Travis is gorgeous and nicer than some east coast beaches IMHO. Nashville is next on my to do list, but I would think that Austin has it thoroughly beat for fun factor and livability outside of the equally interesting music scenes. Portland is going to be the priciest but it draws a lot of parallels to Austin, and it kind of seems like a slightly older/less college-centric place. I'd keep it down to Portland for slightly more mature offerings and cooler weather, and Austin for more 20ish mentality and warmer temps.
Last edited by TelecasterBlues; 02-01-2010 at 08:05 AM..
I will tell you what I and many others in the Portland Forum repeat quite often for 'newcomer-wannabees': You must either have a job secured BEFORE you move here, or have at least two years' worth of funds to live on, because the job situation here IS really that bad! Jobs have never been plentiful in this area even during the nation's better economic times. But it's a pathetic state right now, with hundreds of over-qualified people applying for low entry-level positions. And restaurants ~ which Portland is notorius for ~ have finally seen hard times, with many of them closing.
Portland definitely has a big music scene. We have one of the largest blues associations, and highest number of blues bands, in the nation. Lots of indie/alternative sounds (don't know about country). But a lot of these musicians have parttime/daytime jobs.
And, yes, the cost of living is a concern. But it probably is in Austin and Nashville, too.
i have a buddy, who was my soux chef. very talented. after graduation from western culinary institute, he decided to remain in portland. that lasted slightly more than a year, before he deceided to move to chattanooga. he couldn't do very well there, consequently, he went to louisville, where he took a position as the executive chef for the baptist thelogical seminary. he didn't make it a year. he hated the work, the enviornment and louisville in general. finally, he hit nashville and decided to take a position in a place i recommended, the boar's head. he worked part time at a waffle joint. he like the upscale restaurant, but he didn't care for nashville. last, but not least, he made it to austin, where he found all things wonderful. he is originally from jonesboro, arkansas, and i honestly think he was homesick and coming to terms w/ being gay, after being married about a year-and -a-half. eventually, after arriving in austin, he got himself on regular doses of an anti-depressant.
i believe the anti-depressant was the key to the whole thing---not so much the cities involved. he really speaks highly of the food scene in austin, as well as the live music. i don't knowl i think a little more time is needed.
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Well, to answer your questions...
