Looking to move to Georgia, Demorest-Athens? (Atlanta, Savannah: appointed, crime, movies)

[Rob Sparrow Jones]

Hello, I am looking to move to georgia to teach at Piedmont College in Demorest Georgia. I am moving from Baltimore MD. Demorest looks beautiful but we are looking for someplace more urban. We are both artists, looking to be close to restaurants, movies, diverse food markets and galleries.

Is it awful to commute from Athens? Is there a better cultural city close by?

Any information will be helpful!!

Thank you!!

[Ollie1946]

i gather gasoline is not an issue with you. you already know the distances involved. i can say the roads are excellent---mostly 4 lane all the way. traffic is rarely that involved. if it were me, i would live in cornelia and then come to athens for the cultural fix. cornelia/demorest has little crime with a nice quality of life overall. but coming from baltimore, our athens crime and congestion would mean little to you. you did not mention children. athens public schools are a subject all by themselves. good luck to you.

[Rob Sparrow Jones]

Gasoline is an issue, but so is quality of life and I like your suggestion. We have no children. I think it's just that the two of us are used to city life and need something close at hand, especially galleries, that way only one of us will need a car.

Thank you for your reply its is very helpful!!

Rob

[irishvanguard]

For the culture fix, you will need Athens or in-town Atlanta. If you choose to live in Cornelia, you will have your standard "supplies from Wal-Mart" town and will have to travel for the culture fix. But if you like Appalachian folk art and preservation of folk culture, the Alpine-inspired town of Helen is a good day trip (30 minutes) as well the entire North Georgia mountain area . Also, the 90 minute trip up to Highlands, NC offers the intersection of exclusive retail enclave with art-for-art's sake (you can interpret as commercial galleries). Also, the 2 1/2 hour trip up to Asheville, NC offers quite a lot. While we talk hours of driving, the 4-5 hour trip to Savannah will always be an art and architectural history treat.

I am not sure, but the city of Gainesville may have a few art galleries. Much of Atlanta will be retiring (to the mountains) in your direction anyway, so time will bring more of a tide of such things as better dining, shops, and galleries.

[irishvanguard]

North Georgia Arts Guild - Art and Artists in north Georgia is a link for the most typical mountain arts offerings.

[Ollie1946]

granted in baltimore you had easy access to the national gallery and many other art resources. i might add to the other poster's comments that in greenville, sc on the campus of bob jones university you will find one of the finest art museums on the planet. it is mainly renaissance religious art and is the largest collection outside of the vatican i believe. they do have a rembrandt or two and maybe a titian. in any case, it is a wonderful gallery with the displays professionally done. don't let the bju part turn you off to a grand opportunity.

the georgia museum of art is on the campus of university of georgia. i have been mostly disappointed each time i have visited there.

there are galleries throughout the mountain region. i think you will enjoy exploring. you can find some amazing things in some very out of the way spots.

[Ollie1946]

PS: start your own gallery.

[Ollie1946]

i failed to mention the High Museum in Atlanta.