Huntsville ranks 15th for the Nation's Fastest Growing City! (Black: apartment, hotels)

[shaken8]

KE, if you want Huntsville to have more growth and entertainment, then you must accept the things that come along with this (increased crime, increased traffic/congestion). The key is moderation--Huntsville must balance (the impending) growth and the negative impacts of that growth wisely if it wants to be successful. I understand your vision, but it takes time, planning, and balance, not to mention the consent of the majority of the city. If most of the population of the city does not plan to use the facilities that you want (whatever they may be), then it makes no business sense to provide them.

In the meantime, I have found numerous things to do that fit with my interests, and I'm sure you can find them too, it just takes a little bit of looking. If you are looking for an artistic crowd, there's the Flying Monkey (lots of shows, activites, artist markets, there's a great book club that meets there with lively intellectual discussions). Sports? Dixie Derby Girls (great fun to watch, usually a band plays at halftime), Hsv Stars, Havoc, Vipers. Bars? There may not be as many as Memphis, ATL, or Nashville, but surely there are enough? You can find live music a lot of places all throughout the week (check the Valley Planet for a full listing). So I think Huntsville has a lot more entertainment options than you might think, even if they aren't as obvious as some other larger cities. Besides, if everything were all right here, don't you think it would lose it's appeal? I like traveling to large cities and exploring the nightlife, but I wouldn't do that every weekend. After awhile, it would get old, and I would stop going. And that's what I've heard numerous times from people from large cities. To me, the fun is in exploring something new, and if it was right here, it would cease to be new after a short break in time.

The entertainment I most enjoy is good times, with good people, and the location is secondary. If you surround yourself with interesting people, interesting discussion, then the stimulus of the location loses its appeal. I'd rather have a party at my own house, with a large group of good friends, where the atmosphere is quiet enough to enjoy conversation. That's where clubs lose their appeal for me, it's impossible to converse. But those options are still here in Huntsville, if that's your cup of tea (The Horse, Insomnia, uhhhh can't think of any more clubs, but I'm pretty sure there are more).

As for some of the other comments about people being conservative, traditional, stuffy, or whatever--I will agree that those people are here (especially prevalent in certain areas of town), but I assure you, not everyone here is that way. If you are looking in the right places you can find a pretty diverse population.

[A&M Bulldawg]

What about the younger people, especially the black crowd (no racism)? What is there for them to do? I'm asking this because the majority who say that Huntsville is boring are my people! There needs to be more for them as well. They don't really hike or do that stuff as you mentioned. A lot of times when I'm talking about entertainment, I'm speaking from a Black person's perspective. What about us? Is there something in Huntsville for us to do?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

What about the younger people, especially the black crowd (no racism)? What is there for them to do? I'm asking this because the majority who say that Huntsville is boring are my people! There needs to be more for them as well. They don't really hike or do that stuff as you mentioned. A lot of times when I'm talking about entertainment, I'm speaking from a Black person's perspective. What about us? Is there something in Huntsville for us to do?

What do they do in other places that they don't consider boring?
Is there enough demand for these activities or services or shopping or whatever in Huntsville?

[A&M Bulldawg]

No!

[Reactionary]

"...from a Black person's perspective. What about us? Is there something in Huntsville for us to do?"

Huntsville offers: festivals (Panoply, Big Spring Jam, Brewfest, Whistle Stop), plays, opera, concerts (symphony and more), semi-pro sporting events (baseball, hockey, football), college sporting events (football, baseball, basketball, hockey), high school sporting events, live bands, dancing, clubbing, sports bars, gay bars, strip clubs, pool halls, gourmet beer bars, bowling, tennis, golf, frisby golf, fine restaurants, movies, museums (Art and Space and Children's), hiking, biking, caving, boating, swimming, canoeing, fishing, hunting, playgrounds, parks, shopping, lectures, classes, Botanical Garden, volunteer opportunities, churches and associated activities, clubs that love Jesus and clubs that don't love Jesus and clubs to play CoD4 on a LAN, Elks, Kiwanis, Jaycees, plus more stuff than I can think of...

You tell me - what kind of entertainment is missing for black people? Why do exciting black clubs fail and boring black churches succeed?

Not to be too harsh, but I think the problem is you - people who are bored are usually boring (and lazy, in that they need to be entertained because they can't be troubled to entertain themselves)...

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Not to be too harsh, but I think the problem is you - people who are bored are usually boring (and lazy, in that they need to be entertained because they can't be troubled to entertain themselves)...

Are you lazy, KE?

You're going to college, right? I went to a college that's much smaller than Huntsville but I was never bored. Why? Well, first I was too busy studying!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Charles

Is there enough demand for these activities or services or shopping or whatever in Huntsville?

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

No!

Then that explains it. There isn't enough demand. No businessman, especially in this economy, will start a business in an environment that won't allow him to thrive and make a profit.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Are you lazy, KE?

You're going to college, right? I went to a college that's much smaller than Huntsville but I was never bored. Why? Well, first I was too busy studying!

Not only that, most people in college don't have too much discretionary money. Many times our hot Saturday night was a twelver of Coors for $5.89 (funny the things we remember) from 7-11.

[friday13]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

"...from a Black person's perspective. What about us? Is there something in Huntsville for us to do?"

Huntsville offers: festivals (Panoply, Big Spring Jam, Brewfest, Whistle Stop), plays, opera, concerts (symphony and more), semi-pro sporting events (baseball, hockey, football), college sporting events (football, baseball, basketball, hockey), high school sporting events, live bands, dancing, clubbing, sports bars, gay bars, strip clubs, pool halls, gourmet beer bars, bowling, tennis, golf, frisby golf, fine restaurants, movies, museums (Art and Space and Children's), hiking, biking, caving, boating, swimming, canoeing, fishing, hunting, playgrounds, parks, shopping, lectures, classes, Botanical Garden, volunteer opportunities, churches and associated activities, clubs that love Jesus and clubs that don't love Jesus and clubs to play CoD4 on a LAN, Elks, Kiwanis, Jaycees, plus more stuff than I can think of...

You tell me - what kind of entertainment is missing for black people?

Aquarium...but rumor is that's coming.

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by friday13

Aquarium...but rumor is that's coming.

Let's make that a locally unique aquarium that contains indigenous species...

... catfish...