Little Rock Underrated? (Ward: fit in, crime rate, private schools)

[Aporkalypse]

Originally Posted by bchris02

I saw a New York Times article that listed Little Rock as one of the metro areas already in recession, NWA on the brink of recession, but OKC and the many Texas metro areas still have expanding economies.

They use different criteria, obviously. It's pretty unusual for an area in recession to have a falling unemployment rate well below the national average (LR's is 4.0%, the national rate is now 6.7%). If they used CSA data that throw in Pine Bluff that would drag LR down considerably.

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by Aporkalypse

They use different criteria, obviously. It's pretty unusual for an area in recession to have a falling unemployment rate well below the national average (LR's is 4.0%, the national rate is now 6.7%). If they used CSA data that throw in Pine Bluff that would drag LR down considerably.

That could have been it. I am seeing more and more statistics that lump in Pine Bluff with Little Rock.

[Aporkalypse]

Originally Posted by bchris02

That could have been it. I am seeing more and more statistics that lump in Pine Bluff with Little Rock.

The fed also came out with predictions for job growth in the next quarter for metro areas and LR and NWA both were in the "moderate growth" category, a rarity right now.

[Redsez]

There is a possibility that I and my partner will be moving to Little Rock from Arizona. I'm not sure why, but I really don't know anything about the area.

I have some specific questions. I would be grateful for any information.
1. Is the humidity really horrible? Living in AZ, I have never dealt with it.
2. Diversity- As a gay couple, should I be worried?

I am excited about how beautiful the area is (from the pictures I've seen) and because I've been living in a very small town for awhile, I'm excited about the "big, little city" culture.

Thank you for your time and information.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Redsez

There is a possibility that I and my partner will be moving to Little Rock from Arizona. I'm not sure why, but I really don't know anything about the area.

I have some specific questions. I would be grateful for any information.
1. Is the humidity really horrible? Living in AZ, I have never dealt with it.
2. Diversity- As a gay couple, should I be worried?

I am excited about how beautiful the area is (from the pictures I've seen) and because I've been living in a very small town for awhile, I'm excited about the "big, little city" culture.

Thank you for your time and information.

1. Coming from AZ, your first summer will probably be pretty horrible, yes. However, compared to much of the rest of the south, it's not nearly so bad here and you will get used to it. Our humidity is fairly comparable to a lot of the East Coast but our summer's just a tad hotter and definitely longer.
2. I don't think you have anything to worry about. There are a lot more LGBT folks here than many realize. If you want to be out, and loud and proud, this may not be the place but if you're discreet in public then no one will care.

Big little city! Yeah that's a pretty good description! Come on over!

[BDubLR]

Originally Posted by Redsez

There is a possibility that I and my partner will be moving to Little Rock from Arizona. I'm not sure why, but I really don't know anything about the area.

I have some specific questions. I would be grateful for any information.
1. Is the humidity really horrible? Living in AZ, I have never dealt with it.
2. Diversity- As a gay couple, should I be worried?

I am excited about how beautiful the area is (from the pictures I've seen) and because I've been living in a very small town for awhile, I'm excited about the "big, little city" culture.

Thank you for your time and information.

1. I have family in the Phoenix area and it may take a bit of adjustment but with the exception of a few weeks in late July or early August, our summers are usually quite nice.

2. While gays do exist in Little Rock this is a VERY socially conservative town, so be prepared for the baggage that goes with that. You will probably get some stares and wierd looks and you will be shunned by many people, but you probably wont have to worry about getting your house vandalized like you would if you lived in say Fort Smith. However, as long as you don't go around advertising that you are gay, you should be OK. Just don't make it look obvious in public.

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by Redsez

There is a possibility that I and my partner will be moving to Little Rock from Arizona. I'm not sure why, but I really don't know anything about the area.

I have some specific questions. I would be grateful for any information.
1. Is the humidity really horrible? Living in AZ, I have never dealt with it.
2. Diversity- As a gay couple, should I be worried?

I am excited about how beautiful the area is (from the pictures I've seen) and because I've been living in a very small town for awhile, I'm excited about the "big, little city" culture.

Thank you for your time and information.

The small amount of humidity that you find in AZ....might have you wishing for home when you come to AR. The weather can be really crazy around here. You might start out with the heat in the morning and cranking on the AC by the afternoon sometimes. It all depends.

2. I wouldn't be too worried being an LGBT couple. Sometimes my girlfriend and I hold hands in public and maybe a small kiss every now and then and I've never really felt like my safety was at risk. I would only worry about being out at work, especially if your employer doesn't have sexual orientation down as groups that are protected. An employer in AR can legally fire you if you're gay or lesbian so...just putting that out there. Thank goodness my job can't fire me soley based on my sexual orientation.

I've found more people are accepting than you think. You just have to get a feel for people. I don't think Little Rock is as conservative as say..Fort Smith. After all, we do have an open lesbian in the Arkansas House of Reps:Kathy Webb.

I hope LR feels like home after a while. What brings you to AR?

[stx12499]

Little Rock is not so bad on my initial impression, and ranks reasonably favorably among its peer metros. I have done extensive exploring as I drove over 100 miles around the city today. I plan to haul another 200 or so around town tomorrow, and I will come with a complete review of the city from an urbanist's perspective. In short, I think its a pretty nice town for the most part, although it does have some odd quirks...more on that later!

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Redsez

2. Diversity- As a gay couple, should I be worried?

This gets asked relatively frequently here, and it's really kind of a non-issue as such.

Discretion is everything.

To give an example, Mrs. RogMar and I were at a crowded chinese buffet the other day.

A gay female and her S/O were at a table eating, and some flirting was going on. Footsie.....cell phone picture-takin'. That kinda thing.......discretely.

Now....we are in a rural, conservative area, so most any stereotype could be thrown at this area.

Nobody....I reapeat.....*nobody*...was giving it a second glance. Nobody gives a <darn> about sexual orientation, it's about conduct.

Now.....if Mrs. RogMar and I were hot, heavy, and spit-swappin over by the won-ton soup, you can bet we would be asked to leave.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by RogMar

This gets asked relatively frequently here, and it's really kind of a non-issue as such.

Discretion is everything.

To give an example, Mrs. RogMar and I were at a crowded chinese buffet the other day.

A gay female and her S/O were at a table eating, and some flirting was going on. Footsie.....cell phone picture-takin'. That kinda thing.......discretely.

Now....we are in a rural, conservative area, so most any stereotype could be thrown at this area.

Nobody....I reapeat.....*nobody*...was giving it a second glance. Nobody gives a <darn> about sexual orientation, it's about conduct.

Now.....if Mrs. RogMar and I were hot, heavy, and spit-swappin over by the won-ton soup, you can bet we would be asked to leave.

LOL Rog! You never fail to entertain and provide useful and honest information at the same time!