What's the Kalamazoo vibe? (Ann Arbor: job, housing, cost of living)

[deslok]

However the thinking, whether hippy liberal elitist jerk, or conservative boring plaid shirt wearing yawndom, I'd say both sides are inflexible of the other. That is what bugged me the most, while there is a variety of people ( don't see how personalities equates to income, race, winning, or losing) the inability of either side to see other sides of an equation was what really bugged me. Nobody really changes living in that area. I suppose you are either a person that can just close your eyes and live and let live making due with what is around you, or live amongst people you find more naturally interesting. I found Kalamazoo people to be for the most part to be settled with their lives for the most part, comfortable, and nice. Good in retirement perhaps, but not so much at my stage in life. (20-40 age range)

[adrock112]

lived in kazoo for most of my life, until a year ago. should have moved a long time ago. that city stinks.

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

i love and miss kalamazoo!!! political issues aside people are very friendly and come from all walks of life! if you like the arts they have gallery walks once a month where stores and galleries feature artists and have free wine and snacks or juice whatever.....the little museums they have are quite nice...and the BEER is AWESOME...bell's is fantastic, olde penninsula is a great brew-pub, and kraftbrau is also great! there is lots of nature nearby, inland lakes and lake michigan really isnot that far away......and 2.5 hours and you are in chicago! i also miss the festivals

[suydam]

Hate to break it to you man...Kraftbrau is closed (or closing shortly)

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

Originally Posted by suydam

Hate to break it to you man...Kraftbrau is closed (or closing shortly)

i had no idea.....do you know why?

it's been almost 2 years since i've been to kzoo
and three since i've lived there...

[suydam]

Originally Posted by mofromcheboygankalamazoo

i had no idea.....do you know why?

it's been almost 2 years since i've been to kzoo
and three since i've lived there...

No idea. I haven't lived there in 3 years either.
They sold (or are selling) the building.
Rumor is, they're going to try to find a new location after the buliding sells. Don't hold your breath.

[Softballfan]

Originally Posted by mofromcheboygankalamazoo

i had no idea.....do you know why?

it's been almost 2 years since i've been to kzoo
and three since i've lived there...

t

The landlord of the Kraftbrau building wanted to really jack up the rent.

The Kraftbrau management couldn't afford it, so they closed down

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

Originally Posted by Softballfan

t

The landlord of the Kraftbrau building wanted to really jack up the rent.

The Kraftbrau management couldn't afford it, so they closed down

really too bad.....i of course am always happy as long as bell's is there

[SWV]

I live here now and will be attending college but as soon as I'm done I'm moving.

[mazurkr]

depends on your priorities...

if you like (or don't mind) the weather and topogrophy, and you have a great job that you know you will keep for a while, and you can take a small-town type mentality (even if it isn't that small), you'll do fine.

me, i've lived all over the usa (as you seem to have, if mostly east coast biased), so there's no way i'm sticking in michigan given where else i've lived. and i grew up here....

economy is allright, compared to rest of michigan. but compared to other states and metropolitan areas, it's still quite bad.

ann arbor is the only place i'd consider settling, in michigan.

given your big city history, you will be bored. and college students? again, in ann arbor, it's a very mixed envioronment. college and town are intertwined. here, i hardly ever seen any college students in any store, or starbucks, or anywhere. 30000 college students, and starbucks is never crowded?? bizarre...

i may be biased, but i'm moving to the pac-nw in september, mostly due to my personal likes for mountains, ocean, and better culture. if that doesen't matter to you, go for kzoo.

as they said, you'll find plenty of good housing. can you sell it, when you want to? that's another question....