Is Orlando boring to live? (Tampa, Lakeland: job, bars, art)

[cfIfan]

When people think of orlando, they think of a big city. It isnt, however there is alot to do downtown. However, there is alot more to do in terms of night life outside of Orlando in various areas. Silence Doogood has very specific tastes. If you look at other threads he/she has posted, he/she hates Orlando and is a great advertisement for leaving or not coming here at all. I would take what that poster says with a pinch of salt.

[Silence Dogood]

Anyone saying downtown Orlando has a lot to do is completely disengenious. It is not an opinion, it is a fact. If your definition of a lot to do is a bar scene around church street and orange for twenty somethings, than yes that exists; nothing else.

[Silence Dogood]

Originally Posted by blueoktober

Only someone who doesnt have a clue what downtown has to offer would say this. Before your spout more of your inane generalizations let me tell you that I have lived in San Francisco, Chicago and Memphis - all of which I lived downtown. They are all unique in their own way - just as Orlando is. I live downtown and on one hand I am glad people like you spew false information because it keeps the area from becoming a nasty, soulless suburb like 99.9% of Orlando really is. Downtown is always alive. Always. Mostly 20-40 year olds out eating, walking, socializing ...I mean seriously, have you ever been out in downtown? I live on Lake Davis and have a friggin coffee shop/ Food market within ONE BLOCK of me. I can walk 2 blocks to Thornton Park. I can walk 3 blocks to Lake Eola. Downtown is one of the most beautiful downtowns in any city. It's clean and full of historical neighborhoods.

Again, please continue to tell the stories you tell because it keeps downtown the hidden gem of this entire area. While Chicago is hands down the best American city, Orlando has so much to offer for people who aren't full of baseless generalizations.

If downtown is so great, why is it a hidden Gem instead of apparent!! I can't believe I am actually debating this. If you polled 95% of the residents in Orlando, they would say downtown is completely laughable. Maybe your one of those people that bought one of those condo's who is now faced with selling for 50% loss because it came apparent that the condo boom did not bring viablity to downtown. Your comparison to Frisco and Chicago is absolutely insulting even to readers that love Orlando. I challenge you to find anyone in the united states that actually planned a trip (other than a visit or to the theme parks) to Orlando. There is a reason it has the highest vacancy rate in the country; it is an utter farce. HIDDEN GEM??

[Wilshire81182]

Originally Posted by cfIfan

When people think of orlando, they think of a big city. It isnt, however there is alot to do downtown. However, there is alot more to do in terms of night life outside of Orlando in various areas. Silence Doogood has very specific tastes. If you look at other threads he/she has posted, he/she hates Orlando and is a great advertisement for leaving or not coming here at all. I would take what that poster says with a pinch of salt.

Thank you. It is so true and I am glad I'm not the only one who sees it as sheer negativity. Downtown and some of the areas around it are my favorite neighborhoods in Orlando. Downtown Orlando has so much competition with the satellite downtowns (Celebration, Waterford/Avalon, Baldwin Park) and Downtown Disney/Citiwalk areas, that I think it has done a pretty good job of sustaining itself and surviving. When I moved here I never anticipated Orlando to have a downtown like SF or Chicago and I think you would be disillusioned to think so. I do not need to decipher if our downtown is legendary or a hidden gem, it is what it is. I like that it is not overly trafficked and remains a somewhat "local" place to hang out. Except all the drama around Church Street Station (financial woes, vacant space) I think downtown is thriving and going in the right direction. I like the last post about the Lake Davis area too. I am just east of there, in Conway and like my area in general, but if I could move closer to downtown that would be the area. I never expected places like that to exist when I moved here and I think they are beautiful and charming.

[BeenAroundTheBlock]

Besides, the original poster is a college student... looking for things to do. I agree with all the positive posts supporting downtown and Orlando. My 20 something kids are never lacking anything fun to do in this town. Matter of fact, my one daughter has been here for 1 1/2 years now from up north. Just the other day I asked her if she missed living up there and she said, "NO WAY!" She said the nightlife is so much better here (and we didn't live in podunk.)

[blueoktober]

Originally Posted by Silence Dogood

If downtown is so great, why is it a hidden Gem instead of apparent!! I can't believe I am actually debating this. If you polled 95% of the residents in Orlando, they would say downtown is completely laughable. Maybe your one of those people that bought one of those condo's who is now faced with selling for 50% loss because it came apparent that the condo boom did not bring viablity to downtown. Your comparison to Frisco and Chicago is absolutely insulting even to readers that love Orlando. I challenge you to find anyone in the united states that actually planned a trip (other than a visit or to the theme parks) to Orlando. There is a reason it has the highest vacancy rate in the country; it is an utter farce. HIDDEN GEM??

Again, complete ignorance. You don't know the first concrete fact about downtown because you haven't lived nor explored it. And no, I actually bought a house in Delaney Park that is STILL appreciating on a monthly basis. I live between 3 lakes, baseball parks that have been in movies, beautiful turn of the century homes, great local food joints, excellent arts centers, multiple city parks, etc. As someone else said you just hate Orlando (And apparently hate the correct usage of the English language as well) and have nothing good to say about it. I hate this old cliche', but LEAVE it if you don't like it.
Orlando has never been anything other than a small town. It's not NYC or Chicago or any other large city. For a city its size, it has an amazingly clean, beautiful, and vibrant downtown. What other city landscapes the sides of major interstates like Orlando? Now, my 7k a year property taxes pay for all of that, but what other city does it?

The reason downtown is a hidden gem is because ignorant, uneducated people like yourself scream that it's ugly and there's nothing to do. Other's scream that there's so much crime and you MIGHT DIE IF YOU GO DOWNTOWN!!! OOOH!
The reality is that the poor word of mouth has kept the area from being ruined. You DO realize that downtown isn't just Orange Ave, right? The condos on that strip are NOT downtown only. Eola Heights, Delaney Park, Lake Davis, Greenwood, Thornton Park, ...there are multiple neighborhoods surrounding the business district.

Also, kiddo, after living downtown chicago for 10 years I can without a doubt tell you that after rush hour is over, the Loop (AKA DOWNTOWN CHICAGO) is dead. The outskirts (Lincoln Park, Lakeview, etc) are all alive. Which is exactly like Orlando but just a lot larger.

You must be 21 years old and bitter because life experience seems to have certainly avoided you so far.

[gypsystar]

Originally Posted by Silence Dogood

If downtown is so great, why is it a hidden Gem instead of apparent!! I can't believe I am actually debating this. If you polled 95% of the residents in Orlando, they would say downtown is completely laughable. Maybe your one of those people that bought one of those condo's who is now faced with selling for 50% loss because it came apparent that the condo boom did not bring viablity to downtown. Your comparison to Frisco and Chicago is absolutely insulting even to readers that love Orlando. I challenge you to find anyone in the united states that actually planned a trip (other than a visit or to the theme parks) to Orlando. There is a reason it has the highest vacancy rate in the country; it is an utter farce. HIDDEN GEM??

You know, sometimes you have to get OUT of the city you live in and appreciate the surrounding areas as well. I know for a fact that Orlando has many, many natural attractions and cool places to visit within an hour or two away. Does Chicago?? Hmmm, not so much, unless you feel like daytripping it to Gary, Indiana...

Someone needs to open their mind and get out a little more!

[adigitalmoment]

wow, i love this thread. i used to work as a pedi-cab driver. now let me tell you about downtown orlando b/c ive worked there 4 nights out of the week. chruch st is filled with drunks, bums, way too many cos, ignorant and into themselves females. it only consists of maybe 4 or 5 blocks. they got cops on horses, they shut down orange ave on the weekends. a lot of robberies, shootings, stabbings, etc. down there. in my eyes, not all that worth it.

[DailyJournalist]

Lets not forget that downtown closes at 2AM.

[Kali's Grandma]

I can't believe there can't be a discussion on this board without someone hurling insults at someone else just because someone doesn't agree with them.

Be ready to flame away at me...I'm an adult, I can take it without lowering myself to your level.

There is nightlife downtown...altho I DO go out, downtown is not my thing. If you like the club scene then you'll be fine with downtown, pleasure Island and city walk.
For the older crowds you have Dr Phillips, Heathrow, Winter Park, Cranes Roost and the new Winter Springs Village.

Don't limit yourself to just one area. That's what a lot of people do. It's a very diverse area and I say that if you get bored here, it's your own fault.