What happened to Orlando? (hotels, home, neighborhood)

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Wilshire81182

I thought Pete C's post was very accurate. Do you live in the area? There are all types downtown age, income, race, education level, etc. Yes there is crime downtown but it does not feel unsafe at all and I have never had a problem. I am down there quite a bit and I am sure not a rogue or uneducated so these comments just seem like blatant ignorance to me.

There is a party atmosphere you cannot deny in downtown Orlando on the weekends, and as you said the crowd is varied. I don't see how anyone could say there is nothing for 30 year-olds when you have places like Ember, Celt, AKA, Senso, NV, Suite B, Wall St, 57 West, Eola Wine Co, Tastings, Ceviche, etc down there. It is still mostly under this magic "28" age that he came up with downtown, but there are 28+ out there as well...I am well over that. I don't know...I still prefer a scene like that to a 'mature' scene like Blue Martini any day, maybe it's me.

[Wilshire81182]

Originally Posted by Pete C

There is a party atmosphere you cannot deny in downtown Orlando on the weekends, and as you said the crowd is varied. I don't see how anyone could say there is nothing for 30 year-olds when you have places like Ember, Celt, AKA, Senso, NV, Suite B, Wall St, 57 West, Eola Wine Co, Tastings, Ceviche, etc down there. It is still mostly under this magic "28" age that he came up with downtown, but there are 28+ out there as well...I am well over that. I don't know...I still prefer a scene like that to a 'mature' scene like Blue Martiti any day, maybe it's me.

I gave you rep point for that. There are a lot of cool spots. I like Hamburger Mary's, The Dessert Lady, Urban Flats, Stardust Lounge, etc too. It's a good scene. I definitely hope for more to come, but it's a good scene!

[^Eagle^]

Originally Posted by Wilshire81182

I thought Pete C's post was very accurate. Do you live in the area? There are all types downtown age, income, race, education level, etc. Yes there is crime downtown but it does not feel unsafe at all and I have never had a problem. I am down there quite a bit and I am sure not a rogue or uneducated so these comments just seem like blatant ignorance to me.

No worries guys I have a friend who went to Orlando every weekend for 4 years who confirmed that Orlando is an awesome place for fun and afterhours. He said he use to go to the rave clubs when the area still had them and that the clubs stay open late and are great fun. 28+?!? I have been hitting bars and clubs since I was old enough to and have been hanging out with and having fun with people age 18-50 for many many years so I won't be carding people for their age.

I'm still somewhat concerned that you guys could rank ahead of Miami for violent crime though. That just blows my mind.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by ^Eagle^

I'm still somewhat concerned that you guys could rank ahead of Miami for violent crime though. That just blows my mind.

That blows my mind too, especially considering when you drive around here you mostly just see nice suburban developments. Around many of those, though, are apartment complexes which tend to have the crime. Some really nice newer areas like Mall of Millennia and Metrowest sit next to bad neighborhoods which leads to a strange mixture of people. It leads to thinking like...'the mall area is fine, just don't drive too far past it at night' type of mentality. I stick to the main corridor stretching from Maitland down to just south of downtown around Delaney Park, or just west of I-4 around College Park (which is a neat little town). I hope they get the crime under control because Orlando should only be thought of as a fun place...not a place to fear. It really pisses me off actually that every major city in Florida has been affected by this in recent years.

[^Eagle^]

Originally Posted by Pete C

That blows my mind too, especially considering when you drive around here you mostly just see nice suburban developments. Around many of those, though, are apartment complexes which tend to have the crime. Some really nice newer areas like Mall of Millennia and Metrowest sit next to bad neighborhoods which leads to a strange mixture of people. It leads to thinking like...'the mall area is fine, just don't drive too far past it at night' type of mentality. I stick to the main corridor stretching from Maitland down to just south of downtown around Delaney Park, or just west of I-4 around College Park (which is a neat little town). I hope they get the crime under control because Orlando should only be thought of as a fun place...not a place to fear. It really pisses me off actually that every major city in Florida has been affected by this in recent years.

I told my friend about this (who lived in Daytona and visited Orlando on the regular) and he told me that it was just a matter of knowing what area's to stay away from. So what are the area's that are safe but also close to the action in Orlando?

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by ^Eagle^

I told my friend about this (who lived in Daytona and visited Orlando on the regular) and he told me that it was just a matter of knowing what area's to stay away from. So what are the area's that are safe but also close to the action in Orlando?

If you can afford it, rent in one of the new luxury highrises in Thornton Park/Downtown...check craigslist or call Urbanista Orlando (they are good and explain everything about downtown). The Vue, Aspire, 101 Eola, Paramount, The Jackson, and Thornton Park Central are all really nice, but are of course expensive. 530 East Central is a bit older, but still very nice. The Waverly is an apt conversion and might be louder. Star Tower and Sanctuary are large, ultra luxury, and are very expensive. Solaire and 55 West are nice, but right in the downtown core and will be loud on the weekends. There are a few more surrounding these that I have mentioned, but are either older, are apartments, or might be louder. Still, those are very expensive places I just mentioned. There are some apartments on Orange Ave that might be worth a look and are cheaper...I have not looked there. I know about all these because I am in the market myself for a condo down there. I live in Maitland right now, which is mostly nice but a lot of offices here.

Outside of downtown highrises there are still tons of places to rent that get progressively cheaper as you go out. The nice areas that are close to downtown are Thornton Park, College Park (there is also a mid-rise condo here), Delaney Park, Winter Park, "Colonialtown", Baldwin Park, Maitland, and parts of Altamonte Springs. Just remember you get what you pay for and be weary of places that look cheaper for a given area. I would rent at first...for SURE.

The following zip codes are good and you can see the proximity to downtown on the map: 32801 (best), 32803, 32804, 32806, 32814, 32789, 32751, and parts of 32701. If you don't find anything in your price range in these zips, you will have to look a bit further in places that are more suburban.

Click for a Zip Code Boundary Map.

Anyone chime in if I missed anything.

[^Eagle^]

Originally Posted by Pete C

If you can afford it, rent in one of the new luxury highrises in Thornton Park/Downtown...check craigslist or call Urbanista Orlando (they are good and explain everything about downtown). The Vue, Aspire, 101 Eola, Paramount, The Jackson, and Thornton Park Central are all really nice, but are of course expensive. 530 East Central is a bit older, but still very nice. The Waverly is an apt conversion and might be louder. Star Tower and Sanctuary are large, ultra luxury, and are very expensive. Solaire and 55 West are nice, but right in the downtown core and will be loud on the weekends. There are a few more surrounding these that I have mentioned, but are either older, are apartments, or might be louder. Still, those are very expensive places I just mentioned. There are some apartments on Orange Ave that might be worth a look and are cheaper...I have not looked there. I know about all these because I am in the market myself for a condo down there. I live in Maitland right now, which is mostly nice but a lot of offices here.

Outside of downtown highrises there are still tons of places to rent that get progressively cheaper as you go out. The nice areas that are close to downtown are Thornton Park, College Park (there is also a mid-rise condo here), Delaney Park, Winter Park, "Colonialtown", Baldwin Park, Maitland, and parts of Altamonte Springs. Just remember you get what you pay for and be weary of places that look cheaper for a given area. I would rent at first...for SURE.

The following zip codes are good and you can see the proximity to downtown on the map: 32801 (best), 32803, 32804, 32806, 32814, 32789, 32751, and parts of 32701. If you don't find anything in your price range in these zips, you will have to look a bit further in places that are more suburban.

Click for a Zip Code Boundary Map.

Anyone chime in if I missed anything.

Coolness. Thanks for the leads man!

[Parrotrosie]

Originally Posted by History Rules

Where do college educated 30 year olds go and can be seen in downtown or Orlando?
Where do 40 somethings go in downtown Orlando?
Where do 50 somethings go in downtown Orlando?
I'm sure you list should be voluminous considering how "accurate" Pete C's post was. How old are you and where do you hang out at night when your down there "quite a bit?" Anxiously awaiting to be educated on wonderful downtown Orlando.

Ember
Quote from this article...ages 20-40's go here
A new Ember glows in downtown Orlando | Metromix Orlando

Eola Wind Company....not your usual college hub
Inside: Eola Wine Company | Metromix Orlando

The Blue Martini....$14 drinks and 'networking nights' on Tuesday...this is the business person's bar...not your college drinking bar...their review says

"Networking business types, well-to-do folks, and people who really like Mall at Millenia crowd Blue Martini nightly. It gets pretty busy and elbowy, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable if you were up for some ass-kicking if one of them spills your $14 drink."
Inside: Blue Martini | Metromix Orlando

Or this nice looking American pub....

This American pub recalls days of old | Metromix Orlando

I could keep going....but...I think we get the picture...looks to be tons of places I would check out (I am 43) were I not the mother of an 11 year old and passing out at 10 every night



And, you still haven't answered the question, do YOU still live around here? It doesn't look like you do.....

[Miserable Midwest]

I was wondering the same thing. I lived in Clearwater during the 90s and used to go over to Orlando on occasion. It always seemed very clean and safe. When I went back last year to visit, I barely recognized the place. I-Drive was especially bad. Either my memory is playing tricks on me or certain areas of town have gotten really seedy, really quick.

[DigiRaven]

Originally Posted by ^Eagle^

Was down in the area in the late 90's and it was great. Now I read that you guys have the 6th most dangerous city in America. What happened?

Nothing happened. Pine Hills and paramore are the places that give Orlando bad rap. So we are looking at 5 square miles of issues but from Disney area all the way to Daytona lots of places that are still quite nice. Lake Mary still one of the tops in the Country. Debary is a still a quiet town. Kissimmee as usual a tourist trap. Just stay away from Pine Hills. On TV all the time.