Mid 20s Move from NYC area to ST Louis (St. Louis: loft, condos)

[digichocolate]

Hi all - My boyfriend and I (mid 20s) are highly considering a move OUT of the NY-Long Island area and want to begin our lives together in a not so congested place with far less attitude and much more optimism. Overall seeking more relaxed lifestyle but still enjoy some of the urban attractions (museums, parks, food, culture).

It sounds like St. Louis is a great place to do that from what I've read on other threads - at our age do you think St. Louis is a good place to bunker down at least for the next 10-15 years? We'd like to start a family soon, and I'm definitely not looking forward to doing that in NY.

any ideas on specific neighborhoods? We like malls, parks, restaurants, and hockey. Is there a "downtown" as you would find in a large urban city set up? Or more like all-over charm?

Tech jobs? How's the Apple store in Kirkwood? Is that still considered St. Louis?

Food Jobs? I am an aspiring culinary professional.

Thanks!

[marigolds6]

It is a broken record around here recommending CWE, but CWE gives you easy access to Scottrade (where the Blues play, though there are other minor league teams in the area too), Forest Park, and quite a few good restaurant areas (CWE itself, but more so in Clayton).

Food and tech are two of St Louis' biggest strengths. Restaurants have been a long standing strength with concentrations in South Grand and Clayton, in particular. I am sure I am forgetting other regions, but those are two where you could find high end culinary jobs.
Tech is a more recent strength. St Louis is a rapidly emerging tech hub, with many new jobs in startup companies as well as established giants like Monsanto, Savvis, and World Wide Technology. No idea about the Apple Store, but Kirkwood is part of metro St Louis (though actually a town that grew on its own).

Schools are a bit of a toss up. Districts can change pretty rapidly for better or worse here in 10 years. Since you don't have any kids yet, you would have plenty of time to develop an opinion on the different district, magnet school, and private school options. Private school enrollment is pretty high here. You could initially move without thinking about school districts and figure out if you want to move again within the region once you have kids near school age.

[Brickmama]

Yes we have a downtown with housing options. You can check out the Loft buildings along Washington Ave or he condos on Old Post Office Plaza. Plenty of park space nearby with plenty of things to do. Let me know if you have questions.