Young Professional Manhattanites in Tampa Bay? (St. Petersburg, Madison: fit in, neighborhoods, living in)

[azazza]

for those who are here from Manhattan and live in the Tampa Bay area, are in late 20s through their 30s, maybe even early 40s, SINGLE, PROFESSIONAL, can you tell me what you think of the Tampa Bay area? Looks like I am going to start work in St Pete 1st of May and I would like to get your thoughts on its people and its lifestyle; if you really miss nyc, or if it's actually nice here. Im kind of freaking out bc Ive only liked big city living. Ive basically been thrown into NJ tristate area, NYC and DC most of my young and prof life and I love it, so just looking for some honest talk to see what I should expect from the eyes of a Manhattanite (not New York staters, just Manhattanites/burroughs please bc there is a HUGE difference)...I also love the water but Im SOOO not a beach person LOL more like dressing up glam/furs and going out with friends. LOL Im just being sarcastically honest there, so please, be nice! I guess I'm wondering if I will fit in???

thank you guys!!!!

[annaegel]

I grew up in NYC (Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn). There is NO place like NYC. The people in NYC are smart, hip, eccentric, friendly. You can find those types of people here, but it is rare. Honestly, I have met more people from NYC who say that the people down here have half a brain. I have had more problems with doctors offices in the 4 years down here than the 40 years in NYC/NJ. Stupidity and not caring. I prefer to drive in NYC than Tampa. People run lights without thinking. It is the "Me first and %&@# you!" mentality that runs rampant in Tampa.

I am older than what you were looking for responses from and have kids, but I think I understand what it is your looking for. My sister lives in NYC (86 and Madison), she is 39. She would HATE it down here!

You might like St. Petersburg. It is a bit more eccentric and is close to the water. Has restaurants, museums, art galleries, etc. Not sure what exactly you are looking for down here? Warmer weather? Sick of sloshing through the melted snow and cold wind that goes right to your bones?

If I could afford to move back, I would be out of here. I hate the cold and we cannot afford to move back, so I am stuck.

There is a lot to do though. Depends on what you are looking for. We just don't have as many bars, clubs, restaurants, museums, etc. as NYC does. You NEED a car to go anywhere. The public transportation sucks.

[tampaguy03]

I vist NYC ALOT, and grew up on LI. Been in Tampa over 20 years, and I will say this..THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NYC! So please do not expect anything of the sort here in Tampa Bay. WHat you will find our smaller type neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, Bayshore, Davis Islands in Tampa and Old Northeast in St. Pete. Tampa does offer most everything is any large city(great fine dining, cafes, coffeeshoppes, delis, bakery's, all major concerts, sports teams, festivals, nightlife, etc)..BUT on a much much smaller scale. Just keep all that in perspective, the COLLECTIVE population of the Tampa/St. Pete/Cearwater area is roughly 2 million(the city of Tampa alone has about 330k)--much much less than NYC's population of over 8 million.

[Krulik]

....furs.... Was that a joke?

[goi_cuon]

Originally Posted by azazza

for those who are here from Manhattan and live in the Tampa Bay area, are in late 20s through their 30s, maybe even early 40s, SINGLE, PROFESSIONAL, can you tell me what you think of the Tampa Bay area? Looks like I am going to start work in St Pete 1st of May and I would like to get your thoughts on its people and its lifestyle; if you really miss nyc, or if it's actually nice here. Im kind of freaking out bc Ive only liked big city living. Ive basically been thrown into NJ tristate area, NYC and DC most of my young and prof life and I love it, so just looking for some honest talk to see what I should expect from the eyes of a Manhattanite (not New York staters, just Manhattanites/burroughs please bc there is a HUGE difference)...I also love the water but Im SOOO not a beach person LOL more like dressing up glam/furs and going out with friends. LOL Im just being sarcastically honest there, so please, be nice! I guess I'm wondering if I will fit in???

thank you guys!!!!

This isn't a dress-up culture. I'm a Florida native, mid-40s professional, master's degree, about to move north. I've had to go out and upgrade my wardrobe because I know I won't be able to wear shorts and birkis every day up there.

I have moved a lot. I've lived in 6 states. There is only one NYC.

If you have to be in NYC to be happy, please stay there!

If you want to be happy outside of NYC, quit comparing Tampa to NYC.

Tampa isn't NYC. Tampa is Tampa. It has its own faults, graces, sins and charms.

I try to approach living in other places like I approach food. That is, I approach it with an open mind. The first time that I ate alligator or rabbit or frog legs, someone told me that it tasted "just like chicken."

Alligator does not taste like chicken.

Rabbit does not taste like chicken.

Frog legs do not taste like chicken.

Alligator, in fact, tastes just exactly like alligator. And so on.

I don't care if I ever eat alligator ever again. I've eaten alligator any number of times and in a number of ways and I am something of an amateur reptile pet enthusiast. I think I can say that I prefer not to eat alligators or other reptiles (If confronted with a rattlesnake chili though, I'll probably try it).

Rabbit, however is quite fine. And I will take frog legs any time i see them on the menu.

Open your mind and taste the place for what it is. If you are going to come here, quit quaking in your boots and do it.

After all "If I can make it there. . ."

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by azazza

for those who are here from Manhattan and live in the Tampa Bay area, are in late 20s through their 30s, maybe even early 40s, SINGLE, PROFESSIONAL, can you tell me what you think of the Tampa Bay area? Looks like I am going to start work in St Pete 1st of May and I would like to get your thoughts on its people and its lifestyle; if you really miss nyc, or if it's actually nice here. Im kind of freaking out bc Ive only liked big city living. Ive basically been thrown into NJ tristate area, NYC and DC most of my young and prof life and I love it, so just looking for some honest talk to see what I should expect from the eyes of a Manhattanite (not New York staters, just Manhattanites/burroughs please bc there is a HUGE difference)...I also love the water but Im SOOO not a beach person LOL more like dressing up glam/furs and going out with friends. LOL Im just being sarcastically honest there, so please, be nice! I guess I'm wondering if I will fit in???

thank you guys!!!!

I'm sorry, but based on your post, I don't think you will be happy here at all. I would stay where you are if you can.

[Krulik]

Originally Posted by goi_cuon

This isn't a dress-up culture. I'm a Florida native, mid-40s professional, master's degree, about to move north. I've had to go out and upgrade my wardrobe because I know I won't be able to wear shorts and birkis every day up there.

I have moved a lot. I've lived in 6 states. There is only one NYC.

If you have to be in NYC to be happy, please stay there!

If you want to be happy outside of NYC, quit comparing Tampa to NYC.

Tampa isn't NYC. Tampa is Tampa. It has its own faults, graces, sins and charms.

I try to approach living in other places like I approach food. That is, I approach it with an open mind. The first time that I ate alligator or rabbit or frog legs, someone told me that it tasted "just like chicken."

Alligator does not taste like chicken.

Rabbit does not taste like chicken.

Frog legs do not taste like chicken.

Alligator, in fact, tastes just exactly like alligator. And so on.

I don't care if I ever eat alligator ever again. I've eaten alligator any number of times and in a number of ways and I am something of an amateur reptile pet enthusiast. I think I can say that I prefer not to eat alligators or other reptiles (If confronted with a rattlesnake chili though, I'll probably try it).

Rabbit, however is quite fine. And I will take frog legs any time i see them on the menu.

Open your mind and taste the place for what it is. If you are going to come here, quit quaking in your boots and do it.

After all "If I can make it there. . ."

I am 100% with you and your analysis. NYC and Tampa are different and comparing them is not the way to happiness.

As for the chicken analogy. I think that people forget (or just don't know) what chicken is really supposed to taste like. Most chicken are tasteless, which might explain some of the confusion and the popularity of the "taste like chicken" quote.

[k101608]

I agree with the rest of the posters... Anybody that has lived in or has even been a short drive to NYC knows what you are looking for and you wouldn't find it down here.

Like the rest of the posters said "There's no place like NYC"

It doesn't seem like you would be happy down here... You like the big city living and you live in the greatest city which wouldn't compared to down here.