Relocating to Bryan/College Station---help! (Houston, Austin: home, neighborhood, theater)

[bella1977]

We're considering a move from the West Coast (Portland, OR area) to Bryan or College Station for DH's job.

Can you give me a sense of what this place is like? We're both in our mid 30s, like to go out to dinner and hang out and sip martinis. We have no children, so schools aren't that important but we'd love to find a classic neighborhood with tons of character to live in.

What's there to do in town? Any galleries, bars, theaters? Any markets in town to satisfy my foodie tastes?

Or is this town going to be a complete culture shock for us? Dh has a colleague that travels there from time to time and his only comment has been so far that it's a great place because it's "only 2 hours from Houston." Is it really that bad??

[Spookmeister]

Typical college town where life revolves around it. Culture shock? Definitely! It has charm and a fair share of the arts, both visual and performing because of the college. Night life is a given, what college town lacks? The age bracket and antics may deter you from actively participating though. Aggies like cow tipping especially when they win, regardless of sport, but especially football.
There are some nice sub-divisions in Bryan from what I remember, and I believe that's the quieter side of town. While the place is famous for A&M, it still plays second fiddle to Blue Bell Ice-Cream in the minds of most Texans, which is made next door in Brenham. How would you feel if you told someone you lived in Bryan/College Station and they went, "oh yeah, that's down the street from the Blue Bell Ice Cream place, right?
There's a few lakes in the area, best being Somerville, or at least the most popular. I remember a state park too, just can't remember the name. If tree hugging is more to your taste, the piney forest stretches for miles going East. Waco is an hour or so North, Houston about the same South East and Austin 90 minutes West.

Get ready to pledge allegiance to the MAROON COMMANDOS. <<SHUDDER>>

P.S. I'm just a taking a quick dig at my Aggie friends so don't take what I've said too seriously. Honestly a nice, friendly little town, a little different/strange, but they're still people and we love them all!

[lifertexan]

If you are not aware of just how fanatic some folks can get over football,then get ready.A&M folks are more than a little fanatic and more than a little different.

[bella1977]

I've never heard of Bluebell Ice cream. Interesting info!

DH and I aren't such big football fans, though...we might be in for trouble in Bryan/ColSta.

[Spookmeister]

That will change in no time if you relocate there. Check out the Blue Bell Ice Cream site, especially the section on what people ask and say...

Football isn't just a game in College Station, it's faith and religion rolled into one. You'll either get into it, find like minded friends, or spend many loney Saturdays.

[mystree]

LOL...I live outside of Columbia SC not far form the University of South Carolina and the folks around here live and breathe college football they love their Gamecocks here for sure. When Steve Spurrier became coach they were selling spurrs..lol cute and they just started a new radio station here last fall called Steve FM...Growing up near lake Erie everyone was Steelers fans(except me had to be different..Go Broncos) So I was used to people being fanatical about their steelers,and wasn't used to the college fanatical people "lil grannies with gamecock shirts and painted gamecock symbols on their face..kind of an awesome site...lol
Never quite got into the college football but When we eventually make it to texas I may have to root on those Houston Texas,especially since Gary Kubiak is now the head coach!

[lifertexan]

LOL...I live outside of Columbia SC not far form the University of South Carolina and the folks around here live and breathe college football they love their Gamecocks here for sure.

Believe me,the Gamecocks do not even begin to approach what you will see from the Aggies.I don't know if they still do it,but just a few years ago they had male cheerleaders who would kneel in line together and squeeze their b*lls during the game to share in the players pain and agony.They used to allow cadets (A&M has a military background) with swords on the sidelines until one cadet took offense to the opposing team and cheerleaders celebrating a victory too jubilantly on A&M's home field.He went out there and began to swordwhip the other team.Up until a few years ago,the first string kickoff teams were made up entirely of walkons who only played on kickoffs.They were nuts,and the other teams were leery of them.

[mystree]

To the best of my knowledge,I don't think the gamecocks or their fans have gone that far (YET). And if anyone asks me I'll just say Go Aggies..that's my story and I'm stickin to it...lol

My husband just reminded me of the of the big fight sc and clemson had I think 2 years ago the last game of the season(loving rivals) and they both lost their bowl eligibility. But there were no swords involved...just a game of fisty cuffs.

[Spookmeister]

I don't think there's many places that can compare to TX high school football, let alone college, and when you speak of the Horns and Aggies you're in the stratosphere of football, regardless of level. There are NFL teams that would envy the crowds and atmosphere at those institutions.

[lifertexan]

UT Longhorns.National Champs.Gotta love 'em,unless you're an Aggie.In which case last year was the most miserable one in a long time.