What is Asheville all about? (Biltmore Forest, Star: theater, high school, universities)

[poppydog]

Drexler, my best advice would be come visit. Having friends in a town can be a huge plus. I love Asheville and think it's a great place and having your friends there would make the move so much easier.

I think Durham is more like what you're saying you want, but try Asheville out and see if it works for you and if not then come down to Durham and see what you think. Winston-Salem or Greensboro might work for you too and they'd be closer to Asheville. Charlotte is also another area to consider, but I'm not too keen on it for what you're describing. It's more of a family-oriented city to me. (We have relatives there.) I'm sure it has plenty of gritty decay in places, though, and again would not be too far from Asheville for getting together with your friends.

I think give Asheville a try and if it doesn't do it for you there are other places in NC that might.

[greenacresmama]

I have been watching Asheville closely, but I don't live there. I just must ask.. Does the OP want anything like the West Coast? Because honestly, I was raised in TN (near Knoxville, spent loads of time there), Buffalo, NY (dude, the grit is actually beautiful.. I am thinking old train station there though - thought a naked troupe did a neat shoot there) and then Hawaii for 10 years, then I tried to travel around the east coast but got very tired in Front Royal, VA for a year... I have 2 kids and we needed a home.

I have felt torn between Ithaca and Asheville for a long time and unable to decide. I know that Southern Ca is booming with stores and even though a different culture of people, the south seems more and more like a sprawling shopping mecca to me. Especially Knoxville.. I love Maryville and Old town, North Hills, but man.. I just felt so many intestates and plaza's of shopping. Very affordable place to live though! I have no clue about Nashville but I know parts are very hip, the culture is drawing people in, good colleges too. Many people in TN are so friendly. My small town was fundamental baptist and my family was not; I suffered some trama from that, but I would recommend my beautiful town to anyone of that faith. Oh, I lost track, yes, I have been looking for a place that felt like anything (mostly) above Santa Cruz or even a little L.A... on the East Coast. Our family is spread out here and I Autumn and Spring feel soooo good to me!!!

I have heard lots about the Research Triangle, but I DO think that 4 seasons are beautiful and you would miss out on some longer falls and springs! The Outer Banks are a fav spot for us, but we have only been to Rehoboth(sp?) down to the Keys (and yes to FL, and oh my goodness to parts of the keys!) OBX had the most natural feeling, not a big fan of the board walks.. too commercialized. That is the closest one to us here in the northern blue ridge anyway - 5.5 hours.

I have a hard time with the comments driving the OP to Charlotte. I seriously blink. My sister lives very near there (12 years). I have been there a handful of times. Never to drink. I would surely call some parts more artsy, and the workers on the street were not all white, but the whole place was really big, booming with construction, condos, and corporations. I heard about something on the Northern East end though? Something artsy like. Yeahhhh. SHrug. I don't live there. But really? It is not West Coast at all. I am worried OP... The south can be hard to swallow if you don't go to church. I believe in God and the power of Love. It really hurts my feelings when people seriously roll their eyes at me. I pray everyday. I just think Religion divides us and many people with a good message are connected to God, not just Jesus, but I love what he said too. I would never refer to the any person as below or above me. The people that live life simply, drive a truck, hunt or fish, take care of their moms, watch racing - are really fun people! Beware of the people that don't know them! I am much more afraid of the people telling my children they are going to hell. That is way worse. The only thing that is a tiny bit strange to me here (which I forgot after I left TN, and always had African American friends to begin with, but after Hawaii, LOL!) is that ethnicity is a big city mix. Can not talk from experience in big cities, certainly not Asheville I would hope, but here... people just don't mix?! It is weird! I have read about it for a while. I does eventually happen, but everyone - please tell me I am wrong! It seems like things haven't changed as much as northern cities have? Or! Cities like Charleston and Savannah? I have heard about other cool towns like, is it Athens, GA? Those kind of places.. I haven't had the privilege of New Orleans yet!

SO really, I just want the OP to get what I am feeling, West Coast in the South? Or Big Corporate cities with more progressive views? The traffic, stores and all the people working to get by in a nice city and place really bother me. I am by no means a trustafarian, but I neeeeed to be in a place where all people are invited. I was in Knoxville last week and saw a big sign for a radio station talk show "Act your wage!" what does that mean to you?

Hey also? What is Providence like? Much colder, but I might think it would be fun?

Only three towns where I got the chance to see that had a lot of progressive character was Ithaca, Burlington, Asheville (okay Charlottesville, VA too) I would totally point to Asheville. It is much more fun, many less noses in the air!!!! (Although honestly that is just from looking around and feeling the vibe... comparing the cost of living was a big reason for me... we want a bit of Norman Rockwell with our Love Sacs, I am a hippie, honey is a good son from the finger lakes--the norman rockwell "Bedford Falls" kind of man.) And also, we are still stuck.

Just so you know, the housing market is finally in our favor in Asheville, finally, finally! It has been a long wait. Still not sure about which way to go too..

[creeksitter]

Greenacres, The act your wage billboard is an advertisement for Dave Ramsey who sells classes to help middle income people manage their money better.

Coming from the west, Knoxville's sprawl is interminable. I live south near downtown and try to ignore it.

Asheville, of course, has sprawl as well. But again you can live near town and ignore it. I lovelovelove west Asheville because it has the old timey commercial development and very cute houses nearby.

[nighttown]

To the OP. I was just browsing and read through this thread. Not sure if you want to live on the coast but I would have to recommend Charleston SC. It is nothing like New Orleans but there is diversity and grit aplenty in North Charleston and you do get a full four seasons there. It is pretty touristy but that is all relegated to about two square miles of downtown.
Might be worth a look.

As far as Ashville goes, I always have a good time there but I am usually ready to leave. I live in Greenville SC which is about an hour south. Ashville definitely has the leg up on Greenville in terms of progressive culture but I am not sure that is always a good thing, but Greenville as a city is the exact opposite of Grit. I know some dark corners but only because I have lived here all my life and have friends that travel in lots of circles, but Greenville by and large is very...ummm Pantsy..Is that a word? It is very clean and nice and friendly. I guess those are all good things but and I think it is a great place to raise a family but it also lack something. I would make sure to visit both since you will be around for 10 days and its an easy drive.

P.S if you are looking for some interesting factory gritty photo opportunities you really need to check out a lot of the old textile mills all over this area. This entire region was the textile capital of the world even up until the 80s and their are beautiful amazingly built and run down mills all over the area. Do a little googling and you can get yourself a weeks worth of stuff to shoot no problem.

[Shooting Stars]

Pantsy?

[DrexlerMcStyles]

Well, we fly out in the morning. I will be sure to weigh in on our experience once we return. Thanks for all the help.

[anelae22]

Can't wait to hear how your trip to Asheville goes. I moved there from Atlanta when I was 26 and stayed for six years in several different areas (downtown, Arden and Mars Hill). I left for the exact reasons you listed you wanted to avoid. Everyone I knew who lived in Asheville eventually left too. Asheville itself is diverse, scenic, cultural, temperate and artsy. It's a great place to be young and find yourself or be retired and play golf. The only negative thing I can say and have heard from others who lived there is that as a whole, it is not a 'genuine' place. There are many who come there seeking diversity and then radically oppose to other thought systems or culture types. All in all, it's still an 'interesting' place.

[Sean_CLT]

So after all that discussion, is Drexler going to tell us what they concluded....?

[janeie]

every thing you do not like is asheville.that is every thing i do love.you should stay where you are.you will not be happy here.

[DrexlerMcStyles]

Oooops. Guess I lost track of this thread. We had a great time in Asheville. First, it felt so great to be back in the south; the warmth of the people is such a sharp contrast to the cold and miserly ones here. Secondly, Asheville is NOTHING like Portland. Other than they are both cities located in the united states. Downtown was nice enough, some beautiful buildings, quite clean, but I doubt we would spend much time there. We did see all 6 of your panhandlers, they didnt bother us. We loved West Asheville. While it certainly is the "Cool" spot, it is simply to small to be obnoxious. Hipsters were seen! They were more of an anomaly than a fact though. We really liked the mix in the neighborhood of new bars/restaurants and practical businesses. We got to spend some time on the river. If there is any way to compare Portland against Asheville, this would be it. We went out on the river in canoes with our friends a couple times during the week, afternoon, high 70's. It was quiet and serene. We went down a few miles and saw maybe 10 other people, friendly, doing their own thing, kids fishing. It was wonderful. In Portland going out on the river during the summer youll find it over run with drunk douchebags in tubes yelling trash about my wifes breasts. The difference is night and day. River arts district was really cool too. I was going crazy driving around with my friend, discovering all the possibilities for photography here. There certainly is enough grit to keep me busy on that front. The lush plant life that looks like it is ready to overtake the road made me feel good.
Yes, we loved it. We're moving there at the end of February, my wife has people here that know bar owners in Asheville and she shouldnt have much trouble finding a gig. We bought a 4runner yesterday because ya cant put a canoe on top of an old mercedes sports car can you? Well, you can but we wanted something more practical for the region (and the benz is dying). So there it is. We also got to visit the coast and that was great, warm water but a bit rough in places. Still, it was nice to able to go out in it. Cant do that on the Oregon Coast, unless you have a wetsuit..

Oh yes, I almost forgot to add; we LOVED how small Asheville is. I can understand how 20 something can get frustrated by its size but Im at an age now where I dont need clubs and tons of late night spots. We dont go out at night that much anyway.