Looking to start a new life in Boston region

[TomDot]

I am going to have to disagree with my fellow posters here in that i feel most of Providence is a craphole. The East side is fairly nice but the economy in Rhode Island is in the toilet and bartending down there is very hit or miss. However, I would highly recommend the Newport area of RI. There would be plenty of inexpensive housing nearby and it would be great place to begin your fantastic new New England life.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by TomDot

I am going to have to disagree with my fellow posters here in that i feel most of Providence is a craphole. The East side is fairly nice but the economy in Rhode Island is in the toilet and bartending down there is very hit or miss. However, I would highly recommend the Newport area of RI. There would be plenty of inexpensive housing nearby and it would be great place to begin your fantastic new New England life.

Little late on the draw here, but I need to ask why?

I agree with much of what you post on these forums (specifically how you deal with some of the idiots in the General US forum), but why do you think Providence is a, "craphole"?

The East Side is nice, but it's worth noting that it's a HUGE portion of the city and not just one neighborhood. In fact, you could think of the term, "East Side" like you think of "Dorchester" in Boston (different connotations of course). Each name (Dot. and the East Side) is really an umbrella term for a large chunk of the city composed of many, very different neighborhoods. It's not as if Providence has ONE nice neighborhood called the "East Side." The fact of the matter is, there are MANY great neighborhoods, many of them just happen to be located in the Eastern (and Northern) portions of the city proper (stretching from Downcity all the way to the Pawtucket Line). Don't overlook Fed. Hill either; it's a great area.

I also don't know how bartending is, "Hit or Miss" in Providence. It's a pretty good scene down there. No, it's not as large as Boston's, but it's VERY good. Many of the venues downt here have been open for a long time. Even the ones that change hands stay open and succesful, they just change names. I know a good number of bartenders in Providence and not one complains about their job (in fact, they all love it). I'd really appreciate if you wouldn't mind elaborating on why you feel it's Hit or Miss?

If anything, Newport is hit or miss in the bartending regard. For one thing, it's a summer resort town so most employment is seasonal. Sure, the Salve Regina (a local college) kids keep some places in NPT open, but at nowhere NEAR the patronage level that one can find in the summer. Also, housing in Providence (even in areas in the East Side) is not really much more expensive than it is in Newport AND Newport is far from almost everywhere (airports, other cities, etc)

The RI economy is TERRIBLE (again, second worst in the nation), but it hasn't effected the nightlife industry in Providence. In fact, when times get rough, the night spots tend to get busier in most places. With experience, the OP could do very well in Providence as a bartender.

[TomDot]

I work on different sites in Providence doing environmental cleanup. It's just the areas that I am exposed to I guess. Mostly the south and west sides and they are not good areas at all.
I have been downtown and it seems kinda cool but nothing to write home about. I also do not think that Federal Hill is anything great either.
I guess that I should explore more eh?