Lexington and Caffeine? (Louisville, Covington, Frankfort: lease, low crime, mortgage)
Lexington areaFayette County
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Well, we've been in Lexington (Beaumont area) for a month now and are a little less than "OK" with it so far. I have a question for hte folks who've lived here longer.
We're from Virginia and lived in Nashville for 7 years. Considering Lexington's proximity to those places, we assumed the general culture would be similar to other mid-south/mid-Atlantic areas.
So far, we've found the people on average to honestly be, well, a lot more obnoxious and hyper than in Tennessee and Virginia. We didn't just walk barefoot outta the hollar, having lived in Nashville for 7 years, but I swear I feel like I moved to New England or somewhere else in the NE.
A few examples (Excuse a little hyperbole.) : The school staff are quick to talk over us and cut us off when we call them, the drivers are a lot more aggressive (which is kinda funny considering Lex doesn't have "traffic" as defined by Nashvillians), and the pediatricians we've talked to are FAR less helpful than we're used to. The people in Kroger and other stores are a lot more pushy and less friendly also--no smiles or greetings, just a bunch of people with "don't talk to me" written all over their faces. Heck, I spend significant time in Chicago on business and the people there seem A LOT more friendly on the average than in the Beaumont area.
Is this because we're in the Beaumont area? Am I just imagining things? Seems doubtful that I am after a month. I work as a professor at UK and every single person there has been wonderful.
Would we be better off looking toward Wilmore, Versailles, or elsewhere for a place more to our liking?
Its probably because everybodies adjustable rate mortgage is ready to reset and they know they can't re-fi............Just kidding! I don't know what it is! I say give it some more time before you move. Moving is so expensive.
Yes, those suburban communities can be like that. I'm sorry to say so, but sadly it's true. Very self-important folks, and quite judgmental as well. I am not sure how to tell you where you would be happier, but wanted to tell you that you are maybe not imagining this phenomenon.
What are you looking for in a neighborhood? How old should the homes be, how far from UK, what are you teaching? Could make a difference. How much do you want to spend on housing? Are you renting or owning in your current Beaumont location?
I live in exurban Lexington and frequent the city often...but only b/c I have to. Unfortunately, many of the people I've met from Lex. have been rather grouchy and distraught, for whatever odd reason.
I have found it much easier to extend common courtesies that yield appreciation from people in Midtown Manhattan. I have found many service industry employees to act more down-to-earth and say "thank you" in Chicago. Speaking of service industry, I often encounter many people from metro Detroit, as well as other Michigan cities like Lansing and Grand Rapids, and find the vast majority of Michiganders I've met to be kind and polite. So, what does that say about "Southern hospitality" here in pockets of central Kentucky?
Frankly, you should have moved to Louisville or the Covington/Newport region. They is, like Lexington, a bit provincial and hard to get into social groovings, but still friendlier than Lexington.
You need a nice, clean town with enough stuff to do to not keep you bored yet still be close to your work. Let's see:
(a) Wilmore is a true central Kentucky gem, but it is a very anti-growth town and you have to drive to Lexington or Nicholasville to purchase even basics (there may be an IGA there or something, but big whoop.) Beautiful town, though. Not to mention, Harrodsburg Road (US 68) is a very dangerous road to commute on, but the new 4-laning project will be done in less than five years.
(b) Versailles is much like Wilmore. It's too mired with its history and not very forward-thinking as a town, IMHO. But Morgan Ave. and S. Main St. are very beautiful streets.
(c) Danville would typically be my very first pick, but it's a good hour SW of UK. Still, a good blend of ritzy, cosmopolitan, educated, working-class, and country all rolled into a town of 16,500; it's also home to Centre College, recently ranked by Forbes as in the leagues with the Ivys! It also has the Norton Center for the Arts and Pioneer Playhouse. I think you'd like Danville.
So...
(d) My pick for you is Frankfort. Only 35 minutes to UK, home of about 20 blocks of some of Kentucky's oldest and richest history. Home to the Ky. History Center, Military History Museum, Old Capitol, extensive and well-maintained parks (including hiking trails at beautiful Cove Spring,) a cool and unique variety of restaurants such as Serafini's, Gibby's, Thai Smile, and the Dragon. Not to mention, lectures at KSU and festivals going on quite often. I always liked the east side better than the west side, but then again you know what they say about opinions... Frankfort's in many ways like Danville with a river running right through the middle of it. (There are higher concentrations of those self-righteous, me-me-me types along and near Cardwell Lane and Georgetown Road, just as a heads up.)
Last edited by EclecticEars; 08-22-2008 at 11:33 PM..
[quote=DBDavis;4961670]A few examples (Excuse a little hyperbole.) : The school staff are quick to talk over us and cut us off when we call them, the drivers are a lot more aggressive (which is kinda funny considering Lex doesn't have "traffic" as defined by Nashvillians), and the pediatricians we've talked to are FAR less helpful than we're used to. The people in Kroger and other stores are a lot more pushy and less friendly also--no smiles or greetings, just a bunch of people with "don't talk to me" written all over their faces. Heck, I spend significant time in Chicago on business and the people there seem A LOT more friendly on the average than in the Beaumont area.[quote]
That has got to be so frustrating especially when you are so new! Good luck to you and I hope that you find somewhere much more friendly.
Frankly, you should have moved to Louisville or the Covington/Newport region. They is, like Lexington, a bit provincial and hard to get into social groovings, but still friendlier than Lexington.
I just noticed I said is instead of are. My apologies.
Well, we've been in Lexington (Beaumont area) for a month now and are a little less than "OK" with it so far. I have a question for hte folks who've lived here longer.
We're from Virginia and lived in Nashville for 7 years. Considering Lexington's proximity to those places, we assumed the general culture would be similar to other mid-south/mid-Atlantic areas.
So far, we've found the people on average to honestly be, well, a lot more obnoxious and hyper than in Tennessee and Virginia. We didn't just walk barefoot outta the hollar, having lived in Nashville for 7 years, but I swear I feel like I moved to New England or somewhere else in the NE.
A few examples (Excuse a little hyperbole.) : The school staff are quick to talk over us and cut us off when we call them, the drivers are a lot more aggressive (which is kinda funny considering Lex doesn't have "traffic" as defined by Nashvillians), and the pediatricians we've talked to are FAR less helpful than we're used to. The people in Kroger and other stores are a lot more pushy and less friendly also--no smiles or greetings, just a bunch of people with "don't talk to me" written all over their faces. Heck, I spend significant time in Chicago on business and the people there seem A LOT more friendly on the average than in the Beaumont area.
Is this because we're in the Beaumont area? Am I just imagining things? Seems doubtful that I am after a month. I work as a professor at UK and every single person there has been wonderful.
Would we be better off looking toward Wilmore, Versailles, or elsewhere for a place more to our liking?
Oh wow, I have an opposite view of Lexington people. Since I'm there a lot and have spent so much time there since I was a kid. Most seem very friendly to me. Sorry about your experience so far. When you say Beaumont, are you talking about the Beaumont Centre area outside of New Circle Rd or the Beaumont area off Alexandria Drive?
timelesschild:
"What are you looking for in a neighborhood?"
The usual: good schools (our son is autistic, so that's a consideration), reasonably convenient (say 5 miles) access to Kroger, Walmart, etc., low crime, areas that we can walk around outside.
"How old should the homes be" Not a major consideration, but not extremely old.
"how far from UK" 30-35 min. max
"what are you teaching?" engineering
"How much do you want to spend on housing?" $250k
"Are you renting or owning in your current Beaumont location?" Renting, 6 month lease.
jcm1986: Thanks for the information. Frankfort is an interesting idea that I hadn't thought of.
InLondon: "When you say Beaumont, are you talking about the Beaumont Centre area outside of New Circle Rd or the Beaumont area off Alexandria Drive?"
We live just outside New Circle Road on Beaumont Centre Lane.
I don't know what to say about your observations vs mine. Maybe I'll change my mind as I live here longer or maybe it all just seems "normal" to you--who knows. I know there IS a definite, crystal clear difference between Lexington and Nashville.
Would we be better off looking toward Wilmore, Versailles, or elsewhere for a place more to our liking?
Yeah, take a hike, scram.
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