What are the best "artsy" towns in Florida? (Tampa: transplants, house)

[sherbert22]

My husband and I are looking to relocate. He is a teacher, I am a writer. We prefer a town pretty involved in the arts, and definately close proximity to the beach. But, able to live on a teacher and writer's salary haha. Any suggestions?

[TampaKaren]

I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but when I read your note, I thought of two places: St. Augustine (St Augustine Florida Information) or Sarasota (Official City Of Sarasota Website). Unfortunately, though, I live in Tampa, so I can't really speak about the cost of living. They're both really pretty cities.

[tampaguy03]

In the Tampa area, close to the beach, Gulfport and Dunedin come to mind as "artsy" towns close to the beach.

[mandy_tampa]

Gulfport and Dunedin I would also come to my mind of being the closest to being "artsy"

[Boston Tampa Dallas area?]

Dunedin's great and describes what you may be looking for. They have fun crafts festivals, have a walkable downtown area with lots of cool stores, have a walking path that folks use, are pretty liberal, and it's all around one of my favorite places to visit. I haven't been able to find anywhere like it in the Tampa area without going to the east coast of Florida. Good luck with your move if you decide to move here. You can certainly get a good deal on housing right now!

I'm from Boston but live in Tampa and my husband and I go to Dunedin to get my "fix" since I'm more used to a much bigger artsy community and a much more liberal mentality than I can find here in Tampa. It feels like a tiny place compared to MN or Boston, but the beach is great, the weather is great much more of the time than so many other places in the US, and my husband was relocated here. I found a job in my field so that was lucky and I've been here since Oct. 2006. I'm still adjusting. I would love to find folks who are in their 30's, 40's or 50's who are liberal minded, artsy, and in Tampa from Boston, MN, or other places. My husband was going to be relocated to Dallas and that's how I learned about this forum, but at the last minute the company had him stay in Tampa so we're here indefinitely. I'd love to find other folks who are from Boston or another large city who have adjusted here or are moving here. I've definitely not found how to make Tampa work for me yet. I miss the independent films (we have none here- the one company who had a movie house here couldn't make it work and left- it's just a lot of the same commercial film stuff here) and I definitely miss Boston. Dunedin is too far from Tampa to make for a decent commute into the area of Tampa where I work every day or that's where we would live which I think would make a huge difference. I do like the beach and the weather and my house, but otherwise, I'm still adjusting.

Anyone out there from the Boston area or another large city who has been through the adjustment and now likes it here? Would love to benefit from your perspective and experience on how you found your niche. We don't have children so aren't meeting folks through that channel and we are Jewish so the church angle is out. I'm in my 40's so the ybor scene is old for me.

Thanks!

[tampaguy03]

Originally Posted by Boston Tampa Dallas area?

Dunedin's great and describes what you may be looking for. They have fun crafts festivals, have a walkable downtown area with lots of cool stores, have a walking path that folks use, are pretty liberal, and it's all around one of my favorite places to visit. I haven't been able to find anywhere like it in the Tampa area without going to the east coast of Florida. Good luck with your move if you decide to move here. You can certainly get a good deal on housing right now!

I'm from Boston but live in Tampa and my husband and I go to Dunedin to get my "fix" since I'm more used to a much bigger artsy community and a much more liberal mentality than I can find here in Tampa. It feels like a tiny place compared to MN or Boston, but the beach is great, the weather is great much more of the time than so many other places in the US, and my husband was relocated here. I found a job in my field so that was lucky and I've been here since Oct. 2006. I'm still adjusting. I would love to find folks who are in their 30's, 40's or 50's who are liberal minded, artsy, and in Tampa from Boston, MN, or other places. My husband was going to be relocated to Dallas and that's how I learned about this forum, but at the last minute the company had him stay in Tampa so we're here indefinitely. I'd love to find other folks who are from Boston or another large city who have adjusted here or are moving here. I've definitely not found how to make Tampa work for me yet. I miss the independent films (we have none here- the one company who had a movie house here couldn't make it work and left- it's just a lot of the same commercial film stuff here) and I definitely miss Boston. Dunedin is too far from Tampa to make for a decent commute into the area of Tampa where I work every day or that's where we would live which I think would make a huge difference. I do like the beach and the weather and my house, but otherwise, I'm still adjusting.

Anyone out there from the Boston area or another large city who has been through the adjustment and now likes it here? Would love to benefit from your perspective and experience on how you found your niche. We don't have children so aren't meeting folks through that channel and we are Jewish so the church angle is out. I'm in my 40's so the ybor scene is old for me.

Thanks!

Just a note on independent films, I hated when Sunrise Cinemas was forced out by developers in Hyde park Village, but Tampa Theater showcases a different independent and foreign film each week, and Channelside runs some independent films as well. There are numerous Film Festivals in the area(Gasparilla, Italian, Jewish, Ybor, clip-the GLBT festival is one of the largest in the country...check creativeloafing.com for a schedule of the festivals)

[Boston Tampa Dallas area?]

Tampaguy03,
Thank you So Much for emailing that info to me. I will definitely check Creativeloafing.com for a schedule of the festivals. It's not quite the same as having multiple multiplex theaters all showing only independent films 7 days a week to choose from, but it's a lot better than what I had thought was here so that's awesome. Thank You.

Does anyone know of a great place for Indian food and Chinese food here? We'd love to find a place that's not PF Changs or that place on Dale Mabry (the buffet place), that actually has good regular Chinese food.

Thanks again for the great suggestion. Hopefully, this year I'll find some Boston transplants or others to create that sense of community I had in Boston.

Thanks!

[tampaguy03]

Originally Posted by Boston Tampa Dallas area?

Tampaguy03,
Thank you So Much for emailing that info to me. I will definitely check Creativeloafing.com for a schedule of the festivals. It's not quite the same as having multiple multiplex theaters all showing only independent films 7 days a week to choose from, but it's a lot better than what I had thought was here so that's awesome. Thank You.

Does anyone know of a great place for Indian food and Chinese food here? We'd love to find a place that's not PF Changs or that place on Dale Mabry (the buffet place), that actually has good regular Chinese food.

Thanks again for the great suggestion. Hopefully, this year I'll find some Boston transplants or others to create that sense of community I had in Boston.

Thanks!

The best and most authentic Chniese I have had in Tampa was at China Yuan and Yummy House, both up in the area of Armenia Avenue and Waters Avenue.

Im not that much into Indian Food, but I recall a great place in the University Commons shopping center off Fowler Avenue near USF.

[Keeper]

:: CourtesyIndia.com- My City Search results

This list all the indian restaurants in Tampa area. Taj on Fowler is the one I have seen recommended the most here. I have been to the Indian market/restaurant on Hanley, but they only cook 1 or 2 things each day. I went with some friends from India and they ordered for me.

[Keeper]

You might try starting a social group for TampaBay newcomers.. Look under 'my settings' and scroll down to social groups.