The Search For an Artsy/Bloggy New Home
August 16, 2010 8:37 AM Subscribe
[Movingfilter] Which city would be best for an early-sixties blogger/artist couple to move to: Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Boulder, or Austin (or perhaps an alternative we haven't thought of)? My parents are moving back to the US after being out of the country for ten years. My mother is a successful blogger and researcher, and my father is an artist. They are interesting folks.
Some more details: a cultural atmosphere would be great, walkability would be great, mild-ish weather if possible, and easy to fly in and out of. However, they will have a pretty limited income, so cheap-ish rent is important, as is a general culture of less-freewheeling spending. Their jobs are not location-based, so they don't have to take work availability into account. They would like some modern conveniences though (of the washing machine/dishwasher variety, so a casita might be difficult to swing based on my Craigslist research), and they would like to keep one room as an art studio/office if possible, so a tiny apartment in any of these places wouldn't work for them. Given these factors, do any of those cities sound right, or does a different place entirely sound better? Any particular neighborhoods which might be better than others? I just moved out of the country myself, so I'm a bit out of the loop. Many thanks for any ideas!
Some more details: a cultural atmosphere would be great, walkability would be great, mild-ish weather if possible, and easy to fly in and out of. However, they will have a pretty limited income, so cheap-ish rent is important, as is a general culture of less-freewheeling spending. Their jobs are not location-based, so they don't have to take work availability into account. They would like some modern conveniences though (of the washing machine/dishwasher variety, so a casita might be difficult to swing based on my Craigslist research), and they would like to keep one room as an art studio/office if possible, so a tiny apartment in any of these places wouldn't work for them. Given these factors, do any of those cities sound right, or does a different place entirely sound better? Any particular neighborhoods which might be better than others? I just moved out of the country myself, so I'm a bit out of the loop. Many thanks for any ideas!
You might consider Asheville NC--less expensive, mild winters, wonderful arts/music community--many left over (people) from the 60's and 70's. I think
this might be the link for the independent newspaper in the community.
posted by rmhsinc at 8:56 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
this might be the link for the independent newspaper in the community.
posted by rmhsinc at 8:56 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Portland, OR! Transportation is great, weather isn't bad, there is a major airport in the city, lively arts scene, etc.
posted by MsKim at 8:57 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by MsKim at 8:57 AM on August 16, 2010
What about Port Angeles or Port Townsend, in Washington State? Both are fairly cheap, and are a drivable distance to Seattle (there's also a ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, BC).
posted by KokuRyu at 9:01 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by KokuRyu at 9:01 AM on August 16, 2010
I can't speak to the suitability of Boulder or Austin, but I have some familiarity with Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Depending on how important the various factors are to your parents, either of those cities might work.
Albuquerque and Santa Fe both have a "cultural atmosphere", but it's very heavily tied to tourism and New Mexico history/culture. In Santa Fe, there are a ton of art galleries, but they seem to exist to sell (IMO overpriced) paintings (and it's almost all paintings) to tourists. Still, there's an artsy vibe there.
Parts of ABQ and Santa Fe can be walkable, but it depends on where you live and what you need to walk to. Aside from a couple of central areas, the Plaza in Santa Fe, and Old Town in ABQ, both cities have a very suburban feel, and as they grew were designed with the automobile in mind.
Rents are cheaper in Santa Fe than the price of real estate would suggest, but ABQ is cheaper in general. As you would expect, attractive, spacious apartments in walkable areas will fetch much higher rents.
I wouldn't describe the culture as one of freewheeling spending, but there's a great deal of poverty in New Mexico, so that's not surprising. It can also be depressing. Sometimes it seems like the tourists are the only ones who have any money.
Oh, and in terms of weather, the climate is quite dry, as you would expect. It's cooler in the summer than you would think the southwest to be, especially in Santa Fe, due to the altitude. However, it can get quite warm. It gets plenty cold in the winter (weeks of highs in the 30s/20s, lows in the 20s/10s), but it ain't Minnesota. It can snow a lot at one time, but the snow rarely sticks around for long. The temperature makes enough daytime excursions into the high 30s/low 40s in the winter to melt the snow off pretty quickly.
posted by jingzuo at 9:09 AM on August 16, 2010
Albuquerque and Santa Fe both have a "cultural atmosphere", but it's very heavily tied to tourism and New Mexico history/culture. In Santa Fe, there are a ton of art galleries, but they seem to exist to sell (IMO overpriced) paintings (and it's almost all paintings) to tourists. Still, there's an artsy vibe there.
Parts of ABQ and Santa Fe can be walkable, but it depends on where you live and what you need to walk to. Aside from a couple of central areas, the Plaza in Santa Fe, and Old Town in ABQ, both cities have a very suburban feel, and as they grew were designed with the automobile in mind.
Rents are cheaper in Santa Fe than the price of real estate would suggest, but ABQ is cheaper in general. As you would expect, attractive, spacious apartments in walkable areas will fetch much higher rents.
I wouldn't describe the culture as one of freewheeling spending, but there's a great deal of poverty in New Mexico, so that's not surprising. It can also be depressing. Sometimes it seems like the tourists are the only ones who have any money.
Oh, and in terms of weather, the climate is quite dry, as you would expect. It's cooler in the summer than you would think the southwest to be, especially in Santa Fe, due to the altitude. However, it can get quite warm. It gets plenty cold in the winter (weeks of highs in the 30s/20s, lows in the 20s/10s), but it ain't Minnesota. It can snow a lot at one time, but the snow rarely sticks around for long. The temperature makes enough daytime excursions into the high 30s/low 40s in the winter to melt the snow off pretty quickly.
posted by jingzuo at 9:09 AM on August 16, 2010
My inlaws live in Santa Fe and I find it a pain in the ass to get in and out of. There's only one direct flight from O'Hare (one! from O'Hare!) and it's on a little-bitty plane that my tall husband ends up all hunched over from. And by "direct" I mean "flies into Albuquerque and then you have to drive an hour and a bit." (Everything flies into ABQ ... most route through DFW.) Your tolerance for "easy to get in and out of" may vary. Even the Amtrak that "goes through Santa Fe" (Southwest Chief) actually stops an hour away in Lamy and you have to take a bus into Santa Fe proper.
It's also very expensive to be in the "cool," walkable parts of town, and annoying to drive in and out from the "sprawl" parts of town.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 9:10 AM on August 16, 2010
It's also very expensive to be in the "cool," walkable parts of town, and annoying to drive in and out from the "sprawl" parts of town.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 9:10 AM on August 16, 2010
I'm around the same age as your folks and have a similar lifestyle. Santa Fe and Portland are expensive.
I'm in Savannah, rents are cheap, apartments are big, city is very walkable, and there are a lot of artists because of Savannah College of Art and Design. Summers can be very hot. Feel free to email me here if you want to know more.
posted by mareli at 9:14 AM on August 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm in Savannah, rents are cheap, apartments are big, city is very walkable, and there are a lot of artists because of Savannah College of Art and Design. Summers can be very hot. Feel free to email me here if you want to know more.
posted by mareli at 9:14 AM on August 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
I was just about to say Savannah GA. Artist friends of mine just moved there to teach art and love it.
posted by R. Mutt at 9:45 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by R. Mutt at 9:45 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Eugene, Oregon might be a better choice than Portland... a little cheaper, a little funkier, a little older (if you exclude college students) and VERY nice. University of Oregon is there and they'd find a large, mature intellectual community.
posted by juliapangolin at 9:49 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by juliapangolin at 9:49 AM on August 16, 2010
They are probably priced out of the more walkable sections of Austin, but the airport is extremely convenient and everywhere is a 30 minute hop from Houston or Dallas too.
posted by ejoey at 10:07 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by ejoey at 10:07 AM on August 16, 2010
I don't have a specific suggestion but what about a smaller town? I just moved to Easthampton, MA, which seems to be a great town (in the Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts - not the weather your folks are looking for, probably) with inexpensive housing, lots of culture and a nice little arts community, small but walkable downtown... it's not super-close to the airport, but it's no further than Boulder.
I don't know how you track down such a place (I'm not sure how I ended up where I am) but surely such towns must exist in places with milder climates.
(And I've never even been there but from what I hear Asheville could be just the ticket.)
posted by mskyle at 10:09 AM on August 16, 2010
I don't know how you track down such a place (I'm not sure how I ended up where I am) but surely such towns must exist in places with milder climates.
(And I've never even been there but from what I hear Asheville could be just the ticket.)
posted by mskyle at 10:09 AM on August 16, 2010
Albuquerque and Santa Fe are not "walkable" cities. There is some public transportation, but not enough to get by without a motor vehicle. Santa Fe is expensive to live in. There are some outlying communities that are less so, but then transportation becomes a problem. Albuquerque is average, as far as living expenses.
There is a small airport in SF, but small is the key word. The airport in ABQ is fair sized, and actually nicer than many.
Perhaps some cities with slightly larger populations might work, if they want to use public transportation.
I am wondering if climate/weather shouldn't be one of your first considerations, as there are artist communities in almost every city.
posted by annsunny at 10:17 AM on August 16, 2010
There is a small airport in SF, but small is the key word. The airport in ABQ is fair sized, and actually nicer than many.
Perhaps some cities with slightly larger populations might work, if they want to use public transportation.
I am wondering if climate/weather shouldn't be one of your first considerations, as there are artist communities in almost every city.
posted by annsunny at 10:17 AM on August 16, 2010
Austin: not walkable, except for the downtown area, but I wouldn't suggest living there without a car. Extreme temperatures: why yes, yes there is. Expect your usual American south combo of 90+ temperatures and 90% humidity.
Good culture, easy enough to find a nice 2 bedroom place for decent amounts.
posted by zabuni at 10:23 AM on August 16, 2010
Good culture, easy enough to find a nice 2 bedroom place for decent amounts.
posted by zabuni at 10:23 AM on August 16, 2010
Friends similar to your parents (albeit with a bit more money) have moved to Asheville and love it. Eugene is indeed terrific, as is Madison. Bellingham WA. Tucson. Sarasota. All are university towns with accompanying arts/brains/tolerance etc., but very different climates and vibes. Some would say Gainesville FL--we hated it. Have you checked Sperling's Best Places for comparables? It examines everything from climate to politics to COL to housing costs, etc, and allows you to plug in places of interest and compare them side-by-side.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 10:40 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by fivesavagepalms at 10:40 AM on August 16, 2010
Albuquerque - Lived there for six years and not once did I ever think it was walkable. It is pretty inexpensive though, but if you want anything that remotely resembles something of a walkable neighborhood you're looking at Nob Hill and that's not cheap at all.
Santa Fe may be a bit more walkable, but I wouldn't classify it in that manner either and especially not if you're thinking of trying to balance that with affordable.
Boulder isn't cheap but it is very walkable and cycle friendly though the weather can be a beast when it does snow. There are a couple of options in the Denver/Boulder corridor that might be suitable. Something like Louisville? And in the other direction you've got Colorado Springs. Not really known as arty, it is cheap and walkable.
Flying into/out of Santa Fe or Boulder is a pain, both are better served by alternate/larger airports which are both about an hour away. Go Figure. Albuquerque is almost painless, or was until I left in 2006.
Austin can be cheap and walkable, but as zabuni says, only downtownish. Flying in/out of Austin is also pretty simple. It wouldn't be where I would want to live if I had other options, but that's just me.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:45 AM on August 16, 2010
Santa Fe may be a bit more walkable, but I wouldn't classify it in that manner either and especially not if you're thinking of trying to balance that with affordable.
Boulder isn't cheap but it is very walkable and cycle friendly though the weather can be a beast when it does snow. There are a couple of options in the Denver/Boulder corridor that might be suitable. Something like Louisville? And in the other direction you've got Colorado Springs. Not really known as arty, it is cheap and walkable.
Flying into/out of Santa Fe or Boulder is a pain, both are better served by alternate/larger airports which are both about an hour away. Go Figure. Albuquerque is almost painless, or was until I left in 2006.
Austin can be cheap and walkable, but as zabuni says, only downtownish. Flying in/out of Austin is also pretty simple. It wouldn't be where I would want to live if I had other options, but that's just me.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:45 AM on August 16, 2010
This sounds like one of those ease/elegance/economy tradeoffs (you can have any two, but not all three.) Cheap-ish rent, mild-ish weather, walkability, easy to fly in and out of are generally hard to find in one place, but knowing which is most and least important would help a lot.
As others have said, my experience with Santa Fe and Albuquerque is not particularly walkable. Boulder is walkable but not cheap. Colorado Springs is cheap, but might not be a good cultural fit for artist/blogger types. Parts of Denver are reasonably walkable, but those parts tend not to be cheap-ish.
As fivesavagepalms suggested, college towns sound like a good bet.
posted by ambrosia at 11:09 AM on August 16, 2010
As others have said, my experience with Santa Fe and Albuquerque is not particularly walkable. Boulder is walkable but not cheap. Colorado Springs is cheap, but might not be a good cultural fit for artist/blogger types. Parts of Denver are reasonably walkable, but those parts tend not to be cheap-ish.
As fivesavagepalms suggested, college towns sound like a good bet.
posted by ambrosia at 11:09 AM on August 16, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for all these answers. As Ambrosia mentioned, it might help if I specify priorities a bit more. So I will say that they can compromise on walkability. (I know that's a tall order.) I'd say the cultural aspects and cheap-ish rent and airport accessibility are most important.
Regarding Austin: is there a particular neighborhood which would fit, if they are priced out of downtown?
Regarding Eugene and Asheville: How accessible are the airports? Are there particular neighborhoods which sound about right, or are the cities small enough that it is not a big issue?
posted by wondershrew with a helping of potato salad at 11:39 AM on August 16, 2010
Regarding Austin: is there a particular neighborhood which would fit, if they are priced out of downtown?
Regarding Eugene and Asheville: How accessible are the airports? Are there particular neighborhoods which sound about right, or are the cities small enough that it is not a big issue?
posted by wondershrew with a helping of potato salad at 11:39 AM on August 16, 2010
Although folks are throwing out a bunch of possibilities already, it would help to have some ball-park sense of how much $$$ your folks are working with. Based on your description, they sound like they could be either a) really loaded or b) essentially priced out of most all the places mentioned so far, given that "artists" and "bloggers" don't generally make big bucks (other things being equal). Also, what about their retirement plans? Do they want to keep working for the long term? Without some sense of these factors, it's hard to know what possibilities would be worth considering.
posted by 5Q7 at 11:51 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by 5Q7 at 11:51 AM on August 16, 2010
This is not what you asked for in a lot of ways, but New York City and San Francisco are probably America's most "pedestrian-friendly" cities (though SF's hills do pose a challenge, there's no snow!), and while housing will be far more expensive there, each have so much to offer culturally that perhaps it's worth thinking about.
In a professional sense as well, having easy access to the rest of California/the Northeast will give them access to the cultures they run in outside their immediate vicinity, which would be tricky if they moved to, say, Boulder, and only had Denver nearby as another cultural venue/outlet. It would be relatively logistically easy, for example, for your parents to collaborate with people in Philadelphia or Sacramento or something if that's where their work takes them - no planes necessary.
Furthermore, and this is a bit dark so please forgive me, living in a vital, active city where driving is not essential will serve your parents as they age. In both NY and SF, grocery stores will deliver, public transport and the urban environment are becoming easier and easier to navigate for people with mobility and access issues, and if they're internet-savvy (which it sounds like they are), it will be relatively easy to connect themselves into local community networks.
Both NY and SF are very, very well connected to the rest of the world, and competition on major air routes keeps prices far lower for trips abroad than they would be if your folks lived in Santa Fe.
I'm not an artist or a blogger, and I'm not their age, but if I were, I'd head to one of these places - or Chicago! - before going somewhere smaller, especially if I thought it would be the last "big move" , and *especially* if I'd just spent a decade outside the US - I'd need the cosmopolitan vibe. NY and SF are expensive, frankly crazy places - but there are plenty of more relaxed enclaves within both of them where your folks can turn on the dishwasher, fluff some towels in the dryer, and really flourish in their old age.
posted by mdonley at 11:54 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
In a professional sense as well, having easy access to the rest of California/the Northeast will give them access to the cultures they run in outside their immediate vicinity, which would be tricky if they moved to, say, Boulder, and only had Denver nearby as another cultural venue/outlet. It would be relatively logistically easy, for example, for your parents to collaborate with people in Philadelphia or Sacramento or something if that's where their work takes them - no planes necessary.
Furthermore, and this is a bit dark so please forgive me, living in a vital, active city where driving is not essential will serve your parents as they age. In both NY and SF, grocery stores will deliver, public transport and the urban environment are becoming easier and easier to navigate for people with mobility and access issues, and if they're internet-savvy (which it sounds like they are), it will be relatively easy to connect themselves into local community networks.
Both NY and SF are very, very well connected to the rest of the world, and competition on major air routes keeps prices far lower for trips abroad than they would be if your folks lived in Santa Fe.
I'm not an artist or a blogger, and I'm not their age, but if I were, I'd head to one of these places - or Chicago! - before going somewhere smaller, especially if I thought it would be the last "big move" , and *especially* if I'd just spent a decade outside the US - I'd need the cosmopolitan vibe. NY and SF are expensive, frankly crazy places - but there are plenty of more relaxed enclaves within both of them where your folks can turn on the dishwasher, fluff some towels in the dryer, and really flourish in their old age.
posted by mdonley at 11:54 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Here is a link to the scheduled arrivals/departures at the Asheville Airport. I did a quick scan of rentals for 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths--rents seemed to be in the $700 to $1200 per month. There are very walkable and bike friendly neighborhoods--close to the downtown.
posted by rmhsinc at 12:14 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by rmhsinc at 12:14 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
My parents are moving back to the US after being out of the country for ten years.
Where have they been living and why are they moving back? I grew up in the U.S. but spent my entire adult life abroad. Moving back to the U.S. from Europe was a horrible culture shock.
I have done this once, for love, (moved to Seattle from Stockholm) and could not get out of Seattle and back to Sweden (with my love) fast enough.
posted by three blind mice at 12:40 PM on August 16, 2010
Where have they been living and why are they moving back? I grew up in the U.S. but spent my entire adult life abroad. Moving back to the U.S. from Europe was a horrible culture shock.
I have done this once, for love, (moved to Seattle from Stockholm) and could not get out of Seattle and back to Sweden (with my love) fast enough.
posted by three blind mice at 12:40 PM on August 16, 2010
Response by poster: Budget-wise: As a result of various factors, they have a middle-class monthly fixed income (I don't know the exact numbers). They generally radically skimp on things like food (no eating out) and shopping (almost none) entertainment (none) and travel (none, besides work travel), in order to live in a better location. That tends to work for them, as the energy of interesting cities tends to be sufficiently inspiring and fulfilling for them, without having to spend extra money on specific things. Looking on Craigslist, there are things that they can afford in each of these cities, with varying degrees of limited spending on other things.
posted by wondershrew with a helping of potato salad at 12:41 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by wondershrew with a helping of potato salad at 12:41 PM on August 16, 2010
What about New Orleans?
The weather is mild. While summers are hot, they're no hotter than Austin's and the vast majority of all indoor spaces are air conditioned.
The local vibe is artsy and cultured. Like Santa Fe it's a somewhat localized/insular culture, concentrating on jazz, creole cuisine, French colonial architecture, and the like. But it's not quite as tourist-focused as jingzuo describes Santa Fe as being. If anything, the local art and cultural scenes are focused away from tourism. And while certain media are more prestigious than others, there are plenty of local writers and visual artists. Some galleries if your dad is into that.
Local cost of living is cheap. It's higher in the CBD and French Quarter (and rental housing costs have risen compared to what they used to be before Katrina), but still definitely not Manhattan. If they are willing to sacrifice walkability and perhaps artsy-ness, moving to a nearby small town (I have some recs if you want to memail me) would decrease the cost of living to some of the cheapest in the USA.
The central nucleus of the city is extremely walkable. My grandparents, who are in their 80's, live in the Warehouse District and only have a car for getting out of town, driving to church (they have close ties to their old congregation in the burbs), and big grocery trips. If your parents moved within walking distance of the A&P in the French Quarter, they could probably be car-free.
There's a big-enough airport, as well. There's also Amtrak service which is fairly comprehensive compared to other parts of the country.
Additionally, speaking to three blind mice's comment, New Orleans would be a great place to re-acclimate to America.
posted by Sara C. at 1:44 PM on August 16, 2010
The weather is mild. While summers are hot, they're no hotter than Austin's and the vast majority of all indoor spaces are air conditioned.
The local vibe is artsy and cultured. Like Santa Fe it's a somewhat localized/insular culture, concentrating on jazz, creole cuisine, French colonial architecture, and the like. But it's not quite as tourist-focused as jingzuo describes Santa Fe as being. If anything, the local art and cultural scenes are focused away from tourism. And while certain media are more prestigious than others, there are plenty of local writers and visual artists. Some galleries if your dad is into that.
Local cost of living is cheap. It's higher in the CBD and French Quarter (and rental housing costs have risen compared to what they used to be before Katrina), but still definitely not Manhattan. If they are willing to sacrifice walkability and perhaps artsy-ness, moving to a nearby small town (I have some recs if you want to memail me) would decrease the cost of living to some of the cheapest in the USA.
The central nucleus of the city is extremely walkable. My grandparents, who are in their 80's, live in the Warehouse District and only have a car for getting out of town, driving to church (they have close ties to their old congregation in the burbs), and big grocery trips. If your parents moved within walking distance of the A&P in the French Quarter, they could probably be car-free.
There's a big-enough airport, as well. There's also Amtrak service which is fairly comprehensive compared to other parts of the country.
Additionally, speaking to three blind mice's comment, New Orleans would be a great place to re-acclimate to America.
posted by Sara C. at 1:44 PM on August 16, 2010
Strong third for Asheville, specifically West Asheville. Might be a fantastic choice for artist/writer types who love progressive culture (very easy to find in Asheville) and are not dependent on traditional day jobs (very hard to find in Asheville).
They should not discount NYC, the most walkable *and* most public-transportationful of all U.S. cities. There are affordable, peaceful parts of Brooklyn and Queens with much larger apts than stereotypical NYC size.
(My perspective: last decade mostly spent in NYC, also strong ties to Asheville.)
posted by kalapierson at 2:01 PM on August 16, 2010
They should not discount NYC, the most walkable *and* most public-transportationful of all U.S. cities. There are affordable, peaceful parts of Brooklyn and Queens with much larger apts than stereotypical NYC size.
(My perspective: last decade mostly spent in NYC, also strong ties to Asheville.)
posted by kalapierson at 2:01 PM on August 16, 2010
Re NYC - What kalapierson says is true, especially if they won't have to commute into Manhattan to work. There are a lot of really nice areas which are much cheaper than the NYC norm, but the catch is that they're too far out to reach Manhattan easily via public transit. Which is why they're so cheap. For people who work from home or are semi-retired, this can be a great deal.
posted by Sara C. at 2:44 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by Sara C. at 2:44 PM on August 16, 2010
I live in Asheville. It is not really walkable unless you live downtown or in Montford and it's hard to find anything there that's affordable. Asheville in general is expensive - highest cost of living in NC and lowest salaries - but if they have independent income and don't need to find a job here, they'd probably love it. There's a huge and active population in their age range although probably more in North Asheville or Montford than in West Asheville, which tends to skew a bit younger. The Asheville airport is only 20 minutes from downtown but flying in and out of here is ridiculously expensive: everyone I know just drives the two hours to Charlotte and saves a couple hundred dollars and a layover. Asheville is very much a city of neighborhoods; basically, there's downtown, which has become a haven for the very rich, Montford, which is also a haven for the rich but still has some corners where they might luck into something; Five Points which is the northern edge of downtown and has some great houses and then North, West, South and East Asheville. South Asheville is super suburbia and I wouldn't recommend it; you'd definitely need a car to live there. East Asheville is more spread out and green than the other options; it's also car territory. North Asheville is pretty cool; I live in West Asheville, where I've been for ten years. Lots and lots of young families here and it is sort of the de facto artsy / bohemian neighborhood, although all of Asheville is really that. Most people live in houses rather than apartments; here are the Craigslist rental listings. You're probably looking at $800 - $1200 for a decent 2 to 3 bedroom house. Then there are a lot of smallish towns ringing Asheville, some of which are also pretty great if they're looking for a rural but still cultural atmosphere. The weather used to be fantastic here year round but after 2010 we may be rethinking that: it gets cold and snows in the winter and it's been really hot this summer.
posted by mygothlaundry at 3:12 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by mygothlaundry at 3:12 PM on August 16, 2010
Here is an article about small art towns:
>http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2005-04-28-small-town-art_x.htm
Also, there is a book that you might be able to borrow from your library and go through to get some ideas - "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America" by John Villani. I think the 4th edition is the latest one (2005).
One of the "Places Rated Almanacs" might help answer questions also.
I hope they find a wonderful place!
posted by Leah at 3:54 PM on August 16, 2010
>http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2005-04-28-small-town-art_x.htm
Also, there is a book that you might be able to borrow from your library and go through to get some ideas - "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America" by John Villani. I think the 4th edition is the latest one (2005).
One of the "Places Rated Almanacs" might help answer questions also.
I hope they find a wonderful place!
posted by Leah at 3:54 PM on August 16, 2010
I haven't spent huge amounts of time there, but Harrisonburg, VA might be a good fit. It's a city of about 75,000 in the Shenandoah Valley... there's a fair amount of cultural stuff going on because of the two universities there (James Madison and Eastern Mennonite), and it has an active farmers' market/local food movement. I don't know how rent is, but given the number of students and volunteers/community organizers I know who live there, I'm guessing it's pretty reasonable. If they're close to downtown, the city is definitely walkable (and increasingly bike-friendly, if they're open to that), and public transportation is good and many bus routes are free.
posted by naturalog at 9:09 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by naturalog at 9:09 PM on August 16, 2010
Oops, I missed the "easy to fly in and out of" bit. Harrisonburg is a bit off the beaten path as far as flights are concerned -- the closest major airport is Dulles (1.5-2hrs away, depending on traffic), and there are smaller airports (Staunton and Charlottesburg, I think) that are closer.
posted by naturalog at 9:11 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by naturalog at 9:11 PM on August 16, 2010
Austin isn't as small or creative-focused as it used to be. I've only lived here for not quite 3yrs, but it's changed a lot even in that time. Previously, I was a frequent visitor prior to moving out of state for a decade.
The biggest thing I'd point out is that it's getting more blanketed by developer projects and attempts at monetising what's left. A lot of the artistic stand-bys are closing or struggling. Rents are rising quickly, electricity is ridiculously expensive, and traffic is getting worse (despite having a far better response to expanding commute infrastructure than many other growing cities). All of this together could be very disappointing for your parents if they came expecting the Austin of legend.
I'm not saying the classic Austin vibe is completely dead. It's here. It's just being buried alive by trend-followers, condos, and the attendant loss of unique local contributions. There are still areas that are holding onto the good stuff - South 1st, parts of East Austin, some pockets off Congress and Lamar come to mind immediately - but they're shrinking and renting in those specific locales is getting more expensive.
A lot of the creative types - particularly those with income constraints - are moving to around-Austin environs, like San Marcos, Smithville, and Elgin. Sacrificing immediate cultural/entertainment gratification for more authenticity and less expense/hassle, in other words (although San Marcos is really starting to boom, it should be noted).
Wherever they end up, I hope they find precisely the right place to fulfill their hearts & souls.
posted by batmonkey at 8:46 AM on August 18, 2010
The biggest thing I'd point out is that it's getting more blanketed by developer projects and attempts at monetising what's left. A lot of the artistic stand-bys are closing or struggling. Rents are rising quickly, electricity is ridiculously expensive, and traffic is getting worse (despite having a far better response to expanding commute infrastructure than many other growing cities). All of this together could be very disappointing for your parents if they came expecting the Austin of legend.
I'm not saying the classic Austin vibe is completely dead. It's here. It's just being buried alive by trend-followers, condos, and the attendant loss of unique local contributions. There are still areas that are holding onto the good stuff - South 1st, parts of East Austin, some pockets off Congress and Lamar come to mind immediately - but they're shrinking and renting in those specific locales is getting more expensive.
A lot of the creative types - particularly those with income constraints - are moving to around-Austin environs, like San Marcos, Smithville, and Elgin. Sacrificing immediate cultural/entertainment gratification for more authenticity and less expense/hassle, in other words (although San Marcos is really starting to boom, it should be noted).
Wherever they end up, I hope they find precisely the right place to fulfill their hearts & souls.
posted by batmonkey at 8:46 AM on August 18, 2010
Response by poster: Many, many thanks everyone. They will be taking all of this generous and helpful advice, and seeing what fits the best. I can't choose a best answer, since all of the answers are pieces of the (fun) puzzle. Thanks again, folks!
posted by wondershrew with a helping of potato salad at 6:00 AM on September 2, 2010
posted by wondershrew with a helping of potato salad at 6:00 AM on September 2, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
I think the best thing about the city (and, some would argue, the worst!) is that people care so much. People get excited about new restaurants and theater and musical groups. There are communities of artists at all levels, and there are people willing to support and encourage them. Of course, when I say "the worst," I mean that there are people who get outraged allll the tiiime, and others who don't want Madison to turn into something that they think it's not (and REFUSE TO BE SILENCED). But your parents, given their age and occupations, are probably used to that :)
That makes the town a really exciting place to be, even if you don't make art or discoveries yourself.
posted by Madamina at 8:53 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]