What's a 22-year-old "city girl" to do in the Lehigh Valley? (Bethlehem: hardwood floors, apartment complex)

[ajsouthern]

I have looked at several apartment websites and I keep seeing Brighton Court apartments in Bethlehem. I also saw it when I was up there during my job interview. Does anyone know about these units? They look like an old steel warehouse that has been remodeled into apartment/condo units. And it is on the south bank of the river.

I have also looked at apartments in Allentown but Bethlehem seems trendier. Have not physically been to Allentown yet; i am only judging by images on websites. Are there any trendy parts in Allentown, maybe around a college or university?

How about Easton?

[katalin]

here are the list of some of the bars or dancing places might interest you:

Anylise's Hava Java
526 N. 19th St., Allentown
610-432-3045

BANANA JOE’S
318 Hamilton St., Allentown
610.776.6476

Club Liquid
333 Hamilton St., Allentown
610-351-4405

CROCODILE ROCK/THE BLACKOUT
520 Hamilton St., Allentown
610.434.4600

INDULGE!
570 Union Blvd., Allentown
610.433.6666

Jelly Beans Southside Jam
1996 S. Fifth St., Allentown
610-797-2477

THE STERLING HOTEL
341 Hamilton St., Allentown
610.433.3480

Stonewall and Moose Lounge Bar & Grille
28 North 10th Street
Allentown PA 18101-1125
610-432-0215 (this is a gay bar but it is very mixed crowd with good music and entertainment/food).

[lolabelle]

I really keep on hearing that it's either Bethlehem or Philadelphia, if I want somewhere with the kind of cultural variety I am used to (and have grown to need). Then I hear from this board that north Bethlehem is the best place to live -- would anyone care to qualify why that is -- or disagree?

[ajsouthern]

What is meant by "North":

You have downtown Bethlehem which is right on the North bank of the river. Farther north of that you have what looks like the outlying areas and from what I have gathered they look more like family type areas.

Then you have the Lehigh University area which is on the south bank of the river. When talking about North Bethlehem are you referring to the downtown area right on the north bank, or beyond that?

[loose cannon]

Come to the Your Welcome Inn in South Bethlehem. There is a surly bartender named Dave and a crew of old drunks along with some hipsters. Tell Dave I sent you. Im known as the Mayor. Im 39 but of course enjoy the company of younger women! Whoo!!!

[mwr6348]

Couple of things...I actually live in the "converted warehouse on the river," which is right across the bridge is South Side. Frankly I would explore this area as well. While you do have Lehigh up on the mountain( Which also offers your Zoellener Arts Center), you also have a lot of boutiques and galleries along 3rd. Also, the first Friday of every month, South Side has what is cleverly titled First Friday, where many shopkeepers and restaurants host special events and offer specials. Also, keep in mind the impact BethWorks will have on this area in the coming years. I will be help to bring the Lehigh Valley on par with more big city attractions. Not to mention that from where I live, virtually any location in the Valley is not more than a 20 minute drive. I'm not saying to rule out North Side, however you should definately explore your options as I feel you'd be pleasantly surprised. FWITW, I'm 23 and have an affinity for city living and the accessibility it provides.

[toobusytoday]

Thanks for chiming in mwr, I'm sure your perspective is much more accurate then mine for a young adult.

[Rosanne]

MWR, what is BethWorks?

[mwr6348]

Rosanne,

BethWorks is the redevelopment planned for a portion of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. The plan so for is to include a casino (slots only for the time being), a hotel, upscale retail, restaurants, high end condos, a visitors center, industrial history museum, a new PBS broadcasting station and a convention center/concert venue. The plan calls for redevelopment of 124 acres out of about 1100 total so theres only more room to grow down the road. If anyone is interested I can post a link to the South Side redevelopment plan which outlines all that is to happen in this neighborhood. A lot of it alreay has begun in the way of building public parking, redeveloping parking lots that were once built for the steel, offering facade grants to shop owners, and the greenway which is a walking trail that will connect the towpath on north side to Saucon Park.

[Hopes]

lolabelle,

You're going to have culture shock. That's for sure. When I was in my early 20s, I moved from Pittsburgh (a mid-sized city) to Harrisburg (a small city).

Even though Pittsburgh isn't open 24 hours, Harrisburg made Pittsburgh seem cosmopolitan. In Harrisburg, I couldn't find a place to eat at 3pm in the afternoon because the restaurants closed after lunch!

It seemed the only things to do in Harrisburg were to go watch high school basketball games or the baseball farm league in a baseball field with advertisements on the fence in the outfield like you see in movies!

I adjusted evenutally. I'd go into Baltimore or Phili whenever I needed my city fix. Sometimes I'd drive home to Pittsburgh. But as the months went on and I started to forge my own life, I went home to Pittsburgh less often. I ended up loving Harrisburg. I even ended up loving the slow pace and the ruralness of it.

When I moved back to Pittsburgh, I missed the quick commutes to work. There's simply no traffic in Harrisburg. I didn't enjoy working in downtown Pittsburgh when I returned because of the rush hour traffic adding stress and time onto my day. I was spoiled living in Harrisburg.

Living in a smaller city certainly changed me----for the better!

If you move to your new home with a positive attitude, you'll meet wonderful people. If you have a snobby attitude, you're going to be alone for a long time until you meet another miserable snob who is unhappy living the small town life. Then you both can just sit around complaining all the time. That's no sort of life! Metro cities don't have all the wonderful people. There are intelligent, vibrant people in less populated areas of the country too!

If you're invited to a pig roast, go to it! You never know who you'll meet---a Harvard lawyer perhaps. That happens in small towns.

One word of warning, everyone knows everyone in smaller cities. You could burn some serious bridges if you're rude to someone because they could be related to someone you need in the future. Please take this advice seriously. You could really destroy your happiness and potential if you don't remember that every single person you meet is someone connected with someone else you'll meet. A lowly clerk at a store could end up being the daughter of your boss. Trust me, you'll eventually meet her at a company picnic and she'll remember you! If you're snotty to her, she'll tell her dad after meeting you. LOL

I can't tell you how many times I met people who knew people I knew. Here's an example of just how small town these small cities can be: my boyfriend and I were getting an appartment together. I called the telephone company to move his phone number from his apartment to our new address. The person at the telephone company called my boyfriend's MOTHER and told her he was moving in with me! THAT would never happen in a mid-sized or metro city! You should have heard his mother! She was so angry with us for our not being married-----and for hearing it from someone else. It was like we ruined her reputation---simply because I called the telephone company!

Be the nicest person you can be, and you'll end up having a wonderful time!