How is Shreveport for a single, educated, young professional? (Baton Rouge: amusement parks, crime)
Shreveport-Bossier CityBossier Parish, Caddo Parish, De Soto Parish
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My advice, do not move to Shreveport unless you already have a group of friends, etc. to hang out with. This is a place for people that are already from here-not a place to relocate if you don't have substantial ties to the town. You will notice very quickly that many people are very snobby and hesitant to include anyone new into the group. Positives are as follows: cheap place to live, traffic isn't terrible, pretty close to Dallas, good fishing/hunting, alot of hospitals.
For singles: absolutely not, go to new orleans, baton rouge, dallas, austin, houston, atlanta. Shreveport can be hell if you come here single without knowing many people
I've lived in Shreveport for approx 3 and 1/2 years
My advice, do not move to Shreveport unless you already have a group of friends, etc. to hang out with. This is a place for people that are already from here-not a place to relocate if you don't have substantial ties to the town. You will notice very quickly that many people are very snobby and hesitant to include anyone new into the group. Positives are as follows: cheap place to live, traffic isn't terrible, pretty close to Dallas, good fishing/hunting, alot of hospitals.
For singles: absolutely not, go to new orleans, baton rouge, dallas, austin, houston, atlanta. Shreveport can be hell if you come here single without knowing many people
I've lived in Shreveport for approx 3 and 1/2 years
You are correct about the SBC. It is very cliquish and even those of us that have been here for years have to deal with it. I have just learned to blow off people like that; can't be bothered with such mess. Every once in a while I meet somebody with common interest but friendship never seems to last long. Everyone seems to be occupied with a busy little world. Single people would suffer the most unless they hunted fished or waterskied. Oh there are other activities around if your interested in theatre and such. Just thought I would throw that out to anyone reading this post.
The best thing I can say about Shreveport is that it's a 3 hour easy drive to Dallas. I go there often to escape boredom.
Don't laugh, I'm serious. I'm from this area, moved away when I was younger thanks to "Uncle Sam" but came back because I'm an only child to look after aging parents who won't admit their frailties and go to a nursing home /retirement ctr. No nearby "younger relatives" because they got the hell out of town and never looked back. So I'm on temporary status until things change.
Okay so to answer your question: "Will I be bored?" Depends. While a lot of what I'm about to list is "old-hat" to me as I've done them to death, there are things here that a newbie may find interesting to do:
We have seasonal "party/festival events" Before Easter, there's Mardi Gras season. You can join a Krewe and pay to ride a float. The Krewes hold several parties and have their Mardi Gras Balls and then their respective parades.
Holiday In Dixie after Easter.... basically a festival ...but other than the name and the "treasure hunt" & cotillion for rich kids... it's nothing special.
We have MudBug Madness in May... it's a local crawfish festival that takes place for about week on the riverfront and has music, food, dancing, etc.
Red River Revel in the fall, pretty much an arts festival, food, music, arts & crafts, performances, at the riverfront.State Fair of La. in the fall..... at the fairground... etc... yada...rodeo, pigs, cattle, goats, ducks... funnel cakes, rides, barfing on rides... you get the idea.No pro sports teams...everything from basketball, football, hockey, baseball ...all those franchises have gone bye-bye and ain't coming back anytime soon.
There's hunting, fishing, boating, camping, hiking, biking, we got lakes, bayous, rivers, swamps... watch A&E's "Duck Dynasty" and you'll get some ideas.
You'll notice that a lot of the "activities" here involve eating & drinking.... that's Louisiana but Shreveport in particular.
Okay, we have: Opera, Symphony (barely), The Strand Theater with touring performances, Robinson Film Center, Casinos... about to get the new "Margaritaville" Casino. (Personally I'm not much of a casino fan... but others may like 'em)
Upscale towns? Hmmmmmm ... if you're talking Buckhead or Cambridge...uh the answer is "no". There are what I would call "Neighborhood Clusters" that may be leaning towards what you're talking about but overall upscale like an "uptown" with trendy restaurants, shoppes, businesses, lifestyle centers...uh-uh, nope, nada, zilch.
Here's the facts: Shreveport-Bossier see-saws between being #2 or #3 largest metro in La. but it's about 20 years behind everybody else as far as community development to being anything considered "upscale" by anyone's standards. Shreveport has "holes of poverty and urban decay" all throughout. I was at a traffic light today on Youree Dr. & Olive and I noted openly that this prime stretch between Stoner & Kings Hwy is still pretty much the blight it was when I left in 1986. Amazing this main corridor still sucks after all these years. Everything further south past Kings picks up but some things have remained quite crappy after 25 to 30 yrs. Amazing!
Natchitoches is a college-town and the oldest town in Louisiana! Older than New Orleans even. It's a "quaint" town and big with retirees. In fact NW La. is big with retirees. As someone earlier pointed out... most young people get the heck outta Dodge to pursue better higher ed, better jobs, better lifestyles. The number # export from Louisiana is YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AMBITION! Personally I think you'd be bored S___less in Natchitoches.
Now if you're into: Oil & Gas, or healthcare industry... you may be in luck because we have a majority elderly, sick population that is obese and is getting sicker everyday! This is the 50 yard line for cardiologists thanks to our unhealthy elderly population. Don't take my word for it, check out CDC, or NIH... look for medicare spending on a per-capita basis and Louisiana is right there with Mississippi.
Alexandria... yuck. Unless you like to get closer to South La. But personally I'd blow my brains out if I had to live there.
Here's the deal: As far as anything "upscale" is concerned ...you'd have to check out New Orleans, Baton Rouge or Lafayette. But again, you'll have to look for "community neighborhood clusters"...those semi-restricted enclaves of affluence and extravagance. They exist but not to the extent to which you may have experience with. Shreveport-Bossier is IMHO...just "okay"... the area has never quite really figured out what it wants to be when it grows up. It's what I call: "Little-Big Town"; hasn't quite caught up with the times and it is reflective in a lot of ways. People find their niche's and rarely go outside of them.
As a single guy, you'll find pretty ladies here but IMHO you'll be stretched to find many with much if any idea of the world outside of La. and Dallas, TX , New Orleans or Gulfshores, AL. Not a lot of erudite types to be honest. If you hate Obama, think healthcare reform is bad and think the war in Iraq was worthwhile and George "W" was a great president, and that Sarah Palin shares your voice, you'll fit right in. BTW... this area is big Southern Baptist.... S'port-Bossier is the 11th most church-oriented metro in the U.S. according to a recent survey. That's not necessarily a bad thing but if you think "Creationism" should NOT be part of public school science curriculum, hoo-boy will you have a tough time here. (P.S. You did say you're from Boston...right? )
The takeaway is this: Depending on your tolerance of typical Southern idiosyncracies, as a newcomer... you'll probably take about 2 years-max of all this area has to offer and then move on. That is unless you wind up embracing the quasi-hillbilly cultural attitudes and fall in love with some sweetie with high-hair and big boobs from Haughton, Southern Trace or N. Bossier. You'll notice certain subtle "redneck-ness" with even the most educated local, and don't even get started on whether or not you hate LSU...that's a no-brainer.
Don't move here, you will regret it. I've lived here all my life and would not wish it on my worst enemy. Fat ingnorant bible thumping rednecks, ghetto fabulous weave wearing black folks, and some of the snottiest nose in air people there is. It is a very divided place. I have a partner but pretty much keep to myself except for a few close friends that I trust and care about. There is really no nightlife if that is what interests you. If you like church you will be happy- there are many to choose from, the vast majority baptist and even there people snit at each other. Try anything not to come, take a lower wage if you have to, it is really that bad. You must check out: http://asseeninshreveport.wordpress.com/
Last edited by justforfun8619; 10-06-2013 at 10:29 PM..
Reason: omission
I know this thread is old but maybe someone else has the same question. I've lived here for 3 years and I found good churches like, Brookwood Baptist or Broadmoar Baptist and they both have or had great young professional groups...but if church isn't your thing, there are Mardi Gras Krewes you can join....Shreveport is a lot better than Alexandra, There is nothing in Alex, anymore...but Shreveport has a lot of shops and restaurants...it's a good city...not the best city of Louisiana....you need to go South Louisiana...but out of the cities of North Louisiana...Shreveport is probably best. Natchitoches is charming....but you either have college kids...or old people...because it's a college town/retirement town....it does lack having dog parks, Zoo, and maybe a few other things that would make it more desirable...but you can thank the wonderful Mayor for that. But it has fun festivals like The Red River Revel, they started last year at certain times of the year having farmers markets, State Fair, Concerts, Ballets.....and they keep saying they are going to try to make downtown a hotspot again and are building new apartments...so we'll see and not sure if they still have that Ghost Walk every weekend but I highly recommend it...it's interesting...they also have a really cool movie theater downtown that shows a lot of indie films....
dog parks? Zoo?
Surely you jest, the city is falling apart and not just because of Glover, it was a wreck before him. Things need to change but a dog park and zoo(!?) will not change it. Who will you blame when Glover is gone? The next do nothing mayor that the fine folks of Shreveport will elect.
Hey, La itself will problably elect another fine politician with Vitter, the prostitute loving Baptist who just asks for forgiveness and all is well. Do you see a trend? It's not the politics, it's the people of LA! They love a good crook. After all, God forgives.
If you're a young person and have a college degree, I would recommend leaving Louisiana and focusing on those places that are vibrant and already thriving economically. You'll have a better chance at good jobs with futures or at least get solid experience on a resume. Having said that, if I were in your shoes I'd take a serious look at Dallas. Already have advised several clients & friends who had kids looking at their futures and they took my advice. So far all have landed pretty well in jobs and like the social amenities for the younger crowd.
If you're about hunting & fishing, church activities and numbing yourself with food & drink, then yes...Shreveport has all that. But if you wish to escape the provincial mindset and see what life has to offer from a thriving city-life with lots of hip-vibe and with people from all over the world, check out DFW.
dog parks? Zoo?
Surely you jest, the city is falling apart and not just because of Glover, it was a wreck before him. Things need to change but a dog park and zoo(!?) will not change it. Who will you blame when Glover is gone? The next do nothing mayor that the fine folks of Shreveport will elect.
Hey, La itself will problably elect another fine politician with Vitter, the prostitute loving Baptist who just asks for forgiveness and all is well. Do you see a trend? It's not the politics, it's the people of LA! They love a good crook. After all, God forgives.
I think one can find connectivity in any place. It is always about getting to know people and carefully selecting friends. It's really not much different in any place one choose to make home. Friends are cultivated.
As to education, it really is not so relevant to the mindset of the individuals when one is seeking friends, people generally don't base friends on what their education level is, but what their integrity and character is as it relates to life.
If one is seeking a 'status group", that might be something more to be cautious of, than to blindly gravitate to. As money and status has proven to make for some strange relations. It certainly is not a basis one would adhere when thinking of building friends. It is always about the character of persons.
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