(06-20-2012 08:08 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  

(06-20-2012 06:42 AM)RationalRebel Wrote:  

(06-19-2012 09:04 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  They'll never get a professional team, but I like Birmingham. Tons of young Memphians (folks that have had families here forever) are moving to Birmingham. Everytime I go there it feels like their nice parts of town are nicer and bigger than those in Memphis. There are numerous national chains and franchises that have a presence in Bham but not Memphis. I know many like to poo poo chains, but they are often a good barometer of a city's wealth and long term viability.

The same history that provides our great culture is also the one that constantly threatens to tear us apart. Birmingham doesn't have to worry about that as much.

I see what you're saying and somewhat agree and will definitely poo poo on chains (they're a barometer of what you said above, but also a barometer of people with no taste who have no pride in where they live because of their failure to support 'local' businesses), but how many of those people are moving to Birmingham proper and how many to the burbs? I don't think I know anyone who actually lives in Birmingham proper. Compare that with younger people who will only look in Midtown or East Memphis when moving here.

There is nothing in Memphis that is comparable to Mountain Brook. Vestavia Hills is larger and wealthier than East Memphis. Birmingham's nicer parts of town just have much denser populations of upper income families. That's largely why Nashville, New Orleans, and even Birmingham have what they have and we have little in comparison. We are too spread out. Midtown (and to a lesser extent, East Memphis) suffers from having a nice little neighborhood that is bordered by the absolute ghetto. Trader Joe's isn't exactly looking to be 2 blocks from one of the worst neighborhoods in the US.

I agree we are too spread out, but who gives a crap about Trader Joe's? The only appealing they sell can't be sold at a Trader Joe's in the state of Tennessee. The rest is a very slightly ramped up Aldi.

Percent of people that have no clue Aldi Nord runs Trader Joe's while Aldi Süd runs the regular Aldi stores in the US?

There isn't a single chain Birmingham, New Orleans, or Nashville has I could truly give a crap less about. I'm not going to move somewhere b/c they have a Publix.

birmingham is a good city. has its share of crime just like Mempho, but Bham just seems a little cleaner really.

Having lived in both, I would say for a quality of life purpose, Birmingham is much better and I would much rather raise a family there. But if you are looking for more activities, sporting events or just something to get into, then Memphis is for you.

Both have their +'s and -'s.

(06-22-2012 07:30 AM)RationalRebel Wrote:  

(06-20-2012 08:08 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  

(06-20-2012 06:42 AM)RationalRebel Wrote:  

(06-19-2012 09:04 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  They'll never get a professional team, but I like Birmingham. Tons of young Memphians (folks that have had families here forever) are moving to Birmingham. Everytime I go there it feels like their nice parts of town are nicer and bigger than those in Memphis. There are numerous national chains and franchises that have a presence in Bham but not Memphis. I know many like to poo poo chains, but they are often a good barometer of a city's wealth and long term viability.

The same history that provides our great culture is also the one that constantly threatens to tear us apart. Birmingham doesn't have to worry about that as much.

I see what you're saying and somewhat agree and will definitely poo poo on chains (they're a barometer of what you said above, but also a barometer of people with no taste who have no pride in where they live because of their failure to support 'local' businesses), but how many of those people are moving to Birmingham proper and how many to the burbs? I don't think I know anyone who actually lives in Birmingham proper. Compare that with younger people who will only look in Midtown or East Memphis when moving here.

There is nothing in Memphis that is comparable to Mountain Brook. Vestavia Hills is larger and wealthier than East Memphis. Birmingham's nicer parts of town just have much denser populations of upper income families. That's largely why Nashville, New Orleans, and even Birmingham have what they have and we have little in comparison. We are too spread out. Midtown (and to a lesser extent, East Memphis) suffers from having a nice little neighborhood that is bordered by the absolute ghetto. Trader Joe's isn't exactly looking to be 2 blocks from one of the worst neighborhoods in the US.

I'm not going to move somewhere b/c they have a Publix.

This is one thing I wish Mempho had......Publix. Krogers are good, but I've always enjoyed Publix. But yeah, no one in their right mind is just gonna move there because of them.

(06-22-2012 08:44 AM)Birmingham Tiger Wrote:  

(06-22-2012 07:30 AM)RationalRebel Wrote:  

(06-20-2012 08:08 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  

(06-20-2012 06:42 AM)RationalRebel Wrote:  

(06-19-2012 09:04 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  They'll never get a professional team, but I like Birmingham. Tons of young Memphians (folks that have had families here forever) are moving to Birmingham. Everytime I go there it feels like their nice parts of town are nicer and bigger than those in Memphis. There are numerous national chains and franchises that have a presence in Bham but not Memphis. I know many like to poo poo chains, but they are often a good barometer of a city's wealth and long term viability.

The same history that provides our great culture is also the one that constantly threatens to tear us apart. Birmingham doesn't have to worry about that as much.

I see what you're saying and somewhat agree and will definitely poo poo on chains (they're a barometer of what you said above, but also a barometer of people with no taste who have no pride in where they live because of their failure to support 'local' businesses), but how many of those people are moving to Birmingham proper and how many to the burbs? I don't think I know anyone who actually lives in Birmingham proper. Compare that with younger people who will only look in Midtown or East Memphis when moving here.

There is nothing in Memphis that is comparable to Mountain Brook. Vestavia Hills is larger and wealthier than East Memphis. Birmingham's nicer parts of town just have much denser populations of upper income families. That's largely why Nashville, New Orleans, and even Birmingham have what they have and we have little in comparison. We are too spread out. Midtown (and to a lesser extent, East Memphis) suffers from having a nice little neighborhood that is bordered by the absolute ghetto. Trader Joe's isn't exactly looking to be 2 blocks from one of the worst neighborhoods in the US.

I'm not going to move somewhere b/c they have a Publix.

This is one thing I wish Mempho had......Publix. Krogers are good, but I've always enjoyed Publix. But yeah, no one in their right mind is just gonna move there because of them.

Going to Nashville in a bit for Tenacious D and to people watch (Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney is also tonight, so you know the people watching will be good). First stop will be Publix to buy beer I can't get in Memphis and sweet cornbread muffins Orlando-born wife grew up on.

(06-20-2012 08:17 AM)neillis Wrote:  

(06-20-2012 08:08 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  

(06-20-2012 06:42 AM)RationalRebel Wrote:  

(06-19-2012 09:04 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  They'll never get a professional team, but I like Birmingham. Tons of young Memphians (folks that have had families here forever) are moving to Birmingham. Everytime I go there it feels like their nice parts of town are nicer and bigger than those in Memphis. There are numerous national chains and franchises that have a presence in Bham but not Memphis. I know many like to poo poo chains, but they are often a good barometer of a city's wealth and long term viability.

The same history that provides our great culture is also the one that constantly threatens to tear us apart. Birmingham doesn't have to worry about that as much.

I see what you're saying and somewhat agree and will definitely poo poo on chains (they're a barometer of what you said above, but also a barometer of people with no taste who have no pride in where they live because of their failure to support 'local' businesses), but how many of those people are moving to Birmingham proper and how many to the burbs? I don't think I know anyone who actually lives in Birmingham proper. Compare that with younger people who will only look in Midtown or East Memphis when moving here.

There is nothing in Memphis that is comparable to Mountain Brook. Vestavia Hills is larger and wealthier than East Memphis. Birmingham's nicer parts of town just have much denser populations of upper income families. That's largely why Nashville, New Orleans, and even Birmingham have what they have and we have little in comparison. We are too spread out. Midtown (and to a lesser extent, East Memphis) suffers from having a nice little neighborhood that is bordered by the absolute ghetto. Trader Joe's isn't exactly looking to be 2 blocks from one of the worst neighborhoods in the US.

Mountain Brook and Vestavia (and Homewood, of which I am a resident), while very close to Central Birmingham, are still their own towns, making them suburbs. There are only a few places in Birmingham that are attractive to young professionals: Highland Avenue, Loft District, and MAYBE 5 Points South. Crestwood is all right, but Rational Rebel is right in that Birmingham's economic strength lies in its hinterland. Culturally that's the difference. When I am home I go downtown to go to Grizzlies or Redbirds games. When I am at my house, I have to go to Hoover to do see a baseball game, which I don't want to because the Met sucks, so I just go to O'Henrys and hang out with the people there.

Edit: I will say, though, that the areas mentioned are definitely hot spots for the 20-30 single/young married come from money and are out of college bracket. Walking around Highland Park on a Tuesday night will show you a lot of people who look exactly the same and who obviously have money. Contrast that with a Tuesday night in Homewood at Edgewood village and you will see those same people 10-15 years later: young, still with money, and who have young kids. Highland Park is where the young professionals go after they get out of college to "experience the city" if you will, Homewood is where they go to start a family.

Mountain Brook is where they go when they've cashed in on their grandparents' inheritance by moving into the family's estate and by sending their kids to a better public high school than most private schools.

Excellent, informative post. I certainly admit, if one can afford it and is fine living in the suburbs, Birmingham is a much more attractive option for living and raising a family than Memphis.

the NBA in Birmingham

LOLOLOL

(06-19-2012 09:04 AM)TigerNK Wrote:  They'll never get a professional team, but I like Birmingham.

Hopefully we will be reunited in the USFL 2013
Showboats vs. Stallions Redux