Under 35? Arlington, Texas second best city in US to live in.

[talisman]

Yep, that Total Wine and More by the Parks mall is awesome. Their handles of Crown are $10-12 cheaper than anywhere else around. There are a few on Cooper. A couple on Pioneer. Eric, you've been sleeping! These have been open for a little while now.

I've lived 28 of my 37 years in Arlington. It's pretty much a dump, and the bad parts are growing and getting worse.

You've been sleeping too! If anything, the city is actually improving. They are still demolishing low income apartment complexes; right now it looks like they're taking 2-3 complexes down near Cooper and Lamar. This started when Cowboy Stadium was built, and central Arlington has been getting nicer and nicer ever since. Even though I voted against it, I recognize that it has had a huge rebound effect on things after the low point post Katrina. As for liquor stores, I guess since I'm not seeking them out I'm just not noticing them. Several of the ones on Pioneer are in Pantego or DWG though.

[GrayStangGT]

You've been sleeping too! If anything, the city is actually improving. They are still demolishing low income apartment complexes; right now it looks like they're taking 2-3 complexes down near Cooper and Lamar. This started when Cowboy Stadium was built, and central Arlington has been getting nicer and nicer ever since.

I notice it being better every time I go back, UTA is slowly knocking down the ghetto to the East as well and building dorms and such. That school has come a long was just in the 6 years since I graduated.

[jluv]

You've been sleeping too! If anything, the city is actually improving. They are still demolishing low income apartment complexes; right now it looks like they're taking 2-3 complexes down near Cooper and Lamar. This started when Cowboy Stadium was built, and central Arlington has been getting nicer and nicer ever since. Even though I voted against it, I recognize that it has had a huge rebound effect on things after the low point post Katrina. As for liquor stores, I guess since I'm not seeking them out I'm just not noticing them. Several of the ones on Pioneer are in Pantego or DWG though.

I'm talking about liquor stores on East Pioneer.

And for all the changes that you call improvements, there are many more places that are getting worse. My mom still lives in the house in Central Arlington that my folks had built just before I was born. It was a typical suburban neighborhood with no issues throughout my childhood. It's been pretty ghetto now for 20 years, and just keeps getting worse. The whole Cooper and 20 area just keeps getting more and more ghetto, even as they build brand new buildings and stores and shit. The Parks Mall was a decent place when it opened. Even that Walmart was no worse than any other Walmart. Been in there lately? Scary as fuck. Every time I drive on Collins around the stadium and just South of there, I see hoodrats and bums hanging out on the corners. I had to walk up that way one evening last year, and the thugs on the apartment balconies and gas station parking lots were heckling everyone they saw, talking shit, looking for trouble. Don't park a nice car in East Arlington for long or you're likely to lose it or anything inside of/on it. Been to the Movie Tavern in Southwest Arlington lately? Of course not - you'd be the only white guy there and you wouldn't be able to hear the movie for all the folks talking through it. Been on Arkansas or Pioneer between 360 and Cooper lately? That's a large area, and very few of the storefronts have signs in English. The roads suck. The cops are hard up to ruin your day. And the list goes on.

I'm not saying it's the worst place ever. Far from it. Yes, it's bad like that on other cities, too. And even worse - a lot worse - in some parts of other cities. But the ghetto is growing in Arlington. It's like a line that keeps moving outward, gobbling up decent neighborhoods. You're not far from the edge yourself. Give it 5-10 more years.

[Tyrone Biggums]

I have to comment on the Movie Tavern. I rarely get to go to the movies, but we took our four year old there a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday night to see Big Hero 6 and I was expecting some trash even though it was a kids movie. My wife made a point to mention the fact that it was anything but. She knew I would be looking for reasons to bitch. I'm always the first to comment on how Arlington used to be or how such and such isn't the same. I'll find something. It was actually quite pleasant and as much as I wanted to find something wrong, even the bar and waiting areas were pretty normal. The cheap pitchers of Blood and Honey didn't hurt either.

I'll be the first to admit that some areas are in the toilet. No doubt about it. I grew up off of Arkansas and Carter. I took my dad down our old street one Saturday night after dinner and he was shocked. He also hadn't lived here since '97, so he hadn't got to see the decline. Hell, they're tearing down Hutcheson Jr. High. That school was the highlight of my education. I would do 7th-9th grade there all over again if I could.

I have to agree with Eric to an extent. The improvements they're making downtown are helping offset the shit. I don't know that enough could ever be done to reverse the decline, but I see it leveling off in the next five years if the effort continues.

I think my biggest disappointment lies in the south side. I knew the east side would go downhill because it was already happening in the early 90's, but it took 40 something years to get there. South of I20 was the place to be in the early-mid 90's and it only took ten years for it sour and it's creeping all the way down to Broad and 360, Matlock and Debbie Lane, and Cooper towards 287. We lived at that Broad and 360 when it was nothing but a middle school and our tiny little 3 street neighborhood behind it. It's a fucking zoo now. We left there to move back to west Arlington.

It obviously hits close to home for those of us that have spent most of our lives here. I have memories of growing up in this city that I wouldn't trade for anything. It's not what it was, and that stinks, but it's not so bad either. There are a lot of people here fighting to turn it around and downtown is an excellent indicator of that. I'm seeing a rejuvenation of sorts in the Green Oaks/ Little Rd. area as well. It took something silly like a Chick Fil A and a Sprouts, but the change is undeniable.

[jluv]

I have to comment on the Movie Tavern. I rarely get to go to the movies, but we took our four year old there a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday night to see Big Hero 6 and I was expecting some trash even though it was a kids movie. My wife made a point to mention the fact that it was anything but. She knew I would be looking for reasons to bitch. I'm always the first to comment on how Arlington used to be or how such and such isn't the same. I'll find something. It was actually quite pleasant and as much as I wanted to find something wrong, even the bar and waiting areas were pretty normal. The cheap pitchers of Blood and Honey didn't hurt either.

I'll be the first to admit that some areas are in the toilet. No doubt about it. I grew up off of Arkansas and Carter. I took my dad down our old street one Saturday night after dinner and he was shocked. He also hadn't lived here since '97, so he hadn't got to see the decline. Hell, they're tearing down Hutcheson Jr. High. That school was the highlight of my education. I would do 7th-9th grade there all over again if I could.

I have to agree with Eric to an extent. The improvements they're making downtown are helping offset the shit. I don't know that enough could ever be done to reverse the decline, but I see it leveling off in the next five years if the effort continues.

I think my biggest disappointment lies in the south side. I knew the east side would go downhill because it was already happening in the early 90's, but it took 40 something years to get there. South of I20 was the place to be in the early-mid 90's and it only took ten years for it sour and it's creeping all the way down to Broad and 360, Matlock and Debbie Lane, and Cooper towards 287. We lived at that Broad and 360 when it was nothing but a middle school and our tiny little 3 street neighborhood behind it. It's a fucking zoo now. We left there to move back to west Arlington.

It obviously hits close to home for those of us that have spent most of our lives here. I have memories of growing up in this city that I wouldn't trade for anything. It's not what it was, and that stinks, but it's not so bad either. There are a lot of people here fighting to turn it around and downtown is an excellent indicator of that. I'm seeing a rejuvenation of sorts in the Green Oaks/ Little Rd. area as well. It took something silly like a Chick Fil A and a Sprouts, but the change is undeniable.

I'm t Matlock and Debbie Lane now, but I consider it Mansfield, even though we have an Arlington address. It's not bad where I'm at yet, but it's just North of us.

We went to see a movie at that Movie Tavern about a year ago, and it was so bad walking in that we turned around and left. All the hood rats were acting a fool in the parking lot and lobby area. We were literally the only white folks in the vicinity. I'm comfortable around black people, but I can't stand it when they are loud and acting out. Would be the same if I went into a place full of rowdy, racist rednecks dropping the "n" word.

Didn't know they were tearing down Hutch. You liked it there? I went to Workman and hated it.

[talisman]

Well, I won't be able to add much to Jimmy's post, so here is a rare x2 from me:


x2.

[Baron Von Crowder]

I'm t Matlock and Debbie Lane now, but I consider it Mansfield, even though we have an Arlington address. It's not bad where I'm at yet, but it's just North of us.

We went to see a movie at that Movie Tavern about a year ago, and it was so bad walking in that we turned around and left. All the hood rats were acting a fool in the parking lot and lobby area. We were literally the only white folks in the vicinity. I'm comfortable around black people, but I can't stand it when they are loud and acting out. Would be the same if I went into a place full of rowdy, racist rednecks dropping the "n" word.

Didn't know they were tearing down Hutch. You liked it there? I went to Workman and hated it.

The 'hood is growing, but I think there will be in decline shortly. When all the builders were vomiting new homes up in sub divisions all over south arlington, I told my wife that the south arlington area was going to be horrible for a few years, and the adjustable rate mortgages would make a ton of people default. It did, and it got bad with people who overbought because a builder was in bed with a lender. The ones that couldnt pay got foreclosed, and the ones that are left are trying to figure out how to pay their bills. With the housing market being so hot, a lot of them moved out. It's not as easy for someone to buy now, so the ones that are buying arent so bad.

I grew up in Duncanville, and watched that place turn into a dump. My parents still live there, and it has gotten better. It sounds racists to say it, and I hate to group people by color, but when the mexicans moved into Duncanville, it got better. I see it going the same way in South Arlington too.

[ELVIS]

but when the mexicans moved into Duncanville, it got better.

Dj likes purple houses with orange doors!

god bless.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Dj likes purple houses with orange doors!

god bless.

I like my car to be where I parked it with radio still in the dash when I get up in the morning.

[talisman]

I like my car to be where I parked it with radio still in the dash when I get up in the morning.

Stay out of Wylie..

[46Tbird]

Well, I won't be able to add much to Jimmy's post, so here is a rare x2 from me:

x3.

[Tyrone Biggums]

Didn't know they were tearing down Hutch. You liked it there? I went to Workman and hated it.

I loved it. What I hated was Bowie. My parents decided it would be a good idea to move the summer before I started high school. All my friends went to Sam. I was pissed. The transition sucked. I acted out, did some dumb shit and was generally unhappy for 3 years.

Side note: My dad came to visit last weekend and brought some things he found in the attic. One of them was our panoramic Class of '95 picture. What a motley bunch. You're right behind me a couple of rows back.

[jluv]

I loved it. What I hated was Bowie. My parents decided it would be a good idea to move the summer before I started high school. All my friends went to Sam. I was pissed. The transition sucked. I acted out, did some dumb shit and was generally unhappy for 3 years.

Side note: My dad came to visit last weekend and brought some things he found in the attic. One of them was our panoramic Class of '95 picture. What a motley bunch. You're right behind me a couple of rows back.

I liked Bowie. I was in the Sam district, and transferred to Bowie because I was tired of having to watch my back every day like I did at Workman. Sam was a shit hole and still is. Bowie was pretty damn nice back then, all brand new, very low thug population. What didn't you like about it? I understand it has gotten worse, but not nearly as bad as Sam.

I am all over that part of South Arlington that you mentioned, and it sure is a lot safer and nicer than most of the other parts of Arlington I mentioned earlier. I don't worry about my shit getting broken into like it did at most of the other parts of Arlington that I lived in. We don't have the wannabe gangsters hanging out on the corners. No gang graffiti. No drive-by shootings. The list goes on. I dealt with all of that shit when I lived over off of Carter and Mayfield, Carter and Arkansas, Collins and Mayfield, Pioneer and Center, Collins and 30, etc. Thank God I don't live in those spots anymore. I'm glad I'm basically in Mansfield now, though I wish my mom would gtfo of Arlington. She is stubborn though. She's like the only white person left in the wheel neighborhood. People fucking steal her bird feeders, her plants, her mail. It's all fucked up.

I don't see Arlington improving like you say, but it would be nice.

[talisman]

I liked Bowie. I was in the Sam district, and transferred to Bowie because I was tired of having to watch my back every day like I did at Workman. Sam was a shit hole and still is. Bowie was pretty damn nice back then, all brand new, very low thug population. What didn't you like about it? I understand it has gotten worse, but not nearly as bad as Sam.

I am all over that part of South Arlington that you mentioned, and it sure is a lot safer and nicer than most of the other parts of Arlington I mentioned earlier. I don't worry about my shit getting broken into like it did at most of the other parts of Arlington that I lived in. We don't have the wannabe gangsters hanging out on the corners. No gang graffiti. No drive-by shootings. The list goes on. I dealt with all of that shit when I lived over off of Carter and Mayfield, Carter and Arkansas, Collins and Mayfield, Pioneer and Center, Collins and 30, etc. Thank God I don't live in those spots anymore. I'm glad I'm basically in Mansfield now, though I wish my mom would gtfo of Arlington. She is stubborn though. She's like the only white person left in the wheel neighborhood. People fucking steal her bird feeders, her plants, her mail. It's all fucked up.

I don't see Arlington improving like you say, but it would be nice.

Sam was(is) a shithole back then, and has only gotten worse. I understand about Jimmy being pissed about not going to HS with all the people he grew up with though. When we moved from Canyon to Arlington in '85 it was a big adjustment for me. I went to Boles for middle school, and it was really nice. Had only been open 2 years. Had a few pretty good teachers while I was there.

As for the areas, Arlington is almost 100 square miles. That's a big area! Lots of room for lots of different type people, and they are all here, too. I think that is one of the things I like about living here, is the diversity. Sidenote: Last time I check the population was 330k and had been for awhile. Just looked at the figures for the first time in awhile and it's grown by another 50k to 380k. It can't be all bad with growth like that. The lack of a public transit system also has helped keep the riff raft out for a long time.

[yellowstang]

Well, do do have a Simply Burgers, so they have that going for Arlington.
Best fucking burger EVAR!!!