So, why Charleston?
The question asked in the name of this web site is Why Charleston WV. Yesterday (Tuesday, January 27th, 2009) was a great reminder of why Charleston is such a great place to live
I had a 9 AM meeting with Bill Gardner, one of the fine people behind www.304blogs.com and www.shoutsandhollers.com. When I went outside, I saw the beautiful snowy landscapes around Charleston.
After leaving this meeting, I went to Taylor Books to purchase the latest book by Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers, which, if it’s half as good as Tipping Point and Blink will be great) and had some hot chocolate.
From Taylor Books, I went to Capitol Market to get some fresh meat from Johnnies Fresh Meat Market and then over to The Purple Onion for some fresh fruit and vegetables.
After leaving Capitol Market, I went to the Art Emporium to look at their feature of 40 colorful and creative masterpieces from children and youth from The East End Family Resource Center. If you haven’t seen this exhibit, it’s worth seeing the works of our youth.
From the Art Emporium, I started to walk home and 4 different people offered me rides along the way (I knew one of the people but the others were simply kind people offering a ride to someone in bad weather).
When I got home, I thought about it a bit and realized that there aren’t many other places where I could walk to these types of places in a short period of time, encounter many wonderful people, purchase things from locally owned businesses and have complete strangers offer rides.
When people ask me “Why Charleston?” my answer is, “until someone can show me other places with similar shops, opportunities and people, why would I consider anywhere else?”
Lawrence Fine
www.whycharlestonwv.com
www.lawrencefine.com
Great post. People who experience Charleston tend to love Charleston. The only folks who seem not to are those who have lived here all their lives, haven’t experienced a lot of other places, and seem down on it based on what it “used to be.”
I personally have found more creative, caring, intelligent folks per capita here than the last few cities I’ve lived, which are Philadelphia, Seattle and Pittsburgh.
It’s time to get Charleston on the map. This site does a great job of starting that process, good work!
I agree completely about the creative people part. I have lived in NJ, DC, Charlotte NC, Atlanta, Charleston SC, Huntington WV and State College PA before moving here and while there is no doubt we, as an area, have our problems (as does everyone), the reality is. there are some wonderful thinkers and doers here.
Sadly, people frequently are hung up on the stereotype of WV rather than the reality
Lawrence
My boyfriend and I are considering living here once we’re ready to settle down and these kind of websites really help! :]
I’ve lived in Charleston all my life, and even if I make it somewhere else..Charleston WV will always be my home!!
Lived in Charleston from ’62 to ’68 and still consider it to be “home.” It was a good place to grow up, good schools, nice neighbors, and a rich history. Miss Pepperoni buns, mountain views, and fall … but am only 200 miles away. Glad not to live there now (mainly because of sub-standard transportation, specifically airline connections). Ironic that they tried to put in a jetport before we moved that the voters turned down that could have changed Charleston’s destiny.
Yo Yo – totally agree with the Rusty – Larger combined airport between Hunt town and CRW would have actually helped this area attract business. Small CRW minds nixed that “but then Charleston would not have it’s very own airport”. Rusty said it about sub-par transport. Many newbies and out of towners notice how difficult it is to drive anywhere in the CRW area, and fly in and out to desired destinations.
Look at the Gulf Coast Florida area. It has one metro airport to serve many cities (Punta Gorda, Ft Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel and Captiva, Estero, and down to Naples). That’s approximately a 60 to 70 mile north to south area. The original “old airports” in many of those cities now handle private jets.
Oh, and that airport was recently greatly updated and enlarged.
And by the way, 25 years ago Ft Myers was a small under – developed area of “nearly dead” retirees. But the movers and shakers have transformed the area with more diversification, and now the area has more young families and professionals, and jobs.
So the “City of Palms” has grown in 25 years from a town smaller than Charleston, to a city that is larger than Charleston. Go figure.
In summary, CRW and the Kanawha Valley need to think beyond their noses, and plan 20 to 40 years out, to remain viable. Times are changing, the world is changing. Change with it, or be left behind.
I was born and raised in Charleston West Virginia. I lived in other
places for many years and spent 13 years in Garden City South
Carolina. I enjoyed the beach for many years but always missed
West Virginia. Moved back here 11 years ago, and I love it. I love
the four seasons and beautiful landscape. The people are great too.
West Virginians have always loved their state.