re: Fayetteville vs Tuscaloosa vs Athens

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I see Auburn, Oxford, and Starkville as definite college towns. Auburn has definitely gotten bigger over the recent years.

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Fayetteville proper is very much like you describe. Traffic on North College from August to May is murder. But in the summertime, the place is like Shangri-La. The real population explosion was taking place up the I-540 corridor to Rogers and Bentonville. That's the Wal-Mart influence. Vendors and hangers-on were coming to be close to Deep Pockets. That has leveled off some with the economic downturn.

For all that growth in the NWA area, Fayetteville has still retained much of its identity. Of course, many of us lament the shift in culture on Dickson Street. I miss my hippies and skate punks. But on the flip side, I do like that there are some nice dining choices and places to get a drink and be entertained.

The best things Fayetteville has going for it are lots of gorgeous coeds, beautiful landscape with the mountains and the trees turning this time of year, and the still-thriving local restaurant scene. Fayetteville has fought off the Applebees and Outback Steakhouse invasions fairly well. Oh, those restaurants are there - mostly in the Springdale area, but those of us who love Fayetteville can still get Big-Uns or Ribs at Hermans and a Derek's Special at Hugo's. Or we can have spaghetti and fried chicken at Venetian. Or Catfish Tchopatoulas or Eggplant Napoleon at Cafe Rue Orleans.

I miss Maxine. Maxine's is still there but it will never be the same without that crusty old broad sitting there drinking iced coffee and telling us, "Last call for alcohol. Drink up and get the HELLLLLL out!" And George's beer garden will never be the same now that the Cate Brothers don't play anymore. Ahhhhh Fayettville.

I have not set foot in Tuscaloosa so I can't comment. But I DID spend a week in Athens and I think that's a really cool college town. Loved the stuff around the square, and campus is beautiful.

As for the 'tard who tinks Knoxville is a good place, well...that's just your provincialism showing through. Knecksville is nothing more than a dirty mountain semi-city with a great big stadium in the middle of it. I've spent more time than I ever want to spend in that dump of a place, and I hope God makes sure I never have to go back. Not only is it a shitty town, but the people - especially those associated with the university - are horrible. I unfortunately worked in the U of Tenn system for a time, and thank God every day that I was delivered from that piece of trash place.