10 things I STILL love about Hattiesburg
9:53 AM
I've now been in this town more or less for 10 years with a few interruptions. I've watched fans and foes of the Burg come and go. I've heard a million complaints, and made several myself. Yet I'm still here, after all.
Maybe the reasons to love the Hub City deserve a little fanfare.
1) 10 minutes to everything - Really, from east to west it's about 15 mins. Maybe 30 for a couple months in the fall and on graduation days.
2) Local lovin' - We seriously rally around our small businesses, from downtown to midtown.
3) Entrepreneur heaven - Likewise, if you want to start a small business, Hattiesburg is the perfect ground zero. Low overhead + a supply of educated, affordable labor = good footing for a newborn biz.
4) Foodie fix - Sure, some may debate with me on this one. But not my best friend Robyn who lives in New Orleans, a true cuisine capital. Before every visit here she plans out her own food tour. There are dozens of dining gems that probably merit another blog. Robyn, you're up!
5) If you don't like it, blog/post/tweet about it - This is a relatively recent development in Hattiesburg history. Sorta. During my days at Southern Miss, the primary means of formal complaint was an online forum, myhattiesburg.com, which is probably still kicking for some hardcore regulars. In post-Facebook Hburg, some of our savvier city representatives actually pay attention to public social media complaint, and effect change in response.
6) Movers/shakers/tastemakers - In bigger metros, the social elite are usually products of wealth and good breeding, but here in Hattiesburg the drivers of development are hard working, self-made, and in my opinion, surprisingly humble. Again, this category merits its own blog.
7) Small pond, big school - There is a tight network of "lifers" in this city and an ever changing supply of those folks with a "light sentence." It's a mix of the wisdom and experience of the long-term citizens and the passion of the newer ones. It's a great formula for rallying the community behind a cause. Take "Raise Your Pints" for instance. I never thought I'd still be in Mississippi to see a higher alcohol content beer in our state. But Hattiesburg adopted and championed this movement like its own beloved child. I feel strongly that Hattiesburg community support played a big role in the statewide movement.
8) Student of life/for life - There are multiple campuses in reach, so it's really easy to go back and get a little extra education (or a lot of it).
9) Local music - I've seen some incredible shows in this town. Hopefully we all have. Besides the occasional mega-band visits, aka Flaming Lips at the Boom Boom Room this Thursday, there is live music to be had at least four nights out of the week.
10) Everywhere you go, there Hattiesburg is. No matter how far you go, it seems you're always within a few steps of someone who has a Hattiesburg connection. If you don't believe me, test it next time you're out of state or out of the country. Whether this is actually a good thing or not is probably a matter of opinion.
11) I know I said 10, but I have to include this one:
The hope of the Hippo - If you weren't here when the Thirsty Hippo was open, there's no easy way to explain her to you. She's like a first love you dream of getting back with, who is good and bad for you at the same time. The Hippo was a live music beer bar that captured the essence of Hattiesburg, and downtown specifically, for 10 years or so. It closed in 2011, much to to the dismay of anyone I've ever met. Enough great performances and memories went down there to fill 3 or 4 Hippos, which is about how big the new Hippo will be when it re-opens in its new location on McLeod at the mouth of downtown, hopefully this fall. There are more than a few of us (based on public meeting turnouts earlier this year) waiting for the first last call with bated breath.
Maybe the reasons to love the Hub City deserve a little fanfare.
1) 10 minutes to everything - Really, from east to west it's about 15 mins. Maybe 30 for a couple months in the fall and on graduation days.
2) Local lovin' - We seriously rally around our small businesses, from downtown to midtown.
3) Entrepreneur heaven - Likewise, if you want to start a small business, Hattiesburg is the perfect ground zero. Low overhead + a supply of educated, affordable labor = good footing for a newborn biz.
4) Foodie fix - Sure, some may debate with me on this one. But not my best friend Robyn who lives in New Orleans, a true cuisine capital. Before every visit here she plans out her own food tour. There are dozens of dining gems that probably merit another blog. Robyn, you're up!
5) If you don't like it, blog/post/tweet about it - This is a relatively recent development in Hattiesburg history. Sorta. During my days at Southern Miss, the primary means of formal complaint was an online forum, myhattiesburg.com, which is probably still kicking for some hardcore regulars. In post-Facebook Hburg, some of our savvier city representatives actually pay attention to public social media complaint, and effect change in response.
6) Movers/shakers/tastemakers - In bigger metros, the social elite are usually products of wealth and good breeding, but here in Hattiesburg the drivers of development are hard working, self-made, and in my opinion, surprisingly humble. Again, this category merits its own blog.
7) Small pond, big school - There is a tight network of "lifers" in this city and an ever changing supply of those folks with a "light sentence." It's a mix of the wisdom and experience of the long-term citizens and the passion of the newer ones. It's a great formula for rallying the community behind a cause. Take "Raise Your Pints" for instance. I never thought I'd still be in Mississippi to see a higher alcohol content beer in our state. But Hattiesburg adopted and championed this movement like its own beloved child. I feel strongly that Hattiesburg community support played a big role in the statewide movement.
8) Student of life/for life - There are multiple campuses in reach, so it's really easy to go back and get a little extra education (or a lot of it).
9) Local music - I've seen some incredible shows in this town. Hopefully we all have. Besides the occasional mega-band visits, aka Flaming Lips at the Boom Boom Room this Thursday, there is live music to be had at least four nights out of the week.
10) Everywhere you go, there Hattiesburg is. No matter how far you go, it seems you're always within a few steps of someone who has a Hattiesburg connection. If you don't believe me, test it next time you're out of state or out of the country. Whether this is actually a good thing or not is probably a matter of opinion.
11) I know I said 10, but I have to include this one:
The hope of the Hippo - If you weren't here when the Thirsty Hippo was open, there's no easy way to explain her to you. She's like a first love you dream of getting back with, who is good and bad for you at the same time. The Hippo was a live music beer bar that captured the essence of Hattiesburg, and downtown specifically, for 10 years or so. It closed in 2011, much to to the dismay of anyone I've ever met. Enough great performances and memories went down there to fill 3 or 4 Hippos, which is about how big the new Hippo will be when it re-opens in its new location on McLeod at the mouth of downtown, hopefully this fall. There are more than a few of us (based on public meeting turnouts earlier this year) waiting for the first last call with bated breath.
Location:Downtown
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