re: Alexandria, LA: One of America’s Most Romantic Getaways

Under the oyster bar? Or under the main restaurant behind the oyster bar? Because under the oyster bar is in Kincaid Lake if I'm not mistaken.

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Well, La. is the best State, and Ellic is the best place to live in the best state, so...

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Not even close. Alex is okay.

Maybe Louisiana is just that bad now

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I'm rooting for Alexandria to clean itself up. I'd love to see an automobile plant or something open up there.

But it's in really rough shape and is extremely depressing to visit. What are you guys doing to attract some more manufacturing business? Because it's not enough.

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It's not happening.

You know how some people romanticize the past, or pine after their hometown because they were children and had less responsibility in a town that was maybe a little less than desirable? The opposite is happening to me when thinking about that dump. Moving away is great for some people regardless of where they lived, but month by month, year by year, I'm realizing that moving away from Alexandria is the best thing anyone can do.

I really did think I'd look back fondly, but the more actual good experiences I have as a human away from there makes me further realize that I had almost zero actually good experiences in Alexandria. Sure I loved playing football, and I still have a few friends back home, but I can't recall anything that happened back then that was more than making the most of a bad situation.

And as this feeling occurs over and over again, I realize 100% that any hope I've ever had of that town making a strong comeback or some sort of economic resurgence is one of the more unlikely things that will ever happen. Every positive interaction I have with someone in Boise makes me realize just how little pride and will the people in that town have. I'm not speaking on anyone specifically as much as I'm personifying the town, although the amalgam that pops into my head is a few dozen people I've encountered during my 25 years there.

It's just done for. And if it's ever not done for it will be because most everyone in that town died out and the majority of the new population has no roots in that area. Although I doubt that will happen because people there have kids like nobody's business.

Something about that place that gets into you. I'm not sure what it is, but it sure feels bad. Not evil. Something just really foul and depressing.

That's a good question. Alexandria has the infrastructure set up for such an industry- rail, port, freeway system, airport- however nothing ever seems to happen. Could it be location? Halfway between mid-major markets to the north-south, but really nothing east-west. Bringing in a major plant such as auto would mean the need for skilled workers moving here from elsewhere- and I'm not sure if we have the housing available to support them. It's not impossible, it's just improbable. Media concentrates on the crime rate here, however if you avoid certain areas mainly in the Garden District of Alex- it isn't a bad place to live. We're slowly getting the same chain restaurants as you find in Lafayette or Shreveport. We have a nice zoo. Single people would find it quite dull, as there is no bar scene here other than at WalkOns or other local chains with bars. Downtown could really afford to liven itself up in this aspect. We have a couple of microbrew places that are tasting rooms, it would be nice to have them offer food also. Alex could benefit by making more use of the Red River too- instead of just hiding behind the levee. There are beautiful forested areas around Alex with public land to roam on- unlike around most other Louisiana cities. Alex has potential, it just depends on whether industries want to settle in a rather isolated central part of the state or not.

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Alex has potential, it just depends on whether industries want to settle in a rather isolated central part of the state or not.

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It does have potential, sadly the people of the city don't seem to care to do ANYTHING to capitalize on that potential. Also the current political situation is a disaster.

Alexandria will never move forward until it gets competent leadership in place and the people themselves decided to do more with the town. As of now the good ole boy network is doing its best to keep its very tiny slices of power while the place falls down around them.

Somewhere above, Ethma Odom is dancing !