StreetAdvisor Blog

Sneakers, skirts and grandmothers

Not every story told on StreetAdvisor is (or has to be) of great importance. Sometimes people just want to share and feel connected, and the simplest experiences make the best stories. Here are three sweet examples of everyday life on the streets.

On Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York, United States (StreetScore 63.46), visitor Nwhaley says:

"Fulton Street, specifically Fulton Mall (btwn Flatbush Avenue and Adams Street) in the Downtown area of Brooklyn can be proclaimed an unofficial sneaker "heaven". There is more than 20 stores on this strip that sells sneakers.

When I was a young lad, lol, my mother used to take me and my brother school shopping for sneakers and clothes to start the year off looking "fresh" (dressing nice). Here I can stay on top of what the latest sneakers were, which were Jordans and Nikes. Now that I am a little older, I don't shop for sneakers as much in this area because of the lack of exclusiveness. Many of the stores will have the same sneakers, which will mean you will see at least 5 people walking down Fulton Street with your sneakers on.

Overall, if you are not in high school or have a child, do not expect to be excited about shopping in this area. Just as some things are for the adults, this one is for the kids."

Photo by autumn_bliss - Creative Commons license

At College Street, Lima, New York, United States (StreetScore 70.56), visitor Wilderness says:

"This street is built on a hill that makes anything Schlitterbahn Waterparks or Six Flags over Texas has look like a kiddy ride.

Regardless of the time of year, there is always a cross wind blowing on this street. Don’t wear a dress if you are planning on walking the street or you will end up with it over year head - personal experience speaking here."

Photo by MR+G - Creative Commons license

At Palfrey Street, Gretna, Louisiana, United States (StreetScore 84.43), resident SOLOWPOET says:

"Palfrey Street is the street where my father's parents stayed and I would visit many weekends and summers, and something I never understood is why the whole neighborhood would make such a big deal when i would come over.

I felt as though i was some some sort of celebrity that these people were waiting for me to hit town, it was as if they knew I would be coming and thats because they did.

I later found out the grandmothers in that neighborhood would talk about the pending visits from their grandchildren so much that it would become a community project.

NOW THAT'S A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD FILLED WITH GREAT GRANDMOTHERS!"

What has made you laugh or reflect on life recently? What places bring back special memories? Log in to StreetAdvisor.com and share your stories with your family, friends and neighbors.

Top 10 small towns in the USA

With so many new CityReviews being submitted to StreetAdvisor, it is now possible to start comparing them to see what people think about towns across the nation. These are the Top 10 CityReviews received by StreetAdvisor.com in the past few days as voted by our community members.

Photo by katmere - Creative Commons license

1. White Lake, New York, United States (CityScore 88.20). Visitor mike098 says:
   
   "I have stayed in White Lake, NY every summer since I was 4 years old and wait till summer comes every year just to visit. White Lake is a beautiful town on, you guessed it, White Lake with activities for the entire family. You can go jet skiing, boating, tanning, swimming, or just hang out.
   
   There are many Russian and Jewish communities around White Lake where they come up and stay for the summer. There is also a vibrant local community who are always pleasant and helpful. It is just minutes away from Woodstock and a great destination all year round for anybody, young or old."
   
   
2. Mason, Ohio, United States (CityScore86.46). Resident smh1182 says:
   
   "I lived in Mason, Ohio for 8 years. During these years I was able to see the small town grow rapidly and then simply boom with the best schools, shops and community. My parents still live in Mason and it is amazing each time I visit them. This town is great for a family. the schools are all the top schools with many awards that have been won for excellence."
   
   
3. Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States (CityScore78.79). Resident prolificfutilit says:
   
   "You can go for a leisurely stroll down the fragrant paths of Hatcher Gardens or set up a chair on your own front porch and wait (wont be that long) for your neighbors to stop bye for a chat. Spartanburg is definately a fun place to visit, but take it from me, with this much going on, it's even better to live here."
   
   
4. Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut, United States (CityScore75.51). Resident AshkaHeatha says:
   
   "Simsbury is a wonderful, small town. If you are a city rat, then you might as well stop reading now and find a city to live in. Simsbury is a town, a small town with big character. In Simsbury, you are likely to run into friends randomly while running errands on a daily basis. You are guaranteed a terrific school system for your children, also if they are handicapped, as Simsbury public schools offer great help to special Ed students.
   
   Simsbury is also a beautiful town, full of lovely landscape and not over crowded with shopping malls, office/apartment buildings, etc. Simsbury is also a very safe town to live in, as I have never once witnessed any evidence of crime in my entire lifetime, in this town."
   
   
5. Pleasant Hill, Missouri, United States (CityScore74.81). Resident josh1978 says:
   
   "Pleasant Hill is a great town to live a great place to raise your children and a great place to retire. Its citizens take pride in their town. It is a tight knit community that always welcomes new people with arms wide open. Cost of living has changed so much the last few years. Homes used to be very reasonable but are going up quite quickly."
   
   
6. Alabaster, Alabama, United States (CityScore74.46). Resident angiedee says:
   
   "Alabaster is located in central Alabama, in Shelby County. It is growing very quickly and filling up with people and businesses. The crime rate in Alabaster is very low; and the crime rate for dangerous crimes is almost nonexistant. The police are friendly and keep a watchful eye on the city.
   
   Also, it is a great place for a career minded individual. It is located around twenty miles south of Birmingham and many large corporate headquarters. The unemployment rate is very low and most places always have job openings."
   
   
7. Kellyville, Oklahoma, United States (CityScore74.33). Resident iwantunbeso says:
   
   "A great place to raise children, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, yet close enough to not be an inconvenience in this fuel driven economy we live in today. You feel safe with your children being able to commute back and forth to school or the local park without the eminent dangers of living in a larger city. Kellyville also has a Senior Citizens center where there are weekly activities for anyone and everyone in the town."
   
   
8. Lunenburg, Massachusetts, United States (CityScore72.09). Resident schoolrdh says:
   
   "Lunenburg is large in land size, but has that small town feel. You will find local farms all over the place for fresh milk, ice cream, flowers, fruits and vegetables.
   
   Price of homes here are probably slightly higher than surrounding towns, but people are friendly and schools are great. Located less than an hour west of Boston it makes it the perfect area to have quiet country but still be close to the busy city."
   
   
9. Chickamauga, Georgia, United States (CityScore71.05). Resident GU3Z says:
   
   "A sleepy, little town with little to offer in the way of industry or entertainment, HOWEVER, it is very scenic and just minutes from Chattanooga, TN which has most anything you could want. Square in the middle between Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta and Birmingham, 3 interstate freeways (24, 59, 75) make it easy to get there."
   
   
10. Lake Mills, Wisconsin, United States (CityScore70.56). Visitor Oscar11 says:
    
    "Located on beautiful Rock Lake along I-94 between Milwaukee and Madison. This is a great neighborhood community with many recreational activities. Rock Lake is known for its mysterious submerged pyramid. In the summer the lake is full of fishing boats, swimmers, water skiers, and wind surfers. In winter it is covered with ice shanties and snowmobiles. Sandy and Bartel's Beach are welcoming on the hot summer days."

Photo by Russell - Creative Commonse license

There's lots to choose from in small town America. Where have you chosen to live, or where do you like to visit on vacation? StreetAdvisor.com is the place to share your stories.

Focus on South Australia

StreetAdvisor has been receiving some good reviews from community members in the city of Adelaide and surrounding regions in South Australia (StateScore 68.26).

Most of the reviews are short - they do not seem to be a particularly talkative group of people - but what they share is still very useful information that only a local would know.

With StreetAdvisor's new blue City flags on our maps, it's even easier than before to find the content you want to read. Below is a map of the northern and eastern parts of Adelaide (CityScore 52.89).

The difference between the Adeliade CityScore and the South Australia CityScore says that many of the people who live outside the state capitol love where they live and have given high scores to their streets.

At Highbury Street, Prospect East, South Australia, Australia (StreetScore 81.65), resident morgan says:

"Highbury street is a hive of renovation and neighbourly spirit. We have parties and invite eachother and always stop to say hello in the street. It rocks... like a pony!"

At Hodgeman Road, Pennington, South Australia, Australia (StreetScore 68.82), resident Piney says:

"Hodgeman road is a great place to live. There are plenty of schools and publuic transport close by and three major shopping centres within 10mins drive."

At Greentree Place, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, Australia (StreetScore 86.60), resident peterml says:

"Quiet, friendly street with amazing access to transport and shopping and UniSA Mawson Lakes campus."

At Frederick Avenue, Seacombe Heights, South Australia, Australia (StreetScore 61.36), resident pmooney says:

"I've lived here for 5 yrs and it's great. The people are fantastic... I recommend it to anybody."

At Glenford Avenue, Myrtle Bank, South Australia, Australia (StreetScore 71.88), resident Cambronze says:

"Older folk starting to move on. Original houses built in 1920s. Some being demolished to be repaced by modern reproductions. keeping the ambience of the street. People friendly. Easy access all over the city. Only draw back is narrow street, sometimes used to dodge red lights."

At Ackland Hill Road, Coromandel East, South Australia, Australia (StreetScore 55.57), resident andy19363 says:

"Semi rural street with lots of bushland and wildlife, kangaroos, etc. Some restrictions on use of land as protected environment. High bushfire risk in summer."

How does your street compare? Log into StreetAdvisor.com and see what people are saying about your street.

StreetAdvisor ranks in the top 100 Australian web 2.0 applications

The 2008 list of the top 100 Australian web 2.0 applications was published today by Ross Dawson in his blog Trends in the Living Networks and in the Australian business magazine BRW. StreetAdvisor is listed at 15 and is the top real estate related site. It is also the top site with a hyperlocal or community focus.

Which of these sites do you find useful? What do you like about web 2.0 applications? Post a comment and tell us what you think.

How to browse StreetAdvisor's new improved maps

The StreetAdvisor team has been working hard improving our mapping tools and many other aspects of the site. We've already provided community members with the ability to write CityReviews, and this has quickly become extremely popular.

Check out some of the great new CityReviews, including Martin, Georgia, United States (CityScore 66.59), Brighton, Colorado, United States (CityScore 55.65), Bloomington, Indiana, United States (CityScore 76.90) and Battle Creek, Michigan, United States  (CityScore 62.79).

We have also implemented Google's StreetView for StreetAdvisor maps, which means you can get up close and personal views of streets in cities that Google has photographed. We're ready and waiting for Google to release StreetView in Australia later this year. As soon as the data is available, the streets of Sydney, Melbourne and other large Australian cities will contain StreetViews.

The other significant new feature related to CityReviews is how they are identified on StreetAdvisor maps. Red flags identify streets that contain content, such as reviews, photos or shouts. We have now added blue flags to indicate cities (and by city we mean suburb, town or city) that contain content.

A blue flag means that the city indicated contains some form of content, such as a CityReview, StreetReview, CityGuide, CityBoard (forum) post, photo or video. This map of Philadelphia (CityScore 63.94) and surrounding regions is a good example. You can see many red (street) and blue (city) flags, and more flags (indicating more content) are appearing on StreetAdvisor maps every day.

Is your street or city on the map? Log into StreetAdvisor.com and see how your neighborhood rates.

Run for your life! Cars and drivers in Texas

When you read lots of street and city reviews in StreetAdvisor.com, you start to see some interesting patterns in the stories community members are contributing. Texas (StateScore 69.08) is a big state and its drivers seem to have a certain reputation, eveng among themselves.

At Lazy Hollow Drive, Houston, Texas, United States (StreetScore 35.28), visitor tidalwave says:

"I used to visit a friend of mine here often. It was ALWAYS noisy... there are always cars parked on the side of the street which made it hard to navigate. Even so people were often speeding down the street (even with the massive speed bumps)."

Photo by billjacobus1 - Creative Commons license

The following contributions are all from the amazing missingmagic, who has some strong opinions and unique experiences to share about driving in Dallas.

At Montfort Drive, Dallas, Texas, United States (StreetScore 54.39):

"I've often found Montfort Drive to be an excellent alternative to The Dallas North Tollway or Preston Rd. when travelling through North Dallas.

Preston Rd. has serious drawbacks including endless and innumerable traffic lights which, however, often INCREASED accidents instead of lessening them. I was in TWO wrecks in a THREE Month period while legally waiting for a red light to turn green. On both occasions the initial crash was escalated into a several car pile-up when confused drivers who had been gauging their braking only upon that of the car immediately in front of them began skidding into each other.

And, yes, I was the one sitting at the light in the very first car BOTH TIMES. Essentially, I was hit by every car behind me X number of times calculated by some horrible mathematical mess I can't describe.

I don't know anything about LIVING on Montfort Drive. But I DO KNOW about NOT DYING on Preston."

At Verde Valley Lane, Dallas, Texas, United States (StreetScore 55.15):

"Verde Valley is a small stretch of Dallas, Texas blacktop wending its quiet way past the gated condominium communities that bump up against a wooden sign announcing the fact that another step will bring you onto the coveted lawns of Addison. I've often heard the word 'Addison' spoken of in hushed, reverent tones by those appealing for a loftier place on the social stair-master of Texas society. In other words, Verde Valley borders on the exclusive but does not really reach it.

However, a short, brisk walk towards Montfort (beyond which pedestrianism is NOT recommended) will bring you within reach of convenience stores, a couple of sports bars, an excellent jazz club, pool-halls, a nightly rock and roll joint/meat-market, several decent restaurants and even a hairdresser or optometrist. Nearby Beltline Rd. will get you to anything else you may need if Spring Valley doesn't.

I'd advise anyone new to Dallas to learn Dallas Driving Methods immediately. Even if you have no plans to drive. Know that these folks are like no others on the road. I was once hit by a car while WEARING A WALKING CAST across only half a lane to a meridian... in a designated crosswalk... in broad daylight... with right of way. The woman driving didn't even slow down as I spun round in circles. Learn a lesson from this. Fast."

At Southpoint Drive, Dallas, Texas, United States StreetScore 17.64):

"Southpoint Drive, Dallas, Texas, is a cut-rate substitute for an already second-rate dream. This area presents the visitor with a cheap 'study' into semi-suburbanite psychology. It's an ugly tug-of-war between block-party inclusion nostalgia and exclusionary strategies of the upwardly mobile.

Though winding avenues with just-sufficient shade trees, moderate traffic, and hypnotically similar red-tiled architecture seem pleasant enough for a quiet stroll, this is not a bright idea. The seclusion that this little suburbia offers is illusory. The quiet only lasts a few minutes, late model vehicles tend to take curvy lanes quickly, and drivers distracted with cellular phones often don't notice their own neighbor in the middle of the street… especially if they’ve NEVER seen you. Look both ways... several times.

A major culprit behind the strange neighborhood philosophy is the very literal 'box' in which it is located. In point of fact, the 'island' is entirely hemmed in by ‘the big city’ in the form of four of Dallas' more massive traffic ways. Preston Rd and Hillcrest form Western and Eastern borders, respectively, Arapaho guards the Southern flank and huge Campbell Rd shuts the Northern lid tight."

Photo by Marshall Astor - Creative Commons license

In a state that uses pedestrians for target practice but then also treats their cars like this, you better watch out. What's the traffic like in your neighborhood? Visit StreetAdvisor.com and vent your frustration!

I need to escape!

Some StreetAdvisor community members are feeling less than satisfied with their locations. Here's some stories from current and former residents explaining why they want(ed) to escape.

At Fox Meadow Drive, Medina, Ohio, United States (StreetScore 55.85), former resident FMCCParolee says:

"If you like to live your life without a homeowners association who monitors what flowers you plant in your yard, attempts to ban childrens swingsets, sues neighbors who dont comply with their War and Peace sized book of restrictions and, for the final trick, bans for sale signs when people start to flee in droves, Fox Meadow is the place for you."

Photo by Sam Judson - Creative Commons license

At Austin, Texas, United States (CityScore 53.19), former resident arvy says:

"I lived in Austin for several years and all I ever heard was... Austin is the greatest place to live. Well, if you are thinking of moving to or visiting, save your money. I hated the place. It is over priced, no real variety when it comes to things to do. If you like being around a bunch of unruly kids, then 6 street is the place for you. The town has no skyline, so you will feel like you are in a small ground up country town.

The job market is awful because there is a limited number of industry. High tech and that is it. If you loose your job, you will probably have to relocate. Lots of pandhandlers. Oh, and the town if very segregated and has very little diversity. No museums, no water parks, no theme parks, no major professional sports, traffic is horrible, housing is over priced, no upscale shopping, it is hot and very humid even at 10 pm."

Photo by c0reyann - Creative Commons license

At Kirkwood, New York, United States (CityScore 46.85), resident vpage says:

"Kirkwood suffers from a lot of things. It is really something of a satellite city, or suburb, to Binghamton, New York, and at least the people who live there can get in their cars and go somewhere else, but it's a bit sad that this is one of the best things you can say about it. Real estate is reasonable, but really that's probably because the people there are poor.

Conditions are pretty bad and there isn't much in the way of business or even general employment opportunities for anyone. It is in a fairly pretty area, but overall I found that the people who are born and raised there spend a lot of time thinking about getting out."

How do you feel about your street and city? Do you want to escape or do you love living there? Join the debate on StreetAdvisor.com about what makes somewhere a great place to live.

City reviews on StreetAdvisor

StreetAdvisor has introduced CityReviews and the reviews of suburbs, towns and cities are starting to come in.

At Merlin, Josephine, Oregon, United States (CityScore 63.73), resident hbk says:

"Merlin is located off the I 5 in Southern Oregon. It is a small town located on Merlin/Galice rd which winds along the Rogue River. While having only a few restaurants they are good places to eat. Baldeni's is a family owned local pizza place. There is a family take n bake pizza place. The famous Merlin Galice resort is a fun place right along the river and the jet boat tour does stop there for lunch.

Most people have well water, but those living closer to Merlin Galice rd have been incorp' into Grants Pass water district. Cost of living has changed so much the last few years. Homes used to be very reasonable but are going up quite quickly."

At Batesville, Mississippi, United States (CityScore 73.98), resident AngieH says:

"Batesville, MS is 60 miles south of Memphis on Interstate 55. It's location makes it a great place to stop when you are on the road. Batesville has a few sit-down chain restaurants such as Cracker Barrel and Chili's, as well as fast food such as Wendy's, McDonald's, Captain D's and more. But the best restaurants are the not-so-familiar ones such as the two Mexican restaurants, or for "home cooking", try Papaw's which is just west of town.

Although Batesville, doesn't have much "in town" as far as recreation, you only have to drive a short distance to find many different things to do. Sardis Lake and Enid Lake are each about 5 miles from Batesville and offer boating, camping, fishing and wildlife. Just to the east of Batesville is Oxford, Mississippi which is the home of the Ole Miss Rebels. Oxford has a booming night life as well as movie theaters, shopping and more.

Batesville is steadily growing with new industry and residential developments. They are making great strides to be the best small town in Mississippi."

At Newark, Delaware, United States (CityScore 61.21),  resident gwjcgwjcr says:

"Newark is a unique town in that it truly is the best of both worlds. On one hand it is a small town, evolved from a small colonial market place. The roughly 25,000 residents have a great community spirit and community events such as parades and the yearly Newark Nite street festival draw a great turnout.

On the other hand it is a bustling college town with all the activity and excitement that the University of Delaware provides. Nightlife abounds in Newark, whether you desire the peaceful, fine dining of Café Gelato or the youthful energy of bars such as the Deer Park Tavern and Klondike Kate’s. The center of town is a classic Main Street, complete with brick sidewalks, that contains a majority of the city’s shopping, dining and nightlife."

Here's a StreetView from Elkton Road, Newark, Delaware, United States.

At McCaysville, Georgia, United States (CityScore 63.87), resident mountainmom01 says:

"McCaysville, Georgia is a very small city in Fannin County, Georgia. There is not a whole lot to do there. You can board the train in Blue Ridge, which is a city in the same county, and ride it to McCaysville. They will let you out for a couple of hours and then you return. While in McCaysville, you can walk around to all the antique stores and small shops. There are not many restaurants but some include Subway, Japanese, Chinese, pizza, Mexican, and other fast food restaurants. There is great fishing right outside of the city limits on the beautiful Toccoa River which is just minutes away from rafting on the Ocoee River."

Also in Georgia, at Milledgeville, Georgia, United States (CityScore 88.20), resident MoonAssassin says:

"In recent years Milledgeville has become known as a college town. This is due to the fact that three different colleges are located there. There is Georgia College and State University (GC&SU), Georgia Military College (GMC), and Macon Technical College.

Due to the large number of universities several restaurants have also decided to relocate to Milledgeville. The most popular restaurants are downtown, located next to GC&SU. Thursday night is known as college night. It is when most of the restaurants downtown turn in nightclubs. Most of the restaurants downtown stop serving food around 6pm to 8pm and only serve alcohol instead.

Milledgeville is a wonderful tourist spot, especially if you to visit various historical spots. One of the most popular tourist attractions is Andalusia, the home of novelist Flannery O'Connor. If historical tours aren’t your thing, the tourist center also gives downtown tours and haunted tours. All of which you ride on a trolley for."

Thanks to all these StreetAdvisor community members for sharing this local knowledge about their cities and towns. Everyone can review their suburb or town in StreetAdvisor, as well as their street, so register or login today.

Google StreetView and other new features on StreetAdvisor

Google Maps StreetView

We're testing our implementation of Google's StreetView, and we'd like your feedback. Check out an example at Lovers Lane, Dallas, Texas, United States (StreetScore 88.20).

Just click on the 'Browse Map' button on the top right hand corner of  the maps window to take a sneak peak.  It's a fantastic resource and is lots of fun to play with, and will give you an idea of what’s to come in the following months for Google StreetView on StreetAdvisor.

Local Alerts

In response to your feedback we have completely revamped the way we keep you up to date on activity in your local area and your favorite cities and streets. The new StreetAdvisor Local Alerts system will send you a weekly email containing new reviews, photos, topics or people that have joined the StreetAdvisor community in your area. Keeping up to date on your favorite places has never been easier!

City Reviews

We've received many requests from community members to let people write city reviews, and the new function is now live. To write your own city review, search for a city then write a review just like you already do with streets.

This example of Canterbury, Victoria, Australia (CityScore 75.34) shows what you can do. So now you can tell us more about your home city, and find out what others in your neighbourhood think as well.

Find a city you know, such as Swampscott, Massachusetts, United States, and tell us what you think of it! The race is on to be the first to review your city.

It’s fun and it’s easy, so why not let the world know just how great (or not so great) your city is. Find your CityScore here.

Tell us what you think

Now you can explore your neighborhood with Google StreetView in StreetAdvisor (subject to availability) and write reviews of cities, you have some new reasons for visiting StreetAdvisor.com and sharing your local knowledge.

StreetAdvisor gets LOST on set in Hawaii

We are all huge fans of the incredibly popular TV show LOST at StreetAdvisor HQ, and we couldn't contain our excitement when a regular StreetAdvisor contributor sent us some photos from the actual set of LOST! Yes... the actual beach set.

These photos were taken on Papa'iloa Beach on Hawaii's island of Oahu. A huge thanks Womper007 who was kind enough to share some of his photos while on his honeymoon in Hawaii.

Go here to see the photos - Papailoa Road, Haleiwa, Hawaii, United States.

Got some shots of the Other's Campsite? Or Jacob's cabin? Or Ben hooking up with Jacob, Kate, Claire and Jack over a romantic dinner (we wish!!)? Send us your photos of other famous sets you have visited (or more of other Lost sets) to support@streetadvisor.com and we will feature them in the coming months!