To any Russians in Huntsville - how do you like living in Huntsville?

I know there is a Russian Orthodox Church there

http://stxeniablessed.home.mindspring.com/index.htm 

and I came across a website for Svetlana who owns a Restoran / Night Club there.  

http://svegol.home.mindspring.com/index.htm

That said, is there much of a Russian population in that area?

After proudly serving for 19 years, I am considering retirement from the Navy in the next three or four years. With the bases closing in North Georgia, I have been considering Huntsville for the employment opportunities and Veteran benefits on Redstone. A decent size Russian community would keep Natalia happy.

My wife and I live in Huntsville.  It's a great town, and supposedly has a large Russian population (several thousand families), though there is no formal organization.  There is a nice Russian store (as good as any in Atlanta) and I've been to a few Russian 'picnics' - nice people.  A lot of Russians here are married to Americans.

Huntsville is a good place for tech jobs.  All major government contractors are here because of Redstone Arsenal.

Thanks for the reply IntensityInsanity!

During my High School Years, I visited the Huntsville Space Center there every year. Last Year, we passed through the area during vacation. Red Stone Lodging was full, so we stayed on University Dr. in the Knights Inn. That area has really gone down hill since my youth and needless to say my wife was not impressed.  That area has turned pretty Ghetto from the late 80's, not unlike the area around Fort McPherson in Atlanta.

I read on a forum recently that Gurley on 72 East is the up and coming area. I would like to visit again in the near future and I am hoping you can point me towards the nice part of town and recommend some local attractions. What part of Town has the malls and decent shopping?

Also curious what is the name of the Russian Store?

If we relocate there we will have to meet up for one of those Russian 'picnics' **Shashlik**

 KGBMan,

 didn't you hear?  McCain & Palin have already won the presidency, the democrats just haven't realized it yet. 

y8tiger:

 KGBMan,

 didn't you hear?  McCain & Palin have already won the presidency, the democrats just haven't realized it yet. 

Exactly.

Good times ahead for everyone involved in military or intelligence, on both sides of the pond

y8tiger:

  McCain & Palin have already won the presidency, the democrats just haven't realized it yet. 

hey, congrats then...on 100 more years in Iraq:-) 

pomidorchik:

y8tiger:

  McCain & Palin have already won the presidency, the democrats just haven't realized it yet. 

hey, congrats then...on 100 more years in Iraq:-) 

Actually, probably transfer from Iraq over to Georgia. There is excitement about the numerous future duty assignments that will be available in Easern Europe and the Black Sea.

 Hopefully, IntensityInsanity will answer some of the questions I had and bring this back on topic.

y8tiger:

 There is excitement about the numerous future duty assignments that will be available in Easern Europe and the Black Sea.

awesome!:-) and don't forget to bring democracy to Iran as well. i think they really need it.

..back to topic? 

y8tiger:

Thanks for the reply IntensityInsanity!

During my High School Years, I visited the Huntsville Space Center there every year. Last Year, we passed through the area during vacation. Red Stone Lodging was full, so we stayed on University Dr. in the Knights Inn. That area has really gone down hill since my youth and needless to say my wife was not impressed.  That area has turned pretty Ghetto from the late 80's, not unlike the area around Fort McPherson in Atlanta.

University Dr. has a couple of rough spots, including a subsidized housing (read: blacks) section.  Always fun to see 80's Chevy Caprice Classics painted bright green or purple with 22" chrome rims riding around :)

I read on a forum recently that Gurley on 72 East is the up and coming area. I would like to visit again in the near future and I am hoping you can point me towards the nice part of town and recommend some local attractions. What part of Town has the malls and decent shopping?

Actually, just a few miles down on University Dr. there's a big mall as well as lots of other plazas with Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Target, etc.  Pretty much everything.  On Memorial Parkway there's another mall (two-story).

 
Attractions.  Hmmm.  Well, nothing spectular.  Of course there's NASA headquarters, which has attractions, botanical gardens (haven't been there yet), and lots of nature stuff.  Huntsville is in a valley, so there's mountains with parks, lakes, rivers, etc.  Oh, there's also Bridge Street Town Center, which is very cool.  It is like a huge mall, but 'outside', surrounded by a lake.  Lots of fine dining here.
 

Also curious what is the name of the Russian Store?

It's called 'European Market'.  Here's their website (though I'm not sure how up-to-date it is):  http://www.europeanmarketonline.com/

I heard they are moving to a larger location because business is doing so well.

If we relocate there we will have to meet up for one of those Russian 'picnics' **Shashlik**

Sure, my wife and I just went to one recently.  Good stuff! 

y8tiger:

pomidorchik:

y8tiger:

  McCain & Palin have already won the presidency, the democrats just haven't realized it yet. 

hey, congrats then...on 100 more years in Iraq:-) 

 

Actually, probably transfer from Iraq over to Georgia. There is excitement about the numerous future duty assignments that will be available in Easern Europe and the Black Sea.

 Hopefully, IntensityInsanity will answer some of the questions I had and bring this back on topic.

if they ever send you to Georgia - make sure to always lock your things up and don't leave anything laying around.
On military forums US consultants who were there, were shocked at the pity thievery of Georgian officers.

Thanks for all the good info IntensityInsanity. I will definitely use the info you provided to come up with a game plan for our next visit to Huntsville. Until then, just living on beautiful, scenic Whidbey Island in the way too expensive Pacific Northwest.. 

KGBMan, I read about that from Soldiers on a Military Forum who had served with the Georgian Soldiers in Iraq.

y8tiger:

KGBMan, I read about that from Soldiers on a Military Forum who had served with the Georgian Soldiers in Iraq.

cool, we go to the same places ;)