It’s a mad house

[twoplanekid]

I forgot that the Strawberry Festival was taking place today at Brownwood when I went for my afternoon treat at Scooples. The huge volume of both car and golf cart traffic exiting the Hillsborough gate heading south should have alerted me that something big was taking place near Brownwood.

The traffic was what I would image takes place in New York City during rush hour. There were so many cars and carts just cruising to find a place to park. It would have been nice if the Wildwood police would have directed traffic at the first intersection as you enter Brownwood from the east.

I found a parking space for my cart. But also found that the line at Scooples was too long for me this afternoon. As the population of the Villages continues to grow, the planners of these types of events need to consider better traffic control measures. Or, maybe just add an extra day to the festivities to let more people in on the fun as the Villages continues to grow in population.

[Mortal1]

Nah. Let nature takes its course. Next year will be different. No need to overreact.

[vintageogauge]

I went to the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Paddock Square once. The key word here is once.

[Stu from NYC]

Nah. Let nature takes its course. Next year will be different. No need to overreact.

Actually as this place continues to grow might be even more people attending.

[RICH1]

I forgot that the Strawberry Festival was taking place today at Brownwood when I went for my afternoon treat at Scooples. The huge volume of both car and golf cart traffic exiting the Hillsborough gate heading south should have alerted me that something big was taking place near Brownwood.

The traffic was what I would image takes place in New York City during rush hour. There were so many cars and carts just cruising to find a place to park. It would have been nice if the Wildwood police would have directed traffic at the first intersection as you enter Brownwood from the east.

I found a parking space for my cart. But also found that the line at Scooples was too long for me this afternoon. As the population of the Villages continues to grow, the planners of these types of events need to consider better traffic control measures. Or, maybe just add an extra day to the festivities to let more people in on the fun as the Villages continues to grow in population.
Drove in Drove out... Don't need that in my life at this age! Not a Stress reliever and the strawberries are not worth dying for...

[RICH1]

I went to the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Paddock Square once. The key word here is once.
Exactly. You are so right. You made me laugh tonight

[shut the front door]

Why would you expect anything different? The overbuilding south of the turnpike, and the people south of 44 only have Brownwood square, 1 grill and food trucks. Y'all have fun down there. It's only going to get worse.

[Garywt]

Why would you expect anything different? The overbuilding south of the turnpike, and the people south of 44 only have Brownwood square, 1 grill and food trucks. Y'all have fun down there. It's only going to get worse.

Why do you say only one square and one restaurant. They have just as many as the rest of us, just might still need a car.

[asianthree]

We stopped in To get a sandwich, crowd not much different then any other event. Did need more food trucks. More vendors than on Saturday farmers market. Did pick up some berries, and bread. Parking lots were busy, but everyone seem to take it in stride. Be prepared (it always announced) there will be a St Pats, and a blueberry festival coming to a square near you.

Didn’t die while working 60 hour weeks for 5 months in a Covid section, where didn’t have to guess that everyone was positive. So no fear going to the strawberry festival.

[CFrance]

We stopped in To get a sandwich, crowd not much different then any other event. Did need more food trucks. More vendors than on Saturday farmers market. Did pick up some berries, and bread. Parking lots were busy, but everyone seem to take it in stride. Be prepared (it always announced) there will be a St Pats, and a blueberry festival coming to a square near you.

Didn’t die while working 60 hour weeks for 5 months in a Covid section, where didn’t have to guess that everyone was positive. So no fear going to the strawberry festival.
You keep mentioning that.

[vintageogauge]

Why would you expect anything different? The overbuilding south of the turnpike, and the people south of 44 only have Brownwood square, 1 grill and food trucks. Y'all have fun down there. It's only going to get worse.

What do you mean by over building? We have 3 squares to choose from just like everyone else but in addition we have Edna's, and Sawgrass is under construction we will soon have yet another entertainment area. We are having fun down here and it's only going to get better.

[John_W]

I remember as early as 2013 going to Florida Lottery Night at Brownwood and seeing the doo whop band "The Flamingos" who was favorite one and there was 7,000 people. That' right 2013. Here's a one minute video I shot from the grandstand on March 9, 2013. There was no dance floor, it was a solid crowd to the grandstands and all around to the street.

Flamingos Live at the Villages, Florida the Paddock Square 3/9/2013 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1-hq6YuXE)

I remember going in at noon to Brownwood in 2014 to Colonial Days, I don't even know what it was. I actually drove through every parking lot and could not find a parking space, this was 7 years ago, and the only restaurant open was City Fire. So having a big crowd in 2021 I'm not surprised.

https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/154597556_1875325279298662_9208556610868965479_o.j pg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=JTT-QlC1r9IAX-ABK4Z&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&tp=6&oh=f71e0fd54ca78aedb79d51f82962ba0f&oe=605D66E2

[asianthree]

You keep mentioning that.

See someone actually reads all the posts. There are lots of people couldn’t or wouldn’t change their lives, since March of 2020. The you are gonna die, if you go somewhere, just makes me smile. If every essential worker felt that way, life would have been very difficult.

[gettingby]

Why would you expect anything different? The overbuilding south of the turnpike, and the people south of 44 only have Brownwood square, 1 grill and food trucks. Y'all have fun down there. It's only going to get worse.

Obviously you’re out of touch with what’s going on “down there”. As a matter of fact “down there” will be in the middle of it all before long. After that “up there” will be yesterday’s news.

[Tom2172]

TV is overbuilt it will only get worse. Quaintness which was once TV is gone.
TV quickly becoming an overpopulated city with traffic & congestion and all the other problems.

[am.zinger@aol.com]

Thanks for the video. The Flamingo's are one of my all time favorite Doo Wop groups.

[Skunky1]

Let the natural selection continue

[banjobob]

I don’t understand the (smugness,spite,eliteness,envy,hatred)shown by those “down there” we are all here to enjoy a fantastic place to spend our lives. Some look down their nose at the historic side , degrade the real villages as if the below 44 is paradise. The facts are if you are happy where you live and your life , screw the narrow minded elitist who .think they are some how superior because of where they live. Nobody cares if your home is a palace or not it’s only important in your mind ,I live in a very nice CV and do not envy the ones in their 1 million plus homes.

[J1ceasar]

Unfortunately The trouble with The villages is that they are not the city of New York and they have no idea ahead of plan any event for the crush of people. That's the good and the bad of a place with 100,000 people while trying to get into one store. That's why I've learned not to recommend any restaurants because you'll get 500 people deciding to go to one place that seats 150 and I'll never get in again. I don't go to Spanish springs in the fall because of the stupid car shows and the fact that there's no parking so I can't go to the movies. It's really ridiculous in this place car show after car show after car show. The same thing happens whenever they have events in the squares you have 100,000 people with nothing better to do than to get in their golf cart for a nice evening ride and you see the ridiculous traffic. The crazy thing is you have a wonderful town of all the wood and Leesburg struggling to survive and yet no one is willing to drive an extra 10 minutes to go shopping in these places. The Leesburg Mall had four large department stores 3 years ago they're now down to one. I'd really like to pop this bubble but everyone in the villages is too damn lazy to get in their car instead of their cart

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Nah. Let nature takes its course. Next year will be different. No need to overreact.

😳😦😧😲

[G.R.I.T.S.]

[QUOTE=J1ceasar;1908829]Unfortunately The trouble with The villages is that they are not the city of New York and they have no idea ahead of plan any event for the crush of people.

What you call "trouble," I say "thank God." 😉

[Windguy]

Nah. Let nature takes its course. Next year will be different. No need to overreact.

What do you mean? It’s always been like that. I live on Hillsborough just east of BV and it’s almost impossible to get out of my neighborhood during the festival. It’s not getting any better.

[shannondwd]

They need to have these festivals running in all 3 squares at the same time..... that would be so much better because I hate the crowded sardine effect festivals have now.

[Kgcetm]

The people who planned this event and the people who attended got exactly what they wanted. A large crowd. Haagen Daz or Publix might have beeb a good alternative.

[Bear5325!]

We had no trouble at all with traffic or parking went smooth.

[Garwood1]

I’m sure there other senior areas to live where there’s no crowds , no events nor anything to keep people engaged but they’re not for me

[KjLjGooding]

I am confused, I was under the impression events in TV squares is open to the public, not just TV. Also hear people come even from Leesburg to The Strawberry Festival. Could that be why it was so overcrowded?

[Beyond The Wall]

Plenty of realtors to aid in your relocation to a quieter , less busy place like, say Lake SideLanding. Then you be driving to TB for all the entertainment and not be able to enjoy any of the activities.

[richs631]

TV is overbuilt it will only get worse. Quaintness which was once TV is gone.
TV quickly becoming an overpopulated city with traffic & congestion and all the other problems.

But I bet your not going to move. May be over built but you will not find a place like this anywhere else

[edp411@yahoo.com]

God Bless Those Lovable Snowbirds

[richs631]

I don’t understand the (smugness,spite,eliteness,envy,hatred)shown by those “down there” we are all here to enjoy a fantastic place to spend our lives. Some look down their nose at the historic side , degrade the real villages as if the below 44 is paradise. The facts are if you are happy where you live and your life , screw the narrow minded elitist who .think they are some how superior because of where they live. Nobody cares if your home is a palace or not it’s only important in your mind ,I live in a very nice CV and do not envy the ones in their 1 million plus homes.

The mere fact that your talking about the elitist shows your true colors. I honestly can say that my friend circle spans the spectrum and nobody really cares about what the other guy has or doesn’t have. We only care how we did at golf.

[RICH1]

April 4th is coming ..., Hang in there , The migration starts and all will be better!

[diva1]

Obviously you’re out of touch with what’s going on “down there”. As a matter of fact “down there” will be in the middle of it all before long. After that “up there” will be yesterday’s news.

That will be just fine with me. Can't beat my location and hope ya'll will go down there. Enjoy!:icon_wink:

[Chewie]

You should have gone to Spanish Springs where they have good ice cream.

[FromNY]

We stopped in To get a sandwich, crowd not much different then any other event. Did need more food trucks. More vendors than on Saturday farmers market. Did pick up some berries, and bread. Parking lots were busy, but everyone seem to take it in stride. Be prepared (it always announced) there will be a St Pats, and a blueberry festival coming to a square near you.

Didn’t die while working 60 hour weeks for 5 months in a Covid section, where didn’t have to guess that everyone was positive. So no fear going to the strawberry festival.
To the worker who didn't die... Did you wear PPE when working? Are you Covid-19 negative? Vaccinated? Or running around Town Square maskless? Agree life must go on and we also might want to be responsible in actions. Be grateful you didn't die. Do you know for sure you didn't contribute to the death or illness of someone else?

[La lamy]

I use to love a good crowd. Going to concerts used to be my 'sugar'. It's certainly not something I enjoy anymore for health reasons, but glad it's available to those of us who still revel in being among masses. Easy enough to avoid for me, and go to the square the next day.

[JohnN]

Obviously you’re out of touch with what’s going on “down there”. As a matter of fact “down there” will be in the middle of it all before long. After that “up there” will be yesterday’s news.

soon enough, we'll all be yesterdays news.
I'd prefer to be today's news and in the middle now.
To each their own

[Pat2015]

Really !😮

[kendi]

Life is good, enjoy it.

[wormburner]

Why would you expect anything different? The overbuilding south of the turnpike, and the people south of 44 only have Brownwood square, 1 grill and food trucks. Y'all have fun down there. It's only going to get worse.
Worse as in how the north is? You do know that it is permissible for us islanders to travel north to the mainland to get to Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs? My Villages passport is valid in the north as well as the south. Why do people not like the south? Did we do something to offend you?

[haysus7]

Travel is very limited. The Villages is a great place to be. As soon as cruising and touring open the events here will be less crowded.

[Colleen Kelley-Rogers]

TV is a great place to live but fall short in so many ways. Brownwood is so much SMALLER than the other town centers and who puts bleacher seating in for the elderly and retirees. Bar stools in their restaurants should all SWIVEL. They pack the stools in so tight you can't get in and out of them. I think the biggest problem is TV has a budget that doesn't allow common sense some times. They need to increase their budgets and cut their profit margin a bit. Now that they are no longer running the eating establishments the owners are responsible for the furniture but it still goes through TV decorators in most cases. Just not enough space at Brownwood for any outdoor events but its still the "happy place".

[Fuzzy]

See someone actually reads all the posts. There are lots of people couldn’t or wouldn’t change their lives, since March of 2020. The you are gonna die, if you go somewhere, just makes me smile. If every essential worker felt that way, life would have been very difficult.

That’s so accurate.

[rmd2]

I remember as early as 2013 going to Florida Lottery Night at Brownwood and seeing the doo whop band "The Flamingos" who was favorite one and there was 7,000 people. That' right 2013. Here's a one minute video I shot from the grandstand on March 9, 2013. There was no dance floor, it was a solid crowd to the grandstands and all around to the street.

Flamingos Live at the Villages, Florida the Paddock Square 3/9/2013 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1-hq6YuXE)

I remember going in at noon to Brownwood in 2014 to Colonial Days, I don't even know what it was. I actually drove through every parking lot and could not find a parking space, this was 7 years ago, and the only restaurant open was City Fire. So having a big crowd in 2021 I'm not surprised.

https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/154597556_1875325279298662_9208556610868965479_o.j pg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=JTT-QlC1r9IAX-ABK4Z&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&tp=6&oh=f71e0fd54ca78aedb79d51f82962ba0f&oe=605D66E2

The Flamingo's - one of my favorites! Still love doo wop music.

[chuckster]

omg ..."the sky is falling"

[Fuzzy]

To the worker who didn't die... Did you wear PPE when working? Are you Covid-19 negative? Vaccinated? Or running around Town Square maskless? Agree life must go on and we also might want to be responsible in actions. Be grateful you didn't die. Do you know for sure you didn't contribute to the death or illness of someone else?

:a040:

[rmd2]

Unfortunately The trouble with The villages is that they are not the city of New York and they have no idea ahead of plan any event for the crush of people. That's the good and the bad of a place with 100,000 people while trying to get into one store. That's why I've learned not to recommend any restaurants because you'll get 500 people deciding to go to one place that seats 150 and I'll never get in again. I don't go to Spanish springs in the fall because of the stupid car shows and the fact that there's no parking so I can't go to the movies. It's really ridiculous in this place car show after car show after car show. The same thing happens whenever they have events in the squares you have 100,000 people with nothing better to do than to get in their golf cart for a nice evening ride and you see the ridiculous traffic. The crazy thing is you have a wonderful town of all the wood and Leesburg struggling to survive and yet no one is willing to drive an extra 10 minutes to go shopping in these places. The Leesburg Mall had four large department stores 3 years ago they're now down to one. I'd really like to pop this bubble but everyone in the villages is too damn lazy to get in their car instead of their cart

I spent many happy hours shopping at the mall and dining in Leesburg. I go to all the towns around here Ocala, Fruitland Park, Belleview, Inverness, Winter Park, Gainsville, sometimes to the Gulf.

[Jim 9922]

TV is overbuilt it will only get worse. Quaintness which was once TV is gone.
TV quickly becoming an overpopulated city with traffic & congestion and all the other problems.

Was The Villages overbuilt the day after you moved here? Just when did the "quaintness" leave us? When it grew from 14,000 to 20,000, or maybe when Lake Sumter Landing opened and it grew to 50,000, or maybe Brownwood opening and growth to 100,000, or maybe 130,000 and the jump over to Finney??? Maybe its the year you settled here, or what you seek out to participate in, or what areas you frequent.
I for one, having bought, when the population was 14,000 and half of Spanish Springs was a big circus tent find all the changes and expansion exciting and interesting. The expansion brings in new blood feeding the various activities and clubs with fresh ideas and experiences and leaders. And besides, some of the old "super" venues became a bit boring and stale after repeating year after year. Do I like all of the changes? No, but today's Villages is large enough for me to pick and chose almost anything I like and to avoid what I don't. For me, the steady expansion has kept the whole Villages experience 'fresh".

[John_W]

The Flamingo's - one of my favorites! Still love doo wop music.

Believe it or not, the Flamingos didn't come on stage until about 9pm and almost everyone was still there.

[Brynnie]

Exactly. You are so right. You made me laugh tonight

We moved here in 2005 when the population was 30,000. We used to go to the Christmas tree lighting and other events on the squares with our neighbors, and it was a lot of fun. Now we wouldn’t go near the place. The squares have become places to get drunk and obnoxious. The Villages now has that reputation. What a shame. I guess the powers- that- be don’t care, as long as the money rolls in. This place is growing too big, too fast.

[Vernon Hud]

I think The Villages were the ones responsible for the negative talk for the southern area. They went into Finny, and built one sales office, a small restaurant, and then a ton of homes. There were no activities for the people that bought there. Suddenly there was an uproar from most of the residents living north of 44, because these people had no place to go for recreation, shopping or dining. So the developer had to scramble, and called in the food trucks to try to satisfy the dining, Wow, food trucks. Then they decided maybe they should build a couple 9 hole golf courses, whoppee. Well, they have been struggling ever sense trying to get a shopping plaza done. They had a great plan when they built north of 44, and completely went away from it, and it bit them in the rear. Maybe what they should have done, is build all the bridges first, plus some golf cart paths that could get residence around without having to jump in their car every time they wanted to go somewhere. A lot of the people that bought there don't know what really happened there early on, which I think has still caused a lot of negativity for living south of 44. Once the developer gets caught up with some of the amenities, I don't think you will hear all the negativity.

[dboyd29]

This thread reminds me of a whiner line. “Would you like some cheese with your whine?”

[richdell]

We drove around a while and couldn't find a parking spot in Brownwood, so we parked at the Subway in Grand Traverse Plaza and walked over. Pretty easy.

[wdst1]

...and no place to shop or get gas for their cars/carts

[Indydealmaker]

I remember as early as 2013 going to Florida Lottery Night at Brownwood and seeing the doo whop band "The Flamingos" who was favorite one and there was 7,000 people. That' right 2013. Here's a one minute video I shot from the grandstand on March 9, 2013. There was no dance floor, it was a solid crowd to the grandstands and all around to the street.

Flamingos Live at the Villages, Florida the Paddock Square 3/9/2013 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1-hq6YuXE)

I remember going in at noon to Brownwood in 2014 to Colonial Days, I don't even know what it was. I actually drove through every parking lot and could not find a parking space, this was 7 years ago, and the only restaurant open was City Fire. So having a big crowd in 2021 I'm not surprised.

https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/154597556_1875325279298662_9208556610868965479_o.j pg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=JTT-QlC1r9IAX-ABK4Z&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&tp=6&oh=f71e0fd54ca78aedb79d51f82962ba0f&oe=605D66E2

Thanks for the perspective!

[Villages Kahuna]

Everyone wearing masks and keeping socially distant I’ll bet.

[Villages Kahuna]

We moved here in 2005 when the population was 30,000. We used to go to the Christmas tree lighting and other events on the squares with our neighbors, and it was a lot of fun. Now we wouldn’t go near the place. The squares have become places to get drunk and obnoxious. The Villages now has that reputation. What a shame. I guess the powers- that- be don’t care, as long as the money rolls in. This place is growing too big, too fast. We also came to TV in 2005. It was a different place back then. A friendly, small town feel.

It’s much different now. Too little time left to leave and find somewhere else. But we sure wouldn’t move here the way it is now.

[donassaid]

That's what happens when all tge parking spaces are taken up by developments like the the apartments and other commercial businesses.

[Bogie Shooter]

Why would you expect anything different? The overbuilding south of the turnpike, and the people south of 44 only have Brownwood square, 1 grill and food trucks. Y'all have fun down there. It's only going to get worse.

Worse as in how the north is? You do know that it is permissible for us islanders to travel north to the mainland to get to Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs? My Villages passport is valid in the north as well as the south. Why do people not like the south? Did we do something to offend you?

A northerner, I agree with wormburner. I get really tired of folks bashing , south of 44. Why do they do this? Ignorance? Envey? Stupidity? It is just getting old.
BTW are we all not just Villagers?

[Bogie Shooter]

What do you mean? It’s always been like that. I live on Hillsborough just east of BV and it’s almost impossible to get out of my neighborhood during the festival. It’s not getting any better.

Inconvenienced for a day........

[Bogie Shooter]

TV is a great place to live but fall short in so many ways. Brownwood is so much SMALLER than the other town centers and who puts bleacher seating in for the elderly and retirees. Bar stools in their restaurants should all SWIVEL. They pack the stools in so tight you can't get in and out of them. I think the biggest problem is TV has a budget that doesn't allow common sense some times. They need to increase their budgets and cut their profit margin a bit. Now that they are no longer running the eating establishments the owners are responsible for the furniture but it still goes through TV decorators in most cases. Just not enough space at Brownwood for any outdoor events but its still the "happy place".
Really, the Developer telling a business the distance between stools? What a stretch.

[Bogie Shooter]

I think The Villages were the ones responsible for the negative talk for the southern area. They went into Finny, and built one sales office, a small restaurant, and then a ton of homes. There were no activities for the people that bought there. Suddenly there was an uproar from most of the residents living north of 44, because these people had no place to go for recreation, shopping or dining. So the developer had to scramble, and called in the food trucks to try to satisfy the dining, Wow, food trucks. Then they decided maybe they should build a couple 9 hole golf courses, whoppee. Well, they have been struggling ever sense trying to get a shopping plaza done. They had a great plan when they built north of 44, and completely went away from it, and it bit them in the rear. Maybe what they should have done, is build all the bridges first, plus some golf cart paths that could get residence around without having to jump in their car every time they wanted to go somewhere. A lot of the people that bought there don't know what really happened there early on, which I think has still caused a lot of negativity for living south of 44. Once the developer gets caught up with some of the amenities, I don't think you will hear all the negativity.

Do you think the negative talk, like your post, from those that don’t live south of 44 will stop?

[Bilyclub]

You gotta love the guy who doesn't live in TV telling Villagers how to live their lives. I've been to Downtown Leesburg and it's a dump. There's the dirty bar there that falsely claims to have Chicago food.

[Dgizzi]

Well said. It is ridiculous to enjoy. They need to build more squares. More everything. We went and it was wall to wall people and honestly not worth it. Everything is sooo overpriced!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Actually as this place continues to grow might be even more people attending.

I'm thinking maybe you just let the point of that other post slide right on over your head.

[zuidemab]

Wow! I'm sure we all thought we found "our special place" and we bought whatever that was. No matter where we came from I'd imagine we shared that place with others who found it a good place to live as well. The Villages is not / will not be a quiet secret only a few share. It is open for regular folks who plunk down the down payment - like we did. Hello neighbor!

[terrild53]

Whenever there’s a “festival” in any of the squares, it’s a nuthouse, unless it’s during the summer. I agree a little traffic control would benefit everyone.

[Pairadocs]

I forgot that the Strawberry Festival was taking place today at Brownwood when I went for my afternoon treat at Scooples. The huge volume of both car and golf cart traffic exiting the Hillsborough gate heading south should have alerted me that something big was taking place near Brownwood.

The traffic was what I would image takes place in New York City during rush hour. There were so many cars and carts just cruising to find a place to park. It would have been nice if the Wildwood police would have directed traffic at the first intersection as you enter Brownwood from the east.

I found a parking space for my cart. But also found that the line at Scooples was too long for me this afternoon. As the population of the Villages continues to grow, the planners of these types of events need to consider better traffic control measures. Or, maybe just add an extra day to the festivities to let more people in on the fun as the Villages continues to grow in population.

Definitely a good suggestion to make these events multiple day happenings... but not a lot of confidence that would ever happen, just so crowded for the roads, the facilities, the number of automobiles, etc.

[John_W]

That's what happens when all tge parking spaces are taken up by developments like the the apartments and other commercial businesses.

The apartments, you mean The Lofts. They were built on the grass space between the northside parking lot and 44A, where the Brownwood Logo with circle is located on the map. No parking spaces were taken away. I know because I use go to the grassy strip of land and hit golf balls. It was really a muddy mess most of the time with overgrown grass. Plus I go to MVP 3 days a week since 2014 and I use to look out the big windows at the grassy area and wonder was going to be built there.

https://www.mallsinamerica.com/uploads/mallplans/brownwood-paddock-square-plan.jpg

https://cdn2.thevillages.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/image002-768x412.png

[Pairadocs]

Well said. It is ridiculous to enjoy. They need to build more squares. More everything. We went and it was wall to wall people and honestly not worth it. Everything is sooo overpriced!

It's interesting that over the years (and of course prices go up over time but..) that everything went up in price even though the population grew, and grew, and GREW. The reasonable price for movies, the "home town" holiday/Christmas parades shuttled first to the polo fields rather than the "community" feel of going and setting up chairs to watch such parades like people have done in big cities and small. The prices of a simple treat at the "festivals" has gone up much more than the normal cost of living, and the amounts (like for the strawberry festival) have become disappointingly small. Now some will say, so what, things change, but seems a lot has changed very quickly and become very very crowded.... ?

[Pairadocs]

Like a pristine ghetto

Yes, agree completely and not even "pristine" anymore... went to Colony Cottage to pick up AARP taxes. When I came out, I sat on the front porch for a few minutes to check envelope with in it copies...then noticed the mask on the cushion of the chair I almost sat on, and then looked at all the discarded masks in the flower beds, across the grassy area against bushes (from winds I guess ? ... of course residents could be more sanitary about that too, but.... it's a very different place than when we built our home.

[Katieburr]

Running around maskless is not only irresponsible, it is uncaring, disrespectful, and so very ignorant to others who would like to stay alive. Every time you refuse to wear a mask in public, you are putting someone in jeopardy. Masking is easy. If you had any common sense at all you would at least make an effort to do your part to end this nightmare we are all living in.

[tophcfa]

Who would have ever imagined that the uncontrollable allure of the strawberry would cause such a fuss? Just imagine the carnage if they had a Strawberry Daiquiri Festival?

[scottiesrgreat@gmail.com]

Unfortunately The trouble with The villages is that they are not the city of New York .....

Oh, golly —— all I can say is ‘Thank God!’ The exact reason I chose to move here :-)

I pray people aren’t moving here to change how we do things in The Villages to how they do things in NYC..... if so, I hope I am dead by then and my heirs have sold my property. Hahahaha (seriously, tho). I love the hustle and bustle in the squares - if it is too crowded for me - I wait and go back later :-) no need to think that “problems” in The Villages will be solved if we adopt the governing methods of NYC. Hahahahaha...

[gettingby]

soon enough, we'll all be yesterdays news.
I'd prefer to be today's news and in the middle now.
To each their own

We also had to decide what we wanted now and our future. My 91 year old dad and 86 year old mom live near us as well so we’re not living our live like the end is soon enough. I guess it’s a matter of a positive mind. No doom and gloom in this house. We look forward to an exciting retirement and have wonderful neighbors that seem to share the same attitude, as I’m sure you do too. Blessings....

[Neils]

Unfortunately The trouble with The villages is that they are not the city of New York and they have no idea ahead of plan any event for the crush of people. That's the good and the bad of a place with 100,000 people while trying to get into one store. That's why I've learned not to recommend any restaurants because you'll get 500 people deciding to go to one place that seats 150 and I'll never get in again. I don't go to Spanish springs in the fall because of the stupid car shows and the fact that there's no parking so I can't go to the movies. It's really ridiculous in this place car show after car show after car show. The same thing happens whenever they have events in the squares you have 100,000 people with nothing better to do than to get in their golf cart for a nice evening ride and you see the ridiculous traffic. The crazy thing is you have a wonderful town of all the wood and Leesburg struggling to survive and yet no one is willing to drive an extra 10 minutes to go shopping in these places. The Leesburg Mall had four large department stores 3 years ago they're now down to one. I'd really like to pop this bubble but everyone in the villages is too damn lazy to get in their car instead of their cart

You should move into TV. I bet you would like it too

I am so glad that it is nothing like NY.

[DrBrutyle109]

I forgot that the Strawberry Festival was taking place today at Brownwood when I went for my afternoon treat at Scooples. The huge volume of both car and golf cart traffic exiting the Hillsborough gate heading south should have alerted me that something big was taking place near Brownwood.

The traffic was what I would image takes place in New York City during rush hour. There were so many cars and carts just cruising to find a place to park. It would have been nice if the Wildwood police would have directed traffic at the first intersection as you enter Brownwood from the east.

I found a parking space for my cart. But also found that the line at Scooples was too long for me this afternoon. As the population of the Villages continues to grow, the planners of these types of events need to consider better traffic control measures. Or, maybe just add an extra day to the festivities to let more people in on the fun as the Villages continues to grow in population.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! You couldn’t get ice cream one time. What kind of place do we live in.

[Fuzzy]

Happy TV is NOT NY.

[twoplanekid]

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! You couldn’t get ice cream one time. What kind of place do we live in.

Actually, I then went to PDQ for one of their strawberry shakes. :icon_wink: I did not enjoy lines in the military and still have that same dislike of standing in long lines today. However, the point I was trying to make as heard by some was “As the population of the Villages continues to grow, the planners of these types of events need to consider better traffic control measures. Or, maybe just add an extra day to the festivities to let more people in on the fun as the Villages continues to grow in population."

[CCristella]

need to start charging a toll to cross 44 from South to North

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I'm not a fan of all of these special events at all. When I first got here I went to all the parades, festivals and arts and craft shows. After the first couple of visits I felt that they are all too crowded and have nothing that really interests me.

For me, they are an annoyance if I have to go anywhere near or through the square. But it seems that thousands of people enjoy them so I guess that I'm in the minority.

In any event, they are not going to stop so I am working on simply accepting them and trying to not get so annoyed. If I'm going somewhere, I'll take a route that circumvents that particular town square.

"God, grant me the serenity to ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE, courage to the change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

I believe that I've been granted the wisdom to know that I can't change this so I'm trying real hard to just accept it and not allow it to raise my blood pressure.

I also try to feel happy for the people that do enjoy these events.

[Bill Torres]

:bigbow:I remember as early as 2013 going to Florida Lottery Night at Brownwood and seeing the doo whop band "The Flamingos" who was favorite one and there was 7,000 people. That' right 2013. Here's a one minute video I shot from the grandstand on March 9, 2013. There was no dance floor, it was a solid crowd to the grandstands and all around to the street.

Flamingos Live at the Villages, Florida the Paddock Square 3/9/2013 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1-hq6YuXE)

I remember going in at noon to Brownwood in 2014 to Colonial Days, I don't even know what it was. I actually drove through every parking lot and could not find a parking space, this was 7 years ago, and the only restaurant open was City Fire. So having a big crowd in 2021 I'm not surprised.

https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p843x403/154597556_1875325279298662_9208556610868965479_o.j pg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=JTT-QlC1r9IAX-ABK4Z&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&tp=6&oh=f71e0fd54ca78aedb79d51f82962ba0f&oe=605D66E2

[Bogie Shooter]

need to start charging a toll to cross 44 from South to North

Really?

[stebooo]

I curious where do you live?

[Pairadocs]

TV is overbuilt it will only get worse. Quaintness which was once TV is gone.
TV quickly becoming an overpopulated city with traffic & congestion and all the other problems.

I agree completely. I do think many have no idea what it "was like back then", when it actually was the friendliest home town you could dream of. People were MUCH more outgoing. Now you can go to the postal boxes and many (not all of course) will not even make eye contact, let alone stop and chat, introduce themselves, etc. like.... sorry to those nasty people who will reply, "THEN MOVE if you don't like it". That's not the intent of this at all, this is only a comment (and some others do seem to remember back some years when this was such a warm, friendly place and people were respectful, helpful, etc.) that not all people have changed, but many have. Golf-cart traffic, once safe, cautious, and most folks took the instruction for golf etiquette, driving autos and carts in the V's, etc. Now seems like anything goes, get out of my way, and MANY go way over the limit for carts, MANY !

[Pairadocs]

I don’t understand the (smugness,spite,eliteness,envy,hatred)shown by those “down there” we are all here to enjoy a fantastic place to spend our lives. Some look down their nose at the historic side , degrade the real villages as if the below 44 is paradise. The facts are if you are happy where you live and your life , screw the narrow minded elitist who .think they are some how superior because of where they live. Nobody cares if your home is a palace or not it’s only important in your mind ,I live in a very nice CV and do not envy the ones in their 1 million plus homes.

Over the years we've witnessed it all, all that you mentioned ! Those who own $800K and up homes with huge pools, out door kitchens, and (some) will then "trash" talk about the original villages calling it a trashy trailer park, and worse ! Have heard so much of this over time, your remarks needed to be said. What is wrong inside people (or missing inside them ?) that they can't be at peace with the selection of lot, village, and home model they chose, but, feel the need to disparage the selection of others, why, to make them feel "superior", that they made a "better" choice ? People are indeed strange, heard a person once "straighten out" a neighbor who mentioned when he bought his model of Premier home.... yada yada, and the neighbor IMMEDIATELY informed him he did NOT have a "Premier" home, and then began to explain why ! People ??? Fragile egos ? Had to chuckle, what IF, what IF the person living in what some call the "Villages ghetto" (nicer name, "Historic Villages") is actually the multi-millionaire ? What if that person has 4 home, Hawaii, Villages, Mountain lodge, one in Caribbean.... LOL....is actually financially astute, LOL.... some people are indeed strange and draw strange and inaccurate conclusions about others....LOL ! The world is indeed a stage !

[Bogie Shooter]

I curious where do you live?

Who?
Consider using reply with a quote....

[Bogie Shooter]

Over the years we've witnessed it all, all that you mentioned ! Those who own $800K and up homes with huge pools, out door kitchens, and (some) will then "trash" talk about the original villages calling it a trashy trailer park, and worse ! Have heard so much of this over time, your remarks needed to be said. What is wrong inside people (or missing inside them ?) that they can't be at peace with the selection of lot, village, and home model they chose, but, feel the need to disparage the selection of others, why, to make them feel "superior", that they made a "better" choice ? People are indeed strange, heard a person once "straighten out" a neighbor who mentioned when he bought his model of Premier home.... yada yada, and the neighbor IMMEDIATELY informed him he did NOT have a "Premier" home, and then began to explain why ! People ??? Fragile egos ? Had to chuckle, what IF, what IF the person living in what some call the "Villages ghetto" (nicer name, "Historic Villages") is actually the multi-millionaire ? What if that person has 4 home, Hawaii, Villages, Mountain lodge, one in Caribbean.... LOL....is actually financially astute, LOL.... some people are indeed strange and draw strange and inaccurate conclusions about others....LOL ! The world is indeed a stage !

Your examples from my experience, the last 19 years, are few and very far between. To infer what you describe is common in TV does an injustice to the 99 + % of people that don’t ascribe to this behavior.

[Topspinmo]

Actually as this place continues to grow might be even more people attending.


agree there when brown wood will be north central in villages.

[butlerperkins@gmail.com]

2021 0303 Wed 😷 15:04
re: wouldn’t move here the way it is now
Thriving? Vibrant? Socially buzzing? Beautiful? Evolving? Growing? Active? Affordable! This, my “fellow” resident, is all happening during a global pandemic!

Not only would I love here, I did - last year, in September. TV is a blessing.