OOB - Rowdiness? - Maine (ME) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

mtnbiker65 · 07-25-2021, 06:35 AM

I lived in OOB for three years and had a love/hate relationship with the town. During the off season, OOB was a terrific, quiet little town. The locals were terrific people and the town was actually very walkable. The only times that peace and quiet got disturbed in the off season would be on an unusually nice Saturday or Sunday where people would come to cruise the town. Even then, the traffic noise wasn't nearly as bad as it would be if you lived somewhere along Route 1 in that area. I loved knowing when the high and low tides were so I could walk the beach at my leisure. Plus, being close to Portland and Biddeford/Saco all added to the allure of living in OOB. This all was part of the love I had for living in OOB.

The hate relationship I had was with the tourist season. Some of the nastiest jerks I've ever met pretty much came from one state. The traffic was horrendous but I learned which back streets and roads to take to stay away from the traffic. Where I lived right near Old Orchard Street, I would be able to hear and observe the bar crowds getting out. At that time, the town had fireworks twice a week. Where I was a shift worker, I didn't appreciate having the big boomers shake the walls of my apartment when I was on day week.

Because I did live so close to Old Orchard Street, I did see a couple drunken fist fights. I remember this one obese cop practically having a heart attack trying to chase after some young twinkish kid. I could never open my windows in the summer lest I have the traffic noise drown out the tv or would keep me awake on my night weeks.

All in all, I'd move back to OOB if I could afford it. I just would live just on the outskirts away from the cruising areas, though. I would also follow MaineCat's advice and only go out when necessary during the tourist season.

roadrat · 08-02-2021, 02:55 AM

OOB is a violent place, Just yesterday I was attacked from behind in broad day light on a busy beach... The perp was white, and covered in feathers. He got away with a $4.50 slice of pizza.
Guard your fry's, and poutine well, and keep your head on a swivel. The gang known as the GULLS is numerous and not above outright in your face theft.

jeremywolf81 · 09-09-2021, 10:12 PM

Lived in OOB for a few years before moving closer to Portland a few years ago. Thing is OOB can be rowdy, sure, but it's not what you were assuming. It's not teens or 20-somethings. Your rowdy crowd nights at OOB is like your weekend warrior middle aged biker couple types. The younger crowd might enjoy the beach during the day, but at night they're off to places more like the Old Port area of Portland to party. OOB doesn't have a lot that's going to appeal to a younger partying crowd, it's really more geared toward the middle aged to retiree bar set.