As of next month I'll be a Californian (LA). What should I expect???

[ALago1]

Ok so here's the deal. I've lived in New Jersey for all 23 years of my life, but I am soon to be a resident of Los Angeles, CA. I've gotten some freelance video production work lined up for me as well as a bunch of friends and some family involved in similar industries.

I've never been to California before and have no concept of what LA is like. I am moving pretty much on blind faith based on the recommendation of my friends out there because I am unhappy with my current job (which is unrelated to what I'll be doing out there) and because I will have the opportunity to do what I truly like out there.

I'm looking forward to the weather, but other than that don't know of much to expect. Any tips, ideas, places I should check out, forewarnings I should take into consideration? I'm so excited but would like to hear as much as possible from people who have experience with the area.

Thanks so much for the input!!

[GOPisEvil]

1. You get nothing but my jealousy!

Are you hiring? ;) I have exactly zero experience, but I love SoCal and want to relocate myself.

Seriously though, I'm no expert, but I'm sure you'll love it.

[ALago1]

7. Hehe if you don't mind working for free, you're hired!!

Thanks for the encouragement!!

[GOPisEvil]

26. Well, if I secure other employment, I'll let you know.

:D

[Taverner]

2. LA hmmmmmm

Expect traffic, earthquakes, smog, bad city planning and lots of driving...

However, also expect some of the nice little secrets like Santa Monica, Venice, Claremont and Diamond Bar....expect strange croppings of friendliness (it's true!) and some of the most beautiful men and women you've ever seen.

Also, expect liberals, and expect them to take it for granted....

[ALago1]

8. Yeah I've heard about the whacked out driving situation

Hey a plethora of liberals sounds like a good thing to me!!

[Initech]

12. It's beyond whacked out

Trust me, a few hours on I-110 and you'll immediately see why people get road rage! :evilgrin:

[huskerlaw]

31. The driving could not possibly be more

whacked than it is in New Jersey. I'm from Nebraska, moved here 3 months ago...no problems. ;)

[Arugula Latte]

3. Olives!! They grow olives in California ...

Okay, nevermind about olives ...

I grew up in Northern California and LA was a bit sprawling for me, but in California in general you've gotta love the ocean, the access to the desert and mountains, the diversity, the food, the weather. Plus, there are so many things to DO, so much going on, so much excitement. The freeway thing would stress me out, but, maybe you can find a way around that. Good luck!

[maveric]

4. Come live in San Diego. You'll like it better than LA.

Sure we have smog, crime and traffic like LA but on a much smaller scale.
Plus we have the better beaches.

[begin_within]

24. But bring money... average home price in San Diego currently $602,000.

[Zomby Woof]

43. I love San Diego

But it's too goddamned conservative. Give me L.A.'s liberals anyday! San Diego could never elect a mayor like Villagairosa, the most left-wing mayor in America.

I love my birthplace, but they can keep their freepers.

[Brewman_Jax]

5. Depends on where you are

the L.A. metro is huge (not hugh! :D), but be ready to drive--a lot.

BTW, I lived in Huntington Beach, drove to San Diego some weekends, been up to Venice, Pasadena, and down to Laguna Beach and San Juan Capistrano, across to Manhattan Beach, inward to Long Beach and San Pedro, east to San Dimas and onward to Palm Springs and Palm Desert. Drove Sunset Blvd. from Pacific Coast Hwy to Hollywood. You've have plenty to do and see.

You'll have to give up 4 seasons. If you don't mind that, you'll have a blast!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. WELCOME TO LOS ANGELES, my dear ALago1.......n/t

[ALago1]

15. Thank you!!!!

n/t

[kwassa]

9. It all happens on the west side of LA

Most of what is interesting and happening in LA is in a relatively small part of it, from downtown west to the ocean in Santa Monica. These areas include Hollywood, which is really a bit of dump, Beverly Hills, West LA, Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Malibu, and Culver City. Your friends out there will key you in.

(and remember, to become a true Californian you can't trust any land that doesn't move, any trees that don't burn, and any air that you can't see.)

And nobody from California calls it "Cali".

LA is a very fun town, but the cost of living is high. The freeways are not worse than hear in the DC area, and the city is a grid so it easy to find your way around. Lots of incredibly good and cheap ethnic restaurants. The beaches are close and accessible. Much of the population is highly transient, you may find it hard to make friends because of that, you will find showbiz full of transparent narcissists with very large egos, mostly.

[Shakespeare]

13. Parts of Hollywood are coming back, and I was a WeHo girl...

...and loved every second of it. West Hollywood is between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and is pretty nice (and a little funky).

I HIGHLY recommend WeHo for a place to live; the weather is ideal (stays a tad cooler than the rest of the city, 'cause we partway up the hills), location can't be beat, and--believe it or not--there are some very cool apartments to be had that you can actually afford. And the people are lovely; it's a big mix of gay men and elderly Russian/jewish immigrants. It's one of the most interesting neighborhoods I've ever lived in.

A good secret about LA: the bus system is pretty darn good. I even used the subway at times (and tried very hard not to think about earthquakes while I aws on it).

Yay for you!!!

[ALago1]

14. Awesome info. Thanks.

I'll definitely check out West Hollywood. I have a temporary place to stay once I get out there but will be looking for my own shortly after.

And there actually is a subway system?? I didn't think there was one. Just though there were buses and cars!

[huskerlaw]

33. WeHo

is nice, but if you're single and straight, it's not really a good place to meet a date...think of it as LA's answer to Chelsea.

There is actually a subway system. I use it every day. If you're working downtown and want to live in the valley, I highly recommend it. 45 minutes, door-to-door, you can read and listen to music instead of screaming at the bumper in front of you.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I just moved here, so I've recently gone through selecting a part of town, adjusting to live in CA, etc. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

By the way, the current temperature is 83 degrees and there's not a cloud in the sky.

Welcome to Los Angeles!

[Taverner]

19. WeHo is pretty cool

Kind of like a post-apocalyptic bohemian enclave.....love it!

[ronnykmarshall]

64. WeHo here.

I love LA. I lived 15 years in SF and love it as well. Yeah the traffic sucks, but we have great places to eat. Concerts. Museums. The beach. Plus you never know when you might run into a celb.

You'll have to join us when we have our next LA DU hook up.

[driver8]

57. There is a lot happening all over Los Angeles

You are right, there is a lot happening on the west side but there is great stuff happening all over Los Angeles. Museums, restaurants, clubs, movies...you can find almost anything you want to do.

I have lived in Southern California for fourteen years and love it here. I have met some great people, too. Some people get the "LA Attitude", but for the most part the people are pretty cool out here.

Keep us posted!

[tishaLA]

82. I never go to the west side

xcept to go to campus or to the beach. I prefer Hollywood, Loz Feliz, Silverlake, etc. to SM, Westwood, and West LA. More diverse and interesting on this side of town.

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. A very schizoid ball club

Still, I'd give a minor organ to live in proximity to Dodger Stadium, or even just to be able to get their games on teevee and radio. :grr:

You'll also have to learn the bizarre custom of saying "the" before freeway numbers. :shrug:

[NV Whino]

11. Expect to burn out within 3 years

and move to Northern California (NoCal) where the real Californians live.

;)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

25. Now just a darned minute here!

That was entirely uncalled for!

Hmmmph.....some people!

We folks in SoCal are too REAL people!


:rofl: :hide: :kick:

[NV Whino]

29. There are some exceptions, of course...

(I was wondering how long it would take you to see that.) :P

[ronnykmarshall]

65. Thank you Peggy.

I was waiting for the Northern Cal 'tude to rears its ugly head.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

67. My dear ronny!

Nah, NV Whino is an old friend of mine.....I think she was just trying to get my goat!

She's waaaay cool!

Good to see you today!

:loveya: :hug:

[XemaSab]

45. It's true

So when are you moving up here????

:D

[NV Whino]

60. I'm already here.

:)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

69. Xema!

Scuse me while I threadjack!

NICE AVATAR, DARLING!

:yourock:

[XemaSab]

84. ROFL!!!!

Thanks!!!!! :D

[joefree1]

51. Only the unimaginative burn out in the City of Angels

I'm a fourth generation Northern Californian and I'm here to stay in Los Angeles. So far I've been here 25 years. Except for San Francisco Northern California is too boring (but pretty). San Francisco is too cold and too expensive.

Los Angeles is a surreal blend of fashion, culture, and history that changes every couple of miles. Visit the Venice boardwalk in the first couple of weeks you're there. Give yourself six months or more to make real friends. Avoid the wackos and pretentious (unless you're humored by them like me). Grab an LA Weekly to see what's happening. It's a very zesty mix here.

And the protest rallies are great street theater. See my web site for images of the many anti Bush protest we've had here since 2000.
http://www.ediablo.com

You'll know you're a local when you fume at slow traffic because they're shooting a movie.

[NV Whino]

61. Count me unimaginative.

LOL I thought I was getting away from the movie-making traffic jams when I moved north. Not. At least they're not shooting Falcon Crest any more. That used to be an annual event.

[ronnykmarshall]

68. You rock Joe!!

I can always rely on you and Peggy to defend LA.

[ronnykmarshall]

66. Hmmmmm let's

I have born in California. Lived in SF for 15 years. Now live in LA. So I think I'm a REAL Californian.

Kidding or not, the Northern Cal looking down on Southern Californians really sucks.

[NV Whino]

74. Hey, I been south, I been north

Gimme north anytime.

[cally]

16. Expect to drive too much

I lived in Long Beach. I was surprised how long many had lived in the neighborhood. It was like any other suburb except it sat within a huge metropolis that had wonderful things to do. There are way too many fast food restaurants, chain stores, and strip malls. If I didn't have small kids at the time, I would live in a more interesting neighborhood. I would search out a neighborhood that had more places to walk to. In general, the closer to the coast you are the less smog you have.

[Syncronaut Seven]

17. You will find your niche in LA

Don't miss the leather shop at the east end of Santa Monica Blvd!

Way good food everywhere. I love LA, It's just too big and expensive for me these days.

Unlike New Jersey, People in LA will openly admit they're phonies. I think you'll find it a refreshing change. ;)

[SteppingRazor]

18. I grew up in L.A...

So, of course, I hate it. No one likes their hometown.

[bettyellen]

20. The Pacific Ocean is friggin COLD!!! all that beach is pretty but it bums

out that they are fairly unswimmable compared to east coast beaches which warm up in the summer. :shrug:
You'll have to take a drive up US 1 of course to see the coast, the redwoods. It's pretty amazing.
I know I'm going to get flamed, but I never met so many stupid shallow people in one place, than i did in LA. I'm sure there are smart people there though, and you'll find them. :)

[catzies]

22. One small correction - it's not US1 (I-95 on the East Coast) It's CA-1

Pacific Coast Highway is CA Highway 1.

And "The 101" is US 101.

:)

[bettyellen]

23. tks! but you agree the water is FRIGID!! and no one tells you that...

until you get there and you go and see that no ones in the water! LOL. i tried a few times, my feet turned blue i swear!
can you believe i forgot to mention Big Sur? Doh.
US1 is I-95? LOL. Oh heck, he's in NJ, he already knows US1 then! Tks for the correction.

[catzies]

30. This native Floridian WILL NOT GO in the Pacific Ocean. BRRRRRRR

BRRRRRRRR!

It's abso-frickin-lutely freezing. Year round, if you ask me.

I'm a native Floridian, I've been in California for over 25 years, and I haven't even put my TOES in the water here since 1991! And that was in San Diego!

I'm shivering just thinking about it.

[catzies]

21. Do you like your car? You'll spend a lot of time in it

Do you know yet how far away you'll be living from where you work?

Will you be making a reconnaisance visit before you actually move? You might want to do that if you can.

LA is a very big, very spread out place. You will hate our traffic.

Everything here usually costs a lot more than it would anywhere else. Real estate, gas, food, you name it.

[Shine]

27. smog and waaay too much traffic.

you have my sympathy. ;)

I'm biased towards the northern half of the state.
:hi:
Good luck with the move!

[XemaSab]

46. I'm biased towards the northern half too

You should come visit it sometime!

:D

[Shine]

55. You're right, I should!

:hi:
where you at, girlfriend??

[XemaSab]

56. Redding

:P

[Shine]

73. Nice.

yeah, you're waaay up there.
:hi:

[LibDemAlways]

28. I've lived in the LA area for 44 years, so

believe me when I tell you it's crowded, very crowded, and traffic can be horrendous. You will absolutely need a car -and be prepared to spend big money on insurance. Rents are high, too. Not Manhattan high, but high.

Everything else depends on the neighborhood. Close to the beach is always good. The "Valley" sucks - a furnace in the summer - and unless you are on the fringes up in the hills, it's just plain butt ugly. But an apartment on the valley floor will be cheaper than anything in West LA or the beach cities.

If you already have friends here, great. LA is not the friendliest place. People don't necessarily get to know their neighbors, but they are more likely to meet people at the gym, the local watering holes, and at work.

People out here are image conscious and will size someone up based on appearance, clothes, and type of car - unfortunate facet of LA living - particularly if you come into routine contact with the entertainment biz as you will working in video production. If LA came up with a motto it would probably be "Thin is good. Thinner is better."

Things to check out: Trader Joes Market (assume they haven't made it to NJ yet), the view of the ocean from the cliffs at Palos Verdes, and the Hickory Burger at the Apple Pan in West LA on Pico - an LA institution.

Welcome and good luck!

[ALago1]

36. Thanks for the input!!

So is there really a good deal of truth behind the stereotype of LA-dwellers as plastic, superficial jerks? I mean, people always classify New York/New Jersey people as rude, uptight, and neurotic, but you know I've never seen pervading evidence of that. Maybe I'm just not looking for it though...

And is everyone there a wannabe something. Particularly wannabe actor/filmmaker/etc.?

Thanks again!

[LibDemAlways]

40. I have a bunch of relatives in New Jersey.

When they come out here they always have the same comment: "It seems like everyone in LA is on vacation." Very casual lifestyle. My husband goes to work in Hawaiian shirts and jeans and he works as an engineer for a big corporation.

Lots of wannabes here. There are kids in my daughter's suburban middle school who take off in the middle of the day to go on auditions - so there's no age limit to be a "wannabe." And, yep, superficial jerks are everywhere. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day once famously said of LA, that if Brittany Spears painted her rear end blue, there would be blue rear ends all over the city.

Don't mean to create too negative of a picture, though. The weather is great and the smog isn't usually too bad. People are pretty laid back and you'll rarely hear anyone honk a car horn - even in the worst gridlock. Also, there's pretty much of a "live and let live" attitude. Not many wingnut types either - if you stick close to the city. The suburbs are a different story.

Would be interested in hearing your impressions after you arrive and have a chance to soak it in.

Again, welcome.

[XemaSab]

47. Some people are plastic, superficial jerks

But there are also a lot of laid back eco-groovy hippie types too...

It's a very big city with a LOT of people, and there are all kinds down there.

[joefree1]

52. Yeah, like me groovy friends and I

Seriously. We got all types from all over the world. You'll be hard pressed to meet a native born.

[driver8]

58. Trader Joe's and the Apple Pan rock!! Also go for pizza at

The Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock is an up and coming neighborhood. Parts of it is still a little rough, but a lot of young couples and families are starting to move there. Also check out Los Feliz and Silver Lake.

[ronnykmarshall]

70. and Pinks Hot Dog on La Brea!

[babylonsister]

32. You might miss seasons.

Or not. I imagine you don't really enjoy shoveling snow. :)

[ALago1]

37. No way I'll miss winter

I suffer a bit from S.A.D. in the winter so perpetual sunshine sounds like heaven to me right now. I get very lethargic and run down in the cold, not to mention a bit depressed now and then.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

34. Endless sunshine and the death of hope.

It's the strange paradox of this place.

[ALago1]

38. "The Death of Hope" lol

I don't know why, but the phrase struck me as funny. Thanks!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

39. No problem.

Personally, I'm sick of this place, but if you like not having seasons or legitimate mass transit, then you might like it. I'm moving to NYC soon, and I can't say I'll miss this place, but to each his own, I guess. I hope it works out for you.

[swag]

35. "Heavy drugs and big jugs."

[taught_me_patience]

41. Hell yeah its going to be awesome!!!!

I moved here 2.5 years ago and love everything...

facts:
Traffic is not nearly as bad as people say (not half as bad as traffic in Hawaii)
Smog isn't that bad (especially if you live on the westside)
L.A. is huge... you must buy a car
Rent is pricey expect to pay 800-1k for a 1bd apt (mar vista/culver city)
Westside rules
Hollywood is happening for nightlife
L.A is very liberal and diverse
Best.Food.Ever (pretty cheap too)
people are not as pretentious as they are made out to be. Most are working professionals.
Buy yourself a pair of really nice jeans (Seven, Diesel, Blue Cult, etc.) you wont regret it
Girls can be a little stand-offish at times (this happens everywhere, though)
Great weather
Concerts galore
Great outdoor activities (hiking, skiing, climbing, surfing)
There is something for everybody here in L.A.!!!

If you have any specific questions, let me know... I'm 27, and know a lot of the hot spots.

taught.

[Zomby Woof]

42. An advanced Welcome to L.A.!

Some of our best DUers live here! :evilgrin:

It is like nothing else you have ever experienced, in both fantastic ways and other ways... You get out of it what you put in to it.

I have no problem with the commute. I live 12 miles from my office and it takes me 20 minutes to get there. It just depends on location, location, location. B-)

We DO get winter here, for a few minutes each year. :D

[XemaSab]

49. Winter was last week, no?

You got the 2.5 inches of rain for the year in one afternoon?

[ALago1]

63. Thanks for the welcome Zomby!!

Looking forward to my cross country trip in a few weeks!!

[Zomby Woof]

71. My burger recommendation

Tommy's!

The ORIGINAL Tommy's, not the countless imitators.


(In-N-Out is good, but Tommy's is a treat - that is, if you like burgers at all, and especially chili!) :D

[bertha katzenengel]

44. Prepare to slow down. Also: best burgers: In-N-Out. Don't miss it

on your first day there!

[Redstone]

48. Oh, yes. Good burgers, they are. And he should go to Carl's Jr.

as well. And Naugles, or it might be Nagules, the regional Mexican fast-food chain. Excellent breakfast burritos there.

Redstone

[driver8]

59. In n Out will become one of your favorites -- I guarantee. Redstone,

what do you like about Carl's Jr.? I think that their food is awful.

[Zomby Woof]

72. I boycott them

Carl's Jr. supports anti-choice, pro-censorship causes. They are viruently Republican.

[bertha katzenengel]

75. I try, but I have to confess, they have darn good burgers.

:shrug:

[bertha katzenengel]

76. Naugles is no more. They were folded into Del Taco, whose

breakfast burritos are just as good.

:hi: Redstone :D

[driver8]

78. Surprisingly, the Double Del burger at Del Taco is pretty good, too. n/t

[mwdem]

50. Mmmmmm.In-N-Out!

Was there 2 years ago, my first stop right outside LAX was In-N-Out. You can't beat their double-double with cheese.:9

[sleipnir]

53. Public executions. I hope you enjoy them!

Have a good time, just don't break the law or you'll be next....

[sakabatou]

54. Depends on which part of LA you'll be in

[pinniped]

62. Leave at least two hours prior to any engagement.

LA loves its traffic.

Carpool lanes require at least 90MPH at times.

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

77. Be prepared to gloat about the weather.....

As a native New Yorker who has lived in L.A. for 15 years, this is the best time of year to be in L.A.

[Popol Vuh]

79. L.A. life long resident....

As has been mentioned, try and stay more to the west-side of L.A. But also consider the "South-Bay" areas which would be the cities of Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, San Pedro (my home town), Long Beach, Lomita, Wilmington & Carson (but I wouldn't consider those last two).

Hollywood.....I love hollywood for the music scene. Lots of historic music houses (even though many have name changed) that still offer a wide array of local and touring bands to watch. When in hollywood, you have to stop by and shop Amoeba Music. A huge selection of CD's and DVD's and a great place to find CD's or DVD's that you can't find anywhere else.

Earthquakes? Bah!!! I am 39 years old, lived in So-Cal my whole life. I've been through big quakes and many little ones. Although they ain't something to take lightly, however, they're not as bad as some people make them out to be. I'd much rather live here any day with the seismic activity we have than to live in tornado ally or the hurricane coast or the flood plane of the Mississippi. I'd say that you have about as much of a chance of getting hurt in an earth quake here in Los Angeles then you do by an avalanche in Colorado.

Hockey fan? Well, you'll find very quickly that here in Los Angeles there's not as much of a hockey fan base as there is along the east cost. Basketball probably has the biggest fan base here.

In my opinion the best thing that Los Angeles has to offer, is both the cultural diversity and that it's situated geographically so that it only takes from a half hour to just a few hours of driving and you can either be snow skiing in Big Bear City, or surfing, scuba diving or sun bathing on the many beaches, or off roading and whatever in the desert, or gambling in Las Vegas, or renting a beach condo and kicking back in Rosarito or Ensenada Mexico. There's just so much diversity of things for you do within just a couple of hours driving.



P.S. You'll see Barbara Boxer on your U.S. Senate ballot. :)

[Greyhound]

80. You just can't prepare for it. Coming from NJ to the Southland is

truly a paradigm-shift. You will find it eerily familiar (probably from films/TV) and entirely alien. The best place to live is also completely subjective, depending on what type of thing you enjoy.
The west side (say north of Venice) is the stereotype from LA Story.
I lived 1 1/2 blocks from the beach in the south bay (I would avoid Long Beach from belmont heights west), 3 blocks from the beach in Hermosa, but found I liked LA best when I was in the Hollywood Hills.
In addition to your interests/tastes it will mostly depend on your income and work location.
Try like hell to avoid having a long commute, it sucks so much of your life away you will regret it.

[Popol Vuh]

81. "Try like hell......"

"....... to avoid having a long commute, it sucks so much of your life away you will regret it."

ALago1, I cannot emphasize enough of how correct that statement by greyhound1966 is. I myself am very fortunate; I live in San Pedro/Palos Verdes and it only takes me less than ten minutes to get to work.

Hopefully you'll be able to find a good job within close proximity of a nice area to live in.

[leftofthedial]

83. the worst governator in Murka