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Old 01-04-2010, 06:03 PM
 
30 posts, read 89,936 times
Reputation: 11

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Which beach towns/cities in southern CA might be a good fit for a younger couple looking for a good punk/indie music scene or thriving arts community? We'd love to live in a quasi affordable area (we understand it'll be considerably more than we are now paying). and be near the beach. We live in Chicago currently and are hating the winters. We love SF but even SF is little too chilly for our planned escape and it's not exactly a beach town. We like Santa Cruz pretty well and have heard Long Beach is up and coming. Any advice on these places or suggestions for others? Please help!
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Old 01-04-2010, 06:31 PM
 
Location: South Bay
7,226 posts, read 22,105,135 times
Reputation: 3626
long beach, venice, santa monica, santa barbara, laguna beach, ocean beach ....
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Old 01-04-2010, 07:09 PM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
26,338 posts, read 93,446,398 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slothers View Post
we understand it'll be considerably more than we are now paying
Out of curiosity, what is your target budget?
What about jobs?
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Old 01-04-2010, 07:22 PM
 
2,964 posts, read 5,428,570 times
Reputation: 3867
Venice you'd love, Long Beach you could afford. What are you paying now, or what's your anticipated budget? I expect your being a younger couple that you could tolerate more compromises than a family with a young child and school requirements. With searching you might find something at a good price in San Pedro, but you shouldn't expect Chuck Bukowski's Pedro either, of bookstores and dives. I think that's mostly been sanitized and whatever grit that remains is just the conventional grit of living lower class.

As far as the scene, I'm past it by a few years but the Pike and Alex's in LB are old standbys. I have tinnitus--guess what from?--so it just gets too loud for me . The scene won't be as active as Chicago, but it's a solid though mellower one. If you want action, you're close to L.A.
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Old 01-04-2010, 07:25 PM
 
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
14,129 posts, read 31,128,110 times
Reputation: 6920
I wouldn't recommend Orange County. Stick to L.A. County.
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Old 01-04-2010, 08:53 PM
 
30 posts, read 89,936 times
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We currently own a record shop here in Chicago and would possibly want to open another location. That being said, we currently pay 1300 for rent on a pretty big apt.. We know we'd have to pay more there, but wouldn't want to go too much past $1500 for a 1-2 bed place. We like to feel safe in an area, but prefer a little grit and diversity so nothing too sterile. If you've been to Chicago, we're just south of Wicker Park.
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Old 01-04-2010, 08:56 PM
 
30 posts, read 89,936 times
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Does anyone have any thoughts on San Deigo? Is it all just golf courses and military? Is there much of a music/art scene there? Looks nice and green. Hardly any green space in Chicago. Thanks for the help you guys!
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Old 01-04-2010, 10:36 PM
 
Location: RSM
5,113 posts, read 19,690,964 times
Reputation: 1927
1300-1500 for a 2bd works in Long Beach
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Old 01-04-2010, 11:16 PM
 
30 posts, read 89,936 times
Reputation: 11
How are the beaches in LBeach? Surfable/swimable? Any part of town considered an arts district?
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Old 01-05-2010, 12:26 AM
 
Location: Pasadena
7,411 posts, read 10,325,021 times
Reputation: 1802
Santa Monica\ Redondo Beach\ Ventura\ Santa Barbara
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