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Its funny, when I'm in LA, which is fairly often- at least six times a year and I lived there for a couple- I really don't think of it as really being on the coast. I mean, from downtown or even Hollywood to Malibu is this circuitous drive on Sunset that takes at least 20 to 30 minutes (with no traffic) and then you feel like you've completely left the city. Santa Monica and down to Venice, Hermosa, Redondo etc... definitely feel like beach cities (or towns) but they feel distinctly separate from LA proper.
Folks not from LA think of it as being a real beachy or coastal city but living in one I don't really see it as such- but I do love LA!
I think many imagine something that looks more like San Diego. San Diego is definitely a coastal city, with a culture that is thoroughly infused with the city's relationship to the water. Los Angeles, not so much. It is a fascinating, amazing place, but for other reasons.
So despite Venice, Marina Del Rey, Pacific Palisades, a major international airport almost literally on the beach, and one of the largest port complexes in the entire world ALL within city limits, L.A. is not a "beach city"?
Well I'll be, I learn something new on city-data every day.
So despite Venice, Marina Del Rey, Pacific Palisades, a major international airport almost literally on the beach, and one of the largest port complexes in the entire world ALL within city limits, L.A. is not a "beach city"?
Well I'll be, I learn something new on city-data every day.
That's what I was thinking. I'm not from LA, but I figure by the images and Google-street views, LA seems like a "beachy" place, even miles from the coast.
^I use to think LA was a beach type of city because of Google-Street View as well, I think that plays a major part to why so many people on the East (specifically NYC) don't think its as urban as it really is.
That's what I was thinking. I'm not from LA, but I figure by the images and Google-street views, LA seems like a "beachy" place, even miles from the coast.
It's a very beachy place. The beach infuses a lot of aspects of L.A. (including pop culture -- i.e. Baywatch, 90210, and the like).
That's why it is very strange for me to see that people don't consider L.A. to be a "coastal city".
So despite Venice, Marina Del Rey, Pacific Palisades, a major international airport almost literally on the beach, and one of the largest port complexes in the entire world ALL within city limits, L.A. is not a "beach city"?
Well I'll be, I learn something new on city-data every day.
That's why I said "not so much," as in it's not entirely defined by relationship to the coast in the way that San Diego is. The vast majority of Angelenos do not live in beach communities. And the vast majority of beach communities do not fall within the city limits. Are there great beaches in and around L.A.? Absolutely. Is L.A. a one dimensional place that vanishes from reality, culture, and creative imagination if the beach isn't there? Not at all.
What use did Chandler have for the beach? How many movies are shot there? Where are the centers of power? The beach is just one of many delightful elements of Los Angeles. If you live there, and don't know this, then you are missing a whole lot of what L.A. has to offer.
That's why I said "not so much," as in it's not entirely defined by relationship to the coast in the way that San Diego is. The vast majority of Angelenos do not live in beach communities. And the vast majority of beach communities do not fall within the city limits. Are there great beaches in and around L.A.? Absolutely. Is L.A. a one dimensional place that vanishes from reality, culture, and creative imagination if the beach isn't there? Not at all.
What use did Chandler have for the beach? How many movies are shot there? Where are the centers of power? The beach is just one of many delightful elements of Los Angeles. If you live there, and don't know this, then you are missing a whole lot of what L.A. has to offer.
That's what I was trying to convey- it's actually better (or I should say L.A. is better) that it is not "just" a beachy city. There is so much more to L.A. that doesn't rely at all on the beach/coast culture.
We were just up there to see Trey Anastasio perform at the Disney Hall with the L.A. Philharmonic (freaking awesome show! and we actually ran into Trey, alone! at a bar later and chatted him up! Wow!!!!) anyhoo -we took the train up from San Diego passing by all of its beautiful beaches up to downtown L.A., went to the Chinese and Japanese American museums and puttered around Olvera St., lunch at a wicked crowded (with Asians- always a good sign!) Ramen place in Little Tokyo and took Angels Flight (the best 25¢ deal in the city) walking up to our hotel by the Library. Saw the performance, ran into the stars from "Rules of Engagement" later at another bar and chatted up "Puddy" haha- had a little more sightseeing the next day and took the train back to much sleepier and beachier San Diego with puffy clouds and the smell of the Pacific Ocean and bay right at Santa Fe Depot downtown.
In L.A. there was no reference at all to a beach or the coast and the city held its own in a dense and cultural vibe.
That's a fantastic day trip, I'm envious -- it's been too long since I've been in L.A. So much of what I love about that city has nothing to do with the beach.
That's what I was trying to convey- it's actually better (or I should say L.A. is better) that it is not "just" a beachy city. There is so much more to L.A. that doesn't rely at all on the beach/coast culture.
We were just up there to see Trey Anastasio perform at the Disney Hall with the L.A. Philharmonic (freaking awesome show! and we actually ran into Trey, alone! at a bar later and chatted him up! Wow!!!!) anyhoo -we took the train up from San Diego passing by all of its beautiful beaches up to downtown L.A., went to the Chinese and Japanese American museums and puttered around Olvera St., lunch at a wicked crowded (with Asians- always a good sign!) Ramen place in Little Tokyo and took Angels Flight (the best 25¢ deal in the city) walking up to our hotel by the Library. Saw the performance, ran into the stars from "Rules of Engagement" later at another bar and chatted up "Puddy" haha- had a little more sightseeing the next day and took the train back to much sleepier and beachier San Diego with puffy clouds and the smell of the Pacific Ocean and bay right at Santa Fe Depot downtown.
In L.A. there was no reference at all to a beach or the coast and the city held its own in a dense and cultural vibe.
Teh next time you come down Angels' Flight, walk across the street and check out the bar "La Cita". If LA has a center, I'm pretty sure its in their back patio.
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