This last weekend changed my opinion of LA!

[Fleet]

Since the weather today is very similar to last Friday's weather (when I took that first photo I posted), I took a few more pics from my bicycle.

Hot, about 93 degrees, 20% humidity, and no or slight wind (0-3.8 mph). There are mountains and/or hills visible in all directions.

A shot of a portion of the San Gabriel mountains as seen from my neighborhood:


A view of the San Fernando pass with the Santa Susana mountains on the left and the San Gabriels on the right:


Two pics showing the Santa Monica mountains:




Another shot of the San Gabriels:


And the Simi Hills off to the northwest:

[impala666]

Originally Posted by ashguy77

I had my doubts about LA after moving here 7 months back (from Dallas) as I had option to move to Bay area.
Last weekend I had my cousins over and we took them to:

LAX Pickup > Long Beach > Ate in Belmont Shore > Huntington Dog Beach where we all went waist deep in water with pants and unleashed our Doggy > Newport Coast drive > Laguna > Drive back on 405/605 to Pasadena

Next day we drove South Pasadena > Malibu through Calabasas > Ate seaside > Venice walked the Boardwalk > Rodeo Drive window shopping > Came back to Pasadena and dressed for dinner in Old Pasadena Downtown

I have to say my cousins were from Seattle and they were seriously impressed with what they saw/enjoyed over the 2 days and I have a new found appreciation that I drove them 220 miles through this city without really seeing a bad part of it

They want to come back soon to be able to bike/swim/kayak and checkout the stuff they did not this time. I know next time I can take them to Griffith Park, Getty, Manhattan Beach, Huntington Library etc. so really there is soooo much to do in this city. Plus there is San Diego and Las Vegas in short drive distance. Awesome place. I think it does not get the credit it deserves. Most underrated city according to me now!

OK so you did it all.
What you going to do for the rest of your life?

[californio sur]

Originally Posted by Fleet

Since the weather today is very similar to last Friday's weather (when I took that first photo I posted), I took a few more pics from my bicycle.

Hot, about 93 degrees, 20% humidity, and no or slight wind (0-3.8 mph). There are mountains and/or hills visible in all directions.

A shot of a portion of the San Gabriel mountains as seen from my neighborhood:


A view of the San Fernando pass with the Santa Susana mountains on the left and the San Gabriels on the right:


Two pics showing the Santa Monica mountains:




Another shot of the San Gabriels:


And the Simi Hills off to the northwest:

Nice photos Fleet. You live in one of the hottest parts of metro LA. When the temperature climbs above 90F it breaks the inversion layer and disperses the smog. This week will be very hot I'm afraid. It's what we can't see that is deadly however. Just because their is no smoke/ haze doesn't mean the air quality is good.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by californio sur

Nice photos Fleet. You live in one of the hottest parts of metro LA. When the temperature climbs above 90F it breaks the inversion layer and disperses the smog. This week will be very hot I'm afraid. It's what we can't see that is deadly however. Just because their is no smoke/ haze doesn't mean the air quality is good.

Glad you like the photos. Yes, it does get quite hot here. Chatsworth and Woodland Hills is a little warmer.

The air quality out here is usually pretty good. I save the weather section in the newspaper during the summer months.

The July 21 weather section has the following air quality data (rated "good," "moderate," "unhealthful for sensitive persons," and "unhealthful for all.")
The actual temperature for Northridge the day before (July 20th) was only 85 degrees, with a forecast maximum of 89 for the 21st.

Air quality forecast:
Chatsworth----------- good
Burbank-------------- good
Santa Clarita--------- moderate
Simi Valley----------- moderate
Woodland Hills------- good

Better air quality than:
Palm Springs--------- unhealthful for sensitive people
San Bernardino------- unhealthful for sensitive people
Los Angeles (downtown)- moderate

As mentioned before, the air quality is MUCH better than it used to be about 30 years ago.

[ashguy77]

Originally Posted by impala666

OK so you did it all.
What you going to do for the rest of your life?

Go to Manhattan Beach for some Volleyball and Beer
Run/Bike the Strand
Go to Universal Studios Park
Watch a Lakers game
Checkout the Huntington Library
Checkout the Watts Towers
Shop at the Grove
Party at the Boulevard3 in Hollywood
Find out what good places to eat are on Ventura Blvd?
Spend a weekend in Santa Barbara
...

Hope I get time for all this!

[Domsey]

Originally Posted by ashguy77

we all went waist deep in water with pants and unleashed our Doggy

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by ashguy77

Go to Manhattan Beach for some Volleyball and Beer
Run/Bike the Strand
Go to Universal Studios Park
Watch a Lakers game
Checkout the Huntington Library
Checkout the Watts Towers
Shop at the Grove
Party at the Boulevard3 in Hollywood
Find out what good places to eat are on Ventura Blvd?
Spend a weekend in Santa Barbara
...

Hope I get time for all this!

You probably won't. I have a way bigger list. Should you move you'll settle into life with its fun...and frustrations. But there's stuff out there so it's not all bad, just not all great and that's just big city living. Depending on where you might live in some cases, though, lemme add a couple of items to your list: Go to the Bicycle Kitchen and check out what they do; become a Friend of the Los Angeles River; picnic at the Hollywood Bowl; hit the L.A. Art Walk; hike Runyon Canyon then grab a cocktail at Tiki Ti; go horseback riding in Malibu or Topanga (though it'll cost a couple of bucks); and more, but on your way out if it's a clear day in winter or early spring, grab a beer a the Encounter Bar at LAX, and looking out the panorama windows, bid L.A. a nice see ya later.

[californio sur]

A person could easily spend an entire day in the Santa Monica mountains and Malibu. There are so many really cool roads over the mountains and the Santa Monica mountain conservancy is a great place to hike with incredible views of the ocean, basin and valley.

[nighthouse66]

I always tell people that the key to enjoying LA is living as close to work/school as possible, and trying to keep both of those on the Westside. Do this, and you'll most likely enjoy your time in LA.
er, not to go off topic too badly but let me say, as a person who lived in venice for a couple years and who now lives next to boyle heights-
eastside, if you like history and get sick of hipsters, freaking rules. there is more genuine, hidden Los Angeles in the eastside than you will find on the westside. yeah, the westside is what you see on tv, but when you get over that and past the glitter and want some reality, eastside is where its at. i predict that the eastside will experience a total renewal as it deserves. these are the oldest parts of los angeles, after all!

[drunk on kool aid]

Originally Posted by nighthouse66

er, not to go off topic too badly but let me say, as a person who lived in venice for a couple years and who now lives next to boyle heights-
eastside, if you like history and get sick of hipsters, freaking rules. there is more genuine, hidden Los Angeles in the eastside than you will find on the westside. yeah, the westside is what you see on tv, but when you get over that and past the glitter and want some reality, eastside is where its at. i predict that the eastside will experience a total renewal as it deserves. these are the oldest parts of los angeles, after all!

Your post is very simpatico with a recent KPCC interview of filmmaker, Todd Berger, who wanted to set his noirish thriller in the neglected L.A. Eastside. This is a link to the article and audio download:

The Scenesters

It's playing at the Downtown Independent Theater through this Thursday, the 26th. Each screening will be followed by live bands. I haven't seen the film so can't comment on its merits.