Moving to LA (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Burbank: for rent, find a job, neighborhoods)

[Skippersf]

I have been reading these threads trying to get some ideas about intricacies of some of the neighborhoods. I didn't think I'd be reading so much hatred and racist opinions. If I followed what was said in most posts I would give up and stay where I am.


Luckily, I know a little about LA having visited a few times over the years and have a lot of friends from there.

But, boy, wow...nothing is as bad as some of you make it seem...Chicken Littles...

Anyway, I'm a 40 something (approaching the 5-0) gay, single male, of the thespian persuasion who is moving from lovely (?!?) San Francisco to LA this summer. My reasons for moving are many and varied, but the top ones are: more acting opportunities, both in theatre and film
Change of scenery
Better weather
More bang for my housing buck (I know, I know, you doubt what I say...but for the same money I'm paying here I'll get a bigger apt. with many more amenities.)
Closer to friends in Phoenix.

So there you have it...mostly ready for a change and a real summer.

I don't know where I'll be working yet but I'm thinking the Fairfax/Mid-Wilshire area. Los Feliz, Silverlake and Echo Park all seem nice too, but I think may be across town from where I'll end up working.

I can afford, probably, up to 1100.00 a month (although under a grand would be better) I currently live in the Tenderloin so know all about a tough neighborhood...I'd like to be a little cleaner, but diversity is a plus in my book and a Latino/Asian mix would be superb...

So what would everyone suggest? Thanks in advance.

[wall st kid]

Look for something in West Hollywood.

[TheRealAngelion]

You seem to know your way around. Los Feliz, Silverlake, and Echo Park are good choices for what you are looking for. Koreatown (aka Mid-Wilshire) is another possibility for rent in the $1100 or less range. That neighborhood is mostly Latino and Asian. Hollywood is another possibility.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

The centerpiece for L.A.'s gay community is on Santa Monica Blvd.(between Beverly Dr. and Fairfax).

IMO, homosexuals are plentiful generally within these street boundaries:
South of Sunset.
East of Beverly.
West of La Brea.
North of Wilshire.


Melrose Ave. is another hotbed for activity and shopping.

As for the places to avoid: dangerous south and eastern parts of LA. The South Bay has mostly families and a has a very low gay population. A gay male seeking Asian and Latino culture may not find it appealing..


Don't forget to buy a pair of nice designer shades before coming here.. (OMG soo.. L.A.!)

[artichoke63]

Originally Posted by Skippersf

I have been reading these threads trying to get some ideas about intricacies of some of the neighborhoods. I didn't think I'd be reading so much hatred and racist opinions. If I followed what was said in most posts I would give up and stay where I am.


Luckily, I know a little about LA having visited a few times over the years and have a lot of friends from there.

But, boy, wow...nothing is as bad as some of you make it seem...Chicken Littles...

Anyway, I'm a 40 something (approaching the 5-0) gay, single male, of the thespian persuasion who is moving from lovely (?!?) San Francisco to LA this summer. My reasons for moving are many and varied, but the top ones are: more acting opportunities, both in theatre and film
Change of scenery
Better weather
More bang for my housing buck (I know, I know, you doubt what I say...but for the same money I'm paying here I'll get a bigger apt. with many more amenities.)
Closer to friends in Phoenix.

So there you have it...mostly ready for a change and a real summer.

I don't know where I'll be working yet but I'm thinking the Fairfax/Mid-Wilshire area. Los Feliz, Silverlake and Echo Park all seem nice too, but I think may be across town from where I'll end up working.

I can afford, probably, up to 1100.00 a month (although under a grand would be better) I currently live in the Tenderloin so know all about a tough neighborhood...I'd like to be a little cleaner, but diversity is a plus in my book and a Latino/Asian mix would be superb...

So what would everyone suggest? Thanks in advance.

Hollywood or Koreatown might have something nice for $1,100

[miracle]

Silver Lake, many asians, latinos are majority in eastside, gay friendly, if you want something more centrally located and safer try WeHo but rents are overpriced.

[fastfilm]

I've always maintained on this forum that the primary recommend for moving to L.A. would be to seek entree into the entertainment business, and to satisfy a strong weather need, but little else. (You can get everything here elsewhere in Calif. without the incipient problems.) So you're a very good candidate for relocation here. Try to find the financial wherewithall to afford a studio apt. or guest quarters over a garage in West Hollywood.

You'll be extremely happy in West Hollywood, as its overall mien is much friendlier than Castro St., what with so many aspiring actors actually helping one another rather than competing. I find that pretty amazing for any demographic! (the desperate element is only seen further east in Hollywood proper. Please don't consider Koreatown: my husband works there, I know it well and it's quite dangerous. Its poor beleagured residents leave the second they can afford to.) West Hollywood is beautifully maintained due to local autonomy, and features so many great restaurants, shops and tiny theatres. Other than priciness, parking crunch, and LAUSD schools, there's nothing bad to say about West Hollywood. I know you'll be happy there: it's a fantastic place for the gay crowd, and anyone else who likes what "old Hollywood" used to look and feel like, and requires convenience to the studios over the hill and into the Valley in Burbank.

Having said that, L.A. is a tad bigger than nice little enclaves like West Hollywood. Today's L.A. Times quoted a United Way report that places Los Angeles quality of life way below the rest of the state, as L.A. features higher rates of poverty, violence and illiteracy. Gang violence has increased 20% in L.A. as a whole, and 44% in the San Fernando Valley.

Insofar as you'll have to be tooling around all of L.A. and the Valley in your chosen profession, invariably you'll encounter what the residents here have posted about, unless you strike it rich immediately, can sequester yourself in hills and send your gophers to fetch for you. Be sure to tell the foreign nationals that suddenly slow their driving by me, look at me, a middle-aged caucasian female, in the eye and spit right at me and cackle bad words in another language and then speed away that they just may be racists.

[Skippersf]

Thanks everyone. Guess WeHo it is, but hopefully closer to the Fairfax Highland area. Although I am gay I don't think I could deal with Santa Monica and San Vicente as an area to live in...but you all gave some good ideas...now need to find a job. FastFilm, I do understand how you may feel about the Latin element. Here in San Francisco, in my neighborhood, it's blacks. They are dirty, rude, gross and disgusting. They say and do horible things and defecate on the sidewalks. But I realize that not all black people are like that. Unfortunately just the ones hanging out outside my apt. at all hours.

Anyway, thanks again.

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