Living in the San Gabriel Valley (Los Angeles, Glendale: renting, homes, neighborhood)

[VillageLife]

Originally Posted by happ

There's also Azusa Pacific university & Citrus College in Covina. Cal State LA is practically in the San Gabriel Valley.

There's an Asian nursery in So El Monte that sell michelia trees for cheap. Michelia is like a tropical magnolia & produces many fragrant flowers during summer. I think it is called Temple Nursery.

Is the one you are talking about on Lower Azusa near Temple City? I have been to that one a few times. It's a family owned.very nice

[vegaspilgrim]

For some weird reason, I find myself intrigued by the San Gabriel Valley. I've been doing a lot of exploring in this area lately. I'm definitely a mountain person, not a beach type, and I took advantage of the warm, clear, smog free weather this weekend to do a lot of hiking in the Angeles National Forest. So far I've been up to Mt Baldy, various spots along Hwy 2, and San Gabriel Canyon (Hwy 39 going up from Azusa). I love the views of the San Gabriel mountains from the valley floor-- absolutely stunning-- that is at times like this week when there actually isn't thick clouds of smog blocking the view. I like Pasadena, not so much the part of Old Town that feels like an outdoor shopping mall, but the rest of it. But Pasadena is just the tip of the iceberg, I've discovered. And from what I've seen driving around on various roads (mainly Colorado, Foothill, Huntington, Arrow, Azusa) throughout the lesser known towns in the SGV, I like large swaths of what I see.

It's very hard to describe, more of a "feeling" than a logical analysis. To me, much of downtown/central/east/south LA feels like a giant hole, a place to be avoided for one reason or another. The westside feels either too (I don't know what the word is) "foo foo" or ugly and depressing (ie-- Palms), the San Fernando valley feels polished on the edges and rotten at the core, the South Bay is okay but doesn't excite me much (probably because no mountains), most of Orange County with just a few exceptions feels too "blah," and further east in the Inland Empire feels too scary. Some of the places I've seen in the San Gabriel Valley feel "just right." Old suburbs, tons of old style "Main Street" drags, strip malls filled with cool mom and pop ethnic businesses, a lot of mid-century architecture, awesome mountain views, close to beautiful canyons in the San Gabriel Mtns with tons of hiking spots (and at much higher elevations and more dramatic terrain than what the Santa Monica Mountains offers), a lot of diversity in general, very down to earth compared to the western part of LA county.

I'm not totally enamoured with it either. I've seen how bad the smog can get in the past and it can be putrid and disgusting. The traffic heading westward in the morning and eastward in the evening is horrendous. It seems like you'd be throwing your life in the garbage can 5 days a week. It seems like only the westernmost part of the SGV is even commutable to downtown < 1hr, and entire SGV is out of commuting range to jobs in west LA at reasonable hours. It feels like the place has definitely gone downhill over the years-- although I do like just a little bit of grit and kind of an old, but not too old feel. There was a TON of gang graffiti spray painted on the rocks at the trailhead site north of Azusa. And then the problem is the SGV, as much as I like it, is still in LA, still with all the same problems-- cost of living, smog, traffic, overcrowding etc, but unlike west & central LA it's so far out there it's not even very close to most of the "Big City" attractions and high salary jobs that make LA special in the first place. You still have Los Angeles cost of living, but with a Tucson economy (and for some weird reason the SGV reminds me a lot of Tucson). It seems like it's the kind of place where maybe with the possible exception of Pasadena there isn't really much of a logical reason to move there unless if you're from there. But I always like to think, "What if..."?

Am I "off" on my thinking? Please let me know. How do most people in the SGV "make it"? Where do they work?

[timelesschild]

Vegas, I agree with your observations. I am not sure where most of the people in the SGV work, though, and am hoping someone else will know a good answer for this.

In my immediate neighborhood of the far western SGV, one person works in Koreatown, another works in Downey, another works in Burbank, another in Pasadena, and I haven't asked anybody else. I'm like you, I canNOT imagine commuting from some of the Covinas and places to downtown LA - ugh!

[ZenMaster2008]

I don't know anyone that commutes to downtown. I work in Irwindale, a bunch of people work in Pasadena, I know a few who commute as far east as Rancho Cucamonga.

I'm sure some people in Pasadena/South Pasadena do as the commute from here isn't as bad as some of the other SGV cities.

[mini_cute]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the SGV.

Chinese New Year's Eve is January 25th and Chinese New Year Day is on January 26th. It will be Year of the Ox. Gong Hey Fat Choy!

Originally Posted by VillageLife

Hi Everyone! happy new year!

Chinese New Year is coming up on January 25th. Lots of celebrations in Chinatown and in Monterey Park,Alhambra,Rosemead,San Gabriel,Arcadia,Hacienda Heights,Rowland Heights.

Have some great Chinese Food!

Lots of restaurants on Garvey/Atlanatic, Valley Blvd. Corner of Valley/Del Mar, Colima Rd,Fullerton Rd in Rowland Heights

[mini_cute]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

For some weird reason, I find myself intrigued by the San Gabriel Valley. I've been doing a lot of exploring in this area lately. I'm definitely a mountain person, not a beach type, and I took advantage of the warm, clear, smog free weather this weekend to do a lot of hiking in the Angeles National Forest. So far I've been up to Mt Baldy, various spots along Hwy 2, and San Gabriel Canyon (Hwy 39 going up from Azusa). I love the views of the San Gabriel mountains from the valley floor-- absolutely stunning-- that is at times like this week when there actually isn't thick clouds of smog blocking the view. I like Pasadena, not so much the part of Old Town that feels like an outdoor shopping mall, but the rest of it. But Pasadena is just the tip of the iceberg, I've discovered. And from what I've seen driving around on various roads (mainly Colorado, Foothill, Huntington, Arrow, Azusa) throughout the lesser known towns in the SGV, I like large swaths of what I see.

It's very hard to describe, more of a "feeling" than a logical analysis. To me, much of downtown/central/east/south LA feels like a giant hole, a place to be avoided for one reason or another. The westside feels either too (I don't know what the word is) "foo foo" or ugly and depressing (ie-- Palms), the San Fernando valley feels polished on the edges and rotten at the core, the South Bay is okay but doesn't excite me much (probably because no mountains), most of Orange County with just a few exceptions feels too "blah," and further east in the Inland Empire feels too scary. Some of the places I've seen in the San Gabriel Valley feel "just right." Old suburbs, tons of old style "Main Street" drags, strip malls filled with cool mom and pop ethnic businesses, a lot of mid-century architecture, awesome mountain views, close to beautiful canyons in the San Gabriel Mtns with tons of hiking spots (and at much higher elevations and more dramatic terrain than what the Santa Monica Mountains offers), a lot of diversity in general, very down to earth compared to the western part of LA county.

I'm not totally enamoured with it either. I've seen how bad the smog can get in the past and it can be putrid and disgusting. The traffic heading westward in the morning and eastward in the evening is horrendous. It seems like you'd be throwing your life in the garbage can 5 days a week. It seems like only the westernmost part of the SGV is even commutable to downtown < 1hr, and entire SGV is out of commuting range to jobs in west LA at reasonable hours. It feels like the place has definitely gone downhill over the years-- although I do like just a little bit of grit and kind of an old, but not too old feel. There was a TON of gang graffiti spray painted on the rocks at the trailhead site north of Azusa. And then the problem is the SGV, as much as I like it, is still in LA, still with all the same problems-- cost of living, smog, traffic, overcrowding etc, but unlike west & central LA it's so far out there it's not even very close to most of the "Big City" attractions and high salary jobs that make LA special in the first place. You still have Los Angeles cost of living, but with a Tucson economy (and for some weird reason the SGV reminds me a lot of Tucson). It seems like it's the kind of place where maybe with the possible exception of Pasadena there isn't really much of a logical reason to move there unless if you're from there. But I always like to think, "What if..."?

Am I "off" on my thinking? Please let me know. How do most people in the SGV "make it"? Where do they work?

The SGV or "Asian Oasis" is very special and has some history to it. I can see why you think it feels just right. It is a vibrant area for what is. I've watched it grow from a Caucasian dominated area to an Asian/Mexican dominated area. The diversity brings new ideas and culture to the area. No other Asian community can top the SGV, not even NYC's Chinatown or Flushing, Queens. It is thriving, alive and ever-changing.

A lot of the Asians who live there work in LA, restaurants, own their own businesses with warehouses and offices in El Monte, City of Industry and parts of Monterey Park. Some even only live there part time, other times they are in Asia doing business or visiting relatives.

[happ]

vegaspilgrim

Your impressions of the San Gabriel valley are similar to my own. I've worked in Glendora & live right outside Pasadena. There are problem areas [ie gangs] in El Monte\ Valinda\ parts of La Puente but nothing on the scale of LA. Check out Mission San Gabriel for some old California history 200 yrs ago. Sierra Madre canyon is a great drive & great hiking everywhere [ie Eaton Canyon\ Chilao, etc]. Winter & spring are the best times to hike in my opinion [cooler\ green countryside & snow if you hike above 5000'].

If you like the San Gabriel valley than you would also probably like Claremont\ Rancho Cucamonga.

[vegaspilgrim]

Thanks for the suggestions of some places to check out, happ. I have been to Claremont before, but for some reason I didn't like it. It felt almost too quaint, like one giant "antique-ville." It reminded me a lot of Redlands and also downtown Orange. But I might explore these areas again, sometimes a place looks totally different to me the second or third time around than the first time I've seen it. I also thought Pomona looked kind of cool for some reason, driving down I imagined it kind of looked like an old wild west town from a time long gone, but I can definitely see why people say it is sketchy/dangerous-- not an area I'd want to get out and walk around.

Also another observation about the SGV... maybe it's just me, but it seems like the SGV is the heartland of In-N-Out burger, and I mean there is literally an In-n-out burger every 1-2 miles. Not a bad thing... I love in-n-out, but only for once in a while.

[VillageLife]

Great posts! Very interesting observation.I will write something tomorrow,kinda late tonight

I went to a Chinese New Year celebration this past Sunday,it was so much fun

Asian American Expo

The video shows exactly what it was like. Everyone was given a big read shoulder bag. Everything,I mean everything was cheap this year. I have been going every year.
Things were given out free. There was a hall full of food. Lots of samples were givien out.

There was dragon dancing,This type of dragon dancing was kinda new for everyone,this is not the ones you see traditionally

Video of dragondance3 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Video of dragondance2 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Video of dragondance2 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

















Lot's of programs and children shows

So this is how the Chinese live in the San Gabriel Valley

[jzt83]

I don't care much about the LA area and the SGV is one of the few places I'd live if I were to live in the LA area again. It's got a good mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods. It's more down to Earth and isn't as congested or stressful as many other parts of LA. It has this serene quality about it that I can't really put my finger on.