Hate Irvine? (Long Beach, Santa Ana, Garden Grove: gated, restaurants, assess)

[ExeterMedia]

Let's call it World Market. We might have a problem stocking enough choices though. Might be better to focus.

[California831]

Originally Posted by twnxn

This topic re: hatred of Irvine is nothing new. Irvine does not strive to be a hipster place with thriving nightlife, original architecture, or a city with walkable, centralized city center. So, if you want all those, then Irvine will not be your cup of tea. Irvine will never be a place everybody will like. Irvine is more about a family-oriented, suburban environment with good schools. If you want those things I have listed above, you would be better to live in LA, San Francisco, New York, etc. Those places (especially San Francisco and New York are actually even more expensive than Irvine). I have lived in Irvine for 11 and half years now and I know Irvine is not the most exciting place, etc, but I appreciate Irvine for what it is.

But Irvine did build a huge UC. That alone should have required the city to provide amenities to college age students. Its as if the city seeks to only reap the huge economic benefits from the school, without providing anything to the students. I think its a travesty the lack of nightlife the city has. Irvine is the worst. Its a fake ass city.

[MichiVegas]

I don't hate Irvine, at all, but I think it's a "bad deal" unless you're Chinese and have kids in public schools. For everyone else, you're overpaying for something, because Irvine isn't really "better" than most South County cities, but is generally more expensive, because of the "prosperous Chinese parents with kids who insist upon Irvine regardless of cost" crowd.

It's like living near the coast if you don't care about the beach. Waste of money if the area's assets don't pertain to you.

[twnxn]

Originally Posted by California831

But Irvine did build a huge UC. That alone should have required the city to provide amenities to college age students. Its as if the city seeks to only reap the huge economic benefits from the school, without providing anything to the students. I think its a travesty the lack of nightlife the city has. Irvine is the worst. Its a fake ass city.

I can see competing interests. For example, if Irvine had lots of nightlife, I could potentially see families being concerned that it would attract "seedy elements." The city is very suburban and I can see the college complaining how boring and soulless the city is. If they don't like the surroundings perhaps the student should consider going to another university. And if they are a commuter student, well they can have their fun at night at another city. Like I wrote earlier, you can't please everybody.

[California831]

Originally Posted by twnxn

I can see competing interests. For example, if Irvine had lots of nightlife, I could potentially see families being concerned that it would attract "seedy elements." The city is very suburban and I can see the college complaining how boring and soulless the city is. If they don't like the surroundings perhaps the student should consider going to another university. And if they are a commuter student, well they can have their fun at night at another city. Like I wrote earlier, you can't please everybody.

Irvine is a huge land mass. They could have easily accompanied both college students and families much like many other college towns (DAVIS!). Its almost as if Irvine wants to pretend there isnt a huge college there. They just want to reap the benefits without providing any services. When i used to go to school there, there were families renting apartments right next to the school. They would call call the police all the time for just about anything (mostly noise). I mean come on, what quiet family would want to live right next to a university. Its as if they just want to suppress the students from having a good time.

[twnxn]

Originally Posted by California831

Irvine is a huge land mass. They could have easily accompanied both college students and families much like many other college towns (DAVIS!). Its almost as if Irvine wants to pretend there isnt a huge college there. They just want to reap the benefits without providing any services. When i used to go to school there, there were families renting apartments right next to the school. They would call call the police all the time for just about anything (mostly noise). I mean come on, what quiet family would want to live right next to a university. Its as if they just want to suppress the students from having a good time.

Davis and Irvine are quite different. As for families living next to UC Irvine, I would venture to guess they are graduate students with families. So their stay would probably be temporary. Sorry that your experience living in Irvine was terribly boring, but you no longer live there. If the lack of nightlife was a top priority issue, why not have people take action or at the very least take action?

[MovingAloha]

So y'all are giving me cause for concern. As we contemplate exactly where we want to escape to (from the chill of the east coast); we are considering Irvine amongst other California cities.

We are not big partiers, but we do enjoy our weekly "Date Night" and would prefer to not have to drive for miles to find a nice Bar and Grill or non-chain Restaurant. So is Irvine really that lacking in nightlife?

[ExeterMedia]

Originally Posted by MovingAloha

We are not big partiers, but we do enjoy our weekly "Date Night" and would prefer to not have to drive for miles to find a nice Bar and Grill or non-chain Restaurant. So is Irvine really that lacking in nightlife?

Based on the bolded above, Irvine will be more than fine for those requirements.

[MovingAloha]

Originally Posted by ExeterMedia

Based on the bolded above, Irvine will be more than fine for those requirements.

Mahalo! Where in Irvine is the district with the most selection of restaurants and B & Gs? Or is there a specific area?

[ExeterMedia]

Originally Posted by MovingAloha

Mahalo! Where in Irvine is the district with the most selection of restaurants and B & Gs? Or is there a specific area?

Depends on what kind of food you want.

For asian food, I'd say DJ Plaza on Alton/Main is a good choice. Irvine Center Drive/Culver also has a 99 Ranch and a few good asian places.

Heritage Plaza on Walnut/Culver has Japanese/Chinese/Persian/Indian places, and a Mitsuwa grocery.

Arbor Village near Walnut and Jeffrey probably has the best selection of asian non-chain restaurants (Thai, Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, etc).

For middle eastern food, I'd say University Park Center on Culver and Michelson is the best choice.

If you want to go European or Latin, Irvine Spectrum has a few good choices. If that doesn't satisfy, you can take a 10 minute non-freeway trip North-West to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa where they have good indian, asian, italian places, and good steak houses.

If that fails, there are options within 15-25 minutes away in Garden Grove, Westminster, Cerritos, and even Long Beach. That's the great thing about Irvine, it's location, it's not that far from any of the best restaurants in OC.