West Hollywood or North Hollywood (San Francisco: apartments, crime rate, homes)

[Ianus]

Hi, everyone...

I could use a little help...

I'm moving from Europe to L.A. this September to study acting - how tipical, ha? My school is located in North Hollywood, but I still haven't decided yet whether to live in North or West Hollywood....I have classes only twice a week, so i don't really need to live near the school...I can drive there...

So, my question is: where is better night life, shopping, restaurants, etc.? Where is more action going on? and where are all the auditions happening? North or West Hollywood? And how far are they from each other?

Thank you...

[rainofthewinter]

City of West Hollywood : Home

This site has good information on the latest events and local restaurants in West Hollywood.

Welcome to NoHoArtsDistrict.com

This site has information on North Hollywood, though not as thorough as the first website.

Good luck!

[allenk893]

West Hollywood is better suited to you. Basically it's located in an area where the action happens. Films, clubs, shopping, etc. It's all there. Very nice area. Now granted, it's not the only place where that happens. But compared to North Hollywood, it's much livelier I would say.

[LABornandRaised]

My partner and I live in North Hollywood. He works in West Hollywood and honestly, it's not the best commute and I'm being nice. West Hollywood is not situated near freeways, so you will depend more on surface streets.

In a nutshell, WeHo is more boutiquey (my partner runs one) and glam. NoHo on the other hand is bohemian and more down to earth. If you look at forums on NoHo, you'll see that you'll want to stay in the Arts District, which is closer to shops, restaurants, cafe's, and transit.

[JK21]

I am moving to LA in two weeks and i too am planning on checking out some acting schools, one in north hollywood. I don't have a car but I hear the transportation from north to west isn't terrible. I am from San Francisco and am TERRIFIED of LA, everyone thinks im crazy for moving but i figure why not, i need a challenge and I hope the acting schools are legitamite. I still don't have a place to live and im probably going to just stay at a hostel and check out the city before I make a decision.
Anyways, someone said NOLA is bohemian? Hmm I wonder which one is more like an SF vibe- sense of community, diversity, down to earth people.
I need advice!
thanks,
Jenny
PS: Ianus, how did your move go? Do you have any advice about acting school and how it is living there?

[disgruntled la native]

Despite having similar names, West Hollywood and North Hollywood are nothing alike. Not sure why you're comparing these two very different, not close by areas.

West Hollywood has much more action going on. Tons of bars and clubs and restaurants. Huge gay community. the famous sunset strip is here. nearby are the world famous la cienega restaurant row, melrose ave and its shops boutiques, etc. It may be the most social place to live in LA county, and everything is walkable. West Hollywood is also very expensive to live in.

North Hollywood is a LA community way up in the valley. It's relatively inexpensive, and has some very seedy areas. There are some artsy, trendy parts but much of it is lower middle class areas with small homes, apartments, and strip malls.

Maybe auditions aren't happening in either place, but closer to west hollywood than north i'd say.

[VLWH]

Originally Posted by JK21

I am moving to LA in two weeks and i too am planning on checking out some acting schools, one in north hollywood. I don't have a car but I hear the transportation from north to west isn't terrible. I am from San Francisco and am TERRIFIED of LA, everyone thinks im crazy for moving but i figure why not, i need a challenge and I hope the acting schools are legitamite. I still don't have a place to live and im probably going to just stay at a hostel and check out the city before I make a decision.
Anyways, someone said NOLA is bohemian? Hmm I wonder which one is more like an SF vibe- sense of community, diversity, down to earth people.
I need advice!
thanks,
Jenny
PS: Ianus, how did your move go? Do you have any advice about acting school and how it is living there?

Can you be a little clear on what you are terrified of? If you are concerned about crime, actually LA has a lower crime stat than SF (per city data ave crime rate data).

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by VLWH

Can you be a little clear on what you are terrified of? If you are concerned about crime, actually LA has a lower crime stat than SF (per city data ave crime rate data).

North Hollywood has a fair amount of crime. I would be a bit terrified to live there.

[Setsuko]

Originally Posted by JK21

I am moving to LA in two weeks and i too am planning on checking out some acting schools, one in north hollywood. I don't have a car but I hear the transportation from north to west isn't terrible. I am from San Francisco and am TERRIFIED of LA, everyone thinks im crazy for moving but i figure why not, i need a challenge and I hope the acting schools are legitamite. I still don't have a place to live and im probably going to just stay at a hostel and check out the city before I make a decision.
Anyways, someone said NOLA is bohemian? Hmm I wonder which one is more like an SF vibe- sense of community, diversity, down to earth people.
I need advice!
thanks,
Jenny
PS: Ianus, how did your move go? Do you have any advice about acting school and how it is living there?

Can I ask what terrifies you about LA? SF is more dangerous than LA is and the traffic in the Bay Area is just as bad IMO.

[uptown_urbanist]

Don't forget plain old "Hollywood" Hollywood -- it's convenient to North Hollywood, or at least just as much (or more so) than West Hollywood.

As noted, West Hollywood and North Hollywood are VERY different. I think the name is what trips people up.

JK21 -- I think you're right to stay at a hostel and check things out first, but I agree that there's no reason to be terrified; if you can handle SF then you can handle LA. Do you have a favorite San Francisco neighborhood?

We lived in Hollywood and loved it. Highly walkable, good public transportation, beautiful historic buildings, always people out and about on the street, diverse mix of people, lots of stuff going on at all times of the day.

Or, for that matter, there's east Hollywood; seedy in parts, but worth at least considering if all the other Hollywoods are thrown into the mix. The added bonus for both Hollywood and East Hollywood is easy access to the Red Line (subway). West Hollywood is bus-only. It's certainly walkable and the buses aren't bad, but that subway option is very, very nice, and is a very fast trip to North Hollywood.