First impressions of LA.... (Los Angeles, Glendale: neighborhoods, school, taxi)

[BarcelonaFan]

Originally Posted by Nightscape

You've been here for how long?

I probably spoke too soon but I've been to Downtown, Santa Monica, NOHO, Burbank, Glendale and Hollywood. All in three days.

Point is, it wasn't this gigantic culture wow shock factor like NYC. I didn't mean any disrespect, just that it's not that far off as a town from where I came from.

[Nightscape]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

I probably spoke too soon but I've been to Downtown, Santa Monica, NOHO, Burbank, Glendale and Hollywood. All in three days.

Point is, it wasn't this gigantic culture wow shock factor like NYC. I didn't mean any disrespect, just that it's not that far off as a town from where I came from.

None taken. This is a vast place no doubt. You've sampled a tiny portion of all that it has to offer. As a native, there are still places I come across that are new and interesting for me. It's a city with many layers and it only gets more interesting if you give it a chance.

[BarcelonaFan]

I really want to hit Echo Park and Los Feliz. I hear they have a great music scene and plenty of activism.

[Chicano3000X]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

I really want to hit Echo Park and Los Feliz. I hear they have a great music scene and plenty of activism.

Careful with Echo Park though. IDK how it is now, but even hearing the name brings caution to my mind. The area was always bangin'. Dont know now. But being here from the 90's, I'll always look over my shoulder in this city.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by Chicano3000X

Careful with Echo Park though. IDK how it is now, but even hearing the name brings caution to my mind. The area was always bangin'. Dont know now. But being here from the 90's, I'll always look over my shoulder in this city.

It's fine now - but it definitely had its dark days.

You definitely have a 90s perspective of the city (which I find fascinating personally), but a lot seems to have changed since you were last here.

I have gone to the Echo a couple of times, walked around Echo Park late at night... It's a fairly safe place now.

There's actually a show coming out soon that deals with the gentrification of Echo Park: HBO Adapting Novel 'The Madonnas Of Echo Park' Into Drama Series

[jimmykem]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

Yeah with the exception of the Hollywood industry and the gorgeous scenery, there is nothing exceptional about LA.

I don't think you're qualified to make that statement on day #3. Come back in 3 years and let us know if you still feel the same. This town is nothing but exceptional.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

Well I finally made it to LA and I love it so far. It's definitely an eclectic town. It reminds me a lot of Houston only with a ton of scenery.

First I have to ask why are whole sections of this town stuck in the 80's? The buildings looks like they haven't been renovated for twenty years and there is a huge retro look to the town. Everyone keeps telling me that I live in the nicest part of NoHo bordering Burbank but while the area doesn't look ghetto, it does look really old. I guess I just have to adjust to what's considered nice in LA.

I love the mix of food, the relatively low cost of it, as I've noticed mostly gas and rent seem to be the big killers here. The metro rail was exciting and it reminds me of the T in Boston.

This might be a ridiculous thing to say but I feel like one of the taller people in this town which is a big switch from Texas where I was pretty average. At 5'11 ,6'0 with shoes I didn't feel like the shortest guy in the room like I did in Houston.

There is a noticeable class divide unlike I have ever seen before. Even worse than NYC. This is a town where you clearly know who has money and who doesn't. I feel bad because a lot of people here look spent.

I over dressed for this town too. I pictured it so much to look like Manhattan that I only brought my best clothes and everywhere I go people stare at me (in NOHO) like I'm a northeastern transplant or wandered off from Pepperdine. Point is, I look super douchey preppy. I need to just buy some shorts and t shirts.

I've been here three days and still haven't seen the beach yet which I will do today. Is there a way to get to the beach or as close as you can to to the beach on the rail? I do not mind walking the rest of the way even if it is a few miles.

So far it's been great and the town isn't as intimidating as I thought. It's not NYC on the West Coast like I thought. It's really just another town. A cool town, no doubt, but nothing too our of the ordinary besides the gorgeous scenery.

if LA looks "old" and "retro" what does that make the east coast?

I'm not sure if agree about the class divide. LA is actually notorious for people who don't have a lot of money to look like they do.

The LA look is not preppy. Its a either a little flashier, a little more showing of skin/figure or both.

you can get to the south Bay by rail. They are currently in the begining stages of building the light rail to Santa Monica.

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by jimmykem

I don't think you're qualified to make that statement on day #3. Come back in 3 years and let us know if you still feel the same. This town is nothing but exceptional.

I've been here for many years, and I will 2nd the statement that there are very few exceptional things about LA.

Weather and geographical scenery are about the only things that make my list. I used to hold the high level of staffing talent up there, but that has declined recently.

[bowneline]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

I probably spoke too soon but I've been to Downtown, Santa Monica, NOHO, Burbank, Glendale and Hollywood. All in three days.

Point is, it wasn't this gigantic culture wow shock factor like NYC. I didn't mean any disrespect, just that it's not that far off as a town from where I came from.

Very few places in the world provide a man-made, physical setting that shocks the sense like parts of Manhattan. It's not that NYC or Manhattan are more or less "exceptional" as LA, its just that LA doesn't have a physical place that wows first time visitors like Manhattan.

I remember the first time I visited NYC, my friend who lived there had us meet in Times Square. I remember coming up the subway stairs and walking out on the sidewalk. It just blows you away: Hundreds of people streaming past you on the sidewalk, car horns blaring, gigantic buildings coming up in all directions, huge video screens showing advertisments, a gridlock of taxis in all directions.

So, its not that LA is not an amazing city (maybe more amazing than NYC), but I can't think of a place in LA that provides quite that same unique sensory experience.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by bowneline

Very few places in the world provide a man-made, physical setting that shocks the sense like parts of Manhattan. It's not that NYC or Manhattan are more or less "exceptional" as LA, its just that LA doesn't have a physical place that wows first time visitors like Manhattan.

I remember the first time I visited NYC, my friend who lived there had us meet in Times Square. I remember coming up the subway stairs and walking out on the sidewalk. It just blows you away: Hundreds of people streaming past you on the sidewalk, car horns blaring, gigantic buildings coming up in all directions, huge video screens showing advertisments, a gridlock of taxis in all directions.

So, its not that LA is not an amazing city (maybe more amazing than NYC), but I can't think of a place in LA that provides quite that same unique sensory experience.

Hollywood and Highland on a summertime Saturday evening does... for about a block