Guy rides bike through downtown. One of the mesmerizing videos of DTLA I've seen so far.. (Woodland: college, to live in)

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by buzzkillb

We lived in South Park for a year at a loft across from Staples. The beginning of the video is the area and it was a really interesting place to live. Way too high in rent for what it was and things are still building up to make it more liveable. But it was fun to do it. There is a real night life especially on Spring St. I wish I had bought a GoPro sooner as I have started just running it while I randomly drive around the city at different times of the day. Eventually I want to post everything uncut on youtube as it shows just how unique LA really is.

I think that the song To Live and Die in LA by 2pac is a great example of how diverse the area really is. So many people haven't experienced riding the subway through the hood or walking around random parts of the city. Skid Row at night is truly menacing to the senses.

Sometimes it is really overwhelming to think of all the things I have not been able to do in Los Angeles simply because there is just so much to see and do. Still haven't been to Skid Row, Fashion District, Arts District never taken the Blue Line or Green Line. Mostly because these places are just really out of the way from where I do my normal routine. I feel like I have seen most of Hollywood but even then there are huge parts of the neighborhood I have not been able to see (mostly Melrose Hill area, which is a shame because I love that part of town).

[buzzkillb]

Originally Posted by munchitup

Sometimes it is really overwhelming to think of all the things I have not been able to do in Los Angeles simply because there is just so much to see and do. Still haven't been to Skid Row, Fashion District, Arts District never taken the Blue Line or Green Line. Mostly because these places are just really out of the way from where I do my normal routine. I feel like I have seen most of Hollywood but even then there are huge parts of the neighborhood I have not been able to see (mostly Melrose Hill area, which is a shame because I love that part of town).

That's why we try to go out of our way to randomly go somewhere. Like instead of getting to this place by subway lets walk. Or instead of driving lets take public transit. I used to take random ways home from work when I was doing a commute from Glendale and Torrance. Driving through Compton my first time was a real eye opener. Trying random bars is always fun to do. Especially places that look like dive bars when you don't feel comfortable being there.

After recently moving to Altadena I am excited to take the metro from Pasadena into Downtown to visit our old stomping grounds and buying fabric in the fashion district. There are a lot of semi secret places to hang out in Downtown which was always fun to find. Such as the burger place in Skid Row that is somewhat upscale. Most reviews mention how they were scared to go there at night, but it was meant for locals who know its really not as dangerous as it appears.

I would take my jogs at all times of the day going through the city taking pictures of the buildings and tagging.

I think we just really like to randomly drive around and see new things. I know a lot of people just stay on their side of town for some reason.

[Carlite]

Originally Posted by munchitup

Sometimes it is really overwhelming to think of all the things I have not been able to do in Los Angeles simply because there is just so much to see and do. Still haven't been to Skid Row, Fashion District, Arts District never taken the Blue Line or Green Line. Mostly because these places are just really out of the way from where I do my normal routine. I feel like I have seen most of Hollywood but even then there are huge parts of the neighborhood I have not been able to see (mostly Melrose Hill area, which is a shame because I love that part of town).

You need a vacation in LA!

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by Carlite

You need a vacation in LA!

I know! My wife recently got a job in DTLA so we have been focusing most of our free time on exploring there, just need to make our way eastward and southern.

My wife plays soccer in the evenings in Redondo Beach, I was thinking of trying to take the Blue and Green line to meet her there so I could experience those two lines.

[taydigga]

Originally Posted by Chicano3000X

You really take this forum personally don't you?

Chic, you know your are da homie but you've never really been out of here huh? You think that people think LA is a joke? Nah bruh, LA gets hate but people love this city too. Sure, the "hollywood types" may cast a little gloom on it but it's also those types that make people think this city is the lick! It goes both ways, there are soo many NYC transplants here it's ridiculous, but you don't hear about many LA people moving to NYC, (not saying they do). I think you have a misconception about your city, move out for a few years and I'm sure you'd look back and be like what was I thinking.

[taydigga]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

There's more money in showcasing Hollywood as LA than the rest of LA as LA. Sad but it's true and it shouldn't be that way at all.

The only time they show case the "other LA" is when crime is involved, which is another thing blown out of proportion as LA is one the safest major cities in America. Far safer than New Orleans, Miami or the new darling of the press; Houston.

What's fascinating about this city is the part of the city that's isn;t glamorized.

I don't see why people have a problem with the entity of "Hollywood" there's nothing wrong with it, it's the industry that has made LA what it is economically. This city thrives because of the entertainment industry. We have to learn to appreciate that for what it is. Yeah, some people will think that's all LA is about but who cares, true lovers of LA know that LA is hidden. Also, we love to compare ourselves to NYC and it's natural but LA is soo much younger than NYC. I also think we have more room to change and grow than NYC because there's nothing more NYC can do as far as structural growth anymore. LA has so much land to build upon.

Here's another thing, in the movies, commercials and etc., DTLA is used to look like NYC (70% of car commercials are taped here) but you can't do the same in NYC, you can't make it look like LA. Sorry! You can make LA look like Miami (Dexter anyone--Long Beach and Marina Del Rey) but you can't really make Miami look like LA, it's too flat. And you can make LA look like Seattle with it's gloom and trees., (Grey's Anatomy--Griffith park area). This city get's much respect, trust me.

[PDF]

Downtown LA can pretty much look like any city in the world, am I right?

When I was in LA, most of the time I forgot the Hollywood industry was even located in LA. I expected that to have a much bigger impact on the city. Even walking around the Hollywood area, it was a just any other urban neighborhood to me.

[HaemophilusAphrophilus]

Originally Posted by munchitup

And even when they show "Hollywood" it is not really Hollywood.

I enjoy Universal Studios and all but for some reason it annoys me that they keep referring to its location as hollywood. Its just way off, especially considering its not even in the basin. Is paramount the main major studio in Hollywood?

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by HaemophilusAphrophilus

I enjoy Universal Studios and all but for some reason it annoys me that they keep referring to its location as hollywood. Its just way off, especially considering its not even in the basin. Is paramount the main major studio in Hollywood?

Yeah it's over on Melrose and Gower.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by HaemophilusAphrophilus

I enjoy Universal Studios and all but for some reason it annoys me that they keep referring to its location as hollywood. Its just way off, especially considering its not even in the basin. Is paramount the main major studio in Hollywood?

That's funny. It's up near North Hollywood, so I guess they think they can get away with it. But it's in LA, so they have every right to do that.