Any German Aspects of LA? (eat, company, Polish)

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by sacreole

Try Alpine Village on Torrance Blvd (Harbor Gateway) just west of the I-110. I hear their Oktoberfest celebration is one of the largest in So Cal.

That one according to reviews at Yelp has gone down hill the past few years. Too many "Ghetto" types from what I read.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

The Californios were principally Spaniards.

And at the time of initial colonization, were an adjunct Duchy of the Holy Roman (aka Germanic) Empire. Those crazy intermarriages and mergers of European Royal Houses.

Going back even further, we can thank the Visigoths for the emergence of the Spanish state from what was left of the Roman Empire.

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by MordinSolus

Los Angeles isn't a European-rooted city. It's rooted in Hispanic and Asian cultures.

It's a bit more complicated than that. Yes, the founders of Los Angeles were the Spaniards (Europeans) who named it, and there were small settlements and family land grants that the Spaniards ceded to the Mexican government after Independence, but there was no real development of Los Angeles -- as we know it, currently -- under the Spanish or Mexican authorities.

Los Angeles really took off and became a major U.S. city when California became a U.S. state and the area began to be settled by Anglo Americans from back East. That's when the film and TV industry, the aerospace industry and manufacturing really took off and built Los Angeles into the metropolis it is today. Many of those who came out to Los Angeles from the Midwest and East Coast were of Germanic origin. Where do you think the old stereotype of the blonde California surfer came from? The blonde bombshell on the beach? There was a point in time where Los Angeles was a very Anglo, very WASPy big city. When manufacturing took off early last century, blacks from the South followed whites out to Los Angeles and settled in areas south of downtown. This changed Los Angeles from a very White big city, to a sort-of White city with a large black population. Racial problems followed after that, as they always do.

Los Angeles does not have Asian roots. I don't know where you got that notion? Asians - in large numbers -- are relative newcomers to Southern California, as are most of the Latinos lately. Today's fastest-growing Latino populations aren't Mexican, but Central and South American -- both populations of which neither had any part in the founding or development of the city as we know it.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

It's a bit more complicated than that. Yes, the founders of Los Angeles were the Spaniards (Europeans) who named it, and there were small settlements and family land grants that the Spaniards ceded to the Mexican government after Independence, but there was no real development of Los Angeles -- as we know it, currently -- under the Spanish or Mexican authorities.

Los Angeles really took off and became a major U.S. city when California became a U.S. state and the area began to be settled by Anglo Americans from back East. That's when the film and TV industry, the aerospace industry and manufacturing really took off and built Los Angeles into the metropolis it is today. Many of those who came out to Los Angeles from the Midwest and East Coast were of Germanic origin. Where do you think the old stereotype of the blonde California surfer came from? The blonde bombshell on the beach? There was a point in time where Los Angeles was a very Anglo, very WASPy big city. When manufacturing took off early last century, blacks from the South followed whites out to Los Angeles and settled in areas south of downtown. This changed Los Angeles from a very White big city, to a sort-of White city with a large black population. Racial problems followed after that, as they always do.

Los Angeles does not have Asian roots. I don't know where you got that notion? Asians - in large numbers -- are relative newcomers to Southern California, as are most of the Latinos lately. Today's fastest-growing Latino populations aren't Mexican, but Central and South American -- both populations of which neither had any part in the founding or development of the city as we know it.

Nice summary. I would add that Anglo Americans are above all else Celtic, not so much Germanic.

Asians did contribute mightily to California. One thinks of Japanese farmers as a top contender down south. Let's not forget the Chinese who irrigated the Central Valley and built railroads. They had a huge impact in the Northern half of the state. And in any case, Asians during the last 50 years have added to California very much indeed.

[i'm not a cookie]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

It's a bit more complicated than that. Yes, the founders of Los Angeles were the Spaniards (Europeans) who named it, and there were small settlements and family land grants that the Spaniards ceded to the Mexican government after Independence, but there was no real development of Los Angeles -- as we know it, currently -- under the Spanish or Mexican authorities.

Los Angeles really took off and became a major U.S. city when California became a U.S. state and the area began to be settled by Anglo Americans from back East. That's when the film and TV industry, the aerospace industry and manufacturing really took off and built Los Angeles into the metropolis it is today. Many of those who came out to Los Angeles from the Midwest and East Coast were of Germanic origin. Where do you think the old stereotype of the blonde California surfer came from? The blonde bombshell on the beach? There was a point in time where Los Angeles was a very Anglo, very WASPy big city. When manufacturing took off early last century, blacks from the South followed whites out to Los Angeles and settled in areas south of downtown. This changed Los Angeles from a very White big city, to a sort-of White city with a large black population. Racial problems followed after that, as they always do.

Los Angeles does not have Asian roots. I don't know where you got that notion? Asians - in large numbers -- are relative newcomers to Southern California, as are most of the Latinos lately. Today's fastest-growing Latino populations aren't Mexican, but Central and South American -- both populations of which neither had any part in the founding or development of the city as we know it.

That was a pretty good summary. Although I think they mean that it is now rooted in Asian and Mexican culture. I agree though LA in terms of Historical roots are MUCH MUCH more rooted in Anglo culture and even African American culture much more so than it is Asian.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

It's a bit more complicated than that. Yes, the founders of Los Angeles were the Spaniards (Europeans) who named it, and there were small settlements and family land grants that the Spaniards ceded to the Mexican government after Independence, but there was no real development of Los Angeles -- as we know it, currently -- under the Spanish or Mexican authorities.

Los Angeles really took off and became a major U.S. city when California became a U.S. state and the area began to be settled by Anglo Americans from back East. That's when the film and TV industry, the aerospace industry and manufacturing really took off and built Los Angeles into the metropolis it is today. Many of those who came out to Los Angeles from the Midwest and East Coast were of Germanic origin. Where do you think the old stereotype of the blonde California surfer came from? The blonde bombshell on the beach? There was a point in time where Los Angeles was a very Anglo, very WASPy big city. When manufacturing took off early last century, blacks from the South followed whites out to Los Angeles and settled in areas south of downtown. This changed Los Angeles from a very White big city, to a sort-of White city with a large black population. Racial problems followed after that, as they always do.

Los Angeles does not have Asian roots. I don't know where you got that notion? Asians - in large numbers -- are relative newcomers to Southern California, as are most of the Latinos lately. Today's fastest-growing Latino populations aren't Mexican, but Central and South American -- both populations of which neither had any part in the founding or development of the city as we know it.

Good point. The Iowa roots are strong. Stereotype was always LB was "Iowa West" - I would extend that notion to all of LA County back in the day.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by LuvSouthOC

Nice summary. I would add that Anglo Americans are above all else Celtic, not so much Germanic.

"Anglo Americans" are really Anglo-Germanic for the most part, though only the term "Anglo" is typically applied -- there are very few people of British heritage in the U.S. these days who are not also of German heritage.

[Jay100]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

It's a bit more complicated than that. Yes, the founders of Los Angeles were the Spaniards (Europeans) who named it, and there were small settlements and family land grants that the Spaniards ceded to the Mexican government after Independence, but there was no real development of Los Angeles -- as we know it, currently -- under the Spanish or Mexican authorities.

Los Angeles really took off and became a major U.S. city when California became a U.S. state and the area began to be settled by Anglo Americans from back East. That's when the film and TV industry, the aerospace industry and manufacturing really took off and built Los Angeles into the metropolis it is today. Many of those who came out to Los Angeles from the Midwest and East Coast were of Germanic origin. Where do you think the old stereotype of the blonde California surfer came from? The blonde bombshell on the beach? There was a point in time where Los Angeles was a very Anglo, very WASPy big city. When manufacturing took off early last century, blacks from the South followed whites out to Los Angeles and settled in areas south of downtown. This changed Los Angeles from a very White big city, to a sort-of White city with a large black population. Racial problems followed after that, as they always do.

Los Angeles does not have Asian roots. I don't know where you got that notion? Asians - in large numbers -- are relative newcomers to Southern California, as are most of the Latinos lately. Today's fastest-growing Latino populations aren't Mexican, but Central and South American -- both populations of which neither had any part in the founding or development of the city as we know it.

Actually, the Gabrielenos had already been in LA for thousands of years. It's pretty interesting how they shaped LA and started many of its traditions. Then, I believe Junipero Serra arrived and established the LA Pueblo, soon after the San Gabriel Mission 1771. During that time the land grants were being parceled out to Mexican families (San Pedro, Los Nietos, Los Feliz, Simi, Malibu, etc.). So in my opinion, yes, LA was already well developed. By the mid 1800s the wasp started to arrive and took over what was already in existence. Then developed the place even further. Is LA European? Somewhat I guess. It's more Mexican than anything. Since many Mexicans have assimilated into Anglo (European) culture, LA has somewhat of an Anglo Germanic vibe. The two cultures have coexisted and somewhat morphed due to their western European connection. The contrasts aren't as stark as say, Arab and Australian Aborigine.

[kttam186290]

Oddly enough, most Mexican bakeries in L.A. carry German pastry items such as streudels, black forest cake and German chocolate cake. The Mexican culinary scene has a strong German influence when it comes to desserts, for some reason? I'm guessing it has to do with the high level of German immigration to Mexico this last century.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

Oddly enough, most Mexican bakeries in L.A. carry German pastry items such as streudels, black forest cake and German chocolate cake. The Mexican culinary scene has a strong German influence when it comes to desserts, for some reason? I'm guessing it has to do with the high level of German immigration to Mexico this last century.

Germany influenced their politics, food, beer, and music.