Please help me decide: Stay in Pasadena or move to Encino/Sherman Oaks? (Orange: best cities)

[PK12]

I moved to LA last year, been in Pasadena since then - while PAS has been great in terms of food and drink/public transit/convenience and amenities, it still does not feel like "real LA" - which I know it's not haha, but nonetheless, it is obviously lacking the retro LA vibe which I really want to experience as part of my day to day life. At the same time, I am super conflicted on leaving PAS because it has really grown on to me

My situation is a little complex though, which I will explain below - please bear with me:

1. I'm a mid 30's corporate professional working for one of the Big 4 firms. Commute is less of an issue nowadays due to pandemic, but access to at least a Metrobus line or bus/train that can take me to DTLA (via transfers is OK) is still important.

2. For the next couple of years, I still plan to rent a 2BR 2BA apartment. Max budget is $3,000/month.

3. My parents live with me, so I need to find a place that provides a good balance between things to do for myself as well as for them. In that respect, Encino/Sherman Oaks and PAS both are pretty good/

4. My family is Pakistani Muslim, so access to good halal food options (primarily for my parents) and Desi food in general is a big plus. Something on which Encino/Sherman Oaks fares better than PAS.

5. Things I like to do: dining out, bars/lounges, hiking, occasional trips to the beach, art and museum scene etc.

6. In a few years, I plan to get married have kids etc. Parents will move out or move back to our motherland by then, so I am looking to rent in an area which I can potentially make my "home base" in LA, so to speak -so, I'd like to buy in a place which has reasonably good public schools. PAS seems to be lagging behind in this, but I don't know for sure.

7. Would love to be in a place where there are more people with a corporate/work professional background; not critical, but nice to have. I think PAS might fare better on this, but not 100% sure.


Any and all insights and advice would be greatly appreciated - TIA LA Fam!

[BRinSM]

I would expand your search beyond these two areas. Encino is not the greatest for single professionals. Sherman Oaks is better and may be a good match if you plan on staying post kids, but since it sounds like that is a ways off for you I wouldn't limit yourself.

[socal88]

Your commute to DTLA from Encino / Sherman Oaks is going to be as bad if not probably worse compared to Pasadena. Also, not exactly sure what you mean by retro LA vibe. In these areas, the closest I can think of a retro vibe are some old strip malls and a couple old-school diners. And to be honest, Sherman Oaks / Encino doesn't necessarily feel like "real LA" either except that it's probably more congested than Pasadena. They are essentially denser suburban areas that happen to be part of the city of LA.

In terms of good public schools, beyond elementary, Sherman Oaks / Encino doesn't have great public schools. They are part of LA proper, and thus part of LAUSD, which like Pasadena's public school system, is generally sub-par. LA-adjacent cities such as La Canada, La Crescenta, and Calabasas have very good public schools.

In Sherman Oaks / Encino, the plus is that you'll be closer to the beach and various amenities on the west side, but other than that and better access to halal options like you mentioned, I'm not sure you'll get much of a benefit compared to Pasadena.

[PK12]

Thank you BRinSM and socal88!

By "real LA" or "retro LA vibe", I mean the overall feel of Ventura Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd, Sunset etc. If at all that makes sense lol.

Since I am open to and have already been using public transit - the Gold Line Metro commute from PAS to DTLA is a breeze. I get to 7th Street/Metro Center within max 40 mins, including the transfer at Union Station. I'm okay with a longer Metrobus ride too (i.e. if I were to move to Encino or Sherman Oaks), just wasn't sure how that commute was overall.

How would you compare the restaurant/bar/lounge scene on Ventura in Sherman Oaks, as compared to on Colorado Blvd in PAS? I have a good amount of experience with the latter and IMO it suffices for a reasonable night out, but not particularly unique or exciting as such. No experience with the former as such.

[Keyser S]

I didn't think much of Studio City when I arrived in LA, but it's really grown on me. It has some cool places and a nice vibe to it. Sherman Oaks seems to be a lesser version of it, but it's nice too. Encino is great , but alittle more car oriented than the former. I can't think of a "walkable" stretch there, but it has more of a corporate feel. I know alot of entertainment companies are there.

That said, Pasadena is awesome too.

Hard choice tbh. Depends where you want to spend alot of time in.

[socal88]

Originally Posted by PK12

Thank you BRinSM and socal88!

By "real LA" or "retro LA vibe", I mean the overall feel of Ventura Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd, Sunset etc. If at all that makes sense lol.

Since I am open to and have already been using public transit - the Gold Line Metro commute from PAS to DTLA is a breeze. I get to 7th Street/Metro Center within max 40 mins, including the transfer at Union Station. I'm okay with a longer Metrobus ride too (i.e. if I were to move to Encino or Sherman Oaks), just wasn't sure how that commute was overall.

How would you compare the restaurant/bar/lounge scene on Ventura in Sherman Oaks, as compared to on Colorado Blvd in PAS? I have a good amount of experience with the latter and IMO it suffices for a reasonable night out, but not particularly unique or exciting as such. No experience with the former as such.

I see what you mean about vibe. There is certainly a unique aspect about Ventura Blvd. that Colorado Blvd. doesn't quite capture. I personally prefer the restaurant/bar/lounge scene on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks and Studio City a little more than Colorado Blvd. Not a big difference necessarily, but I feel Ventura Blvd. has a greater concentration of good spots, especially when it comes to bars. Also, for someone in their 20s and 30s, I think it's a little better vibe overall. It's worth going out there a few times and checking it out to get a feel for it.

As far as commute, depending on where in Sherman Oaks you are, I'd say Metrobus to DTLA would be 45 minutes to 1 hour. There is also the option of taking the Red Line from North Hollywood. But by the time you get there and then take the Red Line to DTLA, that could be 1 hour.

[ohio_peasant]

All considerations of dining, socializing or entertainment are on indefinite hold, owing to coronavirus. This may persist for years. The point isn't to be incorrigibly pessimistic, but to appreciate that "quality of life" now means having a larger and more commodious dwelling, than to be located in somewhere that's convenient for social-life.

That said, I'd recommend Highland Park and other areas of LA-city west of the 110 and north of the 5 (Mt. Washington, Silverlake, ...). Highland Park is on the Gold line.

But don't underestimate the chore of transferring at Union Station, especially off-peak.

[VLWH]

Take a look at Woodland Hills specifically Warner Center. The Orange line ends / starts at the promenade mall. Plenty of shopping and close proximity to Ventura Blvd.

[Astral_Weeks]

Originally Posted by PK12

I moved to LA last year, been in Pasadena since then - while PAS has been great in terms of food and drink/public transit/convenience and amenities, it still does not feel like "real LA" - which I know it's not haha, but nonetheless, it is obviously lacking the retro LA vibe which I really want to experience as part of my day to day life. At the same time, I am super conflicted on leaving PAS because it has really grown on to me

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and the bolded part jumped out at me....not much of a retro LA vibe anywhere in the SFV. I see you later clarified what that means to you.

Based on what you've stated I would consider: Studio City/Valley Village/Sherman Oaks. They have more character than most other parts of the valley (which isn't saying much) and they are closer to DTLA.

I am personally biased toward Pasadena as I think it is one of the best cities in all of LA County. It packs a punch for its size. Though at age 35 give or take I can see wanting to look elsewhere. I just don't think you get much more in nightlife from being in Studio City. A bit more hip than Pasadena but still pretty quiet. You would be close to Hollywood/West Hollywood, etc.

I would drop Encino and Woodland Hills. Good for your folks but not for you (very family oriented, not much nightlife, etc.).

Don't forget that the downtown connector will improve your commute from Pasadena to DTLA even more in a few years. In summary, I personally lean heavily toward Pasadena despite its distance/lack of connectivity to the LA basin.

[ohio_peasant]

Originally Posted by Astral_Weeks

...I personally lean heavily toward Pasadena despite its distance/lack of connectivity to the LA basin.

Having had some connection to Pasadena, a few comments:

1. It's very "uneven" in terms of neighborhoods and all attributes thereof. This is reflected in real estate prices.

2. Going up the 110 from DTLA to Pasadena, there is a remarkable thermal gradient in the summer. Simply put, Pasadena has scorching summers... not much different from the rest of the San Gabriel Valley, or the San Fernando Valley... but is proximity to DTLA belies the temperature difference.

3. Real estate is surprisingly pricey, given the unimpressive public schools. Contrast this with the nearby South Pasadena.

4. Much of Pasadena is flat, with Cartesian grid of city blocks. Contrast this with parts of LA further south, which are pleasantly hilly, with curved streets and the privacy that that accords.

5. The official municipal presence is, ahem, active. This is things like building-permits and inspections.