Los Angeles, California
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international student - 5/11/2011

Hi, I am an Iranian Student and I've decided to continue my studies in the US. I want some information about Los Angeles, could any body please help me ? ( Sorry for my probable grammatical mistakes ) behnamghader@gmail.com[more...]

Los Angeles is not is as expensive as most people - 5/7/2011

I am retired and live near Downtown L.A. Most people think that this would be one of the worst places to retire in the world. Not true. It is cheap to live here. I just bought 8 pints of strawberries for a dollar! I drink to that and get a potent greyhound cocktail at one of the local bars for $3. Too many, I sober up with a good huevos rancheros breakfast w coffee for under $5. Not that chain store crap, but good food. I use my heat and air conditioning rarely and my typical gas bill is less than $10 per month. My electric bill is around $50. The weather is free here and it's mostly room temperature. I wonder how much New Yorkers would be willing to pay for that? The weather solves another problem. I get around town on a motor scooter which I couldn't do as easily in Omaha. It has solved 2 problems: parking and gasoline cost. I highly recommend 2 wheels in congested cities. Los Angeles is more like Florence, Italy than Florence, Kentucky. I wouldn't want one there or in some of the outlying exurbs of L.A. either. When gas went up to $4.50 per gallon, it cost me an extra $4 per month and blew away my budget! I never need change for parking meters. So what does cost so much in L.A.? Housing so many say. Not true either. Entry to housing does. I bought my first house for $127,000 and sold it 10 years later for $330,000. I bought my second house for $174,000 and is worth around $350,000 even after the housing crash. I should have sold it for $575,000 two years ago:(. But if you consider that I profited $200k on the first home, wasn't the second home free? Of course it was. It was just the things that I had to sacrifice in the beginning to come up with that first down payment. Finally, I would get bored quickly if I ever lived in any other city. Believe me, I can't imagine ever getting bored in L.A. Maybe that is why we generally out-live most other people. In spite of all the perceived threats to Angelenos from earthquakes to smog and wildfires, we tend to stay interested and alive.[more...]

Positive - 2/26/2011

Well the one thing that remains positive about Los Angeles is the culture. You are surrounded with things to do because its the entertainment capital. Hollywood always has something going on. I'm a native so I don't really go out much, but I like nature so I like going to the beach and hiking. As among other things here, this city needs a makeover...from education to the cost of living and the jobs really paying enough so you can afford an apartment to live in, since getting a house is like financial suicide for most here...okay it says not to say anything hateful...so I'm just going to leave it at that.[more...]

Los Angeles: A Place For Youth - 2/24/2011

I moved to LA when I was 23 years old. I absolutely loved everything about it. The big city, the beaches, the night life, the celebrity culture, all the activities and events. The proximity to the mountains, weekend trips to Santa Barbra and Palm Springs. It was great. Then I grew up, got married and had to kids. Now at 32 I am tired and worn out. My time to enjoy the night life is now gone. My ability to get away on the weekends has dried up. I stress over not being able to afford anything but a small 2 bedroom condo (which is the cost of a nice 4 bedroom house anywhere else). My work in the film business is good and the pay is good, but it's cut throat, with a rat race of traffic and long hours to stay on top. There are back-stabbing fake people everywhere, so your friendships are shallow. An no matter what I do to try and save money, my pocket book seems to always be empty as I have to shovel out more money in sales tax, property tax, car tax, utility tax and personal income tax then almost any other place. The air I breath and the roads I drive on are always dirty. I love my wife and kids, but at the end of the day all I want to do is go to bed...I'm exhausted. So now after 8 years of living here I will be leaving. Not sure where yet (depends on work) but there are so many better places to raise a family. I still love California and will most likely stay in the state, but the city of Los Angeles, no way. It is time to say goodbye. So for anyone who really wants to be in LA, make sure you are prepared for extra stresses you don't face in other cities. Make sure you are able to deal with a city that is overwhelmed with people and not sure how to handle it. Make sure you are not alone and have a support system that will help you when times get tough. And also make sure you are able to get out when you've achieved all you need to achieve, because this is not a place to be long term.[more...]

Climate in L.A. - 2/3/2011

It is dreamy perfection.[more...]

Born in LA, raised in LA, would have probably died - 12/17/2010

This is how it really is...If you can't take the heat, don't read on. Too many illegals sucking up public resouces making LA look like a giant toilet. Can't stand all the fake people driving cars they can't afford, which is causing them to jockey for position of #1 asshole. McMansions are overpriced and I don't like the culture of neighbors not talking to each other because I have the bigger dick so it's not cool to talk to people. Moved to AZ and it was the best thing I ever done, with the exception of all the LA A-holes that followed me trying to ruin that place.[more...]

Worst traffic - 12/16/2010

Here in LA we have a worst traffic.[more...]

QUALILTY OF LIFE - 11/18/2010

we live in the san fernando valley, a suburb of l.a. called sherman oaks. I grew up in so cal, moving away for college and work, and am now back again. I feel i have a new perspective on my city. I definetly feel that ones experience of a city depends on one's age, stage in life, and what they are looking for. for example, as a young man, i enjoyed all los angeles had to offer: great beaches, fun night clubs, beautiful girls (although beautiful girls are everywhere in the world), great restaurants, great shopping, and the great l.a. relaxed way of life. now as a 40 y.o. married guy with two small kids, i dont frequent the clubs or hang outs i once did. i still enjoy the beaches and fun places to go, especailly the great weather. HOWEVER, now my life is dominated by terrible traffic, smog, overpopulation, and insane real-estate prices. I find myself working long hours to pay off my mortgage and other bills and i find i dont get my money's worth. I am sure i am not alone in this, but i often talk to my wife about living somewhere nice and relaxed. maybe as a family we should take advantage of more l.a. has to offer, but this seems forced, and i know i sound old, but i am tired at the end of the day. also socially, l.a. is a very tough place. fortunately i have my family here and friends from my youth, but l.a. can be, with all its millions of people, a very lonely place. all in all, i wouldnt mind moving. i guess someone from ohio reading this will say the 'grass is always greener', they may be right, but there is no substitute for first-hand experience. [more...]

Error in judgement - 10/17/2010

Eight years ago I made a huge error in judgement and moved my family from beautiful and safe Burlington, Vermont to moral and culturally-vile Los Angeles. I have regretted ever day of it. As soon as our last child is out of high school, we are going back to Vermont. I'll take sanity and long cold winters over anything L.A. has to offer.[more...]

Political Situation - Disconnected from Reality - 10/8/2010

I do not want to move from the Los Angeles area but I believe I will be forced to move because of the unstable political situation and its impact on taxes and on the society in general. I wouldn't be against sticking it out and working through the difficulties if I believed that the voters were conscientious enough to realistically address the issues. They are not. Essentially the problem is that the state (and also the city) has unfunded legal financial obligations that are not sustainable. These financial obligations are encoded in the law. Neither political party (especially the Democratic Party which dominates state politics) is willing to address these issues. The real problem is that neither are the voters. The state is at least 20 billion in the hole and everyone is standing around hoping for a miracle. It won't happen. The major source of the financial obligations are an excess number of public employees with extremely good pensions and medical benefits. The deficits are so large that to try to solve this problem with tax increases will kill the economy of the state. The only real solution now is for the state to declare bankruptcy and for some bankruptcy judge to be the bad guy and make the budget cuts that the elected officials and the voters aren't willing to deal with. This will result in enormous turmoil with unpredictable consequences for people like me. We have a governors race that reflects the problem. The Democrat is in bed with the public employees unions. The Republican has spent over 120 million of her own money to become governor of a bankrupt state. So we have a competition between a disconnected from reality, delusional democrat versus a republican who is either stupid or crooked. The basic campaign program of both candidates is that "the other candidate is worse than I am". Everything is negative. There is no direct, serious discussion of the issues. [more...]

LA - 8/27/2010

You can't beat the climate, as long as you don't live in any of the valleys or out in the desert.[more...]

Looking for Home - 8/22/2010

I was born here, grew up here; been trying to stay. I spent four years in Portland, OR, where I graduated from college. Portland, to me, felt oddly familiar; yet foreign, like an inexplicable blend, between California, and Hawaii. So close to what I knew as home; so far from what I'd known. I left my zip code of 90066 and ran from the sun. How ironic, it seems now, returning to what I'd tried to escape. I'm trying to find a balance, here, among the niches of culture and neighborhood. Suitable for my neice, affordable for her mother, appropriate for my dogs, a pleasure to come home to. If nothing more, because trials, tribulations, and traffic are inevitable, if not highlighted here, I want to not haplessly fantasize, but adoringly envision the prize I forthrightly set out to work (paycheck), and work (traffic) to come home to. I'll drive, but at what cost? If nothing else, I've learned that I'm prejudice and impatient. Maybe, there's more to lose in trying to recreate rather than renovate. There is so much, of what I want, right here. I don't want to succumb to the bigotry and false pretences that deterred me in my youth. After returning to the 90066 zip code, my sister formidably states, "If not here, then a different state. Here is where it is." By "here", she means, right here, the basin. You know, that flatland surrounded by hill, West of the 405 fwy. With an ounce of insight, and a splash of support, I'm looking to prove her wrong. As diverse as this city is, I believe that she can not only stay here, but continue to admirably raise her now five-year-old daughter. Moms and dads of Los Angeles, what gem did you boldly acquire while forfeiting unreliable routes home?[more...]

Los Angeles has a lot to offer - 8/19/2010

. . . There's no doubt about that, but in my opinion, the quality of life is a bit difficult because the cost of living and the practicality of getting around are simply unmanageable. Considering that to travel anywhere requires a minimum 30+ minute commute is just unreasonable in my opinion. Add to that the $3.00+ for a gallon of gas that you will no doubt burn through while sitting on the freeway . . . On the other hand, there is great art . . . Theater, live music, live comedy, opera, ballet, etc. Not to mention simply the movie industry at large. It is a love/hate kind of place.[more...]

Restaurants - 8/14/2010

Los Angeles 90041 is a pocket neighborhood located along Colorado Blvd between Glendale on the West and Pasadena on the East. It takes approximately five minutes to drive to either city. It is patrolled by LAPD. Colorado Blvd has seen the evolution of a small "restaurant row" along Colorado Blvd. It has become a somewhat trendy eating destination for residents from surrounding areas.[more...]

Lived there for 18 years - 8/1/2010

and I left in 1984. I'm not a huge fan of LA. I still go back quite a bit since my family still lives there. IMHO---- Pluses: The Weather!!! #1 plus. #2 is the food/restaurants. #3 are the beaches and #4 is the nightlife. Minuses: The Traffic - it's appalling. When I lived there it wasn't as bad but now if you take a freeway anywhere past 1 or 2pm be prepared to sit in traffic for at least an hour. Everytime I go back I'm shocked as it seems to keep getting worse. #2 minus = the smog. It's so bad that some days it actually hurts to breathe. #3 - it's completely spread out and sprawling. There are places considered LA that take 2 hours to get to. If I were ever to live in LA again (which I wouldn't do) I would live in Malibu (if I could afford it - but then you're stuck on PCH if you want to get in or out), Pacific Palisades (very nice), Santa Monica, Venus, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach. Many of the people are gorgeous, many are nice. West Hollywood is fun. Most people work "in the industry". I grew up with famous this and thats (actors, musicians, etc.) but they are just like everyone else - most were nice, some were not.[more...]

Live here 2 years and leave - 7/22/2010

LA is a great place to live for 1-2 years. It's cheaper than NY and there are hotter people to f***. The people are nice and funny but they all just want to look good and be famous. If you know everyone is a narcissist, you won't be surprised when you get there. You'll probably become one too. People don't get into arguments in LA. They just smile and stab you in the back or they move a few blocks away hoping you won't find them. What's positive? The treadmill of sex, money, power, fame, can be fun. Everyone is creative and aspiring to do something. There are NO cigarette smokers. That rocked. I found LA to be fairly clean. The smog isn't all that bad. The food is okay but too healthy. I miss the carbs lol. And the grease. LA is a good thing to do when you are 22-35. You'll learn everything there is to know about life -- deception, manipulation and greed. When you are late into your 30's, drive away with all the crap you collected and never look back. You won't find love, family or happiness in Los Angeleles. You will however have the ride of your life.[more...]

High Cost of Living - 7/3/2010

I have lived here for 40 years now and I am ready to get out. The high cost of living is the biggest problem. I currently live in a 1 bed / 1 Bath condo which in the current real estate market would sell for about 230K. That's a lot of money for 800 sq. feet. I would love to move into a house and their are many great homes but if you want one you better be ready to spend at least 500K to start for something decent and in a good neighborhood. Los Angeles has everything in the world for you to do but you better make at least 75K for a single person or 150K for a couple, otherwise you'll be working just to pay the rent/mortgage. Not to mention high price of gas for the car you must have to get around. This city is not designed for pedestrians, it's just to big and mass transit is poor when compared to something like New York.[more...]

Ocean, Mountains and Lots of Entertainment - 6/29/2010

I've lived in Los Angeles for 20 years. I haven't driven to work in almost 2 years now - instead I use rapid transit. According to AirNow.gov, the air quality in L.A. has improved over the last few years and I hope I helped contribute to that by not driving my car as much. What I love the best about L.A. is the fact that I am close to the ocean, the mountains, and great entertainment venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall and L.A. Live. Anyone can take rapid transit to visit those venues as well. We also have the L.A. Zoo, Griffith Park, L.A. County Museum, Kodak Theatre, Universal Studios, and of course Disneyland is a short drive away. Many of these places have free admission days or discounted prices for residents.[more...]

Bad when the Lakers win - 6/29/2010

I have been in the downtown LA area for 2 years, in a loft. The area has some homeless where I live (Southpark area), though they are pretty none aggressive. The area has bike security and lots of police use the local Shell station as a kind of hub for the area (a good thing). So, overall, safety is not something I think about there. The worst thing is the Lakers fans. the last 2 years have produced riots after the Lakes won the NBA championships. Our building has been tagged, windows broken, and, as a member of the neighborhood, I worry about me car getting damaged. This has made the area a place I would not recommend to anyone. The prices for lofts, either to buy or rent, are pretty high, and between you and I the area upkeep is so so, it being pretty dirty. G[more...]

Getting around in Los Angeles - 6/28/2010

Unfortunately, Los Angeles is based on the automobile. Living on the west side (Santa Monica, West Los Angeles) gives you 30 minute access to more than you can imagine. But try to do it by bus or light rail and you run into many logistical problems. With a car Santa Barbara (north) or San Diego (south) are 2 hours away. Two hours may sound like a long time, but there is so much variety to what is available in Los Angeles, the rewards easily pay for the effort.[more...]