Los Angeles Loungers...Need some info.

[FedoraGent]

LA Loungers,

Currently I have a job offer on the table that would relocate Magneto and I from where we are in the Bay Area to the Los Angeles area. I have to keep this somewhat quiet because the people that I work with today don't have any clue that I'm looking. As a Northern California native, it's a stretch for me to even think about going down south. The move would be great for my career and would be very lucrative. I brought this up during the Bing's event on Saturday and had the great time speaking with Doran and Deckard (sounds like a law firm) but I'd really like the views of other Loungers.

1. What areas/cities of the Los Angeles Area (From Pasadena to far west as Santa Monica) do you feel are a great place for vintage rentals? Oh and it has to be safe, so no Central LA. (Trying to find a nice place for us to live.)

2. Does the LA area offer alot as far as the vintage scene (clothing shopping, hat stores, dancing, and the like.)

3. What do you think the LA area has to offer over the San Francisco Bay Area?

Any input that you guys have would be great as I'm struggling with this.

Thanks,

FedoraGent

 

[Miss Neecerie]

LA Loungers,

Currently I have a job offer on the table that would relocate Magneto and I from where we are in the Bay Area to the Los Angeles area. I have to keep this somewhat quiet because the people that I work with today don't have any clue that I'm looking. As a Northern California native, it's a stretch for me to even think about going down south. The move would be great for my career and would be very lucrative. I brought this up during the Bing's event on Saturday and had the great time speaking with Doran and Deckard (sounds like a law firm) but I'd really like the views of other Loungers.

1. What areas/cities of the Los Angeles Area (From Pasadena to far west as Santa Monica) do you feel are a great place for vintage rentals? Oh and it has to be safe, so no Central LA. (Trying to find a nice place for us to live.)

2. Does the LA area offer alot as far as the vintage scene (clothing shopping, hat stores, dancing, and the like.)

3. What do you think the LA area has to offer over the San Francisco Bay Area?

Any input that you guys have would be great as I'm struggling with this.

Thanks,

FedoraGent

Well First of all...part of town the job is in, will play a large part in where you want to rent. Well unless you want a 2-3 hour commute each day.

So hard to say a lot without knowing a general 'where's the job?' area.

That being said, I live in Pasadena and I really like it. Pity there arn't currently any openings in the bungalow court I live in...we need a few more vintage families so that we can slowly take over.

 

[pigeon toe]

I'm originally from the Bay Area (Marin) and moved down here to go to UCLA. It's definitely different, but I love it here, though I do get homesick sometimes. But it's just a 1 hour plane ride, so it's not a big deal at all.

Like Miss Neecerie said, where you work will determine where you live. But West LA is nice, but expensive I imagine (I live in Westwood and it's pretty ridiculously priced). In the South Bay, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach all seem pretty nice, but I'm sure Torrance is the cheapest of the bunch. Hawthorne is alright too, but not all areas are the greatest.

As for what LA has to offer is definitely the weather! There's also a TON of vintage stuff going on, which is great. It's definitely completely different from SF, but for me, coming from the suburbs, it was a nice transition. I still think SF is a better city in a lot of ways, since LA doesn't feel like a city at all. They are just very different from one another.

 

[StanleyVanBuren]

I'm from Los Altos in the bay area and now permanently live in LA, specifically Pacific Palisades -- it's on the coast in between Malibu and Santa Monica. I highly recommend it! The Palisades village itself is to me sort of like a So Cal version of downtown Los Altos, it's very clean and very safe. And it's about a mile to the beach! When I first moved down here, I initially lived in Malibu, which was nice, but too much in the middle of nowhere. Then I tried Santa Monica, which is too commercial and urban for my liking. The Palisades = happy medium.

My other recommendation would be South Pasadena. It's on the complete other side of LA from me, but I've been through there and it's pretty much gorgeous and full of great old homes.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

I'm guessing your job offer will be in the city areas, but I could be wrong. I live in the San Fernando Valley and parts of it are pretty safe, but if your job offer is in the city, I wouldn't reccomend living out here. Too much traffic getting there.

 

[Tomasso]

Well First of all...part of town the job is in, will play a large part in where you want to rent. Well unless you want a 2-3 hour commute each day.

So true, I was told this when I was relocating to LA over twenty years ago. Since I was opening a branch office for my company I was able to lease both office space and house a block apart in Beverly Hills. That was a sweet setup.

 

[Lincsong]

Go South youngman. L.A. is better than the Bay Area. (and this is from a fellow Bay Area native. )

 

[FedoraGent]

Well First of all...part of town the job is in, will play a large part in where you want to rent. Well unless you want a 2-3 hour commute each day.

So hard to say a lot without knowing a general 'where's the job?' area.

That being said, I live in Pasadena and I really like it. Pity there arn't currently any openings in the bungalow court I live in...we need a few more vintage families so that we can slowly take over.

Well, I need to be able to go downtown, be in Hollywood for work and I would be able to work from home. However, on days that I need to be out in the field, I'm going to be traveling the freeways quite a bit. I looked at Pasadena and South Pasadena and they seemed nice. However I think that I'd like for us to live by the beach, and Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey and other places like that look great. Now, Magneto says she doesn't necessarily need a vintage home, but I'd like to be able to have us live in a place like that. She does say that modern is okay, as long as it is nice...but I'd like to find a vintage home to rent. It would be nice. Now, I don't know too much about down there, but I think that the weather will definitely be better. I can't go down too far towards the OC, because that was a hell of a drive two weekends ago from Santa Ana to look around...however I figure Monrovia, S. Pasadena, Altadena, Pasadena are okay.

Downtown LA....Wilshire, Sunset, Broadway and the like...how do I put this... hell no. I have not checked out the coast, so I want to go ahead and take a look. I just got a raise, so that should help with some things. I figure that I need to try this for my career and Magneto and I will still get married up here...but she's down for going to LA and I think I'm just still hung up on the fact that it isn't SF...AND WE JUST MOVED. I suppose you have to go where the job is.

FG.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Well, I need to be able to go downtown, be in Hollywood for work and I would be able to work from home. However, on days that I need to be out in the field, I'm going to be traveling the freeways quite a bit. I looked at Pasadena and South Pasadena and they seemed nice. However I think that I'd like for us to live by the beach, and Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey and other places like that look great. Now, Magneto says she doesn't necessarily need a vintage home, but I'd like to be able to have us live in a place like that. She does say that modern is okay, as long as it is nice...but I'd like to find a vintage home to rent. It would be nice. Now, I don't know too much about down there, but I think that the weather will definitely be better. I can't go down too far towards the OC, because that was a hell of a drive two weekends ago from Santa Ana to look around...however I figure Monrovia, S. Pasadena, Altadena, Pasadena are okay.

Downtown LA....Wilshire, Sunset, Broadway and the like...how do I put this... hell no. I have not checked out the coast, so I want to go ahead and take a look. I just got a raise, so that should help with some things. I figure that I need to try this for my career and Magneto and I will still get married up here...but she's down for going to LA and I think I'm just still hung up on the fact that it isn't SF...AND WE JUST MOVED. I suppose you have to go where the job is.

FG.

Pasadena and South Pas are both quite nice.

Ok...Downtown and -parts- of Hollywood would actually be train accessible from Pas/South Pas.....as long as it wasnt 'running around downtown and hollywood'....which might work for you on those days that you needed to go there. The trains arnt super speedy, but you can at least be doing something other then -driving- on them.

Just a word on coastal suburbs...its gonna be pricey...vintage or not.
If i can suggest having a look at the LA craigslist for general ideas of what costs what..http://losangeles.craigslist.org/apa/ should give you an idea....especially if you are talking -home- with any sort of yard, etc...as opposed to apartment. Those types of places in Santa Monica, etc....are going to be the super high end of things. Just a word of warning is all.

Feel free to PM me if you have other questions about stuff down here.

--Denise

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

I'm originally from the Bay Area (Marin) and moved down here to go to UCLA. It's definitely different, but I love it here, though I do get homesick sometimes. But it's just a 1 hour plane ride, so it's not a big deal at all.

Hey PT - I went to UCLA undergrad! Loved it.

Well, I need to be able to go downtown, be in Hollywood for work and I would be able to work from home. However, on days that I need to be out in the field, I'm going to be traveling the freeways quite a bit. I looked at Pasadena and South Pasadena and they seemed nice. However I think that I'd like for us to live by the beach, and Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey and other places like that look great.

Downtown LA....Wilshire, Sunset, Broadway and the like...how do I put this... hell no. I have not checked out the coast, so I want to go ahead and take a look. I just got a raise, so that should help with some things. I figure that I need to try this for my career and Magneto and I will still get married up here...but she's down for going to LA and I think I'm just still hung up on the fact that it isn't SF...AND WE JUST MOVED. I suppose you have to go where the job is.

If you are going to be spending time in both Hollywood and Downtown LA, you might consider a place like Silverlake or other parts of LA around Western Ave. Lots of arts and crafts bungalows in that area, though they are sought after. (http://www.latimes.com/classified/r...eb20,0,1892863.story?coll=la-class-realestate)

Living in Santa Monica, Malibu, etc will make your commute ridiculous, not that I can fault you for wanting to live by the ocean. My parents live in Mar Vista, which is about a 10 minute drive from Venice Beach, and a quick hop to the 10 Freeway as well. Look into it! It's considered an up and coming neighborhood, from what I understand. You might also look at Culver City, which has undergone some real revitalization lately and has fabulous art deco architecture. http://www.sunset.com/sunset/travel/california/article/0,20633,1582000,00.html

Finally, for rentals I recommend checking out Westside Rentals.com. I always got my apartments through them when I was at UCLA.

 

[StanleyVanBuren]

Go South youngman. L.A. is better than the Bay Area. (and this is from a fellow Bay Area native. )

Agreed! Strange how people like us are such a minority. The choice seemed obvious to me.


That said, I wouldn't rule out returning to Los Altos once I'm 40 and raising a family. Don't tell that to any hiring partners at any LA firms though, please.

 

[Lincsong]

Agreed! Strange how people like us are such a minority. The choice seemed obvious to me.


That said, I wouldn't rule out returning to Los Altos once I'm 40 and raising a family. Don't tell that to any hiring partners at any LA firms though, please.

Los Angeles has; Better weather, better looking women, (correction outstanding looking women) who could ask for more????

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

If you're used to San Francisco "Summers," stay the heck out of the San Fernando Valley or you will spontaneously combust. It hit 120F in Woodland Hills ("West Valley") last summer.

 

[StanleyVanBuren]

If you're used to San Francisco "Summers," stay the heck out of the San Fernando Valley or you will spontaneously combust. It hit 120F in Woodland Hills ("West Valley") last summer.

That was at Ventura Blvd & Topanga Cyn Blvd, right?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Downtown LA....Wilshire, Sunset, Broadway and the like...how do I put this... hell no.

Why do you say this?

.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Why do you say this?

.

Because they arnt the most livable areas Marc dear......Yes there are pockets of stuff....but I bet he didnt see those on his trip....gotta know where to look...

Downtown -still- doesnt have infrastructure like grocery stores etc.....I agree its rather not an option....

The whole Wilshire corridor heading west....if you didnt know which areas were safe or not safe......and -you- were driving by......would you consider that prime area to move with your wife?

 

[Lincsong]

If you're used to San Francisco "Summers," stay the heck out of the San Fernando Valley or you will spontaneously combust. It hit 120F in Woodland Hills ("West Valley") last summer.

That temperature is not unheard of in; Concord, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon. It could be 65 in Frisco, but drive across the bridge, through the Caldecott and it's 40 degrees hotter.

 

[Dagwood]

You may want to look in the North Hollywood area. They are building apartments close to Metro stations so you will have easy access downtown. If you don't want an apartment, the cities of Valley Village and Studio City offer excellent housing and are very close to Metro stations.

 

[Hammelby]

Looking for a place to stay in L.A!

Hi fellow FL'ers.
This seems like the thread to put up an ad

My situation is that im in the area for a couple of months and is looking for a place to stay. This would be for May and June (maby longer).

Any type of sublet situation would be pretty ideal......or if perhaps you know of a really awesome hostel????

Thx!

 

[StanleyVanBuren]

Because they arnt the most livable areas Marc dear......Yes there are pockets of stuff....but I bet he didnt see those on his trip....gotta know where to look...

Downtown -still- doesnt have infrastructure like grocery stores etc.....I agree its rather not an option....

The whole Wilshire corridor heading west....if you didnt know which areas were safe or not safe......and -you- were driving by......would you consider that prime area to move with your wife?

Agreed. These are undesirable areas and best ignored by any novice.