I love LA

[on_my_sleeve]

Urban sprawl. Cultural wasteland. Smog-infested. Congested. Dirty.

Those are words commonly used to describe Los Angeles. Often thought of as the incomparably ugly step-sister to those lovely maidens known as New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco, few consider Los Angeles a real city. Instead, it is viewed as a vast sprawl of unchecked

Comments

[soolio]

When I worked in downtown a few years ago, I would be surprised by how deserted the area would be on weekends. But there's been a renewal in the area, esp around Little Tokyo.

Looking at your picture of the Biltmore, I'm somewhat shocked by how much it resembles the Westin in Union Square (SF).

[on_my_sleeve]

oh my gosh! i thought i was the only one who thought the Biltmore looked like the Westin St. Francis! especially in that angle, yes? unfortunately union square is a lot more aesthetically pleasing than pershing square...

[soolio]

I think Pershing Square could be best described as modern art vomit, definitely a far cry away from the charm of Union Square.

Have you ever seen the Standard Oil building (I think that's what it's called anyway)? It's on the southern edge of downtown LA, I think. A beautiful, old, grey building and were it not unfortunately seated away from all of the other downtown buildings (and, consequently, away from other businesses), it would probably be nice address.

[on_my_sleeve]

do you mean this building?? http://you-are-here.com/downtown/1928_standard_oil.html

(this is a great website, btw. i got all of my pictures from there).

[munkaya]

Yay! Something nice about LA. :) We're considering moving to the west coast in a few years and LA is near the top of the list. We're coming out in May I think to visit friends and family, and to take a look around at the city that might one day be our home.

[dorothygirlie]

what a cool post.

[drsaddam]

Great post! So if you had the choice, given all the extra gems about LA you've discovered, would you prefer living in LA or SF?

I need to make that decision in 2007. I've spent most of my life in the Bay Area and would like a change. Leaning towards the UCLA Westwood area. But if there is some magical SF community experience I could be having, perhaps I should go for that.

[on_my_sleeve]

personally, i LOVE san francisco (well, ok, except for the all-the-time chilly weather). but LA is where my family is at and i have to find the silver lining.

if you've spent most of your life in the Bay, you'll find LA very different. walk? no, we drive. everything is much more spread out than in the city. if you've never lived in SF, i'd highly recommend it before leaving the bay. but if you feel you need a change, come on down! there's a lot to do in LA!

hmm

[anaking]

unless u r a chinese, food in southern california should be generally better than that in SF. but then ur probably a chinese. lol