California Appreciation Thread

[Manton]

look, the strip mall ranks pretty low on California's valuable contributions to world culture. But I like the older housing stock, even when it is dull. I really don't like most of the replacements which is why I think LA's city-scapes are, overall, declining.

The idea that I am some knee-jerk LA-hater is absurd. I couldn't live there again because the traffic would make me insane but I still can appreciate the topography and lots of the buildings. When it was possible to move around freely at will (40-50 years ago?) I think I would have enjoyed living there.

 

[ehkay]

In another 40-50 years you'll be able to move about freely on the subway.

 

[mordecai]



In another 40-50 years you'll be able to move about freely on the subway.

Will never happen. Even if that "Fantasy map" system was built, it would still not be a convenient option for most Angelenos. I tried out the new elevated line to get from Chinatown to Culver City. With wait time and transfers it took two hours. In a car that's maybe a 45 minute trip in the worst traffic. Unless you are going from one point to another point on the same line, it's pretty useless.

 

[foodguy]

i wasn't putting you down as a knee-jerk la hater. but i do think it's true that it's a place that has a magical appeal to some and that others just don't get. no hate, it's just not your cup of tea.

 

[mordecai]



The idea that I am some knee-jerk LA-hater is absurd. I couldn't live there again because the traffic would make me insane but I still can appreciate the topography and lots of the buildings. When it was possible to move around freely at will (40-50 years ago?) I think I would have enjoyed living there.

Do you feel you can freely move around at will in NYC? If you feel like wandering through the cloisters but you work downtown it's not inconvenient?
It is possible to live close to your work here. That may not have been true 10 years ago, but it is now.
Hell, Genevieve works at an architecture firm and owns a business and probably spends about 40 minutes commuting total each week. She found work in our neighborhood despite it being mostly residential and turned down a higher paying job in Culver City to avoid the commute. I could work closer to home, probably in Downtown, which would have me in the car not more than 20 minutes each way. I don't because I like the job I have now, but if it was more important to me to drive less I most likely could. We rarely need to leave our neighborhood and can avoid driving in our leisure time if we don't want to.
I'm not saying traffic isn't a problem, but there are ways to minimize your exposure to it if you are so determined, and I don't see how that is a problem unique to Los Angeles. Traffic within NYC and San Francisco seems much worse to me for example. There are just disgusting trains that you can use to bypass the cluster for much of the city if you want.

 

[ConcernedParent]



Is ironic appreciation allowed?

Heh I actually love Berkeley, non-ironically. I might be biased because I go to school there, but it still seems like a great place to live, marsupialed politics aside. There's culture, food, a beautiful locale (esp. North side, I suppose the HIlls too), proximity to a few major cities (starting to warm-up to SF too). I used to think LA was the end-all-be-all for west coast living, but I'm starting to see the light.

Beautiful time lapse video of the most beautiful city on the coast
http://gizmodo.com/5937451/this-time-lapse-proves-los-angeles-is-so-very-beautiful?popular=true

Great video.

 

[foodguy]

i've got a really good friend who lives in the hills just above chez panisse. great modern house with views of three bridges. berkeley is a beautiful place to live.

 

[mordecai]



Heh I actually love Berkeley, non-ironically. I might be biased because I go to school there, but it still seems like a great place to live, marsupialed politics aside. There's culture, food, a beautiful locale (esp. North side, I suppose the HIlls too), proximity to a few major cities (starting to warm-up to SF too). I used to think LA was the end-all-be-all for west coast living, but I'm starting to see the light.
Great video.

Berkeley is the size of my neighborhood. Both are nice. I think Berkeley has better food, but my neighborhood might have more Berkeley grads.

 

[ConcernedParent]



Berkeley is the size of my neighborhood. Both are nice. I think Berkeley has better food, but my neighborhood might have more Berkeley grads.

Heh, the sleepy suburb I grew up in is also the size of Berkeley. It probably also has more parents of Berkeley grads than Berkeley has Berkeley grads.

Which neighborhood do you live in? I would guess Los Feliz, maybe Silverlake?

 

[mordecai]

I think we're technically in Los Feliz (Franklin Hills). You can see our house from Sunset Junction. Technically, I think Silverlake might also not be an actual neighborhood.

 

[dopey]



Something for Manton. Cal Golden Bears vs. USC Trojans playing in SF Giant's Park. Halftime show. Cal band playing a medley of songs from California Girls (beach boys) to California Love (tupac). I could see the formation pretty well from my nosebleed seats. 

Dicture reported

 

[Manton]

i can get around NY easily and the trains are not bad. The fact that I don't have to drive and can read is a major plus.

getting around the city of SF can be a pain but the NorCal freeway system is wide open compared to SoCal. 280 is like my personal road, almost never backed up.

 

[lefty]

It's easier to drive in NYC than SF. I find I yell at people a lot less in NYC because they know the first rule of city driving - keep the traffic moving. Can't say that same about SF.

On the plus side you can bully your way through the 4way stops here as most SFans approach the intersection like lambs.

lefty

 

[Piobaire]

See that door on the left there? Was the room we stayed in. Temps by 10 pm were in the low 30s, high 20s. Perfect to sit and drink freshly purchased wine in front of the fire.

 

[StephenHero]

Ew.