Good afternoon, and welcome to volume 2. If you're a newbie to Los Angeles, this post is geared toward you. I will be giving you a basic idea of the pros of living here. I also promised in the last installment that my twisted sense of humor would return, I must reserve it for the next couple as it's easier to bring that out when I am discussing the negative side of it here...
Regardless of where you're moving from, there's no place on earth like L.A. Initially, it may be a shock to see all that goes on here, it may be exciting, thrilling, whatever descriptive words you may use or think upon arriving here. For most it is an exciting time, if for no other reason that you're really going for it and moving to L.A. It's really a big deal when you think about it.
One of the biggest pros about being here is the weather. Rarely is it below 70 degrees, even in the "winter" time. In the later and early months of the year you'll be driving around (if you have a vehicle anyway) with the A/C on. I come from northern IN, where the below zero temperatures are one of the things I miss the least. Even when it rains in L.A. it'll be a rare thing for the most part to see.
If you live in Hollywood, North Hollywood (NoHo), West Hollywood (WeHo) or any place within a few miles of Hollywood, then you have the plus of being able to walk to most areas within reason. Traffic is so bad most times that you will be able to reach your destination faster by walking, believe it or not. The metro rail (Red, Purple and Green lines) cost $1.75 for a 1 way trip. It's great, easy and one of the cheaper ways to get around. Plus if you walk more you'll be able to take in more of the city vs. driving. You'll see some of the most entertaining things you ever have purely due to the inhabitants of this place. Shocking, amusing, hilarious, disturbing, smelly, appalling, it's all here in droves. Very little will surprise you after being here for very long. It's not called Hollyweird for just any old reason.
Entertainment - there are tons of movie theaters, clubs, restaurants, unique shops, souvenirs, and just about anything you could ever want to buy here. A lot of times the Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd. will have re - showings of classic films and have cast members there for Q & A after the films, and the Arclight on Sunset does the same. Many films I didn't get to see in the theater as a kid are shown there. This is really cool. Amoeba records also on Sunset has free live concerts a fair amount of the time. The world famous Sunset Strip with the Whisky A Go-Go, Roxy Theater, Viper Room, Rainbow Bar & Grill, Hustler Hollywood, and the (sadly) empty Tower Records building are all in this short stretch of debauchery roughly 4 miles from the heart of Hollywood. Your chances of running into celebrities at the Rainbow are pretty high, especially if it's on a Friday or Saturday night. I'm rarely in that part of town but I do enjoy going there and hanging out now and then, and the food is great there too.
Chance meetings with folks from the entertainment biz/etc...my roommate told me that the guy who did the special effects on the first Evil Dead movie installed the internet here. I was getting my oil changed the other day and the lady in the seat next to me used to date the guy who founded Metal Method guitar lessons, from which I learned briefly a long time ago. I once saw Patrick Stewart of Star Trek and X-Men fame when I got off the plane at LAX. None of these things are really going to help you survive here, but they do make it interesting and I don't know of any other place in the world where they would occur.
There are lots of free events to attend in L.A. also, you'll have to pay to get yourself there but it makes being here a little easier now and then. A lot of your $ will be going toward basic living expenses, so this is a welcome perk to being here as well. Get out and enjoy it, as again the price tag here is so high you may as well if you're able.
Just the overall experience of being able to say you lived in L.A. for any length of time, especially if you come from where I do, is actually really cool. It does have its pluses. This is a short list of perks, there are others but since I live in Hollywood these are the ones that came to mind initially for now.
Join me for the next installment as we dive into renting and the unavoidable (unless you're wealthy or have more $ than most of us) world of roommates.
Have a good day all, and thanks for reading!
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Monday, August 7, 2017
Beginner's guide to L.A. - Volume one: Welcome to the jungle
Good morning all, it has been some time since I posted a blog. Since I tend to make them ridiculously long, I am going to try and keep them shorter and cover more topics or the same topics with multiple posts.
Since I've lived in L.A. a fair amount of time now, I thought it might be a good idea to give those who are considering moving here a good amount of information as to what they're in for. In small (er) increments. This one may appear long, but believe this for me it's a really short one.
So you want to move to Los Angeles huh? Well, you're far from alone. If you've never even visited here (I hadn't prior to relocating), you're really in for something different than you've ever experienced. L.A. is unlike any other place I've ever been, and I'm sure it's that way for everyone here who are what we refer to as transplants. L.A. is one of the most culturally diverse, interesting, and fascinating places in the U.S. So if you're moving here, you're in for an experience. No matter how long you live here, you'll have stories to tell for the rest of your life, even if you only remain here for a few months.
I must say this: I firmly believe that unless there is a VERY specific reason for you to be here, that you really shouldn't. Do as you wish but this place is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE just because you want to see what it's like and/or want the gorgeous weather. You'll be attending school here, are chasing a dream in some part of the entertainment industry as a musician/actor/filmmaker/etc., have family here, or whatever your reason may be - the price tag IS NOT WORTH IT if you aren't seriously chasing something that only or largely exists here that you feel will better you on a personal or career level. You give up a lot to live here on many levels.
Also if you decide you can't handle it anymore and leave, no one will blame you either. I myself did and came back, but this place isn't for sissies. I'll be covering as many topics on the city and surrounding areas as I can to give you the best idea I can (I have lived in L.A. for a total of 6 1/2 years) as someone who has seen and done quite a bit in all that time.
For now, thank you for reading and if you are planning on moving here, the first thing I can tell you is that you need a MEGA METRIC ******FUCK TON******* OF MONEY. Start saving if you already haven't, and start looking for at least a potential place to live. There's apartments and rooms everywhere, finding a place won't be hard. Affording it probably will be, and if you haven't researched what they cost get on it.
To close here, nothing I post in this series of blogs will be anything but the truth. For those who haven't lived here, you're going to read these and go "REALLY?" A lot. Trust me, I've lived through all these scenarios. I wouldn't lie to and/or steer you wrong. I consider this a public service.
Stay tuned for the next installment of this blog which will cover the pros and advantages of being in Los Angeles.
Thank you for reading! Please share. UP THE IRONS \m/ \m/
Since I've lived in L.A. a fair amount of time now, I thought it might be a good idea to give those who are considering moving here a good amount of information as to what they're in for. In small (er) increments. This one may appear long, but believe this for me it's a really short one.
So you want to move to Los Angeles huh? Well, you're far from alone. If you've never even visited here (I hadn't prior to relocating), you're really in for something different than you've ever experienced. L.A. is unlike any other place I've ever been, and I'm sure it's that way for everyone here who are what we refer to as transplants. L.A. is one of the most culturally diverse, interesting, and fascinating places in the U.S. So if you're moving here, you're in for an experience. No matter how long you live here, you'll have stories to tell for the rest of your life, even if you only remain here for a few months.
I must say this: I firmly believe that unless there is a VERY specific reason for you to be here, that you really shouldn't. Do as you wish but this place is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE just because you want to see what it's like and/or want the gorgeous weather. You'll be attending school here, are chasing a dream in some part of the entertainment industry as a musician/actor/filmmaker/etc., have family here, or whatever your reason may be - the price tag IS NOT WORTH IT if you aren't seriously chasing something that only or largely exists here that you feel will better you on a personal or career level. You give up a lot to live here on many levels.
Also if you decide you can't handle it anymore and leave, no one will blame you either. I myself did and came back, but this place isn't for sissies. I'll be covering as many topics on the city and surrounding areas as I can to give you the best idea I can (I have lived in L.A. for a total of 6 1/2 years) as someone who has seen and done quite a bit in all that time.
For now, thank you for reading and if you are planning on moving here, the first thing I can tell you is that you need a MEGA METRIC ******FUCK TON******* OF MONEY. Start saving if you already haven't, and start looking for at least a potential place to live. There's apartments and rooms everywhere, finding a place won't be hard. Affording it probably will be, and if you haven't researched what they cost get on it.
To close here, nothing I post in this series of blogs will be anything but the truth. For those who haven't lived here, you're going to read these and go "REALLY?" A lot. Trust me, I've lived through all these scenarios. I wouldn't lie to and/or steer you wrong. I consider this a public service.
Stay tuned for the next installment of this blog which will cover the pros and advantages of being in Los Angeles.
Thank you for reading! Please share. UP THE IRONS \m/ \m/
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