What is there to do in LA?

[Himu]

Thank you sooo much for being troopers and helping me out in this thread! Especially Pickles!

There's zero humidity out here. A regular NoHo summer day would probably be mid 80s to low 90s, with a few spikes up to the high 90s and some rare trips into the 100s. Outside of summer you're looking at 60s - 80s year round, similar to elsewhere in the Valley.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I MADE IT!!! Houston weather

NoHo to Hollywood would actually be super easy, you'd just be on the 101 and get off wherever you need to be. Traffic wouldn't be horrific for that. The problem is parking. There are a lot of offices and workplaces in Hollywood that don't have employee parking and can run $20 a day. BUT, in NoHo you would be right next to the end of the underground Metro railway (above ground/underground railway). And the one, singular thing Metro is good at is delivering people to Hollywood. You could park there and get off the Red Line at Universal Studios (Studio City), Hollywood and Highland, Hollywood and Vine, or Hollywood and Western. I actually used to live near the Hollywood and Vine stop (down the street from Amoeba) and used Metro to get out to the Valley, it's maybe a 40 minute trip.

Taking the red line (that's the metro rail, right? I've been reading on my routes! ) to Studio City and Hollywood doesn't sound bad. In fact, it sounds great! How much does a rail line ride cost?

The rest sounds okay besides parking being 20 dollars a day. :holdup

Yeah you're straight. Of that list, these fellas played this calendar year or are scheduled to play by September:

Janelle Monae
The Roots
Erykah Badu
Nas
Solange
M.I.A.
The Knife
St Vincent
The Weeknd (PRE-KISS LAND)
Flying Lotus
Thundercat
Bonobo
Tycho
Chvrches
Fun
Arctic Monkeys
The Strokes

Yessir, but Mexican food is just straight up better in San Diego. The good news is it's only a two hour drive away. The bad news is you can't really get carne asada fries or California burritos in LA.

Sounds like a fun weekend trip!

If you can, in the near future, go to a taqueria, order a burrito, and take pics of their burrito menu. I wanna see what options they have, and I wanna get a good preview of what the burrito you ordered looks like!

Mmm...it's a pretty touristy outlook and presentation of LA. Like, J-town? I don't know anyone who doesn't call it Little Tokyo. Hail a taxi? How the fuck are you getting a taxi in LA? You'd use Uber or Lyft. And it kind of focuses on touristy areas.

But in general, yeah, it's accurate enough. If you have someone local guiding you you'll have a much different and much better experience. Nothing glaringly wrong though.

Alright. I have family in LA but I think they still live in Crenshaw. We'll see.

[Steve Contra]

You're from Houston so anywhere outside of someone's asshole is going to be "better weather" so I wouldn't sweat it.

[Himu]

[Himu]

You're from Houston so anywhere outside of someone's asshole is going to be "better weather" so I wouldn't sweat it.

[bluemax]

best place for tacos in LA go

The truck in Echo Park next to the Ralph's.

That place It's lousy with people on a weekend night though.

So true. I haven't really been there in years since people found out about it.

This: http://www.greattacohunt.com/2010/07/leos-tacos-la-brea-and-venice-blvd.html was one of my favorite places last year when I was working off La Brea. Its as good as advertised.

I live within a block of two places on this list:

http://www.greattacohunt.com/p/top-ten-tacos-in-west-la.html

Mmmm.

Also, if anyone ever talks up that shitty Hard shell taco place next to the freeway then you can instantly discredit their knowledge of all things taco. That place is awful.

[Himu]

holy shit that al pastor taco

[Boogie]

dont mean to derail this from actual areas, but i'm kinda curious if you have things set up about what your going to do out there or just gunna wing it

This is Himuro we're talking about here.

[Steve Contra]

dont mean to derail this from actual areas, but i'm kinda curious if you have things set up about what your going to do out there or just gunna wing it

This is Himuro we're talking about here.

http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/parks.htm

[Pickles the Firecat]

The truck in Echo Park next to the Ralph's.

Although there's a place a couple blocks from my apartment called Tacomiendo that is rated among the best places in LA for Tacos and since I can walk there, that's where I go.

Shit, yeah, Tacomiendo is alright. Need to find this truck next time I'm at the Echo/Echoplex...although I assume it'll be a wasteland? Maybe I'll just stick with pizza.

Taking the red line (that's the metro rail, right? I've been reading on my routes! ) to Studio City and Hollywood doesn't sound bad. In fact, it sounds great! How much does a rail line ride cost?

The rest sounds okay besides parking being 20 dollars a day. :holdup

I think a monthly pass for TAP (the card you use for Metro) is like $70, which is roughly what I spend on gas in a week. Holy shit having typed that out...fuck my life.

If you can, in the near future, go to a taqueria, order a burrito, and take pics of their burrito menu. I wanna see what options they have, and I wanna get a good preview of what the burrito you ordered looks like!

On it. I just found out about a place in Lincoln Heights I might be at late tonight. It's that or Ramen.

[Himu]

I deserve more than humid weather! Today in Houston my iPhone says it is 80 degrees high but it feels like I just walked into a restroom after someone took a hot shower. I hate it!

dont mean to derail this from actual areas, but i'm kinda curious if you have things set up about what your going to do out there or just gunna wing it

This is Himuro we're talking about here.

Please don't insult me further. I have a lot of patience with jack assery but I have no patience or kindness for this. I just got a second job to help pay for this move and help support my transition. Both will be expensive as shit. I've sacrificed a lot in the past year for this move. I've bought less, I've saved up $8,000 so far and plan on doubling that before years end. I am working on my art for no less than 10 hours a week. I have been researching neighborhoods, studios, rent, crime, and Greater Los Angeles for two and a half months. I didn't make this thread for you insult me or think I lack teeth, so stop being a cunt.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

You're from Houston so anywhere outside of someone's asshole is going to be "better weather" so I wouldn't sweat it.

I did a class in Japan matching weather names with US cities and Houston was "Satan's armpit"

[Pickles the Firecat]

Speaking of crime data, here's another resource you might like to play around with.

http://maps.latimes.com/crime/

So it's a general crime map and aggregation tool, but if you dig deeper into individual neighborhood/cities information, it's a really good census tool. Here's North Hollywood, for example:

http://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/north-hollywood/?lat=34.187044&q=North+Hollywood%2C+Los+Angeles%2C+CA%2C+USA&lng=-118.3812562


lol last quarter I remember Culver City having like 9 violent crimes total but something like six or seven were rape 

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Actually...

Do you actually have a job lined up? Or are you just going to shop your portfolio around and hope that you get hired? Do you know anyone at the companies you plan to apply to? Do you know how often they hire for these positions? Moving to LA on a wing and a dream is common, but so is failing to make it and moving back. It's probably not a bad idea to reality check your expectations.

Also recognize that Hollywood and The Industry are a MEAT GRINDER and you are expected to give not just your life but your immortal soul to any job. I know someone who got fired for asking (ASKING) if they could take 1 day off to attend their own college graduation. They were told they lacked dedication to the job and to leave the premises immediately.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Basically, are you willing to put out to get hired? This is the most important question you need to answer before you move.

[close]

[Himu]

A 30 day pass is indeed 75 dollars. That is fantastic but the site is a little vague on lines. Does that include buses, rail, underground? All the same thing?

Howard, I have some contacts at Disney, I'm applying to jobs as well as planning to shop my portfolio. Don't know what will happen, but it is much better than staying in Houston. It is something I have to do even I fail, but I'm trying my best to not fail, I guess.

[Himu]

Yes, I will put out.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

cool you should have no trouble getting a job in Hollywood

[Boogie]

I deserve more than humid weather! Today in Houston my iPhone says it is 80 degrees high but it feels like I just walked into a restroom after someone took a hot shower. I hate it!

dont mean to derail this from actual areas, but i'm kinda curious if you have things set up about what your going to do out there or just gunna wing it

This is Himuro we're talking about here.

Please don't insult me further. I have a lot of patience with jack assery but I have no patience or kindness for this. I just got a second job to help pay for this move and help support my transition. Both will be expensive as shit. I've sacrificed a lot in the past year for this move. I've bought less, I've saved up $8,000 so far and plan on doubling that before years end. I am working on my art for no less than 10 hours a week. I have been researching neighborhoods, studios, rent, crime, and Greater Los Angeles for two and a half months. I didn't make this thread for you insult me or think I lack teeth, so stop being a cunt.

Well, it sure initially sounded like you had made the decision to move to SoCal before doing research on SoCal.  If that is not the case, so be it.

[Himu]

cool you should have no trouble getting a job in Hollywood

The city of (wet) dreams!

[TVC15]

Yes, I will put out.

Would you felch a really fat guy with a gross taint?

[Steve Contra]

Almost every videogame artist I ever worked with was either a failed LA transplant, or (worse) a Hollywood burnout.  So there's hope afterwards I guess 

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Almost every videogame artist I ever worked with was either a failed LA transplant, or (worse) a Hollywood burnout.  So there's hope afterwards I guess 

yeah Blizzard Cinematics should really have been renamed Pardo's Home for Wayward Dreamworks Refugees

[Himu]

I deserve more than humid weather! Today in Houston my iPhone says it is 80 degrees high but it feels like I just walked into a restroom after someone took a hot shower. I hate it!

dont mean to derail this from actual areas, but i'm kinda curious if you have things set up about what your going to do out there or just gunna wing it

This is Himuro we're talking about here.

Please don't insult me further. I have a lot of patience with jack assery but I have no patience or kindness for this. I just got a second job to help pay for this move and help support my transition. Both will be expensive as shit. I've sacrificed a lot in the past year for this move. I've bought less, I've saved up $8,000 so far and plan on doubling that before years end. I am working on my art for no less than 10 hours a week. I have been researching neighborhoods, studios, rent, crime, and Greater Los Angeles for two and a half months. I didn't make this thread for you insult me or think I lack teeth, so stop being a cunt.

Well, it sure initially sounded like you had made the decision to move to SoCal before doing research on SoCal.  If that is not the case, so be it.

I've done a lot of research but the thing about moving to a city is that there's a line between research and asking the experiences of people actually living there. Research is fine, but having a dialogue about it so you aren't doing it alone is much better.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Almost every videogame artist I ever worked with was either a failed LA transplant, or (worse) a Hollywood burnout.  So there's hope afterwards I guess 

Also, let's be clear, she's moving from Houston. Your life is better off failing in LA that succeeding in Houston.

I wish I knew you lived in Houston earlier, boo. You coulda run a Kickstarter.

I wish you luck! I'm not trying to be overly negative, but LA is a city of hustlers, and you gotta be ready to hustle. The bright-eyed girl just off the bus who gets her luggage stolen is a cliche for a reason.

[Himu]

Exactly. My logic is, hey. Even if I fail I'll have at least tried, and secondly I'll be out of Texas. Texas laws (especially transgender laws) are almost as big part of the move as getting a cartoon gig. I am not paying (bribing) a judge 2,000 dollars to change an M to an F, and I don't want to be one of those people who bitches about their states politics and laws but just won't shut the fuck up and move to a state that fits them. So even if I fail, win-win.

[bluemax]

I've been in LA 10 years and I've seen people come to LA having done FAR less research and with FAR less money than Himuro is. Shit, when I graduated school I slept in my car a couple of nights, bummed it at a friend of my then gfs place, slept in my car again and finally rented a room for a month with the little cash I had left once I actually secured a job.

My current (and most likely soon to be ex) roommate hasn't had a job in LA for A YEAR. He worked in accounts receivable for a major corporation for a couple of years before getting let go for whatever reason. And before he did that? He temped it the fuck up. He has somehow managed to survive in LA for like 5 years despite having little ambitions, few resources and not much in terms of goals or skills. If that kind of person can survive in LA, think of how much of a better chance Himuro has to actually succeed with a plan, goals and resources.

[Himu]

Think positive!

[TVC15]

You're going to end up a hooker.

[Himu]

I am blessed in that I have a lot of skills to fall back on.

Plans in case an assistant job does not pop up:

1. Scout out internships if a job doesn't happen.

2. Use my creative skills to make money while interning or being a production assistant while working a side job or two. I have graphic design and photography experience. I can take budding actors' headshots for cheap for some income. Since i am saving up a shit load of money, I will be able to get a dslr on a lark, just in case.

3. School. There are plenty of animation schools in the area. Great for contacts. Again, money helps a lot.

4. Right now I'm juggling two jobs, and that's giving me fantastic experience which will be put to excellent use in LA. Many people there work two sometimes three jobs while supporting their actual dream in the background. I can do that easily now that I actually have experience doing it.

Honestly, I have plenty of options. There is no room for failure.

[Steve Contra]

You can sell wine for me.

[Himu]

Who has dogs they need walking in the park?

[TVC15]

I'd sell wine for you 

Anyway, I give it 2 months before Himu is on the crack rock and suckin' old man dick.

[demi]

I'll fund your trrip, sell some of those games to me.

[Himu]

I'd sell wine for you 

Anyway, I give it 2 months before Himu is on the crack rock and suckin' old man dick.

It's true!

[TVC15]

I'll pay you for some QUALITY art titties and gash drawings.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I am blessed in that I have a lot of skills to fall back on.

Plans in case an assistant job does not pop up:

1. Scout out internships if a job doesn't happen.

2. Use my creative skills to make money while interning or being a production assistant while working a side job or two. I have graphic design and photography experience. I can take budding actors' headshots for cheap for some income. Since i am saving up a shit load of money, I will be able to get a dslr on a lark, just in case.

3. School. There are plenty of animation schools in the area. Great for contacts. Again, money helps a lot.

4. Right now I'm juggling two jobs, and that's giving me fantastic experience which will be put to excellent use in LA. Many people there work two sometimes three jobs while supporting their actual dream in the background. I can do that easily now that I actually have experience doing it.

Honestly, I have plenty of options. There is no room for failure.

5. Upscale escort service

6. Downscale escort service

[Himu]

Let's see what it is like to commute from LA to NoHo.

[Himu]

Speaking of crime data, here's another resource you might like to play around with.

http://maps.latimes.com/crime/

So it's a general crime map and aggregation tool, but if you dig deeper into individual neighborhood/cities information, it's a really good census tool. Here's North Hollywood, for example:

http://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/north-hollywood/?lat=34.187044&q=North+Hollywood%2C+Los+Angeles%2C+CA%2C+USA&lng=-118.3812562


lol last quarter I remember Culver City having like 9 violent crimes total but something like six or seven were rape 

Thanks for this. One of the big reasons I picked NoHo is that the worst thing about it is that you might get your car broken into, or your bike stolen at the Metro rail station. I've read that if you're staying in NoHo, it is best to be south of Burbank because it gets a bit sketchy north of it. South NoHo ounds good but I'm not living TOO close to the metro station because there are reportedly punks who hang out there at night. Also, the art distinct gets a bit frisky at night. Living in LA, I will lose my male privilege and I do not want to get mugged when I'm alone in town so I'm trying to get a handle in the crimes and the logistics of their location. I'm not sure if those robberies take place north of the Burbank line or not but at least there's no rape listed, which again, is another reason i picked the hood.

[Pickles the Firecat]

A 30 day pass is indeed 75 dollars. That is fantastic but the site is a little vague on lines. Does that include buses, rail, underground? All the same thing?

Missed this earlier. I'm pretty sure it covers standard bus fare, yeah. Never really took public transit outside of San Francisco though. So I could be wrong.

Thanks for this. One of the big reasons I picked NoHo is that the worst thing about it is that you might get your car broken into, or your bike stolen at the Metro rail station. I've read that if you're staying in NoHo, it is best to be south of Burbank because it gets a bit sketchy north of it. South NoHo ounds good but I'm not living TOO close to the metro station because there are reportedly punks who hang out there at night. Also, the art distinct gets a bit frisky at night. Living in LA, I will lose my male privilege and I do not want to get mugged when I'm alone in town so I'm trying to get a handle in the crimes and the logistics of their location. I'm not sure if those robberies take place north of the Burbank line or not but at least there's no rape listed, which again, is another reason i picked the hood.

Eh. A lot of crime in NoHo is the same as crime in most of San Diego. Bar related. Drunk dudes getting into fights with other drunk dudes, fucking up peoples cars, that kind of thing. End of the night shenanigans. I wouldn't think of anywhere in NoHo as dangerous beyond "You should be a little wary walking around after 11". You do have a lot of punks, bikers (like cycling bikes, bike polo people), and just general Valley kids out with nothing to do because the Valley sucks. But it's tame. I have a very male perspective on this though, would probably be a bit different as a woman.

More music culture stuff to hype you, here's a quick 10 minute doc on beat culture in LA. You're up on FlyLo, the Brainfeeder crowd is kind of the dominate force in LA music right now. Wouldn't even feel right to call it underground anymore.

[Himu]

Why is the valley lame? Lack of nightlife and day culture? I'm still trying to figure out where i wanna hang at first. It is tough because there's so many options: meditating/hiking in Griffith Park, the west side and the beaches, the music scene, and then there's hollywood. I just don't know!!!! Will need natives to help me. 

And FlyLo is dope! Can't wait!

[Pickles the Firecat]

The Valley is really just a massive suburb of LA. There's good spots spread out. Fab's Hot Dogs, Sanam Luang, Vin Loi Tofu...uh, actually, most of the good things in the Valley are food related. NoHo art district is pretty cool. There are some cool bars--I go to Mad Bull's a lot for hockey. Um...the Nike Missile trail is decent enough if you're into hiking and need a midweek escape. The Westfield Topanga mall is a good mall? The area in Tarzana by Whole Foods is pretty yuppie-ish if you're into yuppie stuff...yeah it's kind of a stretch to find things good about the Valley.

Massive suburb, everything is 20 minutes away, the city itself can be as far as an hour and a half out if you're deep in the Valley like Woodland Hills. Has to be a living nightmare if you're a teenager without a car. So they congregate around NoHo metro and do bored teenager shit. As an adult with transportation, it's inconvenient but who gives a shit.

Really the best part of living in the Valley would be not living in Simi, Moorpark, etc. Ventura County 

If you're into hiking there's better spots that Griffith. Nothing more iconic, but you can head out to Circle X Ranch and do, like, the Grotto Trail or the Backbone. All the trailheads there are dope. Hiking in LA can actually be alright if you're willing to make the drive. Not great, but alright.

[Himu]

Suburbs

It's funny tho when I see NoHo pics I think of an urban neighborhood.

[Pickles the Firecat]

NoHo is kind of like the border between the Valley and LA proper. So you get a mix of both.

[Huff]

I didn't mean to be negative.

A friend of mine has just finally "made it" out there after 5 years of wanting to kill himself PA work and stealing toilet paper from where he worked because he couldn't afford his own.

[Himu]

sounds like the stuff I've heard. Can't wait!!!

[etiolate]

LA sucks.

[Himu]

LA sucks.

[Steve Contra]

LA is pretty great.  I try and make it down every month or if I have the time.  I'll definitely come and visit you

spoiler (click to show/hide)

granted you don't live in the valley

[close]

[Himu]

Okay, start listing shit to do in LA. pickles has rounded out music venues and parks (PARKS!!!). We've talked about taco trucks. What else?

[Himu]

Runyon Canyon









Sky Diving Los Angeles School[b/]





Kijubi Jet Ski Rentals at Marina Del Rey

https://www.kijubi.com/prod/26886/Jet-Ski-Rentals-Los-Angeles-Area



NATURE

[Pickles the Firecat]

tbh I'm kind of boring so the full extent of my knowledge is:

Music
Beer
Hockey
Basketball
Food
Hiking

[Himu]

Mt Baldy



Snow boarding, skiing, the works. On the border of Los Angeles county and in San Bernardino, but still. $59 for a season pass.

Cahuenga Peak



Little Tokyo ramen shops



The Troubadour

[Himu]

Stuff for people who live there to do.

http://www.laweekly.com/publicspectacle/2013/11/05/30-free-things-to-do-in-la-any-time

http://onecoolthingeveryweekend.com/2013/09/01/15-coolest-places-things-to-do-in-los-angeles/



HOLY SHIT

MUPEPE LOOK AT THIS!!!!

http://www.laweekly.com/squidink/2012/01/12/9-best-burritos-in-los-angeles

[Pickles the Firecat]

Ramen related:

http://laist.com/2014/05/29/ramen_week_means_half-off_ramen_all_1.php

[chronovore]

I hear ramen is improving in Los Angeles. If only it would improve in the SF Bay Area. Nothing but unending mediocrity (except for my friend's place, Juku in SF, which is handmade awesome).

[chronovore]

LA sucks.

That's OK. I lived in Santa Cruz for years and held the same opinion. However, SC is beginning to suck as well, with the increase in crime -- isn't it higher than San Jose's crime rate now?

[Himu]

How is ramen compared to pho? I love pho. But ramen looks so much better man!

Videos of things to do in LA area:

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I hear ramen is improving in Los Angeles. If only it would improve in the SF Bay Area. Nothing but unending mediocrity (except for my friend's place, Juku in SF, which is handmade awesome).

my favorite SoCal Ramen shop is Yamadaya, and trust me, I've tried them all

[Himu]

What are good ramen shops in Little Tokyo?

[chronovore]

How is ramen compared to pho? I love pho. But ramen looks so much better man!

It's not better or worse; they're different things. Ramen is a pork (or sometimes chicken) based soup which can vary from soupy to gravy, and egg-based noodles are used. Pho is a beef broth (BROTH!) with rice noodles in it. It's pretty light fare, but filling and aromatic.

[bluemax]

You can check out Blipsy's Barcade in Korea town. I went there on a date recently, its basically a decent dive bar with 80s arcade machines and pinball.

There's also a ton of museums in LA, the Getty, the Natural History Museum, the Tar Pits, the Auto Museum, MOCA, LACMA, Museum of Jurassic Technology, Museum of Tolerance, and probably others I have forgotten.

If you get here before summer ends check out the Eat, See, Hear website for a list of outdoor movies. I think these are separate from the movies that play at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery which is also another major attraction. Also I highly suggest checking out the Cinefamily website they do a lot of cool showings of old movies or weird Indie stuff with the directors.

There's about a billion fucking farmers markets. There's also the Night Market which I think is out in Orange County or something.

Or you could just be like me and bum around the beach every weekend.