The City of Los Angeles
Category: Public Services & Government Public Services & Government [Edit]
Los Angeles, CA(866) 452-2489
128 reviews for The City of Los Angeles
128 reviews in English
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Review from Garrett G.
Tarzana, CA
2/1/2012
I've never been happier or more grateful knowing that this is where I was born and where I will forever be from. It has its good and bad aspects about it but that just comes with living in L.A., whether you're a native or a tourist trying to adjust to life out here. Traffic is a real hassle out here during certain times of the day, especially on any of the freeways; doesn't matter if it's in the city or the Valley. There's always something going on, places to do, people to meet, and many grand opportunities that arise when living out here. There's no argument whatsoever that the poverty level in certain areas of L.A. are inexcusable and must bring as much attention as possible to anyone local and outside of Los Angeles. As for weather, it rarely gets cold and it never snows, except for those once in a lifetime moments when it snows in places like Burbank in 2011.
I can't imagine a place more diverse than L.A. in terms of geography and ethnicity. You never know when you might run into someone down the line and make you think that you're having a moment of Dejavu. -
Review from Lisa C.
NY
5/7/2012
tried to sign up for Healthy Way LA hoping there was some aid in sight amidst a career change and lacking of any health coverage starting out in a salon industry where you are required to work your way up and up before benefits are even an option, I was disgusted by how the Healthy Way LA Representative basically scoffed at me saying i made 87 dollars over the poverty level last year and that "[I] wouldnt qualify for free services, I would still have to pay some money you know... I'm just saying it's not free for you because you made too much $..."
First of all, rude little inexperienced telephone operator, I wanted to make an appointment to discuss what options would be for me as I was referred to this phone number because of a need, not because of I;m some freeloader part-of-the-problem! Secondly if I am calling for health Aid, perhaps they should invest in a little phone courtesy. you have no idea how fragile or frail someone's mind frame is at any given time, when I call a line like yours called "healthy way LA" I expect some sort of healthy communication not being treated like scum and a waste of some operator's time. Learn some human qualities then decide how you want to talk to inquiring people! some help line!
Then I'm told, there are no appointments in the next two weeks I'd have to call back. What kind of joke is this?! Or... they could follow up with me if anything opens? "Yeah, well we only book every 2 weeks if the appointments are full you need to keep trying back everyday" Yea, I've tried and had to wait on hold anywhere from 15-25 minutes, only to be treated like dirt and be judged.
Exactly why we have no middle class. exactly why we get separated by class because there is no aid for anyone in the middle. I have a better chance getting help from my government by lying?? I'd rather suffer the outrage and keep fighting the good fight. But I hope THE SYSTEM KNOWS THEY'VE GOT IT ALL BACKWARDS and we NEED TO START BY FIXING ALL THESE BROKE DOWN SYSTEMS!!!!!!!!!!!
AND GOV'T WORKERS STOP TELLING ME HOW TO CHEAT THE SYSTEM, AND JUST MAKE IT AFFORDABLE and please, make it FAIR! -
Review from Adam D.
Los Angeles, CA
12/15/2011
Yelp is the only place where you can review a city! I guess for people visiting cities...well heres my review.
I cant stand this place. I want to go back to new york, I only came here bec of my stupid job that I love.
Theres nothing to love about LA. Traffic sucks, people are plastic, rude (not saying that NY people are polite or anything), and just have a bad vibe to them.
Public transit system is horrible, and theres just nothing special about this city.
The only good thing about this city is that its in California, which is a gorgeous state and just a few hours away from breathtaking destinations.
Oh and I also love the Lakers. Although the Knicks are better. ;) -
Review from Kristen S.
Los Angeles, CA
Attention please, attention please. I and my fellow Southland foreigners have reached a consensus regarding your city.
1. It is too crowded. Everyone, stop moving here. Or stop buying cars. Better yet, everyone who is already here: stop having children. Thanks.
2. The people here suck. Yes I said it. We all say it. We talk about how much you guys suck behind your backs. I'm not talking about everyone who currently lives in LA; rather I am referring to the native-borns. Your souls, like your city, are 95% concrete. Not everyone's life revolves around the entertainment industry and celebrities. There is, in fact, a wide array of careers out there that are in no way affiliated with film, television, or music - for example, accounting. Teaching. Productive things that help society instead of cluttering it.
3. We all see that huge gray cloud hovering over your entire city. That is disgusting. You should really do something about it.
4. Pets are not people.
5. In comparison to every other city in America except New York, your city is eternally interesting. There will never be nothing left to do/see/discover should you spend your entire life span here. Sometimes that is good, but it can most certainly be bad (ahem, Skid Row).
6. Everyone here either is or has at some point been an actor. Or at least they consider themselves to be actors.
7. There is more advertising here than any other city in the United States. Except New York, again. We are convinced the only reason movies such as "Four Christmases" don't completely bomb at the box office, is because the citizens of LA have been brainwashed by brightly colored advertisements (plastered on every surface available) into buying tickets to see them.
8. Young people of LA. There is more to life than clubbing. In fact, clubbing sucks, and I have no idea as to why anyone does it. That aside, should you choose to "club", it is surprisingly possible to have a good time (although not in my case) without rolling.
9. Hollywood is -10x as great as it is portrayed on the cinema-screen. Paradoxically, on any given day of the year, there are more humans per square foot in this area than in any other part of the entire city.
10. Everybody here exercises regularly. Well, not everyone, but the people who look good. Yay for less fat people! (Sorry fat people.)
11. Plastic surgery offices in strip malls? Really?
12. Look, it's Lauren Conrad! Oh wait, no, she's just dressed exactly like her. Look, it's Kim Kardashian! Oops, nevermind, she's just dressed exactly like her. Look, it's some celebrity that I don't know! But I know that she must be a celebrity because she DRESSES EXACTLY LIKE THEM.
13. Vegans are no longer outcasts of society! And they actually have restaurants specifically for us!
14. Mediocre 2-bed, 2-bath home in relatively safe area: $750,000.
15. Everyone is involved in, knows of someone involved in, or is related to someone involved in "the business".
16. You are not truly a member of society until you have some form of Lakers memorabilia. There's some other basketball team here too, but we don't care about them.
17. Contrary to what we were told, it IS about who you know.
18. If you're in college, either acquire a fake ID and a medical marijuana card, or live in isolation.
19. Upon returning to our respective hometowns, we are deeply saddened when we realize the 4 seasons of summer, almost-summer, post-summer, and rather-cold-but-still-basically-summer do not exist outside of SoCal.
20. During your time here, expect to receive no less than 3 parking tickets. You guys do realize whose tax dollars are paying for those parking spaces (and ironically, the parking police), right?
21. Valley girls and Jeff Spicoli's actually exist in real life.
22. The LAPD is basically useless.
23. Driving is a skill. Learn it.
That about finishes it. All hate mail can be addressed to my Yelp inbox, whereupon it will be read, mocked, and deleted.Listed in: Useless Reviews, Crowd Watching
1 Previous Review:
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5/15/2011
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Yes, I suppose this will do.
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Review from Tay D.
Las Vegas, NV
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
If not for your weather I would have never known you the way I did. You have such a nice view but most of you are so superficial. The only time I get to see your true beauty is in the most run down areas,, your imperfections. Slowly things are going to change girl if you don't fix your ways. The cost of living is driving most of the natives away.
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Review from Tanya M.
10/29/2011 1 photo
I like LA. Maybe not love but definitely like.
traffic:
is crazy. I like that some of the off ramps have lights that time the oncoming traffic & tell you when to go. the side streets however, CAN YOU BUY SOME GREEN ARROW LIGHTS!!! i mean really!!!!! if you have to turn left be prepared to either wait 4ever or risk turning on the yellow light.
only in LA:
would a hotel room have a scale. yes that's right the Sheraton we stayed at had a scale in the bathroom. the gas station had a list of exercises to do while you wait for your gas to pump!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!
the city is surrounded by mountains and i love the view. The star tours!!!! we took the cheeseiest tour ever.
weather:
the weather was warm during the day and freezing at night. so, defiantly take at least a sweater!
i will be back because there is more to see! -
Review from Michael W.
La Verne, CA
5/7/2011 2 photos
You know.
LA has tons of flaws and faults.
BUT there's a reason when Im out of state/country I say Im from LA people get animated.
LA has a lot to offer.
Food, Culture, Weather, the list goes on and on.
If you are looking for some cheap ice cream http://www.yelp.com/bi...
If you want to see something that could only happen in LA
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
If you want to see some LA architecture
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
And if you are looking for one of those food trucks...
http://www.yelp.com/li...Listed in: Best of L.A.
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Review from Dave N.
8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love you Los Angeles. I love you so much, that I am writing a review about you.
Things I love
-The perfect weather
-Hollywood Bars
-West Hollywood Restaurants
-The social scene
-Foodie gems like Zankou, Phillipes, etc.
-The beach
Things I hate, but can put up with
-Parking ticket nazis throughout the LA area
-High gas prices
-Traffic
-Smog
-Rain throughout April
That's the simplest way I can describe LA. I once wrote a blog post about this city too, but I won't whore it out on Yelp.
LA, you rock. -
Review from Megan N.
New York, NY
Updated - 6/3/2011
To prospective newcomers: You don't just need a thick skin to live here. You need to have a reinforced full coat of armor, a fine tuned bullshit detector, and a poker face that could scare off Phil Ivey.
I make no bones about it. I have none of those qualities and nor do I want to.
Coming from someone who didn't come to LA for the entertainment industry and never had the slightest aspiration to be a part of it - I am SO happy to be gone. Six years of living amongst some of the most hateful, self centered, vain, selfish, uninteresting, shallow, mean spirited people was enough.
New Yorkers are a walk in the park compared to the folks in Los Angeles!
Good riddance, LA. It'll be too soon if I never go back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/13/2008
Much to my dismay, I'm finding out that any and all stereotypes I've ever heard about LA are true..… Read more »
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Review from Rinky N.
East Bay
Updated - 3/27/2011
This was our saddest visit to LA ever. My sweet mom passed away earlier this month. We were in town for her memorial service. Along with grieving for her I also feel that my remaining link to LA is gone. All that remains are memories. LA has changed a lot since my halcyon days of youth.
There are still the deep and unmistakable connections I have to so many
places in So Cal. But it is doubtful that we will be visiting LA on a regular basis.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/17/2007
Even though I have lived in the Bay Area longer than I have in my hometown of Los Angeles, I must… Read more »
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Review from Hashim B.
Compton, CA
7/29/2011
The Los Ageles County Department of Child Support Services and The Los Angeles County Probation Deparment are in collusion. They are using fraudulent accounting schemes in-order to place fraudulent child support obligations upon LA citizens. See lnk below:
http://fedupdads.com/M... -
Review from Chanel C.
10/11/2010
i don't understand why LA only has 2.5 stars.
BEST CITY EVER. I LOVE LA :D -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/7/2010
Twenty Six Reasons for a Five Star Review
Angelynne
Burnouts
Cholitas
Derek A.
Encino Man
Freeways
Gang-related violence
Huell Howser
In-N-Out
Judge Judy
K-town
La Bianca murders
Marijuana
Nouveau Riche
Olympic
Porn
'Quaking
Rodney Bingenheimer
Smog
Tupac
Universal City
Valley Girls
Weather envy
X (in both band and drug form)
Yuca's
Zankou Chicken*
*Zankou Chicken was suggested by Andrew K. I think it's brilliant in its unique L.A.ness. My original letter 'Z' was "Zucchini"; 'Z' is a hard letter to find a word for. -
Review from Stephanie P.
Pomona, CA
2/11/2012
#478 As much as I always claim that I'm from L.A. when people in other states or countries ask me, I have to admit that I know very little about the city. Indeed, I really should be walking around telling people that I'm from the Inland Empire instead. Regardless, over the years, I have done my best to explore the city as much as possible and I have seen the good and the bad. Of course, you have your sketchier parts, but it's easy to know how to deal with it so long as you know where you should be at what times of day. Traveling in groups is also much advised. There is plenty to do here (drink, catch a show, catch an orchestral performance, shop, eat, etc.) and a little bit of research always goes a long way. There are obviously parts of the city where I can't possibly imagine having to live on a daily basis and some of their streets are badly damaged. Just, keep an open mind and avoid being so judgmental - it's easier on the mind and blood pressure.
Listed in: Los Angeles Interests, City Reviews
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Review from Jen R.
Sebastopol, CA
Updated - 4/11/2011
Los Angeles-Influences over 18 years. Mad Love for the city.
Angelino
Beverly Hills
Canyons
Disneyland
Entertainment Industry
Four o Five
Getty
Hollywood
Implants
Jacksons
Kardashians
Los Feliz, LAUSD
Malibu
Newcomers Naivete
Ocean Views
Palm trees, PCH
Quakes
Road Rage
Sunset Strip
Topanga Canyon
Urban Sprawl
Ventura Blvd.
Walk of Fame
Xenophobia
Yoga
Zuma Beach1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/28/2011
Really? You can review the City of Los Angeles? How the heck do you check in here?
Well what can I… Read more »
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Review from t b.
Upland, CA
3/16/2011
The biggest problem in Los Angeles is people using the restroom in public. And I'm not just talking about the homeless population but day-to-day people visiting LA unable to find a public restroom. I hate that in LA as soon as you walk into most establishments they I have a sign "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service". That sign is understandable because you don't want a bunch of degenerates hanging around your establishment. However, the sign usually hanging just below that: "NO PUBLIC RESTROOM", is the one that drives me crazy!
Almost, daily driving around Hollywood, West Los Angeles, and even Beverly Hills I would see someone using the restroom in public at various times during the day on the main sidewalk or street median. I have learned that this is because most establishments do not offer a public restroom. This includes a lot of the fast food joints too. And dare I say it....yes I have partaken in this nasty ritual. I mean first off to get into anywhere in LA takes at least an hour and then there are those "cash only" places that would love to offer you a "nice" spot to take a piss only if you buy something with cash. Well I don't want to buy anything from those trashy joints and when I have, there restrooms look worse and less sanitary than the "free" alley outside.
Enough b*tching, time of a solution! ALL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS IN LA SHOULD HAVE RESTROOMS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THOSE FACILITIES CLEAN...it's called cost of doing business! They already have those restrooms in place because where else are their employees using the restroom. Don't tell me those employees work 6 to 8 hour shifts without EVER having to use the restroom? That would be ridiculous. Therefore, the infrastructure of the public facilities (aka. restroom, bathroom, john, pisser, etc) is already in place they just need to be used to their full potential. -
Review from ericka L.
Pasadena, CA
5/18/2007 ROTD 8/1/2007
(Best read while listening to "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers)
In August, I will have lived in Los Angeles* for 15 years. Yes, my longest and most successful relationship has been with a California municipality.
* note: I consider everything from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border to be Los Angeles.
I came here a fresh-faced, naive Midwestern teenager and the city made me a woman. When I left home, I was sixteen years old, suffocating under the reign of parents who treated me like they were the Knights Templar and my virginity was the Holy Grail. I had to get out of there - I had dreams, baby, big dreams! They mostly included trying beer and letting my boyfriend get to third base.
Coming to Los Angeles made me a new person and set me free. Alcohol! Drugs! Sex! Everything was exciting and new. Let this be a lesson to the parents out there: don't have children.
I fell head over heels right away. I loved the palm trees, the scent of jasmine, the breeze off the ocean, the lights of Downtown, and the distant mountains that I didn't see for the first three months I was here due to heavy smog. (Or heavy drinking.)
Like any relationship, it hasn't all been good times. But the bad times only make the good ones shine that much brighter. (I so use that line on all the guys I date.) Sure, traffic sucks. But you know that when the freeway is clear and you make it from Downtown to Santa Monica in fifteen minutes, it's sort of like winning twenty bucks on a scratcher - surprising, and cool enough that you need to tell someone about it.
Okay, Los Angeles is filled with weirdos. But hey, everybody is somebody else's weirdo. How can you not love Dennis Woodruff, Angelyne, and Melrose Larry Green? And if you happen to be, say, a one-armed gay man raising llamas, this is the sort of place where you would find a social networking group dedicated to your particular weirdness. I love it that you can totally fly your freak flag here.
This is the city that gave me my first love, my first *ahem* time (with my first love, bonus!), my first real job, my first new car, my first hangover, and a million other things for which I am grateful every day. If Los Angeles was a dude, I would so be having his babies.
This city is an overwhelmingly wonderful and interesting place. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know what it's like to run barefoot into the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the night, or walk through the DWP holiday light festival with your best friend, or see a new Mayor sworn-in from the lawn of City Hall, or watch polo players at Will Rogers, or be kissed under the Hollywood sign. Those people have no idea what they're missing, and I'm okay with that, because hey, more for me.
Los Angeles, I love you. xoxoxo
P.S. 100! -
Review from Stephy S.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2006
The City of Angels and I have a looooooooooonnnng rap sheet. I popped out here. I watched my wee little limbs grow up here. And my roots and love for this little town only get deeper and stronger with every day that passes.
On the flipside of this territorial crush, there are people that just "don't get it." "What's the appeal? It's all wannabe actors and fakes and silicone boobies!!"
Well guess what Jack (Note: there is no real Jack, I just used this as a nifty transition), I don't act or fake bake or talk about my agent or carry a headshot with me at all times and for the record, I happen to rock a set of o'naturales! I read books, I know and use 75 cent words, I take in films, I love culture, I study food and wine and I also know that there is more to LA than Sunset Blvd. I'm as LA as you get and I'll add that 95% of the people I run into fit the same bill as well.
In my opinion, it's these very LA haters that make up the same close-minded set of people who try something once and use a strong word like I "hate" it, because they don't take the time to actually investigate it further. The first time I had sushi I looked at my friend and thought he was insane, now I'm the girl reenacting the Mervyn's OPEN OPEN OPEN commercial on the sushi restaurant door!
Point is, nobody puts LA in a corner! And certainly not on my watch! So, if you had a bad experience here once then I'm truly sorry about that, but hey, there is this great site called http://Yelp.com where you can, oh I don't know, ask someone what they recommend to get a true idea of the beautiful fruits, charms and character that the real (as in not as seen on tv) city has to offer.
Now normally I would close with a quote from Randy Newman, but I won't put you through that today ;)
Totes and stop hatin'Listed in: Los Angeles Things To Do
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Review from Poincare's Conjecture N.
Daly City, CA
12/25/2006
Title: How I Learned to Stop Hating and Love Los Angeles
I'm a Northern Californian born and raised. I grew up rooting for the Giants. I even say "Hella."
By tradition and birth I am supposed to hate Los Angeles with a passion that all Nortenos have for the Sureno cousins. I groaned when Southern Californian business like Ranch 99, Bristol Farms, In N Out, and Trader Joe's set up shop in our blessed land.
Why the five stars?
Because every great era needs a great villain and Los Angeles has played that villain to perfection. San Franciscans always think they're more enlightened, cultured, more bohemian than they're Angeleno cousins. The response of L.A.: whatever. They don't care. They're too busy to even sweat such stupid shit like that which infuriates us to no end.
They have embraced their superficiality so much that they have practically transcended it. By being fake as possible, they have actually transcended their own fakeness and have achieved their own sense of originality.
When someone from an old city (like New York, Paris, or London) comes in and criticizes L.A. by saying "This is not a city! It's 50 suburbs in search of a city!"
What is LA's response? " Like...Whatever."
Believe me, I was a born and raised LA hater. You can focus your life on hating LA and people from there. Just keep in mind L.A. will always win because they have the same response: "Like...Whatever."
So why hate it? It's a uniqe city and is perhaps the city of the future. In the California cultural wars, it has defeated San Francisco and I have no doubt that in future centuries it will overtake New York, London, and Paris. They all know this. That is why they hate LA so much.
Look at the new cities out there like San Jose. They resemble LA more than they do SF in that fact that they have no real downtown. It's more of a delocalized city and future cities are copying that. LA is redefining the way we look at the city. We might not like it, but it's there staring at us in the face. LA is unstoppable like a tumor. We will all be assimillated.
P.S. - In college it was the LA kids that befriended me. They people were the most chill people ever even though they didn't read and had the shittiest taste in music (Linkin Park? Come on!). It was my fellow NoCals that were more judgemental and condescending in the dorms. I always appreciated that from my SoCal college friends..
P.S.S. - LA gave us N.W.A., the Minutemen, X, and Black Flag. For that we owe them some respect. -
Review from TheDancingChef C.
Studio City, CA
9/16/2006 ROTD 4/14/2007
All I have to say is "I LOVE LA"!
It was spring 1991 when I moved to this beautiful city and my whole life changed the minute that I drove into town from San Francisco.
No I'm not from San Fran I'm born and raised in Cleveland, but after high school instead of being like a select few of my friends and going to college I opted for the United States Air Force. Boy what a mistake NO NO i'm kidding my motto is 'It's a great place to start, but not a great place to finish'.
The Air Force took me to Northern Cali where I discovered the ocean, sunshine, and gangster rap. Living in San Fran and getting to know the new Cali culture was very inspiring but I needed more, something was just missing.
After my 4 year stint I went to work briefly for United Airlines, now that was a real mistake...anyway I just couldn't take it anymore LA was calling me with a vengence, so I quit my 'good job' and packed my shit and threw it all into my 1990 Suzuki Samauri and hit the I-80 for the long 6 hour drive..
The excitement I was feeling while I was driving and bumping my 12 inch MTX speakers to some EPMD was just unexplainable. As I was driving perodically I'll yell out window or yelp out window haha "Hey I'm moving to LA"! peeps were looking at me like I was crazy or something.
When I hit the 405 freeway chillls ran up my spine and the anticipation of getting to Sherman Oaks overwhelmed me.
The minute I arrived at my cousins house in the heart of the valley I was immediately greeted by my other cousins who live here as well and we went into the house where my oldest cousin was closing a deal for her agency. She just booked her client with a new show 'In The Heat of The Night' with Carol O' Conner.
Her name was Anne Marie Johnson and she was there to sign her contracts for the show. She greeted me and welcomed me to this wild city and offered me a night out on the town to celebrate her big part. Well I was excited eventhough I drove 6 hours to LA I had an abundance of energy and was ready to go. I couldn't believe I've been in the city for 5 min and I"m already going out with a TV star....CRAZY!
Well we venture out to Hollywood of course to this club called Roxbury on the beginning of Sunset Strip. We walk right in with no problem and this was my introduction to the LA night life. We had drinks and we danced then all of a sudden people started approaching me with business cards saying that they're managers for dancers and so forth but I wasn't a dancer then I thought all dancers were gay.
Anyway to make a long story short I was offered to dance in a couple of music videos....'Damn was I dancing that good'? Anne Marie told me you never know what might happen to you in this city.
So we had a great night. I made a new friend. she dropped me off at my cousins and two days later I was on the set of BBD's new video for the remix of 'Thought It Was Me' ...It's funny now that we were cut out of most of the scenes meaning the guys never were shown in that video, but then I was upset cause I didn't understand the game.
From that day on i've been hooked to this city and have gone on to have a very prosperous dance career and life.
This is a city where you can be whatever you want to do. If you want to represent artist as a manager JUST TO DO IT! If you want to sell fruit by the freeway you can do that too. I know people that have come here to be actors and dancers and end up being teachers. I know people that came here to be teachers and ended up acting, so the moral of the story is this is a city that you can reinvent yourself in or enhance the life you're already comfortable with but you have to go into it whole heartedly.
Somebody said you have to let go of where you're from and I truly believe that or you're just out here waiting to fail so you can run BACK HOME...
I say home is where you pay the rent!! My home is LA.... -
Review from N.oah Q.
Santa Monica, CA
7/2/2007
It has been requested by more than one Yelper that I contribute a review of Los Angeles, so into the fray I go.
I've been here over twelve years. I have thoroughly explored different neighborhoods, nooks and crannies, and all the rest - from the glowing hot sands of Santa Monica to Happy Family in Monterey Park, from the delicious trails way up in far northern Malibu to a gospel church in Compton, from Bergamot Station to the frightening Grove, from The Baked Potato jazz bar to The Roxy, from the wretched Ivy to the gorgeous Josie, from the Hammer Museum to the Culver City Art Walk.
There is great eating here (especially of the ethnic variety), there are a plethora of great museums and theaters, year-round farmer's markets, and tons of little hard-to-find gems to discover. There are some great areas to walk in, and there is always something interesting going on somewhere.
But L.A. does not work for everyone. First off, it is an ugly city if you are one who doesn't care for the gaudiness and generic-ness of planted palm trees and flash, strip malls, big malls (often in masquerade as something else), or the monotony of badly designed rows of apartment buildings that have destroyed any good connotation to the word "stucco", or the pallid light that gets filtered through the smog and haze. There are some highlights, sure: some neighborhoods have a great bohemian look (Silverlake, for example), some buildings are visually arresting and even awe-inspiring (Disney Hall, downtown library, etc), and some of the coast is pleasant enough.
But having a blanket of smog hang over everything is like trying to look at a prized Monet painting (well, not exactly) through a sheet of thin, yellow cotton - this is one of the biggest things that taints my opinion of L.A., and unfortunately that ain't gonna change. The weather? I personally like some indication of seasons, and cooler air, and again...there's dat smog.
And of course there's the insane amount of driving in the famous traffic...in my opinion, this is what encourages the general rudeness and often times selfishness of folk here, and the cell-addicted life that so many get sucked into. Sure, other cities have that, too. But we're talking about how it fits L.A. right now.
The people? Like I said, the overall rudeness of folk here is bigger than anywhere else I've lived or visited often and deeply (San Francisco, Boston, Bloomington, IN, Portland, Manhattan, Vancouver, B.C.), and there is at least some truth to the cliche of the Hollywood or party-obsessed type or both permeating the land. I don't care if they are transplants - they contribute equally to the population and can be judged as such. Like any big city, however, there are plenty of great people to be found - there is no doubt in my mind about that. But this is beside the point.
I find that often those who like L.A. consider those who don't like it to be ignorant, "bitter", "haters", etc...I'm here to say that it's perfectly OK to not like L.A., just as it's perfectly OK to like it. It doesn't mean we are bitter or angry - well, I'm not, anyway. I just have an opinion about the place. While I have made the best friends of my life here (most of whom are leaving, one by one), I will certainly not spend the rest of it here. Over the years I have learned to seek out what's good in it; unfortunately, the good is not at the level needed to make me want to stay for the ultra long haul. And I couldn't care less about seeing movie stars.
Ain't nothin' wrong with feeling either way about it; love it or not love it, there are some great facets to this yellowed, chipped and worn diamond. When I leave at some point, I will probably (depending on where I move to) miss some of the diversity & culture, the great cheap ethnic foods, and the amount of hidden finds buried under the bland sprawl. Depending on what you seek, the quality of life here can range from the bottom to the top of the ladder, and I applaud L.A. for offering so many rungs. Two and a half stars would be perfect, but sitting in traffic for over an hour to get from Hollywood to Westwood at 10:30pm lat night has me leaning towards the dark side. -
Review from Z Z.
Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2008
My 400th review....dedicated to a city that I loved and just left.
Five years ago I was just finishing up graduate school in Madison, WI and excited at the idea of getting out of the Midwest. The day after I finished up my exams I packed up my car and headed to LA. During the time that I lived there, I made amazing friends, met and married my husband, and worked my way up the corporate ladder. What I loved about LA is that with every neighborhood there is a whole new set of adventures that open themselves up to you.
Here are my top five favorites:
The PCH: is there anything more amazing than a drive down the PCH? The crash of the waves, the dolphins, the windy roads, the cliffs, the overall scenery.....spectacular. It is really hard to even describe how beautiful it is.
Malibu Canyon Road: I will never forget the first time I drove from the PCH to the 101 via Malibu Canyon Road. I was a bit nervous, the road is so small and there is no shoulder on most of it. You truly need to be a passenger in the car to really be able to see how beautiful it really is. The road just winds around for several miles and you have not only an amazing view of the mountains and canyons but the view of the ocean is hard to beat!
El Matador State Beach: I love how you have to work for it. You have to hike down quite a ways to get there and the hike up is crazy! But, it is worth every steep stair and slippery path that you have to walk on to get there. There is rarely a crowd and you almost always see dolphins. You can't really see the PCH above you and it is shockingly quiet. It is the perfect place to relax and recharge your batteries, forget about any stress you may have and be reminded of how amazing LA is.
Mulholland Drive: I swear that when I first moved to LA I used to drive up and down Mulholland Drive at least once a week, if not more than that. I used to drive up as far as I could go and then sit up there on a bench staring down at the city below, so happy that I was there. I would also drive up there at night and stare at the lights below me amazed at the beauty of it all. I don't think you can find a better view of the city. Breathtaking.....
The food: well, this being yelp and all I should probably put food in there as part of my top five, shouldn't I? Is there anything better than opening up yelp, entering in what type of food you are looking for, and then discovering a new amazing place? Because of yelp I found countless amazing restaurants along with making some pretty spectacular friends I might add. This review would never end if I started to name all the amazing places that I discovered while living in LA but I will name a few: Moishes, Carnival, Vito's, Scoops, Casa De Pizza, Greek Cuisine Stop N Go Cafe, and countless others. I highly doubt that the food in my new city will compare to LA but I am hoping that it does.
LA is an amazing city and I will always treasure the time that I lived there. How can I not? Every time I look at my wonderful husband I am reminded of all the city has to offer. Unique wonderful scenery, unique wonderful people, and unique wonderful food....LA just rocks! -
Review from Grace Y.
8/26/2008
It's been a while since I've been down to LA and the first time without my parents hovering anxiously over my shoulder, but I've always remembered that I loved going to Southern California and last weekend didn't disappoint.
I came here with some friends to check out the elusive Disneyland (which I've wanted to revisit for YEARS arghh!!) and other than that we had no finite plans other than to have fun, and much fun was to be had. In part to some LA yelpers who responded to my talk thread and made suggestions of where to go and what there was to do.
It seems that people in LA are friendlier (in some ways) and a tad crazier in comparison to SF. I've never had so many random conversations sans dirty looks just walking around doing my own thing. Even when I was talking crazy and psychotic, no one was scared! I totally fit in here! If you know me...then you'll know what I mean when I talk about my "psychotic" moments....
Yeah, I had a great conversation with a taxi driver about stabbing people in the back and throwing knives, discovered yummy bacon wrapped hot dogs (that they have in SF, wtf?!), met some real characters, and was exposed to very clever and not so clever ways of being solicited.
People are really friendly here. I mean I was stalking a seagull on the pier at Hermosa beach, when someone offered to take a picture of me and my friend. We spent the new few hours talking to them, which was kind of neat. I mean, who expects to meet a group of artists painting on a pier at 1am Saturday night?
Props for that area for still having food available at 3am. It was appreciated mucho...reviews to come!
So random people and nightlife (which is also awesome) aside, there are a lot of places to spend money. A lot! There are lots of cool little boutiques here and there and most of them are novel stores. Walking down Melrose Ave, I recognized a few stores that I thought were exclusive to the Haight...but I suppose I was mistaken. Even so, there were lots of cool little shops to explore, little spots for food, tons of froyo. Also, I finally go to to go JapanLa! *swoon*
One thing I was surprised at was how generally clean things seemed to be wherever we went. There was one part of LA that didn't seem that safe, and I suppose we didn't go all around so my perceptions are very limited, but I didn't see that many homeless people or hypodermic needles on the street. That's always a plus in my book. I shall research more and get back to you on this...so stay tuned, more to come! -
Review from Ben P.
San Francisco, CA
9/8/2008
You know, I've tried to like L.A. I really have. And my current feelings about L.A. have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I currently live in S.F. --- I hated L.A. long before I moved here. But, the plain and simple truth is, I've given L.A. every chance in the world, and all that's left to do now is to turn it over to Patton Oswalt to sum up, correctly and accurately, all that needs to be said about the City of Los Angeles:
"This place is just a demon cock full of infected sperm with eyeballs in it, and you've got to suck it every day. But then, I had to fly out to Las Vegas for a week, and I got back to L.A. and thought, you know, at least the demon cock isn't dunked in glitter and deep-fried. It's just fresh demon cock, the way nature intended it. I'm not spitting out sequins or choking on baubles."
So, 1 star for L.A. because Yelp makes me give it 1 star, plus 1 more star for NOT BEING LAS VEGAS. -
Review from Wayne C.
IL
6/8/2008
To LAX - thanks for having exactly 4 food options, one being day old sandwiches.
To the 5, 405, 22, 101, 110, and 72 - thanks for the unprecedented frustration.
To the woman in the elevator of the Cooper Design Space who couldn't be bothered by telling us your dog's name - thank you, along with your 4 million citymates, for being such a cunt.
To Venice Beach - thanks for the contact high.
To Melisa Guitierrez - thanks for sideswiping the rental car.
To that guy in Pinkberry on Abbot Kinney - thanks for taste-testing all the flavors while 11 people waited behind you.
To Nigel Barker, photographer from America's Next Top Model - thanks for being the only celebrity we saw, along with that possible sighting of that guy from this season's "The Bachelorette" in the terminal.
To the saleswoman in Cole Haan - thanks for the free Perrier "while we shopped." For real. That was nice.
To Silver Lake - thanks for showing me a whole new, much more committed level of hip.
To the tanned, less dirty bums with shopping carts full of way more stuff - thanks for reminding me how hard Chicago bums work for their Gordon's.
To the LAPD - thanks for the parking ticket.
To the city of Los Angeles - thank you in advance for falling off the continent. -
Review from Abby W.
Alameda, CA
2/13/2007
I've said it before, but I'm sayin' it again....I love Los Angeles! I have friends who "hate LA," but when I ask them how many times they've been there, they tell me once....or never! WTF? I don't get it? Los Angeles is so much more than Beverly Hills, celebrities, expensive cars, and fake boobs.
Los Angeles is massive. There is so much to explore. So much to do. Escaping to nature is so simple. You don't have to cross a bridge to find yourself surrounded by it. Elysian Park, Runyan Canyon, Topanga Canyon, and Griffith Park immediately come to mind. The hiking trails are never-ending.
While it's true that "nobody walks in LA," that doesn't mean you can't. I have found myself doing tons of walking in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Hollywood, and Santa Monica. And I've only scratched the surface. And there's a subway that nobody seems to know about! It's actually quite convenient and we plan on using it regularly.
And then there's the shopping. And the restaurants (the vegan/vegetarian options kick ass over San Francisco). And the sunshine. And the beaches. And the dog parks. And the cool art deco architecture. And the music venues. And the abundance of kick ass farmers' markets. And the best pupusas I've ever had. And it's the home of Ozomatli and Jurassic 5.
Yes, traffic can suck. Traffic sucks in every metropolitan area I've ever been to. In LA, at least you have more than 2 freeways to choose from. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed living in San Francisco, but I never understood the SF animosity towards Los Angeles. On the flipside, everyone I know in LA loves San Francisco.
San Francisco will always hold a special place in my heart. It's beautiful here, I met so many great friends and my husband here. It's just time to move on.
LA, here we come!Listed in: I Love LA.....
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Review from Marco d.
Los Angeles, CA
10/13/2006
To commemorate my 100th review....YES...damn right, I've reached the century mark, it's my fucking 100th review, biatches(am I supposed to get a Yelp t-shirt?)...I'd pay homage and give 5 BIG YELP STARS to Los FuckinAngeles, my adopted home! Damn right this city deserves all the stars Yelp can give me, despite her shortcomings, faults and what-have-yous!
If you guys hate LA so much because of its sprawl, of its congestion, its traffic, its lack of history and character, then what the hell are you doing here still? Bitch, pack your bags and leave this city already! This is not a damn communist country, you are more than welcome to leave. And besides, do you think that LA loves you?
Oh, and don't tell me that you're here because of work, or you didn't have any choice, boo hoo hoo... Then why the hell did you accept this job in the first place? You're an idiot, that's what you are. Or you can always divorce your partner, if you moved here because of that, and find a better ass somewhere.
Stop bashing the city you're living in. It's not just wrong, it's rude, you uneducated motha-fuckin bitch, yes you, and you know who you are.
Yes, it may be superficial, yes, there are crimes, yes, there are those actor/waiter/model/director/posers and whatever you call them fakes or celebs...and so is every fucking major cities in America, or the world for that matter. If you can't handle it, then fucking move to a prairie and build your farmhouse already...next thing you'll know, you'll be fucking your sheeps! Yeah, that's what you call life.
And don't even try to compare LA to New York, to San Francisco, to London, Paris, and Tokyo...same way you wouldn't want to compare your asshole to mine. Okay, yours is bigger, I admit.
In the end, it's not about the city, the geography, the climate or the people. It's how you fucking live your life and make the most of what is in front of you, you got that?
Deep down, you know you're hooked, LA's got you. You're just too fucking full of shit to admit it!
Peace the fuck out!Listed in: Rants and Raves
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Review from Albert H.
New York, NY
8/1/2008
Shhh! Don't tell anybody but I love Los Angeles.
It's bittersweet now that I'm finally leaving after 7 years. I was drawn from the Bay Area by the shining lights and glossy surface of the biggest city on the west coast (that and UCLA), but quickly fell in love with an entirely different beast than I imagined. There's so much more to LA than how it's portrayed.
Sure there's fake Hollywood douchebags who chase celebrities at the latest trendy hotspot, but nobody's forcing you to hang out with them. Just ignore them, let them hog the spotlight and try to get on TV. The real Angelenos are busy elsewhere enjoying a city with simply too much to do. There are so many places to eat, sights to see, and places to explore. Seven years here and I feel like I've just begun to crack the surface.
It's always sunny and warm. Personally, I'd ask for a little more breeze and ramp down the temps just a notch in the Summer, but who can argue with year-round sunshine? Yeah, we have smog.. try not to breathe too much of the "fresh" air. But the air's cleaner the closer you live to the ocean and I spent most of my years west of the 405. *shrug*
My favorite thing? The diversity. LA wins for sheer number of cultures and ethnicities represented. The magic is in self-segregation though, creating these amazingly vibrant communities like East LA, Koreatown, Little Ethiopia, Little Tokyo, Little Tehran, Thai Town, Leimert Park, San Gabriel Valley (leaving city proper now, but bear with me), Little Armenia, Little Saigon/Westminster, etc. It's like somebody scattered little bits of the rest of the world across LA. I LOVE IT.
The one thing I won't miss: the TRAFFIC. Unbelievably bad. Heinous. Mind-numbing. Road rage inducing. It's basically a city-wide traffic jam during all daylight hours. UGH. Please build that Subway to the Sea before I come back. A line running along the 405 would be nice too. And damn, Angelenos, why you gotta love your damn car so much?
Los Angeles, I will miss thee.. but not that much because I'll be too busy living it up in New York. -
Review from Soo C.
San Francisco, CA
7/25/2006
One star is far more than I would give this armpit of hell given the opportunity to give negative stars. After two years of living in LA, I can unequivocally say that I hate it. It has only two redeeming qualities - 1) the nail salon where I get a mani/pedi for $20 on Robertson because there are 4 million other nail salons on Robertson and 2) the nice Korean mechanic down the street from my apartment who charges next to nothing to fix my car.
Let's do a brief overview of what I hate about LA, doing my best to leave out the cliches, but I hate those things too, so it will be impossible to write a review without touching on those things.
1) I actually hate the weather in LA. It's too damn hot most of the time, there's never any fog (which I love), there's no real distinction between seasons and everyone uses the good weather in LA to dress in horrific combinations such as Uggs and miniskirts year round.
2) I do think LA has great Korean BBQ. But I think K-town is a perfect example of a larger problem. (And yes, I am Korean) There are so many individuals of any given ethnicity, that people self-segregate. I think it defeats the purpose of living somewhere so diverse if you only hang out with people who look/act like you in the end anyway.
3) Why don't people in LA recycle? It's not that difficult and oh so satisfying, yet no one does it. Horrifying.
4) I hate that LA is flat. Give me some hills and valleys - but not THE valley.
5) I could keep going forever, but you get the point. I hate LA. **Update** And I am officially out of LA! I decided there was no point in moaning and groaning about the place and continuing to live there. So I did what any sane person would do and came back to the Bay.
Gas rating: 5
Shocking. LA gives me gas. Traffic gives me gas. Lack of public transportation gives me gas. Smog gives me gas. Feeling fat gives me gas, which makes me feel fatter which gives me more gas. It's a vicious cycle.Listed in: My moving saga
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Review from John T.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/12/2009
And the saga continues! Once again, I was on my morning job up the hill and who do you all think was there to help pick up the pieces of a hung over half assed attempt? You're damn right... my Garbage man. Here's how the dialog went down:
Garbage man (beeps his horn): "Where's the passion, baby? you gots ta get yo knees up... put da hurt on. It's the only way, baby boy!"
Kenneth Gray (breaths heavily, hands on knees): "Garbage man, you scared the shit outta me"
Garbage Man: "scared is being 37 with seven kids and bum knee from a linebacker at UCLA that likes cocaine"
Kenneth Gray: "Garbage man, I got no idea what you're talking about"
Garbage Man: "want yo brotha to turn up the radio?"
(garbage man cranks up the radio again... nothing inspirational, I think it was Mariah Cary)
As I started to jog again, the chants of motivation mixed with the clammer of trash being fed to the truck rang through the hills. I'd hear the occasional "make it sweat, baby boy!" from the cab of the truck.
We both got to the bottom of the hill once again, in front of my home. Yet another awkward pause... And just then my awesome garbage man said something that I'll never forget (Mainly because it made no sense at the time)
Garbage Man: "Baby boy take gold for the 9th time! Welcome to the 2011 Olympics. Back to you Todd"
(I shit you not...)
Then came the thumbs up, followed by a "long distance" fist pound as he stepped on the gas and left.
So, Dear Garbage Man, Once again my morning jog was made pleasant... and weird. Congratulations, you get 5 stars for your commitment to awsomeness and excellence. I hope to by gettin' many a "long distance" fist pounds in the years to come.
Loooooooooove,
Ken1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2009
New Years Eve, 2008... By 10:45 I'd already consumed 2 skrew drivers, 4 shots of Patron Silver and 3… Read more »
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Review from Sunny M.
1/22/2010
I'm giving to LA three stars because it could be better for sure but at the same when you live in it, you can't live in another place.
So my story in LA started from August 2001. I moved from one major city (Athens, Greece/ Europe) to another with incomparably bigger dimensions. I didn't know what to expect but I took the risk along with my parents to move to LA for a better life.
LA is an acquired taste. Newcomers, will hate it with passion the first couple of years, because it's a city with very weird demographics (not referring to the ethnic ones) and very stressful lifestyle. People here are extremely cold and defensive. Something that as of now it's not perceivable to me! They are not friendly, (the LA-Yelpers though are great ;) )
People who come from cities with awesome public transportation will hate LA because in LA you DRIVE 24/7. Using public transportation, besides from the obvious reason that it's bad, it's not practical at all. Just to know, this city is huge and the distances are enormous. You will use your car for everything you do. Note, to sign up to a gym when first arrived, because gaining weight would be one of the first things you'll notice on the first months of your arrival.
If you're coming here and you have a job, that is great. But making friends is gonna be tough so be prepared to meet lots of meanies here. Strangers say "Hi" if you're jogging or walking your dog, but if you meet someone you know (from LA) either at work, or gym or whatever, they turn their head the opposite direction, because apparently saying "Hi" is a major issue. *eye roll* or if you're studying here, your classmates will talk to you inside the classroom, but when they meet you outside, they'll pretend they never met you.
The most important thing to keep in mind is not to take these people seriously, as long you make money and you are fashionable with nice car(s) people will "love" you, because in LA it doesn't matter who you are, it matters what car you drive. With a nice car, omg you're so HAWT!
However, when you stay away from here long enough, in a very nonsensical way, when you travel for visiting or vacation, you will miss LA. I thought I won't miss it, but I traveled three times already and I couldn't wait to come back.
Cool areas to consider to live if you're single are Studio City, Valley Village, some parts of NoHo (North Hollywood), WeHo (West Hollywood), Franklin Village, Silver Lake, Santa Monica, Pasadena, if you can avoid Hollywood do so, the least fancy of all and nothing attractive about it.
Keep in mind that LA has great variety of ethnic groups. If you're attached to your culture, you might consider to live for some time within your ethnic community for moral support. That might help you to be less pessimistic during the first few months. And then you can move out of your community. Make sure it's not a ghetto neighborhood, it won't help you for your new transition.
Most importantly of all; Give yourelf some time. As I mentioned above it's an acquired taste and it takes time to get used to it. AND you can never go with 362 days of SUN. (We get like 3 rainy days during the year, so it's totally awesome).
The reason why I give 3 stars is because lacks lifestyle overall but you can't blame it because it's a huge city. It would be better to have a nightlife with more quality and less pretentiousness. Oh well, I ask too much from this life anyway, so, I might as well get over it.
You can have good social life as long you find like-minded people like you.
I wish you good luck new Angelino. This will be a very interesting (or not) experience for you... -
Review from Nancy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
3/23/2007
La la land, the City of Angels with the beaches, great weather, healthy lifestyle, Hollywood, night life, people watching, wide open spaces, etc. There is always something to do, it's not a closed type of city where you can't get in. It won't come to you but it's there if you seek it out. Here, ask and most of the time - you will receive.
Sony music executive endless pool party in Malibu - check!
Bumping into Johnny Depp in a club - check!
Aaron Spelling's voice on speaker phone - check!
La La land get rich quick quacks - check!
Three people get it on and want you to join in - check!
Dinner party with Arnold, Maria, Tony Curtis, Van Dame etc - check!
Night drum festival in Topanga Canyon for Summer Solstice - check!
Helicopter ride over downtown Los Angeles with Wolfgang Petersen - check!
One thing about us Angelenos, we do insist on being constantly entertained. An adventurous spirit, and an open attitude is required to really enjoy Los Angeles. There are so many neighborhoods and places to explore, you really don't have to go back to the same place twice. Can one get seduced by the plentiful shenanigans? Yes, easily. Are there things that fly here, that wouldn't in any other part of the country? Definitely. Will you like it? Likely.
When first moving here, it does take quite a while to adjust to the vast physical and psychological space. Some people really don't adjust and move back. A person can spend years enjoying everything out here, and not really notice that time is moving on. Is that bad or is that a good life? When I travel away, I miss the lifestyle and the space here. I feel somewhat boxed-in and want to come back to LA. An endless summer - what a great town, you gotta love it.Listed in: Five Stars in HellA, City of Angels
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Review from Stanley K.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2008
Besides the pollution and outrageous traffic jam, I'm starting to like LA more. Either you're a struggling musician or an aspiring actor / actress, you might work as a server, but who cares, you're in LA, where stars are born.
Just a week ago, I got a chance to visit LA and some of it's monumental and historic venues. LA rocks!
Reviews are coming soon, look out!!!
ps. LA Yelpers are awesome! Thank you for your warm and friendly hospitality. -
Review from Lu W.
San Jose, CA
12/26/2008
In the Old Testment angels are creatures with enormous destructive power. The City of Lost Angels is no exception. A certified good driver in the Bay Area, I turn into a complete monster on LA highways. I averaged at least 10mph over my typical Bay Area traveling velocity, and I was upset at the peeps who travel at less than 80mph on the fast lane.
There's something really angry about this city. Traffic jam, air pollution, disillusioned and pissed off people, a downtown no one cares to set foot on till fairly recently.
But then there's mountains, beaches, bikini clad babes and all sorts of movies. It sounds perfect on paper till you try it - and become an a-hole. -
Review from erin h.
Santa Monica, CA
3/8/2008
LA is like an abusive boyfriend, and apparently I'm one of those girls who likes to get roughed up a bit.
Screw you for making me need you. -
Review from carlos a.
12/31/2008 2 photos
I found this in the LA times the other day:
"Seriously, what's really going to be better than LA? Better scenery? Nope, unless you don't like ocean, mountains, forest or desert. Better climate? Get real. It's 70-plus degrees at the beach in the winter, with snow-covered mountains a short drive away. It rains only for a couple of days every few months, just so we don't forget what weather's like elsewhere.
Better food? Not a chance.
People fly from China to eat Chinese food in Monterey Park (and not just because it's melamine-free), and there's amazing Mexican/Thai/Middle Eastern/etc. food just about everywhere.
Better-looking people? Maybe in Scandinavia, but the weather and the food (seriously, lutefisk?) pretty much cancel it out as a destination.
Travel time? You're already here.
Plus, the inhabitants speak English (mostly), and the dollar is good everywhere.
Save the jet fuel and the hassles and support the local economy by exploring L.A. If you can't have fun here, you're doing it wrong.
-- John Brown, Los Angeles"
I concur. There, that counts as a review, right?
(avoids his review getting flagged? Maybe?) -
Review from David D.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2010
I'm not being some Bay Area asshole by giving Los Angeles 2 stars, I'm just being honest. There are some nice towns outside of LA- Santa Monica, West Hollywood(for nightlife), Long beach is actually nice, Fullerton, NEW PORT. But the city of LA itself isn't anything special at all. Nor is most of LA county.
" No other city in America outside of New York (maybe) has more stuff to do, eat, hike, drink, swim, see shows than Los Angeles."
Are you for real Mario? DId you HONESTLY just compare LA to NYC? That is like comparing Fresno to San Francisco. Downtown LA is almost empty during the day and is completely deserted at night. No one walks the streets and there are little to no signs of life, besides taco trucks. Good restaurants are few and far bewteen. Come on bro, the first thing your list to see in LA was "Dodgers Stadium." You cant even see the stadium cause its surounded by a parking lot on top of a hill.
Being from California I cant bitch about LA traffic, cause the Bay Area is almost as bad. Smog I dont care about either.
Forbs just recently ranked San Francisco as having the best downtown in California, as well as being the #1 food city in the NATION. The Bay Area also ranked as the #1 most diverse region in the US, 2nd was the NYC area.
To quote them- "Compared to San Francisco, Los Angeles is nothing more than a massive gentrified suburb." -
Review from Michal T.
Tustin, CA
1/31/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I must be ridiculous to review a city, but hey! The public has to educated! And being that I'm currently the Duke of LA with ONE check-in, I feel like it's my sole responsibility to handle this!
Los Angeles... oh Los Angeles. This massive city with it's various nooks and crannies... It's like an English Bagel but somewhat more dangerous, because you can get killed here! :P
Really though, LA is a GREAT place to visit. If you want to try some new foods, or go to Chinatown and get some illegal fireworks or weapons, this is the place to go. It's a giant melting pot of cultures and people of rich and poor backgrounds. And that's what makes it interesting.
So to you Los Angeles, I raise my glass.
Cheers! -
Review from Splendid E.
Ann Arbor, MI
1/24/2008
Today I told someone I don't like LA (not the first time), and was pressed to explain. I felt a little bad for being rabidly anti-LA, but I was also annoyed with having to defend my personal distaste for this place.
I explained to this person that I gave LA a chance...when I first came here, I suspended judgment. LA, you know I did. I really tried to love you...we went out, spent time together, and I tried to see beyond the mean things everyone says about you: that you're shallow, image-obsessed, a gold-digger, vapid, and dirty. I sought your positive qualities, the shimmering points of brilliance you surely had hidden deep within. I saw you at the Getty, tasted the best carne asada you had to offer, volunteered to help you clean yourself up. Remember the good times we had?
We both know, of course, that the good times came to an end. They just couldn't last. You kept asking me for money, and still do. Every time I turn around, you want more. There was the time I got rear-ended on the 405 by one of your friends chatting away on her cell phone. The way you flip out anytime the weather does something other than shine brightly at 75 degrees - but that's so predictable, don't you think? The way you segregate your people - don't pretend you don't know what I mean. The pitiful public transportation, which you explain by feebly telling me "it's better than nothing..." You have no center, no grounding, no heart, no roots. And you think you're so beautiful...have you ever seen yourself? I mean really LOOKED at yourself? You're all strip malls and concrete, coated in dirty grey smog...it's really quite sad.
I could go on, but why bother? The two-star rating is because I know you have potential, but you hide it. Why must you play games like that? -
Review from Corazon R.
Los Angeles, CA
6/12/2007
I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and moved here when I was three months old. I was sad to say I wasn't born here, but when I was told you can be considered a native after living in one place for 20 years, I couldn't wait until August of 2000 when I could finally say it.
Love it. Hate it. Do both at the same time. Los Angeles is an amazing place, and no matter where I wind up in this beautiful world, I will always consider this place my home.
(...and YES, I did grow up in the San Gabriel Valley, but I'm not about to review the Greater Los Angeles Area. At least I live in the city limits now...)
