My Mum Is In La!

[Accelerated]

shes staying in LA for a further 2 weeks before leaving for Armenia. Was on the phone with her yesterday and first impressions arnt good: LA is ugly, polluted and dirty and apparently Hollywood is comparable to one of Sydneys worst suburbs, Redfern an inner city cesspool populated mainly by Aboriginies living in government housing . Glendale isnt too bad, but most Armenians (Hayastantsis in paricular) have menial jobs. Shes also found me a perspective bride

[phantom22]

I had dreamed all my life to go to Hollywood and Vine, the glamorous crossroads of Los Angeles. What I found there was not what the media had depicted, but a district in utter decay with prostitutes and transvestites frequenting the streets. The essence of Los Angeles was not the bevy of beautiful starlets I had seen on Baywatch, but a 26-mile long underpriviledged area that stetched from downtown to Long Beach. The San Fernando valley was a mix of luxury housing and run-down walk ups. There were many days that we could not even see the building across the street from my office building downtown since the smog was very bad. You didn't want to live east of the downtown because the smog was worse there, so you would try to live west of the downtown. This meant driving to work with the sun in your eyes in both directions.

 

The women in LA were very shallow, even the Armenians. I was asked by many women whether I was a studio exective. When I answered "no," they literally walked away.

 

Glendale is a nice little town, but the south end where the poorer Armenians live is not too good. The eshegs there drive BMW's and Mercedes but live in substandard housing. Reminds me of the Blacks I grew up with some years back.

 

shes staying in LA for a further 2 weeks before leaving for Armenia. Was on the phone with her yesterday and first impressions aren't good: LA is ugly, polluted and dirty and apparently Hollywood is comparable to one of Sydneys worst suburbs, Redfern an inner city cesspool populated mainly by Aboriginies living in government housing . Glendale isnt too bad, but most Armenians (Hayastantsis in paricular) have menial jobs. Shes also found me a perspective bride

Edited March 12, 2006 by phantom22

[Azat]

just to clerify some things. Glendale sucks. there are few small hidden pockets of gems.

 

Hollywood on the other hand has become an incredibly hot place in the last 2-3 years. Hollywood and Vine is really hip place with hot clubs.

[phantom22]

Azat,

 

I guess that things change. However, I can't see that the northern upscale part of Glendale that I know

nor the downtown, for that matter, could have deteriorated that much lately.

 

 

just to clerify some things. Glendale sucks. there are few small hidden pockets of gems.

 

Hollywood on the other hand has become an incredibly hot place in the last 2-3 years. Hollywood and Vine is really hip place with hot clubs.

[Sip]

Yah in LA you HAVE to know where to go. Otherwise, you are very likely to end up in a 3rd world country

 

Jugs, tell her to go check out 3rd street promenade and the pier in Santa Monica, Old Town Passadena, and also maybe spend an evening in Burbank, more specifically, walking around on San Fernando Blvd, between Magnolia and Olive streets.

 

As far as Hollywood, in addition to Hollywood and Vine (I haven't been there much), she should also check out Kodak theater at Hollywood and Highland. Inside is great with stores and restaurants but outside, I'd say about 2 blocks to either east or west along hollywood blvd is the max she should walk. After that, it's just fugly. By the way, that's where all the stars and stuff are along the sidewalk (walk of frame).

Edited March 12, 2006 by Sip

[phantom22]

Only in LA do upscale neighborhoods border dangerous neighborhoods. Only in LA do people "live in their cars" and only walk from their car to their home and from their car to their office. Santa Monica Promenade and Old Pasadena have replaced Westwood, which was once a wonderful place to walk around and shop, eat, etc.

 

I have been to many cities around the world. My informed analysis is "LA SUCKS." Yerevan was more livable

than LA when I visited there in the middle of the blackouts. LA is the "***hole" of America.

 

 

 

Yah in LA you HAVE to know where to go. Otherwise, you are very likely to end up in a 3rd world country

 

Jugs, tell her to go check out 3rd street promenade and the pier in Santa Monica, Old Town Passadena, and also maybe spend an evening in Burbank, more specifically, walking around on San Fernando Blvd, between Magnolia and Olive streets.

 

As far as Hollywood, in addition to Hollywood and Vine (I haven't been there much), she should also check out Kodak theater at Hollywood and Highland. Inside is great with stores and restaurants but outside, I'd say about 2 blocks to either east or west along hollywood blvd is the max she should walk. After that, it's just fugly. By the way, that's where all the stars and stuff are along the sidewalk (walk of frame).

[Sip]

Westwood is still a great place ... but of course I can't compare it to what it was 20 years ago because I don't know. They seem to be a lot of rich Iranians hanging around westwood ... but of course just a slight detour to the east and north east, and one finds himself in one of the richest (probably THE richest?) neighborhoods in the world. I've said this before but it is really not uncommon to be surrounded by 2 million dollars worth of automotive equipment at a typical traffic light there ... sometimes a LOT more!

[phantom22]

Westwood, from what I have heard, is not what it was 20 years ago. There were hundred of restaurants, many movie theatres, small bookstores and lots of gorgeous women walking around. Has it bounced back from it's slump years, I don't know.

 

 

Westwood is still a great place ... but of course I can't compare it to what it was 20 years ago because I don't know. They seem to be a lot of rich Iranians hanging around westwood ... but of course just a slight detour to the east and north east, and one finds himself in one of the richest (probably THE richest?) neighborhoods in the world. I've said this before but it is really not uncommon to be surrounded by 2 million dollars worth of automotive equipment at a typical traffic light there ... sometimes a LOT more!

Edited March 12, 2006 by phantom22

[Azat]

I guess I should make a correction on what I originally said.

 

Glendale has MANY great residential areas and its safe and all that, but when I said it sucks I mean it from chick restaurants and bars and places to go. By the way Sip Burbank is not much better. they have a few chain restaurants that sucks and thats it as well. Nothing original or creative.

 

Westwood - I never have been able to get that place. There are few nice places but thats it.

 

Santa Monica, Venice, Manhattan beach Some sections of the valley, Pasadena, downtown Hollywood recently, and few other places have really hip and chick places to go dine and hang out.

 

Grather LA in general dos not have an area of strolling or anything like that. It is definitely as Hagarag said a city where people live in their cars.

[phantom22]

Yerevan, in its most desperate time, was better than LA. It was a pedestrian city. Republic Square was well designed. I was amazed at the beautiful women walking the streets back then. We in America were led to believe that Soviet women were all farm women, overweight and with hair all over their bodies.

I hope that all the wonderful 18th century European architecture hasn't gone under the wrecking ball.

 

 

>

I guess I should make a correction on what I originally said.

 

Glendale has MANY great residential areas and its safe and all that, but when I said it sucks I mean it from chick restaurants and bars and places to go. By the way Sip Burbank is not much better. they have a few chain restaurants that sucks and thats it as well. Nothing original or creative.

 

Westwood - I never have been able to get that place. There are few nice places but thats it.

 

Santa Monica, Venice, Manhattan beach Some sections of the valley, Pasadena, downtown Hollywood recently, and few other places have really hip and chick places to go dine and hang out.

 

Grather LA in general dos not have an area of strolling or anything like that. It is definitely as Hagarag said a city where people live in their cars.

[Sip]

By the way Sip Burbank is not much better. they have a few chain restaurants that sucks and thats it as well. Nothing original or creative.

 

I would disagree with you Azat. For someone that lives in LA or is in Burbank all the time, yes. I agree with you. However, from someone who is visiting from abroad and wants to see this "Armenian subculture" in the LA area, that is one of the best places to visit. On a typical friday and saturday night, that place is PACKED with the armenians. As far as restaurants and shops, it's nothing special I agree.

[shaunt]

Take your finger, and place it on the 118 before it leads you to the 405. Run it along the 118 West until you hit Topanga Canyon Blvd. From there go South until you come across the 101. Take the 101 East until you get off on Sunset Blvd. From there go West until you hit the Pacific Ocean. From Santa Monica take the 1 South all the way to the 110 South.

 

What you have basically done is run your fingers along the communities that are worth living in, in Los Angeles, give or take a few miles in each direction.

 

And interestingly enough, they are all located in the Western half of LA, and they form the borders of either the San Fernando Valley, or the City of Los Angeles.

Edited March 12, 2006 by shaunt

[phantom22]

Shaunt,

 

Except for the smog, you have forgotten Claremont and the some of the communities that surround it and the Diamond Bar / La Habra Heights area. There are also some upscale sections of Downey that would astound you, given the part of LA that it is located in.

 

 

Take your finger, and place it on the 118 before it leads you to the 405. Run it along the 118 West until you hit Topanga Canyon Blvd. From there go South until you come across the 101. Take the 101 East until you get off on Sunset Blvd. From there go West until you hit the Pacific Ocean. From Santa Monica take the 1 South all the way to the 110 South.

 

What you have basically done is run your fingers along the communities that are worth living in, in Los Angeles, give or take a few miles in each direction.

 

And interestingly enough, they are all located in the Western half of LA, and they form the borders of either the San Fernando Valley, or the City of Los Angeles.

[Sip]

I personally would take topanga over west on the 101 to Malibu cyn road, down to the ocean, and then over to santa monica. I wouldn't mind living in Malibu or pacific palisades

[phantom22]

From Wisconsin to elbowing with the movie set. Is your last name Egoyan?

 

 

Personally I prefer rustic Topanga Canyon, being a hippie at heart.

 

I personally would take topanga over west on the 101 to Malibu cyn road, down to the ocean, and then over to santa monica. I wouldn't mind living in Malibu or pacific palisades

[Azat]

I prefer yerevan being a Hye at heart

[phantom22]

Azat,

 

Will there be any of the Yerevan we remember remaining when the construction frenzy ends?

 

I prefer yerevan being a Hye at heart

[aSoldier]

LA is ugly, polluted and dirty and apparently Hollywood is comparable to one of Sydneys worst suburbs, Redfern an inner city cesspool populated mainly by Aboriginies living in government housing

 

Hollywood is wayyyyy better than Redfern, I can assure you of that!

[aSoldier]

For someone that lives in LA or is in Burbank all the time, yes. I agree with you. However, from someone who is visiting from abroad and wants to see this "Armenian subculture" in the LA area, that is one of the best places to visit. On a typical friday and saturday night, that place is PACKED with the armenians. As far as restaurants and shops, it's nothing special I agree.

 

That's exactly right

[Anoushik]

Jugs, tell her to go check out 3rd street promenade and the pier in Santa Monica, Old Town Passadena, and also maybe spend an evening in Burbank, more specifically, walking around on San Fernando Blvd, between Magnolia and Olive streets.

Yay! Burbank!