Need Advice From Those In West Hollywood

[shelbyatmidnight]

A friend and I are going to move to West Hollywood in a year or so. We are saving up enough to get us started.

I want to know what it is like? How is rent? Prices on necessities like groceries, what the people are like, is it really the gay center like it sounds like? And anything else you deem useful to know.

Thanks,

Shelby

 

[metta]

Living in West Hollywood tends to be expensive on every level. You both need to make a very good living in order to live decently there. Traffic is also a major issue over there. Make sure that you pick a place with your own parking spaces. West Hollywood is notorious for making parking difficult.

 

[Jory]

My suggestion if you can spend a week there and explore it do it. Get to know the pros and cons of West Hollywood

 

[KaraBulut]

What's good about West Hollywood:

• Great weather year round.
• Lots of stuff to see and do.
• Good location for getting to other parts of town.
• Small town feel in a big city. When you are walking around, you run into a lot of people that you know.
• Most of the area is pretty safe for walking around, jogging and just hanging out. Unlike other parts of LA, you don't have to get in your car and drive everywhere.

What's bad about WeHo:

• Listen to metta's advice about parking. Everything in WeHo and BH is valet or metered parking.
• Never illegally park, let your parking meter run out or run a red light. The city of WeHo will hunt you to the ends of the earth to pay the fine.
• Lots of actor/model/personal trainer types. Things tend to be all about looks and the pursuit of the superficial. It's very hard to develop lasting friendships but once you find the great people, they're your friends for life.
• For some illogical reason, 24 Hour Fitness in WeHo is not open 24 hours. They should rename it to 18 Hour Fitness.
• It's expensive- the further west that you are, the more expensive it gets.
• Traffic sucks. It's horrid, miserable, unrelenting and endless.

 

[Croynan]

what are you going to do about jobs? you may want to take that into consideration.

eM.

 

[belamy]

Prices on necessities like

I think I need to bite by tongue here

 

[metta]

What about public transportation?

Some people do get by with public transportation but LA is so spread out, it really makes it difficult to get places. We are slowly getting better but a car is still needed. And the location of where West Hollywood is, makes a car even more necessary. On the other hand, Hollywood, which is still rough area with lots of homeless people, has become very trendy in many parts of it, is next door to West Hollywood, and has more public transportation options, and is probably a little cheaper to live as well.

 

[belamy]

You MUST have a car to get around in Los Angeles. I lived here for about a week with just a motorcycle and learned fast that it just wasn't enough. You have to have a car.

"

Just out of curiosity, if you dont mind: exactly why?

 

[belamy]

You MUST have a car to get around in Los Angeles. I lived here for about a week with just a motorcycle and learned fast that it just wasn't enough. You have to have a car.

"

Just out of curiosity, if you dont mind: why exactly so?

 

[metta]

^

I don't know about prices. I would have to ask some friends. But prices will vary depending on how you want to live. North Hollywood will be cheaper but some people may find that to be too far, even though it is just over the hill.

One of my friends told me that he had a heck of a time trying to find a room for rent for $800 in an area that he was willing to (safe enough to) live in. And that was in the North Hollywood/Burbank area. West Hollywood would be more than that.

In regards to being gay friendly, it depends as to what degree of friendliness you are looking for. I live in the suburbs and my neighbors are very gay friendly. But it would not be considered a gay mecca.

Long Beach can be a good option as well. It is very gay friendly. But again, Long Beach has its good and bad areas. Personally, I would choose Belmont Shores (an area in Long Beach) over West Hollywood any day...but I love the Ocean.

 

[Jory]

Just out of curiosity, if you dont mind: exactly why?

Because Los Angeles spread out when most people here talk about Los Angeles it's not just the city but the County as well which is 4,752 sq mi (12,308 km²)

 

[belamy]

Because Los Angeles spread out when most people here talk about Los Angeles it's not just the city but the County as well which is 4,752 sq mi (12,308 km²)

I know how insane LA is, it's the only metro area outside Asia that is REALLY insane on the map, but isn't a bike faster and more manoeuvrable in LA like in most places?

 

[belamy]

Because Los Angeles spread out when most people here talk about Los Angeles it's not just the city but the County as well which is 4,752 sq mi (12,308 km²)

I know how insane LA is, it's the only metro area outside Asia that looks REALLY insane on the map, but isn't a motorcycle faster and more manoeuvrable in LA like in most places?

 

[Jory]

I know how insane LA is, it's the only metro area outside Asia that looks REALLY insane on the map, but isn't a motorcycle faster and more manoeuvrable in LA like in most places?

Jasun could answer that question better then I

 

[belamy]

In los angeles?

No.

Crossing los angeles in a public bus would take hours. La is very spread out. The beach would take you over an hour to get to. And busses don't run much. You can't get to many places on public transit.

I remember Beijing was ridiculous to cross on bus, and LA is even bigger; bikes would have been an option if they were not likely to be stolen because you couldn't take them home and Chinese know that they can steal to wealthy by definition foreigners; but, judging for your post, I guess cabs are not a better option either... for whatever reason
I love huge cities, but I wouldn't like to live in one in which any ride is like a fucking expedition on the Silk Road.

 

[belamy]

A motorcycle is better for getting around but how do you get groceries? Your laundry or deliver things? I usually use my bike. But you need a car.

Oh, I think I get it: you must walk the Silk Road even to do your daily shopping and common life of little things. I forgot what real sprawl is like: you are stranded in a beautiful home in either the middle of nowhere or the middle of dozens of beautiful houses in the middle of nowhere, miles away from shops and services.
In any case, some things are not just due to urban planning but a way of life: there may be needed a car to have things delivered to me, not the contrary; and as for the laundry... well... I don't need to go to a gym to take a shower.

I think I always assumed there are different options, given than in such a big urban area there must be different sorts of neighborhoods, but it seems that once there you really don't have that many options.

 

[metta]

well, it is true that there are companies that delivery groceries: vons, spuds, etc. But most people do not use those. They like to go to the grocery store themselves.

 

[belamy]

well, it is true that there are companies that delivery groceries: vons, spuds, etc. But most people do not use those. They like to go to the grocery store themselves.

You mean make an expedition to the grocery stores, not go down to the corner shop or market.

 

[belamy]

Not exactly.

I have two dogs. If I have to take them to the vet, I can't take them on a motorcycle. If I have to take them to be boarded over night because I'm out of town for some reason, I can't take them on a motorcycle.

When I go to a friend's place and want to bring a big spread of food and a case of beer, I can't bring that on a motorcycle. If I have to stop by my sponsor's bar to bring a big box of T-shirts from JUB... I can't do that on a motorcycle.

There's no such thing as a neighborhood in a city of 13 million people that has everything including your work place, favorite stores, favorite restaurants, favorite bar, gym, doctor, vet, furniture store, shooting range and movie theater all in walking distance.

I like to hang with my friends in Pasadena, I like to hang on the beach in Venice. Those are far away from each other. Because they're on opposite sides of a city with 13 million people.

And although it's usually sunny here, when it DOES rain, you need a car... it doesn't rain here so much as spontaneously flood.

Public transit does exist in a very small, skeleton way.. but it's not a viable option for much unless a car is totally out of your price range and then it severely limits your accessibility to the city.

There are taxicabs for all that, but if hiring them with rides along the Silk Road in LA gets more expensive than buying a car I get your point.
I know, I'm a twat.

 

[Jory]

Yes. A Taxi cab. Taxis are very hard to come by in LA because the city is so huge that crossing it would cost about $75. And I don't think they take dogs.

I don't expect you to understand. You've demonstrated your cognitive capabilities on JUB many times. You'll just have to accept that LA is a huge city and if you want to live here, you'll need a car.

Maybe in Barcelona you strap your goats and whores on the back of your little scooter. You can get away with a lot more in third world nations.

$75.00 is about right from where I live Beside the bus there is Metrolink and Metrorail the only problem is that Metrolink shuts down really early and Metrolinks Shut down around one in the morning. Oh with the taxi add in tip too which would be around $11.00 at 15%