L.A. despair

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You can always count on the flatter, slightly less-affluent sections of Los Angeles if you're looking to absorb a profound sense of emptiness while taking an evening walk after dinner. They just give you that feeling in waves, in torrents. It's Flotation Land, and it seeps into your soul. L.A. isn't as despairing a place as Honolulu or Houston, agreed, but it's up there.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 13, 2006 at 8:38 PM

comment #1

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

I know what you mean but man, go to Koreatown or something. I was just in LA a few weeks ago, first time in a few years, and the ethnic neighborhoods were just bursting with life (even by comparison with Chicago where it's not like we only do white people or something). Korean teenyboppers out for a bubble tea, the bondage chick bopping happily along near the Wiltern to her late night event or assignation, a fireworks stand in Montebello or somewhere in the SGV with a marching band playing next to it to get attention of passing drivers... there's a lot of life there.

On the other hand, the Grove is about the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life.

Mike Gebert

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at August 13, 2006 8:57 PM

comment #2

MoovyBoovy says ...

jeff

that is oppressing. looks like another planet, somehow. uff

Posted by MoovyBoovy at August 13, 2006 9:12 PM

comment #3

atticusrex says ...

I am not crazy about L.A. though parts of it I love, Santa Monica for example. It's a fast moving city with so many ethnic cultures that I am sure it gives N.Y. a run for it's money... though in N.Y. they live on top of each other at least L.A. is spread out.

But your comment Jeff on Houston is spot on. It has the traffic issues that plague L.A. but Houston has the humidity and the ugliness and no beaches. I have never liked Houston.

I prefer S.F. actually. It's a cool town where every block is a new world to explore. In my opinion it's the best major city in the US to walk, shop and eat around.

Posted by atticusrex at August 13, 2006 9:31 PM

comment #4

Movie fan09 says ...

eh I wouldn't expect too much from houston or much of texas..except austin and the fort worth cultural district and downtown fort worth..great place to walk around in in the evening..the other night after watching our improv teachers perform, this guy from my class and I walked to barnes and noble (right by the fantastic palace..great retro franchise movie house)was this guy standing on a stool 'preaching' how everyone will burn in hell,yadda yadda yadda and I was just amazed how this could only happen in the big cities and I guess it was a real statement how much the downtown area has grown.
but other than that, fort worth and dallas are the most soul sucking places I think I ever been to and I hate it.

Posted by Movie fan09 at August 13, 2006 9:36 PM

comment #5

GlassFamily says ...

I used to work in a building literally next to that Mobil station. That area is an incredibly depressing one. No wonder I was down for the first few years I lived here. It doesn't help that I find the Beverly Center to be one of the more odious places in this city. I don't know why, but I've always been repulsed by it. You can tell by how hard it is to enter that the person that made it hates society at large.

Posted by GlassFamily at August 13, 2006 9:59 PM

comment #6

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

"I prefer S.F. actually. It's a cool town where every block is a new world to explore. In my opinion it's the best major city in the US to walk, shop and eat around."

On the same trip, I tried to shlep two kids around San Francisco. We were sick of the place after six hours. I mention to people that I loved LA and hated SF and they look shocked, think for a minute, and then usually say they feel that way too.

I recognize that it's beautiful from certain angles, and without kids it's more fun to explore, but in a lot of ways it's a cramped, dirty, walking public policy failure. Sure do love the market in the Ferry Building, though...

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at August 14, 2006 6:11 AM

comment #7

NYCBusybody says ...

I agree Mgmax, I didn't like the aesthetic feel of San Fran much at all during my visit, although I admit I was only there for 2 days.

L.A. is alright, like most places. Hell, I really like living in NYC, but even I realize that for the most part, it's pretty ugly. Especially down towards the village, where it's pretty much just a bunch of trust fund white kids who think its "cool and urban and dangerous" to be surrounded by scaffolding, graffiti, and block after block of endless food stores with ugly awnings.

What some people refer to as "culture" is just ridiculous to me.

Posted by NYCBusybody at August 14, 2006 6:31 AM

comment #8

Jon Rahoi says ...

Honolulu is despairing? why?

Posted by Jon Rahoi at August 14, 2006 9:36 AM

comment #9

gabriel says ...

What's with the L.A. hating? Urban oppresiveness and empty chain-store-lined streets aside, it's still the most awesome city in the world. Despite the smog, crime, and snooty pukewads (which are global problems), I can't imagine anywhere on the earth I'd rather be.

Posted by gabriel at August 14, 2006 9:42 AM

comment #10

James Leer says ...

Actually, you can count on the less-affluent places of Los Angeles to be the most interesting (and in what world does the overpriced mall known as the Beverly Center stand for poverty?). Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village...venture east of La Brea sometime, Jeff.

Posted by James Leer at August 14, 2006 9:54 AM

comment #11

Nicol D says ...

Well, look on the bright side; while the Bev Centre district of LA may be depressing, it is only a few blocks from Trashy Lingerie, is it not?

Posted by Nicol D at August 14, 2006 11:10 AM

comment #12

Monument says ...

It's the general soul-sucking pretentious atmosphere in LA that I can't stand, it's a feeling that is difficult to describe. I feel it most acutely when flying into Los Angeles after being away for awhile, almost a tangible heaviness, or gloom. Cities like New York feel so alive, coming back to LA feels like visiting a sick person in a hospital.

Posted by Monument at August 14, 2006 11:36 AM

comment #13

James Leer says ...

Sounds to me like you're describing "Hollywood," not Los Angeles. As an above poster said, check out a place like the Koreatown area (or Vermont St., or Chinatown, or downtown by MOCA, or...) and you'll enjoy yourself. If all you're doing is hanging out on the Sunset Strip, you can't really tar LA with that brush.

Posted by James Leer at August 14, 2006 2:02 PM

comment #14