One day, bitches: the future of the Los Angeles Metro

xp-Didn't Dean say he lived in a mall?

-- Spencer Chow (spencercho...), June 15th, 2005 4:15 PM. (spencermfi)

Well to quote you upthread: "It just seems like any old concert place to me." I was just pointing out how it differs from many of the venues that I've seen comparable bands in various other cities.

also: Dingleberries lives in da CC.

you said it!

dean, you wouldn't know anything abt racism would you? i hope your burrito gives you good culture

haha what?

And why on earth would I ever be on the 405? I never go east of the PCH.

The one that's a treat.

He does!

Mike Davis to thread.

V, it's true that this is a well-established meme. I think the issue is that it doesn't line up with many Westsiders' lived experience (e.g., of paying mortgage-level rents to live in nondescript-to-grotty 1beds with shitty carpets in neighborhoods where cool, strong women still feel safer driving two blocks than walking after dark).

LA's recent Jiffy-Pop style real estate bubble exaggerates the effects (incl. gentrification), but the notion of Fortress Westside does seem to lose a bit of currency when we step outside the sociology and urban planning departments onto the mean streets south of Sunset.

There are probably more "gated communities" up the 101 than there are between Sunset and Ventura. I guess what I'm saying is, those gates have always made more sense metaphorically (incl. to Thousand Oaks homebuyers) than in real life. Hence the Concept of Security, but hardly the thing itself.

NIMBYism mostly has to do with noise and inconvenience, and while it's true that wealthier communities have always had the resources to (perhaps frivolously) fight development tooth and nail, once the Beverly Hills' of the world discover a particularly effective legal blocking tactic, the Bellflowers and Gardenas are just as quick to take it up. Which is why we ain't gonna be gettin' any more freeway any time soon...

My favorite LA restaurant is Urasawa.

I am playing Pro Yakyu Spirits 2004 Climax right now, it's unbelievable.

Or, Roger completely OTM.

very true. also my first impression.

Rollin till the wheels fall off
A nigga rollin till the wheels fall off
Westside rollin till the wheels fall off
A nigga rollin till the wheels fall off

and for the record, youd have to pay me to get me to go to the 'west side'. its hard enough to get me to go to hollywood, let alone onto or past the strip. ive been to the beach one time since ive lived here (2 years). i totally prefer the lifestyle, the restaurants, the venues, the weird hole-in-the-walls, the people, the culture, and the safety of echo park/silverlake. yes, thats right...saftey.

im sure that some of you will argue, but from personal experience, i feel safer on the east side. sure, theres...well, lets call them 'riff-raff' (for lack of a better or non-PC word) on the east side, but there are far more crazies in the hollywood area (i dont know about santa monica or venice, cause i never go there). anyway, anyone ive ever encountered late at night on the east side has been relatively easy to steer clear of, get rid of, or ignore. in general they have beef with their people and wont bother ya if you dont start shit with them, ya know?

anyway, thats my nickel for the day.
oh, and hi. im new. and thats the last time ill admit that. ;)