L.A. is to the U.S. as the Vatican City is to Italy–– a holy world in and of itself. Case in point, the small part of L.A. that is Hollywood. Based on the swarms of paparazzi and the number of visitors to websites devoted to entertainment news and gossip (yes, there is a difference,) Hollywood really is “Hollywoodland,” and we’re just living in it––vicariously, of course. But for the rest of us mortals, specifically quarterlifers, our lives revolve around the silver dollar, not the silver screen.
San Fernando Valley
Simply referred to as ‘The Valley,’ the 260-square mile region northwest of L.A. is a cinephile’s wonderland, home to the Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal Studios, Warner Bros., CBS Studio Center as well as NBC and ABC Television Studios. With a population of more than 1.6 million, The Valley is a perfect balance of suburb and entertainment, serving the cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, San Fernando, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Universal City, and Calabasas. Just take a look at the Kardashians––making Valley living and Hollywood hobnobbing look easy since 2007!
San Gabriel Valley
L.A.’s second valley, San Gabriel Valley lies east of L.A. and spans over 400 square miles. Notable for having the largest concentration of Chinese-American communities in the U.S., natives will undoubtedly inform you this is where to find the best Chinese food in all of L.A. For those in the homebuyer’s market, look to Pasadena, the heart of San Gabriel Valley. Despite the current economic state, Pasadena’s development continues as low property values attract more young professionals, especially those who work within the area who realize the benefits of living closer to work.
Venice
Back in the ’50s and ’60s, Venice Beach was known for being a bohemian, freethinking and artistic hub. Fifty years later, not much has changed thanks to the artists and poets who frequent the creative soul of L.A. Venice Boardwalk alone can give birth to your next muse: body builders, fire eaters, fortune tellers, hobos, skaters, bongo players, mimes, and who-knows-what-else. If you ever grew up thinking you’d run away and join the circus––here’s your chance––and in today’s economy, sounds like a pretty sweet deal! But in all seriousness, Venice stays true to its progressive nature with the likes of Abbott Kinney Blvd., a quickly growing hotspot for one-of-a-kind shopping and dining. Oh, in case you were wondering if Venice is anything like its namesake, two words: manmade canals.
West Hollywood
Smack dab between Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and exactly 12 miles from the beach and downtown, WeHo is the quarterlifer’s quintessential paradisiacal playground (try and say that three times fast!). Though a bit pricey, the list of benefits attached to calling WeHo home far outweigh the costs.
Top 5 Reasons to Live in WeHo (in no particular order)
1) Thriving gay community
2) Pet friendliest destination in Southern California
3) TMZ=reality TV show
4) Serious shopping
5) L.A. County’s “Largest Singles” population
Shall I go on? Simply put, if your backyard includes the legendary Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Boulevard, your days are guaranteed to be just as epic.
Downtown Los Angeles
Most often, Downtown L.A. is known more for its landmarks: Staples Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, MOCA. However, we often overlook that people do, in fact, live downtown. The appeal to this area was if you lived and worked downtown, there was no need for a car (read: no car payments and no car insurance!). What more, in 1999, the city council adopted The Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, which was designed to help reduce vacant space and preserve Downtown L.A.’s architectural and cultural past. Thus, real estate developers were more apt to convert vacant office and commercial space into luxury apartments, condominiums, and renovated lofts. As the residential population increases, the revitalization of Downtown L.A. continues to breath new life into what was once considered a fading background on Hollywood’s set.
