I lived in L.A. for 35 years and I can not believe the development of the downtown area.

[busterbrown]

It is becoming so cool as they keep the facades of the old banks, corporate offices, and old stores and
converting them to the coolest restaurants, hotels and neighborhood stores and bars.. This has barely begun,
however its already fun to go down and roam around especially in summer’s art walk season....
What a change from the Beverly Hills area which I find really dull. Everything seems so old and sone
there.. Anyway thought I’d mention it if your headed this way....


http://www.google.com/imgres?q=los+angeles+downtown+art+walk&start=157&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1115&bih=606&tbm=isch&tbnid=CiIuxJxjPr-HOM:&imgrefurl=http://lasmash.com/free-in-los-angeles-downtown-art-walk-video/&docid=vagnsmL6Db30XM&imgurl=&w=615&h=300&ei=2NsNUdeMJOOXiALE54G4Cw&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:57,s:100,i:175&iact=rc&dur=2850&sig=104687344122745064507&page=11&tbnh=157&tbnw=322&ndsp=17&tx=146&ty=70

[Tobin S.]

1. I love Socal

If it was just me I might be living there right now, but my wife's opinion counts too and it's gotta be unanimous if we're going to do it.

[riderinthestorm]

2. I just got home from helping drive my daughter from VA to CA with her cats

(she wouldn't take them on a plane - thought that would be more traumatic than a week on the road).

I have to admit, I was STUNNED at LA. Its beautiful.

We went to the Los Angeles Museum of Art, the La Brea tar pits, the beach (gorgeous!!) and much more. LA is doing what Chicago has done - the buildings, plants, walkways... its all beautiful. And MUCH cleaner than New York (which was filthy when I visited there a year ago when we walked from Times Square to Battery Park, exploring SoHo, Chinatown etc).

Very impressive. I just assumed its always looked like that.