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Comprised of 88 incorporated cities including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Burbank, Compton, Hollywood, Inglewood, and Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County (LA) is the most populous county in the United States. People from all walks of life and industry are drawn to work and play in LA. In addition to being the entertainment capital of the world, LA's allure is highlighted by a coastal ambiance offset by majestic hills, a desert inland and a bustling urban mecca.
LOCAL CUSTOMS
From a long list of famous tourist attractions to simple but pleasant features like LA's Beverly Center (an eight-story mall), picturesque mountain views and beaches, and even poolside parties-where no one gets in the pool-local delicacies are enticing enough to convert visitors to residents. A surprising fact to note is that LA is home to a large number of Chicago natives all whom cite, "great weather" as the motive for becoming permanent residents. Speaking of the weather, except for the infrequency of rain, LA is likely the only U.S. county where one can experience all four seasons in the same day. As a result, in addition to pools and canopy lounges, heat lamps and outdoor fireplaces are staple venue fixtures.
'Tis true, even with eight interstates, LA freeway traffic is a beast. However, take comfort in knowing that MapQuest for LA is 99 percent accurate, which makes it easy to avoid the freeways altogether. Not so accurate are motorists who have no idea what to do when they spot a jaywalker. (Slamming on breaks is a no-no because that causes accidents.) Apparently, jaywalking is an enforced ticketable offense in LA. So, if habit compels you to chicken run to catch an appointment, think twice. Walking to the corner of each block and waiting for the light to flash green is a painful reminder of how much time jaywalking shaves off a commute. According to residents, an $85 fine is the quick cure for, "cutting corners." So is a $40 fine for not feeding the parking meters in Beverly Hills.
LA is a very popular trek for celebs that have to be in the city for one reason or the other-usually something music or film related. Spotting local and visiting celebs is easy to do. On one visit to LA, recording artist, Ronnie Devoe of New Edition fame was scene with wife, Shamari Fears during airport transit as was Atlanta mayor, Shirley Franklin. Hip-Hop artists, Lyfe Jennings (mall) and Chingy (hotel lobby) were also spotted and even made time for casual conversation. While Reverend Run of the group, Run DMC and Lamman Rucker (Why Did I Get Married?) were out-n-about for a local red carpet.
Just about every entertainment industry event in LA is preceded by a red carpet where local actors and executives especially tend to be quite amiable to posing for pictures. However, cover charges for celebrity-laden events can start at $75. If you're looking to do industry networking, estimate no more than a 10% return on investment. Getting people to follow up after an event in between scheduled productions is an art more than a science.
Going west? If so, Manhattan Beach is a cozy spot for beach lovers. Santa Monica is chill, Westwood is trendy, and Beverly Hills is upscale (No smoking in city limits please and be forewarned that parking rules are enforced by the second!).
Asking locals for restaurant referrals is always helpful. However, given sky-high prices for everything LA, it's economical to buy groceries during an extended stay and eat-out sparingly. Ralph's is owned by the same company as Kroger but as a brand is better matched to Publix or Dominick's. Fresh fruit and quality juices reign in abundance at Ralph's. The to-go section is very diverse and fit for travelers or just people on the go. Be sure to try the bakery's Italian crème cheese cake. It's exceptional.
For a genuine LA experience, try getting on the 405 (San Diego Freeway) just to see if you can get off in under five minutes. Also try finding a restaurant that offers sweet (versus iced) tea and macaroni and cheese on the same menu. Avoiding the two-minute snatch (having your vehicle ticketed and towed in record time) in downtown LA is definitely a skill worth mastering. The ultimate thing to do is to try to beat a crosswalk timer, which gives you all of 15 seconds to get your butt on a curb before the traffic light turns red. Depending on how wide an intersection is and when you start to cross, it's a hustle. Needless to say, the timer feature is something New York cab drivers would gladly appreciate.
For a metropolis with more metal than the Motor City and parking decks in every nook, parking fees are unnecessarily exorbitant. If you are amenable to walking, a pair of Timberlands, Air Force One's or Chuck Taylor's can certainly help you avoid parking woes. (The latter brand is an LA must-have.) Otherwise, save the stunna shades and dress shoes for curb service and bring plenty of cash for tips.
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