As always, it’s total sensory overload, but more than that, it’s a collective mindset that the LA way is the only way.
Everyone looks great even though the styles today are kind
of schleppy. Grungy haute courtier is
the style. Lots of skin, tasteful
tattoos, leggings and off the shoulder blouses for the ladies and untucked
shirts and tight jeans for the men. Only
the old people, a growing population who are rarely acknowledged, wear tailored
slacks and skirts, blouses with sleeves or Ivy League shirts. Regardless of one’s ethnic or gender background
or political persuasion, everyone is stylish.
LGBT’s, hipsters, actors.
It doesn’t matter. They’re all magazine ready.
Everyone likes to “pose.”
In front of Jeff Koons’ Michael Jackson at the Broad Museum. In front of Frank Gehry’s Disney Hall. At the beach.
Wherever.
Dogs rule. You can
take them anywhere. And the dogs are all
good looking too. Protocol is to stop
and talk each time you see a couple or three of them on a leash. It’s just not polite if you don’t comment on
how cute they all are. Actually protocol
is to talk to all humans too. It points
out how all inclusive LA residents are.
Shopping is by Amazon. Packages in all sizes clump together in the downtown high rises and other condominium complexes.
Though food trucks are still important, the restaurants
featuring all kinds of poke are even more in vogue. Accompanying poke and other lighter fare are cocktails with like Bloody Mary's with unusual ingredients like cucumber or bacon.
As usual, the highways are like a scene in “La la land.” And when you visit with anybody, it’s all
about the highways you’re going to take to get to the next highway to get to
the next highway to get to your destination.
“Take the 405 to the 110 and then to the 470.” Or something like that.
Of course everyone is on their cell phones. You especially need the apps which can tell
you how many minutes delay one has on each highway and then suggestions on
alternate routes to go.
And one can expect other forms of delays like when they’re
filming a commercial and you need to stop in your tracks until the scene is cut.
More and more the “Old Hollywood” shows up as a reminder of
the days when Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart reigned. All those famous symbols look even more
classic. The Hollywood Bowl. The Pantages Theater. The Roosevelt Hotel. The Beverly Hills mansions where all the
movie stars used to live.
There are hundreds of venues for theater and nightclubs and
other forms of entertainment like improv just for women or a film festival for
Star Wars fanatics. The larger than life billboards are ubiquitous and taut every new movie and televisions series that are on the cable and streaming networks. Marvel characters, grizzly crime, dystopian topics. Pick your flavor.
The bougainvillea and hibiscus flourish everywhere. It’s what makes LA the most inviting. Walk down even a somewhat seedy street and rich
greenery embraces you.
What I find most interesting is the total acceptance of
political correctness. Everywhere you go
the population is an amalgamation of black, brown and white and everyone seems
happy and comfortable with each other, a belief that this state knows how to
solve their problems and how to get along.
You have to be tough to live in a city of so many
millions. Just being on a highway takes guts
and determination beyond the norm. It’s like
you’re playing a football game every day.
You’re always in offense and defense mode.
Returning to my hometown of Denver seemed a bit of a
letdown. The people aren’t as pretty and
if they are, they don’t quite know how to show it off. It just seems a bit boring after all the
intense stimulation. Our restaurant and entertainment ratio is much
smaller. We do have a plethora of pot
places and soccer fields.
Hey. It is a nice place to raise a family.
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