Los angeles
When I moved to San Francisco, I heard so much mention of how awful LA is, both in passing and in direct conversation. Consequently, I made it a point to not explore LA much on my own in order to spare myself the rumored misery.
But!
Once I actually got over this notion and did explore LA a little [I still haven’t spent much time there but have been a few times] I actually really enjoy it.
I love the glamorous ideas of OLD HOLLYWOOD that you can still sense out and about in that place, I love the Magic Castle, Musso and Franks and Canters Deli. Pre pandemic we stayed in a house in Silverlake that has been built out by an incredibly creative builder who lives there and owns the place and just happens to be an old school LA rocker in the 80s fashion along with his partner.
Al and his companion Leslie both embody that vibe of the big hair, high kick, bandanna wrapped tight leather pants LA -of-the-80s that I was so afraid of [and had never visited] as an uncool big-haired-in-the-country-way kid in Tennessee.
Now the I have been there, I see a kind of positivity and motivation that is so specific to that city, I just want to dive in and explore it more. I have yet to visit Venice, so maybe that will be the next place to explore in that old City of Angels.