Santa Monica, CA

ballooba

Anyone ever visted this place? I may be going to work there for 12 months.

Want to suss the place out before I go for interview.

milltown

Spent five nights there as part of the honeymoon and absolutely loved it. That said, nobody who works in Santa Monica actually lives there, it's too expensive. There was a huge novelty factor for us too, with 100 degree heat in early January!
Nice shops and restaurants in SM and the beach and boardwalk of course but not much else tbh. Venice Beach is just up the road, that was cool. Hollywood and Beverly hills are not too far either iirc.
I would envy you spending a year there, living the Californian lifestyle, but myself and the missus were both agreed it was a bit too plasticky and vacuous to consider for the long term.
If you go, one thing you MUST do is drive up route 1 through Monterey and Carmel to San Francisco. It takes about four times as long as the interstate does but what a drive!

ballooba

Uh oh. That sounds way to hot for me. It was 110 in Chicago during the summer when I was there and it was a killer. Perhaps the humidity is not as bad? Please tell me it's not!!!

milltown

Feels nothing like Chicago heat you'll be glad to hear. I think it was September when I was in Chicago, probably only hitting about the 80s and I was sweating like a paedophile in a Barney suit! California heat was just glorious though.

ballooba

Phew! Cheers for the info. Any perspectives on working there would be greatly appreciated also, if anyone has any.

Jim10000

I can only echo what Milltown said; it's a lovely place. If I was going to spend time in L.A., that's where I'd want to be. Great restaurants, shops, beach etc. Unlike a lot of places, there's a feeling of a community, with a central shopping area and all (albeit a 'GAPpy' one) and you can get around on foot no problem.

I wouldn't worry about the weather at all - in fact it's a good bit more managable than other parts of California because you're right by the sea... probably the perfect climate in fact.

What kind of advice are you looking for regarding work?

ballooba

Just want to hear from people who have spent more than a few days there. Think there's a line about it in the Sunscreen song. About not spending to long in New York or California.

I presume I would have to commute then rather than live in Santa Monica. Would also be interested to hear which areas are nice within commuting distance. I'm 22 y.o. male, new graduate btw.

shepthedog

hey ballooba, would be interested in any info ppl can give too, moving to LA in wks time, gonna be working out east of LA, in Fullerton, Yorba Linda, Anaheim areas.. Anyone got any advice for this area, eg accomodation, prices etc...