• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Tell me about L.A./Westwood in California

F

fizmeister

Senior member
Yo:

I snagged a research-ship working at the Institute for Pure & Applied Mathematics this summer, but I've never been West of, like, Texas.

How expensive is it? Will I be able to get around? I'll be living in the Westwood area and will probably not be taking my car (since I've heard it's more or less a bitch to get affordable parking or to even drive around). I'm not sure where I'm living yet (the research thing pays for my housing, dining and travel, but I still haven't recieved the full details), but I would assume somewhere near/on the UCLA campus.

Any things to do that you would recommend? Like, must-see?

Oh, and does anyone living in the area know of any nearby ice rinks? I want to play hockey this summer -- three to four months without is too long.

Thanks for the info!

Also: should I take a car? It's a 21 hour drive--is it worth it, or will I be able to get around without?
 
about 1600-2000/mo for a two bedrom ($1600 being the crappiest place you can find)

the people arent all the friendly because most of them have their heads up their asses

the school bus system and the big blue lines are pretty decent, you should be able to visit most anywhere

you really want to spend a day or two at the getty center

ice rinks: forget about it

if you want one, you gotta drive into the san fernando valley. the closest on is the the city of van nuys, about 15 miles from westwood
 
Again, they're paying for my housing, so i don't need that info, but thanks anyway!

I meant more along the lines of pricey things to do, pricey gas, etc.
 
Originally posted by: fizmeister
Again, they're paying for my housing, so i don't need that info, but thanks anyway!

I meant more along the lines of pricey things to do, pricey gas, etc.
Click to expand...


i just came back from the gas station. the 89 was something like 2.13 a gallon i believe

groceries are allright, cuz there is a Ralphs. the whole foods is entirely too expensive

considering the high pricey of gas, the horrible traffice, and the decent public transportation, i would recommend not bringing a car
 
traffic is horrible in west LA. everything is expensive. the only good thing is eye candy. you haven't been in traffic until you've spent 2 hours to go to a 15 mile destination. otherwise, have fun!
 
if you take your car, expect traffic headaches. If you don't take your car, you'll miss out on a lot of LA. Restaurants and food is pricey in Westwood. Don't eat at any place below a B grade. They grade food there. C places sometimes fail in the next checkup. Cochroaches stuff like that.
 
i believe there is an ice rink on sepulveda in culver city, not too far from UCLA. but definitely don't get a car traffic is just ridiculous in that area.
 
Wow, I hadn't realized it was that pricey.

Well, I've lucked out, and they're paying my dining expenses, too (maybe not on weekends, not sure yet), so i guess I shouldn't worry about groceries.

I've lived in Houston, so I'm used to heavy traffic. But this sounds worse.

So public transport is decent? Like, buses, &c.? If I was to go to the ice rink in, say, Culver City, would that be a significant bus ride or what?

Also, any suggestions of particular restaurants/museums/etc. to visit?
 
Originally posted by: supesman
i believe there is an ice rink on sepulveda in culver city, not too far from UCLA. but definitely don't get a car traffic is just ridiculous in that area.
Click to expand...

I think the distance is a wash tho if the one in Van Nuys is 15 miles away. The drive is probably better to CC tho if you stay off the clogged roads.

Its definitely expensive to live in westwood but I can't imagine being in LA without a car. I mean, they're paying for everything else as it is. The places I get gas regular is 2.17 and premium is 2.39 or so.

Westwood itself is kinda so-so. There's just so much to do in LA that people don't hang around too much there, at least that's the impression I get.

Come to LA! Enjoy!😀
 


Bring a car, yes traffic sucks, but it's soooo freaking worth it to see other stuff. It's not like you'd use it every day, but if you had it, definitely more convenient. Gas is expensive too....I fill up premium in my gas guzzling V8 and I get charged about 2.50 per gallon.

Seriously,I love it here though, and I tried to leave, only to realize that everywhere else is just not as fun.

MD.

Edit: Got rid of cookie references.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: supesman
i believe there is an ice rink on sepulveda in culver city, not too far from UCLA. but definitely don't get a car traffic is just ridiculous in that area.
Click to expand...

I think the distance is a wash tho if the one in Van Nuys is 15 miles away. The drive is probably better to CC tho if you stay off the clogged roads.

Its definitely expensive to live in westwood but I can't imagine being in LA without a car. I mean, they're paying for everything else as it is. The places I get gas regular is 2.17 and premium is 2.39 or so.

Westwood itself is kinda so-so. There's just so much to do in LA that people don't hang around too much there, at least that's the impression I get.

Come to LA! Enjoy!😀
Click to expand...

yeah the ice rink is sepulveda and just south of Venice...i live a couple blocks from it, during rush hour it takes me about 25 min. to drive home from UCLA
 
Bring your car if you can. You can survive without one....but to really get around SoCal and have some fun you more or less need a car.
 
Originally posted by: fizmeister
So public transport is decent? Like, buses, &c.? If I was to go to the ice rink in, say, Culver City, would that be a significant bus ride or what?

Also, any suggestions of particular restaurants/museums/etc. to visit?
Click to expand...

Well, depends on when you would go. If you went mid-afternoon during the week (not friday) it'd probably take you about 30-45 minutes. Go during rush hour and you're looking at 1:15 at least. I live in same general direction as the CC rink and it takes me a good 20 minutes to get to campus; taking back streets and what not.

I can answer some questions but I don't atten UCLA.
 
Originally posted by: MrDingleDangle
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: supesman
i believe there is an ice rink on sepulveda in culver city, not too far from UCLA. but definitely don't get a car traffic is just ridiculous in that area.
Click to expand...

I think the distance is a wash tho if the one in Van Nuys is 15 miles away. The drive is probably better to CC tho if you stay off the clogged roads.

Its definitely expensive to live in westwood but I can't imagine being in LA without a car. I mean, they're paying for everything else as it is. The places I get gas regular is 2.17 and premium is 2.39 or so.

Westwood itself is kinda so-so. There's just so much to do in LA that people don't hang around too much there, at least that's the impression I get.

Come to LA! Enjoy!😀
Click to expand...

yeah the ice rink is sepulveda and just south of Venice...i live a couple blocks from it, during rush hour it takes me about 25 min. to drive home from UCLA
Click to expand...

Woah, 25 min? What rush hour are you driving in? It's taken my gf more then an hour to get from campus to my place and I'm closer then the rink (same direction/area)
 
Westwood is one of the most prosperous cities in the US. Looking through housing ads you'll be hard pressed to find any houses for less than $1.5 million..

Otherwise it's basically a mix of a college town with a bunch of old rich folks. You'll be surrounded by lots of apartment buildings for students, and many mansions across the street from the campus.

The night life is decent, though there's only two bars in the area and no clubs..but there are plenty out in Hollywood which borders Westwood. On any given week you'll be able to find movie premieres at the Fox, which is in the middle of Westwood, and any number of movie stars will be around.

You should be able to survive without a car around here, but if you want to get around LA I would recommend a car. Not having one sucks, but often having one does too. When all the busiest traffic spots around the US were ranked, the 405/10 was #1 I believe, which is about 2 miles off of Westwood, and the 405/101 which is about 10 miles from here was ranked about #3..just to give you an idea of what you'd you be in for.
 
i graduated last june, and i still live in westwood (mainly cuz my bf still has one more year there.)

since they're paying for your housing, live wherever you want. i live in this complex full of studios south of the med center (down the block from ralphs). my rent personally is 1151/month (yes for a studio and i share) but the building is well kept up and the management is VERY responsive. (garbage disposal was leaking, told the manager, had it replaced THAT DAY). the walk up the IPAM wouldn't be that bad at all. i've walked up from my apt up to the ucla store quite a few times.

traffic is traffic. its what you expect for LA. if you don't have a car, you won't be able to go anywhere really far (let's say, if you have a hankering to go to disneyland, find a friend with a car.) you can take the bus to a good amount of places. the big blue bus is NOT free to students during the summer, but it is cheap at only 75 cents a ride. the MTA is 1.35 a ride, and now has a brand new 3.00/day pass. since you're only here a few months, you MIGHT be able to get away without having a car - there are a few people that live in my building that stay for only a few months for whatever reason and don't have a car.

if you want to go to the ice rink, culver city's ice arena is the closest. it IS accessible by bus. take the culver city bus (bright green) #6 - it goes up and down sepulveda and has a stop in ucla up at the ackerman turnaround. i've only been on that ice a few times, but it'll do its job. its not phenomenal, but what do you expect for an ice rink that houses skaters, hockey players, and the such.

there are cute restaurants in westwood - and there are quite a few chains also (chili's, corner bakery, etc). you might get tired of the restaurants after a while. if you take the big blue bus to santa monica, you can find more dining. likewise, you can take the MTA buses almost anywhere else - i've ridden it to downtown, you can take the no. 2 to hollywood, etc.

groceries: there's a ralphs, and whole foods. i personally don't think whole foods is that expensive if you know what you're buying and what the price is at ralphs. you need to learn to comparison shop the two places. i go to whole foods and ralphs equally, each having its own cheap items. there's a best buy in town, and too many freaking drug stores (there's a rite aid, longs drugs, they're building a new sav on and cvs, which is stupid.)

should do: go to santa monica, wander around the promenade, check out the rest of UCLA because south campus is not "scenic" (UCLA is separated in half, all the science/engineers in south campus, all the humanities in north campus.) go to disneyland if you can. heck maybe even san diego, visit that nice city. so many things to do in LA, but all far away - which is why having a car could come in handy. or if you're so inclined, just rent a car on the weekends or find a friend. go to a dodgers game (and root for them to lose hehe) go to an angels game (and root for them to lose as well)

i'm not much of a partier but i like LA so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top