This California thread is a bit of six degrees of separation for me. I grew up around Fremont, San Francisco and all that, and I went to college in the Inland Empire (Claremont, to be exact). Now I live in Hollywood, so I have almost all of this thread's bases covered. Those of you in the Inland Empire, believe me, I feel your pain. That place is a cultural wasteland. San Francisco and the Bay Area, however, are great places to be. When the fog rolls in over Golden Gate Park, there's nothing else quite like it.

Funny story about Fremont: a few years ago, a friend of mine was dating a lovely goth girl from said city and he was always driving up there from San Jose in order to spend some "quality time" with her. He would speed off into the night, with no other explanation than that he was going to Fremont. Now, whenever one of my friends is going to get some action, we'll just say that he's "going to Fremont." So, Fremontians, rest easy in the knowledge that your town has become a profound euphamism for sexual bliss . . . at least in the minds of a few post-college layabouts.

~Nachtzehrer, who hasn't "been to Fremont" in so long that he's forgotten what it's like . . .

Yeah, especially when it's July and you're enjoying the park in an anorak, hat and scarf.

Luna - finally having summer, now that it's October

Love the fremont euphemism

...get's this girl a'giggling :p

Sorry to break your train of thoughts about Fremont and all but...
Yay more californians, for a second i thought everyone here was from Europe or Australia . I'm currently residing in San Jose (at SJSU workin on my learning...) but i grew up in Menlo Park.. yea the ugly snoby town next to Palo Alto (and Stanford) about 20min south of Fremont....

anyway that's me nice to know there's people nearby!!

I used to work in Menlo Park. There's . . . there's really nothing there, is there? Palo Alto's pretty kicky, though. As for SJSU, I hear good things. Lucky bastitch, since you're still up there you get to go to the Camera Cinemas whenever you want. I. Am. So. Jealous. =:)

~Nachtzehrer, who misses those funky little theaters~

Yea Menlo Park is really nothing.. a bunch of high class restarunts and anal police officers. O yea and old people... tho there is Crystal Dynamics if you're into Vampire video games.. they made Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, and the Soul Reaver series.... other than that Menlo Park sucks.

But on the bright side... goes to purchase cinema ticket as he types ... :p

Holy shit! You went to college in Claremont? My dad and I used to make regular trips down there on Sundays when we lived in Rancho Cucamunga. It would have the be the one of the few things I really miss about Southern California. Did you ever go to Somecrust Bakery? That my friend is the best fucking place in the world. Nothing can compare to their pastries. Boy I do miss Claremont, so many good memories of that place...

The only good thing in Riverside, is Castle Park. That place rocks major ass. The rest is just a polluted, grungy, dirty, shithole.

I myself now live in the Californian Conservative Stronghold, Sacramento. Yes it is very shitty here. Mostly hicks and rednecks who somehow stumbled on to some long lost aunt or uncles money and decided to move into a nice house. As for a Goth scene? Ha! Good luck even trying to find a club, of any kind, in this shithole. Not that I could get in, but the scene here is very non-existent, as far as my knowledge goes.

=Clove - has just recieved a heavy dose of Nostalgia...=

Did I go to Somecrust? Are you kidding? What self-respecting Claremont student has not passed a Sunday morning (or afternoon, depending on the previous night's festivities) noshing on Somecrust patries while browsing in Rhino Records? Every time my parents came down to see one of my shows, they would raid Somecrust for after-theater treats. That bakery, along with 42nd Street Bagel and Podge's smoothies, was a cornerstone of college culinary delight.

~Nachtzehrer, missing his Alma Mater~

Well, I totalled my car somewhere near Santa Clarita,

I plan on eventually moving to the Bay after college and have several friends in the area from Half Moon Bay to Palo Alto all the way up to Eureka,

I have travelled through Inland Empire. And across the 210 (never again. fuck the interior),

I had an aunt and uncle in Sacramento at one point before they did the smart thing and got the hell out,

And I went searching (in vain) for a place in Hollywood.




I too have all my bases covered.

Anyone have any direct connections to Ventura County, specifically Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park or Westlake? (my main area)




~blood rose~

i live in pecheco . never herd f it you say ? it's rite by martinez . oh. realy?never?um...it's around an hour from sanfransisco. and around a half hour from richmond. close to concord.my brthers tell me concord and richmond are menchined in rap lirics a lot.oh um ya i don't lisen to it ether.

I've been known to creep west of Sepulveda, from time to time . . . even Hollywood can't be a constant source of entertainment when one suffers from wanderlust.

~Nachtzehrer, spreading his influence all throughout the Southland~

well im in the little fuckin boring town of los banos....... oh yea there sso much to do here me and some friend s just hang out and listen to music

My husband and I will be heading out to California next month. A possibly permanent move for us and I am looking quite forward to it.

We will be temporarily staying about an hour and a half outside of L.A. . . . if things go well we might do a bit of apartment hunting near Santa Monica. Santa Monica seems like a relatively safe area. Anyone else have other areas to recommend looking into? We'd like to stay close to the L.A. area, if possible.

I do hope I will feel comfortable out there but I must admit, as silly as it may sound, I have a fear of earthquakes hitting while we are out there. ???

Santa Monica can be very nice, if you find a good place. I would also suggest looking around on the west side, Burbank, Studio City and Hollywood.

Incidentally, should you wish it, when you are in LA you shall have a most obliging local guide in the form of your friendly neighborhood Nachtzehrer.

Thank you, Nacht! I will most likely be taking you up on that offer. I'll let you know when we get into the area, which will most likely be the end of Feb, or beginning of March.