[uclaben]

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The whole key to LA is to not have your work too far from where you live. Seriously, that's the big one.

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This is a brilliant point that cannot be overstated.

LA is a rough city to adjust to. The physical size is overwhelming, and newcomers to the city tend to stick to nearby neighborhoods...and likely miss out on most of what the city has to offer. The trick is to find your scene, whatever that scene may be, get within range, and then enjoy. Los Angeles truly has EVERYTHING to offer, but it absolutely is not going to find you. You need to make the effort, for better or for worse.

And BTW, when it comes to food, NYC, LA, and SF are the only (American) cities that matter. You can make an argument for any particular permutation, but in my experience, nowhere else comes close.