Tragic Kingdom No More? Are Angelenos Growing Fond of The OC?

Come on, Angelenos: You know you've got a derogatory nickname for Orange County in your arsenal. So how often do you get to use it? If your answer is: "Less than I used to" then your sentiments are perhaps in line with the author of a recently published article in Orange Coast magazine that claims that L.A. residents are softening up when it comes to their next-door neighbor county.

The article cites a few (controversial) reasons why the OC has the advantage over the L.A. from the perspective of the writer's friend, a coming-around-to-the OC Angeleno: F

or one thing, it’s now the one place in Southern California where you can attend a baseball game without a police escort. Plus, Orange County has great public television—something L.A. can’t say since KCET Channel 28 stopped carrying PBS programs and sold its studio to Scientologists.

Still, some tensions hold true: OC is politically conservative (and their leader just a tiny bit racist?), while L.A. is liberal. Mind you, Orange County isn't the most conservative county anymore, so maybe things truly are a-changing.

Now, if you're a sex offender, the OC's parks aren't for you to play in. The freeways still clog up and keep what seems in reach geographically a painful commute away.

Ultimately, the author's theory is that we cling to our preconceptions, even about our own turf. But if we call ourselves out, we might be able to look beyond our own noses and learn to love our neighbors.

Even if our neighbors live in Orange County.

So are you buying what the Orange Coast author is selling?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@laist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Lindsay William-Ross in News on June 27, 2011 5:00 PM

Comments [rss]

antith3tic

Asian supermarkets aren't good for all the types of Asian food. Chinese/Viet veggies can't be found at Mitsuwa. =|

Also Marukai Market on Olympic Blvd has a better selection than both Nijiya and Mitsuwa for Westsiders.

hN9S9

Marukai is on Pico/Bundy.

hN9S9

OC in cantonese means taking a dump.

miguel2299

I would never spend a penny in OC. I'd rather spend it here and contribute to measure R than spend there to contribute to the monopoly that is the freeway system... I'd take Ventura county over the OC and LA over both of them...

D. Gruber

As an OC native that's moved up to LA, there are so many things I miss about living there. I like not having to drive halfway across the city just to get to a decent Asian supermarket, for one. I also like how you don't have to pay for parking when you go to the movies, the mall or most restaurants in the area. And it's always a few degrees cooler in the summer than LA is.

But, in defense of Los Angeles, there are more food trucks up here.

Yeah, that's kind of the only good thing about LA I can think of. I'd take San Luis Obispo over LA or the OC any day.

rjhemedes

I lived in the OC for about 10 years and the temperature isn't different from LA's. LA County in the beach cities have the same cool temperatures as the beach cities of the OC. If you go further Inland in the OC like Orange, Yorba Linda or Anaheim Hills, it can get as warm/hot as the middle sections of LA County.

As for Asian markets - it really depends on what part of LA you live in. In the Westside - the best Asian supermarket is Mitsuwa.

If you are near Koreatown, you'll have plenty to choose from.

In the SF Valley - the 99 Ranches and Asian supermarkets are clustered around Van Nuys and Panorama City.

In the SG Valley - there is plenty to choose from.

In South Bay - the Asian supermarkets are clustered around Torrance and Gardena.

And if you like nature and hike trails similar to SLO, LA is full of them - you just need to research or join a hiking group in MeetUp to discover all of them. Pretty soon, you'll even be able to kayak portions of the LA River. If you want a town similar to SLO in vibe, visit Montrose or Sierra Madre.

miguel2299

If you moved here expecting to drive everywhere you made a huge mistake... Try taking a bus or train one in a while... If not then your putting yourself through hell... I agree with the San Luis obispo part. It's perfect forks people that prefer small towns and appreciate nature :).

Teodoro Gonzales

" it’s now the one place in Southern California where you can attend a baseball game without a police escort"

Perhaps they should have a police escort considering the Angels are still leading the Dodgers 1-0 in inside the stadium murders: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/n...