Sunset Blvd. in the Beverly Hills sector of Los Angeles Hello, We have lived in So Cal all of our lives. From 1946 to the current days. Yes, it is a long time in one area, but when we found what we were looking for during our last college days, then it was a solid decision. As 20 somethings out in the community activities, we saw and learned about other areas of So Cal and there was lot of contrasting communities everywhere. from the smaller homes deep into the valleys and base of the mountains to the cool beach area homes for just about anyone with an inkling to enjoy the ocean influence along the way. But, in our travels all over So Cal, the inland areas in and around downtown Los Angeles were areas we had never seen or wandered around before. Visiting Pasadena and those farther inland communities with family friends living there gave us an unusual sights and learning about that area of So Cal. So, when my wife and I started our local So Cal road trips, one of our favorite areas was just south of Beverly Hills in the West Los Angeles area. The Pico-Wilshire-La Cienega area was one of our favorites. Why? There were so many cool little shops selling a myriad of different items that we normally don’t find in shopping malls. (Currently, those similar shops are like the Melrose Avenue shopping area of Los Angeles.) Plus, the small record stores, back then, had their fingers in the industry and created a bunch of small businesses with the lowest cost popular albums in any area of So Cal. It was a haven of competition between the stores for the best prices. If one store had a low price, then the next store up the block had lower prices. For my wife and I, we had saved up enough to get our fill of the top rock albums as soon as they came out to the general public. We liked the drive from the coastal area to this portion of Los Angeles. It was in a good area and the shops were different than malls. So, was the drive from coastal So Cal to downtown Los Angeles worth it? Our supply of the top rock albums was a prized collection from that moment in time. But, what led us to that area? The rows of tall palm trees lining the nearby roads and streets leading up to the Wilshire district was a draw. The odd thing was there were rows of car repair shops and also some hot rod, custom car shops interspersed in the industrial portion of the streets leading to the tall palm tree lined streets. Jnaki This was So Cal, that most everyone sees when one watches movies located in Los Angeles and popular TV shows in and around the area. We all expect a girl with flowing hair in a convertible driving down one of those tall palm tree locations as a definition of So Cal. Yes, it did happen and still does, today…YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
