NY vs. LA

One of my teammates is a New Yorker who went to Stanford, and I love to give him sh*t for it. As much as I like this dude Taj, everytime I hear him say "hella" it eats away at my soul. Luckily, he's never said "gnarly" or "rad" because I'd probably punch him in the face. In either case, he got me thinking about comparing and contrasting New York and California. I knew I'd lose the New York University/Stanford debate so I decided to just compare the cities of New York and Los Angeles.

Transportation and Housing

Californians say: You can't compare .... NY'ers ride around on old trains and live in small apartments, with humid , hot , overcast summers and frigid winters. Angelenos live in single family houses with palm tree lined streets, and rely on their own hard-earned vehicles to get around(more convenient) ... with mild winters and gorgeous summers , complete with sunshine

New Yorkers say: We don't ride on old trains. Yes Cars are more convenient sitting in long traffic, polluting your already polluted air, isolated from any socialization, can't really do anything but listen to the radio, having to worry about parking, accidents, insurance, paying for gas, etc.... during the summer all the plants look dry and winter is very boring. Those palm aren't doing much but look good. They don't provide enough shade and they don't help the environment. Here NY we ride new subways that are hard earned money goes into, we live in apartments that architecturally better, we great views many trees and parks, with our beautiful summers with our well nourished, lush plants and trees, clean air, beautiful winters for the holiday spirit with a white christmas season, etc.

Nightlife

Californians say:  LA's nightlife scene is legendary, and with good reason – from swanky cocktail lounges to frenetic dance clubs, from themed bars to laugh-out-loud comedy clubs, this city has it all. The vibe varies widely by neighborhood, so plan your night in advance. Hollywood traditionally supplies the hottest action, whether it's at über-trendy clubs like LAX and Mood or at the elegant, celebrity-riddled Chateau Marmont. Head west to Venice, Malibu, and Santa Monica, and a mellower atmosphere pervades neighborhoods by the beach. Catch an exceptional acoustic show at McCabe's Guitar Shop, or gaze at the sunset over cocktails at Moonshadows. Downtown and the Valley also have their fair share of hot spots; the Golden Gopher and Firefly make their homes here. With a seemingly endless variety of bars, clubs, and lounges, you'll have no trouble tailoring a night out to suit your taste. -- Kelly Sigmon, Senior Editor

New Yorkers say: Whoever decided that nightlife had to be confined to the darker hours of the day wasn't using their imagination. "Nightlife" in New York City is as much a state of mind as anything, and there are bars and restaurants open somewhere at all hours of the day. Want a beer with your morning bagel? You can do that here. Need a steak and a scotch at 10am? That can be arranged as well. Feeling the need to burn off some energy on the dance floor at 6am on a Saturday morning? No problem. No matter what your nightlife style is – laid-back neighborhood watering hole, swanky lounge, high octane dance club, old-fashioned Irish pub, posh pool hall, dive-y music club, sophisticated piano bar – New York's sheer variety is astounding. Add in all the Broadway and off-Broadway shows, art gallery receptions, free public concerts, and impromptu sidewalk entertainers, and you have a full 24-7 schedule of goings-on. Even the "regular" bars and clubs usually stay open until 3 or 4am. Let your hair down, have fun, and don't be afraid to call for a cab home. -- Kim Goodin, 10Best Editor

Dining and Restaurants

Californians say: For fine dining, Los Angeles once ranked among the world’s big city bargains, with stiff competition keeping a lid on costs at many upscale establishments. But waves of visitors from far-flung corners accustomed to higher prices have spawned significant cost creep on L.A. menus. Fortunately, first-class ethnic restaurants in abundant supply remain suitable for tighter budgets. Los Angeles also has a reputation for catapulting its top chefs like Wolfgang Puck onto the international culinary stage, assuring that innovation remains a standard on local menus. As a culinary melting pot, items from persimmons and wasabi are no longer limited to the ethnic or fusion cuisine scene. For that matter, just “going out for Mexican in L.A.” often leads to consideration of which region to choose -- Oaxacan to Yucatan.
New Yorkers say: It has all the eating options covered and you can find almost every type of food available and every cuisine of the world represented. There are literally tens of thousands of restaurants, ranging from dingy $2-a-slice pizza joints to the $500-a-plate prix fixe sushi at Masa. Thousands of delis, bodegas, and grocery stores dot every corner of the city and DIY meals are easy and cheap to find. Street food comes in various tastes, ranging from the ubiquitous New York hot dog vendors to the many middle eastern carts at street corners in mid-town. Fruit stalls appear at many intersections from Spring to Fall with ready to eat strawberries, bananas, apples, etc. available at very low cost. Vegetarians will find New York to be a paradise with hundreds of vegetarian-only restaurants and good veggie options in even the most expensive places.

I'm impartial but what do you think?

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