Moving Dilemma...(work in LA school in Claremont) (Fremont, Pasadena: houses, college)

[tyw2342]

Hi all,

We have a bit of a dilemma in our household. I recently got a job between DTLA and Alhambra. My partner is going to grad school in Claremont. We are currently living out by the school, but we both find it to be somewhat boring and it is going to be a pain for me to get to work. Any thoughts on areas in between DTLA and Claremont that would be a fairly reasonable commute for both of us? Pluses would be having some amount of interesting stuff to do, middle or high income, not totally homogeneous, etc. We moved from a northeastern city so the lack of cocktails, interesting dining, etc is painful. We don't need to live in the area where these things are but at least be closer...IE feels like a culinary dead zone. I am hoping this is not too much of a tall order.... I know it may be unrealistic to have all of these things in the SGV (at least that is the impression I am getting) but any sort of compromise is better than nothing. Thanks!

[Joe Van Fossen]

Claremont probably has more things to do than any other place between there and DTLA. As far as SGV goes Pasadena is a step up, but it's not really in between Claremont and DTLA.

[genjy]

If you are looking for gastropubs, bars, steakhouses, and similar things, then Pasadena.

Otherwise, SGV is full of non-fancy, but awesome, Asian and Mexican restaurants--nothing like it in the States. You just gotta be more adventurous to enjoy what the area has to offer.

[tyw2342]

Oh yeah don't worry we love Chinese and Mexican restaurants (looking forward to getting some more dim sum). So what seems like the best option...West Covina? Living on the 210 makes things a little more difficulty given that the job is located right off the 10.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by tyw2342

My partner is going to grad school in Claremont. We are currently living out by the school, but we both find it to be somewhat boring.

Boring? There's a lot more to do there than there used to be! It'll never be Old Town Pasadena, but you can always move there. The other cities between Alhambra and Claremont are bedroom communities. West Covina definitely won't have what you're looking for.

[tyw2342]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Boring? There's a lot more to do there than there used to be! It'll never be Old Town Pasadena, but you can always move there. The other cities between Alhambra and Claremont are bedroom communities. West Covina definitely won't have what you're looking for.

Fair enough...I can definitely concede that Claremont at least has a lot more going for it than the surround communities. Perhaps I am being too hard on it too early. I am just used to having an abundance of gastropubs, fine dining etc...but it's not really a fair comparison given that Claremont is a college town. I know West Covina wouldn't exactly be what we had in mind, but my thought process was that it is very convenient to everything.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by tyw2342

I know West Covina wouldn't exactly be what we had in mind, but my thought process was that it is very convenient to everything.

Convenient, yes. You'll find a whole different type of person living in West Covina as opposed to Claremont. Definitely fewer curious and intellectual types in the former.

[JohnG72]

I don't understand why Pasadena isn't an option.

Surface streets to the job in presumably the Cal State LA area...I'm thinking its a 30 minute morning drive. And a reverse commute to the college in the morning.

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by JohnG72

I don't understand why Pasadena isn't an option.

Surface streets to the job in presumably the Cal State LA area...I'm thinking its a 30 minute morning drive. And a reverse commute to the college in the morning.

I think you're right. Nowhere else is going to provide what they're looking for with any better commute. Just head down Fair Oaks/Fremont or Los Robles/Atlantic depending on where you're going.