I'm back in the City that Works!

The L.A. weather sure is nice...but it's such a pain to have to drive everywhere. As I mention under BlogStamford's post about our outdoor spaces, it's nice to be able to walk to so many great places in our fair city.

Just for the fun of it, here's a quick comparison of Stamford and El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de la Porciúncula.

Food
You can get tacos all over L.A. Seriously, there's a taco place every twenty feet. I've heard tell of delicious sushi, Thai food, and even an Armenian section (what exactly is Armenian food?). I also drove past a Wolfgang Puck restaurant on Rodeo Drive.

Stamford has Napa, Capriccio and Kit's.

Advantage: Push.

Professional sports teams
L.A. proper has the Lakers, Kings and Dodgers. If you count Anaheim, add the Ducks and Angels.

Working in Stamford's favor, L.A. also has the Clippers.

Advantage: L.A. (if only for Jack Nicholson at Laker games).

Crime
L.A. isn't as bad as you hear, but it's no FC.

Stamford: WE'RE NUMBER ONE! WE'RE NUMBER ONE!

Advantage: Stamford.

Weather
Average annual sunshine, Los Angeles: lots.

Average annual snowfall, Stamford: a buttload (not an official figure).

Advantage: Duh, L.A.

Phoniness
L.A.: The people can be fake, and the city itself puts on an air of importance that's kind of odd, considering its seedier elements.

Stamford: We keep it real. We let Greenwich and Darien do the fakery.

Advantage: Stamford.

Overall
L.A. is a big, cold, overwhelming, isolating place with few ties to its history and few places of true character. The stereotype that you have to drive everywhere is TRUE. It's basically a sunny freeway. But man, is it sunny.

Stamford is, by comparison, a small, tight community with a rich history and an ever-changing and interesting character. It's been reborn several times over, and while it doesn't have the faux glamor of L.A., in Stamford's present incarnation, it's a livable, enjoyable place to be.

Advantage: Tough call, but Stamford, mainly because I like it here!