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10 Reasons I Still Love LA

Complaining and in love; stuck in traffic and grateful. LA isn't on a map; it's a frequency you tune into.

Translated from Jasmine’s original Chinese. The illustrated slides are on the interactive reader.

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  1. 10 reasons I fell, and am still, in love with LA

    The cover of the book trilogy's finale: LA isn't a place, it's a frequency. This city is loud, pricey and a little crazy, but it's also gentle. In the book: the author's preface, p. 4.

  2. Prologue: I want to give you reasons

    I've written plenty of guides and culture pieces, but this one is about giving you reasons. It's not perfect, it's pricey, it's a little crazy, but after all these years, I still love it. LA isn't perfect, but somehow, it keeps you coming back.

  3. Reason ① The weather is stupid good

    300-plus sunny days a year; when it rains, it makes the news. The four seasons here: spring, summer, traffic, fire. Dress in layers, and watch out for June Gloom. In the book: the practical chapter, seasons, weather and what to wear.

  4. Reason ② Erewhon is a religion, not a grocery store

    A $20 smoothie isn't a drink, it's an identity: I'm taking really good care of myself (and going broke). It's not a grocery store. It's a religion. In the book: Wellness keywords, LA Wellness.

  5. Reason ③ Food trucks are LA's soul engine

    Visitors chase Michelin; locals chase food trucks. Korean tacos, Taiwanese braised pork rice, late-night burritos: every truck is an American dream on wheels. Smorgasburg LA runs every Sunday. In the book: the global melting pot, food chapter.

  6. Reason ④ Mountains, ocean, and traffic too

    Stuck on the 405 in the morning, and by afternoon you can ski, see the ocean or meditate in Joshua Tree. Ocean at 8, mountains by 2, traffic in between. In the book: Weekend Getaways, nearby day trips.

  7. Reason ⑤ The beach is free therapy

    Every Angeleno has a stretch of ocean that's theirs. Venice for people-watching, Malibu for the views, El Matador for sunset. The ocean is LA's free therapy. In the book: Picture-perfect LA, beaches.

  8. Reason ⑥ Every appetite in the world is here

    Tacos for breakfast, pho for lunch, real-deal Taiwanese food in the SGV for dinner. When you're homesick, the 626 always has a bowl of beef noodle soup waiting. Homesick? There's a dish for that. In the book: food from everywhere, the 626 section.

  9. Reason ⑦ Everyone's dreaming

    Your barista's writing a screenplay, your Uber driver just recorded a demo last night, and the next table is pitching a show. In LA, there's no shame in chasing a dream. In the book: City of Angels, Hollywood.

  10. Reason ⑧ Effortless takes effort

    Nobody really dresses up, but everyone nails effortless chic. Freedom is LA's only dress code (we've been practicing this move for over ten years). In the book: California Chic, LA style in 12 areas, p. 134.

  11. Reason ⑨ Golden hour is a free movie every day

    Every evening, the sky reruns La La Land for free. Candy-colored sunset light lands on your face, and suddenly you think: I'm okay. In the book: the special, La La Land location tour.

  12. Reason ⑩ LA lets you become yourself

    This city never asks who you are, only who you want to become. All these years, it's still catching every version of me. In this city, every version of you gets to shine. In the book: the author's preface, p. 4.

  13. Last word: the trilogy, complete

    Complaining and in love; stuck in traffic and grateful. LA isn't on a map; it's a frequency you tune into. These 10 reasons are on p. 16 of the book, and the whole rest of the book is the evidence I left behind.

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Read it with the slides →The illustrated version on the LA Guide →

An original JSLALALAND field guide by Jasmine Chang (@jslalaland).