But, Nobody Walks in LA

By Razi Schwartz

Would you be surprised if I told you that my little cousin’s first word was “Beemer?” No, I didn’t think so.

LA : car ::
a) obvious : this question
b) NY : not car
c) Lease : the only way to get the car you really want
d) All of the above

Ok, didn’t want to trick you, because CLEARLY the answer is “c” ““ no, just kidding ““ duh, it’s “d” peoples. As a born and raised Angeleno (on a totally unrelated note, it’s always bothered me that for a female, the term wasn’t Angelena, no? I guess that would be confusing with the whole Pitt-Jolie amalgamation. Go team Aniston!), I am fully aware of how much of a car culture our dearly beloved La La land is ““ I was driving my first car before I’d even made it out of Westwood Driving School ““ Red Asphalt 3 is SUCH a classic. But, what’s always astounded me is ““ how are we so health obsessed and a car culture at the same time. I mean, mes cheries, this makes no sense. We get in our car to drive to go work out. We get in our car to go someplace to walk on a treadmill.

It’s a damn shame. And I know that in some respects it’s the nature of the beast known as home, but”¦today, on this beautiful January 11th, let’s make fun of all those suckers back east who are wearing ugly parkas and look like cream puffs and go outside and TAKE A WALK!

Ok, stop hyperventilating. STOP HYPERVENTILATING. I am not going to leave you blind, aimlessly trying to find some place to walk around. And no, I’m not going to say go take a walk on the Promenade. I have come across a new book that I think y’all will find loverly. It’s called Walking L.A.: 36 Walking Tours Exploring Stairways, Streets and Buildings You Never Knew Existed. Even though, this book has a great cover, we’re not going to judge the book by it ““ let’s be original for once. It’s actually got some faboo suggestions for places to”¦yes”¦take a walk around our fair City of Angels.

First of all, it’s geared toward natives. I hope it’s slightly more user-friendly than that, because there are all of, oh I don’t know, 10 people who are born and raised in LA and you’re reading the beautiful, prolific, and eloquent words of one of them. Erin Mahoney is the author, who also happens to be the founder of ChillOutLA.com ““ a great website with some “insider” info about Los Angeles. I guess this whole thing is a brilliant idea, because every waiter in town ““ oops, I mean actor ““ can impress his/her new love by pretending he/she knows every insider nook and cranny. Schlep up Beachwood Canyon, treck through Malibu or Venice ““ there is some sort of hike/walk/pilgrimage in almost every neighborhood ““ historic or nouveau fab.

You can buy your very own copy of the book on Amazon – www.amazon.com

The only thing I cannot resist pointing out is ““ there is no “walk” geared toward getting people to walk to a bookstore to buy the book about walking. Which is good if you need baby steps in this big next phase of your life ““ buy the book online or drive to the bookstore, think about taking a walk, discuss it with your therapist, and then”¦and then my friends, take that walk. Besides, it’s a great excuse to buy some new walking shoes, no?