Every city has its pros and cons. I was born in the Chicago area, raised in the Detroit suburbs, and have since lived in Portland (Oregon, twice), Washington DC, northern Virginia, and the New York City area. I have always made it a practice to lean into the pros of any place I call home, and while I never had Las Vegas on my bingo card, life and love took me here a year and a half ago. I’ve acclimated to desert life more quickly than I would have ever predicted, and also in the plus column of living here is how incredibly easy it is for me to get to Los Angeles for any and all things related to my career.
It’s an up/down, barely 40 minute flight, but I almost always drive, with my pup Gilda Radner in tow 98% of the time. It’s usually four hours door to door, but sometimes it takes longer by choice – aka leveraging my proactively scoped out thrift stores as pit stops along the way (not to mention the ones I’ve curated in LA proper). I’m also fortunate enough to have many dear friends and former colleagues who live in the LA area, so it’s very easy for me to fill my dance card, whether I’m in town for 48 hours or four days.
My latest jaunt to LA last week was primarily driven around the Hollywood Radio and Television Society’s (HRTS) third annual joint summer mixer with the Television Academy writers, documentary, and reality peer groups. I’ve been an Associate Member of HRTS since last July and it’s an incredible organization that focuses on networking, education, and mentorship in the entertainment industry. I first learned about it through their CEO… who also happens to be a dear friend since high school.
Since joining, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a number of HRTS events in Los Angeles. This includes larger gatherings of 100+, like my very first HRTS event which took place on the Warner Brothers lot featuring a panel on resilience in storytelling, where I got to meet R. Scott Gemmill, creator and showrunner of one of my most beloved series, The Pitt. I’ve also had access to more intimate discussions, like sitting in a board room right next to Erin Underhill, President of Universal Television, with maybe a dozen other people in attendance.
My excursion to LA last week took place right in the middle of a pretty nasty heat wave (let me tell you: 95+ in Hollywood is WAY different from 95+ in Vegas). Thankfully, the HRTS event was to be held inside at the Aster, a boutique hotel and private members club (with an impressive zero proof menu I might add, including N/A wine by the glass, a rarity!).
I planned as though I would be just hopping from one safely air conditioned environment (my car) to another (the venue), but oooooweeeeee that room was still hotter than a biscuit and LOUD. The kind of loud where you have to stand an inch away from someone just to (maybe) hear what they are saying. But I did exactly that, seeing some familiar faces and meeting many new ones. Of course, “What part of town do you live in?” is par for the course in conversation. And it’s also a question I’ve come to love answering, because my response is never what people expect.
I live in Vegas, and come to LA on a regular basis.
The first reaction is usually a pause, often paired with, “Come again?” Then a small tilt of the head, like they’re doing math. And then, nine times out of ten, there is a shift, and what comes out is some version of: you know, that’s actually a really great setup. Followed immediately by an out loud realization that most of their meetings happen over Zoom anyway, so what does it matter where anyone actually sleeps. And I can tell you with great authority that Vegas traffic, even during rush hour, is a blip compared to the daily LA grind, not to mention our property taxes feel like loose change.
Don’t get me wrong. No shade to LA whatsoever. I love it. The good, the bad, and the ugly. All of it. I even subleased a friend’s apartment in Koreatown in September 2021 and relocated there for a month with Gilda, just to mix things up during the COVID doldrums. I know the area very well, from the Santa Monica pier to the bougie Calabasas hills. And I now try out different neighborhoods during each LA visit, anchored by whatever makes the most sense in terms of proximity to my main meeting or event.
Last week, I returned to what’s become a go-to Airbnb in one of my favorite neighborhoods, Atwater Village.
It gives me major Portland vibes (with less rain), feels safe, is super dog friendly, and it’s also extremely walkable with tons of great restaurants and shops (including my favorite area thrift store, which is where I was when I got hit with the Dolly news). I also love any neighborhood where I get to see a WRDSMTH piece in person.
I logged 16,000+ steps every day during my trip, despite the heat wave…I know a thing or two about navigating early morning and late evenings for such things.
Somewhere during the last year, the trips to LA have stopped feeling like visits and started feeling like second nature. Not a place I’m passing through, but a place I keep returning to on purpose. My partner and I have even talked about what it would look like to also have a spot in LA that is permanent instead of borrowed. And as conversations continue to deepen with regards to my scripted dark comedy series and other projects in development, I wouldn’t be surprised if that time comes sooner than later.
But for now, I love my commute.
XO,
SG
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LA just loves it when you come to visit! As do I!!!!!!! And that little snausage, Gilda makes it perfection!!!