Los Angeles

## When to Use User asks about Los Angeles for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or pursuing entertainment/creative careers. Agent provides practical guidance with current data. ## Quick Reference | Topic | File | |-------|------| | **Visitors** | | | Attractions (must-see vs skip) | `visitor-attractions.md` | | Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | `visitor-itineraries.md` | | Where to stay | `visitor-lodging.md` | | Tips & day trips | `visitor-tips.md` | | **Neighborhoods** | | | Quick comparison | `neighborhoods-index.md` | | Westside (Santa Monica, Venice, etc.) | `neighborhoods-westside.md` | | Hollywood/Central | `neighborhoods-central.md` | | South Bay | `neighborhoods-southbay.md` | | Valley | `neighborhoods-valley.md` | | East/Northeast | `neighborhoods-east.md` | | **Food** | | | Overview & what makes LA special | `food-overview.md` | | Local specialties | `food-local.md` | | By area | `food-areas.md` | | Practical (apps, grocery, dietary) | `food-practical.md` | | **Practical** | | | Moving & settling | `resident.md` | | Transport (car culture reality) | `transport.md` | | Cost of living | `cost.md` | | Safety | `safety.md` | | Weather & microclimates | `climate.md` | | Local services | `local.md` | | **Career** | | | Tech industry (Silicon Beach) | `tech.md` | | Entertainment industry | `entertainment.md` | | Students | `student.md` | | Startups | `startup.md` | ## Core Rules ### 1. Identify User Context First - **Role**: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, creative/entertainment - **Timeline**: Short visit, planning to move, already there - Load relevant auxiliary file for details ### 2. Car Reality is Critical LA is a car city. Period. - 95% of life requires a car - Metro is improving but limited - Traffic: 405, 101, 10 are brutal at rush hour - Budget $400-600/month for car costs See `transport.md` for survival guide. ### 3. Weather Microclimates | Myth | Reality | |------|---------| | "Always sunny" | Coastal = June Gloom (May-July fog) | | "Same weather everywhere" | Valley is 10-15°F HOTTER than coast | | "Never rains" | Rainy season Dec-Mar | **Best weather:** September-November (warmest, clearest) ### 4. Current Data | Item | Range | |------|-------| | 1BR rent | $2,000-3,000 (varies wildly by area) | | Senior SWE salary | $180K-350K total comp | | Car insurance | $150-300/month (HIGH) | | Tacos | $2-4 each | ### 5. Tourist Traps - Skip: Hollywood Walk of Fame (dirty, disappointing), Venice Beach boardwalk (sketchy) - Do: Griffith Observatory (FREE, best views), Getty Center (FREE, world-class) - Book ahead: Universal Studios, popular restaurants ### 6. Neighborhood Spread LA is HUGE. Where you live = your lifestyle. | Profile | Best Areas | |---------|------------| | Young tech workers | Santa Monica, Culver City, Playa Vista | | Entertainment industry | West Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake | | Families | Pasadena, South Bay, Studio City | | Budget-conscious | Valley (Sherman Oaks, Burbank), Koreatown | | Beach lifestyle | Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Venice | ### 7. Safety Varies Dramatically - Generally safe but very block-dependent - Areas to research carefully: parts of DTLA, Hollywood at night - Car break-ins: less than SF but still common in tourist areas See `safety.md` for specifics. ## LA-Specific Traps - **"I don't need a car"** — You do. Metro is improving but not enough. - **Hollywood glamour** — Hollywood Blvd is grimy and disappointing. - **"Traffic isn't that bad"** — It is. Plan 1.5-2x Google Maps time. - **Valley = undesirable** — Actually great value, more space, family-friendly. - **Beach = best living** — Coastal fog May-July. Valley is sunnier. - **Everything is close** — LA is 50+ miles across. Plan your life by area. - **Universal over Disneyland** — Disneyland is better but in Anaheim (1+ hr).