A Change of Pace From the Arts District to Valley Village

At first, apartment hunting . After all, how hard could it possibly be to find a dog- and cat-friendly place? Apparently, it’s much more of a feat than expected for two picky people on an extremely tight budget. The two of us quickly realized we’d have to give up some amenities — a spacious floor plan, wood and tile floors, walk-in closets — if we wanted to stay within the NoHo Arts District without upsetting our bank accounts even further. So after two months of desperate searching, we finally found the perfect place at the right price in Valley Village.

Things have changed slightly since I’ve jumped to the west side of the 170 freeway. As a former citizen of Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s District 4, I'm now residing in Council District 5 (represented by Councilmember Paul Koretz), although I narrowly missed CD2 by a block or two. I’ve also replaced the hustle and bustle of Lankershim Boulevard for a quiet, vintage neighborhood lined with cute 1930s and ’40s-built homes and apartments. 

I definitely don’t miss taking our dog for a walk on that odd, often unkempt and now grassless sidewalk strip of  – the L.A. Conservation Corps had done a good job cleaning it up and trimming the shrubbery, but a few months later it returned to its dirt-filled state. I now enjoy my new late-night dog walks along Chandler Boulevard, where the grass is green and the bus line is pretty. It seems Valley Village canine owners are a bit more responsible with their mess clean-up duties than our NoHo neighbors.

I will, however, miss being able to walk around the corner one block north to grab breakfast at our favorite brunch spot , or crossing the street for great vegan Thai at . I probably won’t be able to stop for a chat anytime soon with the guy who sweeps incessantly in that alleyway just east of Lankershim along my morning dog-walking route, but I’m sure by now he’s made plenty of new and interesting friends. And now that we’ve moved further from the Arts District, I’ll actually have to drive to my favorite running spot at the North Hollywood Park, and I’ll no longer be able to walk to the Red Line station. Luckily, the Orange Line bus is just off Chandler, which will take us straight to the subway.

I’ve already fallen in love with the cheesy goodness of the pizza and baked ziti at  on Magnolia and Whitsett, and my stomach is already grumbling at the thought of Four 'N 20's amazing pies (try the coconut cream!). The , a great spot for cheap drinks (and where editor Craig Clough ), is within walking distance from me – it'll be good to hang up my Designated Driver duties for once and instead assume the role of Designated Crosswalk Chaperone.

Though I’ll miss the conveniences of my old haunts and catching up with my former fellow neighbors on our daily dog walks, I’m excited to add Valley Village's neighborhood to my list of subjects to write about and explore.