I found this post on LAcitynerd.

Eastside, Westside, all around the town...

There has been an ongoing conversation about where the Westside and Eastside Boundaries are in LA. In the broader scope of things, places like Montebello, Arcadia, and Pasadena are considered Eastside, while Santa Monica, Hermosa, & even Torrance could be considered Westside. But for the sake of this conversation, we're defining it to Eastside/Westside in the City of LA (and those cities that influence the monikers).

So, today, MayorSam writes a post that refers to Mack Reed, a Silver Laker, as an Eastside white guy. Now, just focusing on the fact that MayorSam calls him an eastsider, is he correct?

In having this discussion, here are some points to consider:
1. No matter what boundaries are discussed, there is no real street line that divides the Westside from the Eastside (or any other larger area of the City) - the borders are slightly blurred, depending with whom you speak. (One exception could be argued in that the Valley is clearly the area north of Mulholland.)
2. It is commonly known that Downtown is neither Eastside nor Westside. Downtown can be descirbed as the area north of the 10, west of the LA River, South of the 5/Elysian Park area and east of Alvarado. (This western border may be a sticking point for some - is Echo Park part of Downtown?)
3. The Westside and the Eastside are not the same as "West LA" and "East LA," respectively; we're talking here about the sweeping generalizations of the Westside of Los Angeles and the Eastside of Los Angeles.
4. In an Eastside/Westside conversation, the Valley nor the Harbor area are included in that east/west thing. Also, in terms of the City, the area south of Downtown is known as South LA to about Harbor Gateway (hence the name), as well as the area that makes up Council District 8. So, that area is also not part of the Eastside/Westside topic. (True, there are many communities within this broader "South LA," but that is generally its boundary with only minor conversation of whether to use the 10 as the divider or Washington (see #1).
5. There is an area of Los Angeles known as Mid City that is not Downtown, Eastside, or Westside. It is west of Downtown and includes the places like Miracle Mile, The Grove, & Koreatown.
6. Hollywood is it's own larger moniker that also includes other communities like Los Feliz and Franklin Hills as well, though part of it meshes with Mid City as you move south on La Brea.

So, understanding all of that, here's what I would use to define the Westside and the Eastside of the City:
The Westside
The areas east of (& including) Beverly Hills & West Hollywood are NOT the Westside, and that south of there, La Cienega would be a general dividing line as to what would be Westside. So, the Westside would be the areas west of the Beverly Hills border and La Cienega, in general, to the ocean. No matter how you slice it, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms, Westchester, Westside Village, Rancho Park, Beverlywood, Cheviot Hills, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Century City, Bel-Aire, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Playa del Rey, SoRo, Venice, and Playa Vista are all "Westside" (basically all of CD11, a portion of CD5, and a small piece of CD10.

The Eastside
Again, for the eastside, Downtown & Chinatown are not inlcuded, so you're looking at the LA River east from about the 10 north. This includes Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Montecito Heights, Highland Park, Monterey Hills, Glassel Park, Hermon, Mount Washington, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, and Garvanza. These ar the areas that are partly in CD14 and partly in CD1.

There is the question as to whether Atwater Village is eastside or not - some might argue not or try to get lumped in with adjacent Silver Lake. Some might even argue it's in the Valley as Glendale - its northeastern neighbor - is. I say: even though it's east of the river, it's not really Eastside, the same way that Silver Lake, Solano Canyon, Elysian Park, Los Feliz, and Griffith Park are not. Heck, Griffith Park used to (and technically still does) extend east of the LA River before the 5 was built. That's all part of the same community of "NoDo" North of Downtown (be it slightly northeast or slightly northwest).

Here is a "just ok" map of the communities in LA - it's not as detailed as I'd appreciate, but it'll have to do. (See how the Atwater delimma occurs?)

Also, here are some facts that may be just confusing the whole Eastside/Westside issue...

The Eastside Market (great meatball sandwiches!) is in Chinatown, which is really known as either "Downtown" or "Chinatown," not the Eastside.

The Silver Lake Film Festival believes that Echo park, Silver Lake, & Downtown are part of LA's Eastside.

The Westside Economic Collaborative defines the Westside as including Hollywood, Korea Town[sic], and the Wilshire District - which is clearly not the Westside.

Westside Rentals lists apartment rentals all across the region, not just on the Westside.

WestLA.com doesn't even mention any portion of LA City. (LA.Inc's competition, apparently.)

NOTE: Western Avenue and Eastern Avenue were once the west and east boundaries of the City - not any more...



So my question for all you fourmers out there, What exactly would you consider to be the boundries of LA's East and West sides?

...im confused, perhaps to many beard papas

Regarding the west side, i agree with you on everything except the south robertson neighborhood. Personally, i feel the most southeastern neighborhood on the west side is palms. north of there, you have cheviot hills, century city, westwood, then bel air. thats a fairly straight line that i think seperates the westside from the rest of the city.

why complicate things.....as far as I know, La Brea Avenue is the cut-off point. West of La Brea is generally considered the "Westside," and east of La Brea, the "Eastside," excluding Downtown and East LA. I've heard people from the westside say they do not venture east of La Brea and people on the eastside say the opposite. The bourgeois bohemians from the eastside like living there because "it is not the westside." So more than anything else this Westside/Eastside thing is a state of mind: the westside being more slick and glitzy, the eastside being more edgier and artsy-fartsy.

My understanding is Downtown, is simply Downtown. Anything east Of Alameda is consider the Eastside, Not East LA. The Westside is like Archd mention La Brea is the cut off of Mid City area. Then you have the Westside, not to compare to West LA at all. South LA is anything above King Blvd and not to pass the 105. so everything between Crenshaw to Alameda, King to 105 (Imperial Hwy) is South LA. The South Bay LA area is west of Crenshaw to the beach, then 105 Fwy to Rancho Palos Verdes. Cities like Carson, Wilmington, Downey, Lakewood, Cerritos are just consider SouthEast.

East of Sunset towards Downtown is consider North LA. Which is cities like Echo Park, Elysian Park, Mt Washington, Chinatown, Lincoln Height, Los Feliz and many more communities. Then you have the NorthEast El Sereno, Alhambra and those tiny communities, can't remember the names.

The funny thing is Hollywood, Beverly Hills, We Ho, are just in the mix. You will never hear I'm going to East or West Beverly Hills. It's funny if you do because the one mentioning is most likely not to be a Native or something. Then you have my hood which is consider SouthWest Airport area. We are not in the Westside nor in the South Bay. But if you drive pass Century Bl or LAX then it's the South Bay. Same if I drive down Lincoln to Jeff Ave then it's the Westside (Marina Del Rey).

So much confusion if you ask me......

Not that it matters, but the dividing street where the 100 East block meets the 100 West is Main Street. And as LA Nerd correctly points out, before the annexation orgy, the western and eastern borders of the city were once Western and Eastern.

Isn't it funny how simple things are when you ignore all the socio-economical/cultural crap associated with "westside" and "eastside": Main Street - Western Ave - Eastern Ave.

Imagine identifying Florence/Normandie as simply Central LA. San Pedro as South LA. Crenshaw and King as West LA. People would have fits!

From my East Hollywood-born Native Angeleno point of view, I consider the "Westside" as west of La Cienega and the "Eastside" as east of the LA River.

I laugh when gentrohipsters call my part of town and Silver Lake (which they consider not just as one word but its own city) the "Eastside" when they're located *west* of Downtown L.A.

Personally my favorite term for my part of town is, "North Central L.A." :)

Also, in hip-hop slang, "Westside" ("WESSSOIIIDE!!") refers to the entire West Coast.

Wikipedia: West LA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westside_Los_Angeles)
This is how Wikipedia tackles this issue.

The neighborhoods:

Northern West Los Angeles
* Bel-Air
o Roscomare Valley
o Beverly Glen
+ Benedict Canyon
* Beverly Crest
* Beverly Hills
o Trousdale Estates
* Beverlywood
* Brentwood
o Brentwood Circle
o Brentwood Glen
o Brentwood Hills
o Brentwood Park
o Bundy Canyon
o Kenter Canyon
+ Crestwood Hills
o Mandeville Canyon
+ Westridge Heights
o South Brentwood
o Westgate
* Century City
* Cheviot Hills
* Crestview
* Malibu
* Pacific Palisades
o Castellammare
o Huntington Palisades
o Palisades Highlands
o Santa Monica Canyon
+ Rustic Canyon
* Rancho Park
o Home Junction
* Santa Monica
o Ocean Park
o Sunset Park[1]
o Santa Monica Canyon
* Sawtelle (V.A. Hospital)
* South Robertson
* Topanga Canyon
o Topanga
* West Los Angeles
o Sawtelle (Little Osaka)
* Westwood
o Holmby Hills
o Westwood Village

Southern West Los Angeles

* Baldwin Hills
* Culver City
* Del Rey
* Ladera Heights
* Mar Vista
o Westdale
* Marina Del Rey
* Palms
o Westside Village
* Playa del Rey
* Playa Vista
* Venice
o Oakwood
* Westchester

Wikipedia: West LA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westside_Los_Angeles)
This is how Wikipedia tackles this issue.

West L.A. is in the Westside, but the Westside isn't West L.A.
West L.A. is a community of Los Angeles roughly bounded by the 405 on the east, Culber City on the south, Santa Monica on the west and Brentwood on the north.

I won't dispute that but the article equates West Los Angeles (region) to "the westside."
There is a separate wiki article on West LA, CA. Of course to add to the confusion.

WestSide and West LA are two different areas..... no Doubt*

As far as East Hollywood, that's Lil Armenia now in days*

WestSide and West LA are two different areas..... no Doubt*

As far as East Hollywood, that's Lil Armenia now in days*

I consider Little Armenia - and Thai Town - as neighborhoods within East Hollywood. :)

From my East Hollywood-born Native Angeleno point of view, I consider the "Westside" as west of La Cienega and the "Eastside" as east of the LA River.

I laugh when gentrohipsters call my part of town and Silver Lake (which they consider not just as one word but its own city) the "Eastside" when they're located *west* of Downtown L.A.

Personally my favorite term for my part of town is, "North Central L.A." :)

Well I tend to agree with you on this one. Maybe you could help the definitions from you post on the East Hollywood council.

I think we should reserve the term eastside for anything east of the LA river after it turns south around Griffith Park. Out here in Santa Monica, some say the West side is anything west of La Cienega, though I would accept anything west of La Brea myself. As for everything in the middle, Ijust refer to the neighborhood names, Hollywood, Silver Lake Echo Park etc.

In some ways the terms eastside and westside are more like directions than specific areas. If you live east of me, you're an east sider. If you live west of me, you are a westsider. Almost like New yorkers use uptown and downtown.

I think we should reserve the term eastside for anything east of the LA river after it turns south around Griffith Park. Out here in Santa Monica, some say the West side is anything west of La Cienega, though I would accept anything west of La Brea myself. As for everything in the middle, Ijust refer to the neighborhood names, Hollywood, Silver Lake Echo Park etc.


Definitely. It's an insult to the people living in the *real* Eastside.

The border is all relative...most annoying are people who delineate the Westside as "West of the *405*."

The border is all relative...most annoying are people who delineate the Westside as "West of the *405*."

You are right. Have you seen the T-shirts that read "There is no life east of Sepulveda."

You are right. Have you seen the T-shirts that read "There is no life east of Sepulveda."

No I haven't, which is good, since I'd instinctively kick the ass of whoever's wearing it.

No I haven't, which is good, since I'd instinctively kick the ass of whoever's wearing it.



^ Chill Rocky!

Why can't we just go with this?:
http://www.laalmanac.com/LA/lamap2.htm

Why can't we just go with this?:
http://www.laalmanac.com/LA/lamap2.htm

nah...i don't remember the last time anyone said, "let's go to central city"...where the hell is that? Downtown is more appropriate, for that whole area.

Hey now. "Westside" as being defined as anything west of La Brea seems pretty inaccurate. It really is west of La Cienaga, I'm gonna be stubborn here.

There IS more similarity to the businesses, architecture, and intangible "feel" of the city between La Brea and La Cienega - ie, the Fairfax district - and what's immediately east of La Brea - ie, between La Brea and Highland or Vine/Rossmore, than what's west of La Cienaga.

Santa Monica Blvd is the exception (as it gets more polished in WeHo west of La Brea), but Melrose and Beverly both follow this trend of maintaining an "eastern" feel of funkiness before mainlining into manicured blandness west of La Cienaga, Wilshire also moves into Bev Hills proper west of La Cienaga, and Sunset's strip doesn't start until west of Fairfax; not near La Brea, and west of La Cienaga is the end of all that as Bev Hills residentials starts shortly.

La Cienaga really is the dividing line

Hey now. "Westside" as being defined as anything west of La Brea seems pretty inaccurate. It really is west of La Cienaga, I'm gonna be stubborn here.

La Cienaga really is the dividing line

NO! You're WRONG. It's CENTINELA!!!!!

j/k I agree of course. Also, La Cienega is where the perfect grid ends and streets like Santa Monica and Sunset start to go diagonal. Also, Melrose and all the numbered streets (3rd St., 6th St.) end at La Cienega or San Vicente.

I concur. I always get a queasy feeling as I head west and cross over the La Cienega boundary line. It feels like I am heading into the deep south or something. I do my best not to ever have to travel over the La Cienega line much less look in that direction. But their are exceptions, like going to Venice, where I just use the 10 freeway and treat that area as "drive over" country. And the times that I have taken the Rapid which takes you into the heart of it all, I do my best not to look out of the window until we get on the other side of the 405.

^^....wait...i thought West LA was one of the nicest parts of the whole city...y do u guys not like it so much.....do u have any pics???

^^....wait...i thought West LA was one of the nicest parts of the whole city...y do u guys not like it so much.....do u have any pics???

My impresions aren't as extreme as Klam,'s but I do know that for a fact the Westside has the worst drivers (just about all my near-misses and fender-bumps have happened there), the shortest-tempers and the most superficial people in town. Yeah it's nice and clean, but most of the people there are a-holes.

My impresions aren't as extreme as Klam,'s but I do know that for a fact the Westside has the worst drivers (just about all my near-misses and fender-bumps have happened there), the shortest-tempers and the most superficial people in town. Yeah it's nice and clean, but most of the people there are a-holes.

I resent that last statement. I have to admit we have our share of bad drivers here on the West side, but East LA and Monterrey Park are pretty bad as well. And as for a-holes, they are everywhere, one to a customer.

I resent that last statement. I have to admit we have our share of bad drivers here on the West side, but East LA and Monterrey Park are pretty bad as well. And as for a-holes, they are everywhere, one to a customer.

Sorry, it's been my personal experience that the worst drivers are on the Westside. I still stand by that. You might be a good driver yourself but you're the exception and not the rule. As for the A-hole thing, perhaps that's because of the high NY transplant influx into the Westside. I mean, I've been to NYC 4 times and the people out there are actually pretty cool, so I guess the Westside recieves the worst ones. :) And if it weren't for that "No life east of the 405/La Cienega/La Brea" semtiment the Westsiders are best known for, I'm sure I would have a much higher regard for them folks. So I guess the rep speaks for itself!


I'll try to ignore your Monterey Park comment as a stereotypical slam against Asian drivers...

I'll try to ignore your Monterey Park comment as a stereotypical slam against Asian drivers...

no... elsongs. he is right. monterey park/alhambra/san gabriel do have some crap drivers. but that is not the worst part. valley is just an over stressed road and alot of the drivers here are very hesitent to do much. add to that the extream need for parking that does not cause cars to be sticking out onto the main street waiting for the next spot to open up.

but i will gladly stay the course as long as the tasty food ratio is as high as it is now

My guess is that people on the westside have mutual feelings about people on the other side of town. you know, how its filled with a bunch of pretensious hipsters that only care about looking like they shop at a thrift store even though they only wear designer clothes.

Heres how I see it, birds of a feather flock together. Silver Lake is filled with hipsters, theres a lot of yuppies in brentwood, obviously the majority of the african american population lives on the southside, and there are many heavily mexican neighborhoods throughout the city. however, there are super cool people who live in every corner of the city and the same with douche bags. you probably have some douche bag neighbors, i know i do. the real a-holes though, are the ones who judge neighborhoods without really knowing that much about them. im sure youve figured it out by now, but i live on the westside and have been here for 2 years. I happen to really like it because Im a huge fan of the beach and it also happens to offer a very relaxed lifestyle that you cant get elsewhere in the city. my job is also here on the westside, so the obvious place for me to live is here. yes, there are some neighborhoods im not a big fan of, but the westside is so big, i dont ever have to go to these places.

Sorry, it's been my personal experience that the worst drivers are on the Westside. I still stand by that. You might be a good driver yourself but you're the exception and not the rule. As for the A-hole thing, perhaps that's because of the high NY transplant influx into the Westside. I mean, I've been to NYC 4 times and the people out there are actually pretty cool, so I guess the Westside recieves the worst ones. :) And if it weren't for that "No life east of the 405/La Cienega/La Brea" semtiment the Westsiders are best known for, I'm sure I would have a much higher regard for them folks. So I guess the rep speaks for itself!


I'll try to ignore your Monterey Park comment as a stereotypical slam against Asian drivers...

I think you may have to check your own prejudice at the door. I didn't say anything against Asians, but traffic through Monterrey Park, where the Long beach freeway ends is a mess. Since it appears you don't like yuppies, New Yorkers or Asians, I think you might look inward without casting stones.

Sorry, it's been my personal experience that the worst drivers are on the Westside. I still stand by that. You might be a good driver yourself but you're the exception and not the rule. As for the A-hole thing, perhaps that's because of the high NY transplant influx into the Westside. I mean, I've been to NYC 4 times and the people out there are actually pretty cool, so I guess the Westside recieves the worst ones. :) And if it weren't for that "No life east of the 405/La Cienega/La Brea" semtiment the Westsiders are best known for, I'm sure I would have a much higher regard for them folks. So I guess the rep speaks for itself!


I'll try to ignore your Monterey Park comment as a stereotypical slam against Asian drivers...

I'm answering this a second time because your answer and attitude is bugging me. There are lots of reasons for traffic being bad on the West side, the street grid breaks down west of Fairfax. Santa Monica crosses Wilshire, and the 405 acts like a barrier across the whole area. We also lack the much needed purple line.

I would also point out that the West side is a magnet for the whole county. The beach belongs to everyone and your average silverlaker is much more likely to travel to the beach than the reverse. UCLA is a roadblock in and of itself and so is the VA. UCLA is the biggest employer in the county, and has insufficient student housing so that is another source of traffic. Too many cars and not enough roads is a recipe for traffic problems, you don't have to denigrate the character of people living on the West side. They come in all shapes colors and sizes, and and are one of the most diverse communities in the city. There is a big difference between folks living in Sawtelle, Oakwood, and Bel-Air. When my daughter graduated from Santa Monica High, it was pointed out that the student body spoke more than 100 languages.

The reason I am scolding you is that I know you are active in your Neighborhood council and if you plan on serving the city, you need to appreciate all of it. Even the rich guys in Beverly Hills PO.

And by the way the tee shirts with the "No Life east of Sepulveda" are a joke.!!

And another thing concerning your tag line, it does snow in Jerusalem and Bethlehem!

http://wintercenter.homestead.com/photobeth.html

Meow............. Cat Fight*

The reason I am scolding you is that I know you are active in your Neighborhood council and if you plan on serving the city, you need to appreciate all of it. Even the rich guys in Beverly Hills PO.

http://wintercenter.homestead.com/photobeth.html

That bitch is going to turn the page on you for that one! I'll say it before he shouts it, BEVERLY HILLS IS NOT PART OF THE CITY OF LA!!!!

^^ I always said they need to make a reality show of SSC members in a mansion up in the Hollywood Hills. Nothing but Drama...Drama...Drama on this forum, just imagine live and in person. Very high ratings for sure...Lol*

Have we all at least agreed that the Westside is immeasurable better than the Eastside?

That bitch is going to turn the page on you for that one! I'll say it before he shouts it, BEVERLY HILLS IS NOT PART OF THE CITY OF LA!!!!

Beverly Hills is not part of the city of LA, but Beverly Hills PO refers to parts of the city that are served by the Beverly Hills post office but are not in Beverly Hills itself, adresses to the contrary. There are a lot of places like this in the county. For instance I once had a Redondo Beach PO, in spite of the fact that my home was actually in the city of Torrance.

None of this changes the point that none of us should be insulting anybody from other parts of the county.

Have we all at least agreed that the Westside is immeasurable better than the Eastside?

Here is one Westsider that votes NO!!!! Different parts of the county have different virtues and the definition of Eastside varies. There are few parts of the county nicer than Pasadena/San Marino for example. And there are crummy parts of the west side too.

uy, my head hurts!

uy, my head hurts!



^ Hate to ask what you were doing?

Why are all these old ancient threads being brought back to life?:dunno::)

WTF? He brought back this thread just to say that?

WTF? He brought back this thread just to say that?

.... Exactly!

Well he did say he has a headache so maybe he wasn't thinking straight or something!