Absolutely not better, just better if you were in college...LOL It was cool to be edgy and a bit questionable, cleanliness and health-wise. I grew up in Orange County (still live here), and graduated from UCLA. Brentwood and Westwood and Santa Monica were our "local" space, but we'd head east down Sunset or Melrose to catch bands or hit clubs. Gazzari's, The Whiskey, The Roxy, Coconut Teaser, Bogart's, The Palace, The Rainbow, etc. We'd also head over to Reseda to the Country Club occasionally. The neighborhoods were ALWAYS sketchy.Not to spoil your memories but it wasn’t any better back then. Riots, murders that lacked forensic technology, gangs, etc… I grew up out here and have been 93% of my life. There are some great neighborhoods with awesome bars and restaurants and fun things to do but Hollywood and much of the west side is not that. I’m in Malibu the majority of the week and it’s so far from what a beach community is supposed to be. Too many tourists and best life and beyond and Gary Busey and new money punks. I spend my free time in Ventura instead.
As for the beaches, all of LA County sucks. I'd never hit any of them. Malibu is a 6-lane highway with sand on one side.
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