Appreciating the small things that define a city.

Everyone that moves to a new city feels, at first, like a visitor. Eventually, as you get more comfortable with the streets, the freeways, the radio stations and the food you settle in and become more aware of the true identity of your city.

For visitors, a city is defined by the picture of a building printed on an airport postcard. For locals, cities are about the neighborhood market, the small eatery on the corner and the small things that we integrate into our day-to-day life.

Coming back to LA after having been away for a year, I'd forgotten about all of the wonderful small things that are, for me, what LA is.

Here are a few of the things that are uniquely LA:

1. Coffee Bean
The southern California coffee chain is the perfect Starbucks alternative. I like that their sizes are actually "words." like Small, Regular and Large. The vanilla powder ROCKS my socks off. I can get an iced soy latte with vanilla powder and not have to add any additional sugar. No fiddling at the condiment counter. A delicious asides.

2. The Lane Changers
People in Southern California are incapable of staying in the same lane on the highway. They go back and forth, moving from lane to lane to lane. It's an interesting strategy, but I have yet to see any definitive or worthwhile results. Yesterday I saw a car shift between two lanes for nearly a mile. Their attempt to get one car length ahead of everyone else, was forever out of reach as every other driver in front of him switch lanes as well, causing the vacated lane to move ahead.

3. Fast Food
For a region known for it health food and healthy lifestyles, LA is Fast Food heaven. They are everywhere. I haven't seen the book keeping of any of them, but I've always assumed that if they are still in business, then business is good.
Carls Jr, McD's, BK.. They have all of the hits. Plus there are local favs like Bobs Big Boy and In-and-Out Burger.
I was commenting to a fellow Bostonian that LA is not a "foodie" city. Sure, if money is no object it has some of the best fine dining in the world. But for the average LA resident, the food is terrible.
There are, however, plenty of choices. There re atleast two vegan restaurants in our old neighborhood. The challenge is being able to find them, as they are usually tucked behind a KFC or Taco bell.

What are some of the things that make your city unique?

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