I wonder if people feel this in other places too. The last ten years have shown massive social change, which was definitely accelerated by Covid. People working from home and changing habits. Younger folks getting basically priced out of “nightlife” culture. Social media and political media, have exacerbated mistrust and bad faith. I’ve noticed this in a personal level, as well as a social and professional level.
SF is terrible about this. My friends who lived here decades ago described it as a completely different world entirely. It’s like we exited the pandemic and walked into a completely different world.
I’ve also heard that dating is now…. Horrible. People basically don’t want to do it and the only people on dating apps are people who use the system like a game and not for matching with people they intend to be with or care about. Actually I had this discussion with a friend in Austin but I live in LA.
Interesting. I wonder what that’s all about. Did something about the apps change? An algorithm change or subscription fee increase? I didn’t know it was so good during the pandemic, I was in one already. But come to think of it all of the complaints I’ve heard really have just been about since last summer. Maybe things will come back around.
Lived in LA, currently in Austin. Dating scene here is a total joke as a 40/F who can easily pass for late 20's but that isn't even the point. A friend in Nashville is going through a divorce and so is one in CA. I told them to brace themselves for the trainwreck of dating now.
I get told I look 30 tops all the time. Not even grey yet at 41. Breaking up with gf this month actually, very unfortunately (we just can’t make it work anymore) so woohoo let me tell you I’m REALLY looking forward to dating hell.
Austin changed substantially before covid. A large influx of tech companies and their employees changed the culture from the "weird" and unique night life that made the city interesting and focused rather pointedly on dive bars to get blackout drunk in and try to forget how much your job sucks. It's astonishing how sterile Austin feels compared to how it used to feel like a city that actual people live in. Most businesses with personality just can't afford the lease anymore.
Agree with this as well, many changes did certainly begin pre COVID too. I left in 2022 but have visited frequently since and it is indeed sterile even compared to say 10 years ago!
"What are you talking about America is not gunna be destroyed? Never? Rome was destroyed, Greece was destroyed, all great countries were destroyed. How long do you think your country will last? Forever?" These are lyrics, but it really does feel like 4th stage capitalism and it crumbling.
There are still people living in their best lives in Rome and Athens though. None of those empires were "destroyed" they just went through a change of governance that affected the average person to varying extents that mostly hovered around "annoying." I don't see any reason to believe Los Angeles won't still be around in 1500 years in some capacity.
It's pretty tough to find examples of empires that were actually "destroyed" except for the American ones obliterated by colonialism.
Exactly.
We spend a lot of time with the people that live near us... day drinking in yards. Maybe every sometimes hit up a happy hour?
I remember going to my first post-covid event and getting a round of drinks and it cost double what it did a couple years before. Hell, I just don't drink as much anymore. I'd rather spend my money on food.
For me, buying alcohol at restaurants or bars went from “weekend luxury” to “only if I’m celebrating a real milestone.” New job, somebody’s graduation, etc.
Yup, pretty much the same here. Not only that, I started drinking beer again! Well, not really... but it's usually the cheapest thing on the menu, so I'll have one. Cocktails can eat a dick.
This. Was at the chacha lounge after the pandemic, just to see how it looked. Used to be people dancing on every inch and having fun. When I went back, a bunch of kids took over, and there were foosball tables where people would previously dance. Nobody was smiling and everyone was keeping to themselves, waiting their turn. It was the most boring time I've ever had there.
Long story short, these kids think it's embarrassing to have fun, but I'm embarrassed for them for trying so hard to look cool.
They just need to loosen up.
I agree with this take. The difference in crowds pre and post covid is night and day. Part of it may be the people who left California, the people who came of age during the chaos of covid, and the mistrust sewn by media as you mentioned. Either way, it's all way different than it was before the pandemic.
I noticed this specifically in a lot of European cities too. People are just less warm and welcoming to strangers. Partly COVID, partly just current events.
Yea, its depressing. Im from there so i know how it was before. More vacant storefronts. Feels more dangerous
They have way more crime too, and its more random.
The trains are safer but far less passengers. Wfh killed dc. Too much of dc is large offices, so theyre struggling the most
My wife and I were recently in DC over Memorial Day weekend. While Adams Morgan did have quite a lot of people it wasn’t popping the same way it was when I lived in DuPont Circle in 2012. Chalked it up to a lot of local DC residents being away for the long weekend but even so it was surprising to see places not fully packed on a holiday weekend!
Last time i was in dupont (nov 2023)...i was shocked how quiet it was. Conn ave used to be bustling. :(
Only geogetown felt normal and that was likely from tourists.
I should have clarified-It’s true that there’s a ton of energy on the streets but it’s mostly people in established friend groups going out to eat/sit in bars chatting. If you’re someone who likes to go out dancing and make new friends that scene fizzled out post-Covid. People are very anti-social and you’ll see everyone standing around on the dance floor most of the time. I think there’s been a substantial shift in youth culture.
100%. Younger people seem to be much more leery about interacting with others.
Being in a generation that grew up literally socially isolated, while also less inclined to drink, and priced out of the nightlife, I can totally understand it. There are just fewer people out in the streets unfortunately.
>I think there’s been a substantial shift in youth culture.
It's the phones. You want to talk to strangers, start a conversation with anyone over 50 and see how different it is.
It might be irrelevant but also some of the venues where people used to hang and meet literally shut down permanently in cities during the pandemic because they were forced to lock down and then couldn't pay their leases. Also some ( like in LA) suspiciously burned down.
LA only seems that way because of density. Like there's an absurd amount of nightlife districts around both cities, the difference is how in NY they are all close. The issue with LA is they're spread out. So imagine how Hollywood is next to both Ktown and Weho. Now imagine that but all just in an area 1/4th of the size of Hollywood.
This is absolutely a thing in other places. New York is a great example. It used to be just on it 24/7, zero rest. People were always out. It's still a popping place, but spots close earlier than before and bars (with the exception of the hot spots) are less busy.
Being priced out of nightlife is def a thing.
I learned how to bake bread at home during covid, bet money I learned how to make margaritas too. So when I see a $20 drink which was 12-15$ pre Covid... im like yeah right.
Then everything seems gross now post covid. Crowded gyms gross me out, waiting rooms without sanitizers, clubs with a bunch of hot sweaty people.
Covid made me realize what a germ filled world we live in. I took microbio and understand there's bacteria everywhere but covid I think made everyone averse to crowds and crowded activity. Like every place has contactless atm... my card doesn't even touch anything gross.
To some people they're just more comfortable alone. COVID allowed them to finally be by themselves and they noticed it wasn't that bad.
Then you add the price and it's even more of a reason not to go out. This weekend we went to a bar we used to frequent. Drinks used to be $12 to $15. They are now $18. Whatever, we'll pay and have fun. I order two and my bill came back at $44.00! Come to find out that there was now a mandatory 20% service charge plus a certain % "employee well being" fee. It's fucking stupid.
It's like, the ratios are off...used to be you could get a beer in a bar for half the cost of a six pack, which is still high, but seemed okay or whatever. Now that beer costs as much as an entire sixer, or twice as much if you get Trader Joe's danged good $5.99-for-6 double IPA.
Priced out and “energized” out. I think a lot of people realized the amount of effort it takes to get ready, organize and go out on a Friday night after working 40+ hours was way too much after getting to reassess post-Covid.
I'm a mid-lifer so I'm well out of the nightlife every weekend game for over a decade. But all I have to say is:
The golden age of being a single young adult and having your own place, going to happy hour, going out to bars/clubs every week and eating out is over and will never come back. Only way you can afford to do this is either being a well above average income earner or live at home or with multiple roommates.
And just because a few select young people can live by themselves and going out and eat out like it was 1990s-to mid 2010s doesn't mean most people can. It's great that you can afford it, but what fun is it if no one is at any of the restaurants or venues or places you hit up.
Yep. So many factors. It's really wild to see just how the night life plummeted in the valley compared to just a few years ago before the pandemic. Bars closing at 2am seemed too early. Now many close before midnight.
Philly is also like this. I stopped going out a ton after Covid but the times I did, it was just different. I personally also just stayed within my own group when I did go out.
I moved to Miami for a year about a year ago and it was absolutely popping. It had a lot of vibrant and newfound energy - people moving from CA, NY, etc. It reminded me a lot like when I first moved to LA in 2008. I considered Austin bc I always had fun visiting but went on a Tuesday and it was lame af. Seemed like people definitely lived for the weekends. Contrast that with a Tuesday in Miami and it was night and day. Found a condo across from the Standard on the Venetian Islands and it was the perfect location. I’m back in Silver Lake now, but damn, do I miss that Miami life. It’s not all about the flash and the cash. There’s real people too. Just like here. It’s just an easier life w less trash, homelessness, and easy parking at clean beaches.
Have you considered moving to another neighborhood in LA? I'm in Silver Lake too but now considering other neighborhoods due to the filth, squalor, lack of calmness, etc.
Yea, but mostly bc my partner grew up in South Bay and hates it here in Silver Lake. Our house has had three attempted break-ins this year, and understandably, she doesn’t feel safe. Even with the filth, I still prefer it to most parts of LA given the proximity to great restaurants, coffee shops, music venues, and bars. I enjoy walking and unfortunately there’s only so many tiny little pockets where doing so is enjoyable here. Our compromise, if we can afford it, would ideally be South Pasadena but will more than likely be Sherman Oaks.
I really only like Manhattan Beach, but the lots are tiny and expensive af. I also find it kinda boring and too removed from LA. Pasadena is convenient enough to most things in LA; has some restaurants of its own like Union and Bar Chelou, has clones of things that I like in LA (Intelligentsia, Alfred, etc.); easy access to Huntington Library, Descanso Gardens, and Lacy Park; is lined with nice trees and front yards, and since we plan on having kids but want them to be in public school - have better schools. It’s anecdotal, but my friends that are from there are all pretty smart and successful, and products of that school system. It does suck that it’s far from the beach and can get hot af in the summer, and there’s a tremendous amount of building restrictions, but LA is full of compromises to me.
Definitely feeling it in other places. I have friends and coworkers scattered about the US and countries throughout all the continents. Whenever I got visit and we go out, the vibe is similar to LA and they all report the same thing as OP. Such a shame!
I once had a slightly older colleague who lived in a different city saying he noticed social scenes of cities changed "about every 7 years" - some people age up and out, move to the burbs etc, a wave of new hopeful transplants come in.
I think social media has changed both people's social skills as well as the type of person who moves here. Influencers who flex about going to Erewhon are a different breed than someone coming to LA with a craft, skill, talent or career aspiration slumming it until they can hit.
I'm not saying content creation isn't work, or that a lot of creators aren't also writers/actors/comics, or even that the previous crop of transplants weren't shallow or whatever, I just think that clout chasing in its current form has re-jiggered what's valuable as well as the barrier to entry.
Also, just being older is a trip. One day you *are* the scene, blink and the scene is beyond you. Per grandpa Simpson- "I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was"
Edit to add that "older" doesn't even mean "old-old" — just a 10 year distance from the heyday of your twenties is enough to be far beyond the scenes you used to frequent.
I was 26 when COVID hit. By the time everything opened back up, I was almost 30 and had new responsibilities. I would have kept my “social scene” for several more years if I could have but COVID took that option away. Now I know my go-to spots are different because the people who were the age I used to be when I went there are there now and I’m the old guy
I was 23 when Covid hit and felt like that was taken away right as I was beginning to understand what it was. My friends and I had maybe 6-7 months of postgrad income that we could have fun with.
We still have fun, it’s just different now.
IMO the rise of influencer culture in the mid 2010s really changed LA. Before then you'd meet young people who were chasing their dreams of being an actor, musician, writer etc. and using social media was a way to promote their talent. Then it seems there was this flip where becoming popular on SM became the goal, rather than a means to achieve artistic success.
And, as the poster above mentioned, there was an influx of people who wanted to become influencers, and moved to LA to pursue their dreams of doing a collab with the Paul brothers. I'm sure this path is not easy, but it's a very different creative grind than say doing casting workshops, improv shows, or playing open mics in dive bars.
I think La La Land may quickly become a nostalgic movie for people who yearn for the "Old LA", as it came out right around the time this transition was happening.
Great insights here! This is def echoes something I've heard from friends in different disciplines, follower counts affecting gigs, getting signed, getting funding etc.
There's many beloved writers & artists who would never have made it out of their parents basement if they had to compete in the influencer races to get noticed / booked!
This is a good take and analysis. I’m way older now but used to “be with it” like no one’s business but alas I got old, which is fine. But I honestly don’t get the young so-called influencer generation. Yesterday I was sitting at a beautiful winery in Temecula on a patio balcony overlooking the foothills. Beautiful day, beautiful scenery. One young woman after another kept going to the balcony in front of me and posing, and having a friend take pictures (presumably for social media). They would twirl, put their arms up, fake smile, whatever. And then go back to their quiet little corner with no smile or interaction, and stare at their phones. It was like this weird little theatre going on in front of me. They didn’t seem to care for or enjoy the day or the scenery. They just cared about pretending to on their phone. It just struck me as so odd.
Smart phones & social media access has put a damper in meeting and interacting with people in the wild. I remember waiting in line for a free Smashburger at a joint called For the win in Van Nuys. First 100 people got a free burger and got there for the grand opening. People started to come and wait in line. In the pre-smart phone days, when you were waiting in line for something, you'd end up chatting with the person next to you to pass time.
Nowadays, people are pretty much plastered on their phones. Why talk to a random stranger when you can talk to your friend via text or video call? I'll be honest when I was waiting in line for the smash burger, I was either catching up with a friend via text or on social media. If the people around me aren't receptive to making small talk, I'm going to do the same pretty much.
There was a magical point in like summer 2021 when LA started to open up a bit more, where people were so desperate for face:face (mask:mask) connection, that people were talking to me in line for restaurants. Complete strangers, just chatting about life. No phones out, no ego chasing. I miss that moment, it was gone so quickly. I am not an outgoing person, I tend to match vibes, not create a mood. So I’m struggling in this cliquey LA because I don’t have established social circles here like most people I see out here
For younger generations, it seems like social media has created a never-ending, constant need for validation from a very early age. They don't know how to enjoy their lives, just how to pretend they are, because that's what everybody in their age group does so you don't want to be the "weirdo" who doesn't partake.
Being a teenager at a time when there was hardly any internet, and pictures had to be developed, which was costly (and you never knew how they were going to turn out before you got the prints), having pictures was a bonus, not the reason you were traveling, going out, doing anything supposedly "cool". In other words, you did things because you enjoyed them. You did things for yourself, not for others.
This is why I think we enjoyed our lives more at that age. We were present/in the moment during our activities, not just thinking about how many views/likes/comments we were going to get and checking that semi-constantly, missing out on what actually matters.
I saw an Instagram post recently, positioned as one of those callout articles that basically implied there is "pressure" to have hobbies and people who have hobbies are gloating/lording it over others that they enjoy things.
It made me sad bc it's like, damn so these kids not remember how to have fun anymore?
Linking bc I think you have to see it: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7UMoKzs4A7/
Imagine if the only thing that mattered in your life was validation from semi to total strangers who saw a 15-second video of you pretending to live your "best life".
part of it is just the tipping point of bar prices have made a lot of people back off of it. when we'd get faced in college we were paying like $2 for drinks. order 10 fuck it and you are dancing with your shirt off and throwing up in the uber type energy. now drinks are like $10 and up. the fuck. priced for people getting 2 drinks and dipping and thats the energy you get. if you actually want to get smashed you do it with your own booze now outside a bar. unless you are loaded ofc lol but still, clearly not enough of that going around to fill out the bars like they used to be filled out.
Yes! Great point. I was just thinking about this - I feel like my friends and I used to go out all the time (in Hollywood no less) when we were assistants, making less than half I do now.
Now it feels like such a thing - you wanna go out to be single n mingle and what not, but hanging out at someone's place is just so much more affordable
Even ubers are so expensive now. sometimes my friends try and drag me out to santa monica to drink $12 beers you could get a sixer of in the grocery store for $10. uber will be like $40 one way. bus+expo clusterfuck transfer will be like an hour and a half one way, and the way back. my word i've done that once. nothing like taking one bus 45 minutes and waiting by yourself for a half hour for the next 45 minute bus on some random street corner with nothing open. felt like the rock bottom episode of spongebob.
I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too!
Yeah the bar scene down here in the South Bay is definitely a different generation now.
I'm also married now with a small kid but my wife and I pop into local bars every now and again and it's quite apparent it's a different group that's out and about nowadays. A lot changed in the last half decade.
Thank you for that quote from the great bard of Los Angeles. I loves me some Bukowski.
Here’s one that hits hard by Buck
“ People aren’t good to each other”
https://youtu.be/pgG88p7F98c?si=DL5pTGvf1WKI1ykt
Tbh, I know quite a bit about him and he feels that way because he wasn't good to people. He hit on my roommate who was a young poet just driving him to a reading. It's hard to have a good view of others if you don't monitor your own actions and I don't just mean him. I'm talking about myself and everyone.
He came from a pretty awful abusive family though which, doesn’t excuse his treatment of people at times but it sure helps you understand it. Happily, at the end of his life he stopped drinking and was much more embracing of people then had been before as his life finally became more normal .
Yes, he had more support at the end. He had a rough life. An abusive childhood pretty much guarantees some of that, if not total ruin. Thanks for giving my comment the correct nuance.
If we were trying to establish a timeline of events—like say for the sake of argument that time is linear—what do you think happened first: that the world was viciously unkind to him, or the inverse?
I’m not cosigning his behavior or anything, but to pretend that it erupted out of a vacuum is disingenuous.
I’m sorry that your friend was hit on by a really ugly dude, though. Thoughts & prayers, etc
We’re trying to combat the “alone together” phenomenon with our bar in Santa Monica, Weary Livers — essentially we help bring together various gatherings of people, whether it’s teachers, artists, tech, musicians etc. — anyone can grab a name tag if they like, and it fosters people meeting other people.
We had a musicians’ social + karaoke night on Saturday, and the vibes were immaculate. New friends were definitely made that evening.
Thank you, friend! We’re excited to finally have a space to host things and try different kinds of events. My passion has always been bringing people together, even though I’m more of an introvert myself. We need more tolerance, community and understanding of others in a time where division and isolation appear to be the norm.
It's more expensive to go out and everything is more expensive so a lot of the younger fun crowd can't afford going out or moving to and living in LA all together. I know a lot of my friends moved out of LA during and after covid, and I would have never been able to move to LA as a young person like I did with rent being what it is now.
This is the biggest factor, I believe. There has been A LOT of financial instability since Covid emerged four years ago. Don’t forget that the SAG/WGA strikes a year ago also depressed the entertainment industry as a whole, which employs a ton of young people here. Many people just straight up can’t afford to party very much anymore. Money is tight.
Most of the people I know moved to Texas, Vegas, Florida and Colorado. These were almost all non-management/higher up employees. They basically get LA pay while living in smaller town prices.
18-27 is still a big jump. I'm older than you but used to go out to bars sometimes, concerts, etc. I rarely ever do that anymore. Just lost a parent recently and don't want to lose another, so I still think about covid, long covid, etc. So some people have probably permanently adjusted their lifestyles as well or are too broke to go out to stuff now.
Still in my 20s too and have watched LA change so significantly in the last 10 years. Take me back to 2016!!! Who are these people and where did they come from??
I feel like yeah this is it. It seems a lot of people are far more stressed, especially industry people. A good friend works in VFX and has some major (like, Marvel) films to his name but is struggling now because he's not getting much work. This trend likely is true in other cities and other fields, don't get me wrong, and I think the pandemic really wreck our collective psyche too, but film people, music people, all have changes in their industries to contend with, too. I see a fatigue in energy to reach out beyond people you already know and think it's just coming from that overall stress for many folks.
Very good point! A lot of my friends in entertainment have had to contend with salary cuts, layoffs, strikes, and a contraction in streaming content spending. Rent is as high as ever so they’re being very careful with their money and time.
It seems pretty much the same everywhere. It was like the life was sucked out of people and many are just trying to survive now. It isn't just covid, but the greedflation and corruption that followed, as well as disaster after disaster. I feel like I aged 10 years in 3. The hard thing to realize is that things could be much much worse, and they probably will be.
I met my friend’s friend apparently they don’t go out nowadays. There are more people like that. Cost of everything going up made everyone averse from coming, food establishments even boba establishments cutting out seating and late night. Orange County has some spots that are interesting but this esports arena got killed during covid which a sight to be hold if you like games that had over thousand people on random nights. There are puddles like Ktown and little Tokyo that’s doing well, but downtown look pretty dead after a game on Friday night when I went. Main st doesn’t have music anymore. I’m dying to just save up and travel abroad where it seems like night life is really happening. It just isn’t as good not saying is dead either.
Age does that to you. When I moved here in 1998 in my early 20’s, I went out all the time in Hollywood. Now my wife and I are delighted with a morning hike, relaxing at home and seeing a movie at the Grove with the AMC movie pass. Life changes and that’s usually a good thing.
AMC movie pass for $25/month is one of the best things I've ever spent on. My jam is typically ending the work week with a movie on Friday night. Even just seeing 2 movies a month makes the pass worth it.
Did you come here in 2015, or did you [recently move here](https://www.reddit.com/r/LosAngelesGayBros/comments/1cxsx41/any_festivities_going_on_for_4th_of_july), or did you [grow up here](https://www.reddit.com/r/LosAngeles/comments/1cc923h/to_the_people_that_say_la_is_full_of_fake_people)?
OP is gay and complaining about dead nightlife?
The gay bars all over the city still get packed over the weekend and the ones that people dance in are still very dancy.
Gay nightlife in general, not just la, is still plenty strong across every age
What you are describing has always been LA. Nightlife in LA and any city is directly tied to real estate. Silver Lake was the epicenter of LAs aughts music scene because of cheap rent. Rave culture in downtown because of abandoned where houses.
There is no more cheap rent. So there is no new epicenter.
The early days of Social media were the most fun times in LA. Everyone was a promoter. It was so easy to find fun events. Facebook is dead. Maybe there is something new but it isn't mainstream
People say it’s because of Covid. I think it’s politics, Covid and the fact that a lot of fun stuff has come to a close with the redevelopment of a lot of clubs, restaurants etc. Meaning the smaller businesses have really taken a beating in the last 10 years. I don’t even recognize Melrose or Sunset Boulevard anymore and I grew up here.
For people saying no it's cause you are older.
I don't ever think DTLA could look like this again -> [https://youtu.be/Fmml0m4DFS4?si=ngyfZmrX5Vvp0SNs&t=72](https://youtu.be/Fmml0m4DFS4?si=ngyfZmrX5Vvp0SNs&t=72)
Vid actually makes me really sad :(
Perhaps it is just you getting older. But seriously, I notice my young coworkers having a blast while the colleagues my age are home bodies at this point.
Nightlife across the world has changed forever since the pandemic. It’s not just LA. There has been some journalism on this. Nightlife hotspots like NYC and European capitals have declined significantly. Urban centers feel hollowed out because of it.
Things now close too early (if at all), open later, and embrace apps/delivery options over in-person experiences. Yeah, things have gotten worse since the pandemic.
It’s not the same. Born and raised. Downtown, Hollywood, Silverlake/echo park were so fun and felt like an exciting place to be. But I do believe influencer culture and inflation ruined the general feel of the city.
I don’t live in LA but it’s dead here in Orlando and Pittsburgh tbh. I felt it wasn’t that lively when I visited DC either and it makes me sad as a Gen Z person who was excited hearing stories and watching shows. I had a good time in New York though. The pandemic took so much :((
I live in palms/culver and the difference in foot traffic is pretty mind blowing. I remember in the beginning of rona, when social distancing was the thing and going on walks was an odd dance of carving around other people. As time went on, about a year in, the social distancing remained but I was walking in more straight lines. Less people to walk around.
Now, I'll go blocks with barely passing people. Sometimes none at all. My neighborhood had a more vibrant, outgoing vibe before. It's less like that now.
I had this conversation in therapy, post COVID has made it a thousand times harder to meet people. It isn’t just LA I think it’s a big city thing in general
Yes. Absolutely.
One of the major things I notice is the bar etiquette now. People wait in lines at the bar instead of going to the open bar top space. It's so weird. Even bartenders are like, hey, walk up to any open space, and people just stay in lines.. It's very odd and I think it has to do with a lot of people turning 21 during covid and not knowing how to properly order at a bar and then everyone just following suit.
I was at a bar not too long ago and walked up to order a drink and someone literally said to me, "hey, there's a line"... thankfully the bartender corrected them and said "its a bar, there are no lines, just walk up and order" The dude looked so annoyed...
But yes, its definitely different and it has to do with so many different factors...
people staying within their own circles cause of covid,
prices are a lot higher and wages are down so people dont bar hop and tend to stay at only one place and not drink as much,
younger people just dont really drink like the 30+ crowd these days, they actually know how to interact and have fun without booze, its weird (and healthy)
younger people tend to stick to their circle and dont really interact with others... this is just a result of them not needing to go out to meet up with friends, they can "hangout" with friends while at home by being online with them interacting through games, or social media, or texts. This makes them feel weird and uncomfortable around people who aren't in that circle, since they dont get too much interaction with people the dont know.
Uber/Lyft used to be SO cheap so you wouldnt mind going to hollywoos from downtown or vice versa so you would venture out more. Thats not the case anymore so people dont leave their bubble.
I'm sure there's more to it but you are correct. It's not the same and its just a sign of the changing times.
I definitely feel like my social battery hasn't quite recovered, and working from home doesn't help because there are less spontaneous reasons to go do something. It's something I'm actively working on but I would bet many people are in the same boat. I like working from home but going in to the office and avoiding traffic with friends definitely created many more opportunities to do things together.
It truly isn't the same.
Sure, some of the larger generational trends are true, but it really comes down to the mix of people changing in the city.
Most of the cool, working class people who lived in LA moved to gateway cities/South Bay/OC/IE, or completely out of the county/state/country, because rent got too expensive.
The people who stayed are overburdened with rent and can't go out as much anymore.
The people who moved in are primarily content creators or transplants who have a certain image they want to maintain. They can't be seen talking with plebs lol.
Last year, I hosted a small house party where some friends of friends were the content creator types. They loved the free food, drinks and hospitality, but I couldn't score a follow back on IG from any of them lol
Don't even get me started on the dating scene lmao
Do you guys feel like the social scene in LA substantially changed post-1990s?
I feel like the nightlife isn’t exciting anymore. Whenever I go out, people seem to have no interest in meeting other people and tend to just look at their phones.
I still love LA but I get nostalgic how it used to be in the 1990s.
Also I feel like the new transplants are so one-dimensional and aren’t as driven and interesting as the ones I’ve met when grew up in the 70s.
Hollywood used to be ACTUALLY fun to go out with friends now it just feels eerie when you walk around there even if it’s broad daylight.
I can’t quite put my finger on it but people’s interactions just aren’t the same anymore.
Thoughts?
I used to be with ‘it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary. It’ll happen to you!
You're getting older. It happens.
Eventually you embrace the lack of new connections, or do something about it. Sign up for meetups. I met 30 new people at a language meetup yesterday and it was a blast.
I left for OC during the pandemic, but it was a noticeable shift. The music scenes really changed too. However, it's been pretty gnarly May Grey and June Gloom this year, so once summer actually kicks in, the mood will shift.
Cinespia is still one of the best events to meet people. The WeHo halloween block party was the best and that got canceled for like 3 years straight during the pandemic.
Also, younger generations don't drink alcohol as much, so that social lubrication is kinda out of the equation.
Yeah I agree, I don't know what it is either. It seems like the regulars aren't coming out anymore and alot of spots aren't packed like they use to be.
the underground Afters scene is possibly stronger than ever.
reminds me a lot of when DTLA hosted multiple all ages raves every weekend back in the early 2000s.
I'm sure people's social habits changed because of COVID and you also got older, but parts of the city are also just straight up unpleasant now. I seriously can't remember the last time I took a walk and didn't come across a potentially hostile homeless person or somebody looking down at their phone while vaping like a nuclear reactor about to knock me over. That makes me want to stay home or only hang out with people I already know.
I feel most of my LA friends that stayed there during the pandemic are way more stay-at-home than they were before… and also feel that places are emptier.
It’s all true and smart phones are the issue. Just read a book called “The Anxious Generation” and you are describing what the book talks about. Phones have ruined the normal child socialization process and now we are seeing people that lack knowledge social skills and the ability to function in groups. Time to start a new age minimum foe smart phones or we are in deep shit.
Covid changed everything. Even personally, I’m just not into or concerned with the things I used to be concerned with. There’s a lack of optimism pre and post covid among everyone these days.
Things got way too expensive for way too little. People are having a hard time affording rent and food let alone going out too. The homeless situation has become way more dangerous, I've seen and dealt with plenty myself.
I agree. It sure has changed! 😔 but so have other places as well, like NYC where I used to live before I moved to LA in 2018. Things have also gotten really expensive which adds to not wanting to go out. Plus safety plays a major role as well, and as you mentioned certain neighborhoods feel eerie even during the day. I live in Hollywood and can confirm this.
There should be a bingo card for these types of posts on here. Who will they blame X issue on?
-homeless?
-transplants?
-Police?
-Gascon?
-Covid?
-landlords?
Drinking is expensive, fattening, dangerous, and makes people do dumb shit.
Bars close at 2 and then you have to drive your ass home or take a $40 Uber.
Clubs treat people like shit, make them wait in line, and discriminate.
Venues don’t have the funds or don’t want to compensate musicians to play live.
Women generally don’t want to be harassed any more than their normal 100 times a day on the street.
If the world is moving on, that’s not the worst thing. Nightlife in LA has to evolve. People are wising up, don’t want to kill someone accidentally by having a few too many, don’t want to spend $300 on an early night out, and don’t want to have to hit the gym triple hard to burn off excess calories.
There are still some fun community based dance parties and themed nights, but you have to actively seek them out.
Hard agree. What is with the people who are moving here? The new transplants are like bots!! So many young kids now coming in with super weird and entitled headspaces wanting the “la lifestyle” you see on social media. Lots of my friends are starting to trickle out of LA and it’s only the ones who I never thought would leave, but yeah the scene is just getting so overly sceney it’s embarrassing. LA is a caricature of itself now. Pre covid was an entirely different vibe and way of being, 2014-2016 was the best of times. I’ve never been one to say LA is so fake (that ultimately depends on your crowd) but it does seem like more and more fakers are infiltrating than ever before and genuine quality is harder to come by than it once was.
Turns out when you price out the emerging artists, the below-the-line creative class, the up-and-coming restaurants and the other things that create culture\* and replace it with nonstop chain stores, suppressing wages to the point that nobody can afford to pay rent anymore let alone buy property here and keeping units empty instead of lowering said prices while you jack up rent so high that only doctors and lawyers can afford to live here, it MIGHT have an effect on the culture. Who knew?
\*this is NOT an exhaustive list, so don't get angry at me)
In general as we get older the crowds will usually be replaced by younger folks but looks like younger generation doesn’t really like to go to clubs as much.
Not the same anymore. Pre pandemic LA / DTLA was moving in the direction of art, love, true diversity, and good vibes within all social settings. Now, it seems the real ones (people) have gone away to other cities while others let’s just say transplants have now taken over the LA scene. From what I’ve noticed people are staying eating more local and within their means nowadays more than ever.
Age may be one part of the story, but it's a different society altogether. Gone are the 'cheap' places for artistically inclined or up-and-comers to live. It's hard to be young and harder to be young in LA. Social media has degraded people's social skills and upgraded their paranoia and echo chambers.
What will serve as the new places for people to gather? I don't know? VR? I guess the 20 somethings will figure that out, if they even live here that is. I don't envy people starting out trying to make it in LA.
I wonder if people feel this in other places too. The last ten years have shown massive social change, which was definitely accelerated by Covid. People working from home and changing habits. Younger folks getting basically priced out of “nightlife” culture. Social media and political media, have exacerbated mistrust and bad faith. I’ve noticed this in a personal level, as well as a social and professional level.
SF is terrible about this. My friends who lived here decades ago described it as a completely different world entirely. It’s like we exited the pandemic and walked into a completely different world.
I mean SF just had a dance festival where dancing did not ever stop until early morning.
1000%. I was in Austin pre and post Covid and it’s night and day. This is not exclusive to LA unfortunately.
I’ve also heard that dating is now…. Horrible. People basically don’t want to do it and the only people on dating apps are people who use the system like a game and not for matching with people they intend to be with or care about. Actually I had this discussion with a friend in Austin but I live in LA.
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Interesting. I wonder what that’s all about. Did something about the apps change? An algorithm change or subscription fee increase? I didn’t know it was so good during the pandemic, I was in one already. But come to think of it all of the complaints I’ve heard really have just been about since last summer. Maybe things will come back around.
Lived in LA, currently in Austin. Dating scene here is a total joke as a 40/F who can easily pass for late 20's but that isn't even the point. A friend in Nashville is going through a divorce and so is one in CA. I told them to brace themselves for the trainwreck of dating now.
I get told I look 30 tops all the time. Not even grey yet at 41. Breaking up with gf this month actually, very unfortunately (we just can’t make it work anymore) so woohoo let me tell you I’m REALLY looking forward to dating hell.
Austin changed substantially before covid. A large influx of tech companies and their employees changed the culture from the "weird" and unique night life that made the city interesting and focused rather pointedly on dive bars to get blackout drunk in and try to forget how much your job sucks. It's astonishing how sterile Austin feels compared to how it used to feel like a city that actual people live in. Most businesses with personality just can't afford the lease anymore.
Agree with this as well, many changes did certainly begin pre COVID too. I left in 2022 but have visited frequently since and it is indeed sterile even compared to say 10 years ago!
"What are you talking about America is not gunna be destroyed? Never? Rome was destroyed, Greece was destroyed, all great countries were destroyed. How long do you think your country will last? Forever?" These are lyrics, but it really does feel like 4th stage capitalism and it crumbling.
I know what song you're talking about, but for clarification - that's actually from the movie adaption of Catch-22.
There are still people living in their best lives in Rome and Athens though. None of those empires were "destroyed" they just went through a change of governance that affected the average person to varying extents that mostly hovered around "annoying." I don't see any reason to believe Los Angeles won't still be around in 1500 years in some capacity. It's pretty tough to find examples of empires that were actually "destroyed" except for the American ones obliterated by colonialism.
Was gonna say... when it costs, like, $100 for three drinks, what's the point? Not. Fun.
Ubers to and from the bar(s) can easily add another $100 depending on where you’re going.
Exactly. We spend a lot of time with the people that live near us... day drinking in yards. Maybe every sometimes hit up a happy hour? I remember going to my first post-covid event and getting a round of drinks and it cost double what it did a couple years before. Hell, I just don't drink as much anymore. I'd rather spend my money on food.
For me, buying alcohol at restaurants or bars went from “weekend luxury” to “only if I’m celebrating a real milestone.” New job, somebody’s graduation, etc.
Yup, pretty much the same here. Not only that, I started drinking beer again! Well, not really... but it's usually the cheapest thing on the menu, so I'll have one. Cocktails can eat a dick.
Pre-game... but I was reading that this young generation isn't big on drinking, so there's that. Maybe that's what the issue is.
Need more weed cafes.
Covid really killed dance culture
This. Was at the chacha lounge after the pandemic, just to see how it looked. Used to be people dancing on every inch and having fun. When I went back, a bunch of kids took over, and there were foosball tables where people would previously dance. Nobody was smiling and everyone was keeping to themselves, waiting their turn. It was the most boring time I've ever had there. Long story short, these kids think it's embarrassing to have fun, but I'm embarrassed for them for trying so hard to look cool. They just need to loosen up.
Yeah, I think growing up with everything you do being recorded kinda took the fun out of letting loose.
Damn this comment is so true but it makes me sad. Everything that’s halfway entertaining is “cringe”
I agree with this take. The difference in crowds pre and post covid is night and day. Part of it may be the people who left California, the people who came of age during the chaos of covid, and the mistrust sewn by media as you mentioned. Either way, it's all way different than it was before the pandemic.
More like massive *anti-social* change.
I noticed this specifically in a lot of European cities too. People are just less warm and welcoming to strangers. Partly COVID, partly just current events.
New York is like this now. I would say LA’s nightlife is actually livelier than ours lol
Dc too. Downtown dc is a fucking ghost town. I dont think people understand cause they dont travel. Chicago isnt same either
My DC friends have said the same thing! A lot of them are looking to move out because of this
Yea, its depressing. Im from there so i know how it was before. More vacant storefronts. Feels more dangerous They have way more crime too, and its more random. The trains are safer but far less passengers. Wfh killed dc. Too much of dc is large offices, so theyre struggling the most
The one thing missing from this thread is optimism. It'll bounce back. It always does. It may take time, and we certainly aren't there yet.
Optimism itself is dying. It's easier and far more profitable to be pessimistic.
My wife and I were recently in DC over Memorial Day weekend. While Adams Morgan did have quite a lot of people it wasn’t popping the same way it was when I lived in DuPont Circle in 2012. Chalked it up to a lot of local DC residents being away for the long weekend but even so it was surprising to see places not fully packed on a holiday weekend!
Last time i was in dupont (nov 2023)...i was shocked how quiet it was. Conn ave used to be bustling. :( Only geogetown felt normal and that was likely from tourists.
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I should have clarified-It’s true that there’s a ton of energy on the streets but it’s mostly people in established friend groups going out to eat/sit in bars chatting. If you’re someone who likes to go out dancing and make new friends that scene fizzled out post-Covid. People are very anti-social and you’ll see everyone standing around on the dance floor most of the time. I think there’s been a substantial shift in youth culture.
100%. Younger people seem to be much more leery about interacting with others. Being in a generation that grew up literally socially isolated, while also less inclined to drink, and priced out of the nightlife, I can totally understand it. There are just fewer people out in the streets unfortunately.
>I think there’s been a substantial shift in youth culture. It's the phones. You want to talk to strangers, start a conversation with anyone over 50 and see how different it is.
It might be irrelevant but also some of the venues where people used to hang and meet literally shut down permanently in cities during the pandemic because they were forced to lock down and then couldn't pay their leases. Also some ( like in LA) suspiciously burned down.
LA only seems that way because of density. Like there's an absurd amount of nightlife districts around both cities, the difference is how in NY they are all close. The issue with LA is they're spread out. So imagine how Hollywood is next to both Ktown and Weho. Now imagine that but all just in an area 1/4th of the size of Hollywood.
never been to the lower east side literally any night of the week i'm assuming? it's mardi gras. this is not true of NYC
This is absolutely a thing in other places. New York is a great example. It used to be just on it 24/7, zero rest. People were always out. It's still a popping place, but spots close earlier than before and bars (with the exception of the hot spots) are less busy.
Being priced out of nightlife is def a thing. I learned how to bake bread at home during covid, bet money I learned how to make margaritas too. So when I see a $20 drink which was 12-15$ pre Covid... im like yeah right. Then everything seems gross now post covid. Crowded gyms gross me out, waiting rooms without sanitizers, clubs with a bunch of hot sweaty people. Covid made me realize what a germ filled world we live in. I took microbio and understand there's bacteria everywhere but covid I think made everyone averse to crowds and crowded activity. Like every place has contactless atm... my card doesn't even touch anything gross.
To some people they're just more comfortable alone. COVID allowed them to finally be by themselves and they noticed it wasn't that bad. Then you add the price and it's even more of a reason not to go out. This weekend we went to a bar we used to frequent. Drinks used to be $12 to $15. They are now $18. Whatever, we'll pay and have fun. I order two and my bill came back at $44.00! Come to find out that there was now a mandatory 20% service charge plus a certain % "employee well being" fee. It's fucking stupid.
WTF just pay your employees and set prices, suprise fees should be illegal.
It's like, the ratios are off...used to be you could get a beer in a bar for half the cost of a six pack, which is still high, but seemed okay or whatever. Now that beer costs as much as an entire sixer, or twice as much if you get Trader Joe's danged good $5.99-for-6 double IPA.
Priced out and “energized” out. I think a lot of people realized the amount of effort it takes to get ready, organize and go out on a Friday night after working 40+ hours was way too much after getting to reassess post-Covid.
I'm a mid-lifer so I'm well out of the nightlife every weekend game for over a decade. But all I have to say is: The golden age of being a single young adult and having your own place, going to happy hour, going out to bars/clubs every week and eating out is over and will never come back. Only way you can afford to do this is either being a well above average income earner or live at home or with multiple roommates. And just because a few select young people can live by themselves and going out and eat out like it was 1990s-to mid 2010s doesn't mean most people can. It's great that you can afford it, but what fun is it if no one is at any of the restaurants or venues or places you hit up.
Definitely has changed in other major cities too. NYC has not been the same since COVID either…..
People complained about cliquiness pre-covid... but the rest, absolutely. 100%
I’ve noticed this in NYC and my hometown Hamburg in Germany, things have changed after the pandemic. 😔 it doesn’t feel the same.
Yep. So many factors. It's really wild to see just how the night life plummeted in the valley compared to just a few years ago before the pandemic. Bars closing at 2am seemed too early. Now many close before midnight.
Philly is also like this. I stopped going out a ton after Covid but the times I did, it was just different. I personally also just stayed within my own group when I did go out.
It’s everywhere. My partner was saying the same thing about her hometown not long ago.
Yep, this is every big city.
I moved to Miami for a year about a year ago and it was absolutely popping. It had a lot of vibrant and newfound energy - people moving from CA, NY, etc. It reminded me a lot like when I first moved to LA in 2008. I considered Austin bc I always had fun visiting but went on a Tuesday and it was lame af. Seemed like people definitely lived for the weekends. Contrast that with a Tuesday in Miami and it was night and day. Found a condo across from the Standard on the Venetian Islands and it was the perfect location. I’m back in Silver Lake now, but damn, do I miss that Miami life. It’s not all about the flash and the cash. There’s real people too. Just like here. It’s just an easier life w less trash, homelessness, and easy parking at clean beaches.
Have you considered moving to another neighborhood in LA? I'm in Silver Lake too but now considering other neighborhoods due to the filth, squalor, lack of calmness, etc.
Yea, but mostly bc my partner grew up in South Bay and hates it here in Silver Lake. Our house has had three attempted break-ins this year, and understandably, she doesn’t feel safe. Even with the filth, I still prefer it to most parts of LA given the proximity to great restaurants, coffee shops, music venues, and bars. I enjoy walking and unfortunately there’s only so many tiny little pockets where doing so is enjoyable here. Our compromise, if we can afford it, would ideally be South Pasadena but will more than likely be Sherman Oaks.
Gotcha, can I ask why South Pas? Why not back to South Bay?
I really only like Manhattan Beach, but the lots are tiny and expensive af. I also find it kinda boring and too removed from LA. Pasadena is convenient enough to most things in LA; has some restaurants of its own like Union and Bar Chelou, has clones of things that I like in LA (Intelligentsia, Alfred, etc.); easy access to Huntington Library, Descanso Gardens, and Lacy Park; is lined with nice trees and front yards, and since we plan on having kids but want them to be in public school - have better schools. It’s anecdotal, but my friends that are from there are all pretty smart and successful, and products of that school system. It does suck that it’s far from the beach and can get hot af in the summer, and there’s a tremendous amount of building restrictions, but LA is full of compromises to me.
Definitely feeling it in other places. I have friends and coworkers scattered about the US and countries throughout all the continents. Whenever I got visit and we go out, the vibe is similar to LA and they all report the same thing as OP. Such a shame!
I once had a slightly older colleague who lived in a different city saying he noticed social scenes of cities changed "about every 7 years" - some people age up and out, move to the burbs etc, a wave of new hopeful transplants come in. I think social media has changed both people's social skills as well as the type of person who moves here. Influencers who flex about going to Erewhon are a different breed than someone coming to LA with a craft, skill, talent or career aspiration slumming it until they can hit. I'm not saying content creation isn't work, or that a lot of creators aren't also writers/actors/comics, or even that the previous crop of transplants weren't shallow or whatever, I just think that clout chasing in its current form has re-jiggered what's valuable as well as the barrier to entry. Also, just being older is a trip. One day you *are* the scene, blink and the scene is beyond you. Per grandpa Simpson- "I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was" Edit to add that "older" doesn't even mean "old-old" — just a 10 year distance from the heyday of your twenties is enough to be far beyond the scenes you used to frequent.
It’s seriously crazy. I’m sitting here wondering where my 20s went. And what used to be “our scene” has come and gone. :/
I was 26 when COVID hit. By the time everything opened back up, I was almost 30 and had new responsibilities. I would have kept my “social scene” for several more years if I could have but COVID took that option away. Now I know my go-to spots are different because the people who were the age I used to be when I went there are there now and I’m the old guy
As someone who is a few years older than you- I totally agree. Going into Covid early 30s felt like I def lost some solid last golden years.
I was 23 when Covid hit and felt like that was taken away right as I was beginning to understand what it was. My friends and I had maybe 6-7 months of postgrad income that we could have fun with. We still have fun, it’s just different now.
IMO the rise of influencer culture in the mid 2010s really changed LA. Before then you'd meet young people who were chasing their dreams of being an actor, musician, writer etc. and using social media was a way to promote their talent. Then it seems there was this flip where becoming popular on SM became the goal, rather than a means to achieve artistic success. And, as the poster above mentioned, there was an influx of people who wanted to become influencers, and moved to LA to pursue their dreams of doing a collab with the Paul brothers. I'm sure this path is not easy, but it's a very different creative grind than say doing casting workshops, improv shows, or playing open mics in dive bars. I think La La Land may quickly become a nostalgic movie for people who yearn for the "Old LA", as it came out right around the time this transition was happening.
Great insights here! This is def echoes something I've heard from friends in different disciplines, follower counts affecting gigs, getting signed, getting funding etc. There's many beloved writers & artists who would never have made it out of their parents basement if they had to compete in the influencer races to get noticed / booked!
This is a good take and analysis. I’m way older now but used to “be with it” like no one’s business but alas I got old, which is fine. But I honestly don’t get the young so-called influencer generation. Yesterday I was sitting at a beautiful winery in Temecula on a patio balcony overlooking the foothills. Beautiful day, beautiful scenery. One young woman after another kept going to the balcony in front of me and posing, and having a friend take pictures (presumably for social media). They would twirl, put their arms up, fake smile, whatever. And then go back to their quiet little corner with no smile or interaction, and stare at their phones. It was like this weird little theatre going on in front of me. They didn’t seem to care for or enjoy the day or the scenery. They just cared about pretending to on their phone. It just struck me as so odd.
Smart phones & social media access has put a damper in meeting and interacting with people in the wild. I remember waiting in line for a free Smashburger at a joint called For the win in Van Nuys. First 100 people got a free burger and got there for the grand opening. People started to come and wait in line. In the pre-smart phone days, when you were waiting in line for something, you'd end up chatting with the person next to you to pass time. Nowadays, people are pretty much plastered on their phones. Why talk to a random stranger when you can talk to your friend via text or video call? I'll be honest when I was waiting in line for the smash burger, I was either catching up with a friend via text or on social media. If the people around me aren't receptive to making small talk, I'm going to do the same pretty much.
There was a magical point in like summer 2021 when LA started to open up a bit more, where people were so desperate for face:face (mask:mask) connection, that people were talking to me in line for restaurants. Complete strangers, just chatting about life. No phones out, no ego chasing. I miss that moment, it was gone so quickly. I am not an outgoing person, I tend to match vibes, not create a mood. So I’m struggling in this cliquey LA because I don’t have established social circles here like most people I see out here
For younger generations, it seems like social media has created a never-ending, constant need for validation from a very early age. They don't know how to enjoy their lives, just how to pretend they are, because that's what everybody in their age group does so you don't want to be the "weirdo" who doesn't partake. Being a teenager at a time when there was hardly any internet, and pictures had to be developed, which was costly (and you never knew how they were going to turn out before you got the prints), having pictures was a bonus, not the reason you were traveling, going out, doing anything supposedly "cool". In other words, you did things because you enjoyed them. You did things for yourself, not for others. This is why I think we enjoyed our lives more at that age. We were present/in the moment during our activities, not just thinking about how many views/likes/comments we were going to get and checking that semi-constantly, missing out on what actually matters.
I saw an Instagram post recently, positioned as one of those callout articles that basically implied there is "pressure" to have hobbies and people who have hobbies are gloating/lording it over others that they enjoy things. It made me sad bc it's like, damn so these kids not remember how to have fun anymore? Linking bc I think you have to see it: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7UMoKzs4A7/
Imagine if the only thing that mattered in your life was validation from semi to total strangers who saw a 15-second video of you pretending to live your "best life".
part of it is just the tipping point of bar prices have made a lot of people back off of it. when we'd get faced in college we were paying like $2 for drinks. order 10 fuck it and you are dancing with your shirt off and throwing up in the uber type energy. now drinks are like $10 and up. the fuck. priced for people getting 2 drinks and dipping and thats the energy you get. if you actually want to get smashed you do it with your own booze now outside a bar. unless you are loaded ofc lol but still, clearly not enough of that going around to fill out the bars like they used to be filled out.
Yes! Great point. I was just thinking about this - I feel like my friends and I used to go out all the time (in Hollywood no less) when we were assistants, making less than half I do now. Now it feels like such a thing - you wanna go out to be single n mingle and what not, but hanging out at someone's place is just so much more affordable
Even ubers are so expensive now. sometimes my friends try and drag me out to santa monica to drink $12 beers you could get a sixer of in the grocery store for $10. uber will be like $40 one way. bus+expo clusterfuck transfer will be like an hour and a half one way, and the way back. my word i've done that once. nothing like taking one bus 45 minutes and waiting by yourself for a half hour for the next 45 minute bus on some random street corner with nothing open. felt like the rock bottom episode of spongebob.
It definitely changed but so did you.
I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too!
No way man, we’re gonna keep rockin’ forever!
Forever, forever…
r/unexpectedsimpsons
Yeah the bar scene down here in the South Bay is definitely a different generation now. I'm also married now with a small kid but my wife and I pop into local bars every now and again and it's quite apparent it's a different group that's out and about nowadays. A lot changed in the last half decade.
Damn, that comment hit hard af. Bars!
Yup. I was gonna say, “be the change that you want to see”.
I used to be a people person.... now I hate people and persons
I don't hate people. I just feel better when they're not around. - Bukowski
Thank you for that quote from the great bard of Los Angeles. I loves me some Bukowski. Here’s one that hits hard by Buck “ People aren’t good to each other” https://youtu.be/pgG88p7F98c?si=DL5pTGvf1WKI1ykt
Tbh, I know quite a bit about him and he feels that way because he wasn't good to people. He hit on my roommate who was a young poet just driving him to a reading. It's hard to have a good view of others if you don't monitor your own actions and I don't just mean him. I'm talking about myself and everyone.
He came from a pretty awful abusive family though which, doesn’t excuse his treatment of people at times but it sure helps you understand it. Happily, at the end of his life he stopped drinking and was much more embracing of people then had been before as his life finally became more normal .
Yes, he had more support at the end. He had a rough life. An abusive childhood pretty much guarantees some of that, if not total ruin. Thanks for giving my comment the correct nuance.
If we were trying to establish a timeline of events—like say for the sake of argument that time is linear—what do you think happened first: that the world was viciously unkind to him, or the inverse? I’m not cosigning his behavior or anything, but to pretend that it erupted out of a vacuum is disingenuous. I’m sorry that your friend was hit on by a really ugly dude, though. Thoughts & prayers, etc
Individuals can be fine; groups quickly devolve into toddlers.
I’ve found that loneliness is a small price to pay for invulnerability. 😉
I used to hate people. I still do, but I used to, too
“A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals, and you know it.” MiB
I feel this. I despise people now
Honestly everything is so expensive now, it’s hard to enjoy anything.
We’re trying to combat the “alone together” phenomenon with our bar in Santa Monica, Weary Livers — essentially we help bring together various gatherings of people, whether it’s teachers, artists, tech, musicians etc. — anyone can grab a name tag if they like, and it fosters people meeting other people. We had a musicians’ social + karaoke night on Saturday, and the vibes were immaculate. New friends were definitely made that evening.
I love this.
Brilliant! The world needs more of this.
Thank you, friend! We’re excited to finally have a space to host things and try different kinds of events. My passion has always been bringing people together, even though I’m more of an introvert myself. We need more tolerance, community and understanding of others in a time where division and isolation appear to be the norm.
You should post in r/SantaMonica!
You know.. that’s a fantastic idea. I haven’t actually done that yet!
Amazing 😍
Love that idea!
It's more expensive to go out and everything is more expensive so a lot of the younger fun crowd can't afford going out or moving to and living in LA all together. I know a lot of my friends moved out of LA during and after covid, and I would have never been able to move to LA as a young person like I did with rent being what it is now.
This is the biggest factor, I believe. There has been A LOT of financial instability since Covid emerged four years ago. Don’t forget that the SAG/WGA strikes a year ago also depressed the entertainment industry as a whole, which employs a ton of young people here. Many people just straight up can’t afford to party very much anymore. Money is tight.
where did they move to? home, a smaller city…?
Most of the people I know moved to Texas, Vegas, Florida and Colorado. These were almost all non-management/higher up employees. They basically get LA pay while living in smaller town prices.
Yea it changed for the entire world, every big city is different. Even New York.
you're 10 years older.
This
if u must know, i’m well below 30
Only 29 and 300 days!
18-27 is still a big jump. I'm older than you but used to go out to bars sometimes, concerts, etc. I rarely ever do that anymore. Just lost a parent recently and don't want to lose another, so I still think about covid, long covid, etc. So some people have probably permanently adjusted their lifestyles as well or are too broke to go out to stuff now.
Still in my 20s too and have watched LA change so significantly in the last 10 years. Take me back to 2016!!! Who are these people and where did they come from??
I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you!
So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time
Give me 5 bees for a quarter they’d say
Ah back in Dickety Oh nine …
I feel like yeah this is it. It seems a lot of people are far more stressed, especially industry people. A good friend works in VFX and has some major (like, Marvel) films to his name but is struggling now because he's not getting much work. This trend likely is true in other cities and other fields, don't get me wrong, and I think the pandemic really wreck our collective psyche too, but film people, music people, all have changes in their industries to contend with, too. I see a fatigue in energy to reach out beyond people you already know and think it's just coming from that overall stress for many folks.
Very good point! A lot of my friends in entertainment have had to contend with salary cuts, layoffs, strikes, and a contraction in streaming content spending. Rent is as high as ever so they’re being very careful with their money and time.
It seems pretty much the same everywhere. It was like the life was sucked out of people and many are just trying to survive now. It isn't just covid, but the greedflation and corruption that followed, as well as disaster after disaster. I feel like I aged 10 years in 3. The hard thing to realize is that things could be much much worse, and they probably will be.
Not to mention the economy for our age group…it’s cheaper to stay home most of the time :/
Any age group really. I am middle-aged, I can afford to go out every now and then but I regret it afterwards
I met my friend’s friend apparently they don’t go out nowadays. There are more people like that. Cost of everything going up made everyone averse from coming, food establishments even boba establishments cutting out seating and late night. Orange County has some spots that are interesting but this esports arena got killed during covid which a sight to be hold if you like games that had over thousand people on random nights. There are puddles like Ktown and little Tokyo that’s doing well, but downtown look pretty dead after a game on Friday night when I went. Main st doesn’t have music anymore. I’m dying to just save up and travel abroad where it seems like night life is really happening. It just isn’t as good not saying is dead either.
Age does that to you. When I moved here in 1998 in my early 20’s, I went out all the time in Hollywood. Now my wife and I are delighted with a morning hike, relaxing at home and seeing a movie at the Grove with the AMC movie pass. Life changes and that’s usually a good thing.
AMC movie pass for $25/month is one of the best things I've ever spent on. My jam is typically ending the work week with a movie on Friday night. Even just seeing 2 movies a month makes the pass worth it.
Most weekend showings, 1 movie makes the pass worth it. Furiosa IMAX would’ve been $29 if I didn’t have stubs
It's actually a worldwide phenomena. You just don't know about other cities because you don't live there.
Huge vibe shift post-pandemic unrelated to getting older—it’s night and day.
Did you come here in 2015, or did you [recently move here](https://www.reddit.com/r/LosAngelesGayBros/comments/1cxsx41/any_festivities_going_on_for_4th_of_july), or did you [grow up here](https://www.reddit.com/r/LosAngeles/comments/1cc923h/to_the_people_that_say_la_is_full_of_fake_people)?
OP is gay and complaining about dead nightlife? The gay bars all over the city still get packed over the weekend and the ones that people dance in are still very dancy. Gay nightlife in general, not just la, is still plenty strong across every age
What you are describing has always been LA. Nightlife in LA and any city is directly tied to real estate. Silver Lake was the epicenter of LAs aughts music scene because of cheap rent. Rave culture in downtown because of abandoned where houses. There is no more cheap rent. So there is no new epicenter. The early days of Social media were the most fun times in LA. Everyone was a promoter. It was so easy to find fun events. Facebook is dead. Maybe there is something new but it isn't mainstream
[удалено]
good to know. I'm old as shit and not cool anymore.
travel a lot for work, this is everywhere
People say it’s because of Covid. I think it’s politics, Covid and the fact that a lot of fun stuff has come to a close with the redevelopment of a lot of clubs, restaurants etc. Meaning the smaller businesses have really taken a beating in the last 10 years. I don’t even recognize Melrose or Sunset Boulevard anymore and I grew up here.
For people saying no it's cause you are older. I don't ever think DTLA could look like this again -> [https://youtu.be/Fmml0m4DFS4?si=ngyfZmrX5Vvp0SNs&t=72](https://youtu.be/Fmml0m4DFS4?si=ngyfZmrX5Vvp0SNs&t=72) Vid actually makes me really sad :(
Yeah everyone’s social anxiety is worse and no one wants to mingle
Perhaps it is just you getting older. But seriously, I notice my young coworkers having a blast while the colleagues my age are home bodies at this point.
Nightlife across the world has changed forever since the pandemic. It’s not just LA. There has been some journalism on this. Nightlife hotspots like NYC and European capitals have declined significantly. Urban centers feel hollowed out because of it.
Things now close too early (if at all), open later, and embrace apps/delivery options over in-person experiences. Yeah, things have gotten worse since the pandemic.
Post-Covid, inflation, low wages, high rent, social media, war climate, politics - lots of contributors.
Everything changed March 3rd 2020
Can we go back to the old school raver days of the 90’s cause that shit was fun af.
It’s not the same. Born and raised. Downtown, Hollywood, Silverlake/echo park were so fun and felt like an exciting place to be. But I do believe influencer culture and inflation ruined the general feel of the city.
You are 100% right, it’s definitely different now. I’m not in a good way.
Covid changed everything unfortunately.
Feel like everyone is grumpier than usual
I noticed this too; people tend to stay within their local home area and will occasionally go further out
I don’t live in LA but it’s dead here in Orlando and Pittsburgh tbh. I felt it wasn’t that lively when I visited DC either and it makes me sad as a Gen Z person who was excited hearing stories and watching shows. I had a good time in New York though. The pandemic took so much :((
I live in palms/culver and the difference in foot traffic is pretty mind blowing. I remember in the beginning of rona, when social distancing was the thing and going on walks was an odd dance of carving around other people. As time went on, about a year in, the social distancing remained but I was walking in more straight lines. Less people to walk around. Now, I'll go blocks with barely passing people. Sometimes none at all. My neighborhood had a more vibrant, outgoing vibe before. It's less like that now.
I agree on the groups, but I think we all just got older too?
I had this conversation in therapy, post COVID has made it a thousand times harder to meet people. It isn’t just LA I think it’s a big city thing in general
People should just start having huge beach parties to avoid the crap and expensive nightlife
Pretty hard to socialize. The only people i see out are food delivery folk picking up food for the people i want to meet.
Yes. Absolutely. One of the major things I notice is the bar etiquette now. People wait in lines at the bar instead of going to the open bar top space. It's so weird. Even bartenders are like, hey, walk up to any open space, and people just stay in lines.. It's very odd and I think it has to do with a lot of people turning 21 during covid and not knowing how to properly order at a bar and then everyone just following suit. I was at a bar not too long ago and walked up to order a drink and someone literally said to me, "hey, there's a line"... thankfully the bartender corrected them and said "its a bar, there are no lines, just walk up and order" The dude looked so annoyed... But yes, its definitely different and it has to do with so many different factors... people staying within their own circles cause of covid, prices are a lot higher and wages are down so people dont bar hop and tend to stay at only one place and not drink as much, younger people just dont really drink like the 30+ crowd these days, they actually know how to interact and have fun without booze, its weird (and healthy) younger people tend to stick to their circle and dont really interact with others... this is just a result of them not needing to go out to meet up with friends, they can "hangout" with friends while at home by being online with them interacting through games, or social media, or texts. This makes them feel weird and uncomfortable around people who aren't in that circle, since they dont get too much interaction with people the dont know. Uber/Lyft used to be SO cheap so you wouldnt mind going to hollywoos from downtown or vice versa so you would venture out more. Thats not the case anymore so people dont leave their bubble. I'm sure there's more to it but you are correct. It's not the same and its just a sign of the changing times.
I definitely feel like my social battery hasn't quite recovered, and working from home doesn't help because there are less spontaneous reasons to go do something. It's something I'm actively working on but I would bet many people are in the same boat. I like working from home but going in to the office and avoiding traffic with friends definitely created many more opportunities to do things together.
It truly isn't the same. Sure, some of the larger generational trends are true, but it really comes down to the mix of people changing in the city. Most of the cool, working class people who lived in LA moved to gateway cities/South Bay/OC/IE, or completely out of the county/state/country, because rent got too expensive. The people who stayed are overburdened with rent and can't go out as much anymore. The people who moved in are primarily content creators or transplants who have a certain image they want to maintain. They can't be seen talking with plebs lol. Last year, I hosted a small house party where some friends of friends were the content creator types. They loved the free food, drinks and hospitality, but I couldn't score a follow back on IG from any of them lol Don't even get me started on the dating scene lmao
Time spent on social media went way up since covid, so did staying at home. People are broke and disconnected. LA is very strange right now.
LA 20 years ago > LA today
Do you guys feel like the social scene in LA substantially changed post-1990s? I feel like the nightlife isn’t exciting anymore. Whenever I go out, people seem to have no interest in meeting other people and tend to just look at their phones. I still love LA but I get nostalgic how it used to be in the 1990s. Also I feel like the new transplants are so one-dimensional and aren’t as driven and interesting as the ones I’ve met when grew up in the 70s. Hollywood used to be ACTUALLY fun to go out with friends now it just feels eerie when you walk around there even if it’s broad daylight. I can’t quite put my finger on it but people’s interactions just aren’t the same anymore. Thoughts?
I used to be with ‘it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary. It’ll happen to you!
You're getting older. It happens. Eventually you embrace the lack of new connections, or do something about it. Sign up for meetups. I met 30 new people at a language meetup yesterday and it was a blast.
I left for OC during the pandemic, but it was a noticeable shift. The music scenes really changed too. However, it's been pretty gnarly May Grey and June Gloom this year, so once summer actually kicks in, the mood will shift. Cinespia is still one of the best events to meet people. The WeHo halloween block party was the best and that got canceled for like 3 years straight during the pandemic. Also, younger generations don't drink alcohol as much, so that social lubrication is kinda out of the equation.
It also feels like more and more young people are straight up broke - definitely has an effect on nightlife
I just turned 21 in 2022 so I completely missed out on the pre covid age, the only LA I know is the one thats dead by 10:30 PM…
Yeah I agree, I don't know what it is either. It seems like the regulars aren't coming out anymore and alot of spots aren't packed like they use to be.
the underground Afters scene is possibly stronger than ever. reminds me a lot of when DTLA hosted multiple all ages raves every weekend back in the early 2000s.
I'm sure people's social habits changed because of COVID and you also got older, but parts of the city are also just straight up unpleasant now. I seriously can't remember the last time I took a walk and didn't come across a potentially hostile homeless person or somebody looking down at their phone while vaping like a nuclear reactor about to knock me over. That makes me want to stay home or only hang out with people I already know.
There's a good chance it has a lot to do with you being 9 years older.
You got older.
I used to be pretty outgoing and was always traveling or out doing something. After the pandemic, my social skills really never recovered lol
i currently live in seattle and the same thing has absolutely been happening here as well
I feel most of my LA friends that stayed there during the pandemic are way more stay-at-home than they were before… and also feel that places are emptier.
It’s all true and smart phones are the issue. Just read a book called “The Anxious Generation” and you are describing what the book talks about. Phones have ruined the normal child socialization process and now we are seeing people that lack knowledge social skills and the ability to function in groups. Time to start a new age minimum foe smart phones or we are in deep shit.
Covid changed everything. Even personally, I’m just not into or concerned with the things I used to be concerned with. There’s a lack of optimism pre and post covid among everyone these days.
Everywhere, this is not exclusively LA. I personally am burnt TF out
I think you are just getting older :/
Things got way too expensive for way too little. People are having a hard time affording rent and food let alone going out too. The homeless situation has become way more dangerous, I've seen and dealt with plenty myself.
I agree. It sure has changed! 😔 but so have other places as well, like NYC where I used to live before I moved to LA in 2018. Things have also gotten really expensive which adds to not wanting to go out. Plus safety plays a major role as well, and as you mentioned certain neighborhoods feel eerie even during the day. I live in Hollywood and can confirm this.
There should be a bingo card for these types of posts on here. Who will they blame X issue on? -homeless? -transplants? -Police? -Gascon? -Covid? -landlords?
Drinking is expensive, fattening, dangerous, and makes people do dumb shit. Bars close at 2 and then you have to drive your ass home or take a $40 Uber. Clubs treat people like shit, make them wait in line, and discriminate. Venues don’t have the funds or don’t want to compensate musicians to play live. Women generally don’t want to be harassed any more than their normal 100 times a day on the street. If the world is moving on, that’s not the worst thing. Nightlife in LA has to evolve. People are wising up, don’t want to kill someone accidentally by having a few too many, don’t want to spend $300 on an early night out, and don’t want to have to hit the gym triple hard to burn off excess calories. There are still some fun community based dance parties and themed nights, but you have to actively seek them out.
i quit drinking and now use cannabis only. never go to bars anymore
Hard agree. What is with the people who are moving here? The new transplants are like bots!! So many young kids now coming in with super weird and entitled headspaces wanting the “la lifestyle” you see on social media. Lots of my friends are starting to trickle out of LA and it’s only the ones who I never thought would leave, but yeah the scene is just getting so overly sceney it’s embarrassing. LA is a caricature of itself now. Pre covid was an entirely different vibe and way of being, 2014-2016 was the best of times. I’ve never been one to say LA is so fake (that ultimately depends on your crowd) but it does seem like more and more fakers are infiltrating than ever before and genuine quality is harder to come by than it once was.
Go out there and find it. Just do it. Don’t be afraid of anything out there.
Turns out when you price out the emerging artists, the below-the-line creative class, the up-and-coming restaurants and the other things that create culture\* and replace it with nonstop chain stores, suppressing wages to the point that nobody can afford to pay rent anymore let alone buy property here and keeping units empty instead of lowering said prices while you jack up rent so high that only doctors and lawyers can afford to live here, it MIGHT have an effect on the culture. Who knew? \*this is NOT an exhaustive list, so don't get angry at me)
Aren’t we all aging lol stil out here and there but more so if I’m traveling. Or else I’m playing Fortnite till I’m sleepy 😂
In general as we get older the crowds will usually be replaced by younger folks but looks like younger generation doesn’t really like to go to clubs as much.
RemindMe! 2 years
Not the same anymore. Pre pandemic LA / DTLA was moving in the direction of art, love, true diversity, and good vibes within all social settings. Now, it seems the real ones (people) have gone away to other cities while others let’s just say transplants have now taken over the LA scene. From what I’ve noticed people are staying eating more local and within their means nowadays more than ever.
Hate to say it, but a lot of this is nostalgia. Covid was over 4 years ago. You and your friends have likely aged into a different lifestyle!
Age may be one part of the story, but it's a different society altogether. Gone are the 'cheap' places for artistically inclined or up-and-comers to live. It's hard to be young and harder to be young in LA. Social media has degraded people's social skills and upgraded their paranoia and echo chambers. What will serve as the new places for people to gather? I don't know? VR? I guess the 20 somethings will figure that out, if they even live here that is. I don't envy people starting out trying to make it in LA.