I feel like on paper, L.A. seems like it wins by a landslide. Weather, "most" probably say women, entertainment industry sort of things. And from a skateboarding standpoint it's definitely better. NYC ground is just too fucked to actually get around on unless you have a cruiser. I think most of the parks here suck or smell bad. But then I think about the vibes. Kind of like how the people make a place/good times. You run into more people and more good times in less time due to density with better vibes.
Subways though. Here's the thing, so you're surrounded by such an eclectic and diverse group of people every time you take the subway somewhere. You hear several languages and see wallstreet yuppies sitting next to punk rockers sitting next to french tourists. Thus you see tons of attractive ladies you could possibly get a number from just going from point a to point b. Sounds good in theory, but I feel like subways are more like a big awkward elevator. No one make eye contact, put in your headphones. It's like people still try and create that bubble for themselves. Tons of times I've had a girl check me out, practically staring at me, and then when I smile back they look away. My theory is, on the subway if you make eye contact with someone you have this 5 second window to actually say something...and it can't be a crowded subway. There it is, views on the subway.
Going to bars. So due to the driving thing in L.A. I'd say the night usually stays between two or three bars if you have to drive between them. You go out with friends, one of them finds a girl and is locked in for the night, then you're kind of stuck there. No walking down the street and dropping by 10+ bars. More house parties. But then again, that's better on the budget. Ah, and house parties vs. bars. Everything there has been anonymously vouched for by someone else if you don't know the connection so people assume your decent enough to be there too. Oh. Since I've been in New York I feel like I've met more genuine alcoholics faster than anywhere else.
Liquor laws are more lax in l.a. and you can smoke weed legally.
Then you have the realms of douches. Wallstreet yuppies and trustfund babies, brooklyn hipsters vs. Entertainment douches, surfing bros, and silverlake hipsters.
Here's one too. So lots of people move to NYC just to be in the city, in the mix of it all. This makes me feel like there's a lot of people just working shitty jobs and getting by but not pursuing any real passion. Unless they're a model or work in the finance industry. However, there is some really good art here. Great music scene as well. In L.A. I didn't really feel anyone moved there just to "be in L.A." That everyone there was pursing some sort of passion.
I feel like L.A. is a bit more status oriented. Maybe not by much, but I feel like it's easier to get laid in NYC.
So Grim, you're saying you prefer the NOLA around baton rouge and New Orleans to LA or NYC. I haven't spent much time there but I'm originally from Tupelo,MS near memphis. My friend from Berlin is moving there in September. He dated my friend in Albuquerque and when he was here traveled all over the states and fell in love with New Orleans. My sister thought about moving there from Austin at one point. For me, I feel like I could only live in LA or NYC....maybe SF. Everywhere in between the coasts I feel like I still run into too many conservative, overzealous, religious people....and people who probably couldn't identify the U.S. on a map.