Adam Reese

Los Angeles has long been known as a safe haven for open-minded transplants from across the country, but a few minor adjustments are necessary in order to fully acclimate. This list will hopefully minimize your culture shock and maximize your SoCal experience. Check out the original 11 'welcome to LA' things that will make you laugh. 1. Front license plates. California vehicle code requires both a rear AND a front license plate — you'll probably learn this the hard way, by way of a ticket. Modern car fronts have unique aerodynamic shapes and cleverly-sculpted impact bumpers...none of which were ever intended for mounting an aluminum rectangle. Our city has plethora of parallel parking street spots, so you're bound to experience the inevitable 'dented front plate and cracked front bracket' at some point, as well. 2. Flip-flops are acceptable attire for pretty much everything. (Note: this unwritten rule only applies west of the 405.) Ditch those brown pleather sandals from Target and save the Tevas for your next kayaking trip...this is the land of flip-flops. It'll take about two months for your body to adjust to the sensation of a vinyl thong cutting between your toes, and perhaps another few months to accept their namesake flip-flop sound. 3. We have truly free beaches. Both the state constitution and the California Coastal Act guarantee public access to the majority of California's shoreline. This basically means you can swim, surf and walk along nearly ALL of our beaches —

You wanna go where everyone knows your name, right? When you were a kid, the idea of being a “regular” at a bar was glamorous... something you aspired to become. Bars were places where Cliff Clavin and Norm Peterson could be surrounded by their friends and truly speak their mind. Fast-forward twenty years: you haven’t sent or received a Christmas card in decades, you’re in credit card debt up to your ears and you can no longer call your grey hair “premature." You’re a “social drinker” because your social life IS drinking, and you feel a natural comfort at your neighborhood bar. But how exactly does one obtain the lofty status of regular at that neighborhood bar?  You really, really enjoy drinking.  I’m not suggesting that you slowly descend into a “Leaving Lost Vegas” full-blown alcoholic. However, if you want to see your Ghost of Drinking Yet To Come, be sure to stop by Lost & Found in Mar Vista. I had a good two-hour conversation with a self-described alcoholic (complete with weathered surf t-shirt, board shorts and puka shell necklace) during my last visit. Just know that in this city, we’ll call you a “functioning drunk.” You’re a sports fan.   College or pro...it doesn’t matter. You’re guaranteed instant camaraderie with several dozen other frothing-at-the-mouth fans. You don’t even have to show up in officially-licensed merchandise...just shout and clap a lot. Every team is represented somewhere in the City of Angels—even NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. You just need to kno