What’s your historical Los Angeles and New York connection?
When first visiting NYC, while living in Toronto I FINALLY found my home. I then went on to living there for many years for work and school. Upon meeting my now wife, I chased her to the left coast. NYC is still home and I return there fairly regularly.

Describe your experience in LA.
What they say about it taking 3 years before it’s comfortable, or home was true for me. It’s been somewhere between 4 and 5 years in LA now and I finally “get it”. At first, it was a challenge to find my people. I am a true New Yorker, and extremely type A, other like me is not something that’s as common to find in LA as it is in NYC. I still get irritated when someone looks at me funny because I would rather walk than drive, but when it Rome – do as the Romans.

Describe your experience in NYC.
While I was ready to leave NYC when I did, I definitely miss it. NYC is one of the greatest places in the world, in my opinion – I recommend anyone who has a chance to live there should. I think the key to ensuring you can stay sane is to get away every now and then. Anywhere along Long Island, Connecticut and New England is good for a 2 day get-away in the summer. In the winter, go to Florida, or LA. It’s just one of those thing, you appreciate being home more when getting away and at least get a small break from it all.

What was the biggest challenge of moving from NYC to LA?
The people…. As mentioned, it’s tough to go from NYC to LA and find people that you are used to. The culture and what’s important is different. I’m the workaholic type, it was interesting to see a life beyond that. For the first while I hated having a car and always was concerned about it. I would still trade it in for a yellow taxi and a metro card any day.

How can NYC and LA best engage with each other?
I think we’re beginning to see it. For a long time both cities had their own distinct industries that they were known for. I think the tech scene and emergence of, ad agencies, Silicon Beach and Silicon Alley and the overall travel between the two coasts has begun this small but increasingly growing shift between business and the people who work within those business. It’s definitely a people thing. Almost every time I travel between both cities I end up meeting someone who travels back and fourth regularly because of their company, or to see important clients.

Favorite LA secret spot
Little Dom’s in Los Feliz. The main Los Feliz Strip around Hillhurst Ave. and Los Feliz Blvd. makes me feel like i’m in NYC. I love getting a meal and strolling around there or sitting outside at Alcove.

Favorite NYC secret spot
Supper in the East Village. I’m a big foodie!

What’s on your playlist right now?
It’s very eclectic, Bastille, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Elephant Man, Major Lazer.

From the 2462 Miles newsletter: connecting NEW YORK CITY + LOS ANGELES