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Moving from NJ to CA! (LA/Burbank)

Derry Murbles

Derry Murbles

Supporting Member
Nov 1, 2015
949
1,891
Burbank, CA
#1
So....

I've mentioned this here and there over the past year or so, however in three weeks from yesterday I'll be driving out west in a 16 foot moving truck heading for CA.... Holy hell it's actually happening!

A bit of background- I've wanted to move west for about a decade but things had never quite materialized enough to make it happen. But recently I've been able to accomplish some short term financial goals and had a work opportunity at one of my jobs drop into my lap. These things, combined with some other personal endeavors I'd like to pursue, have inspired and allowed this move to finally come to fruition.

I have an apartment locked up in downtown Burbank with a guy who certainly seems to be normal and acceptable as a temporary housemate. The lease is month to month with 30 day notice which is fantastic as I'm looking to get into my own place within 6 months. This arrangement has a private bedroom and bathroom in a good looking complex, at quite a reasonable rent for the area- I'll take it.

Not being from the area (30 year NJ resident here), it became readily apparent that having your feet on the ground so to speak is extremely beneficial in finding ideal long term housing... not exactly a groundbreaking discovery but for some reason it was still surprising just how diluted the rental market is out there, and how much variation there is in areas/locales. Renting in the LA area seems pretty fast and deep, so to properly sift through potential long term listings I'd really prefer to be there. My only family out there is my cousin who has been in Burbank for about four years, so I do have a helpful resource close by... really close by actually- My apartment is a mere two miles from her house. Score!

I'll be loading up my storage unit which contains most of my 1 bedroom apartment into the moving truck (plus my bedroom now), strapping my Camry to a tow dolly, and put-putting 2,400 miles coast to coast. I have a couple options as far as routes:

Cross Country Route.jpg


Since I'll be driving out the first week in April, I'm guessing (hoping?) weather won't be too much of a factor early on if I decide to take the North route. But even in April driving through CO could be a wildcard I'd imagine. If I take the southern route it appears to be more moderate weather-wise, plus I can sneak in some authentic BBQ along the way. I'm not stopping to smell the roses on the way, so taking the north route and potentially being impacted by weather just to drive through gorgeous CO/UT might be a bit more risk than I'm willing to endure. I'm leaning toward the southern route for utility's sake, but I'm certainly open to insight!

In any case, I'm unfortunately leaving my current band as a consequence of the move (you nay have seen my looking for bass player thread), but am looking forward to spreading my musical wings and getting involved in the local community. It will also be pretty cool to be so close to the Fender factory and have my next Sire order take considerably less time to arrive! :thumbsup:

That being said, I'd love to hear any thoughts/tips/hacks/favorite spots/etc relative to the move!

-Hidden food gems along the way or in CA?
-Great local venues/spots to start networking for music purposes in Burbank?
-Favorite hidden hiking spots/trails in CA?
-Great experience with a moving truck company?
-Sweet local music shops/bass specific spots?

Thanks for reading!
 
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#2
What kind of music do you play? If you gravitate at all towards Americana, roots, old school country, old R&B/blues, rockabilly, etc., check out Joe’s American, west on Magnolia, before you get to Noho/Toluca Lake. Then there’s Viva Rancho Cantina, right next to the Burbank Equestrian Center; lots of activity there, Dwight Yoakam guitarist Pete Anderson has a night there occasionally. DT Noho, to the west, has a lot going on, on Lankersheim. You’ll be living near a new mega-IKEA, FYI. You’ll also be reasonably close to Pasadena, which is its own little world, you’ll have to check what nightlife is going on. GC is there as well, another one is west on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks, but look up Imperial Vintage, one on Magnolia closer to DT Burbank, and one on Ventura close to that S.O. GC I mentioned. Don’t get too overwhelmed by the Valley. You’ve got all sorts of hiking in the Hollywood Hills, but you’ll be closer to Griffith Park, where the zoo, Greek Theater, and lots of trails are, and also explore the Hollywood Reservoir area off of Barham, just gorgeous. Don’t get too anxious about getting down to Hollywood right away, you’re close enough by way of Barham and Cahuenga(or the 101), but you’ve got enough to acclamate to up there first. Check back here with updates and any other questions. Enjoy that ride from Victorville down to Rancho Cucamonga on the 15, but be careful, it’s a long intense downhill grade. Oh yeah, ‘the’ 15, ‘the’ 210, etc. It’s a local thing, get used to it. Good luck.
 
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#5
Michedelic said:
BTW, you’re nowhere near the(US)Fender factory; that’s way the hell out in Corona, near Riverside.
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I think he meant compared to living in NJ he will be considerably closer. Now he’ll be about 55 miles away from Fender as opposed to about 3,000 miles. However, he will learn very quickly that 20 miles away does NOT mean a 20 minute drive and that the drive from Burbank to Corona is anything but enjoyable. Right now google maps says that 55 mile drive from Burbank to corona will take two hours, one way.
 
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#6
SLO Surfer said:
I think he meant compared to living in NJ he will be considerably closer. Now he’ll be about 55 miles away from Fender as opposed to about 3,000 miles. However, he will learn very quickly that 20 miles away does NOT mean a 20 minute drive and that the drive from Burbank to Corona is anything but enjoyable. Right now google maps says that 55 mile drive from Burbank to corona will take two hours, one way.
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You got that right, also he'll have to learn about the topography, and how that impacts his journeys.
 
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#7
I'd take the southern route, once you get to St. Louis you'll be travelling along the old route 66 via I40, considering the rig your driving you will get much better mileage on that big box truck w/ car in tow. The I 70-15 route west of Denver there are some very steep grades to traverse along the way, and while a lovely drive I wouldn't do it in a rig like that. Pick up a guide book on route 66 and get some kicks along the way. I think you'll be glad you did. Good Luck
 
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#8
bluesblaster said:
I'd take the southern route, once you get to St. Louis you'll be travelling along the old route 66 via I40, considering the rig your driving you will get much better mileage on that big box truck w/ car in tow. The I 70-15 route west of Denver there are some very steep grades to traverse along the way, and while a lovely drive I wouldn't do it in a rig like that. Pick up a guide book on route 66 and get some kicks along the way. I think you'll be glad you did. Good Luck
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Agreed. You should have less chance of hitting bad weather as well.

As you're going through the California desert and hit Cabazon, make sure to stop at Hadley's and get your self a date shake (or date/banana shake.) You'll be glad you did!
 
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#9
Derry Murbles said:
So....
-Great local venues/spots to start networking for music purposes in Burbank?
Thanks for reading!
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention, if indeed you're into blues and jazz and want to meet people, there's a long running blues jam out in Tarzana* most Monday nights run by Cadillac Zack, who also puts on actual shows in Pasadena and down in Long Beach as well...
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Plus, he has his Facebook page.

If your roomie is cool enough to give you a scenic tour of Hollywood at some point(and it's always best if you let someone else do the driving anyway), make sure you stop off at my old alma mater, Amoeba Music, on Sunset. Mind will be blown. Check to see if there's an in-store performance that day. The flagship Guitar Center, as well as Sam Ash and some smaller stores is just a few blocks west from there.

*Tarzana is out west of the 405 in the Valley, the venue is on Ventura Blvd. The 405 is, well, you'll learn about it soon enough, pilgrim("...why is it called the 405? Because that's how fast you'll be going, 4 o' 5 miles an hour..."). And...you know how Manhattanites make NJ the butt of a lot of jokes? Well, that's what happens up there, at least the west end like Reseda. Just so you know. But there's an interesting 'used'(not necessarily vintage)store on Tampa out that direction that you'll need to get to sooner than later, as they're closing down the brick'n'mortar soon, Jammin' Jersey...
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Also, once you get out there, you'll need to pick up the LA Weekly, out every Thursday, for everything that's going on.
 
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#10
nixdad said:
Agreed. You should have less chance of hitting bad weather as well.

As you're going through the California desert and hit Cabazon, make sure to stop at Hadley's and get your self a date shake (or date/banana shake.) You'll be glad you did!
Click to expand...

By his map, it looks like he's taking the 15 down from the high desert, so he'll just miss it, but agreed. Hadley's is out in my 'hood, roughly speaking, I like the new building, although the original certainly had its funky charm. Ruby's there is great too. Just stay away from the outlet mall.
 
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#11
what an exciting adventure!

although i don't love their newest location, nightingale rehearsal is in burbank. obviously you're pretty close to hollywood where you'll find metal, pop and a variety of other types of music being played. guitar centers in the area (you'll be right between the sherman oaks GC and the pasadena GC) have places to put up cards, and there are a number of open mics on mondays and tuesdays in the l.a. area - some actually post on CL. and i've found lots of cool people to play with on CL as well as plenty of flakes.

personally i just read the L.A. weekly online to check out just about any kind of event - although my cat likes to dig in the paper version :D
 
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#15
Don’t have much advice right now.

Just as a fellow New Jerseyian who moved to the left coast almost 20 years ago (with a five year layover in the Caribbean), I wish you safe travels and contentment in your new locale!

I’m proud to be from Jerz; it has a lot of great things going for it and does NOT deserve all the jokes about it, but after adapting to warm weather, I can never see going back. I’m chilly when it’s 60 degrees out now! Ha!

Have a great trip & great time settling in & learning about your new “home”!!
 
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#18
Dude, I made the move to LA from NYC 27 years ago. I remember the novelty and strangeness, but I never second-guessed the decision. Lots to like and get used to out here. Plenty of creative people. Depending on what you're into you should be able to connect with loads of folks, via Craigslist and other online spots. (Both bands I'm in now I met via Craigslist.) And, you'll be doing it in the year-round sunshine while everyone back east is freezing their asses off.
Welcome.
 
#19
Santa Monica mountains has world class hiking. Chesebro is great. Hollywood hills - hike up to the sign, etc - are cooler than you’d think.

So much great food on the way, especially around Santa Fe. Go the northern route sometime when you’re not in a hurry and hauling a trailer.
 
#20
I moved from California to New Jersey in 1992. Took the northern route and saw more truckers going through the mountains than anyplace I've ever been. Don't know if things have improved much but many of the local California music venues like hotels, restaurants, etc. beginning in 1991 went from having bands five nights a week to maybe one or two nights if they didn't go out of business altogether. Up until that time I was working 5-7 days a week 52 weeks a year. For years I had regular 2-4 week stints in Glendale, Long Beach, Brea, Palm Desert, Costa Mesa, Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino, Bakersfield, and Redding and then it was all gone by 1992. Many of the California musicians I know travel all over the country for good paying work.
 
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