# New to Southern California - any dopers down here? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2002, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729 "2002-07-25T07:33:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skydive101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@Skydive101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skydive101)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/1 "2002-07-25T07:33:16Z")
I just moved to Oceanside, CA from the plains of Kansas. I don’t know too many people yet, and am always up for a good night out on the town! Any dopers living in Southern Cali that can share some of the cool stuff and fun places to visit? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![plankter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@plankter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plankter)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/2 "2002-07-25T13:14:55Z")
Have you been to your [Trader Joe’s](http://www.traderjoes.com/locations/map/22.asp) yet? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/3 "2002-07-25T13:41:55Z")
Oh, boy! Trader Joe’s! I can recommend the following: Cocoa almonds (in the candy section) Dolmas (in the refrigerated section, next to the salads) French Roast coffee (BIG can for under eight bucks!) Baguettes Burger Champignon Cheese and chile tamales A nice selection of cheeses Good, inexpensive wine Triple-Ginger cookies And more… … but I have to get ready for work. ---
**Author:** ![dreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/4 "2002-07-25T14:37:14Z")
Welcome to So Cal **Skydive101**. On Sunday August 11th my band is playing at the San Clemente Street Fair which is only about 20 minutes north of Oceanside. There’s all kinds of food, music, games, and entertainment there and it’s a great time. If your interested email me and I’ll give you more details on the time and what stage we’re on, or you can check out our website. Oh and yes, _Trader Joes’_ rocks!! ---
**Author:** ![Skydive101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@Skydive101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skydive101)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/5 "2002-07-25T15:46:24Z")
Holy crap, that Trader Joe’s place is like 1 minute from my house! I’ll check it out today. Thanks for the invite dreamer, that would rock! ---
**Author:** ![VDarlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e56c9b/32.png) [@VDarlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VDarlin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/6 "2002-07-25T16:19:14Z")
Welcome to Southern California, **Skydive101**! So far as I can tell, there are a few of us around here. I’m just down the road from ya a wee bit. Of course, I’m a mommy, and quite the homebody, so I don’t go out much, but if anyone plans a San DieDope, I’ll go out of my way to attend at least some of the festivities. Glad you found Trader Joe’s. Their frozen individual serving sized quiches rock something serious! Oh, and you can get Oregon Chai there, too. Yum! So tell me, are you somewhat taken aback by our mountainous terrain, seeing as how you’re from Kansas, and all? My boyfriend is from South Carolina, and he was a bit surprised the first time he came out here at just how hilly it actually is. ~V ---
**Author:** ![Skydive101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@Skydive101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skydive101)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/7 "2002-07-25T16:31:26Z")
I wasn’t taken aback until last night, when I visited some friends in LA. The house was basically built on the side of a cliff (or at least it would be a cliff back home, here it’s just a hill). I’m really digging the weather, the ocean (of course) and all the chica bonitas out here. Oh, and what in the world is Oregon Chai? I’m not even sure how to pronounce it, but it does sound yummy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/8 "2002-07-25T16:37:35Z")
Oregon Chai (pronounced “Tchy”) IS yummy! Spiced, creamy tea, I guess is one way to describe it. Just try it! Mmmmmmm… cardamom… Oh, and welcome to So. Cal.! There are a number of us here, and we do have the occasional get-together. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/9 "2002-07-25T16:49:39Z")
Yay! Another San Diego [county] Doper! I’m going to guess what brings you to Oceanside. Would it be the US Marines? Hmm? Welcome to town, and be sure to pop in at any LA Dopefests, or the occasional San Diego get together (last one here was back in March). –scout, who’s a bit farther south on the 5 than you are ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/10 "2002-07-25T18:37:23Z")
Um, hello?!?! Gay guy here! Jeez, what’s a guy got to do to get noticed around here - have a high post count or something? 😉 Welcome! Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Skydive101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@Skydive101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skydive101)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/11 "2002-07-25T22:42:21Z")
Muchos gracias to all the replies. The IT job market actually brought me out here (along with the weather, the ocean, and some cool college friends who are letting me crash). Anyone going to the Street Scene 2002 September 6th through 8th? It looks to be killer, [here’s](http://www.nctimes.net/news/2002/20020724/preview/12220.html) some details ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/12 "2002-07-25T22:50:13Z")
Checking in from Los Angeles! Welcome. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/13 "2002-07-25T23:24:42Z")
I’m up in Thousand Oaks - Welcome! ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/14 "2002-07-25T23:28:57Z")
Blast! I had probably a 50/50 chance of getting it right. That’s why I don’t gamble or buy lottery tickets. ---
**Author:** ![seawitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seawitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seawitch)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/15 "2002-07-26T00:39:34Z")
There are lots of Dopers in the area - count Mr. Seawitch and I in as neighbors. Psst - **dreamer** - drop me a line with the band info for the 11th, and we’ll try to come watch! ---
**Author:** ![dreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/16 "2002-07-26T01:35:05Z")
**seawitch** , that would be awesome if you and \*\*Mr.seawitch \*\*could come! Let me throw in here that **musicguy** , whom you met at the Dopefest in Laguna Hills, is the drummer for our band :). I also believe **Celtic Cowboy** is going to come too. Here is the link to the fair’s website. [San Clemente Street Fair](http://www.scchamber.com/html/fiesta.htm) Our band’s name is _ **Kite** _, and we will be playing on the “top” stage (one closest to El Camino Real) between 11am and 12:30pm. There’s tons of people that show up every year and there’s lots of food and entertainment all day long. The parking usually sucks so be prepared for that. Let me know if you can make it and I’ll look forward to seeing you two again! ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/17 "2002-07-26T03:23:43Z")
Hey, Orange County checking in- welcome to SoCal, **Skydive**! This really is the coolest place in the world to live, that’s why we don’t care how many people make fun of us! ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/18 "2002-07-28T05:54:59Z")
Likewise **Mr and Mrs Seawitch** , hope we get to see you again at the show. It should be really fun day. And any other dopers out there in the area, we would love to see you there as well! ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/19 "2002-07-28T07:27:32Z")
My home is in Los Angeles, but due to school I normally live in exile in Irvine. Anyone who’s ever been there, understand why it’s called exile. On the bright side, though, there’s a Trader Joe’s a block from my apartment. I’d suggest other stuff but I never know what’s unique to SoCal – I’ve never been able to travel much ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729/20 "2002-07-28T08:10:23Z")
Welcome to Southern California! **JustPlainBryan** and I are two more SoCal dopers, although we live up in the dreaded San Fernando Valley (although it is the center of the US porn industry–it’s gotta have _something_ going for it). We do have an occasional dopefest now and again… [sub]::starts thinking about a BBQ-pool party at El Rancho Destructo soon…::[/sub] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-to-southern-california-any-dopers-down-here/120729.md?page=2)