The Vibe Economy

LA is fabulous.

Despite a political regime intent on placing as many barriers as possible in front of entrepreneurs, LA remains the wellspring of American visual culture. No place on the planet concerns itself more with looksmaxxing, resulting in a massive economy built on aesthetics.

Maybe AI overtakes civilization, or maybe China does, but one certainty remains - cool is cool, and cool starts in LA.

In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.

- Denzel Washington

Walk a hundred yards in LA and you’ll pass ten people in front of a camera.

Usually it’s their own camera.

But not always.

Car culture played a role in creating LA’s economy.

Both then and now.

It’s not just the vehicles,

but the design of places created to catch the eye of passing drivers.

Space age.

Or playful.

The town keeps your head on a swivel.

And it’s not just the buildings that say “look at me”.

It’s the fashion.

And the art.

It’s a town built on looking.

A dream world of nostalgia

And sleek minimalism.

embracing the bizarre.

A place defined by signs.

Above,

and below.

It’s a town that will eat you alive.

But thanks to the world’s best weather, magical places arise. Lush hideaways designed as respites from the ever-present sunshine.

and the masses.

A place with an unmistakable sense of place.

A preposterous place where it’s easy to spend $500 on lunch.

or get the best $5 tacos in America.

LA prices are no joke.

but the jobs are.

In many ways it’s a town playing the opposite game. Older office buildings are in demand.

and offices like this exist:

Grocery stores are hangouts.

Consumerism is celebrated.

As are the masters who facilitate it.

Vibe creation isn’t limited to the newly-minted entrepreneurs serving matcha at sweatpants stores. LA has a long history of creating obscure culture concoctions.

Since 1980, Carlos Haro’s Casablanca has thrived with margarita carts, handmade tortillas, movie ephemera, and aliens.

And a full menu section dedicated to calamari.

And a sax player, of course.

Development in LA is impossible, yet it has produced some of the coolest projects in the world.

It’s a city of ideas and creativity, a place with every advantage that sometimes can’t seem to get out of its own way.

No one works (but everyone is hustling), , the food is fabulous (but no one eats), rents are high (and so is minimum wage), and it’s sunny everyday.

Welcome to the Vibe Economy, where everyone is Sporty & Rich^TM