Culture, Class, Community and Race in Irvine and Beyond

Irvine Soul Brother_IHB

Irvine Soul Brother_IHB

New member
The <strong><em>Why Would Someone Need to Buy</em>?</strong> thread has encouraged plenty of discussion about demographics and their relation to Irvine real estate (as well as beyond). The original topic of the post no longer seems to be discussed. (Zovall, what do you think of closing that thread?) This thread might be a good place to post discussion related to marketing real estate towards different cultures and the history and thinking behind it. Some subjects that were discussed in this vain include: IQ, marketing Irvine to different Asian cultures, Asian acculturation, immigration, idiosyncracies vs. trends, and tradition.





I've been surprised that, given how inflammatory the subject matter can be, there has largely been a very respectful discussion. Let's keep it up!
 
...as long as they don't paint their house <a href="http://forums.irvinehousingblog.com/discussion/578/say-cheese/">green</a>, I'm cool.
 
I usually put Tahini into Hummus and then serve with flatbread or veggies.





<a href="http://mideastfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/fishwithtahini.htm">Here's</a> a fish recipe for you.
 
Uh...sorry Laing_Lies, forgot to ask you this,


By "end up in Newport Coast," you meant you wanted to own a house there, not work there as, say, a security guard, right?
 
<p>Mendelssohn,</p>

<p>No...not a security guard. Those small booths would drive me insane... not to mention all the exhaust.</p>

<p>Maybe as live-in butler with my own two-story casita, ie. Standard Pacific's The Tides. </p>
 
Laing, from wikipedia:





As of the <a title="Census" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census">census</a><sup id="fn_GR2_back"><a title="Wikipedia:Geographic references" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Geographic_references#2">GR2</a></sup> of 2000, there were 2,671 people, 1,001 households, and 776 families residing in the CDP. The <a title="Population density" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_density">population density</a> was 146.3/km² (378.9/mi²). There were 1,106 housing units at an average density of 60.6/km² (156.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 78.06% <a title="White (U.S. Census)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_%28U.S._Census%29">White</a>, 0.26% <a title="African American (U.S. Census)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_%28U.S._Census%29">African American</a>, 0.15% <a title="Native American (U.S. Census)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_%28U.S._Census%29">Native American</a>, 18.08% <a title="Asian (U.S. Census)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_%28U.S._Census%29">Asian</a>, 0.30% from <a title="Race (United States Census)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_%28United_States_Census%29">other races</a>, and 3.14% from two or more races. <a title="Hispanic (U.S. Census)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_%28U.S._Census%29">Hispanic</a> or <a title="Latino (U.S. Census)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latino_%28U.S._Census%29">Latino</a> of any race were 4.19% of the population.





So, just find a white person and you'll be fine!
 
slighty OT: while we joke about the demographics, the idea of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_flight">White Flight</a> is not that old. Some of the CC&Rs in the Inland Empire and Western San Fernando Valley to Ventura areas had explicit clauses saying that the homes will not be sold to non-whites.





back on topic: My wife adores Irvine for its cleanliness. I vacillate between 'pretty, safe, not-going-to-change-much' and 'OMG, everybody is white wearing the same chinos, belt, and starched collar. I see no style, no expression. All the houses are the same Travertine floors, granite countertops, 'gourmet kitchen (just had to ). Can we at least get a bum at the malls?!'





I've lived in San Marino, Santa Barbara, and Hollywood. I've also lived in Fountain Valley and Pomona. I often wonder what my exchange rate is for style and expression versus safety and consistency. One of my frustrations with Santa Barbara was the subtle whiteliness of it all. San Marino, for all its pomp and circumstance, had many more outspoken prejudiced individuals who did not want any more Asians to move in. Hollywood, on the other hand, truly was Holly-weird. I loved it, the wife hated it.
 
"Some of the CC&Rs . . . "





Oh boy. Yes, Pasadena was relatively famous for their restrictive covenants. "No Jews" was a big one there. I suspect the same was true of San Marino as well.





According to <a href="http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/publications/papers/2002/WP-02-03.pdf">this</a>, "One of the earliest racial restrictive covenants cases involved an agreement to prohibit property transfers to people of Chinese


descent in California. Gandolfo v. Hartman,49 Fed. 181 (C.C.S.D. Cal. 1892)."





<a href="http://www.progressivela.org/history/forties.htm">This</a> has an interesting little history of restrictive covenants in Los Angeles.





And if we could find it, <a href="http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showpdf.cgi?path=51531140454992">this</a> might be an interesting book for BK and others. Ah, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bourgeois-Nightmares-1870-1930-Robert-Fogelson/dp/0300108761">found it.</a>





Book club, anyone?
 
My rental doesn't have a "gourmet "kitchen, but Tahini is used as a key ingredient in a number of dishes or by itself over falafel etc. Halva is also made from sesame seeds, but it is a sweet candy. Yum!
 
<p>OK, now I get it. Tahini is the pureed sesame, and it becomes halva when it's made into the sweet confection. It's halva that I'm wondering about. I just discovered it at Wholesome Choice a few months ago and I've been putting little blobs of it on Wheat Thins for lack of anything better to stick it on. There are no Israelis, Persians, Greeks, or Arabs at work to guide me in the ways of halva. I'm hoping that the new Whole Foods market at the District will stock it... South on Culver is kind of out of my way.</p>

<p>I'm in love with the stuff. </p>
 
<p>I'll be using the new Whole Foods too - great addition!</p>

<p>Since this thread includes "class" in the title: has anyone gone to the new Target at The District? </p>

<p>It's huge. And nice. But, stangely enough, doesn't have a garden center (but Lowe's next-door does). Something new it does have, is a large food department, with much more refridgerated/frozen options. They even have Horizon milk - the only kind my husband will allow me to buy!</p>
 
I went... The Paseo Westpark Target is closer, and the new one doesn't seem to have much anything the old Target doesn't (except for the food stuff you mention). Is the old one not long for this world?
 
<p> </p>

<p>Eva,</p>

<p>I have read the book you recommended. As my hobby I collect old 1920’s CC&R. Palos Verdes Estates was very specific about Negroes, Chinese and Japanese. Servant permits were required for Negroes and Chinese for staying overnight and Horticultural permit was required for Japanese to enter Palos Verdes Estates. </p>
 
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