ATTN: LA Forumers MEET? Saturday May 3 2008, Glendale Amercana @ Brand Grand Opening

[ChrisLA]

Hey LA Forumers I know this is very little notice, and we haven't met in a long time. I saw on the new the the Glendale @ Americana is having their grand opening this weekend. I was thinking this would be a good time to meet and also get some photos of the complex and the surrounding area.

A couple weeks ago when ColDayMan was visiting from Ohio I drove him through the area and both he and I got a peak of this complex. First I was really surprised how huge it was, and the fact it was already built. It seems to me like it was not that long ago they had just started construction. Well I guess this was not under my radar and I completly missed any knowledge on its status.

Anyway please responds if you anyone is interested and we can also decide the best place to meet up. Usually in the past we always meet up at a coffehouse where its easier to find everyone. Some of us know each other already, but for those we haven't met, we can identify because of the cameras. Oh btw I'll also send my cell phone number to those who will come, and vice versa to those who will show up therefore we can know for sure who there, or running late.




http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=6117528

'The Americana at Brand' opensFriday, May 02, 2008 GLENDALE (KABC) -- "The Americana at Brand" is holding its grand opening Friday.
The new complex boasts, shopping, dining, entertainment and residences in the heart of downtown Glendale. There are nationally known upscale shops as well as some one of kind retailers.
There are plenty of choices when it comes to eating from pick up a casual lunch to a fine dining dinner experience. When it comes to entertainment, visitors can check out the state of the art Pacific Theaters 18-plex Cinema.
Friday visitors to the "The Americana at Brand" will experience live entertainment, face painting and balloon artists. There will also be a dog adoption site set up, plus special offers from various retailers and there will be different events set up all weekend long.

"The Americana at Brand" is also a place to live. The complex offers luxury apartments for rent, as well as condos for sale.

[ChrisLA]

BTW I was thinking around 10:30ish, because I have something I have to do early morning. Hopefully thats not too early for some of you. I suspect too it will be very busy there since this is the grand opening. I had heard it opens today at 10:00 am and there were already a crowd of people waiting.

So if anyone is interested in meeting up, they could also come later, but just let me know here. Again I can give out my cell number via PM to reach me to let you know we we or myself will be.

[JDRCRASH]

I guess I could try. (but I got field service)

[DJM19]

Why would anybody want to visit that place? It has a replica of a WW2 monument for god's sake! How tacky can you get?

[JDRCRASH]

Why would anybody want to visit that place? It has a replica of a WW2 monument for god's sake! How tacky can you get?

Uhh, because you can both live and shop there in close proximity?

Have you heard of they're service? The people there get you what you ask them to do.:cool:

[sopas ej]

I personally would rather visit this place on a weekday afternoon or evening, after all the hype has died down. I can imagine opening weekend to be extremely crowded and full of annoying and obnoxious people, particularly that neighborhood. I don't do crowds like that very well, I end up coming away with a huge headache and very pissed off.

[DowntownCharlieBrown]

It would be great to meet up with you all, but on such short notice, I have plans already. Hope there is another "meet" soon.

[sopas ej]

Why would anybody want to visit that place? It has a replica of a WW2 monument for god's sake! How tacky can you get?

Not as tacky as the crystal chandelier that hangs outside the complex.

Crystal chandeliers... :yuck: :slob:

[BrandonJXN]

Even though it's The Grove Remixed, I would like to visit but it's short notice.

[DaveofCali]

This project is a great complement to Downtown Glendale and makes one of L.A.'s largest and most concentrated traditional downtown shopping districts. This project itself is sandwiched in between one of L.A. County's larger malls (Glendale Galleria) and Brand blvd, full of both small shops and in the area near the Americana at Brand, a retail alley.

I might pass by but I won't be able to stay that long.

[Wright Concept]

Can't make it, my schedule is packed this Saturday.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Would love to come too but i agree with everyone here that it's a little too hasty.

[ChrisLA]

Okay everyone thanks for letting me know, I realize it was on such short notice but I just heard about the opening yesterday.

So as it is right now its just me. Questionable is DaveofCali, and JDCRASH. If any other decide to come PM me soon so I can PM my cell number, otherwise I'll be leaving out in a couple hours and won't get the message.

Also I might be using public transportation part of the way since I don't want to fight all of the traffic going into downtown Glendale.

[JDRCRASH]

So how was it guys? Did you get any feel for the complex?

(BTW, sorry I didn't show up chris; I try to stay out until around 12:00 because I want to ensure I get the average 10 hours a Publisher gets, even though I'm a UP)

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ In the end I did check it out. It looked very nice inside for what it was (a lifestyle center) and it was very packed. But all in all, as we usually do get into more indepth issues around here pertaining to urban development, I would say that Americana isn't much different than the Grove (the notorious "wall" that fronts 3rd Street is the exact same for Americana fronting Colorado St). Also, Americana opens up onto Brand Ave. where Glendale is hoping to bring some life back onto the avenue and The Grove opens up onto Farmers Market where it HAS brought new life back into the venerated outdoor food market.

I have to admit that the Americana does look "high quality" for what it is. I mean, it can't fake realism but it sure as hell does look much higher quality than most of your stucco crap like Victoria Garden in R.C.

Basically, it looks like a casino shopping mall in Las Vegas ala Venetian. For all you know, the sky above Americana could be just an advanced hologram of the night sky while you shop like a drone inside this mall leading the way into a casino. :p

[ChrisLA]

Yes I did go, but there was no real meet. Since I don't celebrate any holidays (in this case Mother Day) I invited my mom to spend the day with me, and took her to the movies at the complex. Later I briefly met up with DaveofCali, and viewed some of the photos he captured. I also told him about the awesome view of downtown LA from the garage roof. Photographers Alert: Check it out, and keep it on your list of places to go for aerial photos.

Now onto what did I think about the place. Well basically for what it is (lifestyle center) its very nice. Its your standard run of the mill national retail/restaurant chains with some high end stores. The one good thing it has over The Grove is there are condos and apartments built above retail below it. I do like the fact that if opens up onto Brand Blvd and is part of that retail corridor. On the other side I also like how it flows easily into the enclosed mall, Glendale Galeria. Not that I'm crazy about malls, but at least it seems to be designed where customers won't abandon it. From what I also observed the Americana and the Galeria have not overlap with the same stores, so I guess that's a good thing.

So for the most part it does pretty much feels like The Grove although much larger. There is even has a street car, and its circles around the complex and covers a bit more ground than the one at The Grove. Still the complex feels very Disney like. Yet I can't say I wasn't expecting this, so no surprises.

Now would I visit this place often? Probably not since I live in Long Beach, but I would say its a destination to visit when I have guest visiting from out of town. I do like the Art of Shaving store they have, but its kind of expensive. Just a note to the girlfriend, she owe me big time, and I already picked out my gift (lol).

BTW:

I took public transportation from Union Station. I decided to take the Gold Line to Pasadena, and transferred to the Metro Rapid Bus that dropped us off about a block from the complex. I had wanted to venture through Eagle Rock, which I enjoyed seeing all of the street side retail, and cafes. Note to self to go back and check this area out.

One last thing for those interested in reaching downtown Glendale via public transportation. Its rather easy and quick from the downtown LA. You only need to take the #92 Metro Bus, and it takes about 30-35 mins. Plus the I really enjoyed the scenery coming back from Glendale, through Silverlake, and Echo Park. Many of those neighborhoods had a similar look to San Francisco. They were both dense & hilly, and with plenty of life, and what I noticed was many patrons are mostly middle-class using the bus. I can tell these area have gentrified quite a bit. We finished off the day by having dinner at Pete's Cafe in downtown Los Angeles.

Oh, I also took pictures, and hopefully will post this later in the week.

[sopas ej]

Hehe I ended up checking it out too, curiosity got the better of me. I actually went on Friday night... SUPER crowded... and I never smelled so much B.O., cologne and cigarettes all at the same time in my life! I came knowing that it might be super crowded with people/Glendale residents, so I was in the right frame-of-mind and surprisingly I wasn't all that annoyed.

The complex is very Caruso, as far as malls go, it's actually kinda nice. I like the big area of grass in the middle; that's where my friend and I were able to stand away from the crowds and just look at the complex. The trolley was nowhere to be found when I was there, I thought it looked interesting at night. I have yet to check it out in the daytime. Americana does wall itself in from Colorado St. and also from Central Ave. except for where it sorta meets up with the Galleria entrance, but that doesn't surprise me. It's too bad that the owners of the motel on Colorado held out (I assume), it totally looks out of place along that block.

Apart from the Pacific Theatres, the place has no anchor department stores, so I guess for the Galleria that's a good thing. But one thing's for sure, Americana at Brand really shows up the Galleria, that place will definitely somehow need to remodel or open up to the street better. I'm sure when it's 100 degrees outside, though, the Galleria will be the place people will wanna hang out.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

BTW:

I took public transportation there from Union Station. I decided to take the Gold Line to Pasadena, and then transferred to the Metro Rapid Bus that dropped us off about a block from the complex. I had wanted to venture through Eagle Rock, which I enjoyed seeing all of the street side retail, and cafes. Note to self to go back and check this area out.

One last thing for those interested in reaching downtown Glendale via public transportation. Its rather easy and quick from the downtown LA. You only need to take the #92 Metro Bus, and it take about 22-25 mins. Plus the I really enjoyed the scenery coming back from Glendale, and through Silverlake, and Echo Park. Many of those neighborhoods had a similar look to San Francisco. They were both dense & hilly, and with plenty of life, and many middle-class patrons using the bus. I can tell these area have gentrified quite a bit. We finished off the day by having dinner at Peets Cafe in downtown Los Angeles.

Oh, I also took pictures, and hopefully will post this later in the week.



I took PT there too. Except I took the Red Line up to Los Feliz (Vermont/Sunset station) and then took the 180/780 to Americana (drops you off right at the corner of Colorado and Central (by Target).

The bus service on the weekends ABSOLUTELY FUCKING SUCKS. After Americana, I was waiting for the 180/780 to go to Pasadena, and it took 45 fucking minutes!!!!! THAT IS JUST WRONG. :hell:

Anyway, might try the other way you described by taking the 92 next time.

[ChrisLA]

I took PT there too. Except I took the Red Line up to Los Feliz (Vermont/Sunset station) and then took the 180/780 to Americana (drops you off right at the corner of Colorado and Central (by Target).

The bus service on the weekends ABSOLUTELY FUCKING SUCKS. After Americana, I was waiting for the 180/780 to go to Pasadena, and it took 45 fucking minutes!!!!! THAT IS JUST WRONG. :hell:

Anyway, might try the other way you described by taking the 92 next time.

Brig,
The #92 is a lot easier, and the fact you don't need to tranfer makes it nice. I was slightly off about the time it takes to get there so I need to correct that. Checking the schedule and depending on the time of day, aside from rush hour it looks like it's between 30-40 mins. I didn't think it took that long since I was enjoying seeing the neighborhoods along the route.

I decided to post the link for the Saturday schedule for the #92. It also looks like it runs 24 hours, and on weekends every 20 mins until after 7pm (30 mins), and every hour for late night service. I hope this helps for all those interested getting there from downtown LA. Oh and you can pick it up anywhere heading north along Main street from 11th Street up to Temple where it turns and heads west. Coming back into downtown LA it runs south along Spring Street.

Link for the #92 Saturday Bus Schedule going to downtown Glendale
http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/001_099/092.pdf

[ChrisLA]

A few pictures I took.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/2469095727_a9a0e1896c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2469095733_5e71b35719_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/2469095739_321eb2790d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2291/2469095753_7175463d98_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2469076843_7f5e73f920_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2469877936_232857560e_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/2469877468_4c638a8a00_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2152/2469095741_5b96c6b278_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2469076881_7399d7a354_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2469095747_c548582891_o.jpg

[JDRCRASH]

Very beautiful shots ChrisLA; it seems to resemble Barker Block a little.

[BrandonJXN]

It seems to NOT resemble Barker Block a little.

It's ok I suppose. At least it differs by having condos on top. But other than that, it just another Grove/Victoria Gardens/Riverside Plaza.

[colemonkee]

I'm not seeing the Barker Block resemblance either.

It definitely resembles the Grove. I never really got the allure of the trolley. It's not like these developments are too big to walk from one end to the other. The trolley seems like nothing more than a gimmick to me.

Great pics, ChrisLA. I will have to go down there for some skyline shots on a clear day. Though that traffic does not look like fun.

[MapGoulet]

I'm not seeing the Barker Block resemblance either.

It definitely resembles the Grove. I never really got the allure of the trolley. It's not like these developments are too big to walk from one end to the other. The trolley seems like nothing more than a gimmick to me.

Great pics, ChrisLA. I will have to go down there for some skyline shots on a clear day. Though that traffic does not look like fun.

Regarding the trolley as a gimmick, I totally agree. There's a reason you don't find them in malls. Gruen designed malls to be under the 1/4 mile length that has been accepted for most people to walk (3-4 blocks).

What we needed here was for Caruso to really work with the community and establish a public-private partnership or operating agreement to fund a trolley that runs DOWN Brand boulevard and stops in this mixed-use development as just one of its many stops. The way it is now is insular, monolithic, and anti-urban in its use of a trolley. It further separates the development from the City of Glendale despite it's being physically open to Brand.

[San Frangelino]

I take the bus to Downtown Glendale about 3 times a week. Been to Americana a few time and like it alright, but my big question about is, how can anyone live there with that music playing throughout the day out your door?

[JDRCRASH]

Really, you guys can't see any resemblance?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2381371407_646577d0ce.jpg

http://www.barkerblock.com/gallery/index.html

[sopas ej]

I take the bus to Downtown Glendale about 3 times a week. Been to Americana a few time and like it alright, but my big question about is, how can anyone live there with that music playing throughout the day out your door?

The Paseo Colorado mall in Pasadena also has residences above the shops. That mall also has music playing throughout the day... makes me wonder if they shut off the music at night?

[BrandonJXN]

I'm sure they (the residences) have soundproof windows/walls. Unless people at the Paseo and Amercana really like Kenny G and John Tesh.

[DowntownCharlieBrown]

Really, you guys can't see any resemblance?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2381371407_646577d0ce.jpg

http://www.barkerblock.com/gallery/index.html

I think I may see what is leading you to believe Barker and A @ B are similar. When I clicked on your link, I see some brick and the 5th pic that came up shows an old building with retail below and living space above. A @ B was built to look like old buildings with living space above. Believe me, these couldn't be more opposite.

Americana at Brand:
It's made to look as if it's several buildings, with various facades, were built at various time periods. But, it is all fake. If you take off the facade, it one structure hiding behind it.
This is a great shopping mall and living area for suburbanites, but real city folks will cringe at the thought of living there.

Barker Block
Is an old building, that its intended use is now changing. The facade reflects its structure and its original intended use.
This is a unique living space that is great for artist and those feeling the pioneering spirit as an industrial area is settled by residents. Suburbanites will cringe at the grittiness and unsafe feeling of the area.


You should take a tour of the Arts District/Industrial district sometime. If you do, and then visit A @ B, you'll have a much different take.