There is a fair number of things to see if you're visiting LA. The Getty. Hollywood sign. Venice Boardwalk. Universal Studios. Huntington Gardens. Disney Concert Hall. Third Street Promenade. The list goes on. But somehow visitors often end up at a place called "The Grove," and, not only that, they really enjoy it.The Grove is an outdoor mall, not far from the dumpy Beverly Center. The Grove is new, spic and span. For lack of a better description, imagine what a mall would look like if it were designed by people from Disneyland and The Truman Show. It's a little world unto itself. A nice, sweet oasis of a fake town, smack in the middle of otherwise chaotic and sprawling LA. There's a trolley that runs through town. There's a Bellagio-esque water fountain that spouts to theme music. The shops are at "street level," and there are windows above the shops masquerading as people's apartments or something. It's a weird place.
Still, people love it. It's not because the shops are that great (they aren't). I think it must be because much of LA is run down and not very pleasing to the eye. And to come to The Grove is to see something new, clean, a touch suburban. That must be comforting.
3 comments:
Ya, when I was in Chinatown in LA I thought LA was a dump. I didn't get to that Grove though.
Hmmm...I was born and raised in LA and have never even heard of the Grove! The photos look like the Paseo Colorado in Pasadena. Know whatcha mean about the dumpy Beverly Center. Is the Grove near Rodeo Dr?
The Grove was built in 2002, I think, so it's understandable that you haven't heard of it. It's next to the Farmer's Market at the corner of Fairfax and Third. It gets super crowded on the weekends. One time Mr. Octopus and I tried to see a movie there and we got stuck in a traffic jam in the parking structure. We were so pissed, we turned around and went home.
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