LA is not – as you might have gathered – about subtlety. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that the holiday of American excess truly indulges itself here.
Keeping this in mind, I still ventured to The Grove last week. The fancy-pants outdoor mall is a total scene here, in every sense of the word. Celebrity sightings, trendy, high-end stores and tons of outdoor tables filled year-round with people hoping to be seen by someone.
The whole place has that Vegas on the Strip feeling – the ultimate planned community, all bathed in warm light. And your eye never falls on any unpleasant sight. It even has grass and a dancing fountain.
I love it.
The first time I saw The Grove, I was mesmerized. But I still wouldn’t have gone near it during the holidays if I didn't have to cover a movie premiere here (The Young Victoria) last week.
But once I saw the Christmas-on-crack display going on here, I was hooked. I took Anthony back two nights later.
There’s the tree (supposedly 100 feet tall), fake snow being blown out onto shoppers, a lit-up Santa and reindeer flying overhead, a trolley, real carolers, a giant Santa house draped with trippy bears and candy canes – and in the middle of it all – a rotating Cadillac on a stage under spotlights.
It’s positively pornographic.
But you're probably not surprised. In LA, it's only natural.
I think I'm almost getting used to it.
Merry Christmas, Los Angeles!
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