Shop California

Passing the Left Bank, a brasserie on Santana Row inor theater tickets, if you can bear to stop perusing
San Jose, it’s easy to forget you’re notthe stores.
in Paris. The street scene is a freshly concoctedIf not, performance shopping is found at two of the
recreation of a French boulevard, or… is it anbiggest names in entertainment, Disney and Universal
Italian plaza? A few steps further and you’vePictures. Set between Disneyland and Disney’s
entered Sino, artistic chef Chris Yeo’s hipCalifornia Adventure theme parks, the shops and
interpretation of a metropolitan Asian bistro with dimrestaurants at Downtown Disney in Anaheim are all
sum carts swirling about richly minimalist ruby, goldabout having fun, whether buying sports merchandise
and bronze booths. No, you’ve beenat the ESPN Zone, listening to jazz as you dine at
transported to Beijing’s poshestHouse of Blues, purchasing Disney memories at World
restaurant… or have you? Meanwhile, at Elof Disney, being amazed at the Lego Imagination
Jardin in Santana Row park, a Latin jazz trio plays,Center or creating a new persona at Sephora.
reminiscent of an evening in Buenos Aires… orUniversal City Walk at the entrance to Universal
not.Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles claims 65 cool
There are so many sensory experiences along Santhings to do, from finding native American arts and
Jose’s themed shopping and dining districtcrafts at Adobe Road, to dressing like a
called Santana Row, that it’s understandable“hog” at the Harley Davidson store, to
why so many first-time visitors might becomefinding Southern California skateboard fashions at
confused about where they are. In creating SantanaSkechers, to unearthing rare video games at EB
Row, some of the world’s best urbanGames, or to being amused by the rock and roll
experiences were fused, generating a new place thatmemorabilia as you chow down on a burger at the
defies categorization. More than a shopping district, itHard rock Café Hollywood.
is a community with parks, townhouses and a hotel.There’s a local saying that goes,
Facades of the five-story buildings along the“nobody walks in L.A.,” though along
boulevard hint stylistically that Santana Row evolvedSanta Monica’s Third Street Promenade, it
over the past century. A pseudo art deco frieze atopseems everyone in L.A. County is. This is one of the
one of the false fronts heroically declaresplaces to see Hollywood celebrities out and about,
“DeForest” hinting that some industrialparticularly midweek when it’s less crowded.
plant once occupied the building in the 1930s. TheAmong those who have been seen on the
consistent height of the buildings along its 1500-footthree-block-long Promenade include Brad Pitt, Cher,
“Main Street” shocks one’sMeryl Streep, Jane Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Charlise
senses after arriving from sprawling Silicon ValleyTheron, Jennifer Aniston, Whoopi Goldberg... by now
where building height seems constrained only byyou’ve figured out all area celebrities
purpose. Suddenly, you’ve entered an urbaneventually stop here to watch a film at any of
canyon as is common in European cities.several multi-screen motion picture complexes, to
Santana Row’s developer set out to redefineshop at Fred Segal or buy an Austrian ice cream at
the urban neighborhood, by salvaging its bestCharley Tremmel’s.
characteristics and filling its street-level spaces withIf star watching is your bag, look for them (again,
chic shops and gathering spots that would attractmidweek) at the Beverly Center in L.A. (between
upscale tenants and residents. The strategy worked.Beverly Hills and Hollywood) or in Palm Springs along
Santana Row is home to such famous names inPalm Canyon Boulevard. The ultimate star-watching
fashion as Gucci, Tommy Bahama, Ann Taylor,location is, however, Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive
Burberry and Brooks Brothers. Discriminating diners(pronounced Roh-DAY-oh). This posh street of
are attracted to such one-of-a-kind restaurants ashigh-end stores was the set for Julia Robert’s
Tanglewood where inventive forms ofcharacter’s shopping spree in the movie Pretty
“comfort food” are served in whatWoman. The shopping area is much more compact
General Manager Andy O’Day callsthan the impression it made on the big screen. Allow
“Spirited American Cuisine.” Entreesan hour to walk its three blocks and a budget of
include such unusual items as “Coca-Cola$10,000 if you actually plan to buy something at Bijan
Braised Pork Belly” or “Buttermilk Fried(431 N. Rodeo Drive) reputed to be the
Wolfe Quail” served with honey-buttered miniworld’s most expensive store. Though, the
biscuits, American culinary legend Jameswindow shopping and people watching are free.
Beard’s favorite biscuit.If there is an opposite of stuffy and pricey Rodeo
Just like Tanglewood’s menu, everything aboutDrive it must be historic Olvera Street in downtown
Santana Row is completely new and yet, also,Los Angeles. This is where the Pueblo de Los
remembered vaguely. We’ve been hereAngeles began and this mercado still exudes the
before… somewhere in our imagination. Thatliveliness of a Mexican village. Street vendors sell
sense of familiarity amidst the surreal is the result ofMexican jumping beans, restaurants serve authentic
a wholly California invention… the theme park.traditional recipes and vibrant Mexican art and crafts
Santana Row is an adult evolution of the theme park,are displayed under red tile and canvas awnings along
where an idealized, proverbial environment is createdits cobbled streets.
for our enjoyment. It stands to reason that theThe sights and textures of Olvera Street’s
state where the theme park was inventedglimpse of old Mexico are quite a contrast from the
(Disneyland, 1955) would also extend its affection forAssyrian architecture of the Citadel Outlets south of
whimsy to shopping. Throughout the golden state,downtown L.A. on Interstate 5. This outlet center
shopping is more than what is inside the store.was once the headquarters of the Samson Tire
It’s the experience that goes with it.& Rubber Co. and to reflect a Samson and
If San Diego was the birthplace of California, then OldDelilah theme was fashioned after a 7th-century B.C.
Town San Diego - the city’s historic puebloAssyrian palace and is adorned with heraldic griffins
dating from 1769 – is the birthplace of themedand bas-reliefs of Babylonian princes in the style of
shopping. Here in 1968, California established a stateancient Samaria, Akkadia and Babylonia. Today, the
historic park to preserve its first downtown. Today,winged guardians at its entrance guard the retail
27 early-1800s homes, a one-room school house, theroyalty of: Calvin Klien, Tommy Hilfiger and the United
first church in San Diego and government buildingsColors of Benetton, among the center’s many
are preserved. Scattered among the historic buildingsoutlet stores.
once-derelict motels and shops have since beenIf the Citadel is Sumaria, then Carmel by the Sea
transformed into Mission-revival adobes containing 106must be the place Californian Thomas Kinkade got his
shops and 12 art galleries that bring life to theinspiration to paint cottages and gardens. This village
museum-like quiet of the state park by selling colorfulset beside a picture-perfect bay on the Monterey
south of the border crafts, clothing and treasures. OnPeninsula has, since its earliest days, sought to
visiting Old Town, a government official from Mexicoprotect its beauty, charm and environment. After the
was overheard saying to another of his colleagues,San Francisco earthquake of 1906 displaced artists,
“The Americans are even doing Mexico betterpoets, musicians and writers (Jack London among
than us.” Patio restaurants amidst the themedthem), they gathered here and influenced the
shops resonate with the happy sounds of Mariachitown’s bohemian style. Today, this village of
musicians as they entertain diners and stroll beneathTudor-styled cottages and 200-plus shops is the
columned arbors draped with magenta bougainvillea.epitome of “quaint,” a village of homes
Beyond the limed walls and red tile roofs of Oldwithout street numbers where art galleries are more
Town, the maritime history of San Diego (home toprevalent than petrol stations.
the U.S. Navy, America’s tuna fleet, cruiseColumbia State Historic Park near Sonora, in the Gold
ships and numerous yacht clubs) is celebrated atCountry, is another place that rejects the present.
Seaport Village. A contrast of silvery-black weatheredThere, the 1850s live always. Wells Fargo stage
buildings and colorfully painted salt box structurescoaches roll along its dusty streets, miners retell their
provide a nautical flair along the waterfront. Lushlytall tales, shops are filled with goods reminiscent of
landscaped paths wind past curio shops and eateriesthe California gold rush, and the sounds of laughter,
and along San Diego Bay where benches providecard games and honky-tonk pianos are heard from
good spots to watch passing sailboats and warships.inside saloons along its wooden sidewalks. A similar
Further up the California coast in Orangeatmosphere is found in Old Sacramento, the original
County’s Newport Beach, coastal life is thejumping off spot for the California gold rush in 1849.
theme of Fashion Island, an enclave of MediterraneanA blend of tourist shops and those serving the local
style with splashing fountains and a signature koipopulace keep travelers and residents alike returning
pond. The first impression one has on enteringto Old Sacramento, as happened from 1848 to the
Gary’s Island - one of three local Gary’searly 1870s, when the California Gold Rush eventually
stores in the mall - is the brilliance of theslowed.
apparel’s tropical colors: turquoise and yellow,One themed California shopping area that has never
pink, and lime. While, at Lola Rouge Kids, designerslowed down is San Francisco’s famous
fashionistas aged 6 to 16 go “gahgah”Chinatown. Since its earliest days, Chinatown has
over its trend-setting party wear. Clearly,been a window to the Far East, importing exotic
you’re not in London any more. Though, if yougoods and spices to scent San Francisco streets with
seek more conservative rags to don, explore Orangecommerce and character. The Chinese immigrants
County’s only Bloomingdale’s or Neimanwho founded Chinatown didn’t know they
Marcus among Fashion Island’s 200 specialtywere building a themed shopping area. They
stores.recreated what was familiar to them. The resulting
The granddaddy of California’s destinationpagoda-marked district is as close a resemblance of
shopping centers is Costa Mesa’s South CoastChina as you’ll find outside the Orient. Street
Plaza. Although sleek South Coast Plaza does not fitsigns read in both Chinese and English characters,
categorization as themed shopping, because it is suchbuildings have the stacked, up-swung roofs of royal
a favorite of travelers (24 million shoppers a year) itpalaces, smoked ducks hang in shop windows, small
deserves a spot on any review of what makesmarkets sell produce and fresh fish along the street,
California shopping special. South Coast Plaza’sChinese is spoken in all the shops, and carts laden
distinction is its unusual concentration of the mostwith goods crowd sidewalks waiting to be shipped
glamorous names in design: Tiffany & Co.,across the country. None of this was done to evoke
Valentino, CHANEL, St. John, Hermes, Dior, Hugocharacter; it is real life in a fantasy place.
Boss, Louis Vuitton and Giorgio Armani to name aJust as on Santana Row, it’s easy to forget
few (there just isn’t space here to namethat you’re in California when exploring the
them all). More than a shopping center, South Coastfascinating shops of San Francisco’s
Plaza’s 280 stores elevate shopping to theChinatown. As, California’s themed shopping
level of performance with their showmanship and theareas have the common ability to entertain as you
center’s five valet parking stations and fiveshop California.
concierge desks that will arrange dinner reservations