Americana

Even before all the Jack-O-Lanterns have been carved, the Americana at Brand on Wednesday was preparing for the launch of the holiday shopping season with the arrival of a 100-foot white fir Christmas tree on the park in the center of the shopping mall. Workers used a crane to place the tree in an 8-foot hole, settling the trunk on a long spike and supporting it with wires and other materials. Mike Cable of Orange County-based Victor's Christmas Tree Service said the fir is from the Mt. Shasta area in Northern California, and is one of about 18, 100-footers he and fellow crew members are setting up at shopping centers in Southern California and Arizona this season.

I read with interest your Jan. 18 letter titled "What public benefit would come of Caruso's quest?" Really? You can't think of anything? Glendale, like most cities in our state, is swimming in red ink, and with our newly elected governor threatening more cuts including debating the existence of redevelopment, deficits will grow. The city of Glendale could be facing an $8-million deficit next year, even after painful cuts. Just think how much worse it could have been, if not for the city's vision to redevelop downtown and support Rick Caruso in his efforts to build the Americana at Brand.

It was a new take on Santa Thursday night at the Americana at Brand's fourth annual tree lighting ceremony, with aerialist and acrobatic performances putting a modern stamp on classic characters like the Nutcracker and toy soldiers. The “Cirque du Santa” event featured fireworks, music and the big man himself, Santa Claus, as the mega-outdoor mall heralded the holiday shopping season. The 100-foot-tall white fir was covered in 10,000 lights and 15,000 ornaments for the occasion.

I wanted to respond to your editorial ("Redefining 'blighted,'" Dec. 4) criticizing Glendale's consideration of Rick Caruso's plan to expand the Americana at Brand. The properties in question are located in a redevelopment area, which was created to improve the city's economic base. Neither the hotel nor the one-story vacant brick building are doing that. In fact, I recall when the hotel used to be a Best Western and (in my opinion) in much better condition than its current state.

I respectfully disagree with your editorial about the expansion of the Americana at Brand ("Redefining 'blighted,'" Dec. 4). Rick Caruso has delivered for Glendale, while the former sound studio has sat vacant for years, and the motel contributes too little to the economic base to justify its existence in a "redevelopment zone. " Further, no one is taking these properties; the owners have a chance to propose a plan (and the city said they would allow more than 45 days if necessary)

Now that TV talk-show host Regis Philbin has retired from his morning “Live with Regis and Kelly” on ABC, he's making the rounds of the bookstores to sign and sell his new book, “How I Got This Way.” On Saturday (Nov. 26), Barnes & Noble in the Americana was host to some 300 Regis fans who came to learn the real scoop on the TV star's life. A bonus was the appearance of Regis' wife and sometimes TV partner, Joy Philbin. Originally, Regis wanted to be the next Bing Crosby. In fact, Glendale resident Gladys Wymore mentioned his idol when Regis signed her book.

Fiona and Shrek, played by Haven Burton and Eric Petersen, perform for a good-sized crowd at the Shrek the Musical preview at the Americana at Brand in Glendale on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. The cast from Shrek the Musical put on a free taste of what is in the show at the Pantages Theatre until July 31.

Taylor Swift fans could get a chance to meet and get their picture taken with the country music star Tuesday at the Americana at Brand -- for $106.50. Swift will be at Sephora at the Americana promoting her new fragrance, Wonderstruck, at 5:30 p.m., but only those who buy the limited edition package of her perfume will get to meet her, according to an announcement from the mall. Fans will be able to buy the Wonderstruck pack for $106.50 starting at 10 a.m., after which they'll receive a wristband guaranteeing the meet-and-greet.

Americana at Brand developer Rick Caruso wants to expand his 15.5-acre retail center and is gunning for two adjacent properties to do it. Caruso is angling to acquire the Golden Key Hotel at 123 W. Colorado Blvd. and an adjacent building. He would replace them with 60,000 to 140,000 square feet of new retail space, landscaping and a plaza. “It’s an important last piece of the puzzle because it really rounds out that corner there,” Caruso said. “We have $400 million invested in the Americana.

Faced with a packed, overflow crowd at Glendale City Hall Tuesday morning, the owners of the Golden Key Hotel and Americana at Brand agreed to postpone a hearing on their competing redevelopment proposals to allow more time for negotiations. About 40 supporters of Golden Key Hotel owner Ray Patel on Tuesday morning demonstrated against Americana at Brand expansion plans, chanting “Let Ray Stay” before reaching City Hall, where the City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, was scheduled to consider Rick Caruso's plans to expand his mall.

Marine life artist Robert Wyland - best known for painting life-sized whales and other seascapes on buildings - helped celebrate the 40th anniversary of the federal Clean Water Act by painting a mural Friday at the Americana at Brand. He had help from a number of officials who used the occasion to launch the National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation, a friendly competition among cities across the U.S. to see who can conserve the most water from March 30 to April 30. The mural is slated for display inside the Anthropologie store, organizers said.

Singer Katy Perry is scheduled to appear at the Americana at Brand around 4 p.m. Wednesday to promote her new line of false eyelashes. Perry, who was nominated this year for two Grammys, will be on the green at the Americana at Brand to show off the line of fake eyelashes she created in association with Eylure. For a chance to meet Perry, fans can go to the Americana at Brand's Facebook page and enter to win one of 10 passes, receive an autographed limited edition lash pack and have a photo taken with her. The contest ends at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Singer Katy Perry is scheduled to appear at the Americana at Brand next week to promote her new line of false eyelashes. Perry, who was nominated this year for two Grammys, will be at the ULTA Beauty store to show off a new line of fake eyelashes she created in association with Eylure. For a chance to meet Perry personally, fans must first visit the ULTA Beauty store in the Burbank Empire Center at 10 a.m. Saturday, where the first 90 people to purchase a Katy Perry false lash will win a "lash pack" and a meet-and-greet with the singer in Glendale on Wednesday.

Shoppers were bustling in Glendale on the last full weekend before Christmas, but merchants continue to hold out for procrastinators, while savvy shoppers look for last-minute deals. The Glendale Galleria and Americana at Brand were both busy, according to their representatives. In an effort to draw even more customers, Macy's will stay open until 2 a.m. this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, said Larry Martin, general manager at the Galleria. “They've done that at very few stores throughout the nation,” he said.

The Glendale Galleria - a retail powerhouse whose 1970s-era all-brick façade has been criticized as being overtly drab - plans to undergo a major overhaul in the next two years, including a revamped entrance plaza featuring 11-foot-high letters jutting out of a pool. The project, approved by the City Council on Tuesday, will ditch the mega-mall's windowless, brick exterior, which was typical of shopping malls built in the 1970s, but has become increasingly dated with the rise of the glitzy Americana at Brand and a more mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented downtown.

Now that TV talk-show host Regis Philbin has retired from his morning “Live with Regis and Kelly” on ABC, he's making the rounds of the bookstores to sign and sell his new book, “How I Got This Way.” On Saturday (Nov. 26), Barnes & Noble in the Americana was host to some 300 Regis fans who came to learn the real scoop on the TV star's life. A bonus was the appearance of Regis' wife and sometimes TV partner, Joy Philbin. Originally, Regis wanted to be the next Bing Crosby. In fact, Glendale resident Gladys Wymore mentioned his idol when Regis signed her book.

Tens of thousands of Black Friday shoppers flocked to stores at midnight in Glendale and Burbank, with waves of fresh reinforcements streaming in throughout what was a relatively typical start to the holiday retail season. Yvonne Rodriguez, 29, and her friends were among the diehard shoppers out looking for bargains on Friday. By 1 p.m., they had been hitting stores in the Glendale Galleria for more than 12 hours. “I've been up since 7 a.m. on Thanksgiving,” she said. When they arrived at the Glendale Galleria at 12:30 a.m. Friday, the parking garages were starting to fill up. “There was no parking,” she said.

It appears much of the midnight Black Friday rush has dissipated in Glendale, making way for the morning crush of shoppers who decided to get a few hours of sleep after Thanksgiving to start their day. Shoppers who braved midnight store openings at the Glendale Galleria said the crowds had thinned somewhat since the early morning hours, a sign that the first wave had receded. For many, it was a race against the clock at the stroke of midnight before the second wave of traditional morning shoppers arrived.

It was just like any other day at the Glendale Galleria. Swarms of teens crowded the walkways and benches. Some young couples cuddled, as if unaware that the biggest sale of the season was in progress around them. Burbank resident Liz Martinez, 36, likely walked by a few as she executed her expertly planned  operation, with stops to pick up bargains at the Disney Store, Gymboree and Abercrombie. “I came to buy all the expensive clothes for my daughter I can't afford,” said Martinez, arms full with nine large bags of toys and clothing.  At Glendale's Americana at Brand, Glendale resident Adrian Villanueva, 19, was winding down -- and it was only 5:30 a.m. He had already traveled to Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, Target and Krispy Kreme.

With Black Friday looming on the calendar, Americana at Brand representatives this week announced that they will be bringing back a fundraiser for local schools that last year generated $100,000. Now through Dec. 31, shoppers at The Grove in Los Angeles the Americana can take their receipts to the concierge desk and designate a local school of their choice as a recipient. Caruso Affiliated, which owns the two outdoor malls, will donate 5% of purchases to the program, up to $100,000 for schools in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to the announcement.