CityWalk’s Final Phase Takes Stage

Take Hollywood kitsch. Mix in Madison Avenue and a little bit of Main Street amid fireworks, gleaming Harleys and glow-in-the-dark bowling.

It was all there Wednesday night as Universal Studios threw an invitation-only bash to celebrate the opening of the second and final phase of Universal CityWalk.

Several thousand people ambled down the multicolored flagstone promenade sipping Cabernet, munching on sushi and engaging in that favorite local pastime--celebrity watching.

Those attending the grand opening of the CityWalk annex were treated to live entertainment, including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and new night spots such as Howl at the Moon, which featured dueling piano players, and the Rumba Room.

Attractions included computer-generated stock cars on a virtual NASCAR track, a rock ‘n’ roll bowling alley with digital scoring and a melange of video images.

Those with food on their minds had gastronomic temptations aplenty, from piping-hot Cuban roasted chicken and plantains served up at Versailles Restaurant, to the pastrami at Jerry’s Famous Deli or cold ones at the Karl Strauss Microbrewery and Beer Garden.

“I was 179 [pounds] when I came here,” said Lenny Wosk, 42, of Encino, who was there with his 17-month-old son. “I’m 183 now. It’s only 7 p.m. and I’ve already died and gone to heaven.”

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Glendale resident Debbie Lee, 25, gave the new CityWalk annex a thumbs up. “It gives it new color and definitely adds a new dimension.”

Even more than its previous incarnation, the 93,000-square-foot CityWalk extension, now open to the public, competes for the senses with its bright neon lights, beckoning marquees, a giant video board and music emanating from the eclectic mix of establishments.

One unusual feature is an artists’ loft--above a tapas bar--where some of the profits from the sales go to struggling artists.

The original CityWalk, which stretches for about two city blocks, opened in 1993 as a complement to the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. But company executives and its architect, Jon Jerde, also envisioned the new walk as a draw for locals.

The hodgepodge of architectural styles in the collection of eateries and retail outlets was conceived by its creators as not only a link among Universal’s various properties--including its studios, theme park, movie theaters and hotels--but also as the ideal nouveau urban environment.

Critics, however, have panned the CityWalk concept as overly commercial, an artificial urban space catering to tourists.

CityWalk currently draws more than 10 million visitors annually. With the opening of the North Hollywood Red Line subway station scheduled for this summer, Universal officials expect attendance to jump significantly.

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“There’s something for everyone here. And we offer the best for the entertainment dollar in L.A.,” said Larry Kurzweil, president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios Hollywood. “We’re going to get L.A. to rock.”

Universal officials noted that the second phase of construction at CityWalk was actually part of the original plan approved by the city and county of Los Angeles in the early 1990s.

During that same period, the company also sought to expand its studio and theme park properties, but scaled back plans after an outcry from neighbors.