Sleepover at the mall: Life at Americana at Brand
What happens when home is the mall? Glendales new Americana at Brand, developer Rick Carusos $400 million encore to the Grove, is bigger and bolder than its L.A. counterpart, with 238 apartments and 100 condos. Americana has housing, but does it have the charm of a great neighborhood? A place to gather and kvetch? The Home sections Man of the House columnist Chris Erskine slept over for a night to find out. (Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times)
With apartment rents north of $2,000 and condo prices starting at $700,000, the Americana attempts to deliver an experience thats novel for Southern Californians, including valet parking, concierge service and, most notably, the hum of city living shops and restaurants just outside the front door. (Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times)
The trolley, the fountain, the Sinatra on the sound system: This isnt Greenwich Village, Jackson Square or Lincoln Park, to be sure. (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)
For those too tired to walk from Jewel City Diner to Beard Papas for dessert. (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)
Backed by the faux industrial elevator and its version of the Eiffel Tower, children take to the playground in the center of the Americana. Where else in this metropolis will you see staff wiping down the playground equipment in the morning? (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)
Forty bucks for a haircut at the cool little barbershop? Does that come with lunch? (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)
The bustle of shoppers, twinkling lights and a golden statue jumping naked toward the Cheesecake Factory. Is this Proteus rising from the sea? Or Caruso ordering a sandwich? (Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times)
Its an easy target, but talk to the Americanas residents and you hear praise for the convenience and amenities. Erskines 5-year-old was hooked, especially on the twice-hourly fountain shows. (Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times)
Fred and Jan Cuevas were among the first residents. People always ask if its noisy, Fred Cuevas says. Everything shuts down at 10. My wife and I have directors chairs on the patio and we sit there and have martinis. (Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)
At night, the whole place twinkles. Spotlights turn the fountain into a giant gin and tonic. Some happenstance might be nice, though a real-life street musician, a squirrel or two, a bird. For those who like some patina that lived-in look youll have to wait. As Dean Martin crooned in the courtyard: If this aint love, itll have to do till the real thing comes along ... till the real thing comes along.
For more Home stories, including profiles of a creative Venice live-work space and a Mulholland Drive-area house remodeled to maximize its views, keep reading our website or check out the Thursday print edition of the L.A. Times. (Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times)
