The Americana

I was trying to think of some catchy little title that would some up my experience at the Americana but I just couldn't do it. I think the reason is that I'm not too sure how I should feel about this new outdoor mall by Developer Rick Caruso (Caruso Affiliated).

My initial feeling was that it's the Grove on steroids (More land, more shops, more people, and a huge gold statue).

You'll be taking the same familiar escalators to the pseudo-indoor-outdoor concierge that the Grove boasts, however this time you feel you're possibly on the set of Scarface, that you're some type of powerful drug lord walking through a Carribean high-end resort. That was my first red flag (and I can live with that feeling a moment at a time).

But the second and final red flag (that blurred and ruined the rest of the experience) was the large glass and metal elevators at the base of the staircase. Had these elevators been here since the 17th Century, the decay and rust that was thickly coated on the frame of the tall structure would have made sense, and here in this small observation does the Americana shopping "experience," as well as the Grove, Universal CityWalk, and finally the whole of Las Vegas lose-out in my mind, heart and wallet.

There's really no authenticity to this goliath outdoor mall extravaganza. It's like Disney Land, with different villages and architecture decorating the grounds that almost convince you is a "whole new world." That's it… its Disney World for adults.

But lean or knock on the marble, the rusty common, the Southern brick, and a loud deep echo will reply. There's an emptiness that's hard to define...

Sure the Americana will be a huge financial success that will lead to similar homogenized and glitzy developments in the future, with grassy knolls, Frank Sinatra in-sync water fountains, middle- to high-end retail stores, residential units with unbelievable amenities, and artificially rusty elevators. But while accepting, encompassing, and then severely flaunting the cash that will be swallowed up in the Americana, especially in the face of an economic recession (kudos I suppose), I can't help but to be a little saddened and disappointed.

This place is just like the Grove, except it's supped up, and Tinker Bell magically transformed the shoppers of Fairfax and 3rd to Armenians from Glendale and Pasadena… a tribute to the new American spirit, homogenized shopping, no doubt. But I want structural and architectural integrity in all this pointless consuming… I want some respect for the past and its achievements... I guess you could call me a Romantic Capitalist.

PS Read about the gold sculpture, "Spirit of American Youth"