Originally Posted By oc_dean And about this latest entertainment mall ...Maybe we are spoiled with a dozen entertainment malls spread out between Orange County and LA County ..... But in the name of Progress ..... enough with the every-day mall with run of the mill movie theater complex ... and run of the mill shops and eateries! And perhaps the Grove may be a little bit on the "cold" side (I tend to agree with that) ... BUT .... it's a step in the right direction by making more than just a run of the mill entertainment mall .... but infused "theme park" influences .... like the trolley, the dancing waters show. And while it got axed .. the Garden Walk developers DID originally think about the aquarium. I want to see our overwhelming sea of boring malls evolve into something ... that infuses new ideas .. in the same vein as Walt Disney did to the American amusement park. Going to an entertainment can be more than just the USUAL "lets see a movie, and eat" ........ but have some interactive, INSPIRATIONAL, entertainment offerings. That aquarium idea could have been pretty cool.
Originally Posted By oc_dean "There's a great big beautiful entertainment mall ......... shining at the end of every day!" :~
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>hanks oc_dean. I always thought you were a star, now I know for sure.<< WHO??? ME?????????? :O) Oh, you're so gracious .. so kind. thank you shhhhhhh everybody ... don't tell Davewasbaloo about my mouthy futurist days. mums the word.
Originally Posted By mstaft My wife and I saw a wonderful mall with an aquarium built in- Val 'd Europe, the wonderful district next to DL Paris. There is even an attched outlet mall filled with European based retailers. If you ever go there, stay at the Hotel Elysee and enjoy the atmosphere of this new town.
Originally Posted By mawnck If it's any consolation to you out-of-towners, our supermarkets suck. Even the newly renovated ones look about 15 years out of date compared to the stores I've seen practically everywhere else in the country.
Originally Posted By Zwitek <<< "I'll be interested to see what Mr. Caruso comes up with for Golden Gate Fields. Lots of space out there." You mean in Albany? Is he working on something there? >>> Yes, he's got HUGE projects going with Santa Anita (So. Cal) and Golden Gate Fields. The tracks aren't closing, but both have lots of land where they can install dining and retail to extend the track patrons stay. And for Jon- GGF isn't closing, they just installed that new safer track surface the name at the moment escapes me. Bay Meadows still isn't for certain to close, although likely, the rumblings are that it might end up mixed use if they can find a good developer.
Originally Posted By bean its funny but i bet that the people that say they willnot walk to the area to get anything will end up going there for something to eat once they find the craving for it. Not only that, eventually they will go right pass it on the way to the third gate in the near future
Originally Posted By dshyates Trader Vic's is starting a new chain of Mai Tai Bars. But thre are already 2. One in Bevery Hill, CA and one in Estapona, Spain.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt Interesting that they chose Spain. That's a hard place to find a decent cocktail.
Originally Posted By jonvn "the rumblings are that it might end up mixed use if they can find a good developer. " I don't know what they are thinking with Bay Meadows. They want to put condos in there, and there just is no market right now. I live like 4 blocks from Bay Meadows. "its funny but i bet that the people that say they willnot walk to the area to get anything will end up going there for something to eat once they find the craving for it." Nothing listed at the new mall causes me to want to go there at all. There could be some things that I'd walk over there for, but PF Changs is not one of them. I'm spoiled, living up near SF. We have some of the best food in the country. There are literally 20 Chinese restaurants within a few blocks of where I live. If I want to drive 15 minutes, I can be at a PF Changs. If I want to drive 30 minutes, I can be at a Cheesecake Factory with a view of Union Square in SF, or go to one in Palo Alto. Or go to the Rainforest Cafe in SF. Or I can drive 10 minutes and be at a Johnny Rockets. Heck, I can walk to an Outback or a TGIF. But I don't do any of this. Know why? Because there are about ten gajillion other places between me and those locations that are actually better to eat at. So while this will be a nice mall, it certainly does not look to be all that special looking, nor does it seem to have anything I need to go see or do. Am I the target demographic? Well, I would think that I could be, seeing that I travel about 400 or so miles to get to Disneyland to visit, spend a couple of days there, and enjoy DTD. Generally, though, we don't stay at a hotel in the area. Maybe if we were ensconced in the GCH, we'd go. But there are already a half dozen good places in DTD that are closer. But I am sure there are other people who will find this selection to be great. I know Cheesecake Factory is always mobbed. The mall will do quite well for the people in the area hotels.
Originally Posted By Zwitek Jon, you live in San Mateo and you didn't mention Taxis? I used to love eating there years ago. Bay Meadows somehow will remain a track I think. Somehow.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<You pay for an "interesting" atmosphere, over priced and under portioned meals that often leave your tastebuds wanting more.>> Under portioned? I think the problem these days is that the chain restaurants serve way too much food per portion. Mimi's is one of the biggest offenders. They give you enough food to kill a horse.
Originally Posted By jonvn "you didn't mention Taxis? " Yeah, that place is great! I like their chicken ortega sandwiches. About 3 blocks from me. I also like their baked potatoes. Think, though, that my favorite thing for baked potatoes is just some butter and salt. I think Bay Meadows is a goner. Shame, it's got so much history behind it. If they do rip it down and put up condos and ANOTHER mall, who will buy the condos, and why would they shop at the mall? Fashion Island didn't exactly do a bang up business. Anyway: I like Mimi's grilled cheese sandwich. That's pretty good. There is one right across the street from where I work. We go there sometimes for group feeds, and I can't finish the food on my plate. Everyone else just cleans theirs. I don't know where they put it all.
Originally Posted By oneyepete ^^ They hide it in their pants so their boat will get stuck on It's a Small World.
Originally Posted By TP2000 I'm late to the party (again), but I'll go on record as saying I am really looking forward to almost all of these dining options opening up within walking distance of Disneyland. This is going to be a huge shot in the arm of some much needed quality restaurants for the Resort District. But then, I'm not cool enough to sniff my nose at "mall food" like PF Changs or Cheesecake Factory or McCormick & Schmicks. Heck, I even get a Starbucks once or twice a week, that's how uncool and suburban and white bread I am! I know if I want to be cool I should find some weird little organic coffee leftist cooperative that smells funny inside and sends all its profits off to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela or something, but I'm just not that cool. And I've never voted Socialist or Green either, so I'd feel like a poser. So Starbucks it is, with room for cream please. And GardenWalk it is for me too. Now, will most of the restaurants there be better than the greasy coffee shops and that very tired looking IHOP on Harbor Blvd.? Heck yes they will! And will all of those nice, middle-class, white bread tourists who take the family to Disneyland for vacation like the "mall food" GardenWalk offerings? I'm fairly confident they will. The only place I'm not planning on visiting is the Bubba Gump thing. That just looks a bit too corny to me, and I didn't even like that movie all that much anyway. The owner of that Heat Ultra Lounge place makes me laugh too. Celebs drinking and carousing across the street from Disneyland? I doubt it. What I do see happening is a bunch of rowdy CM's hanging out there for the Happy Hour specials hogging up the booths and telling Stupid Guest Tricks stories to each other. Probably not the demographic that cheesy bar owner was going for, but that's about all he's going to get at Disneyland. Otherwise, GardenWalk will be a huge benefit to the Resort District! All of these restaurants should have been there in 2001 when the Resort was born. A 40 year old IHOP and a greasy Denny's just aren't cutting it.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster I just hope AGW draws enough people the DtD is a little less congested on busy nights. I jate it when I can't find a seat at the Cantina.
Originally Posted By jonvn " I'm not cool enough to sniff my nose at "mall food"" It has nothing to do with that. "Now, will most of the restaurants there be better than the greasy coffee shops and that very tired looking IHOP on Harbor Blvd" I guess you're just too cool for IHOP, eh? "The only place I'm not planning on visiting is the Bubba Gump thing. " Oh, and this one too. You're way too cool to visit this place, certainly.
Originally Posted By mawnck I dunno - he sounds pretty uncool to me. I think I've changed my mind - I'm NOT going to eat over there after all. It's way, way too uncool. ( <--------hates socialists, doesn't drink coffee, and would rather eat at IHOP than P.F. Chang's any day. Just not THAT one.)
