Universal Citywalk–Just say OH!
When I first moved to Los Angeles just about a decade ago, it was because I had a job selling jewelry at a little cart that would be stationed directly on Universal City Walk–a long strip of stores and restaurants adjacent to Universal Studios. 10 years ago it wasn’t as “lit up” and Vegas-style as it is today; it was kind of low-rent and on its way “up” in popularity.
A couple of weekends ago Mathew and I headed up to Universal Citywalk to see a movie at the incredibly overpriced movie theater. What did we see? I don’t remember–isn’t that sad? (Almost every movie we’ve seen up there has been lame except for the most recent Star Trek movie–Levar Burton was in line in front of us! That guy can dress–he has style!)
This past weekend we headed up there to see WHITE OUT (oh, just don’t, friends; let me save you grief, money, and 2 hours of your life–even the gratuitous shower scene is boring!). Parking up there costs 12 bucks a car (total rip off!) and they give you a 5-dollar credit towards your movie tickets, which run 12 bucks too. After the movie we walked down the Citywalk Strip for a stroll.
We keep wondering when Citywalk will put an actual, honest-to-goodness store where SAM GOODY used to be. The cool Sam Goody signage is still up, but that store’s empty. On this most recent visit we noticed that the Sparky’s toy store is going to be reopening as a donut shop. (WTH???) They were never very nice in there anyway. I remember when the raven-logo bookstore used to be an actual bookstore with books, stationery, pens and cool stuff. Now it’s like one of those ABC stores in Hawaii filled with all kinds of lame Los Angeles crap t-shirts and stuff.
Citywalk always has a strange mix of people; teenagers out to walk around; tourists exiting Universal Studios after a day in the theme park; locals heading to the comedy club, a concert, dinner and a movie; and date-night people who aren’t really local but who see Citywalk as a kind of LA Playground (it’s not). In the past 10 years, mostly working at Citywalk, I’ve seen lots of celebrities. Lucy Lawless of Xena fame was so nice; I chased after her to get her autograph while she was out for the afternoon with her daughter and her boyfriend (?). She was really tall, much more beautiful in person than on television, and a lot thinner than I imagined. Holland Taylor was supernice too–it was right after the Tea Leoni sitcom–and she let me ask her all kinds of questions about her next TV gig; Cameron Diaz came by; Kathy Najimy; Lou Diamond Phillips; some Star Trek people; a few musicians etc.
One thing I really love about Citywalk is the street performers and street musicians. The first weekend I worked at Citywalk, a band named SOULBELLY was playing. I plunked down my 10 bucks for their homemade CD, and it’s STILL one of my favorite CD’s ever, even if the band did break up. Lately there’ve been a lot of “girls with guitars” at Citywalk. There’s always the saxaphone guy, but by far, my favorite Citywalk performer is FLAT TOP.
I’m sure that through the 90’s he was a big big hit; and it would be easy to say he was “out of style” now, but I think he’s more in style than ever. A couple of weeks ago when we were at Citywalk, we came out of our movie and stood outside for 30 minutes or so watching his show. It wa spectacular. He’s such a great performer, with such a unique dance–and he really knows how to work a crowd. One of the things I love about Flat Top is that he makes eye contact with the people in the circle–he gets you uncomfortable and connected (because of course, we L.A. people just do NOT want to be connected to one another, do we?) I like that about him. He is really cool.
What else is at Universal Citywalk? Not much, really. They used to have the BB King blues club, but like everything else at Citywalk, it changes every few years into a new club, a new restaurant, a new concept. I guess that really is what is most like Los Angeles–the reinventing that goes on. I’m starting to wonder if it will be possible to reinvent myself this year–to find out if, after a lack of partying in my 20’s and letting go of the opening of my directionless-thirties, if I can do something with the dream I came with.
I still remember that first night we drove into Los Angeles. Phil Hendrie was on the radio, and Mathew and I rolled down the windows, he wishing to have his cartooning and illustration skills put to good use, and me aching to be that writer–and I screamed out the window “Look out L.A. ‘Cause I am here and I ain’t ever leaving!” Yes. I am that cliche–but I’m gonna go ahead and stick by myself, and my city.
