Rick Caruso sure knows how to throw a party

Before the hoi polloi crowd into the grand opening of Rick Caruso's grandiose retail project, Americana at Brand, L.A.'s elite had a party of its own, held on the parking lot roof. Our own Cara Mia DiMassa was there.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn, at least three L.A. City Council members and L.A.'s top cop, Bill Bratton, joined 2,000 other guests and VIPs. Wolfgang Puck fed the crowd filet mignon with wild mushroom-leek tortelloni and grand marnier souffle.

The Four Tops and the Temptations performed together, Natalie Cole sang, and so did Tony Benett. Jay Leno was the emcee. Oh - and did we mention the fireworks?

All about Rick Caruso's lavish shindig in Cara's full story.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Comments

[Yenmor]

I just do not get it. Fireworks works at 11:00pm my oh my the world must be coming to an end! Give me a break! You guys live in Glendale not in the middle of nowhere! So what do you guys want? This project to be a failure just because you hate Carsuo? This is probably the best thing that could have happened to the city and the Galleria.

[RudelyAwakened]

well, I live in the Rossmoyne neighborhood and did NOT receive any kind of notice that fireworks were going to be shot off at 11 o clock at night. We flew out of our beds. We thought is was obnoxious. Half the neighbors were in front of their homes wondering if bombs were going off.

[terrified]

Ummm....no. I'm not a fan of the galleria either, don't get me wrong. In fact, if we really want to go there, why don't I just put it out there. In a time when we should be concerned about the gas guzzling miles all this merchandise has to travel to reach our greedy little hands...(and our overdependance on imported goods from cheap labor countries) perhaps we can think about something that really would do our community good. LOCAL business, owned locally, produced locally. Variation in scale. And heck, how about Public transportation?? If you are going to put in mixed use, give us something that might get us a bit further than a battery operated trolley on a loop and peter the milkman selling me bubble up from a cart? Is it too much to ask to find any semblance of REAL community in the most fictionalized locale in the US?
And as for the letters that went to residents, maybe I didn't get one cause I live in a rented 2nd floor walk up 3 blocks away, and clearly, with my under 1000/mo rent, Caruso could care less about someone like me.

[Andre M.]

Poster Terrified,

Are you really the owner of the soon-to-be-bankrupt Glendale Galleria? Thought so!

I have a friend who lives close by, and they said that they were sent letters telling them about the party in advance because they do want to be a good neighbor. Let's remember, this is the grand-opening party for one of the biggest mix-use projects this year, in the entire country...

I think this will be great for the City of Glendale. As a resident of 17 years, I am happy that the Americana is located in our city.

[Terrified]

This whole thing makes me sick. As Glendale resident I am outraged (not only the entire premise of Carusos establishment), but also the blatent disregard that he had toward area residents as he courted those he deemed as elites by setting off massive fireworks late on a weeknight. Such a display really illustrates the fact that, despite Carusos ramblings about the "community" and the "Main Street experience",all he cares about is the experience of money going into his deep pockets.
Developers like Caruso are tearing apart the American economic structure through their infiltration into our cities, gentrifying our communities and repackaging the great ideas of visionaries (Jane Jacobs and Kevin Lynch, anyone?) into generic vignettes without soul or value. And each package carries a pricetag that few (if any, during times of war and recession) can afford.

[Bob Burle]

But is it open? When?

[Thomas]

If you throw a party at the cost of peace for local residents, that's considered a heck of a party?
It was one rude event for the residents around the area. They shot up fireworks after 11:30pm at night!! Is that acceptable to you?
People woke up thinking there was gang shoot out and called 911, etc.
This guy knows how to piss people off, that is for sure.
It showed how inconsiderate they are and proved to me that maybe it wasn't a good idea to allow these guys to come to our city.

[Ivan Vargas]

I think that the America is a blessing for the nearby metropilitan area and will create a boost to the local economy. Mr. Rick Caruso is a sharp business man that knows what he is doing. Thank you for the your vision Mr.Caruso. Best of luck in your future ventures.