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Rodeo Drive (Los Angeles)

ByThe Skeptical Traveler

I went there on a Sunday and the street was blocked because of a food festival. I would have liked to go while the stores were open, maybe I could have seen a celebrity, someone famous. 

On Rodeo Drive, there is a small square – a mini-mall, for the lack of a better term; it is called Rodeo Collection.

The image shows the exterior of a building with a brick wall adorned with greenery at the top. There is a sign on the wall that reads "RODEO COLLECTION" with a "P" symbol indicating public parking and an arrow pointing to the right. Below this main sign, there are several smaller signs listing various businesses or locations. To the right of the brick wall, there is a white sign with black text that reads "Parking Is Closed." The building has large glass windows, and there are palm trees visible in the reflection.

The image shows the entrance to a shopping area called "Rodeo Collection." The entrance is framed by large glass windows displaying mannequins dressed in blue clothing. The walkway is paved with light-colored tiles and features potted plants, including a palm tree. The area appears to be an upscale shopping center with a modern architectural design.

Notice all the plastic surgery and anti-ageing services. I bet they don’t lack clients.

A directory sign is mounted on a brick wall, listing various businesses and offices. The sign is titled "COLLECTION" at the top and includes the following entries: - Hodes Corporate Offices - Jivago Corporate Offices - Valence Luxury Ocean Residences - Utopia - La Patisserie Artistique - Carvel Ice Cream - Joseph Martin Salon - Mauro Hair Studio - Dr. Sam Saleh, DDS (Ava Dentistry Spa) - Dr. Bobby Pourziaee - Pourzié Spa - Jimmy's Shoes - Barakat Gallery - Nejati Music Studio - Muguet Florist - Rodeo Drive Anti-Aging Clinic - The Salon By Maxine - The M Salon - Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery - BHC At the bottom, there is a note about "NO-PINCHER CHIPS-RISK" and a contact number for "PARKING ENFORCEMENT." The sign is partially covered by some ivy growing on the wall.

But what is this? Facebook and Twitter signs on the window?! Facebook and Twitter are for the plebeians. Where is the ‘luxury’ police to demand their immediate removal? They affect the image of Rodeo Drive.

The image shows the exterior of a building with large glass windows. On the left side, there is a storefront with a beige awning that has text on it. There are plants in front of the store, including a flowering bush. On the right side, through the glass window, a person can be seen standing on a ladder, possibly cleaning or performing maintenance. The building has a brick facade and the sky is reflected in the windows.

The image shows a store window display with a mannequin dressed in a black and white outfit. The window has stickers for social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, with their respective logos and names. The reflection of the street and surrounding buildings can be seen in the glass.

If there are stores who really want to have a cyber-social presence, let it only be asmallworld.net. I don’t know how many people have heard of this social site as it is very exclusive (by invitation only and only a few members have invitation privileges).

The image shows a logo with the text "ASMALLWORLD." To the left of the text, there is an icon of a globe. Further to the left, there is a blue square with a white "F" (resembling the Facebook logo) crossed out with a red circle and diagonal line, indicating "no Facebook."

And in this patisserie: tea bags that can be found in any supermarket!!! There are some very good high quality teas out there and they sell these mundane teas?! This should not be allowed.

The image shows the exterior of a shop with a glass window. Inside the window, there is a sign with images of various cupcakes or pastries and text in French. The interior of the shop is visible through the window, showing a plant and some furniture. The reflection on the glass also shows part of the street or building outside.

The image shows the interior of a kitchen or café, viewed through a glass window. There are shelves with various items, including boxes and bottles, and a coffee machine with cups stacked on top. The reflection on the glass shows parts of the room and possibly some outdoor scenery. The overall setting appears to be clean and organized.

And chips! Again, where are the ‘luxury’ police? I wonder how much of these teas and chips must be sold to pay the rent around here; it must be exorbitant for a place on Rodeo Drive.

The image shows a countertop with a few items on it. There is an empty display case, a basket containing some packaged snacks, and a few disposable cups stacked on the right side. To the left, there is a menu board or sign. The scene appears to be inside a small shop or café.

And this is ‘Utopia’, the luxury residential cruise ship that will have residences for purchases, and a hotel. You may notice in the photos, on the TV in the background, images of beautiful women, clearly a subliminal marketing scheme.

The image shows a detailed model of a cruise ship encased in a glass display. Above the display case, there is a sign with the text "Utopia" and "Residential Holiday Liner Visiting World Famous Events." In the background, there is a television mounted on the wall, displaying an image of a person on a beach. The room appears to be well-lit with natural light coming through the windows.

The image shows a detailed model of a cruise ship displayed inside a glass case. The model is situated in a well-lit room with large windows and a television screen in the background. Above the model, there is a sign with the word "UTOPIA" and some additional text. The room has a sophisticated and elegant interior design with wooden elements and comfortable seating.

To discuss purchasing a residence, you cannot just drop by; you have to make an appointment.

The image shows the interior of an office or a professional space viewed through a glass door. The glass door has the text "BY APPOINTMENT ONLY" written on it. Inside, there is a wooden desk, a chair, a lamp, and some plants. The word "UTOPIA" and a logo with the letter "U" surrounded by a laurel wreath are also visible on the glass door.

‘Utopia’s’ construction will finish by 2014, but, really, they should be trying to finish by the end of the world – December 21st, 2012, according to the Mayan calendar – so that, if the world comes to an end, at least one can go down in style.

I went to their website, found the contact information, and asked about the prices of the residences (which were not available on the website). They did not answer so I used Wikipedia, even though I prefer to get information direct from the source. The residences will cost between US$3.9 million and US$26 million For the moment, I am a few million short, so my residency there will have to wait.

I also asked how many points and what kind (Hilton, Marriott, etc.) I would need to book a room in the on-board hotel. Again, no answer, whatever, it is their loss.

 

Other photos:

The image shows the exterior of a building with a large, reflective gold facade. There is a storefront with a window display partially covered by a white sheet. To the left of the building, there is a blue umbrella with the word "PERONI" written on it, indicating a nearby outdoor seating area. The building has a modern design with clean lines and large windows. The address number "342" is visible on the left side of the building.

The image shows a sunny street lined with tall palm trees and white flowers in the median. There are buildings on both sides of the street, and a few people can be seen walking in the distance. The sky is clear with a few clouds, and the street appears to be clean and well-maintained. Traffic lights are visible, and there are some tents or canopies set up further down the street.

The image shows a street view of a Cartier store with large red awnings and a palm tree in front. Next to the Cartier store is another store with a sign that reads "ELOGE." There is a bus or large vehicle parked on the street to the right. The scene is set on a sunny day with clear skies.

The image shows the exterior of a high-end retail store with a large, ornate golden door in the center. The building has a modern design with a sleek, dark facade. There are two palm trees in front of the store, and the sidewalk is clean and well-maintained. The store to the right has large glass windows displaying mannequins dressed in fashionable clothing.

A street scene with a clear blue sky. The street is lined with palm trees and buildings on both sides. On the left, there is a large building with a sign that reads "BVLGARI." On the right, there are several white tents set up along the sidewalk. There are a few people walking and some cars parked along the street. The overall atmosphere appears to be calm and sunny.

A narrow, cobblestone street lined with elegant buildings featuring large windows and awnings. The buildings have a mix of architectural styles, including arched windows and decorative columns. Hanging flower baskets adorn the street, and there are a few street lamps. The sky is clear and blue, suggesting a sunny day. The street appears to be part of a shopping or commercial area.

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