Six or so years ago, my Glendale News-Press coworkers and I were so sick of hearing about the proposed Americana at Brand. We’d done seemingly millions of stories abut the project — traffic impact, projected revenues for the city, and most importantly, the conflict with the company that owns the neighboring Glendale Galleria. The project was so controversial in Glendale, they had a special election about it.

I finally got a chance to check out the realized retail and residential complex, more than three years after it opened. I’d driven by it before, but Saturday was my first chance to actually set foot inside the complex. Seeing as its December, it sure is beautiful and festive. I don’t know if the trees are lit up all year round — maybe they should be? The complex feels more like Paseo Colorado in Pasadena than the Grove in West LA, which is sort of its sister shopping center, thanks to the condos that tower over the shopping area. Mikey and I did enjoy the massive fountain in the center of the complex.

I didn’t eat in any of the restaurants or carts, because I didn’t feel like eating any of the food offerings. We ended up going across the street to McDonald’s. Hey, I have a toddler OK? I did think about going to Beard Papa’s for a cream puff. Instead, the cold night sent us all to Coffee Bean, after part of our group paid an obligatory visit to the Apple Store (two apple stores within a 5 minute walk of each other? Really?) and the young kids in our group got a chance to ride the trolley.

Love the trolley by the way! I will probably visit again just so Michael can ride it.

Incidentally, the trolley rode right by the giant Christmas tree that got scalped by the recent hurricane-force winds. The trolley conductor told his audience that Santa clipped it on his way there. Riiiight.