Of all the malls in L.A., The Grove just might be the most Christmas-y. The "snow" that falls in the evening, the towering Christmas tree with more ornaments than visible greenery, pictures with Santa in his workshop, and a sleigh that soars high above the fountains are all sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
Santa's in here!
The Grove reminds me of Disneyland; everything looks perfect and there's not a speck of litter in sight. And like Disneyland, it gets very crowded on the weekends.
This time I came on a weekday morning and had a much more relaxing experience. Have you ever been to Disneyland right when it opened? That's what it felt like! Except replace Mickey Mouse with Mario Lopez. Yes, Mr. Dimples was there filming an episode of Extra. I snapped this photo of him looking at free swag one of his guests gave him:
Speaking of t.v. shows, remember that episode of Modern Family where they take a doll into the "Doll Emergency Clinic" to get fixed and Alex sees one that looks just like her? I thought that was just something on t.v., but it turns out there is such a place at The Grove! It's American Girl, and in addition to a doll emergency room, they've also got a doll hair salon, a historic doll museum, a dining room where girls can eat with their dolls, and a doll photography studio. You can also buy clothes, accessories, musical instruments and even dogs for your custom designed doll. It's pretty crazy.
For the walking disinclined, The Grove has a free trolley. This was a hit with the youngsters.
And for your sweet tooth, there's a Sprinkles cupcakes stand:
And a Dylan's Candy Bar:
Have you been to The Grove during the holidays? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below!
The Grove
