Global Appeal

By Phil Wayne, Olin Ericksen and Gene Williams
Staff Writers

February 9 -- They come to buy vegetables, shop for a birthday present, or, in one case, conduct a geography class. Some hop a bus from a nearby town, others trek in from another state or country. They come on vacation, for business or to honeymoon.

But whatever their reasons for coming or their points of departure, they can all be found on any given day strolling down Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade or frequenting nearby stores.

The Lookout decided to spend some time chatting with a few of these visitors to find out why they’re here, where they came from and what they liked most, and least, about the popular shopping destination.

The following interviews provide a glimpse of why Santa Monica’s Downtown has won a worldwide reputation as a place to shop, eat, see a movie or watch the passing parade of life.

Swiss visitors Anne-Marie, Catherine and Roger enjoy the "covivial ambiance" of the Promenade. (Photos by Phil Wayne)

VICTORIA MELGARD, a cheerful, twenty-something who teaches seven and eight year olds at a small private academy in Santa Monica, has learned that some lessons are better taught outside the classroom.

That’s why the pretty blonde teacher takes her class from Garden of Angels School to the Downtown area at least once a week for a geography lesson.

“We’re interviewing people to see if we could find someone from each of the 50 states,” she says, as she shepherds seven small children through the Promenade.

She has to keep a watchful eye on her flock. The street vendors, musicians and store displays are a powerful attraction for young minds, and often a little one strays from the group.

But Melgard understands. She likes to shop and see the sights along the Promenade too, and she often goes there by herself when she’s not teaching.

“I think the Downtown is great,” she says. “They have a lot of great entertainment and a lot of great shops and restaurants. There’s so much to see and do here.”

Good candidates for Melgard’s class assignment would be Corrie and Lynnie, a Texas couple who squeezed some shopping on the Promenade between business meetings.

Visiting Santa Monica from Dallas, this was their first jaunt to the shopping destination, although Corrie says it’s been on her list of shopping areas to visit, rivaling San Francisco’s Union Square and New York City.

“Friends of mine who visited here before told me about it, and I’m a shop-a-holic, so I thought I’d get some in while I can,” says Corrie.

Both say they enjoy the mix of eclectic shops (chain and local ), the street performers and the convenience of an exciting venue so close to their hotel.

“You’ve got a lot of different shops and a great, outdoor atmosphere,” says Corrie, with a Texas twang. “That’s unique.”

“The one thing I don’t like is the unfortunate situation for the homeless here,” says Lynnie, eyeing a panhandler across the street.

“It’s a great place, but they’ve got to get a handle on this problem.”
Glenview, Illinois resident Sharon Kobernik, who visits her son in Santa Monica once a year, doesn’t understand why some feel threatened by Santa Monica’s homeless.

“You know what? They’re homeless,” Kobernik says. “I don’t think they’re a hassle. I feel bad they’re homeless. They have homeless where I’m at too. They’re everywhere.”

It doesn’t take much to understand why this mid-westerner visits during winter. Kobernik is all smiles as she walks along Colorado Avenue. It’s January, the weather is a perfect 70 degrees, the sun is out and there’s no wind.

“I like all of it. It’s a very friendly, nice place,” she says. “My son doesn’t drive, so we go by bus everywhere. It’s very easy to get around.”

“We shop, we eat, we go to movies, we walk the beach. That’s it,” she says with a laugh.

Delaware newlyweds Ann and Larry Patterson were directed to the Promenade by a cab driver.

Joyce, another first-time visitor to the Promenade, says she feels there are a “wee” too many homeless people, but, coming from Scotland, she is used to it.

“We have them over there too, so it don’t bother me too much,” Joyce says. “Besides, compared to places like San Francisco, they are a lot less in-your-face around here.”

Joyce says she likes the weather and just walking outside, as she grabs some last minute gifts for relatives and friends.

“I couldn’t leave without gifts, my friends would just kill me,” says Joyce, who plans to stop in at Borders and the Apple store after burning a mix CD at Starbucks for a friend in Edinburgh.

Staying in Venice, Joyce says friends suggested the Promenade for some gift-shopping, and its convenience by bus sealed the deal. “It was very easy to get down here from Venice. I just hopped on that Blue Bus thing, and it carted me right down here.”

A Big Blue Bus “thing” also carted in a couple of New Zealanders who were staying in Los Angeles. Tracey, who is visiting with her boyfriend, Nick, for four days, visited the Promenade for a morning of shopping.

“Getting here was so easy, and so we decided we would come and check it out,” says Tracey, who adds that she frequently shops in London where she lived for a number of years.

“The atmosphere is so different from London,” says Tracey. “The weather is better, people are more relaxed. It’s fun and not so stressful.”

Before coming to Los Angeles, five words summed up what Tracey knew of shopping in Southern California: “Rodeo Drive” and “Third Street Promenade.”

Tracy and Nick have been on the lookout for stars who might be carousing the street in shoddy disguises. “If we don’t see them, we’ll be fine,” says Tracey. “At least we got some shopping in.”

ON THE LAST NIGHT of their visit from Switzerland, Anne-Marie, Roger and Catherine decided to amble leisurely along the Promenade, taking in the sights, smells and sounds.

“C’est magnifique!” cooed Anne-Marie, who expressed her love for the overall “ambience” of the Promenade.

“Are the trees always lighted?” asked Catherine, who was happy to learn that the bright lights festooned around the jacaranda trees are a year-round adornment.

As a novelty flying saucer whizzed by overhead and the sounds of Eliah Levy’s “stick” guitar wafted through the air, she complimented the “convivial” atmosphere of the area.

In spite of having experienced some of the recent, record rainfall, Anne-Marie praised the overall bon climat (good weather) in Los Angeles on this clear, stellar evening.

After taking a tour that brought them to Las Vegas, the threesome rented a car for excursions to Death Valley and other Southern California attractions — including Santa Monica.

Coming to the Promenade for the last night of their vacation, they experienced none of the parking woes encountered by others, suggesting that parking does, by its nature, involve a certain amount of luck.

However, they did express surprise and dismay at the number of those who are sans domicile — homeless.

Gabriel Obaseki from Japan enjoys checking out new fashions at local stores.

Gabriel Obaseki, a Nigerian who now lives in Japan, also is attracted by the Bayside District’s ambience. He works for an online clothing company and enjoys perusing the fashions at local clothing stores.

On a sun-drenched Wednesday afternoon, he sits on a bench on the Promenade across from Abercrombie and Fitch. Obaseki says he is drawn to the “laid back feel of the place,” including the palm trees and warm, sunny weather.

He also admires the “residential touch” of the Promenade. You “don’t really feel you’re in a business environment,” he says. If he could change one thing about the District, it would be to make parking less expensive and more accessible.

Though Obaseki walked from his hotel,on previous visits he didn’t realize there were public parking structures and found street parking to be scarce and expensive. He claims that parking at The Grove, is more reasonable and easier to find.

AFTER SPENDING an enjoyable Sunday evening strolling and watching street performers on the Promenade, Larry and Ann Patterson, newlyweds from Delaware, were back on Monday for more.

A taxi driver had recommended the Promenade as an interesting and lively choice to add to their list of destinations. The suggestion stuck, and, this time around, they took the Blue Bus from their lodgings at the LAX Holiday Inn.

Seeking a restaurant in Santa Monica Place to round out their last full day of honeymooning in LA, they look for a mall guide to direct them to a local eatery. More immediate access to facts for visitors, specifically “more information about the bus routes,” would be a welcome change, Ann says.

Unable to locate a directory, they decide to forego Santa Monica Place for more dining options along the Promenade, where they happen upon restaurant after restaurant, as well as street performers and boutiques.

Otto, a native of Mongolia, is a frequent visitor to Downtown.

Baysa, Ari and Otto, three young Mongolian women who now live in the San Fernando Valley, had no trouble finding their way to the Promenade, having visited the area many times before.

As Baysa and Ari try on hats at a rolling kiosk south of Santa Monica Boulevard, Otto poses playfully for a photo. The three giggle and mosey from shop to shop, performer to performer.

While they report no trouble with homeless in the area, Ari echoes a familiar complaint about Downtown: “Sometimes it’s hard to find a parking spot, especially on the weekends.”

Even so, the three can’t resist coming back. “You can do everything,” Baysa says, “shop, see people, go dancing or watch entertainment.”