If nobody walks in LA, then who are all those busy pedestrians in the heart of Santa Monica's Bayside District? They are visitors to the 'Third Street Promenade,' an outdoor retail, dining and entertainment district modeled after the bustling commercial thoroughfares of Europe. Don't be surprised to find a crowd here, especially on a Friday or Saturday night, although practically any time of the day this is a popular place to be for both locals and tourists alike.
It wasn't always such a pretty picture. In fact, in 1984, about twenty years after it was created, the Third Street Mall, or 'The Old Mall,' as it was known, was an economic disaster, unsafe and blighted. The City of Santa Monicas efforts to restore economic health to the district and the greater 'Bayside District' community surrounding it was greatly surpassed. New construction on the mall was completed for a 1989 re-opening of the 'Third Street Promenade' and it is now known as the most successful downtown revitalization project in the entire nation.
The possibilities here are endless. Whatever you need or want to do, you can do it here. Shops and galleries feature everything from rare books and music to home furnishings, vintage clothing, fine jewelry and much more. Window shopping or not, you will be satisfied with an amazingly diverse array of shops. Visit the Vintage Animation Gallery at 1404 3rd St. and browse through a collection of art direct from the greatest animators of all time. They even have a walk of fame with cement hand prints and signatures of your favorite animators! Throughout the mall, there are vendors' kiosks selling all kinds of eclectic and artistic wares, street performers and special events, sales and ceremonies which vary from month to month.
Stroll around, see a movie, enjoy a great meal at one of the many trendy cafes and fine restaurants, have a cappuccino, get your hair done, visit the newsstand. You're in L.A. but finally walking again, so you might want to get your shoes shined (go the 1300 block at the corner of Santa Monica and Third Street). Within the Bayside District, there are more than seventy restaurants. There are seventeen movie screens in four cinemas and overall, there are more than 160 specialty shops, services and entertainment venues to choose from year round, every day of the year.
The specifics on the Promenade's location are as follows: It spans three City blocks and no automobiles are allowed within the boundaries. It is located only two blocks from the Pacific Ocean and near the quaint and interesting Santa Monica Pier, which features unblemished ocean views with pelicans, sea lions, sunbathers, many tourists, fishing, bumper cars and a very expansive video arcade. Parking in various City lots is plentiful throughout the district but a bit hard to find in peak hours. At the adjacent Santa Monica Place Shopping Mall, parking is free for up to three hours.
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Hilton Casino Atlantic City Hotel compares well with the 39 hotels in the city.
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