Last Friday, roomie & I took a walk down from my office to Montana Ave for their Holiday Walk (open house & holiday party). Wasn't terrible, but a good number of the stores didn't participate. They did have some live music & there's a great pet store called George that we discovered, so not a total waste, but it's nothing like the Studio City parties... Studio City has 2 different things, on the same night, a bigger party on Ventura Blvd, and then a smaller party/open house along Tujunga. If you plan it right, you can catch The Magical Christmas Caroling Truck twice!

Well, that's how it used to be. Kicking around yesterday, we thought we'd head out fairly early to spend some time at each last night. So, I went online to discover that the Tujunga Village Holiday Extravaganza was happening, but the party on Ventura isn't 'til NEXT weekend. Hmmm...

Maybe I'm jaded, or maybe it's still the lack of genuine Holiday Spirit around, but last night didn't live up to the memories of events past. There are a couple new stores (including a Gelato bar), but there were SO many people, it felt like Disneyland. Kids were running around with no supervision, which I'm usually OK with, but not when they're breaking stuff in stores, hitting people, shrieking into their cel phones and no one has a clue where they are. Parents yelling for their wayward offspring drowned out most of the Christmas music. Oh, and considering that a LARGE contingent of actors/celebrities lives in Studio City, the ONE "star" sighting was a little disappointing (apologies to his fans, but c'mon, Teri Hatcher's on a top-rated show, and she lives in the 'hood!). I couldn't care less if I see someone in Ralph's (a very common occurrence), or if Britney's terrorizing people in our parking lots, but it would be nice to see them come out to support the community.

Maybe next weekend will inspire me more...

EDITED @ 11:24am: Apparently I'm a Grinch, someone had a MUCH better time than I did... *sigh*