i'm only commenting on the shopping.  it looks like a typical suburban mall but i was there this past weekend and january is clearance time so almost all the stores were having great sales.  \n\ni enjoyed myself at the ben sherman store and the service at betsey johnson was great.  it's a tiny store but the sales lady was friendly and pointed out a lot of cute things without being pushy.  i fell in love with a pair of shoes but decided to hold off until i won big money.  that didn't happen but i may  have to go to the store on fillmore...  \n\nthe worst experience of the day was at sisely/benetton.  one of the sales people was aggressive, loud and pushy.  gave me a headache and made me kind of jumpy.  anything i, or any other customer in the store, went near, she raved loudly about how cute it was and then pointed out something else that was allegedly even better.  lady, i know what i like and you cannot sell me a jacket that looks almost exactly like the one i am wearing, but weirder, by scaring me.  and yes, i want this belt but please do not push 3 other yucky belts at me.  i don't 'want them, even at 50% off the sale price.  i couldn't wait to get out of there. \n\noverall, it was a good way to spend the day after drinking and gambling too much the night before and overeating at brunch, made even better by the silly hurricanes we got at fat tuesday to start another night of fun.