Christmas in LA: A Nostalgic Stroll Down Rodeo Drive Where the Past and Present Blend Seamlessly

Thirty years ago, I found myself enchanted by the glamour of Los Angeles, particularly the opulence of Beverly Hills and Hollywood. My journey to this city was unexpected — a cancelled flight from New York to New Orleans left me with the sole option of flying to Los Angeles. On a whim, I decided to attend a surgical oncology conference rather than the pathology meeting I had planned. My colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering were puzzled, but my friends from Tata Memorial Cancer Center were thrilled by the surprise.

Before the conference, a crisp December air led me to Wilshire Boulevard and Melrose Place, where window shopping turned into an enchanting adventure. It was the era of “Pretty Woman,” and the palm tree lined Rodeo Drive sparkled with the magic of its newfound cinematic fame. Walking past the boutique where Julia Roberts’ character was famously snubbed — only to return and triumphantly proclaim, “Big mistake. Huge!”— felt like stepping into a fairy tale. The Harry Winston window, with its dazzling million-dollar diamond choker, was nothing short of a dream.

Among the boutiques, I held many exquisite dresses before choosing a black silk midi adorned with white cord embroidery and delicate shell buttons. I spent every dollar in my wallet, giddy with delight. That dress, a cherished memento, still hangs in my closet—a reminder of a moment when I discovered the joy of treating myself to something special.

Fast forward to 2024, and I returned to Rodeo Drive. The experience was surreal — both familiar and transformed. The charming boutiques of Melrose that once fascinated me had been replaced by flagship stores of iconic brands like Gucci, Chanel, YSL, and Prada. Instead of a dress, I indulged in a warm bowl of soup, while my daughter sipped on a green smoothie from a quaint store aptly named “Splurge.”

This visit brought a different kind of enchantment. We wandered through side bistros, admired flower shops with vibrant bougainvilleas and pink hibiscus, and marveled at planters on the penthouse level of a cosmetic surgery center. Rodeo Drive pulsed with life, a tapestry of luxury and festivity. People in stilettos and shiny boots stopped to take selfies with gleaming Ferraris or posed beside the enormous animal sculptures: a Kong, a mustang, an alligator and lion, crafted from resin by the contemporary French artist Richard Orlinski.

The sparkling Christmas tree and holiday props brought back memories of childhood Christmases in India. I thought of the afternoons spent in the kitchen with my family, making homemade cookies spiced with cardamom and cinnamon. Indulge in plum cake, appams and curry. We’d sing Christmas carols in the neighborhood, then sip hot cocoa.Our home and heart filled with laughter and warmth. The cinnamon sugar cookies offered at Ralph Lauren’s store felt like a connection to those simple  times — a small reminder of how certain traditions carry across years and continents.

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To savor the moment, we ended our day at the Four Seasons Hotel — a nod to “Pretty Woman”  and its iconic presidential suite. Sitting in the grand lobby, I sipped sparkling water and flipped through the LA Times, reading about upcoming films like “The Black Dove” with Keira Knightley and “Night Bitch” starring Amy Adams. I reflected on how much life, philosophy, politics, and cinema had evolved since I first arrived in the U.S. in the early 1990s. Yet some things, like the ever-present threat of natural and man-made disasters, remained constant, as articles about Fremont’s recent earthquake and California wildfires reminded me.

Even amidst its transformations, Rodeo Drive retains its allure. It is a place where past and present blend seamlessly, where the shimmer of luxury is matched only by the power of nostalgia, something “shiny  but often out of reach for so many” but still hopeful like the Christmas star. Where memories—both old and new — remain timeless. Perhaps this year, I will wear the black dress from Beverly Hills again and urge the time to slow down…Wish you all a safe and merry Christmas 2024! 

With one foot in Huntsville, Alabama, the other in her birth home India, and a heart steeped in humanity, writing is a contemplative practice for Monita Soni. She has published hundreds of poems, movie reviews, book critiques, and essays and contributed to combined literary works. Her two books are My Light Reflections and Flow through My Heart. You can hear her commentaries on Sundial Writers Corner WLRH 89.3FM.