City Walk repaved

The grand reopening of Universal City Walk was a true extravaganza, complete with free food, drinks, fireworks and entertainment.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy headlined the four-hour event, playing a 45-minute set for about 200 people.

The band played crowd favorites like "You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three," "Go Daddy-O" and "Jumpin Jack."

Lead singer Scottie Morris kept coaxing the crowd to the dance floor.

"Let's see some dancin' out there, L.A.!" he shouted between songs.

The crowd listened and about 10 couples crammed onto the tiny floor, dancing until the band closed the evening with the ever popular "So Long, Farewell, Bye-Bye."

There were many other musical acts spread throughout the City Walk.

Most of the acts were outside of new businesses and the established musical venues like the Hard Rock Café and B.B. Kings Blues Club.

Sketchers Shoe store hosted a youth lipsynking group to promote its new store on the walk.

A smooth blues band played outside B.B. King's Blues Club and Memphis Style Restaurant.

Café Tu Tu Tango diverse entertainment, ranging from Hawaiian dancers to belly dancers, not to mention the live music on the patio bar.

The highlight had to be Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano bar upstairs from the main walk.

Two pianos, a guy who plays everything from drums to bass to clarinet and servers who dance on top of the bar. What a place!    The piano players covered everything from Diana Ross and the Pointer Sisters to UB40 and Elvis.

In addition to the 15 new restaurants are 12 new shops.

There are shops for film noir monsters simply called Them. And for the retro kids there is Retro Rad, a vintage store selling new things that look old.

Jillian's Hi Life features an interactive arcade on the ground floor with a virtual bowling alley.

These lanes combine elements of the old game "Marble Maze" and bowling.   Scenes include a pirate ship rolling on high seas and a city street, complete with obstacles.

Upstairs at Jillian's is a rock ën' bowl bowling alley.   The joint has a really cool atmosphere and 10 lanes of bowling fun, above which are five screens of eye candy.

The Vans Store also hosts a half pipe for skaters and bike riders.

A micro-brewery and The Rumba Room, a Latin dance club, are also going to open in the coming months.

Many of the old favorites are still at City Walk. Hard Rock Cafe, Tony Romas, Wizardz, Wolfgang Puck Cafe and Gladstone's Universal are still open and serving food.