It has been a little while since we have visited this topic, but an article in Metropolis by Karrie Jacobs ties into some issues we have touched on here before... so nice of Karrie to help us weave some things together.
The article covers some territory we have crossed before with some nice observations and observations. She provides a critique of the "need to use the past as a sort of architectural tranquilizer" and takes a look at the lifestyle center phenomenon, specifically talking about Victoria Gardens (see Downtown Mauled Part I & Part II). Though I would disagree with her stance which places blame for architectural pastiche squarely on New Urbanism as its agenda is more spatial than aesthetic.
Article: Metropolis - The Manchurian Main Street
Via: Planetizen
Reference: It's a Crock(er) (Land+Living)
Reference: Reality Bites (Land+Living)
And more L+L references to be found in Commentary
Beauty salons, citrus packing plants, new and used rug stores; traces of a non-existant past
The faux North Main Street of Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga