INGLEWOOD

 

Inglewood is well-known for many things: gangsta rap, its proximity to LAX, the Lakers' glory years inside The Forum. And Inglewood really does feel like Los Angeles: the history, the hum of airplanes overhead, a distant breeze from the ocean, diners and donut shops that people have been frequenting for years and years. But it's also the changing LA of the future, with its shift in demographics (happening all over the city), the new wave of artists making Inglewood home, the updating and re-designing of neighborhood landmarks. 

There is certainly a nostalgia to all this change, to the Sundays spent watching the horses at Hollywood Park and picking up homemade cheesecakes at Harriet's. But the fantastic thing about Inglewood is that you can still find the history, the remnants of an LA of yesteryear, while also looking ahead to a new and vibrant Los Angeles. So saddle up to the countertop for a plate of chicken & waffles, and then grab your tickets for a show at the dazzling new Forum. Inglewood is ready to show you her stuff.

Stop 1: Inglewood Park Cemetery

 

Want to pay your respects to some of the greatest legends in music? Head to the Inglewood Park Cemetery to see the final resting place of Ray Charles, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald. You can also visit other notable LA figures like Tom Bradley, Sugar Ray Robinson and Paul Walker. Be warned: the cemetery is HUGE, so make sure to stop by the information office, where you can pick up a map and specific directions to the gravestones you wish to visit.

720 E Florence Avenue, Inglewood 

Stop 2: The Serving Spoon

Inglewood just wouldn't be the neighborhood it is without restaurants like The Serving Spoon. Their tagline is "There ain't no better breakfast" and that just might be true. We ordered "The Cookie" (drum sticks and waffles) and "The Monique" (eggs, grits, bacon and biscuits). There's no better place to be than the counter, where you can watch the solo regulars reading the paper and drowning their hotcakes in syrup, and families crammed into booths after a morning at church. They play a variety of soulful r&b jams, and even on a busy weekend, we only waited about 15 minutes. No better breakfast, indeed.

1403 Centinela Avenue, Inglewood 

Stop 3: Gwen's Specialty Cakes

Gwen's Specialty Cakes wasn't originally on our list of places to visit in Inglewood, but we could smell the cakes baking as we tried to find a way into the Beacon Arts Building along La Brea Avenue. We wandered up to the door and were greeted by a friendly girl named Serenity, who beckoned us in and encouraged us to try her favorites. We nibbled on Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potato, Lemon and Pecan tarts, all of which were sweetly delectable. Weight Watchers, no. But as Gwen says, "You'll love that homemade buttery taste."

 820 N La Brea Avenue, Inglewood 

   

Stop 4: Bayou Grille

If you only go to one place in Inglewood, GO TO BAYOU GRILLE. This restaurant is the real deal, as authentic as you'll get anywhere outside of good ol' N'awlins. The inside is decorated as though you're dining along Bourbon Street, and you can order crawfish, sweet tea, beignets, and catfish. Our favorite is always the shrimp po'boy sandwich, and we also had a small order of jambalaya, coleslaw and a side of hush puppies.

Insider's tip: they close early on Sundays, and you can "BYOB" from Nelson's Liquor across the street!

1400 N La Brea Avenue, Inglewood 

Stop 5: The Centinela Adobe

The Centinela Adobe, known as the birthplace of Inglewood, is a landmark Spanish Colonial adobe house built in 1834 (before California was even a state!) It is one of only 43 surviving adobes within Los Angeles County, and is just brimming with history. The volunteers who lead tours through the home (decorated in all its mid-1800s glory!) are mostly in their 80s and 90s, and many remember the neighborhood as far back as the 1930s. Just chatting with them is enough of a reason to tour "La Casa de la Centinela," but history buffs will get a kick out of the original oil lamps (now converted to electric), the pump organ, and the wall of original black and white wedding photographs of the home's earliest inhabitants.

7634 Midfield Avenue, Inglewood 

 

Stop 6: Randy's Donuts

That giant donut on the roof of Randy's is an iconic sight in Los Angeles, and this landmark bakery and donut shop has been serving up hot treats since the early 1950s. There were originally at least 10 big ol' donuts throughout Los Angeles, but today only 4 survive. Randy's Donuts has been featured in dozens of Hollywood films (Earth Girls Are Easy, Iron Man 2) and even a Red Hot Chili Peppers music video. You can still drive-thru 24 hours a day, and the Apple Fritter, Coconut Donut and Devil's Food Donut are as good as ever (at $1.20, $1 and $.90 respectively). Cartons of milk and eating on the hood of your car are a must.

805 W Manchester Boulevard, Inglewood

The Details:

We would love to add that there is a thriving arts scene in Inglewood, although we had trouble pinning down times/days that studios were open (advertised times were not always correct). If you are able, be sure to check out some of the studios in the neighborhood.

  

A map of our day looks like this:

   

ATWATER VILLAGE

Atwater Village, you say? Where exactly is Atwater Village? This charming neighborhood lies just between Glendale, Silver Lake and Griffith Park. It's located in the Los Angeles River flood plain, and that proximity gave the area its name - "at water" (the "Village" part came later, in 1986). The neighborhood prospered through the 1920s and 1930s, with help from the nearby DWP substation and the construction of the Pacific Electric Railway - the bright red street cars could be seen running up and down Glendale Boulevard until the system was dismantled in favor of automobiles and highways.

Although Atwater Village has really expanded in the last five years or so, it's still a quiet neighborhood, often referred to as the "Small Town Silver Lake." There's not a lot open late, but it was a perfect little spot for a full day of exploring in Northeast LA!

Stop 1: The Village Bakery and Cafe

The Village Bakery and Cafe is aptly named. It really is a neighborhood spot, with locals lined up out the door, chewing on free cookies while they wait to order breakfast scrambles, brioche french toast and the Vegan BLTA. 

Don't miss out on the baked goods - they're incredible. You can get a handmade loaf of bread for $5, and we're sure you'll love a baked strawberry donut, a peanut butter brownie, or berry hand pie. Treat yo'self!

3119 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 2: Kaldi Coffee

The vibe at Kaldi Coffee is friendly and completely unpretentious, unlike many a hip coffee shop on the east side. The baristas smile wide and welcome questions, and they play a foot-tapping rotation of 60s and 70s music. It can sometimes be tough to find a spot inside, but the sunny front patio is a delight. We ordered a perfect iced soy latte, but decided we'll be coming back for the Pirate's Chai (matcha tea with cinnamon and cardamon).

Bonus: free wi-fi and they roast their coffee beans on site.

3147 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 3: Red Car River Park

The Red Car River Park is very small, more of an opening to the LA River than a full-blown park. There is a bike path and several spots to sit and gaze out at the river, where you can see just where the old red trolleys crossed from Silver Lake on the way to Glendale when they were in operation. The Red Car River Park also has an impressive mural and we ran into a group of people finishing some street art. A good place to soak in some LA history!

Corner of Ferncroft Road and Glendale Blvd

Stop 4: Atwater Village Farmers' Market

The Atwater Village Farmers' Market runs in the center of the neighborhood every Sunday from 10am-2pm. The market sells all sorts of goodies, including artisan cheeses, farm fresh eggs, handcrafted jams and chutneys, and fresh juice. There's a food court in the back, where you can find vegan mole at Rice & Beans and fish tacos at Pescadores de Ensenada. We were especially enamored with the bright baskets of handpicked berries - three baskets for $7!

Insider's tip: the market is held in the parking lot of Wells Fargo bank, so it's easy to get cash!

3250 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles.

Stop 5: Atwater Village Farm

If you don't make it during farmers' market hours, you can simply walk down a block to Atwater Village Farm. This small corner grocery offers fresh produce, loaves of paleo bread, vegan carrot cupcakes, fresh-squeezed juice in mason jars, and homemade spreads like vegan cilantro hummus and cumin & dry olive hummus. There's also a small counter in back with sandwiches and salads.

3224 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 6: Alias Books East

This is a wonderful place for used-books, especially those that are rare or out-of-print. The staff is very friendly and the prices are low. The collection at Alias Books East focuses on film and the arts, and is incredibly organized. Come on in, we're sure you'll find something you like!

3163 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 7: Sweets for the Soul

It was late afternoon and our blood sugar levels were dropping. Thank goodness for Sweets for the Soul! The shop specializes in gourmet brownies, so we ordered two mini brownies: the Peanut Butter Shot and the Salted Caramel Shot. They were both rich and deliciously decadent. We also tried the homemade tootsie rolls (how could we not?! They were 25 cents each!), which were more chocolatey and less chewy than the ones you found in your Halloween basket. Divine!

3169 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 8: 55 Degree Wine

This cute wine shop and tasting room is unassuming, sitting next to a Starbucks in a small lot. The upstairs is not unlike a mini Bevmo, but the real magic happens downstairs, where they do tastings everyday at 5pm. 55 Degree Wine specializes in flights, and they feature four flights of 3 tastings each week (ranging from $15-20). The cellar is adorable, and they serve cheeses, meats and thin crust pizzas as well.

3111 Glendale Blvd #2, Los Angeles

Stop 9: Baracoa Cuban Cafe

Our last stop was Baracoa Cuban Cafe, a small "mom and pop" restaurant that serves traditional Cuban food. We took it as a good sign that every single person in the ten table cafe was speaking in Spanish, and we ogled the Oxtail and Ropa Vieja as the dishes went by. The service was painfully slow, but our fried plantains, yucca and beef empanadas more than made up for it. A lovely slice of Havana right here in Los Angeles!

3175 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

The Details:

We took the Metro Bus 733 from Culver City to the Main/1st Street Station in Downtown LA. From there, we hopped on the 92 bus toward Burbank Station. Get off at Glendale/Glenhurst. Once you're there, Atwater Village is easily walkable! 

A map of our day looks something like this: