MID-CITY

It sure doesn't have a fancy or fascinating name, but it does the trick. Mid-City is indeed a very central neighborhood in Los Angeles, bordering Arlington Heights and Culver City, and close to places like Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, and Downtown LA. This dense and diverse area boasts many historic single family homes, Ray Charles' former recording studio (now a historic landmark!), and about 55,000 people (almost 40% from Mexico and El Salvador). 

Pico Boulevard, once home to nothing but auto body shops, is now a funky and inviting place to find Pilates studios, vegetarian restaurants, and homey cafes. Plans to put in landscaped medians show further signs to encourage pedestrians - in a neighborhood much less congested than most corners of LA.  You get the sense that you're on the edge of something in Mid-City, wandering into an art studio or burger joint that's either been enjoyed by locals for decades, or just popped up and has yet to be discovered by the masses. In any case, you've probably just stumbled upon something good.

Stop 1: Paper or Plastik Cafe

 

Paper or Plastik Cafe is a cool and cozy neighborhood joint, family-owned and brimming with artists, writers, dancers, and regular ol' locals jonesing for their (excellently sourced) coffee drinks. They also offer REALLY tasty bites (all local and seasonal ingredients, of course) - we just about died over our brunch special of Shakshuka with its perfect eggs and flavorful tomato sauce. We settled in with our food and several chai lattes (one with soy milk, the other with almond milk - both equally delicious) and took in the exposed brick, the community tables, the hanging plants and the industrial lighting. We can't wait to head back for their new soju cocktails!

(5772 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

Stop 2: Enamel Diction

 

We walked into this nail studio with some seriously sad nails - chipped, dull, and begging for some love. This bright space (complete with a living wall of succulents, cacti and moss) has been open just over a year, but it's already making waves in the neighborhood. With a self-described "disruptive approach" to nail art (and a very cool Instagram page!), most of the women in the salon look straight out of a fashion blog, but down to earth enough to bring their well-behaved mutts to their nail appointment. We chatted through ideas for our mani nail art, including color and design, and once we settled on something with our nail technician, swapped tips for best carne asada fries in town. Find us here every Saturday from now on.

Insider's Tip: Make appointments online. Cost for manicure with two art designs was $16 with Yelp check-in discount)

(5405 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

Stop 3: Shopping Along Pico Blvd.

 

Sure, Los Angeles is swath with vintage and antique boutiques. But everyone is shopping on Melrose, honey. To get something truly different, head on over to Pico Boulevard - shops like Deja Vu Boutique, Pinky Rose and Brainworks Home boast mid-century furniture, vintage hardware, funky jewelery, and colorful dresses. There's also a new "Third Thursday" along the boulevard, with music performances, art, and lots of in-store sales.

Stop 4: Sky's Gourmet Tacos

Tacos are easily one of our favorite LA foods, and we are loyal to our tried-and-true taco joints. Sky's has been one our go-to spots since we moved to Los Angeles, and their "Mexican with a splash of soul" approach to tacos is perfect for the neighborhood. We ordered a sampling of shrimp, filet mignon and carnitas tacos - the warmed corn tortillas, juicy meats and the sweet "Sassy Sauce" made for one mouthwatering lunch. We washed it down with a sorrel lemonade (a blend of hibiscus and lemons) and enjoyed the lively chatter and 90s R&B playing in the background. The crawfish tacos are next on our list!

(5408 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

Stop 5: Cultural Interiors

 

"This smells like my favorite yoga studio," said Ashley as we walked in. It's true - this beautiful and colorful home store has the earthy smell of incense and essential oils, creating the same peaceful feeling you get just before a yoga class. We loved the mix of African, South American, Caribbean and Indian pieces throughout the store (handmade dolls, wooden windchimes, eye-popping table cloths, beaded jewelry) and the warm greeting from the store owner.
(5406 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

Stop 6: Mateo's Ice Cream and Fruit Bars

 

Who knew that it was National Ice Cream Month?! (Well, we did!) We decided to stop by one of LA's best, Mateo's Ice Cream and Fruit Bars. It was over 90 degrees outside and PACKED inside, and it was hard to choose with all the amazing fruit bar flavors (guava, pineapple, watermelon, coconut and on and on...). We eventually settled on the mango and mango chili, which included chunks of fruit in both (the spice of the mango chili made it our personal favorite!)

Insider's Tip: cash only!

(4234 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles)

The Details:

Mid-City is only about three square miles, so it's very walkable. The Metro Crenshaw Line should eventually have a rail transit stop in Mid-City. 

GLENDALE

It's the land of malls and skewered meat: welcome to our first San Fernando Valley blog post! (and featuring our blog's first guest: our childhood friend, Julie!) Glendale is located in the eastern part of the SFV (or “the Valley”) and is bordered by Burbank, Griffith Park and Pasadena, and is the third largest city in Los Angeles County.

 If you live in Los Angeles, you probably know it as one of the largest Armenian neighborhoods in the United States (Kim Kardashian has famously remarked that she might run for city Mayor in the not-so-distant future. No mind that Glendale doesn’t actually HAVE a mayor). It’s also home to a community of Scandinavians, the Glendale Galleria, and more kebab joints than you can count. 

The neighborhood is a little sleepier than most, and even though it’s located just 10 miles north of downtown LA, you can still find the kind of small-town, family-owned businesses you usually don’t come across in the big city. And with 54% of residents born outside the United States, you’ll be lucky enough to enjoy a much more diverse array of food than in your average suburb.

Stop 1: La Goccia Espresso Bar

  

It was almost 11am when we stumbled into La Goccia Espresso Bar, making us excrutiatingly late for our first cup of coffee, and cranky as all hell. We ordered an Americano (caffeine, stat), a Cookies & Cream Latte (an interesting specialty) and a vanilla-infused iced coffee (the best of the three!) Although the man behind the counter was decidedly not Italian, the illy beans were. Quiet atmosphere and a wonderful selection of teas, too.

101 N Brand Ave, Glendale

Stop 2: Shopping on Brand Boulevard

We made sure to stop in to the some of the long-time, small business on the boulevard, including Laura’s Corset Shoppe and Brand Bookshop. Laura’s has been open since the 1920s, but has been owned by the most lovely lady named Haley for the past 27 years. She greeted us with a huge smile and talked about the special nature of her business – she specializes in bridal lingerie and bras for post-mastectomy patients. She sweetly asked if we might be interested in buying her business one day, as she explained that she never had a daughter and had nobody to which to bequeath her business. She was so earnest and darling, we’re seriously considering!

Although Brand Bookshop hasn’t been around quite as long as Laura’s, it opened its doors in 1985 and has managed to stick around, despite the great exodus of independently-owned bookstores in Los Angeles (and everywhere! OY.) This is one of the largest used bookshops in Southern California, and has a little bit of everything: erotica, poetry, history, interior design, you name it.

Stop 3: Sipan Bakery

With our caffeine fix satiated, it was time to take care of our growling stomachs. Sipan Bakery is a neighborhood gem, serving up some of the most fabulous and flavorful Middle Eastern baked goods in Los Angeles. The space is small and intimate – and a little warm (the brick oven, where you can watch your maneishe being made, sits on the right-hand side of the room). 

Everything is fresh, and the owner is incredibly friendly (and funny! Lots of sauna jokes). We ordered the muhammarajune, a spicy cheese beorek (flaky, fried pastry with filling) and maneishe zahtar (basically a flatbread blanketed with the zahtar spice) – the dough used for their pastries is just delicious, and the hot sauce that was served on the side knocked our socks off. The bill – with 2 drinks! – came to just $10. DO NOT MISS.

1250 W Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale

Stop 4: Golden Road Brewery

One of our dearest friends was celebrating her 30th birthday at Golden Roads, and it was the perfect Southern Californian sunny day when we showed up mid-afternoon for some craft-beer-tasting and outdoor game-playing. This funky brew house opened in 2011, and is located in an industrial part of town, right next to the train tracks (note: you are supposed to raise a glass every time a train chugs by). 

The place was jumping on a Saturday, with a great mix of 20 and 30-somethings, along with a host of young families in the shaded outdoor area. The food is solid, if not spectacular, and they serve an array of vegan and vegetarian options. We tried the Point the Way IPA, the Get Up Offa That Brown ale, and the Golden Road Hefeweizen, among others. The bartenders knew their stuff, and the game of Corn Hole really made for a spectacular afternoon.

5410 W San Fernando Road, Glendale

Stop 5: Brand Park

Brand Park is so much more than a park. Nestled on 31 acres, this gorgeous space is home to a brand new library, picnic areas, a softball field, and biking trails. Our favorite part - by far! - was the Whispering Pine Tea house and Friendship garden, a serene and perfectly manicured pocket of greenery in the corner of the park. We watched guests arrive for a small wedding overlooking the pond, and then wandered out to the barbecue area, taking in the Sunday smells of grilled meat and freshly cut grass. A perfect spot for pretty much everyone.

1601 W Mountain Street, Glendale

Stop 6: Mini Kabob

 

We're not sure if you truly understand the term "hole-in-the-wall" until you visit Mini Kabob, a tiny joint with only 3 tables and decor that hasn't changed in decades. We were greeted by the most adorable Armenian couple (the Martirosyans), who chatted with us about the Russian language and their world-renowed falafel. 

We ordered the chicken kebab plate, hommus, falafel and eggplant caviar. The chicken was perfectly seared, slightly smokey and deliciously juicy. And Mr. Martirosyan was right about the falafel: it was one of the fluffiest we've ever tasted. We left feeling like old friends of the place, and already daydreaming about our next meal there. 

Insider's Tip: Cash only!
313 Vine Street, Glendale

The Details:

We did a lot of walking on our Glendale day, although some spots were far enough to warrant the use of a car. You can rent bicycles here. 

A map of our day looks like this: