WEST HOLLYWOOD

So West Hollywood (or "WeHo" as it is most often called) is officially its own city, one proud of its history and socially-minded, progressive residents (it was the first city to create a same-gender domestic partnership registration in 1985 and the City Council voted to make WeHo the first official pro-choice city in 1993). 

But for our own purposes, it is also one of LA's most well-known and popular neighborhoods, including iconic avenues like Sunset Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, and Robertson Boulevard. It's home to drag-queen bingo at Hamburger Mary's, the infamous LGBT bar The Abbey, the Troubadour, the Viper Room and Whisky A Go Go. If you've ever seen a gossip magazine's photographs of celebrities boutique-shopping or night-clubbing in Los Angeles, it's more than likely in West Hollywood.

Sandwiched between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, West Hollywood can be a congested concrete nightmare at times. And if you're not a 23 year-old pop star hanging out at the Sunset Tower, or a passenger on a double-decker sightseeing tour bus, is West Hollywood really for you? We certainly think so. We spent our day looking at vibrant art, browsing books, sipping margaritas, and drooling over lobster rolls. Welcome to the other side of glossy, glittery WeHo.

Stop 1: Jones Coffee Roasters

 

What would a day be if we didn't start with coffee?!

It was a perfect, 75-degrees-and-sunny day in Los Angeles, so we opted for iced drinks at Jones Coffee Roasters: a soy iced coffee and iced almond latte. The baristas put a lot of work into their lattes, which are recommended over the regular drip. The space is small and modern, with orange metal chairs and concrete floors, and an attached seating area and patio. With so many people working on laptops, it was a little too quiet for our taste...so continued on to our next stop, coffee in hand. 
(625 N San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood)

Stop 2: West Hollywood Library

 

Easily one of the most beautiful libraries in Los Angeles, the West Hollywood Library also offers gorgeous views of the city from the multitude of large windows throughout the building. As we walked in, we had the very WeHo experience of walking by actors loudly running lines outside, and there were clusters of families hanging out in the adjacent park. The library boasts free wi-fi, lots of community classes and events, and study rooms. The best idea would be to take your iced coffee and your stack of books to a bench in the West Hollywood Park.

Insider's tip: the library has 3 hours of free parking! 
(625 N San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood)

Stop 3: MOCA Pacific Design Center

 

Since the Pacific Design Center is closed on the weekends, we walked across to the West Hollywood branch of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). This satellite site is small (but free!), and the exhibit we saw was fantastic. "Cameron: Songs for the Witch Women" included works from Marjorie Cameron, a poet, mystic, performer and artist. The large room upstairs displayed her sketches, paintings and photographs from her eclectic collections. A really delightful way to spend an hour.
(8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood)

Stop 4: Gracias Madre

 

It was well after 2pm, and not only were we hungry, but it felt time for a weekend cocktail. Gracias Madre's margaritas have recently been voted some of the best by LA Weekly readers, and this "plant-based Mexican restaurant" has a beautiful outdoor area (that only gets a slight edge over the gorgeous interior: brick walls with colorful paintings of the Virgin Mary, bowls of citrus sitting atop a stunning black & white tiled bar).

Everything about this restaurant screams California, from the decor to the host with a glob-sized crystal pendant around his neck. We kept finding ourselves exclaiming, "I want my house to look like this!" We had the purista margarita (their house drink, add $1 to make it spicy - yum!) We dined on Flautas de Camote (filled with sweet potatoes and topped with guacamole and cashew nacho cheese) and Madre's Chopped Salad (summer squash, chickpeas, avocado). Deeeeelicious!

(8905 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood)

Stop 5: Millions of Milkshakes

 

 

After the gleam of Robertson Boulevard, we decided to search out a little more grit and ventured up to Santa Monica Boulevard. The sun was still beating down, and Millions of Milkshakes called our names (hey, we just ate an all-organic vegetarian meal!)

Millions of Milkshakes is the self-proclaimed "most famous milkshake bar in the world" and you're assaulted by TMZ footage of Miley Cyrus drinking a MoM shake as soon as you step through the door. We ordered the "Celebrity Shake" (duh) with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and cookie dough. They also have boba and juices, but why would you ever order those at a milkshake bar?  
(8910 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood)

Stop 6: Block Party WeHo

 

There's quite a few salacious shops along Santa Monica Boulevard, but Block Party WeHo pulled us in with their sign outside the store: "The Gayest Store on Earth." We made fast friends with a gentleman shopping for a shirt to wear to The Abbey, tried on boas and sparkly masks, and giggled over the slogans on their t-shirts. WeHo in all its glory!  
(8853 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood)

 

Stop 7: Barney's Beanery

This joint is an LA institution, a place where frat brothers from across the city come together to eat chicken wings and cheer on their college football teams. It may not be a typical MBLAD stop, but it was Husky Saturday and we try not to miss a University of Washington football game (as proud alumnae!)

Although Barney's is now a chain, the WeHo location is the original - opening in 1920 and enjoying a long legacy or LA lore (Quentin Tarantino supposedly wrote many of his films from a booth in Barney's). Clark Cable, Jean Harlow and Bette Davis all hung out here in the 30s and 40s, too. The most famous menu item is their chili, but one reason we like the place is that the menu is EXTENSIVE (it even features a "Bitty Bean" section with smaller portions). And breakfast is served all day!
 
We ordered beers, requested our game on a nearby television, and watched some colorful characters play pool. If our Huskies hadn't lost, it might have been the perfect Saturday afternoon. 
(8447 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood) 

 

Stop 8: Connie and Ted's

 

  

Inspired by a New England oyster bar, the "wicked good chowda'" and lobster roll are both a must at this darling seafood restaurant. You'd be surprised to find seafood this good outside of Maine, but it's dang delicious. The dining room is adorably nautical without being kitschy. We ordered some excellent cocktails (the "Born in East LA" with tequila, lime and tamarind was a favorite!) and squeezed into a corner in the bustling bar. Will definitely be back for a sit-down dinner. 

(8171 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood)

The Details:

West Hollywood is a very walkable neighborhood (voted one of the most easily walkable by Walk Score!) so we spent the whole day in foot. There's also a FREE mini-bus that travels through WeHo.

A map of our day looks like this:

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: