The Culture

Shopping is the biggest draw to Glendale, from the upscale stores at the Americana and Galleria to small, family-owned shops and markets throughout the city. Brand Boulevard is the commercial district that runs all the way through town featuring car dealerships, unique restaurants and bakeries, movie theaters, and even a Museum of Neon Art (MONA) where you can take an introductory course in glass-bending.

A few blocks north on Brand you’ll find the historic Alex Theatre, where you can admire its Greek and Egyptian architecture on your way inside to see a show. More than 100,000 patrons of the arts visit the theater every year, and its rising star is a town landmark.

A few blocks up is the infamous Porto’s Café, whose huge array of homemade pastries, cakes, coffees, and Cuban dishes, from croquetas to ropa vieja, have landed it in the #1 spot on Yelp’s 100 Top Places to Eat in the U.S. Local Armenian bakeries like Sasoun and Sarkis make fresh Armenian cookies, cakes, and breads every day, and you’ll see locals enjoying coffee and pastries on their patios every morning.

For nature lovers, Brand Park has trailheads leading up into the beautiful Verdugo Mountains where you will be rewarded with stunning views, and hard-core hikers can keep going even further to explore the rugged Deukmejian Wilderness.