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Neighborhood Guide To Glendale

glendale americana 610
(credit: Jo Anne S./Yelp)

(credit: Jo Anne S./Yelp)
Sidling up to the City of Angels, Glendale is the third largest city in Los Angeles County with about a quarter of a million residents living in this suburban Valley location. These citizens show pride in their neighborhood, named the "Best in L.A." by Curbed's editors in 2013. Since then, the area has only become better. So be sure to check out this enchanting enclave if you haven't been, or return to find a bunch of positive changes as Glendale moves forward in the 21st century. Following are five great ideas of where to eat, what to do and where to shop once you've arrived. Enjoy!

damon's glendale
(credit: Sevag S./Yelp)

Damon's
317 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 507-1510
www.damonsglendale.com

Tiki culture is alive and thriving in this classic steak restaurant that has long been the pride of Glendale. Many generations of locals have embraced this quirky place as their go-to eatery, if only for the decidedly Polynesian decor featuring a swell tiki bar and a single palm tree growing in the middle of the restaurant. That's impressive, but it's the drinks and the grub that keep loyal customers coming back again and again to savor perfectly concocted mai tais and melt-in-your-mouth prime rib, among other unforgettable treats originally popular in the South Seas.

art Faber-Castell To Mark 250th Anniversary
(credit: Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images)

Swain's
537 N. Glendale Ave.
Glendale, CA 91206
(818) 243-3129
www.swainsart.com

Glendale is more than knee deep in great shops, boasting two giant malls (the Americana and the Glendale Galleria). No doubt these behemoths can nicely satisfy nearly every need, but sometimes it's time to go local and seek out splendid opportunities in stores that predate the coming of the mall. Enter Swain's, an emporium specifically catering to creative types since 1949. But don't let the name fool you. This art supply house goes way beyond its massive selection of paints, brushes and palettes to include clever toys, inventive greeting cards and paint-by-number kits. Note: Plan to spend at least an hour in this unique super-boutique, even if all you're there to do is window shop.

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alex theatre
(credit: Marie W./Yelp)

Alex Theatre
216 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 243-2539
www.alextheatre.com

Glendale has been home to the beloved Alex for eight decades, serving myriad cultural offerings within an unforgettable neo-classical Greek and Egyptian edifice that is arguably this town's most memorable landmark. From musical theater to orchestral music, from blockbuster vintage flicks to various award ceremonies, this historic site, dating back to 1925, dishes up more than 250 different events on an annual basis. There is truly something for everyone at the Alex.

Americana
(credit: Curoso Affiliated)

Americana At Brand
889 Americana Way
Glendale, CA 91210
(818) 637-8982
www.americanaatbrand.com

Brought to Glendale by Caruso Affiliated, or the company behind the popular Grove Mall in Los Angeles, The Americana At Brand offers a unique charm to shopping in Glendale. With an outdoor footprint, the mall offers a terrific environment for customers to walk the neighborhood-like streets and either shop or dine at some of the best places around. From Anthropologie, Apple, American Outfitters, Barnes & Nobles, Barney's New York and Cole Haan to Kiehls, The Art of Shaving, Nordstrom, and Urban Outfitters, the shopping here features some of today's top brands. Hungry? Well, the mall offers plenty of options ranging from a steakhouse (Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina) to Frida Mexican Cuisine, Lemonade, Le Pain Quotidien and many others. Aside from a full service movie theatre playing some of the latest flicks, the mall also offers events year-round including the lighting of the tree at Christmas and much more.

A sign at the entrance of Forest Lawn Me
(credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Forest Lawn Glendale
1712 S. Glendale Ave.
Glendale, CA 91205
(888) 204-3131
www.forestlawn.com

The thought of visiting a cemetery might seem like an odd idea, but Forest Lawn isn't your typical cemetery. For starters, forever-residents run from contemporary superstars like the late, great Michael Jackson to golden age of Hollywood giants like Jean Harlow and Clark Gable. Not only are hundreds of Angelenos, famous and not so famous, laid to rest here, but the huge stretch of verdant land has also made way for a stunning art and architecture collection. Open since the early 1900s, the original Forest Lawn offers an exact replica of Michelangelo's "David" using marble from the same quarry in Italy that the master artist used, and a stunning stained glass version of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." Also on the premises are two of the world largest paintings: "The Crucifixion" and "The Resurrection."

Los Angeles freelance travel writer Jane Lasky, contributes to publications such as Travel + Leisure, Vogue and Esquire. Her weekly sojourning column ran in 40 newspapers for 20 years. Jane is anything but an accidental tourist and always travels with her pillow. Check out her articles on Examiner.com.

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