Everything Glendale

Filed Under: Food, Grocery Stores, Guest Bloggers, HK Market, Jons Marketplace, Seafood City, Shopping, Super King

[This is a guest post by Kendyl Young. Kendyl is a longtime local realtor, and runs Kendyl's Open House, a hyperlocal blog about real estate and the communities of Glendale, La Crescenta, and La Canada, above the 134. Kendyl's Open House features the best real estate deals and up-to-the-moment community happenings every day.]

We live in an area of amazing culinary diversity, and this is completely reflected in our grocery stores. Now, I'm not even going to address the intimate family markets that populate so many of our corners. These are often hidden gems of ethnic yummies and super fresh backyard produce.

This post is about the supermarkets that cater to our diverse cultures and, frankly, kick the major chains' butts from here to you-know-where.

They all share common traits. First, there is the produce. The produce is amazing. Large. Beautiful. Cheap. Did I say cheap? Okay, when Ralphs has red bell peppers at $4.29 a pound, these markets often have them at $1.29. Sometimes even 2 pounds for a dollar. There are items not available at the major chains—Persian cucumbers, Mexican papayas, and cactus paddles are just a few examples. And everything seems fresher and tastes better.

A word to the wise: avoid shopping mid-morning on weekends. There are crowds of very sturdy people who have a single-minded focus on getting the very best tomato or cucumber from that pile over there. They will knock you down in a New York minute if you get in the way. They are NOT rude (mostly)—they are as oblivious to you as a crowd of sorority honeys would be at Barney's annual sale. Move aside. Your life (and shin bones) are more valuable.

Second, there are the items catering to ethnic cooking. Special vegetables, spices, condiments, and prepared foods. Often you can strike up a conversation with a casual shopper and find out what that strange green veggie is, how it is prepared, and what it tastes like. Everyone likes to talk about their food! I love to buy snacks and drinks labeled in other languages. I've had some real stinkers, but most are just amazingly good.

Third up are the meats, poultry, and seafood. Now, I'm sorry for all you die-hard Middle Americans out there. I know that the cuts of meat that Anthony Bourdain refers to as the "nasty bits" are off limits for you. You are just missing out. My motto is "eat first, ask questions...never." In these markets, I've seen ox tail (so very very very good), whole fish, chicken feet (also delectable), undefined cow innards, and whole sheep's heads (beyond MY comfort level, but who am I to judge?). The great thing is that, unlike the Chinese markets of my youth, none of this stuff smells!!!! It is all as modern and aesthetically pleasing and American as you could want.

So, here is a list of some of my favorites in Glendale and surrounding areas:

Jons Marketplace
1717 W. Glenoaks Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91201
818.244.2575
www.jonsmarketplace.com

600 E. Colorado Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91205
818.956.0999
www.jonsmarketplace.com

This is my first choice, partly due to location, partly due to the outrageous produce. Seasonal fruit and Persian cucumbers are the standouts in a sea of amazing offerings. If the price is really low, the items are sometimes misshapen or irregular. This does not affect the taste! Bulk spices and enticing juices and snacks labels in Armenian are also very good. Watch out for the sturdy peasant-looking women of all ethnicities. They can be dangerous if you try to get that choice tomato before they do!

Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

Super King
2716 N. San Fernando Road
Los Angeles, CA 90065
323.225.0044
www.superkingmarket.com

2260 N. Lincoln Avenue
Altadena, CA 91001
626.296.9311
www.superkingmarket.com

Too bad this market is a bit of a drive. I would go there every day if it were closer. The San Fernando Road location was formerly the flagship store for Hughes Market. It is spacious, modern, and huge. The produce here is better, more diverse, and even cheaper than Jons! Yesterday I got 4 huge artichokes, 2 for 99 cents, and Kobachan squash, a dollar each. Such a score. Oh, I also got 6 ounces of ground cinnamon for $1.69. I thought the meat looked very fresh.

Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Seafood City
Eagle Rock Plaza
2700 Eagle Rock Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90041
323.543.2660
www.seafoodcity.com

This market caters to the Filipino population and specializes in seafood (duh). The selection is amazing, and, while it is no Fish King, the quality is very good. There is a definite fishy smell going on here, but nothing like the smells of my youth. There is an entire WALL of frozen lumpia—that delectable Filipino eggroll—and the greens and vegetables are closer to my Chinese heart than the veggies at Jons or Super King. Weekends are an absolute hoot—they always seem to have some sort of event that involves loudspeakers, cheesy music, and announcers speaking a mixture of Tagalog and English.

Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

HK Market
831 N. Pacific Avenue
Glendale, CA 91203
818.247.4949‎

The flagship store is located on Pacific. This is a large, modern building, and the offerings are a bit mind-boggling. Produce, like in all these markets, stand out for its diversity, freshness, and price. Things are not as cheap as Jons or Super King, but still very good. I find the Koreans have the most ginormous Napa cabbages in the world. They also love huge Fuji apples and Asian pears. On the far left side of the store are the prepared foods and Kimchee offerings. Thanks to my friend June, I have been tutored in what to buy and eat and it is very exciting food. I recommend the delectable fried chicken wings in the hot case. Sweet, spicy, salty, and crunchy. Totally addictive.

Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

In these uncertain economic times, maybe we should rediscover a well-cooked meal in the comfort of our own homes, surrounded by the people we love. It's a thought, huh?


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Filed Under: Celebrities, Forest Lawn Cemetery, News, Shia LaBeouf, Tacori Enterprises

Here's a round-up of intriguing Glendale news stories from this past week:

• What a difference a day makes! Immigration officials who denied a Glendale-based Armenian man an application for political asylum—because he was supposedly a day late in filing—have been forced to recount.

• Glendale-based jewelers, Tacori Enterprises, won a $650,000 copyright infringement suit against an Ohio jewelry manufacturer.

• Unemployment continues to hit the San Gabriel Valley, including Forest Lawn in Glendale.

• Parents are rescued in Glendale after their kid threw a teddy bear down a hillside.

• And, finally, what Glendale news round-up would be complete without a few items about Shia LaBeouf? (Look, if more celebrities lived here, we wouldn't be so limited in our celebrity reporting.) On Wednesday, he was caught looking a bit sad on a friend's porch in Glendale. Later that day, he was seen dashing home and petting a dog. And on Thursday, he walked around with a bag over his head. Seriously.


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Filed Under: Celebrities, Joel Madden, News, Nicole Richie

Joel Madden, lead singer of Good Charlotte, has been a longtime resident of Glendale, but the blogosphere reports that his girlfriend, Nicole Richie, has convinced him to pack up and move to a Spanish Villa in the Hollywood Hills (with baby in tow).

C'mon, Joel, surely you're getting a better deal here in Glendale than the reported $6,500 per month you're forking over to lease your new home at Outpost Estates. And won't you miss The Americana?! Wont' you?!


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Filed Under: City Politics, News

Glendale is number one! According to the Daily News:

The American Lung Association of California on Tuesday graded 297 cities on their success at creating outdoor smoke-free environments and smoke-free housing and reducing sales of tobacco products. The report provided an overall grade for the average of those categories in its first State of Tobacco Control report.

Locally, Glendale topped the list with an A—the only A in Los Angeles County....

Glendale's high mark had city officials beaming Tuesday after imposing a strict anti-smoking ordinance Nov. 6 that limits exposure to unwanted secondhand smoke across the city, including parks, parking lots, enclosed public areas and common areas in apartment buildings.

Now the city plans to hire a fresh-air ambassador to visit apartments, restaurants and bars and engage the public about the ordinance, said Steven Koszis, Glendale administrative analyst.

Wait, wait, wait. Did he say "fresh-air ambassador?" Although it sounds like an intriguing job, I know that I certainly don't want someone coming to my apartment to school me about city laws.


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Filed Under: Celebrities, News, Shia LaBeouf

As long as Shia LaBeouf keeps living in Glendale, this blog will always have fodder. A couple weeks ago, the paparazzi snapped shots of the actor ambling home from a liquor store. This week—are you ready for this?!—Shia LaBeouf...gets into his car!

Yes, dear readers, it's a slow news day.

More Shia LaBeouf-in-Glendale pics here.


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Filed Under: Classes, Community Happenings, Continuing Education, Education, Events, Glendale Community College, Workshops

You know those movies rife with parent-child conflict in which a mother pleads with her daughter something like, "I'm doing the best I can raising you! It's not like they gave me handbook when you were born!" Well, the Continuing Education program at Glendale Community College attempts to shrink the learning curve with its tuition-free Parent Education Program.

Classes, which are held in Glendale and La Canada, feature professional parent educators who lead discussions on discipline, sibling issues, nutrition, eating behaviors, kindergarten preparation, safety, potty training, and communication. Who knew?

Glendale Community College
Continuing Education Program
Parent Education Program
818.243.5196
http://www.glendale.edu/continuinged/classes/parenteducation.htm

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Filed Under: Barnes and Noble, Blockbuster, Borders Books, CVS, Downtown Glendale, Glendale Exchange, Glendale Fashion Center, Ice Cream, Longs Drugs, Mervyn's, News, Shopping, The Americana, Thrifty Ice Cream

The closing of all Circuit City stores across the nation, including the one on Maryland and Broadway, is the latest big news of the worsening economy. (I'm generally an optimist, but 34,000 lost jobs can't be good.) This leaves downtown Glendale looking a bit bleaker—witness the gutted space where the Mervyn's used to be, and the Exchange shopping area is becoming a dead zone. Now, Glendale Avenue is going to take a couple of hits.

The Longs Drugs on the lower level of the Glendale Fashion Center across from Ralphs will be permanently closing its doors on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. CVS bought Longs last year, but decided to shut down this location rather than changing the name. This sucks for me because Longs is within walking distance of my house, and the Rite Aid up the street is not (though the siren song sung by Thrifty Ice Cream may be enough to entice me to walk the few extra blocks).

As if that weren't enough to dampen my neighborhood spirit, the Blockbuster on Glendale and California is closing on February 15, 2009. (Last day to rent is February 8; last day to return is February 19.) Which means I have to drive to the Pacific location or Colorado location for DVDs or stay home and read—I don't like any of those choices.

What will become of you, Glendale Avenue? As much as I love The Americana, I thought it was a pretty crappy move to close the Barnes & Noble in the Glendale Fashion Center and move it to The Americana, especially since there's a Borders just a block away. It's good planning for The Americana, but bad planning for the structure of a city. I live between downtown Glendale and Glendale Avenue, and things seem a bit off-balance. I don't like that feeling.


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Filed Under: Bella Donna Beauty and Wellness Center, Hair Salons, Shop Reviews

I have become vain. I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but I have a good idea as to why it happened.

I've always considered myself an average-looking person. Cute, but not beautiful. I have healthy self-esteem, but I'm realistic when it comes to my looks. In fact, when my daughters turned into beautiful young women, my husband and I looked at each other, scratched our heads and asked ourselves, how did we do that?

Sometimes I look at old pictures of myself in my 20s and think, Wow, I really was a lot cuter than I gave myself credit for.

But this vanity thing is new. Complete strangers come up to me these days and compliment me on my hair, and I accept it as my due. I agree: I just love my hair. If I'm feeling really generous, I may mention my hairdresser and my mother. Because they're the real reason people love my hair: a good cut and genetics.

My whole life hairdressers have always said I have good hair. It's thick and shiny and straight. Pretty boring to me. Until I realized that I have very few gray hairs compared to other people. Hmm. Maybe I'm on to something.

For years, my hairdresser (Thu, pictured above) tried to get me to use a blow-dryer. I'd see her in the market, and she'd say, "Please, oh please, use the blow-dryer. Maybe just a little bit. You'll look great. You'll see."

But no. I was stubborn. Who needs blow-dryer when you can walk out of the house in ten minutes with wet hair?

So when I finally decided to use the blow-dryer, it made her so happy. And when a few months later I decided to add some streaks, she almost cried with joy.

Now my hair is short and hip, with colored streaks. Some months these are bright red; right now they're green, and I'm working toward pink. But since I am now vain, I make sure that people can see a few gray hairs here and there, so they know that I don't add color to hide the gray.

My hairdresser is fantastic. She is a modern artiste with vision. She sees potential even in a rabid feminist who proudly eschews traditional female trappings. She'll tell you what's going to look good on you and what will look like crap. Go and see her; she'll be happy to work a miracle for you, too.

Thu Tran
Bella Donna Beauty & Wellness Center
1154 N. Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91202
323.369.3710 (Thu's direct line)

Base Price for Men:
$20

Base Price for Women:
$25

Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
By appointment only

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Filed Under: Celebrities, News, Shia LaBeouf

Since Shia LaBeouf lives in Glendale (do any of you celebrity stalkers know where?), I'm actually surprised we don't see more paparazzi pictures of him at Zankou Chicken or Michael's or anywhere else, really, around town.

Well, alas, the star of Transformers, Eagle Eye, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (say that five times fast) was spotted on Wednesday, according to Gossip Girls, walking home from an unnamed liquor store and drinking Arizona Iced Tea.

I would stop posting about these celebrity sightings, but I know how much you love them.

More Shia LaBeouf-in-Glendale pics here.


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Filed Under: Cell Tower, City Politics, News, T-Mobile

We attempt to limit the number of "newsy" items here on this blog because we've never aimed to be a source of breaking stories (think of us more like the Parade section of the Sunday paper or your old neighbor who is filled with timeless wisdom but never watches TV), but the ongoing saga of the impending T-Mobile cell tower on Cumberland Road just keeps getting more and more interesting.

Sunroom Desk has been keeping track of the drama, and Northwest Glendale Real Estate and Kendyl's Open House has reported that the City Council has ruled in favor of a 45-day moratorium on the tower. (Kendyl has pics from last night's City Council meeting.)

Some local residents also got to have their say on a news segment on NBC prior to the City Council meeting. Watch:




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Filed Under: Community Happenings, Event Reviews, Events, Hoover High School

I confess: I'm a social voyeur. I love glimpses into different lifestyles, from polygamists to swingers to priests and nuns and families with litters of children.

This is my only vice and I feed it whenever I can, so imagine my delight when I heard about the Hoover Tour of Homes. You mean, rich people will let me walk around their homes and see their stuff and I only have to pay $20 ($25 at the door)? This is a bargain!

I've made it a tradition every year, and my husband, who isn't as much a social voyeur as I am, says he goes for "decorating tips." Yeah, right. Uh huh. I believe that.

Every year, I gleefully buy my tickets and anxiously await the day. We've gone, rain or shine, for the past five years. Some years, at least one of the houses was a minor disappointment. I won't mention any names because I don't want to hurt any feelings. Plus, it gives me a smug sense of satisfaction when I don't like one of the houses because then I could honestly say I would hate living there.

But this year was no disappointment. (The event took place in December.) Four wonderful, wonderful homes. You show up at the first house, and you're given a booklet with some history of each home and a map. Everything is in Glendale. Plus, you get lovely plastic booties to put over your shoes so no plebeian mud gets inside.

Oh, I almost forgot! This year, I also invited (dragged along) four of my friends. I think they got into it, and I hope they join us in the future. Cable channels like HGTV and the Food Network really help to get converts to this vice of mine. See, everyone just wants "decorating tips."

The menu for the 51^st Annual Hoover Tour of Homes consisted of three California Spanish Revivals and one adorable Craftsman. If you want to be inspired to attend next year, here are the addresses so you can do a drive-by yourself:

• 319 Randolph Street (pictured above)

• 1661 Valley View Road:

• 863 E. Mountain Street:

• 1415 Royal Boulevard:

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Filed Under: Downtown Glendale, Food, Japanese Cuisine, Restaurant Reviews, Sushi

On the largest wall, behind a line of bamboo stalks, is a fresco depicting a picnic scene: three Japanese men and two women dressed in traditional kimonos are seated on a red blanket under a cherry blossom tree. From the high ceiling hang paper lanterns that hover over hungry patrons. The room is dimly lit, with the sushi bar the restaurant's brightest area.

Glendale is home to quite a few Japanese restaurants, and sitting in a prime location at the Glendale Marketplace, in a spot formerly occupied by a shoe store, is Ichiban. "Ichiban," in Japanese, quite simply translates to "number one" or "best," and with a wide selection of combination dinners and an even wider array of sushi selections, the restaurant's name is not far off.

I am no sushi connoisseur. I was well into my early twenties before I could down a bite of food that wasn't either fried, grilled, baked, or broiled. Growing up, sushi always translated into "raw fish." Thanks to the Food Network, however (and Wikipedia, of course), I learned that the term "sushi" refers to the vinegared rice used in this type of Japanese cuisine, not to the fish sitting on top or wrapped in it.

You are in for an affordable (50% off rolls!), well-prepared meal here, not to mention friendly and efficient service. Whether you are craving a hot meal (in the form of a combination lunch or dinner plate with chicken, beef, or salmon teriyaki, salad, miso soup, and a bowl of rice) or are in the mood for a roll or two (the lobster and B.S.C.R. rolls are tasty, the sashimi is refreshing), Ichiban is there for you!

Ichiban
120 S. Brand Boulevard #120
Glendale, CA 91203
818.242.9966
www.sporq.com/glendale/ichiban/120sbrandblvd

Entree Price Range:
$7-$11

Sushi Price Range:
$3-$13

Hours:
Monday–Thursday:. 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m
Friday–Saturday: 11:30 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

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Here's to a fantastic 2009, Glendale!

This blog will be back in full swing next week. We've got some exciting things in store for the new year, and we look forward to you being a part of it all!


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