Armenian Community of Glendale: 1-Day Visitor's Guide

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Non-Armenian Recommendations

Breakfast & Lunch

• Porto's Bakery
  315 N. Brand Blvd.
  Glendale, CA 91202  Map
  (818) 956-5996
  Web Site
  Exceptional Cuban bakery in the Glendale area for 35+ years. Porto's has become so popular that long lines are the norm here, so be ready to wait until your turn.

Dinner

• Gauchos Village
  411 N. Brand Blvd.
  Glendale, CA 91203  Map
  (818) 550-1430
  Web Site
  If you are not yet tired of all the kabob meat then Gauchos Village is by all means a great choice for dinner. Serving Brazilian style Churrascaria and carnival bar, Gaucho's Village is all about the meat--beef, lamb, filet, ribs, sirloin, tri tip--and all at an unlimited amount.

Entertainment

• A Noise Within
  234 S. Brand Blvd.
  Glendale, CA 91204  Map
  (818) 240-0910
  Web Site
  Outstanding theater company, in the heart of Glendale, dedicated solely to producing clasical dramatic literature. This small (seats about 140), but highly praised, theater has produced works ranging from William Shakespeare to Samuel Beckett since its founding in the early 1990s. 

Transportation: Getting around the 31 square miles that constitutes Glendale may, at first, seem impossible without a car. Although having a car in the city is certainly advantageous for visitors, it is by no means a necessity. The city of Glendale operates the Beeline bus service, which, allows riders to take any one way route for a mere 25 cents. With just a few transfers, one can get to nearly anywhere in the city in a short amount of time. The Beeline bus schedule and route map can be found on the city's website.

Internet Access: For those who already have a laptop or other devices that support Wi-Fi, many of Glendale's coffee shops offer free (and some fee-based) Wi-Fi access. If you do not have your own computer or PDA and need to get on the Internet, then you will need to make your way to one of few Internet cafes in the city. One of the larger cafes located in the center of downtown Glendale is C&C Business Center on Brand Blvd., next to La Goccia Cafe.

1-Day Tour: Glendale's Armenian community is far too culturally and socially diverse for one to be able to soak it all up in just one day. But, if that is all the time that you have, we suggest an itinerary here to follow to get the most of Glendale in your limited time.

Start your day at Wilson Mini Park (1), where you can get a glimpse of one of the most popular watering holes for the older Armenian generation. Groups of old men gather here everyday from what seems like sunrise to sunset, to play backgammon, converse, see their neighbors, and pass the day with good company. The park is very small, if not tiny, so unless you plan on playing a game of nardi (backgammon) or making your way into the tightly knit clicks, then your stop here will probably be a short one.

There are a number of shops that most visitors find interesting to visit, so plan on these somewhere throughout your day. Start with Sardarabad Books (2) which carries a good selection of Armenian books as well as souvenirs and artifacts, followed by Abril Bookstore (3)—the first Armenian bookstore in the US. Abril is slightly larger than Sardarabad and has a greater book selection, but lacks the wide selection of Armenian souvenirs and artifacts. If you enjoy the arts, then you should definitely make a visit to Harvest Gallery (4) which exhibits artwork from local, national, and international Armenian artists on a rotating basis. There is also Roslin Art Gallery (5), ran by local artist Seeroon Yeretzian. In addition to great art pieces, Roslin also offers small Armenian tidbits such as bookmarks, magnates, and posters designed by Ms. Yeretzian herself. If Armenian music is your preference, then a stop at Chaterian World Music (6) is by all means crucial. Converse with the owner Afo, where you can get a good insight into Armenian music of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

For lunch visit Raffi's Place, where you will see a diverse group of people crowding this small Armenian restaurant for all of its great kebob and appetizer entrees. For those with a sweet-tooth, skip dessert at the restaurant and head over to one of over a dozen excellent bakeries in Glendale such as Lord & Villa (7), Paradise (8), or Movses (9), where you will find great pastries such as gata, nazouk, and many European style treats. Or if you are in the mood for some Middle-Eastern baklava, then Sarkis Pastry (10) is your destination for some very sweet delicacies.

As night arrives, Glendale's young (and young at heart) make their way out to the streets. Things to do are plentiful in the city, and it's just a matter of what you are in the mood for. For dinner head over to Carousel (11) for a bit of upscale Armenian/Middle Eastern dining. Carousel offers live musical entertainment on weekends so plan on being there a little longer than your typical dinner. Reservations are highly recommended on weekends. For something more affordable, grab a quick bite at the small and homey Elena's Greek Armenian Cuisine (12).

How about theater and the arts you ask? A variety of productions, sometimes Armenian or Armenian related, are always circulating through the long standing Alex Theater (13). For something a little more intimate and different try the 40 seat Luna Playhouse (14). Opened in late 2005, the Luna Playhouse has had great success and exceptional acts from day one.  Due to its small size, reservations are recommended ahead of time, but it never hurts to drop by on a whim and see if tickets are available on show night. If you want to relax, have a drink, and meet people, then hop over to one of Glendale's hottest nightly 30-something hotspots for Armenians: Sidebar (15). If the bar scene isn't to your liking, then try a coffee shop such as La Goccia (16) or Sidewalk Cafe (17), both of which are always bustling with college students and adults at nights.