Downtown Glendale City Guide | Glendale, California
 

Press

21 Sep

By Lila Seidman Two start-up companies tied for first place in Glendale’s third annual “Shark Tank”-style Pitchfest competition Thursday, each walking away with half of $60,000 worth of professional services to help expand their businesses. Beating out nine other contestants, the founders of Messy.fm — a Wordpress-like creation tool for Podcasts — and CellectGen – an at-home detection test for gum disease — convinced a panel of investors, business leaders and city officials their companies had what it takes to thrive in the competitive start-up environment. “We thought they had high potential of getting great valuation in the future,” said Ara Aslanian, Pitchfest...

12:57 / Press
09 Jul

LIST: Traffic strategy shifts from department stores to gyms and theaters. By Ethan Varian, Staff Reporter As big box retailers such as Sears Holding Corp. and Macy's close stores at malls, Valley shopping center landlords are revamping the va­cant retail spaces as part of an effort to provide new offerings ranging from gyms and movie theaters to outdoor community spaces and cre­ative offices. The goal is to give shoppers additional rea­sons to come and spend time at the mall. Larry Green, senior vice president of devel­opment at Westfield Corp., said that after the Sears at the Westfield Topanga closed in 2015, the Woodland Hills, No....

08:03 / Press
18 May

By Perry Fein The VOID, which provides multisensory, immersive virtual-reality experiences, is currently presenting its "Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire" interactive simulation at the Glendale Galleria. After debuting its "Ghostbusters: Dimension" at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Times Square in New York City last July, the VOID has hosted hyper-reality experiences at 10 locations around the world. The new "Star Wars" experience is a collaboration between the VOID and ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm's new laboratory for immersive entertainment, and it offers up to four guests the chance to complete a mission in the "Star Wars" universe. The VOID distinguishes itself from stationary virtual-realty experiences by...

23:57 / Press
10 May

By Simone Dupuy From the laser-wielding sharks glow-painted on the wall and the abundant bead curtains to the giant lava lamps and the fur-laden pillars transcending floors, Electric Pussycat is hilariously, beautifully terrible. I mean this as a compliment, like when someone says your new grandpa sweater from Goodwill is ugly. As with any self-respecting themed bar or restaurant (especially an Austin Powers themed one), gimmick was the intention, and here it was executed masterfully. You will not hear a single groan from patrons, only delighted oh-my-god-are-are-they-for-reals. My notebook still has glitter stuck inside of it from my visit to their...

23:55 / Press
04 May

By Hoodline Hungry? A new neighborhood fast food spot has you covered. Located at 1137 Galleria Way. in Glendale, the new arrival is called Five Guys. This East Coast fast food favorite has been making its way out west. Now, it's serving up its signature burgers, fries and drinks at the Glendale Galleria. With locations spreading across the country, this chain has been producing hand-crafted burgers and fries since 1986. Menu options include your choice of classic diner offerings such as hot dogs and hamburgers, with unlimited toppings to boot. (You can view the full menu here.) Five Guys has gotten off to a...

23:50 / Press
01 May

By Andy Nguyen Residents and visitors walking along Brand Boulevard in Glendale may notice a series of large yellow circles that now dot the downtown area. The street decals are part of a new outreach campaign from the city encouraging pedestrians to cross the street safely. Roughly 60 decals were installed last week and can be found on a stretch of the boulevard from Colorado Street to the 134 Freeway. The decals can be found near major intersections and at the beginnings of midblock street crossings. Juan Gonzalez, project manager for the city's road-safety campaign called Be Street Smart Glendale, said the decals cycle...

23:52 / Press
12 Apr

By Rochelle Bassarear In 1940, when Richard Wright wrote the novel “Native Son,” the story of an African-American youth named Bigger Thomas living in utter poverty on Chicago’s South Side, the book caused an immediate sensation, selling 250,000 hardcover copies within three weeks of its publication. It also sparked widespread controversy for showing the harsh social conditions imposed on African Americans by this country’s white male power structure. A fast-paced and harrowing tale in which protagonist Bigger lashes out at the oppression around him, the novel was accused of being sexually graphic, profane and explicitly violent, leading it to become one of...

01:24 / Press
06 Apr

By Susan Hornik Chef/club owner/punk musician Zach Neil is making his way through childhood favorites, first opening Star Wars–inspired pop-up bar the Darkside and then the Beetlejuice-themed restaurant Beetle House in Hollywood and New York City last year. His latest creation? The psychedelic Austin Powers dance venue Electric Pussycat, in downtown Glendale. The groovy, 2,800-square-foot, two-level venue, which opens Saturday, April 14, has a grilled cheese sandwich area and serves over-the-top shakes with unique cereal and cookie toppings. "I’m following everything I loved as a kid, trying to make them into real spaces,” the nostalgic Neil, who co-runs New Gold Empire, tells L.A....

01:22 / Press
03 Apr

By Mark Kellam The new Museum of Selfies opened this past weekend in Glendale. The pop-up museum, which is scheduled to be open through May 31, is the creation of Tommy Honton and Tair Mamedov, two escape-room designers who, together, wanted to explore the history of the selfie and why people feel the need to capture and reproduce images of themselves. Much of the art on display was designed and commissioned by Honton and Mamedov as well as work by artists inspired by the subject matter. The Museum of Selfies is located at 211 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale. Selfie-sticks are encouraged. For more information,...

01:20 / Press
01 Apr

By Javier Tovar & Agence France-Presse GLENDALE - There's an art to taking the perfect selfie -- from the angle, to the focus, cropping out that pesky outstretched arm and above all, the smile. In a celebration of self-portraits in the social media age Tommy Honton and Tair Mamedov are set to open the Museum of Selfies in Los Angeles this Sunday -- an interactive exhibition exploring the history and cultural phenomenon of snapping a photo of yourself. And for those who think if a moment wasn't photographed, it might as well have not happened -- the good news is that at the...

01:18 / Press
30 Mar

GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Do you love taking selfies? You're in luck! The first-ever selfie museum has popped up in Glendale. The Museum of Selfies is an interactive museum that explores the selfie phenomenon, where people can indulge their senses while taking pictures of themselves. It's a place where cameras and selfie sticks are not only welcomed, but encouraged. Visitors will have the opportunity to take personal portraits with the "Mona Lisa," on a throne of selfie sticks, and even atop the Union Bank building in downtown Los Angeles. "This is interactive experience that you can engage with how you feel like," museum co-founder Tommy...

22:31 / Press
06 Feb

By Jeff Landa In separate reports to the Glendale City Council Tuesday, both the Downtown Glendale Assn. and Montrose Shopping Park Assn. presented a recap of strong revenues last year as well as plans for this year. The Downtown Glendale Assn. is the nonprofit organization that manages the Downtown Community Benefit District, tasked with improving the downtown area by increasing customers and sales as well as decreasing occupancies each year. Rick Lemmo, president of the Glendale association's board and vice president with Caruso, said the association is a great example of how the downtown area has reinvented itself during the past few years. "[There's...

17:29 / Press
05 Feb

By Julie Giuffrida Whether Valentine's Day for you means a romantic dinner for two or a gathering of gal pals and/or bromance buddies, local restaurants have drafted their menus and are setting their tables to mark the occasion. Here are some restaurants around Los Angeles offering specials. 1 Pico at Shutters on the Beach is offering a Valentine's Day prix-fixe menu for $115 per person. Starters include homemade tagliolini and heirloom tomato soup, while entrees include grilled domestic Wagyu tenderloin and Maine lobster. For dessert, there's red velvet macaron semifreddo and cioccolato cremoso. 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 587-1717, www.shuttersonthebeach.com/dining/one-pico. 71Above will...

23:02 / Press
23 Jan

Glendale’s Brand Boulevard has top-tier ramen, soup dumplings, burgers and so much more. By Andy Wang Mira Setiabudhi and her partner, Rebecca, moved from New York to Los Angeles for the same reason a lot of people move from New York to Los Angeles. “We were living in New York City for the past ten years,” says Setiabudhi, a front-of-the-house veteran who spent time at restaurants run by legendary chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa, Daniel Boulud, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Masa Takayama. “Over there, life is just work, work, work. We got so tired of the city.” Setiabudhi still calls herself a New Yorker, but she says...

12:30 / Press
29 Dec

Rinjani lands just off Brand Boulevard today By Farley Elliott Indonesian cuisine may just be having a mini-moment around greater Los Angeles, as evidenced by the introduction of the new Rinjani in Glendale. Dubbing itself as “Authentic Indonesian Cuisine,” the casual Brand Boulevard shop opens for business officially on January 2, but will likely be serving up for locals this weekend. Rinjani is the work of Indonesian native Mira Setiabudhi and partner Rebecca Setiabudhi. The pair have combined to bring a menu of classic Indonesian dishes to the forefront, offered in a laid-back environment across both lunch and dinner. That means everything from...

15:15 / Press
19 Dec

Eat like a 19th century cigar factory worker By Joshua Lurie Dec 19, 2017 The Cubano, a sandwich supposedly created in the late 1800s to feed cigar factory workers (often Cuban) in Tampa, has become a regional culinary juggernaut. The sandwich can now be found across the U.S. and typically combines the pleasures of roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on a pressed roll. Occasionally, you’ll even find classic Genoa salami. Those bygone factory workers would probably recognize many of L.A.'s best Cubanos, which are fairly textbook, but some stray from tradition. Find 10 of the city's most compelling versions...

15:11 / Press
08 Dec

By Jeff Landa As of late, museums and selfies have had somewhat of a strained relationship. A selfie attempt earlier this year caused $200,000 in damage at a Los Angeles gallery and selfie-takers at popular museums have sometimes made it difficult to get a good look at Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” for example. However, a new museum coming to Glendale next month not only encourages its guests to take selfies, it’s the focal point. The Museum of Selfies is the creation of Tommy Honton and Tair Mamedov, two escape-room designers who, together, wanted to explore the history of the selfie and why people feel...

13:41 / Press
05 Dec

And, no, that’s not just what we call our basic friend’s Instagram feed By Lisa Beebe Art If the title of this post made you roll your eyes in disgust, you aren’t alone. The Museum of Selfies’ creators, Tommy Honton and Tair Mamedov, understand that selfies are a divisive topic. Honton says, “We are fully expecting people to go ‘What the hell is this?’ or ‘Oh god, another one of these Instagram palaces?’ but it’s actually a museum. You can create cool photos there—that’s a huge part of it—but another part of it is, you can explore what it took to get...

13:38 / Press
28 Nov

By Michael Juliano “I can’t even,” we appropriately sighed upon learning that a museum dedicated to selfies was coming to L.A. For those keeping count, this comes in addition to Happy Place, 29Rooms, Candytopia, Museum of Ice Cream and Museum of Failure. But the photo-op-filled Museum of Selfies sounds like it actually might try to make good on its “museum” name. The space arrives in Glendale for a limited time this January with hands-on installations that examine the 40,000 year history, science, art and culture of self representation. Of course, there will be plenty of Instagram-ready photo ops, with exhibits dedicated to specific shots like the “food selfie” as well as an Iron Throne made of selfie sticks. The rest...

13:40 / Press
27 Nov

The building is one of the final properties from $39B Equity Office deal By Natalie Hoberman Canadian developer Onni Group acquired the 14-story office, 212,200-square-foot building at 700 North Brand Boulevard — just steps away from the Glendale Center it already owns — for roughly $55.25 million, or $260 a square foot, from Blackstone Group, The Real Deal has learned. BMO Financial Group provided about $52 million in financing to the buyer, sources said. The sale is said to be one of the final properties remaining from whenthe company dished out $39 billion to acquire Equity Office’s assets in 2007. Just this summer, sources...

13:37 / Press
15 Nov

The Glendale City Council is proud to present the Free Downtown Holiday Trolley, which will kick off service this Saturday, November 18 at 10am. Enjoy the holiday trolley from November 18 to January 15 with scheduled operation Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 8 pm and Saturday - Sunday 10 am - 7 pm. The trolley service will travel a Brand Boulevard-focused route, picking up passengers for an easy and FREE way to get around Downtown Glendale. Councilmember Paula Devine, who championed the Holiday Trolley, says, “This is a fun way for our residents, businesses and visitors to experience downtown Glendale...

12:37 / Press
06 Nov

By Michael Cooper No one would deny that the mimosa is the crown jewel of weekend brunch. The combination of fresh orange juice with bubbly Champagne is, no question, a staple on the morning table. However, there's another light and delicious drink that can be a great brunch alternative for those who may not want mimosas: sangria. Originally a Spanish and Portuguese drink, sangria is a mixture of wine with fresh fruit; sometimes other juices or liquors are added. Unlike mimosas, which, let's be honest, always taste the same, sangria recipes can vary greatly, making the drink interesting at every restaurant that...

00:17 / Press
13 Oct

By Jeff Landa In only its sophomore year, the second annual Glendale Tech Week reported increased attendance, added more locations and guest speakers as well as awarded a $25,000 prize package to a local start-up company. Organized by the city of Glendale’s Economic Development Division, the event took place this past week and was anchored by an all-day “city summit” Wednesday that brought special guest speakers and leaders in the technology industry to the Alex Theatre. Two of the 65 speakers included Dan Goods, a visual strategist with NASA, and Brian MacMahon, founder of Santa Monica-based Expert DOJO. On Thursday, Fischer Imaging beat out...

22:09 / Press
04 Oct

Every reason why Los Angeles is fast food heaven By Eater Staff Los Angeles is where fast food really took off, mainly due to cars, a desire for convenience, and inexpensive ingredients. Thankfully, Angelenos are starting to move past the mega chains like McDonald's and Jack in the Box in favor of smarter quick-service fare. Of course, the original great fast food restaurant was In-N-Out, which prepared quality burgers using real produce, old school flattop grills, and freshly cut french fries. Now plenty of small and larger concepts have adopted the model, such as Top Round and even the Korean chain Bibigo. Here...

22:15 / Press
18 Sep

The city’s ultimate dining check list By Crystal Coser and Eater Staff The dining scene in Los Angeles continues to evolve, with flashy new restaurants and old standbys staying busy year after year. But with more competition on the market now than ever before, it's easy to find oneself chasing new flavors and exciting restaurants, leaving behind the best of what LA has been offering for decades. Consider this list a recalibration, a way to get diners across the greater Southland back into the mode of enjoying their favorite old standby dishes, wherever they're served (and however long they've been there). This is...

23:39 / Press
18 Sep

The city’s ultimate dining check list By Crystal Coser and Eater Staff The dining scene in Los Angeles continues to evolve, with flashy new restaurants and old standbys staying busy year after year. But with more competition on the market now than ever before, it's easy to find oneself chasing new flavors and exciting restaurants, leaving behind the best of what LA has been offering for decades. Consider this list a recalibration, a way to get diners across the greater Southland back into the mode of enjoying their favorite old standby dishes, wherever they're served (and however long they've been there). This is...

22:12 / Press
23 Aug

Throwback to LA's best old school eateries and dives by Matthew Kang and Farley Elliott With all the recent influx of new culinary offerings to Los Angeles, it’s easy to lose sight of one simple fact: This is a city that has been firing on all dining cylinders for a very long time. Los Angeles helped changed the fast food and Mexican cuisine scene in the entire country half a century ago, but long before then places around the city were working up French dips, Italian sandwiches, and big steaks to hordes of hungry customers. Thankfully many of the best old school...

23:37 / Press
21 Aug

Run River North will headline the 2nd annual Open Arts & Music Festival in Downtown Glendale. The full lineup highlights LA artists including DUCKWRTH, Buyepongo, Wondem, and more! Saturday, September 16, 2017, 2 PM - 10 PM Brand Boulevard and Alex Theatre, Downtown Glendale #openglendale #oam17 WHAT: (Glendale, CA) August 10, 2017 - The Open Arts & Music Festival (OAM) – a free, all day community event on Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 2 PM to 10 PM in the heart of Downtown Glendale – celebrates a second year with a diverse lineup featuring Los Angeles based talent. In addition to live musical performances, this...

14:23 / Press
04 Aug

By Jeff Landa Last week, the Antaeus Theatre Co. in Glendale opened its second major production, William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” at its new home in the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center. The theater had been located in North Hollywood and moved into its new facility this past February. The classic comedic play was directed by renowned Shakespeare specialist and actor Rob Clare. It features dual casts, where each character is played by two actors, performing on a rotating basis. Sally Hughes and Julia Davis each play Rosalind, while Desiree Mee Jung and Abigail Marks share the role of Rosalind’s cousin...

23:25 / Press
02 Aug

Brand Boulevard is the epicenter of activity in Downtown Glendale and the new Meet Me on Brand campaign helps demonstrate just how energized your next visit could be. The City of Glendale’s Economic Development Division produced a series of short videos to showcase how individuals with different tastes and styles enjoy Brand Boulevard. Whether shopping, dining, or just looking for a good time, you are encouraged to say “Meet Me on Brand” morning, day, or night. Brand Boulevard has it all for those who live here, work here, and who want to explore here, seven days a week, 18-hours a day....

23:28 / Press / Videos
01 Aug

Brand Boulevard is the epicenter of activity in Downtown Glendale and the new Meet Me on Brand campaign helps demonstrate just how energized your next visit could be. The City of Glendale’s Economic Development Division produced a series of short videos to showcase how individuals with different tastes and styles enjoy Brand Boulevard. Whether shopping, dining, or just looking for a good time, you are encouraged to say “Meet Me on Brand” morning, day, or night.   Brand Boulevard has it all for those who live here, work here, and who want to explore here, seven days a week, 18-hours a day....

23:31 / Press / Videos
31 Jul

Ever have an idea that you know would make a great business, but have no clue how to start? Or if you have started, ever wonder if there’s something you can do to push your business further?  If this is you – if you are a rising entrepreneur or would like to be – then you cannot miss Glendale Tech Week: A Startup Journey. The 5-day event kicks off on Monday, October 9th with a pop-up reception by Beat Junkie, and builds momentum as attendees learn the cutting edges of business and technology from local leaders. The program is packed with talks, panels,...

23:33 / Press / Videos
27 Jul

Oh sweet, sweet carbs by Eater Staff Los Angeles has plenty of sweet shops, cake spots, and bakeries around the city, many adopting styles and flavors from around the world. It's perhaps the best trademark of LA's approach to baking: it's not tied to any particular style, such as classic European. Instead, find a wonderful amalgam of Asian influence in pastries (which is welcome, because they tend not to be as sweet) to glorious Mexican panaderias, which offer the perfect starters to every morning. But some of the best are as American as apple pie, favoring classic preparations or perhaps adding in their...

23:22 / Press
12 Jul

The City of Glendale invites you to participate in the Glendale Tech Week Pitchfest! Companies selected to compete in the Glendale Tech Week Pitchfest will have the opportunity to compete for a $20,000* prize package* in front of a live audience, angel investors and VC judges at the Alex Theatre on Thursday, October 12. Each company will have between 7 to 10 minutes to complete their pitch followed by five minutes for Q&A. Companies selected to participate will also have an opportunity to attend an advance coaching session with the judges in an effort to perfect your pitch deck and address any pre-presentation...

12:21 / Press
11 Jul

By Jeff Landa For the 24th year, classic cars and their admirers will fill seven blocks of Brand Boulevard for the annual Cruise Night on Saturday. More than 350 “classic” cars, those manufactured before 1980, will be on display along Brand Boulevard between Broadway and Doran Street. First introduced last year, classic motorcycles will again join their automobile counterparts as part of the event. “There’s a lot of enthusiasts for motorcycles as well as classic cars, so we are trying to attract those fans as well,” said Patty Betancourt, a community service specialist for the city of Glendale and one of the event’s...

23:04 / Press
10 Jul

There’s rarely been a better time to enjoy a steak around town By Eater Staff Steaks, whether grilled or broiled, grass or grain fed, are one of life's great comforts. Los Angeles has become a hub for fantastic beef in a variety of cuts, served in settings that range from old school to positively luxurious. And while LA might not have the long legacy of steakhouses as a city like Chicago or New York (or the pedigree of Texas steak culture), the offerings in this town are as excellent as any meat-eater can find. Better still, like any good steakhouse the spots on this...

23:12 / Press
05 Jul

The most bang for the buck By Crystal Coser and Matthew Kang DineLA is back again, folks. That's right, from July 14 to 28, restaurants around town are putting together prix-fixe lunch menus for either $15, $20, or $25. These spectacular meal deals targeted towards the leisurely lunching set include everything from affordable lobster rolls from an Encino hot spot to build-a-own barbecue meals. Whether looking for a downtown power lunch or Middle Eastern standby, here are fifteen of the best dineLA lunch deals, presented from west to east. #13 K Ramen. Burger. Beer This hidden Glendale ramen bar at the Americana at Brand has a nice...

23:10 / Press
26 Jun

Glendale, CA - Glendale's Tech Week is a sea of speakers and events tailored to the tech professional. Attendees will trade tales with tech giants, meet and greet with up-and-coming executives and, of course, win fabulous prizes. But really, they are fabulous. Like a $20,000 Prize Package if you win Glendale Pitchfest, fabulous. Pitchfest, Glendale’s take on abc’s “Shark Tank,” will give startups the chance to compete for a $20,000 prize package in front of a live audience, angel investors and VC judges at the Alex Theatre on Thursday, October 12.   The Prize Package includes a combination of cash and in-kind services including...

23:02 / Press
13 Jun

Glendale is a great place to live – so many places to eat, drink and be merry it’s amazing anyone gets any work done! But work is what we do and one of the best ways of getting through a work day is via a damn good coffee – so where are the best coffee shops in Glendale? We thought you’d never ask… Philz Coffee Let’s start off with Philz Coffee at 252 S. Brand Blvd in Glendale. The chain has a compelling backstory: Phil Jaber went on a quest 25 years ago to make a really great cup of coffee. He wanted to...

12:16 / Press
13 Jun

By Jeff Landa For most of the day on Sunday, Glendale residents walked, biked and skated along a 3-mile route closed off to vehicles as part of the city’s first-ever, car-free, open-streets CicLAvia event. The 21st CicLAvia, called “Glendale meets Atwater Village,” was also the largest open-space event in the United States, according to city of Glendale officials. Travelers could enter at any point from Brand Boulevard at Doran Street in Glendale to Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village and stop at various booths along the route. “Glendale meets Atwater” took place thanks to a partnership between the city of Glendale, city of Los Angeles, Metro and...

12:07 / Press
09 Jun

By Mark Kellam Glendale Arts, the nonprofit organization that manages the Alex Theatre and provides various arts programming in the community, is seeking nominations for new members on its board of directors. All nominees will be contacted to schedule a 10- to 15-minute phone interview with a nomination committee member that will take place the week of July 10. Glendale Arts’ board of directors is expected to make its final selection of new board members on Aug. 15. Those interested may apply online at http://bit.ly/2q7EOcl Source: Glendale News-Press...

12:01 / Press
27 May

By Ben Marchman We at the City of Glendale love a good burger. It is not just the juicy meat and intoxicating mix of condiments, toppings, and bun, but what the burger represents – the beginning of summertime barbeques and longer days. As the City of Glendale enters Memorial Day weekend and summer, we thought it was time to take a look at some of the best burger spots here in the Jewel City. Glendale’s restaurant and dining scene has long been growing with the city. While we only focus on the good ole’ burger here, our community has an astounding variety...

12:09 / Press
10 May

LA’s neighboring city has quite the restaurant scene of its own By Crystal Coser and Matthew Kang | May 10, 2017 Glendale’s dining scene is still very much in development mode after a few years of real excitement, mostly centered around The Americana at Brand and some smart downtown growth. But the heart and soul of the northern LA county city is its Armenian community, which has helped foster a multitude of restaurants that range Greek and Lebanese to Georgian as a result of diaspora. A few stalwarts like Porto’s, Din Tai Fung, and Max’s of Manila round out the unique international...

00:10 / Press
04 May

By Jeff Landa   The City Council on Tuesday approved the first steps to fill a vacancy next to the Alex Theatre with a proposed two-story restaurant and office site. The proposed project would demolish the long-vacant 9,480-square-foot, two-story commercial building at 222 N. Brand Boulevard and replace it with a full-service restaurant on the ground floor and offices on the second. The new building would stand 12,608 square feet on a 6,983-square-foot lot. The council unanimously approved the concept, saying it fits into the character of downtown. But council members Paula Devine and Ara Najarian said no when it came to granting a parking-space exception...

00:34 / Press
02 May

By Jeff Landa After a nearly two-year project, the Glendale Central Library celebrated its grand reopening Monday with a full day of events and programs showcasing a building designed to carry itself into the future. Beginning in July 2015, the library underwent a $15-million renovation that left different portions of it open to the public until a complete closure this past Sept. 1. Library officials set out to overhaul the building into a modern, state-of-the-art facility for the community. From 9:30 a.m. until late in the evening on Monday, residents were treated to events every hour showcasing the library’s latest upgrades, including an...

01:07 / Press
27 Apr

By Glendale News-Press Staff Hundreds got their fill of some of the best local food and drink during the 16th annual Taste of Downtown Glendale on Wednesday. Nearly 40 restaurants along and around Brand Boulevard, between Colorado Street and Lexington Drive, offered some of their best dishes and drinks to guests. Participating restaurants included local favorites such as Damon’s and Porto’s Bakery & Café, as well as newcomers like Shake Shack and Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop. The event, which supports arts and youth health programs in Glendale, was founded by Glendale Healthy Kids in 2001. For the second year, Glendale Arts helped produce the...

01:03 / Press
19 Apr

Last Christmas, I visited family in California for 14 days before heading to Las Vegas. We only stayed in Southern California this time which was fine because there’s so many things to do. 6. The Americana at Brand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy96UHNfXa8 On our way back to Torrance from Burbank, we passed by The Americana at Brand in Glendale. It’s a large shopping, dining, entertainment and residential complex in Glendale. This place was magical during Christmas, with huge Christmas Trees, lots of lights and a fountain show. Lots of luxury shopping and trendy restaurants. When we went, Din Tai Fung just newly opened which we didn’t...

20:31 / Press
23 Mar

The storefront across from the Americana is now open By Farley Elliott | Mar 23, 2017 Today is the day for Eastside egg lovers, as the long-awaited Eggslut has moved in next door to Shake Shack and across the street from the Americana. The buzzy Brand Boulevard location offers prime real estate for the neighborhood — and is already attracting quite a crowd. Doors were open as of 8 a.m. today, with a line queuing up early (the first 100 folks in line actually got some free food) despite the windy morning. Now that the place is up and running officially, expect that...

01:09 / Press
10 Mar

Dropping long lines and late hours next Friday By Farley Elliott | Mar 10, 2017 White-hot Glendale’s dining scene continues to glow with the bright arrival of The Halal Guysnext week. The New York City transplants have practically made a point of big openings with longs lines and food giveaways, and their Brand Boulevard arrival should be no different. The new destination sits at the corner of Brand Boulevard and Wilson Avenue, an area north of the Americana that has been teeming with life of late. That includes the popular 85°C Bakery, which started serving their famous Taiwanese desserts just a few days ago....

01:12 / Press
07 Mar

Ten cent coffee, anyone? by Farley Elliott | Mar 7, 2017 The massively popular 85°C Bakery has landed its latest location in Glendale, right along the main drag just north of the Americana. The famed Taiwanese restaurant chain plans a grand opening on March 10, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. and everything — and folks who line up early might just earn themselves a ten-cent coffee. The new address makes for some prime real estate for the company, dropping inside the Woolworth Building and right next to the future home of The Halal Guys. The restaurant is open now, pushing a...

01:11 / Press
28 Feb

By Jeff Landa As crews work to put on its finishing touches, the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center will open Thursday as the new home for the Antaeus Theatre Co. in downtown Glendale. The opening will feature a four-day festival, which will run from March 2 to 5 and include open-house tours, workshops and several performances. Antaeus' first show in Glendale will be a production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" from March 16 through May 7. That will be followed by William Shakespeare’s "As You Like It," and later a new adaptation by Nambi E. Kelley of...

01:15 / Press
27 Feb

They sell 1.5 million cheese rolls every month, and hundreds of thousands of potato balls By Farley Elliott | Feb 27, 2017 If you thought the line at Howlin’ Rays was bad, you should try making it to any of Porto’s three area cafes on a weekend morning. The casual Cuban restaurant chain is an absolute staple for Southern California, drawing tens of thousands of diners per month eager to enjoy everything from sandwiches and salads to those addictive potato balls and pastries. But how did Porto’s get its start? As this cool new OC Register profile will tell you, Porto’s is a family-run...

01:14 / Press
28 Nov

By Kaitlyn Yarborough Safety is a priority whether you're choosing your next vacation spot, relocating for your career, or just exploring a new part of your city. It's a constant, if muted, concern. While crime levels have generally been lowering over the past two decades, increased violent crime in some major US cities this year has sparked a reinvigorated interest in public safety. Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on cities, recently released its annual list of the safest cities in the country. The ranking provides an analysis of safety factors, such as violent and property crime rates per capita, in determining...

01:01 / Press
15 Nov

While some areas of the Glendale Central Library are still being renovated, books have returned to other parts of the library. By Jeff Landa After more than a year of renovations and a complete closure starting in September, the Glendale Central Library is closing in on its final construction phase and is on schedule to open this spring. A $15-million renovation project started in July 2015, with different portions of the library open to the public until a complete closure on Sept. 1. The effort will overhaul the library into a modern, state-of-the-art facility, according to library officials. Construction is expected to be completed...

02:50 / Press
01 Nov

By Jeff Landa The Americana at Brand's 100-foot-tall Christmas tree completed its 600-mile trek early Monday morning and was hoisted into place at the outdoor mall in preparation for its official unveiling later this month. The massive white fir arrived by way of Mt. Shasta in northern California, resting on the back of a flatbed truck. Once the tree arrived, workers lifted all of its 13,000 pounds above the Americana and into a concrete hole. The more than 80-year-old tree will be adorned with 15,000 lights and more than 10,000 holiday ornaments during the next few weeks by a group of three to...

02:49 / Press
27 Oct

Press release from: Structural Focus The Masonic Temple, Glendale, CA Los Angeles-area, CA, October 26, 2016 -- Structural Focus team members accepted the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC) Excellence in Structural Engineering Merit Award in the Historic Preservation category during the SEAOC 2016 Annual Convention in Maui, Hawaii. Structural Focus President, David Cocke, S.E. accompanied by Project Engineer, Brendan Ramos, S.E., and Design Engineer, Maria Mohammed, P.E. represented the firm. Brendan Ramos was also awarded the 2016 Nabih Youssef Young Engineers Award and Maria Mohammed received SEAOC’s Young Member Award. Caruso Affiliated partnered with the tenant, CBRE Group Inc.; architect, Gensler; preservation...

02:47 / Press
21 Oct

By Jeff Landa Glendale's Tech on Tap series — a forum for entrepreneurs and marketers to connect with their community — will hold its sixth event on Wednesday, this time sharing the story of how two friends created the city's first microbrewery. This month's meetup will feature the co-founder of Brewyard Beer Co., Kirk Nishikawa, who will talk about how he and his longtime friend Sherwin Antonio turned a drunken promise into a sophisticated microbrewery from scratch. The Glendale Tech on Tap series launched in May as a lead-up to the larger Tech Week in September and continued on a monthly basis thereafter....

02:46 / Press
18 Oct

Plus a Taste Talks party with lots and lots of big names By Farley Elliott | Oct 18, 2016 It’s a Brand Boulevard block party Glendale’s suddenly booming culinary scene has apparently earned its own block party, as everyone from Shake Shack and Mainland Poke to Epic Taco Shop and Bourbon Steak will be participating in a Saturday party taking place right on Brand. The streets will be closed from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with Golden Road Brewing pouring beer, live music, and more — tickets are $50 presale, $60 at the door. Culture Club 101 opens in Pasadena There’s a new healthy-eating option in...

01:18 / Press
14 Oct

A round-up of the best news to carry you into the weekend By Farley Elliott | Oct 14, 2016 Bruce Kalman’s favorites LA Magazine chats with Knead & Co. lead Bruce Kalman about his favorite dishes from across the city. It’s an eclectic mix (with stories to match) that spans everything from Singaporean chili crab at Phorage to the patty melt at The Bellwether in the Valley. Lobster and filet mignon Want to feel like a baller without all that necessary money being thrown around? Get to The Gallery in Westlake Village on any Sunday or Monday, where for apparently just $42 a head guests can...

01:20 / Press
12 Oct

By Jeff Landa Howard Chen, owner of Legacy Comics, holds a collectable comic book at Legacy Comics in Glendale on Wednesday. Chen has owned the shop for 26 years. The bulk of the space at Legacy Comics and Cards is filled with staple-bound books telling suspenseful tales of superheroes and underdogs. Tucked in a corner of downtown Glendale for 26 years, the 2,300-square-foot store is the sole destination in the city where customers can take home the latest comic issues or stay for a time to peruse a small library of mostly American artists. "The Amazing Spider-Man" No. 1, the 14-page story that reintroduced...

02:43 / Press
07 Oct

Healthy eating comes to the heart of Glendale By Farley Elliott Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop Goes Veggie Casual With New Glendale Location Glendale’s booming growth continues with the addition of healthy-eating salad temple Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop. The local mini-chain owned by Jon Rollo has been similarly busy of late, with outlets everywhere from Beverly Hills to Costa Mesa to the heart of Venice — and now, right in the thick of it all on Brand Boulevard. The casual all-day restaurant officially opens to the public on October 10, joining the ranks of the recently-unveiled Shake Shack, Philz Coffee, and Mainland Poke across the street from The...

02:41 / Press
07 Oct

By Kari Hamanaka WWD The Bae sisters are keen on keeping manufacturing in Los Angeles. The Baes — Elizabeth and Claudia — come from a family already in the business. Their parents own a factory in Los Angeles and the two quietly began working on their denim line, 1denim, in May 2015, more recently unveiling it to the public with a store at Caruso Affiliated’s Americana at Brand in Glendale and an online store. Wholesale will eventually be in the cards as well. The choice for the company’s first real estate move at Americana is an interesting one but provides insight into...

02:40 / Press
04 Oct

By Matthew O'Shannessy Justin Higuchi Glendale is all about the Americana at Brand. Whenever I go there, it’s to see a movie—but I have to admit there’s a kitschy pleasure in hanging out in the open-air mall’s micro-Disney atmosphere. It’s like an island of security-enforced wholesomeness in the middle of LA’s gloriously decadent seas. If you often wish that there was somewhere else to eat besides Cheesecake Factory, you should know that the Americana is practically taking over downtown Glendale. A new expansion at Brand includes chains like Shake Shack, Philz Coffee and Greenleaf—plus a bar has been added to the original Americana...

02:39 / Press
25 Sep

By Kathy Vara There's a new Shake Shack in town and it's located in Glendale. Kathy Vara reports for the NBC4 News at 5 on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Source: NBCLA...

02:37 / Press
23 Sep

By ABC7.com Staff GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Shake Shack launched its second California restaurant with the grand opening of its Glendale location on Friday. The newest burger stand is located at 252 S. Brand Blvd., across from The Americana at Brand. The popular New York-based burger restaurant opened its first California location at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and West Knoll Drive in West Hollywood back in March. Shake Shack is known for their smashed burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, shakes, crinkle-cut fries and dog-friendly treats. The chain has developed a cult-like following since it first opened in New York City's Madison Square Park...

02:35 / Press
23 Sep

Living alone in an apartment or home can be freeing, frightening, and a fun way to experience life. Getting to know yourself better, grocery shopping and cooking for one, and nobody else to blame for the dirty dishes. If you ever have the chance, and desire, to do so it can be a great way to challenge yourself and stay far away from any roommate drama. Safety is also an important issue when living alone. You want to feel safe from property crime and of course, violent crime when walking down the street in your city or even just hanging out...

02:34 / Press
22 Sep

Inside the second LA-area location of NYC's modern burger icon By Farley Elliott Starting tomorrow, fans of East Coast burger monopoly Shake Shack will have two, count ‘em two, places to get their fix. At 11 a.m. sharp, Shake Shack Glendale comes to life. Tomorrow's immediate doubling of Shake Shack locations across Los Angeles should help considerably to ease the crush of evening and weekend fans to the West Hollywood original, while simultaneously growing the eyeballs on the brand overall — though with 100 outlets and counting globally, they certainly aren’t hiding. And with at least a few other locations around the county in...

02:32 / Press
13 Sep

By Farley Elliott Fans of New York City transplant The Halal Guys won’t have to wait in those long Koreatown lines for much longer, as the quickly franchising chain has secured a second location in Downtown. DTLA Rising got the scoop on the place first, which will take over a retail location called Brigade LA on 7th Street, just behind Whole Foods. The space still has quite a ways to go though, so don’t expect anything until probably spring of 2017. The second true Los Angeles location should certainly put The Halal Guys on the map for anyone who isn’t already intimately familiar....

02:31 / Press
09 Sep

Free drinks and pastries from the SF-based coffee team By Farley Elliott Things are heating up along Brand Boulevard in Glendale, as the second of several proposed new eateries is about to come online. Philz Coffee is soft-opening next Wednesday near the recently-arrived Mainland Poke, and plans to give away lots of drinks the day they throw their doors open. Like with all Philz Coffee debuts, the first soft-open day is usually a time for the staff to hone in on the details and work through the inevitable crowds. As such, there are always limited hours — in this case 11 a.m. to...

02:31 / Press
02 Sep

Bigger and better for one of LA's premiere poke shops By Farley Elliott Glendale earns a little Mainland Poke today, with the fresh seafood concept arriving along Brand Boulevard by around noon. The soft-opening of Mainland Poke in Glendale represents the first in a long phase of coming attractions for the Caruso Affiliated team, which owns The Americana across the street and has been keen to drop in every other big name nearby, be it Eggslut or Shake Shake. With Mainland, the look as been brushed up and streamlined from the Third Street original. Consider this address a model for future locations — including...

02:29 / Press
31 Aug

Mainland Poke Glendale Grand Opening will be Tuesday, 9/6.  First 100 guests will enjoy a complimentary Mainland Poke Signature Bowl and for the entire day, they are offering 'Buy One, Get One' bowls (limit one per guest)." GLENDALE (new, 2nd location): 252 S. Brand Blvd, Suite C Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 696-1507 Twitter: @mainland_poke Instagram: @mainlandpokeshop Facebook: @mainlandpokeglendale LOS ANGELES (original location) 8318 1/2 W 3rd St Los Angeles, CA 90048 (310) 234-8800 Twitter: @mainland_poke Instagram: @mainlandpokeshop Facebook: @mainlandpokebeverlygrove Source: KTLA 5...

01:39 / Press
21 Aug

By Jeffery Marino Southern California, and Los Angeles in particular, is known for its sprawling geography and infamous car culture. In fact, SoCal didn’t rank on Walk Score’s annual list of the most walkable cities in the nation in 2014 or 2015, but finally earned a spot this year with Long Beach breaking back into the top 10. As it turns out, there are many highly walkable areas in SoCal—but most of them are better known as tourist destinations, like Central Hollywood where you can stroll the Walk of Fame, and the Gaslamp district in San Diego. We wanted to find out the...

01:37 / Press
22 Jul

By Arin Mikailian A sliver of Maryland Avenue will soon be closed off to traffic for a trial run of a pedestrian walkway that’s being called the Maryland Paseo. Stemming from an idea by City Council members, a 2,500-square-foot swath of the street between the two exits of the Exchange parking lot will be sectioned off, said Jennifer McLain, a principal economic development officer with the city.   That means drivers can only make a left turn from one of the exits and only a right turn from the other, McLain said. The project is a pilot program that will run for about three months...

01:13 / Press
20 Jul

By Lesley Balla While we await a new Americana at Brand annex to open with Tsujita, Mainland Poke and Shake Shack, Glendale's finest outdoor mall is still upgrading its food and drink options. Just in time for the hottest days of the year, Ombra Wine Bar has debuted across from Amici, its parent restaurant, right on the green near the fountains. The shaded tables allow views of the dancing waters and the kids watching them in awe, and throughout the summer you'll have a view of the outdoor movies on Tuesday nights. There's a small wine bar for individuals or couples looking...

01:09 / Press
19 Jul

By Elizabeth Toy "I grew up around lowriders, so my first word was 'Hydraulics.' It wasn't 'Mother.' That oughta tell you what my passion was, from the beginning," said Daniel Ayala, an engineering consultant from Alta Loma, at the Glendale Cruise Night this past Saturday. More than 350 pre-1980 vehicles were on display along Brand Boulevard between Broadway and Milford Street, including custom-built and modified classic cars as well as motorcycles, for the 23rd annual event. Ayala spent seven years restoring his 1961 Chevy Impala. The vehicle drew attention with its custom plum with copper pearl body and hand-spun silver stripes down either...

01:04 / Press
08 Jul

By Danielle Directo-Meston Hardcore fitness fiends have scored another happy place for performance wear. Sweat gear stalwart Under Armour debuted its first West Coast flagship a few months back at Glendale's Americana at Brand, finally bringing its high-tech fabrics and wearables to LA in one massive space. The 10,000-square-foot store houses the athleticwear company's full range of apparel, accessories, and footwear for women, men, and youth. In addition to offering merch for everything from yoga and running to golf and soccer, the shop stocks fitness tracking devices that sync up with the brand's Connected Fitness social community. Source: Racked LA...

00:57 / Press
22 Jun

By Katie Kelly Bell, Special for USA TODAY Yelp’s list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2016 is a study in diversity, featuring everything from Michelin-starred fine dining establishments and family-run cafes to worker-owned collectives and barbecue joints. The broad range of cuisines, price points and styles reflects a growing national curiosity about food and dining out — which is great news for America. The winners were determined using a combination of factors including ratings and total number of reviews. According to Yelp, “only reviews written by users whose profiles list their home location as within the reviewed...

03:39 / Press
20 Jun

By Danielle Directo-Meston The Americana at Brand’s latest directory additions are brought to us by the letter ‘T’. As mentioned, the outdoor Glendale lifestyle center has nabbed TOMS’s second-ever LA boutique, which officially arrives this Thursday. Landing next door to Tumi, the shop will stock a seasonally-curated selection of the charitable Venice-born brand’s footwear, bags, and eyewear for women, men, and kids, including its classic canvas slip-ons, sandals, beach-ready backpacks, and more. The store arrives in time to celebrate TOMS’s 10-year anniversary, which the label will toast this Saturday at the Americana’s lawn. Swing by from 1 to 4pm for family-friendly games, photo booths,...

00:55 / Press
17 Jun

By Danielle Directo-Meston Japan-bred, Pasadena-based designer Tadashi Shoji may dress stars and Rose Queens, but his figure-flattering silhouettes are beloved by all. The red carpet gown guru's already stocked at department stores like Nordstrom and Bloomie's, but his concept shop at Glendale Galleria will offer quite a different experience, as you can see in the rendering blow. Opening next Wednesday to Superdry on the first floor, the 2,200-square-foot space will feature experimental installations "aimed at elevating the customer experience." As far as the goods, expect to find Shoji's artful embroidered eveningwear, inventive dresses, and more luxe creations ($398 and up). Source: Racked LA  ...

00:51 / Press
14 Jun

Three projects are part of plan to make the city a ‘destination.’ Asix-story boutique hotel proposed in downtown Glendale was unanimously approved by the city’s Design Review Board earlier this month. The 85-room hotel along 1100-1108 N. Brand Blvd. would require the demolition of several existing buildings including the Recess Eatery, a bistro that serves craft beer and cocktails at 1102 N. Brand Blvd., according to the Burbank Leader. Because of this, the project required design board approval, though no other variances were required. “This is still very early (in the planning process). The design review board looked at what the proposed design...

02:22 / Press
13 Jun

By Kristie Hong The most popular dish at K Ramen. Burger. Beer. is the signature Lobster Ramen. At $15, the Lobster Ramen (pictured on the right) is the priciest item on the budget-friendly menu. The lobster ramen is made from 15-hour chicken stock, lobster butter, fish stock with a kimchi base. The bright red broth is topped with a perfectly cooked marinated soft-boiled egg, golden chives, and green onion and has a slightly spicy aftertaste. At $12, the Tonkotsu Style Pork Ramen (pictured on the left) is cooked for 12 hours with slow roasted pork belly with a soft-boiled marinated egg topped...

00:45 / Press
03 Jun

Arriving at the Americana at Brand By Matthew Kang@eaterla Tsujita, long regarded as one of the city's best ramen shops, is opening its original Artisan Noodle shop inside the Americana at Brand in Glendale. It's a major coup for the nearby suburb, as well as the fancy shopping mall, which already boasts Din Tai Fung and Bourbon Steak, and will shortly have Shake Shack, Mainland Poke, and Eggslut across the street. The ramen shop will be placed along bustling Brand Blvd and hopes to open some time in the fall. No word on whether any elements of ANNEX, Tsujita's heavier and even more flavor packed sibling across the street on Sawtelle, will...

00:36 / Press
03 Jun

For further information contact: Lily Duarte, Marketing Coordinator 310.323.9924 | lduarte@structuralfocus.com Los Angeles-area, CA, June 3, 2016 — Structural Focus accepted the 2016 Excellence in Structural Engineering Award for The Masonic Temple project from the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC). Caruso Affiliated partnered with the tenant, CBRE Group Inc.; architect, Gensler; contractor, W.E. O’Neil; and structural engineer, Structural Focus, to successfully transform the historic building into a state-of-the-art creative office space within the parameters of a significant landmark building. The renovation of The Masonic Temple was completed in December 2015.  The Masonic Temple in Glendale, California, once stood as the tallest building on Brand Boulevard and...

00:13 / Press
01 Jun

Last month two notable office buildings sold in Glendale, a city at times considered the red-headed step child of the Tri-Cities submarket. These transactions bring into focus a market that deserves more credit than it currently gets. Click here to view the CBRE Research report Source: CBRE Research...

00:48 / Press
01 Jun

From the Americana to the Museum of Neon Art, here are the 9 best places to explore and things to do in Glendale While you won't find many major attractions in Glendale, you will find plenty of history and a little bit of kitsch set against a beautiful mountainous backdrop. There are plenty of interesting things to do in Glendale if you know where to look, from an A-frame retro diner to a glowing off-the-beaten-path museum. So pick up a pastry from an Armenian bakery and start to explore these nine things to do in Glendale. Brand Library & Art Center When Miradero...

00:38 / Press
26 Apr

By Mark Kellam Oganizers of the 15th annual Taste of Downtown Glendale are getting ready to serve up food and fun along Brand Boulevard next week. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. next Wednesday, ticket holders can pop into restaurants for samples, have wine or beer at designated locations and enjoy entertainment along Brand. NEWSLETTER: Get the latest 818 headlines straight to your inbox >> The event is a fundraiser for Glendale Healthy Kids, which provides no-cost healthcare to children who have no access to insurance or are under-insured. "The Taste of Downtown Glendale has become a much anticipated annual event which brings our community together...

04:09 / Press
23 Mar

GLENDALE, CA – On Tuesday, March 22, 2016, Glendale City Council voted to authorize City Manager Scott Ochoa to enter an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with the Armenian American Museum to locate the developing project in downtown Glendale’s Arts and Entertainment District across from the Central Library. The Armenian American Museum had been exploring the feasibility of building the Museum on City owned property across from Glendale Community College until late February 2016 when the Glendale City Council directed Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan and City Manager Scott Ochoa to formally present the new potential site to the Armenian American Museum Governing Board. The...

04:07 / Press
15 Mar

By Ashley Soley-Cerro and Dave Mecham East Coast favorite Shake Shack made its California debut Tuesday morning in West Hollywood. “We’re stoked to finally join California’s one-of-a-kind burger culture,” said Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti. “We’ve heard from fans across L.A. for years, and we’re humbled by the passionate response we’ve received so far. We invite all Angelenos to come out and see what makes Shake Shack so special." Known as a modern-day “roadside” burger stand with a cult-like following, the beloved burger joint offers Angus beef burgers, chicken, a vegetarian portobello burger, flat-top dogs, frozen custard and crinkle cut fries, according to...

04:05 / Press
09 Mar

By Arin Mikailian About a year after reopening on Brand Boulevard, the farmers market in downtown Glendale has closed due to poor turnout, and its future is unclear for now. Every Thursday afternoon since last May, about two dozen vendors selling produce and homemade goods set up booths along Brand between California and Wilson avenues. One of the goals was to capitalize on foot traffic from people leaving work in the area, but not enough of them showed up. "We're taking a break from the market for now because there has not been the community support that both we and the vendors were hoping...

04:02 / Press
07 Mar

24 acres of walking trails, event space, and greenery By Bianca Barragan Glendale's plans to cap part of the 134 Freeway with a park are finally really starting to take shape. (There's a plan to cap the 101 in Downtown and in Hollywood, plus a plan for a 60 Freeway cap in East LA and two 10 Freeway caps in Santa Monica, but none of those projects has moved very far in a long time.) New renderings for the cap park—Space 134—show what the 24-acre green space could look like, and give a better idea of how the park will be laid...

04:03 / Press
10 Feb

By Chris Nichols Art, L.A. History, Urban Development The Museum of Neon Art finally opened their new home in Glendale on Saturday night with a gala party that filled the galleries, classroom and super cool pop culture gift shop. The organization was founded in downtown Los Angeles in 1981 to preserve historic signs and exhibit new examples of electric and kinetic art. Opening night revelers spilled out across “park paseo,” a new outdoor terrace that connects the Americana at Brand shopping mall, the Glendale library, and Central park. The museum replicated one of its largest signs, a leaky neon faucet that once graced...

04:01 / Press
10 Feb

By Crystal Coser The concept mashes up everything that is currently trending. K Ramen. Burger. Beer., an extension of the Katsuya brand, is popping up on the second floor of Katsuya in The Americana at Brand. Opened February 9, K Ramen offers a menu of budget-friendly bites, with nothing priced over $15. On that menu is a mash up of just about everything that is trending right now in LA. That means you can expect plenty of ramen, burgers, pokes, and a list of Japanese brews to round it out. Menu highlights include lobster ramen with marinated egg, spicy creamy tuna K Poke,...

03:56 / Press
07 Feb

By Juliet Bennett Rylah After shutting down its downtown L.A. location in 2011, the Museum of Neon Art is glowing again at a brand new location in Glendale. The museum officially opened last night, and included musical performances and a bevy of neon. One exhibit, called It's About Time, features a collection of neon clocks, while Illuminations features neon artwork from over two dozen artists. Visitors can also check out the museum's iconic neon diver fixed to the building and find the Clayton's Plumbing sign in the paseo—that one illustrates a dripping faucet. MONA also offers their Neon Cruise, where passengers will be...

03:59 / Press
03 Feb

By Lisa Dupuy Shopping mall snack bars come and go. I don't pay much attention to food court eateries and mall kiosks mainly because I'm not a shopper. But recently I heard about a stand called Enjoyer inside the Glendale Galleria serving organic Lithuanian popsicles. I checked it out and found more than one new food gem. To be clear, the popsicles themselves aren't Lithuanian, but Enjoyer's founders, Paulius and Virginijus, are Lithuanian natives. They bring a handcrafted sensibility to their chilly treats. Fruits and other organic ingredients come from local farmers' markets. Each popsicle is handmade in an East Los Angeles...

03:57 / Press
03 Feb

By Arin Mikailian After taking out expenses, the Alex Theatre reported a $148,000 gain in its latest quarter, far outperforming its six-figure deficit the historic venue faced the same time a year before. The net amount is for the theater's first fiscal-year quarter between July and September 2015, while the Alex was $124,000 in the hole in the same time frame in 2014. The gross amount was $430,000 before staffing and other expenses were taken into account, according to a city staff report. A stronger fundraising effort and booking more productions over the summer — typically considered a slow time of the year —...

03:53 / Press
29 Jan

By Adrienne Alpert GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- There's a museum about to celebrate its grand opening, where the exhibits literally sizzle. It's the Museum of Neon Art, which has its new home in Glendale. Neon is where art and science intersect. The museum space is not big, and they have a large collection, so exhibits will rotate. The next show in April will exhibit more iconic commercial signs. All of this is made possible by the city of Glendale, which is undergoing a redevelopment boom. The Neon Museum is part of its plan giving Brand Boulevard a new look. "We saw a great opportunity to move...

03:37 / Press
25 Jan

By Karen Jordan, Bisnow, LA Caruso Affiliated gave a tour last week of its swanky renovation of the old Masonic Temple in Glendale, which has been repositioned and has become the Valley HQ for CBRE, as Bisnow first reported here. Rick Caruso and his Caruso Affiliated picked up the Masonic Temple (234 S Brand Blvd) less than a year ago. Caruso Affiliated bought the 1929 art deco building and renovated the 24k SF of office space with Gensler at the helm to create a workplace of the future, Gensler CEO Andy Cohen says. There were also hurdles the designers had to overcome,...

03:47 / Press
22 Jan

By Kevin Ferguson The Museum of Neon Art has a long, storied history in Los Angeles. Founded in 1981, the museum houses works of neon and electric art from artists all over the world. It also has restored vintage neon signs from businesses all over SoCal. For the neon signs that still stand today, MONA takes Angelenos on tours to check them out. MONA's massive collection has been on display around L.A. In years past, the museum found a home in downtown Los Angeles, then the Universal CityWalk and now in downtown Glendale this month. It's right across the street from the Americana at Brand, developer...

03:50 / Press
22 Jan

By Bianca Barragan The Museum of Neon Art's collection has been jumping from place to place for a while now. In the last ten years alone, the museum was pushed out of its location in South Park (rising rents were to blame) to a spot in the Old Bank District. When it outgrew that space in 2008, some of the greatest hits of its collection were on display at Universal City Walk while a suitable new home was scouted, and now, finally, that home has been found in Glendale, right across from the Americana at Brand. This new location is approaching...

03:49 / Press
22 Jan

By Bianca Barragan Americana at Brand owner Rick Caruso and his company, Caruso Affiliated, announced last spring that they were buying a lovely 1920s-era Masonic temple right across the street from the Americana with the intent of turning the historic structure into creative offices with a row of shops next door (an adjacent Shake Shack is in the works). And now, the first 110 workers (from commercial real estate firm CBRE, hence the signage) moved into the gloriously renovated space this month, and today, the repurposed Art Deco building officially opened, according to release for the project. The building was designed by Arthur Lindley, whose firm Lindley & Selkirk designed...

03:45 / Press
22 Jan

By Arin Mikailian A once vacant room overlooking downtown Glendale for decades on the top floor of the Masonic Temple on Brand Boulevard is now a sleek office space for a major commercial real estate firm. "The floors that we're standing on have not been occupied since 1957," said Tom Veje, executive vice president of construction for Caruso Affiliated, which purchased the temple last spring. "It's been almost 60 years since this space had enjoyed having an environment where people enlivened it." The development firm's top brass — minus founder Rick Caruso — gathered Thursday in the nine-story building that just underwent a...

03:43 / Press
21 Jan

CBRE's offices in adaptive reuse project have no assigned seating January 21, 2016 11:01AM By Hannah Miet There are 110 CBRE Group Inc. employees now working inside of what used to be an active Masonic Temple at 234 S. Brand Boulevard in Glendale. Grove developer Rick Caruso, who is mostly known for his mall properties and full-service apartments, took on the office market last April when he acquired the nine-story 1929 landmark Art Deco building and restored it into a Class A open-floor-plan office with retail space. It is now home to CBRE’s North Los Angeles office, which relocated from Universal City. Caruso’s development firm, Caruso Affiliated, also acquired two adjacent buildings...

03:40 / Press
08 Dec

By: Arin Mikailian A neon Clayton Plumbers sign illuminates the message “the leak stops here” above a new walkway near Brand Boulevard, a feature businesspeople and city officials say they hope will link numerous downtown venues. Running at about 120 feet long, the Park Paseo is a half-wooden deck and half-concrete path that leads visitors off Brand Boulevard past the Museum of Neon Art to Central Park, the Adult Recreation Center and the Glendale Central Library. Seating and drought-tolerant plantings cut through the center of the path. More than a dozen city officials were on hand Tuesday for the grand opening of the path,...

03:34 / Press
30 Nov

Patricia Kirk, Bisnow, OC/SD The Brand, a new nine-story mixed-use project by Holland Partner Group, has opened in downtown Glendale with a bit of pomp and circumstance. Bisnow caught up with Holland COO Tom Warren last week; he tells us about the company custom to combine an official opening with a resident party once a project has exceeded the halfway point in lease-up. Tom tells us the property is a walkable location to live in Glendale, and there’s lots of employment in the area. With the addition of The Americana at Brand to downtown Glendale, he says the company knew the area...

03:27 / Press
05 Oct

Patricia Kirk, Bisnow, OC/SD Bisnow's West Coast editor, Elliot Golan, led off our 3rd Annual Future of the Valley event last week, where he told the 300 in attendance all about the development transforming the region. He says mass transit and affordability are driving a resurgence in the Valley’s desirability. “Now it is possible to work in Downtown LA and have that house in the Valley with a white picket fence," he said. But Elliot says much is still missing in the Valley, including creative office and co-working spaces, providing opportunities for developers to fill in the gaps. Rick Caruso’s reclaiming of...

03:24 / Press
03 Sep

Americana at Brand developer expects to build one-story, five-tenant structure. By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com The developer of the Americana at Brand has filed an application to build a one-story building for retail use and restaurants across from the outdoor mall on the edge of downtown Glendale. The project is the latest effort this year by Caruso Affiliated toward expanding its presence in the area. Plans call for a commercial building at 238 S. Brand Blvd. — where the major artery meets Colorado Street — and room for five tenants, said case planner Roger Kiesel. “This plan will further activate Brand Boulevard with exciting street-front retail,...

02:57 / Press
01 Sep

Hundreds attend annual classic car event that was postponed due to July storms. By Ryan Fonseca, ryan.fonseca@latimes.com Downtown Glendale became a classic car haven Saturday when Cruise Night rolled into town. The 22nd annual event brought out hundreds of car lovers, music lovers and families eager to enjoy the longtime summer staple. As the sun sank behind the buildings, attendance climbed for the free event, which featured live music, food, games and, of course, rows of an estimated 400 pre-1980s cars. Thunderbirds, Mustangs, Cadillacs, Rolls Royces, Corvettes and many more lined North Brand Boulevard from Milford Street down to Broadway. Many car owners sat in chairs...

02:54 / Press
30 Jul

Neighborhoods in Los Angeles with panache? Silverlake. Yeah. Atwater Village. Sure. And Glendale. What? You may not be aware that downtown Glendale has made a transition from sleepy to swanky over the past decade. Downtown Glendale is a safe, walkable, vibrant 18-hour urban district with all the jobs, housing, shopping, dining and entertainment one could imagine. It is “green,” with an emphasis on transit and “park once and walk everywhere.” Most importantly, it has created ever-increasing profits for property owners and businesses, and ever-increasing sales tax and property tax dollars for local governments. And it is a replicable model for many cities and...

22:56 / Press
10 Jul

Vendors express happiness with increased turnout following market's return to Brand Boulevard location. By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com A gloomy June wasn’t the best start for drawing crowds to the renewed Brand Boulevard farmers market, but with the summer sun settling in more people are stopping by, and vendors say they’re happy with the turnout. Alan Janoyan, owner of JRC Coffee, said things have picked up since the Downtown Glendale Market relaunched two months ago on the city’s main thoroughfare between California and Wilson avenues on Thursdays. “We’re getting a lot of regulars,” he said. “We’re getting consistent customers, so that’s what we like about it....

13:18 / Press
12 Jun

Renovation work will increase capacity at the theater space to 80 seats, as well as a black-box theater. By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com A 7,600-square-foot former computer store in downtown Glendale will be renovated and transformed into a theater venue for classic productions, which could begin as early as September 2016. North Hollywood-based Antaeus Theatre Co. has announced plans to move to 110 E. Broadway, where it will upgrade from a 50-seat theater to an 80-seat venue, said co-artistic director Bill Brochtrup. There will also be a smaller 40-seat black-box theater, a classics library and room to run arts-education programs, he said. A groundbreaking ceremony for...

02:52 / Press
08 Jun

By Bianca Barragan Americana at Brand developer Rick Caruso has a plan to convert a former Masonic temple, originally built in 1927, into a mixed-use complex fusing groundfloor retail and restaurants with creative office space upstairs and, when it was announced in early April, it seemed like just another adaptive reuse project of a handsome old building. Now it's revealed that it will actually be uniquely over the top. Bloomberg has details on some of the next-level amenities that will be available to the future tenants, beginning with concierge services. "After a long day at the office, you want us to pack a couple of steaks...

02:56 / Press
16 May

Venue returns to Brand Boulevard after a year at a different location. By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com The newly relocated Downtown Glendale Market brings a variety of small home businesses to Brand Boulevard, including Andrea Fuentes and her “cooffins.” She and her dessert, which blends together a cookie and muffin, are new to Glendale, and so far she and other vendors are optimistic that being on the key downtown artery will attract a good number of customers. “There’s a lot of foot traffic and people wandering around because there’s so many other things going on on this street,” Fuentes said on Thursday. This was the second...

02:58 / Press
16 Apr

Flower statues are put on display along both sides of Brand Boulevard. By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com Spring blossomed on Brand Boulevard literally overnight recently as a dozen oversized flower statues were put on display along both sides of the main downtown street. The petunias, which stand at about 5 feet tall, were commissioned by the Downtown Glendale Assn. in its latest seasonal public outdoor art display. They will remain on the sidewalks through sometime in May, said Tim Gallagher, the association’s spokesman. Petunias themselves don’t have much of a connection to Glendale, Gallagher said, but they do a good job representing what springtime is all about. “I...

03:00 / Press
14 Apr

Market to reopen on Brand Boulevard after an almost six-month hiatus. By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com Downtown Glendale’s farmers market will be relaunching on Brand Boulevard May 7 after a nearly six-month hiatus triggered by low turnout when the weekly event was held in a church parking lot a block away from the popular thoroughfare. The market will again be open every Thursday, but this time, it will span Brand between California and Wilson avenues, said Tim Gallagher, spokesman for the Downtown Glendale Assn., which oversees the market. Another change will be shifting the hours from a morning schedule to afternoon — 3 to 7...

03:02 / Press
09 Apr

Rick Caruso's company is closing in on its purchase of the Masonic Temple. By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com Downtown Glendale’s development boom continues as multiunit housing projects pop up, but plans announced this week by Caruso Affiliated aim to breathe new life into a nearly 90-year-old building in the downtown area that stands taller than most of its neighboring structures. Rick Caruso, chief executive of the company, is working to close its purchase of the nine-story Masonic Temple at 232 S. Brand Blvd. — across the street from his company’s outdoor mall, the America at Brand — and is looking to restore it as...

03:08 / Press
07 Apr

By Bianca Barragan In an attempt to lure CicLAvia and to boost their ongoing bike and pedestrian safety campaign, Glendale city officials have announced that major artery Brand Boulevard will be closed to car-trafficsometime this coming September for an event that sounds a lot like a tiny CicLAvia, says The Glendale News Press. The street takeover will be much smaller than CicLAvia, which usually stretches for anywhere from three to ten miles. Glendale's will be just a couple of blocks, but it's also happening in the middle of the week. Though the details are still being worked out, the event is expected to happen the Thursday...

03:05 / Press
07 Apr

By Bianca Barragan Caruso Affiliated's just owning this intersection of Glendale. Across the street from the Americana at Brand (which is a Caruso property), the company's inked a deal to buy a nine-story, former Masonic temple, two nearby buildings, and the vacant lot behind the temple. The plan, company CEO Rick Caruso says, is to turn the whole thing into a mixed-use complex that will incorporate creative office spacewith room for retail and restaurants, reports the Glendale News Press. The properties sit on the northeast corner of Brand and Colorado, and together are roughly 68,000 square feet (the lot itself is about 38,000 square feet). In a...

03:04 / Press
19 Mar

More than 15,000 people have attended a show at facility between January and this month, official says. By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com A multimillion-dollar renovation for hosting bigger productions is paying off for the Alex Theatre, which saw a bigger audience turnout in the beginning of this year, compared to the same time a year ago. More than 15,000 people saw a show at the Alex between January and March compared to 11,000 in early 2014, said Elissa Glickman, chief executive of Glendale Arts, the nonprofit that manages the theater. The Alex presented productions of the musicals “Les Miserables” and “Billy Elliot” in January and...

03:10 / Press
18 Feb

By Bianca Barragan Glendale's YMCA will be getting a new neighbor: 70 units of affordable housing aimed at housing artists and their families. The project would rise on about half of the 2.2-acre grounds of the Glendale YMCA, says the Daily News. Residents would have to be working artists who make 60 percent or less of median area income, and the building is set to have amenities befitting creative types, like art studios, as well as an open-to-the-public ground-floor gallery and art classes. The $31-million project is expected to open by the fall of 2016. These are going to be some super-fit artists, living next to the Y....

03:11 / Press
13 Nov

The Downtown Glendale Association board has accepted the recommendation of the market manager and will take a holiday hiatus for the Downtown Market effective today. Rick Lemmo, president of the DGA, said that the start of construction on adjacent street would adversely affect the traffic to the market, which is located at 200 N. Maryland in the parking lot of the First Baptist church. The DGA plans to assess all options and suggestions throughout this coming winter season and reopen an exciting new and improved market in the spring of 2015. Lemmo thanked the market operator, Carole Gallegos, and the dozens of...

02:44 / Press
24 Jan

The market reopens in a new location with an expanded and upgraded selection of vendors, including Underwood Family Farms, Living Lettuce and Beyond Bread. The revamped Glendale farmers market launched Jan. 9 in a new location with an expanded and upgraded roster. Founded in 1992, it was formerly on Brand Boulevard, sponsored by the city, and managed by Christopher Nyerges, who also operates a School of Self-Reliance that teaches wilderness survival skills. Last year, the Downtown Glendale Assn., a merchants and property owners group, took over the market, and this month hired a new manager, Carole Gallegos, who directs the successful Encino and South Pasadena farmers markets. At Glendale, she...

23:19 / Press
24 Jan

The Glendale Farmers Market is now located in the parking lot of First Baptist Church on the corner of Louise Street and Wilson Avenue. It’s expanded to about 35 vendors and is away from traffic on Brand Boulevard, where it was formerly located north of Broadway. Also, the market, which opens at 9 a.m. every Thursday, now has restroom access. The move was made after the market’s management was taken over by the Downtown Glendale Assn., which had concerns about traffic, parking and access for the disabled at the former location, where it had been for several years. Click here for complete article Source: Glendale...

13:55 / Press
20 Jan

  We have a number of very good new vendors at the Downtown Glendale Market. One of those is Mom’s Products, Inc. It began nearly 20 years ago out of the home of owner, Ben Azouz. He started making his authentic Mediterranean dips and appetizers for his friends and neighbors. His products were so popular, he began selling them in farmer’s markets. Today you can buy his products at over 30 markets, from San Diego to Orange County. Be sure to try the number one seller and favorite of employee, Mosstafa Bibi (pictured here) the artichoke hummus. The market is open every Thursday...

13:32 / Press
03 Jan

We are happy to see this article in the very popular Sunset Magazine called "One perfect day in Glendale." You could clip out this article, put it on the dashboard, and spend a great day in our city. It mentions the Alex Theatre and Porto's Bakery - two of our downtown heroes. Thanks, Sunset Magazine....

15:31 / Press
31 Dec

Downtown Glendale will welcome a new and improved market to a new location when it opens Jan. 9 and is renamed the Downtown Glendale Market. Formerly the Farmers Market, the Downtown Glendale Market will be owned by the Downtown Glendale Association and managed by veteran farmers’ market operator Carole Gallegos. The market will be open each Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The newly named market will operate in the parking lot shared by the city and the First Baptist Church on the 200 block of North Maryland. The market will open with some 60 vendors (as compared to 25 at...

10:55 / Press
23 Sep

Meet Miguel Reza, one of our Downtown Glendale Ambassadors. Our ambassadors enjoy their jobs. They help folks looking for directions or seeking a recommendation. They keep the streets sparkling clean. Miguel even has carried packages to the car or folks who needed a hand. He lives in Silver Lake and says he loves coming to work every day because he works outdoors with some of the friendliest people anywhere.   [caption id="attachment_7692" align="alignnone" width="597"] Miguel Reza on the job in Downtown Glendale[/caption]  ...

15:04 / Press
15 Sep

Please join us Wednesday at Massage Envy Spa Glendale, for Healing Hands for Arthritis, a one-day national event to raise funds to fight and cure arthritis. Massage Envy will donate $10 from every one-hour massage and facial session and 10 percent of sales of select skincare products to the Arthritis Foundation. First appointments at 8 a.m. and last appointments at 9 p.m. Food and drinks will be served all day. Massage Envy is 333. N. Brand Blvd....

15:27 / Press
13 Feb

For some time now, business and property owners in Downtown Glendale have been discussing ways and collaborating with the City to create a multi-pronged approach to establishing a fresh branding identity for the district. This new identity will improve its image and increase both commerce and pedestrian activity levels. The efforts of downtown bussiness and property owners and the City, and the adoption of the new Downtown Glendale Community Benefit Distrist (CDB), which was approved overwhelmingly by property owners this past July, will reinvent the downtown area. The premise of the Downtown Glendale Community Benefit District, which is referred to by...

01:28 / Press
03 Apr

[column width="1/4" nomargin="true"] [/column] [column width="3/4" nomargin="true"] Visit the New Downtown Glendale Market, Now Open Every Thursday First Baptist Church Parking Lot, Maryland Avenue between California and Wilson (behind the Alex Theatre) [/column]...

02:06 / Press