Monday, April 30, 2012

The Museum of Neon Art's Neon Cruise: A Wild Ride Through LA History

On Saturday I hopped on a double decker bus for  The Museum of Neon Art’s Neon Cruise.  The Museum of Neon Art is in the midst of moving to Glendale, so we started this special Glendale version of the tour at The Americana, just across from MONA’s new location on Brand. The tour was quite different - and better - than I had expected.  Many of the neon signs we saw were fantastic, but what really makes the tour worthwhile is guide J. Erik Lynxwiler’s expansive, frequently hilarious and deeply knowledgeable stream-of-consciousness narration on LA’s history and culture.  His knowledge truly makes the tour worthwhile. 

Also, and this I didn’t expect: everything is much more interesting from 15 feet up.  You notice details you just don’t pick up at ground level.  You also occasionally have to duck for trees (really).  I highly recommend the tour, which runs on Saturdays from June to September.  They hope to do the modified Glendale version of the cruise once a year as a special event; the normal cruise departs from Chinatown.  Get your tickets here (they sell out) and dress warmly!

Here are some pictures from the cruise below.  I’ve also uploaded an expanded version of this photo set to my flickr.


looking down Brand from the top of the bus

 Leaving The Americana

 Future site of Lex on Orange

 Great White Hut

 Zinke's Shoe Repair

 Cruising down Brand

 Seeley's

Victorian Houses in Angelino Heights

 Downtown Los Angeles from Angelino Heights

 watch out for those trees!

 Los Angeles City Hall

 new LAPD HQ

 Chop Suey/Far East Cafe

 Philippe The Original

 The Orpheum Theatre

 The Eastern Building

 The Pantages

The Museum of Neon Art's Future Site on Brand Boulevard

Which will soon look like this-






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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Honolulu Avenue Road Diet Community Meeting – Thurs. April 26 @ 7PM

From local safer street advocates Walk Bike Glendale:

There will be a Community Meeting this Thursday at 7 PM for the Honolulu Avenue Road Diet project. The Honolulu Road Diet is a test project that the City will conduct on Honolulu Avenue between approximately Whiting Woods Road and Orangedale Avenue.  The project, starting in June, will replace two travel lanes with a left-turn-center-lane and buffered bicycle lanes going each direction.  After 9 months, the City Council will make a decision to make permanent the road diet, or reverse back to the existing street design.

Please read more at the Walk Bike Glendale site and come to the meeting to show your support!


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Glendale "Neon Cruise" This Saturday 04/28*

And there are still a few tickets available!  I'll be there. This extra special Neon Cruise departs from The Americana.  More details at The Museum of Neon Art site-


*updated 4/30: Here's my dispatch from the Cruise!  It was fantastic.


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Friday, March 30, 2012

City Council Approves Draft Bicycle Master Plan!

The Glendale city council voted on the draft bicycle master plan Tuesday and it's moving forward!  Fantastic news.

From the Glendale News-Press:
The first of its kind in 15 years, Glendale’s new draft Bicycle Transportation Plan includes recommendations for new bike lanes and routes, coloring in some lanes, adding more shared lane markings — known as sharrows — and even slimming down some roads to make way for dedicated bicycle lanes. 
“I think there are many, many reasons to do this and very few reasons not to,” said Mayor Laura Friedman during the special City Council meeting. 
A HUGE THANK YOU to Mayor Laura Friedman, who has been incredibly supportive from day one, and the rest of the council (except Weaver).  Laura even organized and led the first ever Glendale "Mayor's Ride" in September.  Check out photos from that ride on my Flickr.

Mayor Friedman with Glendale police officers Josh Luna and Sue Shine. [photo by Martin Orozco]


If you are interested in these issues, I highly recommend you follow local advocates Walk Bike Glendale to stay up to date:




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Monday, March 26, 2012

Important: City Council Reviewing Bicycle Plan*

"The City Council is reviewing the proposed Bicycle Transportation Plan in a special study session on Tuesday, March 27 at 3:00 PM.  The meeting will be held at City Hall Council Chambers at 613 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA.  It is CRITICAL that community members share comments that support progressive bike friendly treatments. Biking is on the rise in all the major cities but the Glendale’s City Council must see support from the community to make it happen here."
If you can't make it to the council meeting tomorrow night, at the very least, please send an e-mail to the council ASAP expressing support for bike-related projects in Glendale.

Council e-mails and information are here: 

The photo on the cover of the Bike Transportation Plan is of this huge group of riders on Glenoaks that I took as I was leading the last Glendale History Ride. Love this photo.


*Update: Yay, they passed it!

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Palate Food + Wine Closed Indefinitely

I'm sad to report that the excellent Palate Food + Wine has closed indefinitely for "reorganization." I hope they figure something out and the location isn't "reorganized" as a kabab place.  I loved being able to walk over for a drink accompanied by a few small plates - particularly their amazing salmon rillette and house made pickles.


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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Syd Mead: Progressions at Forest Lawn Glendale

Forest Lawn Glendale is currently showcasing the works of "visual futurist" Syd Mead.  The exhibit runs until 4/15/12.  I highly recommend the show, which consists of everything from Mead's early watercolors as a student at Art Center College of Design in 1957 to 80's Japanese ads to paintings commissioned just last year.




Syd Mead: Progressions (1/27/2012 - 4/15/2012)
Tuesday through Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., opening on: - 1/27/2012
Forest Lawn Glendale - Museum


The museum is free, and is a great place to enjoy a stunning view of Glendale.



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Saturday, March 17, 2012

Glendale's Answer to the "House of Davids"

South Glendale has its own "House of Davids," featuring neo-classical sculpture, mayan influences, curtains, lions, swans, painted brick stripes and asymetrical rock trim.  Behold!

(Thanks to Jen from The Cave Wine Storage for the heads up.)


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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Marlin, Rooster and Cockatoos in South Pasadena

Spot anything unusual in this photo? 
Closer....


I'm used to seeing real exotic parrots in South Pasadena, but this cockatoo and collection of what appears to be salvaged commercial sculpture on the roof of a garage was new to me.  Always fun to spot interesting details on otherwise ordinary homes.



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Thursday, March 8, 2012

Cool Brick Building at The Americana Demolished

One of my favorite little Glendale buildings at 230 S. Orange was torn down about two weeks ago.  It was purchased by Americana developer Rick Caruso to make way for Nordstrom, which is moving to the Americana from The Galleria.  Here is a picture of the demolition.

I took this picture of 230 S. Orange in 2008.

Prior to the construction of The Americana, it was a recording studio.  I know that attempts were made to lease it as a bar/club after the Americana was built, but nothing became of it.  Caruso purchased the building for $4 million last year.  The LA Weekly has more details about the building purchase.


Although the building itself was demolished, at the urging of The Glendale Historical Society, Caruso Affiliated will be reconstructing the facade back INTO the new Nordstrom project.  From TGHS:

The Glendale Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has been working with Caruso Affiliated to relocate the façade of the Mission Revival-style brick commercial building at 230 South Orange Street, recently acquired by Caruso for the expansion of The Americana at Brand.  Caruso Affiliated will incorporate the existing building façade into the design of the new Nordstrom building along the new pedestrian passageway to be created on what is now Orange Street between Colorado and Caruso Avenue. 
The façade's original steel sash windows will become showcases for The Glendale Historical Society to display photographic images from Glendale's past.  Caruso will install display boxes where The Glendale Historical Society can promote special events and install exhibits about the history of the City of Glendale and its architecture. 

I believe these are the bricks from the facade, which will be added to the new structure.  Orange Street will become a pedestrian passageway, which will hopefully  bring foot traffic south onto Colorado, which has been pretty dead despite the success of The Americana.  You can see renderings the new structures and the pedestrian walkway at CurbedLA.








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Thursday, February 9, 2012

Americana Apple Store Fined For Overcharging Customer $70


It's official: Apple overcharges.  The Apple Store retail gods at The Americana at Brand were hit with a fine by the LA County Department of Weights & Measures for overcharging a customer by $70.  They were fined $200 (must be feeling that one!) and are forced to wear this scarlet letter on their front door until April 8th.

Related posts: 

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Ajarski Khachapuri: Breakfast in a Boat

After many years living in South Glendale, I still haven't tried every hole in the wall restaurant within a few blocks of my apartment, and not for lack of trying.  Many of these restaurants serve regional specialties that you could never find in most of the country.  While walking down Central, I noticed Red Top Burger. Beneath burgers and pizza on their sign, they listed "ajarski khachapuri".  Intrigued, I ordered the ajarski.  It's a Georgian specialty that is  similar to a calzone with two eggs over-easy on top, generously sprinkled with pepper.  The bread was excellent - crusty exterior and tender on the inside. I worked my way around the perimeter of the ajarski, pulling crisp strips of bread from the edges and dipping them into the soft egg yolk. The cheese was smooth, mild and enjoyably salty. I topped mine with basturma, which gave it a bacon-and-eggs feel. It’s $12 with basturma, $10 without -- but it’s more than enough to feed two. You could serve it at IHOP if you called it a Breakfast Boat.

Red Top Burger
501 S Central Ave
Glendale, CA 91204
(818) 500-1376


Ajarski khachapuri is also available from Pizza Boy on Colorado - and they have a smaller, one egg variant.  I've also heard that a few other local pizza places nearby have them as well.  Red Hat's ajarski was delicious.  Are there others worth trying?



The definition of hole in the wall.


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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Woman Drives Through the Verdugo Wash At High Speeds**

This is perhaps the ultimate Glendale driving story.  An elderly woman in a Mercedes drove down the Verdugo Wash at high speeds, including several foot tall drops, before being hailed down by maintenance workers.  From the Glendale News-Press:
She reportedly drove into the wash at Glenoaks Boulevard and Kenilworth Road in Glendale, drove through the water and several stepped portions of the channel while reaching speeds of about 70 mph, officials said.
The woman finally stopped near San Fernando Road after being hailed down by maintenance workers, who she whizzed by at freeway speeds, police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.
"Right now it's unexplainable," he said.

To attempt to understand this, I checked out her route on Google Maps.  You can see where she might have been briefly confused by the ramp down, especially if it was open, perhaps for the maintenance workers in the wash.  But not noticing the water and accelerating to highway speeds is pretty remarkable.  If she hadn't stopped where she did, she would've plowed into a large wooded area just before the wash joins the LA River.

* The GNP just added a photo gallery of the scene.

** Good video of the scene from ABC7.

*** just added an image of her entire route, start to finish.



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Blimps and Helicopters

Here are some of the interesting aircraft I've spotted over Glendale and Atwater Village in the last few weeks:

Hangar 1 Vodka Blimp
Glendale/Burbank/Pasadena PD Air Support MD520N
Farmers Insurance Zeppelin
 LA County Fire Department Firefighting Helicopter
Formation of four LAPD A-Star Helicopters over Forest Lawn Glendale
LAPD Bell 206 Jetranger


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Monday, January 23, 2012

Mmmm Chili: The David Brothers Chili Parlor Opens in Adams Hill

I stopped by The David Brothers Chili Parlor last week for a bowl of the house chili and found it to be excellent: well seasoned, peppery, lean, and served in a delicious cornbread bowl.  It's a tiny spot, with two picnic tables outside.  I will be back to try the beanless "bowl of red", chicken and vegetarian options.  In addition to chili, they also had grilled cheese, quesadillas, and a few nacho/burrito type specials on the menu.  Hopefully the David Brothers will soon be known for their chili, but for now they are better known as a pretty decent folk band.  Their album is available on iTunes, as well as at the counter of the restaurant. Hours are currently Mon-Fri from 11am-3:30pm.

The David Brothers Chili Parlor
1145 E Chevy Chase Dr
Glendale, CA 91205
Neighborhood: Glendale
(323) 400-7612



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Saturday, January 21, 2012

Get Your Knives Sharpened And Browse Medieval Weaponry



The most important tool in the kitchen is a super sharp knife.  If you cook as often as I do, you need your knives sharpened at least once every 6 months.   I get my knives sharpened at The Sword and Stone in Burbank.  They make custom weaponry and armor for movies and serious collectors...and on Saturdays, are open to the public for knife sharpening!

Sword and Stone charges a very reasonable $4 per blade for sharpening, they do it while you wait, and as you wait, you can peruse their stunning collection of bitchin' armor and weaponry!

The Sword and Stone (facebook)
723 North Victory Boulevard
Burbank, California 91502
(818) 562-6548


Knife sharpening hours are Saturdays from 10am-6pm.








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Monday, November 14, 2011

The Future of The Grand Central Air Terminal (and Vintage Warplanes Over Glendale)


I was awakened on Veterans Day by the glorious sound of vintage airplanes overhead - T-6 Texans, flown by the Condor Squadron.  It  made me imagine what Glendale must have sounded like during World War II, when twin-engined P-38 Lightning fighter planes built in Burbank and based at the Grand Central Air Terminal flew over Glendale every day.


The Grand Central Air Terminal has long been a fascination of mine, and I recently came across a new Facebook page and website dedicated to preserving the beautiful control tower building and turning it into an aviation museum.

The 1928 art deco building, which is owned by Disney, was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake and has been closed ever since.  As part of their agreement with the Redevelopment Agency for development of the Grand Central Creative Campus, the Walt Disney Co. has committed to rehabilitate the Grand Central Air Terminal building by 2015, with the intention of turning it into a visitor center for the Grand Central Creative Campus with limited public access available by reservation.  (PDF with more information here.)  It does not appear much work (other than a coat of paint) has been done.  I would suggest that Disney do even better than the visitor center idea and open a public museum housing treasures from the Disney Archives, which are located nearby. This would not only involve people more closely with the Disney brand, but also attract tourists to Glendale and educate them about both our rich animation AND aviation history.



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