Things to Do in Glendale CA (2025)
Glendale’s nonprofit shrine to glowing signage pairs gallery shows with hands-on classes and after-dark city neon tours. Featured by the Los Angeles Times and NBC Los Angeles, MONA’s official calendar confirms year-round hours and resident discounts for locals.
Opened in 1925 and honored by the Los Angeles Conservancy, this landmark venue still anchors Brand Boulevard with concerts, film events, and touring productions. An active 2025 schedule confirms it’s very much alive as a community stage.
An actor-driven company staging classics and timely revivals at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center. Season announcements and subscriber offerings show the troupe’s robust 2025 programming, with coverage from BroadwayWorld and KCRW.
A cornerstone of Armenian literature and culture in Glendale since relocating from Hollywood in the 1990s. The shop’s event listings and partnerships with Glendale Library, Arts & Culture confirm frequent author talks and community programs.
This bakery specializes in the Artsakh flatbread stuffed with more than a dozen herbs—spotlighted by the Michelin Guide and praised by Eater for staying true to tradition. A rare, vegetarian-friendly taste of the Caucasus right off Broadway.
A tiny, family-run Armenian-Egyptian spot with outsized flavor and national acclaim. Recognized by The New York Times’ America’s Favorite Restaurants and repeatedly lauded by the Los Angeles Times and Eater LA; the official site confirms current hours.
Since 1993, this Persian-Armenian institution has drawn crowds for generous platters and fragrant rice in a leafy courtyard. Consistently recommended by Eater LA and noted by local critics as a Glendale essential for group feasts.
A family-run Lebanese-Armenian classic with lively weekend entertainment and a deep mezza lineup. Discover Los Angeles and local reviewers highlight the Glendale location’s festive atmosphere; the official site confirms hours and live shows.
At this side-street Glendale butcher shop (where the friendly front-of-house Lurick, aka “Lolo,” answers the phone) the ethos is “No rice, just meat.” There’s no menu, but chef Artur Malkhasyan will cook anything in the case—preferably with advance notice—on a gas grill in the back; a poster above the grinder shows various beef, veal, chicken, lamb, and pork options and the case displays over two dozen cuts, including veal short ribs, beef rib-eye, lamb rack, five types of lule, and lamb and beef liver. Highlights from my visits include firm, savory pork jowl flaps, pork ribs, and boneless marinated chicken thigh, and the lule (lamb, beef, and a rare herb-flecked pork) is a joy to eat; orders arrive in aluminum trays or Styrofoam containers atop lavash with raw onions, and true to Lolo’s word there’s no rice.
Inside Montrose Bowl, I found Never Caged — the in-house vegan restaurant founded by Robert Grigoryan that exclusively operates in the alley after his now-closed Koreatown and Chinatown locations. During the renovation the kitchen and bar were expanded and fitted with modern equipment to support the restaurant. The menu focuses on comforting fast-food fare made plant-based, including several vegan fried chicken sandwiches (made with plant-based protein), an Impossible burger, loaded fries, and other shareable items that pair well with wine and beer — ideal for eating between frames.
A Glendale original celebrated for made-to-order ponchik and savory perashki, frequently noted by the Los Angeles Times and Eater’s Armenian food guides. The official site lists multiple locations, with the Central Avenue shop as the flagship.
A book-lined, intimate stage dedicated to live comedy—stand-up, improv, storytelling, and podcast tapings—run by local producers. The venue’s schedule and event listings show nightly programming that has become a downtown Glendale staple.
