Citrus Grove - Glendale, CA

Citrus Grove is one of Glendale's 34 neighborhoods, each uniquely delineated by streets, washes and mountain ranges. The city itself, in the past, was inhabited by the Tongvan people. The oldest building in Glendale was built in 1860 by Teodoro Verdugo, son of Spanish corporal José María Verdugo, who used the land for grazing livestock and farming dating back to 1784.

Nearby, visit the Isle of Sky Toy Museum, packed with children’s toys and memorabilia from the ‘50s and ‘60s or the Forest Lawn Museum, housed in a beautiful historic building, with exhibits that have included Lego sculptures, modern contemporary furniture and motorcycles.

The arts scene in Los Angeles is a huge influence on those located in Glendale, and it has many active participants and patrons. The Brand Library & Art Center rotates exhibits regularly. The community also has an urban art program, partnering with city organizations to enrich the community.

You will find cuisines from all parts of the globe here in Citrus Grove. Because Glendale has one of the largest communities of Armenian descent in the United States, visiting one of the many Middle Eastern/Armenian restaurants in the area in order to sample authentic Mediterranean style dishes is a must.

Old Gyumri, with private booths, kitschy decor, and an authentic Armenian feel, serves up steaming platters of shish kebab, salmon and melt-in-your-mouth lamb chops.

Elena’s Greek Armenian Kitchen, a hole in the wall with street parking and lot parking available in the church across the street, cooks up fresh lentil soup, kebabs, pita bread and stuffed grape leaves.

At Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza, the gluten-free options are just as popular as the regular pizzas. Build your own pizza, with as many toppings as you want. Don’t forget to try the white sauce on your pizza if you’re looking for something new.

At night, locals visit the venue Complex to catch live local or touring bands, play karaoke, or participate in trivia night. Visit one of many water holes in town, including the Glendale Tap, which has pool tables, friendly staff, free peanuts, and 52 beers on tap.

Citrus Grove locals can get around by use of cars or the Beeline Transit system, with fares running at $1 per ride. Dial-a-Ride, a curbside or door to door service, caters to senior citizens over 65 for $1.50 a ride. Named after a former Glendale mayor and renovated in 1999, the Larry Zarian Transportation center serves as a central hub for the Metro, Beeline, Amtrak and Metrolink transportation systems.

Yellow Cab and City Cab of Glendale are easily accessible for quick rides within the city.

Walk Bike Glendale is a chapter of the Los Angeles Bicycle Commission, actively engaged in making all of Glendale more of walkable and bikeable, with annual themed rides such as the Mayor Ride and the Holiday Ride. Highways 2 and 32 are easily accessible, quickly connecting Citrus Grove with the Santa Monica Freeway and the Golden State Freeway.

Free access to over 40 parks dotted all over the city of Glendale makes Citrus Grove a fine resource for those with children and an outdoor itch.

Within the neighborhood, find Emerald Isle Park, a tiny community park filled with tall trees. Visit secluded, shady Lower Scholl Canyon Park for access to hiking trails, a large picnic area and playground access.

Drive a few miles to access the Verdugo Mountain Open Space Reserve to hike open, sunny California trails dotted with native shrubs and trees. Take your canine to the Griffith Dog Park, or the Crescenta Valley Dog Park for a romp in open grasses, with access to shade, a playground with an umbrella protecting it from the sun, and baseball fields.

The Glendale Art Association puts on many events throughout the year. The Glendale Public Library host annual events, including used book sales available to the public.

Cost of living in Citrus Grove is more affordable than that of Santa Monica, Downtown Los Angeles, Marina Del Ray and Venice Beach thanks to the median $1,197 rent for a one-bedroom apartment. It costs $1 to take Beeline Transit to the city center. Beer at a local pub will runs about $6, and gas prices are nine percent higher than the national average.

For brand name clothes and accessories, the Glendale Galleria is one of southern California's largest retail shopping malls, with high-end stores including Zales Jewelers, Hugo Boss and M.A.C. Cosmetics. The Americana at Brand, a mall resting in between Burbank and Glendale, houses additional high-end and designer shops.

Boutiques can be found all over town. Try Amor's Boutique for affordable prices along with top of the line fashion.

Vons, Whole Foods and Ralph's major grocery stores service the area for all of your food shopping needs. On Sundays, visit the Montrose Farmers Market on Honolulu Avenue for fresh produce from farmers who grow locally.