We did one side of Glendale Blvd. last week, now let’s jump across the freeway and do the other side, shall we? Ok, you’ve got your Coldstone, Subway and Out of the Closet thrift shop on this street, but there are a lot of little shops and restaurants to explore that aren’t exactly chains. Some are new and hip, some a bit run down and sketchy looking, but this is definitely an area to check out!

So whatever, Valentines Day is this weekend, you’re in the area after reading this stellar Sweet Streets review, and you need to find some candy for a friend or “special” friend. Well look no further than Sweets for the Soul. This place is all about their brownies. They’ve got some other things too, so for all you cupcake fanatics, yes, they have those too. But you really want to try one of their delicious, fresh brownies like the Obama brownie made with Valrhona Dark and White Chocolate. Yup. It’s the flavor of the month! Is that racist? I bet the Obama tastes like sugar and hope. Is your sweetie not into all things sweet? Get her drunk at 55 Degree Wine. God, I’m so classy. Wine tastings here are completely affordable at around $12-$25 depending on the types of wines. They also have a tapas menu to compliment the wine selection. Be sure to check out their underground wine cellar and get a drink at the cellar bar, it’s pretty neat.

Then there’s the food. There’s always food. Glendale Blvd. (part 2) is no exception. Viet Noodle Bar definitely stands out to me. One of the few Vietnamese restaurants in LA proper, it better be serving delicious noodles if it’s going to put it in the title! And yes, the noodles are great. Soft and filled with flavor, their bowls of noodles are perfectly portioned for around $12. They’ve also got banh mi and pho, but honestly I would stick with the noodles at this particular place. I actually had the waiter order for me because I wanted something extremely good. He picked the white fish noodle dish. It was light yet packed with lemongrassy flavor and so good.  And vegetarians, fear not, they’ve got some dishes just for you! The popular one is the noodles with jackfruit. Even I thought it was good! It may not be the most authentic place, but whatever, the food is good, the waiters are friendly, the decor is incredible (minimalist, with walls lined with books you can read while you eat), prices are reasonable, and they have a sugar cane shot with sugar cane juice, lemon, and cayenne pepper you must try. It’s quite the experience. This street also has a lot of small Mexican food spots, tons of family owned places and pupuserias. Tacos Villa Corona is a popular stop along the way. This will make genara happy: they’ve got a pretty decent potato taco/burrito/quesadilla menu. Other than Malo, and a few other spots, it’s a little hard to find a good potato taco in this city! This place is also known for their breakfast burritos, incorporating a lot of tasty spinach into the menu as well. This is definitely a taco place to try!

After all this eating, it’s time for some Bikram Yoga, because why not? It’s right down the street! Your first week can cost you $20 for unlimited classes and that is quite a deal. These are INTENSE classes, going for 90 minutes, and all happening in a purposefully heated room. Why on earth would you want to be put through this torture? Well, it’s super good for you. You will be strong, fit, and possibly impervious to the summer heat. They recommend you come to class with a towel, a mat, and an empty stomach. I wouldn’t use someone else’s mat… think of all the sweat! Yuck. Even this picture is sweating!

Post-Bikram Yoga is tea time. Kaldi Coffee & Tea will help you out. It’s a very local, friendly place to get tasty tea and in-house roasted coffee beans. After a quick drink, end your time on Glendale Blvd. with a stroll through Black Maria Gallery. Saturday is your last chance to check out their current show “I’m An Animal”, a group show featuring an all female crew. It’s pretty great, so get over there if you can. If not, February 18th brings a new exhibit, “Custom Yoka Show”. The show features custom designed toys and it should be a lot of fun.

Ok, I’m done. There’s a lot on this street, way more than I could write about because you’re probably already exhausted from sitting through this, if you even made it this far. But yeah, uhhhh, Glendale Blvd. is a sweet street.

Want to suggest a sweet street? E-mail us!

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