A rainy day itinerary for Glassell Park
Rain in LA is a gift. Especially in Glassell Park, where the hills go green overnight and the whole neighborhood slows down just enough to actually enjoy it. Here's how to spend one of those gray, drizzly days right.
9:30am, Coffee first, obviously. Park on Verdugo anywhere between Lemon Poppy and Jairo's, there's usually street parking on the east side of the block. Start at Jairo's Bike Shop (4120 Verdugo Rd). Yes, it's a bike shop. Yes, the coffee is excellent. The vibe is unhurried, the espresso is tight, and you can browse wheels while you wake up. If there's a line or you want more room to settle in, walk two doors down to Little Ripper Coffee (4155 Verdugo Rd) and grab a window seat. Order whatever the batch brew is. It's a $$ spot but worth it on a slow morning.
10:30am, Breakfast with actual substance. Walk or drive five minutes south to Lemon Poppy Kitchen (3324 Verdugo Rd). The seasonal vegetable dishes hit differently when it's cold outside. The pasta is comforting without being heavy. It's cozy in there, exposed wood, soft light, staff who are actually nice. This is where you linger.
12:30pm, A little culture between meals. Head over to E-TRAIN Music Group on Toland Way. It's a coffee shop that doubles as a community music hub, local art on the walls, music gear in the corner, the kind of place that reminds you why people move to this neighborhood in the first place. Grab a second coffee. Chat with whoever's behind the counter. This is the hidden gem stop of the day.
2:00pm, Tacos in the rain (you'll be fine). Drive up Eagle Rock Blvd to Tacos Manzanillo Truck (3810 Eagle Rock Blvd). A 4.9-star taco truck is not an accident, get the al pastor, get the carne asada, get both. Eat under whatever overhang you can find. This is peak Glassell Park energy.
3:00pm, Walk it off, sort of. Drive down to Glassell Park Recreation Center (3156 Glendale Blvd) and take a short walk along the LA River bike path access point. It sounds counterintuitive in the rain but the river actually looks incredible when it's running, the whole channel fills up and the herons don't even move. Keep it short. Ten minutes, maybe twenty. Then get back in your car.
4:30pm, Early wine o'clock. This is what rainy days are for. Head to Wife and the Somm (3416 Verdugo Rd) and grab a table. Make a reservation if you can, it fills up. Order a glass of whatever they're pouring by the glass and let the sommelier talk you into something you wouldn't have picked yourself. The patio has cover if you want the rain ambiance without getting wet.
6:30pm, Dinner at the hearth. Walk literally next door to Verdugo Bar (3408 Verdugo Rd) for a pre-dinner drink if you need one, string lights on the back patio, cold beer, absolutely no pretense. Then make your way to Dunsmoor (3108 Glendale Blvd) for dinner. Wood-fired everything, Southern-influenced, the kind of menu that was made for a night like this. Order the smoked thing. Order the braised thing. You're in for the night and that's exactly right.
One last thing: If you somehow still have room, Churros El Morita is floating around the neighborhood and worth hunting down on your way home. Fresh churros in the rain is an experience no itinerary can fully prepare you for. Just do it.