Visitation Rights: Have been coming to this place many times to either study, enjoy a couple of…read morecoffee, eat, and people watch. Locaton: Old Town Monrovia is centered around Myrtle Avenue, extending roughly from Foothill Boulevard (Route 66) north to Olive Avenue south, and from Ivy Avenue east to Primrose Avenue west, encompassing about ten blocks The area's heart is Myrtle Avenue, where you'll find many of its key businesses, with Foothill (Route 66) as a major north-south boundary. Parking: Located between Foothill Blvd and Parking can be found along Myrtle Ave, in nearby public parking lots parking structures, and in the residential. FREE PARKING! You can also park in the shared parking lot on the SW corner of Foothill and Myrtle. Just walk down Myrtle Ave.. Ambiance/Decor: You'll find a relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere perfect for browsing, dining, enjoying coffee, catching a movie, or just strolling, with close proximity to hiking trails in the nearby foothills. You can also find a statue Samson the Hot Tub Bear Festivities For All Of Us: They have a lot of activities for the locals and out of towners through out the year. -Friday Night Street Fair & Market -Valentine's Day Carriage Rides -Spring Egg Hunt & Healthy Kids Day -Monrovia Old Town Wine Walk -Monrovia Days Community Festival -4th of July Fireworks Show & Concert -Summer Concerts & Movies in the Park -Fountain to the Falls Run/Walk 10K -Old Town Fall Festival -Halloween Spooktacular and Trick-or-Treat Bash -Thankful & Grateful Holiday Gathering -Holiday Parade -Holiday Home Decorating Contest -Santa Tours If you want more info, you can visit the city's website: https://www.monroviaca.gov/your-government/recreation/special-events#ad-image-0 Business/Shops: In old town Monrovia, you'll see a blend of mom and pop shops and restaurants. The shops that I've patronize through out the years are: Merengue, El Diablo, Grey and Cash, Jake's Roadhouse, Mikomi, Tacos and Papas, and Charlie's House. Old Town For Thought: If you want a quick getaway from reality, this town is for you.

Monrovia is a beautiful hillside town located in the San Gabriel Valley. On occasion I visit and on…read morea recent Friday evening I was surprised to find that the town has a large night market with local vendors, entertainment, shops, and artists offering handmade goods. A must visit! Peaceful, quaint environment with a small town vibe, and California appeal.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

I love Surfside Murals. I asked for a mural in a child's bedroom and they did a great job…read more Their prices are super reasonable and the quality of their work was perfection. I will use them again. The mural they made is just ever so lovely. The service from the phone call to the work to the billing was all great. You should try these guys out. You will be so happy.

From the owner: Transform your walls with Surfside Hand Painted Murals and digital style gradient walls (ombré…read morewall, mesh and aurora gradient s — custom interior & exterior mural painting for every style, every space, and every vision. We create high-end murals for homes, businesses, architects, and interior designers across Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and up to Santa Barbara. At Surfside Murals, we handle all types of mural art, including: • Illustration, abstract, landscapes, animals, children’s themes • Minimalist, geometric, portrait, cartoon, pop art • Surrealism, impressionism, expressionism, graffiti, and more We specialize in acrylic-painted murals, and we’re happy to work with mixed materials like wood, texture elements, and custom artistic additions to match your design vision. Our services include: • Interior & exterior murals • Residential & commercial projects • Design sketching + full concept development • Wall prep for clean, long-lasting finishes If you’re looking to elevate a home, storefront, restaurant, office, studio, school, or public space — we deliver clean, detailed, professional mural work that stands out. Serving Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Ventura County, and Santa Barbara. Let’s bring your vision to the wall — contact Surfside Murals today for a free consultation.

Street Rods Forever is a car meet that happens annually. At least for the past 4 years or so,…read morethey've met in Old Town Monrovia,on Myrtle between Olive & Lime. Streets are blocked off to traffic. Owners arrive & park at their "spots" between 7am - 9am. Then it's open to the public. Here, you'll see around 200 classic, street rods, rare restored cars and many believed to be one of a kind. This event is different from all other car shows I've been to, as in the cars on display had clocked many hours of labor & restoration, brilliant body kits and some talent to get them to this customized finish. You will not see mass produced rice rockets or Italian imports. To me, these are works of art. Some of these engines roar to life louder than Lamborghinis. The annual "Street Rods Forever" usually meets in early September. Some owners are approachable and like to talk about their cars. You can hear some fun stories or learn some history. This is a fun experience for guys, girls or families. I call this a car meet (instead of car show) because: 1) free entry. 2) no vendors aggressively pitching their junk. 3) no models walking arounf promoting vapes 4) no car maker respresentation, all owners. All that makes this event more relaxed, and you have access to plenty of restaurants & cafes to take a break. As these events are once a year, anyone interested should mark this on their calendars for next year (2014) or check out their website to learn more. Tips: * Easy parking within a block away. Free lots are nearby but check time limits. Ample street parking, but reduced during event peak, around noon. * Public park nearby in front of the library, and if you bring the kids...there's a playground behind library * No need to bring food, there's plenty of places to choose from * Check weather, Valley weather can get hot so bring sunscreen Thoughts: * City or car club should promote this much more to draw bigger crowds. Good for the local economy, and more people to admire the owners' cars.

They're going to meet every Saturday in the evening great family adventure and look at old cars …read more walk down memory lane listen to the hot rods they all roar. See what a real cars are made from. beautiful work they all have done to their cars. Worth seeing.

Ran in to get a few slices and try the Zucotto. The inside looked nice and I'll have to try a slice…read morethere next time. Using the order online process was easy and so was pickup. I didn't quite know where to park so more info about that would be helpful, but I didn't get a ticket so ‍ Can't wait to go back!

What I ordered * Corn Pizza…read more* Spinach pesto pizza * Mushroom pizza * House-made meatballs * Zucotto cake I'd never heard of cornmeal pizza before and couldn't imagine how it would taste, but it turned out to be amazing! The crust is very unique. I definitely recommend trying their Corn Pizza! The house-made meatball is good, but honestly, I would rather spend my calories on more pizza. Zelo 328 E Foothill Blvd, Arcadia, CA 91006 Street parking

Everything was amazing!! From the food to the service!! Classic Italian restaurant!!! Would come…read morehere again!!!

Excellent Italian food and service! Grano makes one feel like they are actually dining in a family…read morerestaurant in Italy.

OSF was never my first choice or go to when I had one close by. Now that the closest one is 45…read moreminutes away it's a treat. We arrived 40 minutes before closing. Our server Zoey was absolutely fabulous. Very attentive and gave extra care to our table. She went above and beyond with her service. Thank you so much Zoey! They have a Monday special! $25 for a plate of spaghetti, 4 meatballs, 2 salads/soup, 2 drinks, 2 ice cream and bread. I took all the spaghetti home and feasted on the bread. Cup of soup and salad. The house pesto salad dressing is a must. Minestrone soup was tasty. A lot more broth than I would like but maybe because we were there before closing. Salad was a generous serving, I need to ask for dressing on the side. It's a huge restaurant and everything still looks nostalgic. It was very clean and well maintained. Booths are very comfy and tables have large high back chairs. I've never sat inside the train car. The bathroom is downstairs but they do have an elevator

Very satisfying, if you consider what it is. Epic fine Italian dining this is not. Old Spaghetti…read moreFactory (OSF) is a chain of restaurants that has been around since the late 1960s, which serve a mostly pasta menu with some greek influence (like the Mizithra cheese). They seated us at a window which was nice so kids could see the Amtrak Surfliner go by (it went by 2x), along with Metrolink and at least 2 long BNSF freight trains. We shared: Garlic Mizithra pasta (with bacon and mushrooms): 8.5/10. Don't get much brown butter flavor, but the mizithra cheese, bacon and mushroom have a nice salty roastiness that is very pleasant. Meat Lovers Treat pasta (which comes with 1 sausage, 2 meatballs, and meat sauce): 9/10. Very enjoyable red sauce pasta. Kids especially liked the sausage, meatballs were tender, sauce tasted fresh and not goopy or pasty. Sicilian Garlic Cheese bread: 9.5/10: totally satisfying; basically a pleasant and non-industrial tasting french bread pizza with a slightly chunky sauce served for spooning or dipping. Fresh bread: 9/10: a mini french loaf, piping hot and fresh, with whipped butter and they even gave us an extra loaf to take home (so really 10/10) Each entree comes with garden salad (ours was very fresh, and I really enjoyed the balsamic vinaigrette), bread and... Free ice cream! 9/10: what is not to like about a free scoop of vanilla or spumoni with dessert. The spumoni does not have nuts, only artificial nut flavor, so people with pistachio or other nut allergies probably don't need to worry. I have had better spumoni but it was still pleasant. I was surprised that I liked this place this much. Service was excellent, exceptionally friendly and attentive. In sum: pleasant, comfortable, accommodates kids and big groups well. And value is excellent: salad, pasta, bread, garlic cheese bread, soda, all of this cost of $66 (incl. tax!) + tip. The portions aren't gigantic but totally satisfactory. We will definitely be back when we are in the area, especially when the kids enjoy watching the trains go by, and you can walk around the station afterwards.

We just celebrated my mother's 90th birthday with 30 + people in the upstairs dining banquet room…read more We had an amazing time.. The food and service was excellent! The staff was very kind, attentive and respectful . We lacked nothing, We are very grateful to the staff for their excellence and compassion in making our event so perfect

My first time dining here for lunch and I wanted to try their DineLa menu. I ordered the caesar…read moresalad, steak sandwich, and chocolate lava cake. I also ordered the Garlic bread (a la carte). The salad was good, lots of cheese and dressing. I wished that they didn't put the sandwich on top of the fries. The dessert was good but a bit too sweet for me. The garlic bread wasn't my favorite, I wish it could be a bit more buttery and garlicky; also the bread was really crispy too much for my liking. Overall, a good spot for lunch, I just wouldn't order thr garlic bread again.

Hattas Studios did such beautiful work for us. It was a deeply personal job of finishing the work…read morein a church that my husband had created but his health kept him from finishing. The care they took to finish his vision was beyond anything we could have hoped for. I can't imagine anyone else could have given us what they did. I can't recommend them enough.

This is an excellent company and I'm so happy with my decision…read more Let me start by saying this is the first time I've hired a muralist and I am also a first time father. This was important to me. Jeanine took the time to listen to what I was looking for and suggested a few things to help grow my idea. I loved that. She came over and was so kind and really took time to understand this was more than just a job; this was something my kid is going to grow up with. She took measurements, and even took color swatches of the carpet and furniture to make sure we matched the color palette! She quickly mocked something up and a few days later I had a photoshopped mockup for approval. Once we approved it we setup a date and I paid the deposit. Marcus was the artist that was assigned to this project. He was so kind and wonderful in my home. He let my wife and I peek and see progress, and would check in with me if he had any questions. He's a really talented artist and executed my vision faithfully. At the end of the day my wife cried (with joy), we have our incredible mural and I couldn't recommend this company enough. Really pleased with how it turned out and I will be calling them again for my next mural or art project.

I ordered through door dash for pick up. Unfortunately I ordered while I was in the parking lot so…read moreI needed to wait about 20 min for my order. I was starving and they were so kind and did my mozzarella sticks while I waited for the order. I ordered 1all meat pizza which was amazing and a veggie calzone which was huge and filled with toppings and tasted so good.

This was once upon a time the best pizza place in Monrovia, which makes this experience especially…read moredisappointing. I ordered two pizzas as usual: a pepperoni with extra sauce, well done, and a jalapeño pepperoni with extra sauce, well done. Neither was prepared correctly. I contacted the store and was offered a remake, but only if I drove back to pick it up. There was no option for redelivery, and the interaction felt dismissive rather than helpful. As a long-time customer since opening, I'm disappointed by the decline in both quality and service. I hope ownership addresses these issues, as there are many other pizza options in Monrovia. Based on this experience, I won't be returning.