Oh, the holidays.
Christmas music everywhere, snow covering everything in sight, and cool weather making its descent is what a typical holiday season may look like for some, but the holidays in the San Fernando Valley debunk all stereotypical traditions. Sure, we have Christmas music playing, but snow and cool weather? I don't think the SFV knows what cold is, so we have to get creative with our holiday traditions and seize the holiday season as our own in the ways that we can.
Here are some of the ways the SFV natives get creative with their holiday cheer.
1. El Carrusel Bakery
This delightful Central American bakery is right on Reseda Boulevard and Vanowen Street. Unless you're one of those chosen few who happened to stumble into this place by accident, chances are you didn't know about this place until someone told you about the amazing sweet breads they sold and the impeccable Champurrado they sold. For me, Chamurrado is a winter must. It's a chocolate-based drink made with flour and cinnamon. It has a dense texture, and it is the best hot drink for the holiday season. Can't say I'm too sorry about you Pumpkin Spice Latté lovers, but this drink right here is where the holiday cheer is at.
(Image courtesy of Yelp.)
2. Candy Cane Lane
If you're one of those people who thinks, "No one puts up lights anymore!" look no further than Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills. Nestled within the hilly suburban hub of the SFV, Candy Cane Lane is famous for its tremendous displays of holiday cheer. House after house are decorated to their fullest capacity, and there is something unquestionably quaint about seeing homeowners decorate their palm trees with Santa Claus displays and dozen of multi-colored lights. I genuinely doubt there's a better Christmas light collection anywhere else, and it's the best place to walk with a warm drink in hand as you dodge the dozens of visitors who flock to this place year after year.
(Image courtesy of Wanderlustinthecity.com)
3. Food of every variety
The SFV is probably one of those most diverse places I can think of, hands down. You have people just about every part of the planet calling this place their home, and the food you can find within the area's limits are infinite. You have baklava and princely trout from Armenia, pork buns and rice crepes from Vietnam, and tamales from El Salvador are just a few examples of the extraordinary diversity the SFV has to show in its food department. Being Hispanic myself, I'll always have a soft spot for the sweet corn tamales you can get from Pupuseria Tony's in Canoga Park. With a nice cut of Salvadoran cheese and some sour cream put on top, your corn tamale experience will be out of this world.
(Image courtesy of Vivalacocina.com)
4. Snow
I know, I know. Waiting for snow in the valley is like Sam waiting for Austin in Cinderella Story, "Useless and disappointing." I'm not one for quoting random movies just any time, but for those of you who don't know Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray filmed Cinderella Story right in the San Fernando Valley. Movie reference aside, however, snow isn't a thing in the SFV. It's confusing to at first, but once you get over your lack of white winter snow, you and your family can bundle up and head to the nearest snow you can find! Some of these places can be Frazier Park, Big Bear, Sequoia Park or even an ice skating session on one of the many ice rinks that pop up all over town! Snow's never too far for people who can't imagine their holidays without it.
(Image courtesy of Youtube Video authored by John Divon.)
5. Family
On the daily any family can give you loads of trouble, but something about the holidays makes you want them near you. It doesn't matter what's missing from supposedly traditional holidays, in the SFV--like anywhere else--family is the most important thing in the holidays. You can enjoy warm seasonal drinks, enjoy a stroll down a festive street, eat delicious food, or fall face first on an ice rink just fine by yourself, but all of these things are exponentially more enjoyable when you have your family right beside you.
Holidays are just around the corner, everybody. Go out and make the extra effort to make them memorable this year, so that next year you can go and try to top them. Happy holidays!
