Many Angelenos have never set foot in Monrovia, the mountain-view town nestled in the San Gabriel foothills, or even heard of it — unless they read their Trader Joe’s labels, many of which name the city as the distribution site. It’s still a bit of an insider’s secret, which locals like myself tend to appreciate. Get to know Los Angeles through the places that bring it to life. From restaurants to shops to outdoor spaces, here’s what to discover now. Monrovia embodies the word “picturesque” in a way Thornton Wilder would’ve appreciated: Neat little historic homes — many designed in the Arts and Crafts and New Mediterranean architectural styles — line neighborhood streets abundant with native plants. Residents, by turns sweet and quirky, seem like they could be plucked right out the “Gilmore Girls” town of Stars Hollow: You might meet an award-winning whistler who hosts an annual music festival in Library Park or a mayor whose husband campaigns for her by strolling the streets wearing a sandwich board. Monrovians are intensely proud of their …