Garfield Heights, Pasadena, CA

Garfield Heights is one of the oldest intact neighborhoods in Pasadena, a tract first registered with the city in 1904 and later made the second landmark district in town after Bungalow Heaven. It sits between Washington Boulevard and Mountain Street, from Marengo Avenue east to Los Robles Avenue, with Orange Heights across Los Robles. The houses cover a wide stylistic range, from Queen Anne Victorians to Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Revival designs. Some were drawn by architects whose names still carry weight in Pasadena, including Greene and Greene, Sylvanus Marston and Meyer & Holler. La Pintoresca Park and the La Pintoresca Branch Library sit near Washington Boulevard at the northwest corner, so a lawn and a library are an easy walk from most blocks. Robinson Park Recreation Center, a few blocks south on Fair Oaks Avenue, adds a full recreation center. Food nearby is casual. Banana Thai Cafe and King's Burger share a stretch of North Fair Oaks, and Old Pasadena's restaurant rows are only minutes away. For coffee, Sailor's Brew on Lincoln Avenue, a veteran-owned roaster working in small batches, is a few minutes west. Groceries mean a quick trip down Fair Oaks to Vallarta Supermarkets. Freeway access is close for commuting, and Fair Oaks, Marengo and Los Robles carry most of the traffic, which leaves the interior streets calm. The tradeoff is that sit-down dining inside the neighborhood is thin, so most dinners out mean driving to Old Pasadena or the Playhouse District. The neighborhood association still runs block parties and historic bus tours, and the acorn signs at the corners are how you know you've crossed into Garfield Heights.