Mariposa, Glendale, CA

Mariposa in Glendale sits just southeast of downtown, with East Colorado Street and South Glendale Avenue as its main streets and a food scene that ranges from Iraqi grill to Filipino baked goods. It sits between the Brand Boulevard crowds and the quieter hills of Adams Hill. Homes are a mix. Craftsman bungalows from the early 1900s still line some blocks, and apartment and condo buildings from the 1960s onward fill much of the rest, so a single street can hold a porch bungalow next to a three-story building. Single-family houses are the minority but still part of the picture. Parks here are small and used hard. Maple Park on East Maple Street is the community center, Maryland Park adds lawn, and Elk Mini Park fills a corner lot. Palmer Park and the Adams Hill slopes are a short walk south for longer loops. Akkad on East Colorado is the standout, known for Iraqi dishes like kuzi, and Elena's on South Glendale Avenue serves Greek-Armenian comfort food, like lemony stuffed grape leaves. Red Ribbon Bakeshop covers Filipino cakes, and Sing Woo Kitchen does dim sum. Moon Mart Kabab, nearby on South Glendale Avenue, is a counter known for its beef luleh plates. JONS International Marketplace sits on East Colorado and Maple Market is on South Glendale, and the Galleria and Americana are within walking distance. Buses run on Colorado and Glendale Avenue, and Interstate 5 or the 134 is a quick drive. The tradeoff is density, with busy streets and competition for curb parking near the larger apartment buildings. The mix is the point of Mariposa. One short walk down Colorado passes Filipino, Iraqi, Mexican and Chinese kitchens, and the Armenian bakeries on Glendale Avenue are around the corner. Few parts of the city pack that much range into so few blocks.