Stanton: Many Things for for Many People

* Looking for a new neighborhood to explore?

Here are a few suggestions, culled from recent stories. Complete articles can be accessed at https://www.calendarlive.com/go/discover/

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Where else but Stanton can you pick up--gingerly, of course--a rare cactus from Madagascar and then a few blocks away, scarf souvlakia, a kefte kebab or a nice falafel? Where else can you get a tattoo, some lingerie and your taxes done under the same roof?

For 42 years, lovers of prickly plants have stopped at the House of Cactus (10580 Beach Blvd., [714] 828-4298) to sample what might be the largest selection of its specialty flora in Southern California. Rick Hipp and his wife, Nancy, stock more than 1,500 varieties of cactuses and succulents, from small $1.50 cuttings for a container garden to $260 rare crested Myrtillocactus cochal cristata from Baja California.

The Mad Greek (12120 Beach Blvd., [714] 898-5181) has been serving a mix of Mediterranean and American favorites since 1981. Sure, you can get a burger or a grilled chicken breast, but why would you when for $3.95 you can get a gyro of seasoned beef and lamb dripping with homemade cucumber sauce wrapped in supple pita bread? Other options include the falafel ($3.95), with its tangy tahineh sauce; the souvlakia, in chicken or beef ($3.95); and the fried zucchini ($2.89 for a large order), which is said to have been invented at the Mad Greek.

Also spicing up the neighborhood is the International Marketplace Indoor Swapmeet of Stanton (10401 Beach Blvd., [714] 527-1112). With its 70 vendors hawking an eclectic mix of goods and services, the marketplace evokes thoughts of a street bazaar in a foreign city--except that it’s on two levels of a sleek, cream-colored building. Goods range from vitamins and herbs to video games, wedding accessories and leather crafts. One shop is a combination travel agency and tax preparer. Another offers chiropractic care. On one end of the upper level, you can get a henna tattoo that lasts about two weeks and costs less than $5. Or if you insist on needles, you can have a name or design embroidered on a cap for $6.99 at a booth on the opposite end of the floor. The same vendor sells Mother Teresa T-shirts for 99 cents. ‘Most likely, we have something for everyone,’ operations manager Jila Ilami said.

Getting there: Take Beach Boulevard south from the Riverside Freeway or north from the Garden Grove Freeway.

* A new Discover Orange County will run next Sunday in the Orange County Calendar.

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Beach Boulevard

1. The Indoor Swapmeet of Stanton, 10401 Beach Blvd. (714) 527-1112

2. House of Cactus, 10580 Beach Blvd. (714) 828-4298

3. Mad Greek, 12120 Beach Blvd. (714) 898-5181