What to do in Pasadena? Any advice welcome.

The Arboretum in Arcadia. You'll enjoy the peacocks, guinea hens, ducks, mudhens and other birds. Go east on Colorado until you hit
Baldwin and go south half a mile. Santa Anita horserace track is across the street.

Chantry Flats, if you like hiking UP and DOWN.

Old Town. Many restaurants, some good, some feeble. Lots of shopping.
Lots of bars.

Vroman's Bookstore. Cliff's used books, across the street. Both on
Colorado.

Pasadena has lots of record stores. You'll bump into all of them, eventually.

Be proud to consider Diamond David Lee Roth as your neighbor.

Or the Huntington Hospital. I live near Pasadena City College. The PCC swap meet is good too, with free admission and parking (1st Sunday on month). I wouldn't be surprised if Chris knew more about good restaurants here, though.

I recommend the Gebhard and Winter guide to So Cal architecture.

Cafe Atlantic (trans-Atlantic Spanish / Cuban - fantastic!)
Azeen's (Afghani)
Cobbler Factory (OUTSTANDING bakery)
Gus's BBQ (tremendously good BBQ place in South Pasadena that hasn't changed much since 1946)
Pie & Burger (just what the name says, old school diner food)
Burger Continental (despite the name it's a raucous Middle Eastern & Armenian place - good for people watching)
Equator Cafe (coffee bar I sometimes visit if I'm in old town Pasadena)
Big Mama's Rib Shack (soul food and BBQ place)

Beadle's is a great old-fashioned cafeteria on Green and Lake. They have lots of pies.

Take the new light rail gold line from Pasadena to Chinatown, it's a sweet ride. It follows the Arroyo, pretty much. You get an intimate look at my neighborhood, Highland Park.

And I'd second Elvis on the Mt. Lowe hike. If you're looking for something a bit less strenous, try the nearby Switzer Falls trail.

For Museum's there's also the Pasadena Museum for California Art (new, go for specific shows because there is no permanent collection) and the Pacific Asian Museum, both at Union and Los Robles, more or less. There are also bunny, banana, and cake museums but these are by appointment in people's houses.

For hikes I like Millard Canyon for an intro, it's a short hike to a waterfall, that is reportedly very minimal now, late summer a few years into a drought. You need an "Adventure Pass" to park, however. Or go to Windsor and Ventura and park in the little lot there and start hiking on the trails that start there. This overlooks the Arroyo and JPL.

What brings you to Pasadena, by the way, Laura?

And it had Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. Mmmmm. Chickeny.

Anyway, when once again I am feeling fiscally solvent I shall happily buy y'all a couple of rounds.

As far as what's brought us here - one heck of a job offer from JPL for the S/O. And I wanted to get back to the west coast.

I'm all for FAPing, provided I can find the place.

Chris/Elvis - what's happening on October 20? (Or is this date referred to on another thread that I've yet to find, 'cause I'm piggy-backing on someone else's wireless network and don't want to stay on for very long for fear of upsetting them, whoever they are?)

Come visit, trish - you can watch the Koi in the pond with me and help me bathe the hedgie. (Oh, and dine really well, too.)

Damn - I was going to post this hilarious photo of a baby hedgehog annointing itself, but the website owner asks that the photos not be copied, so here's a link to the page: - the photo that just kills me is the fourth down - how's that for acrobatics?

Oh, before I forget - we found an excellent tapas place somewhere down off of Fair Oaks - don't have a clue as to the name or the location, but the food was great - nothing outstanding but solid and enjoyable and the sexiest waitress/bar lady that I've seen in years.

Laura! Will you be busy this Saturday? There's a smallish get-together being planned and you'd be more than welcome.

Ned - I need more info on the Saturday gathering, but I might well be able to make it with the guys (or solo - we'll see). I'd love to see everyone!

Tremendoidorangeblazer - I'll wave north at you next time I'm driving on Foothill (where I was about an hour ago, come to think of it) - we're aiming for an Altadena relocation in a couple of years (saving money and all of that stuff). Thanks especially for the info on the music in Sierra Madre, as that's right up our alley. Oh, and we're about two blocks from the "Colorado" (between the Guitar Center and that used music place) - we've been planning a night of carousing at the Colorado, but have yet to bring that to fruition.

Ned - email checked and read. Please give my love to Chris P.

Ironically I am going to be in Pasadena Saturday morning, but not for a social event. I never even knew you lived here before Ms. List. I can't wait to meet you sometime; I'm your neighbor in Hollywood. I still have some of your emails from last year saved - apologies in how my correspondence was!

Glendale has a large Armenian community (something like 30-40% of the population) so has many good Middle-Eastern/Armenian restaurants, but otherwise seems kind of dull for a town of its size.

I'll big-up Eagle Rock even though I haven't been back in years.

the rent on my los feliz apt isn't bad, considering how much rents typically are. if you can find a one-bedroom for $1000 you're in luck.

I started working in Glendale last month. As previously mentioned, there's a large Armenian community and plenty of good restaurants. The downside is that there's is really nothing to separate it from other L.A. anonotowns like Burbank or Torrance. The downtown area along Brand Blvd. is choked with traffic on the weekends and parking is tricky at best. Glendale runs it's own bus system which doesn't appear to mesh well with the existing MTA system.

On the plus side, Glendale is also home to Montrose - which is currently my go-to Secret Cool Neighborhood.

There is still a Tommyburger in Eagle Rock, but THE Tommyburger is at Beverly & Rampart.

Nordic, you might want to conside the entire Lincoln Heights, Mt. Washington, Highland Park area. There's easy access to the Gold Line for Pasadena & downtown L.A. travel and traffic is *relatively* calmer than on the west side.

Where's your commute going to be to, Pasadena?

There's a Tommy's in Pasadena now, too, but I never got the love.

Will you be working in Pasadena, Adam? There is a train connecting downtown LA and Pasadena. Maybe you could check out a loft-type arrangement downtown, as that would put you closer to Hollywood and the West side.

http://www.bulledair.com/images_focus/concrete/con95.jpg

All other problems in the world solved, so now it's time to ban swearing in South Pasadena.

ban pasadena

south pasadena is not pasadena

(dead to me, etc.)

Yeah, I live in South Pas. This type of thing does not surprise me. I love the small townness of the area, and the fact that its safe and quiet, but this type of thing just makes me a little worried about people's sense of perspective.

The burger joint they talk about in the article is a good spot. Never had the chili fries, though.

And South Pas =/= Pasadena. For certain.

And South Pas =/= Pasadena. For certain.

Absolutely. I just didn't want to start a separate South Pasadena thread.

However, South Pas. talk makes me want to go to Yasmeen's for lunch.

Nice. No need to start a new South Pas thread - we like the relative level of anonymity we enjoy as the area south of Pasadena and north of Alhambra.

I actually don't mind South Pas, I just don't know where to go. Bristol Farms(for special occasions), Wild Thyme (meh) and the Rialto (RIP) are my only touchstones pretty much. not counting a few ill-fated attempts to troll that high school for girls (when I was in high school)

altadena fish market (???) used to be an epic lunch spot back in the day.

I'm in South Pasadena all the time! Mainly for Videotheque. I like it there but all the people in Buster's and that other coffee shop seem like proper wankers.

It's nice that Pasadena has its own thread

i have never been, still

Really? You should. Rose Bowl market, city college market (a real gem), good food, movie theatres. Yeah it's a little white bread in parts but it's nowhere near as fascist as part of the OC and it's prettier than Glendale. I could live there, maybe. Not sure. If I could afford studio space there I would, maybe.

Just a FYI, the hype over Miya on Lake is well deserved. It's really really good. Also at some point in your life, make sure that you get Indonesian rice and fried chicken at Top Restaurant on E. Colorado.

Legit great guide. I'm more than 50% in agreement here.

The 18 Best Restaurants in Pasadena
https://la.eater.com/maps/best-pasadena-restaurants-california-los-angeles-south-pasadena-old-town