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Daycations: More than Just a Bunch of Roses…Pasadena, California
By Patricia Guth
Mention Pasadena and most people think about roses, as in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. But take a look around this vibrant city of about 150,000 residents, also known as “The Crown of the Valley”, and it’s clear to see that Pasadena is much more than just a location for a famous New Year’s Day event.
Often overlooked for that much larger and glitzier city to the northeast–Los Angeles–pretty Pasadena is one of the most scientific and cultural towns in the Golden State. Home to the famous Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a top-notch culinary arts school, a world-class art museum, several performing arts organizations, excellent restaurants, and quaint tree-lined streets where shopping is still a pleasant experience, it’s a true gem of Southern California.
Everything’s Coming Up Roses
While “The City of Roses” title belongs to Portland, Oregon, there’s no disputing that Pasadena is best known as the long-time home of the Tournament of Roses Parade, a New Year’s Day gala that is undoubtedly the most beautiful parade in the world. First staged in 1890 as a way to promote the area, the parade now attracts approximately 700,000 visitors per year, many of whom sleep on noisy Colorado Blvd. on the eve of the parade in order to score a good spot along its route. Hundreds of others order tickets nearly a year in advance to guarantee themselves a place in the much-coveted grandstand seats.
For football aficionados, what comes after the parade is the biggest draw: the Rose Bowl–the oldest intercollegiate post-season game in the country. Affectionately known as “The Granddaddy of Them All”, the game is played at–where else?–The Rose Bowl, a 1921-built stadium that has a seating capacity of 87,400 and is currently awaiting a massive renovation project. Because the Tournament of Roses committee has a “Never on Sunday” policy, the 2012 game will be played on Monday, January 2. Tickets for both the parade and game are available online at www.tournamentofroses.com.
All About the Arts
As cultural-related destinations go, the Norton Simon Museum, a modern, tile-laden building with curved walls and a Frank Gehry-designed interior, is certainly Pasadena’s premiere arts attraction. This museum entices visitors with an immense collection of Asian, 14th to 19th century European and contemporary works of art, as well as stunning gardens that provide a calm and colorful place to stroll, no matter what the season.
Similarly, the Pacific Asia Museum offers a close look at pieces from its eclectic 15,000-item collection, which consists of a variety of art and ethnographic objects from Asia and the Pacific Islands, all spanning more than five centuries. Ideal for anyone with an interest in international art, the museum’s ceramics collection is especially notable, as are its exhibits of Chinese decorative arts and South Pacific tapa (bark cloth).
Looking to fill an hour or so? Head to the Pasadena Museum of History, established in 1924 to profile the rich heritage of the area. Housed in a lovely Beaux Arts-style mansion, this small but interesting museum tells its stories via a variety of changing exhibits. Take a moment to stroll through the mansion’s exquisite grounds and be sure to bring a camera. If you’ve got some extra time, book one of the museum’s historic walking tours of Old Pasadena.
Music and Theater
Art in Pasadena isn’t limited to the kind that hangs on a wall in a museum. Performing arts lovers have plenty to keep them busy as well. Many flock to concerts presented by the Pasadena Symphony and POPS, two fully-professional orchestras that joined forces in 2007 to present a wider variety of musical genres to the public. The POPS director? None other than Marvin Hamlisch, composer of A Chorus Line and winner of three Oscars, four Grammys and Emmys, and a Tony award. The Juilliard graduate has taken the orchestra to new levels, and concerts for both the POPS and Symphony are consistently sold out, so plan ahead if you’d like to attend a performance.
Those hoping to take in a play can head to the historic Pasadena Playhouse. Dubbed the State Theater of California, it’s the perfect place to enjoy both familiar and cutting-edge productions. The theater has been a common pre-Broadway venue for many of today’s newest musicals and consistently plays host to well-known show business personalities. The Mainstage presents large-scale productions, while the smaller Carrie Hamilton Theatre promotes small-scale productions, many by emerging young playwrights.
Architectural Finesse
In between all the galleries, museums, and performing arts venues, visitors will enjoy art of a different kind. Those who are fans of historic architecture will no doubt find themselves oohing and aahing over a number of stunning homes that give downtown Pasadena its unique look.
One such structure is The Gamble House, touted as one of the best examples of American Arts and Crafts architecture on the West Coast, open for docent-led tours every Thursday through Sunday. Another is The Wrigley Mansion, otherwise known as The Tournament House, an Italian Renaissance-style estate that once belonged to the chewing gum magnate but was left to the city in 1958. Today, visitors can explore this ornate home and all the Rose Parade memorabilia within on any Thursday between February and August.
A leisurely drive down ritzy Orange Grove Avenue provides a gander at a number of other distinguished mansions, including one owned by Adolphus Busch of Anheuser-Busch fame; the Bissell House, now a B & B, once owned by the daughter of vacuum mogul Melville Bissell; the estate of Civil War scientist and aeronaut Thaddeus Lowe and several others.
Also of architectural note is the residential area known as Bungalow Heaven, a quiet neighborhood of early 20th century Craftsman homes that sits on the National Register of Historic Places. When it was built, Bungalow Heaven represented a drastic change from the ornate Victorian era design that preceded it.
Foodie Fun
Though it is often overlooked by the culinary world in favor of the more food-focused San Francisco, Pasadena locals are proud of their eateries and anxious to recommend the best to hungry visitors. As a matter of fact, with a branch of the prestigious California School of Culinary Arts situated in the downtown area, Pasadena is producing promising chefs left and right, many of whom remain in the area to work in local restaurants or open their own.
Throughout the city, which, incidentally, is the birthplace of Julia Child, visitors can find everything from California comfort food to a host of international cuisines to bakeries that’ll knock your socks off. Can’t get to all of them? Sign up for the city’s Melting Pot Food Tour (www.meltingpottours.com; (800) 979-3370), a 3.5-hour walking tour of Old Pasadena and its most exciting eateries, including a Mexican tortas café and an elegant chocolate shop that’s sure to titillate the taste buds of any chocolate lover.
Staying Over
Compared to neighboring Los Angeles, Pasadena is a less expensive, less crowded and more convenient place to stay, offering a wide variety of accommodations from budget to luxury. Options for familiar chains include Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson, Best Western, Courtyard by Marriott, Sheraton, Hilton, Westin, and most of the other well-known names in lodging. For something a bit more intimate, there are a few B & B establishments in the city, including The Bissell House and the Arroyo Vista Inn, both of which fill up quickly during peak tourist times.
So next time you’re headed to Southern California for a few days, take a break from the crowds and craziness of LA-LA Land and check out pretty Pasadena instead. With its eclectic offerings–from music and museums to shopping and dining–it’s a destination that will surely fit the bill for anyone who seeks that perfect vacation combination of culture, history, food and fun.
