Hello, Pasadena! + Top Things To See

So I am officially a resident of Pasadena and I am sooo excited!

I know back in January I mentioned that I was going to move to San Pedro (South Bay). Here’s what ended up happening: first, the prices at two locations I wanted to be at jumped up dramatically. Then I started considering the Westside near LAX. I did not want to be on the Westside – near the back or a little further inland – but at the time, I wasn’t sure how often I would need to go back into my office after COVID-19 eased up a bit. Then I decided to not do any of these locations because I just wasn’t happy and feeling it.

I always loved Pasadena because of the vibe, my Lebanese culture is there, and the San Gabriel Valley area was really the only spot I really loved in LA County. Everything is close by, which makes walking or driving super convenient, and the people are very friendly! It does get very hot or very cold because I am near the mountains and northeast of Downtown LA, but I just feel so at home here. Pasadena also operates as an independent city, meaning it doesn’t follow LA County guidelines for anything, and that was appealing as well that it was free-spirited. Also, now that I know I will be working remotely permanently for at least another 6 to 7 months, it was something I was willing to do. But if I did have to ever go to my office near El Segundo, without traffic it’s a 37 minute drive, with traffic if I’m luckily it’s maybe a 1 hour and 15 minutes.

In another month, I will give you guys an apartment tour (I am still doing some final decorating touches), break down the cost and link all of my items if you are interested in purchasing them.

For now, let’s go explore Pasadena!

One of the reasons I love Pasadena is the architecture. I love the bungalow/cottage/colonial style houses, I think they are so quaint and cute! For these photos, I decided to show you guys a few famous houses used in TV and movies.

Back to the Future House (1985) (Pasadena)

Otherwise known as the Gamble House, it was built in 1908 and the home of Doc Brown! I obviously couldn’t access the house due to it being closed off to the public because of COVID-19, but I managed to snap a shot through the window. There is also a bookstore next to it to purchase goods.

Halloween House (1978) (South Pasadena)

This is where serial killer Michael Myers lived! Although the house looked more rustic and older in the movie, it was repainted years later and is a landmark known as the Century House. A financial services company works out of it. It was also closed to the public and I managed to snap a photo through the window.

Father of the Bride House (1991 and 1995) (Pasadena)

When I was a kid, these were my all time favorite movies! The Banks family claimed to live at 24 Maple Drive in San Marino (slightly south of Pasadena), but it’s actually at 843 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena. It’s so charming! According to Zillow, the house was built in 1913 and has 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and is worth more than $3 million.

Mad Men (2007 – 2015) (Pasadena)

Literally around the corner on the next block is the Mad Men house (aka Don Draper’s home)! It’s located at 675 Arden Road. The series, however, had the door painted red. Zillow says that the estate was built in 1916, has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and is worth $2.1 million.

Rose Bowl Stadium (Pasadena)

The Rose Bowl Stadium opened in 1922 and is a recognized as a California and National Historic Landmark. Besides hosting the Rose Bowl (I can’t wait to go to my first parade next year!), it’s also known for having the largest flea market on the western side of the U.S. for more than 50 years. Nicole and I went some years back and it was a fun time, but very overwhelming with all of the vendors and items! The second photo below is the only photo I could find when I attended in 2016.

Colorado Street Bridge (Pasadena)

This Colorado Street Bridge is an iconic Beaux Arts concrete bridge that was built in 1913 over the Arroyo Seco River to help with the traffic flow. It’s actually fun to walk above or below the bridge throughout the day and see the street lamps lit up at night!

Pasadena City Hall (Pasadena)

This is the most iconic building in the whole city and is known for its Italian Renaissance architecture. City Hall was built in 1923 and is six stories high (I climbed up only 3 flights)! There are also some sculptures of Jackie Robinson just outside of city hall.

Original Trader Joe’s (South Pasadena)

This is the first Trader Joe’s that ever opened in California and the whole U.S. in 1967 off of Arroyo Parkway in South Pasadena. This is something I did not know as I entered the store that day and the employee told me as we made small chat at the cash register. Although the inside is cozy and quaint, the parking though you guys…OMG. It is very hard to find a spot and get in and out of! I was told to try the Monrovia store, which is a couple cities east of where I live, and where TJs is also headquartered (something I did know!).

Fork in the Road Public Art (Pasadena)

This neat looking fork is literally at a fork off of St. John. Ave. and Bellefontaine St. According to Atlas Obscura, “the 18-foot wooden fork stands right where the roads split, literalizing the “fork in the road.” Originally placed by locals Bob Stane and Ken Marshall without the consent of the city, the statue was temporarily removed but has been replaced since the builders purchased the pertinent insurance and blessings from city officials.”

Arlington Gardens (Pasadena)

Not too far from the Fork in the Road is the Arlington Gardens, a 3-acre, quaint garden with Oak Grove, Meadow, Citrus Grove, Mediterranean, Desert, Seasonal Wash and Coastal Sage Scrub sections. You can even have a picnic in it if you choose!

The rocks in a circle in the photo below is called the Circle of Life and the messages hanging on tree branches are called Wish Trees.

Mosaic Tables, Bronze Statue and Watering Trough Dedication (South Pasadena)

The mosaic tables with the City of South Pasadena logo, the Astride-Aside 1o-foot bronze walking statue and an original watering trough dedication for those who traveled by horse between LA and Pasadena in the early 1900s can be found in the median area of Mission St. and Meridian Ave.

Fair Oaks Pharmacy (South Pasadena)

Fair Oaks Pharmacy has been a staple in South Pasadena since 1915 and even has an old-fashioned soda fountain! Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the staff weren’t servin’ up those delicious ice cream treats at the counter and only offered them to go. The pharmacy also has a gift shop!

They are open during the weekdays only from about 11:30 a.m. – 4:30/5 p.m.

Invention of the Cheeseburger Plaque (Pasadena)

Go over the famous Colorado Bridge to see this plaque! I also found this on Atlas Obscura and I had no clue that Pasadena was home to the famous cheeseburger!

The Bunny Museum (Altadena)

This is something I did not expect to find. The Bunny Museum ($12) has the largest collection of bunny artifacts and memorabilia in the entire U.S. since 1998! The lady greeted and bid me farewell by wishing me a “hoppy” day! I had to put my purse inside a locker and I was only allowed to bring my phone around the museum. The best way to explain the museum is “unique.”

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (La Cañada Flintridge)

JPL was founded in the 1930s and is owned by NASA. The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) also manages the laboratory. It is pretty fascinating all of the space missions they have executed and robotics that have successfully landed on the planets. I love watching them when they occur! You obviously can’t access the facility unless they have their open houses, but there’s a great view of the San Gabriel Mountains!

Descanso Gardens (La Cañada Flintridge) and Huntington Gardens (Pasadena)

I think you guys may remember a couple years ago when I visited both gardens and did a compare and contrast. They are both equally beautiful and here is the link to that blog. In the coming months, I will go to the Rose Garden Tea Room and give you a full review. This reminds me of when I had Afternoon Tea in London a couple years back!

Let me know if you find any hidden gems that you have come across! Something else I didn’t highlight too much was Old Pasadena, the Playhouse District (known for its famous Playhouse) and Downtown, which has a ton of cute shops and great places to eat, but that will be for a future blog!