A lovely shop, in this location for six years. Extensive selection of teas (over 200 varieties) for here or to take home. You will want to lie down in the yellow coconut cake as it is hypnotically sweet and moist. 79 N Raymond Ave, Old Pasadena, CA, 626.431.2832, chadotea.com, Tea. Daily from 11:30 a.m. MC, V. $-$$$
In a handsome old brick building next to the library, this South Pas coffeehouse is one of the best in town, with well-made espresso drinks, a welcoming vibe and sunny sidewalk tables 1019 El Centro St., South Pasadena, 626.403.5951, Café. Mon.-Fri. from 7 a.m., Sat.-Sun. from 7:30 a.m. AE, MC, V. $
The nice people in this cheerful, open café serve a variety of Japanese dishes (tempura, sushi, gyoza), but the noodles are the thing to get– homemade udon and soba served in a variety of styles and temperatures. (Vegetarians, take note of the hard-to-find vegetarian broth for the noodles.) There’s nothing like cold soba on a [...]
This is not your usual small-town library event: the Friends of the Altadena Public Library are hosting George McGovern and John Dean at the Senior Center on November 2nd to sign books and give a joint lecture called, appropriately, “Talking Politics.” McGovern, a former U.S. senator, Democratic presidential candidate and respected historian, will be signing [...]
Astronomers from around the world, not to mention all of us locals, watched as the Station Fire swept toward Mt. Wilson, threatening to destroy the historic and important observatory, not to mention a lot of L.A.’s communications infrastructure. Observatory superintendent (and astrophotographer) Dave Jurasevich was there to observe the battle, and he’s coming to the [...]
The following column is by our friend and Hometown Santa Barbara author Starshine Roshell — she’s not a Pasadena local, but her column this week in the Santa Barbara Independent sure rings true for so many of us in our trying-hard-to-be-sustainable town. You can read more of Starshine’s witty and wise columns at starshineroshell.com and [...]
Hardcover Fiction Nine Dragons, Michael Connelly The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown The Wild Things, Dave Eggers Half Broke Horses, Jeannette Walls Humbling, Philip Roth Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel Pursuit of Honor, Vince Flynn Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury The Children’s Book, A S Byatt Hardcover Non-Fiction Barack Like Me, David Alan Grier [...]
Poetry fans take note: the 3rd annual Festival of California Poets is happening in our own town this year, at the Pasadena Central Library. Three of California’s most esteemed poets will read works by what the Poetry Society of America calls “canonical” poets. The roster includes Laurel Ann Bogen on Eloise Klein Healy, B.H. Fairchild [...]
We go to this handsome bar and grill now and then a year and each time are pleasantly surprised at how good it is. It’s not as fancy as siblings Parkway Grill or Arroyo Chophouse, but it’s a better value, and here’s why: with each dinner entree you get a side order, instead of having [...]
Expect a crowd at Vroman’s on Thursday night, when Gary Veynerchuk will appear to speak and sign his new book, Crush It. But if you’re an oenophile hoping to chat about Calatayud wines, this won’t be the event for you — although Veynerchuk is famous for the online videos of his hyperactive, regular-guy wine discussions, [...]
