Mild winters were what once drew frost-bitten vacationers from the Midwest and East Coast to Pasadena. People as diverse as Henry Ford and John Muir chose to spend their winters here, rather than freezing their behinds off back home. Sunny days in December are something we at Hometown Pasadena appreciate, too. So while others are [...]
Pasadena and its surrounding communities are home to a wealth of museums, and even for those on a budget, it’s hard to beat the selection. The following all offer free admission to certain groups or on certain days—and for that, we’re grateful. Norton Simon Museum 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Old Pasadena 626.449.65840, nortonsimon.org For fans of [...]
Several new specialty antique shops have joined established dealers to stake out turf on the east side of Pasadena. From Victorian to art deco to Mid-Century, the East Colorado Blvd. neighborhood is destination shopping for antiques lovers. Don’t be surprised to see additional pioneers who have recently opened up shop. Park someplace around Colorado and [...]
On a hot summer’s day, nothing hits the spot more than a glass of ice-cold lemonade. If you’re a bit of a lemonade snob, like I am, then the from-concentrate variety found in most restaurants doesn’t cut it. I crave the homemade stuff: fresh squeezed, tart-sweet, ice-cold and refreshing. Refusing to settle for the watered-down [...]
Whether you’re a serial entrepreneur or a hobbyist building a better mousetrap in your basement, Pasadena offers organizations that are dedicated to helping you on your journey to Zuckerberg-style market dominance. Here’s our guide to the best resources for small-business startups. City of Pasadena Business Services Section 100 N. Garfield Ave., Room N106, Pasadena 626.744.4166, ci.pasadena.ca.us/Finance/License, tinyurl.com/3jts8oa [...]
June gloom aside, barbecue season is upon us, so we went on a quest for best house-made sausages for summer grilling. Herewith our favorites, in relative order of favorite-ness: Schreiner’s Fine Sausages, 3417 Ocean View Blvd., Montrose, 818.244.4735, schreinersfinesausages.com. Hoo-boy, you haven’t lived until you’ve delved into the bounty behind the glass cases at Schreiner’s, [...]
We do summer camp right in these parts. While Pasadena can certainly boast the Holy Trinity of summer camps—Sawyer, Shi’ini and Summerkids, each privately owned and run by longtime local families—it also boasts quite a number of specialty camps. Following are some of our favorites saints of summer fun. Note that many of them sell out [...]
Tough times demand flinty thriftiness, so with that in mind, I set out to find the best thrift and vintage stores in our realm. With a large offering of gently used clothing and accessories—some in the most current of styles—as well as home furnishings and collectibles, these places prove that it pays, both monetarily and [...]
In Pasadena (and neighboring Hometown towns) we are blessed with nearly as many independent coffee houses are there are beans in a pound of Mocha Java. Each establishment has loyal fans, each has at least one thing that makes them special, and all make a great cup of joe (espresso/macchiato/cappuccino). We have listed some of [...]
It’s time to get those tomatoes going, not to mention your spring flowers and water-frugal native plants. Here are our favorite destinations for this time of year. Burkard’s 690 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena 626.796.4355, burkardnurseries.com Third-generation plantsman Frank Burkard Jr. runs this fine, if not downright posh, nursery. Besides a crack staff, Mr. B [...]
