Pasadena is much more than January 1

Pasadena is known for its parade and football game on New Year’s Day, but the city has much to offer other days of the year

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You probably have a good idea of what happens in Pasadena, Calif., on the first day of almost every year.

Thanks to television, those of us in the much colder areas of North America can watch the Tournament of Roses parade, with marching bands, horses, floats creatively decorated with flower parts, and a celebrity grand marshal travelling on sunny Colorado Blvd. Later in the day, there’s the Rose Bowl football game, in which two top U.S. college teams battle for supremacy in front of 90,000 or so spectators.

(Note: These take place on Jan. 1 “almost every year” because if Jan. 1 is a Sunday, the events happen on Jan. 2. The next time that occurs is in 2034.)

But Pasadena doesn’t cease to exist in the other 364 (or 365) days of the year.

A quiet pond at the Chinese Garden
A quiet pond is in the centre of the Chinese Garden area of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif., just outside of Pasadena.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

GOOD HUNTING

In nearby Hollywood, a “triple threat” is a valued performer who can sing, dance and act.

“Huntington” was Henry E. Huntington. He and his wife Arabella, who were avid collectors and had the money to afford it, founded The Huntington in 1919. Today, visitors should budget for a full day there, with the understanding that even then, they will not see everything.

At an information booth, we met Mitchell, a volunteer whose first visit to The Huntington was 35 years ago. He noted that he has seen many improvements at The Huntington since then. “It’s always been wonderful,” he said. “It’s gone from wonderful to exceptional.”

The 16 botanical gardens are spread out over 130 acres of the property. We concentrated on the Chinese Garden, where the plant life, and stunning examples of Chinese architecture, surround a peaceful pond.

Blue Boy and a modern take on it
Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy” (at left) and “A Portrait of a Young Gentleman,” by Kehinde Wiley, are on display at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif., just outside of Pasadena.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

The art museum is contained in many buildings. The European exhibits are inside the building which originally was the Huntingtons’ home. It’s home to the Thornton Portrait Gallery, which contains Thomas Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy … and at the other end of the room, the striking and provocative modern art A Portrait of a Young Gentleman by Kehinde Wiley, which takes the Blue Boy and replaces him with a Black man.

The library is primarily for researchers, but there are public displays of significant texts in The Huntington’s collection, such as the enormous The Birds of America: From Original Drawings by John James Audubon, a Gutenberg Bible, and a “First Folio” of Shakespeare’s plays from 1623.

For the benefit of those with mobility issues, there is a shuttle bus which goes through the grounds.

Exterior of the Gamble House in Pasadena
Exterior of the Gamble House, a California Historical Landmark and site of scenes in the movie Back to the Future, in Pasadena.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

WORTH A GAMBLE

David Gamble was one of the sons of James Gamble, who with William Procter formed Procter & Gamble in 1837. (Aside: P&G’s Ivory Soap is in a cupboard in the house’s soundproof kitchen.)

As a result of P&G’s success, David Gamble was able to afford the property, the architects, and the quality of construction materials such that the house is as impressive today as it would have been more than 100 years ago.

Earlier, the Gambles had been exposed to Japanese architectural elements, and had many of them included in the design of their house.

In 1966, members of the Gamble family donated the house to the city of Pasadena and USC.

Aside: The exterior of The Gamble House is in the movie Back to the Future as Doc Brown’s house.

Artwork Coronation of the Virgin Altarpiece
Coronation of the Virgin Altarpiece, a 14th-century work by Guariento di Arpo, is on display at the Norton Simon Musuem in Pasadena, Calif.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

SIMON SAYS

Simon was an immensely successful 20th-century U.S. businessman, and used his wealth to accumulate a large art collection.

Galleries in the two levels of the building display European, American, and South and Southeast Asian art. There are two separate sculpture gardens outside, with the main one displaying many Henry Moore creations. Sculptures by Rodin are outside the main entrance.

Red Orange White Green Blue, a painting by 20th-century artist Ellsworth Kelly, is on display at the Norton Simon Musuem in Pasadena, Calif.
Red Orange White Green Blue, a painting by 20th-century artist Ellsworth Kelly, is on display at the Norton Simon Musuem in Pasadena, Calif.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

Those who appreciate art can spend a lot of time here, admiring sculptures such as Dancing Ganesha, and artwork such as Coronation of the Virgin Altarpiece, a 14th-century work by Guariento di Arpo. However, visitors might be left scratching their heads at Ellsworth Kelly’s Red Orange White Green Blue.

The museum offers a First Friday promotion: Admission is free from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first Friday of each month.

Old Pasadena is a vibrant area
Old Pasadena is a vibrant area filled with restaurants and shops. Many of the buildings date from 1875 to 1949.Photo by Visit Pasadena /Visit Pasadena

WALKABLE OLD PASADENA

For those flying in to LAX, Old Pasadena can be reached by public transit. Take the “LAX Flyaway” to Union Station in downtown L.A., then transfer to the Metro A light-rail line, exiting at Memorial Park station.

From there, it’s only two blocks to the hotel where we stayed during our visit, the recently renovated Courtyard Los Angeles Pasadena/Old Town.

Old Pasadena is a vibrant area filled with restaurants and shops, all of which are reachable by a short, pleasant walk. Many of the buildings date from 1875 to 1949. Memorial Park is home to a bandshell which dates to the 1930s where free concerts are presented.

Exterior of the Pasadena, Calif., city hall.
Exterior of the Pasadena City Hall.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

HALL OF A VIEW

As a visitor to Pasadena, you don’t have to go to City Hall for business, just pleasure.

The exterior of the building, which was finished in 1927, is visually stunning.

The Pasadena Robinson Memorial
The Pasadena Robinson Memorial — a bronze sculpture which pays tribute to Jackie Robinson (left) and his brother Mack Robinson — sits outside Pasadena City Hall.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

Outside City Hall are the Pasadena Robinson Memorial sculptures. You may know that baseball icon Jackie Robinson was born in Pasadena, but you may not know about his brother. Mack Robinson also was an athlete, who finished second to Jesse Owens in the 100 metres at the 1936 Olympics. Jackie’s statue looks east, toward Brooklyn, while Mack, who stayed in Pasadena, looks at City Hall.

Exterior of Tournament House in Pasadena, Calif.
Exterior of Tournament House in Pasadena, headquarters of the Tournament of Roses.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

ROSE TO THE OCCASION

It’s easy to have your own personal Rose experiences in Pasadena if you are there outside of Jan. 1.

Entrance to the Wrigley Gardens in Pasadena
Entrance to the Wrigley Gardens at Tournament House in Pasadena. At left is a Little Free Library in the shape of Tournament House.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

If you want to walk the 8.8-kilometre parade route, a map can be found inside the city’s visitors guide. Start on Orange Grove Blvd., turn right on Colorado Blvd., and eventually turn left on Sierra Madre Blvd. The route is also shown by a pink line in the middle of the street, which acts as a guide for float drivers.

A full house of diners at Bar Chelou
A full house of diners at Bar Chelou, a restaurant in Pasadena.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

TAKE A BITE

When our visit ended, we had two additional favourite restaurants, both of which opened recently.

A seafood stew at Pez Coastal Kitchen
A stew of cioppino, shrimp, clams, mussels, tomatoes, parmesan gnocchi and garlic bread, served at Pez Coastal Kitchen in Pasadena.Photo by Ruth Demirdjian Duench /Ruth Demirdjian Duench

Fans of the TV show The Big Bang Theory will be delighted that there indeed is a Cheesecake Factory in Pasadena. We didn’t visit, but I would assume that asking if Penny can be your waitress is not amusing to the actual staff there any more.

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