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Visit Old Pasadena.
 Once known for the Rose Bowl and old money, Pasadena now offers a
vibrant urban scene that is closer to campus than other L.A.-area
hangouts. The center of action is a stretch of Colorado Boulevard called
Old Pasadena, where the once-fading historic storefronts today house
trendy shops, theatres, bars and countless restaurants. The place is so
popular that the city has installed unusual diagonal crosswalks to
hasten the flow of pedestrians.
Success also has brought familiar upscale chains ranging from Banana
Republic to Pottery Barn. The cuisine remains unique, with popular
restaurants ranging from Mi Piace (Italian) to Xiomara (Cuban). Another
fun spot is Soda Jerks, a retro soda fountain with drinks that include
any variation on Coke and homemade ice cream you can imagine.
Pasadena’s Laemmle Theater is the closest art-house movie theater to
campus and the independent Vroman’s bookstore is so famous for big-name
book signings that it merited its own entry on this list. Pasadena also
remains a center for culture, with such little jewels as the Norton
Simon Museum and the Pacific Asia Museum. If you’re around for winter
break, camping out all night to see the Tournament of Roses Parade on
New Year’s Day is a raucous good time.
You should know, however, that some locals prefer to skip crowded Old
Pasadena for the nearby swanky shopping district on South Lake Avenue.
Here you’ll find singer Jennifer Lopez’ Cuban eatery called Madre’s, the
cheap-but-tasty surfer grub of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos and Peet’s Coffee &
Tea, whose loyal fans insist this chain is superior to Starbucks.
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