365 Things To Do In Pasadena® Mission
Even though, I wasn’t born in Pasadena, it has been my home for over 30 years now. I’m always amazed with how much Pasadena California has to offer to both locals and visitors alike.
My mission is to bring Pasadena to life here on this blog by highlighting various restaurants, museums, activities and hopefully some hidden or little known facts about our city. Most folks learn about Pasadena by watching the Rose Parade every New Year’s Day, but there’s so much more to it than the beautiful rose floats and the annual parade.
The goal is to have a post a day for the next year. I’m hoping that by the end of the year, we will capture the heart of the city and provide a local directory of sorts to our readers.
Selfishly, it’s an opportunity for me to explore and find new and exciting things to do in and around Pasadena.
I’d love to have help from all you locals out there. Contributions, whether in form of suggestions or if you’d like to take on this challenge with me and write an article here and there, are very welcome. Feel free to email me or call me at 626-629-8439. Or, just leave a comment at the end of any post – whatever is easier.
Interaction is important and very much appreciated, so please feel free to agree or disagree and add in your personal experiences and comments to any of the posts. Help me make this the best darn Pasadena city directory on the web!
Below, you’ll find posts in day order and just for record keeping, the first day of 365 Things To Do In Pasadena® California started on Friday, May 14, 2010. You can also find us on our 365 Things To Do in Pasadena® Facebook Page and would love to have you FAN us.. hmmm… or should I say Like us!
Here’s a running list of 365 Things To Do In Pasadena®:
- Pasadena City Hall
- Pasadena Showcase House
- The Rose Bowl
- EuroPane 2
- Juicy Strawberries
- Avanti Cafe
- Pasadena Pops – Music Under The Stars
- Einstein Bros Bagels
- Dumpling Festival
- Fortune Chinese Cuisine
- Mia Piace for Happy Hour
- Armory Center for the Arts
- Gus’s Barbecue
- La Pintoresca Park
- Women’s World Fitness Center
- Gravity Hill
- Academy Cinema
- Zankou Chicken
- Dream Dinners
- Burke Williams Spa
- A Taste of Art at Gale’s Restaurant
- Le Grande Orange Cafe
- Santa Fe Depot – Del Mar Metro Station
- 21 Choices
- Original House from Halloween
- Old Pasadena
- Pasadena Police Department and Special Olympics
- Huntington Hospital Sculpture
- Restaurant Week
- Turtle and Frog Ponds at CalTech
- Smitty’s Grill
- Starr House Salon
- Classic Car Show
- Traffic School at The Ice House
- The Wrigley Mansion
- Pasadena Pops Summer Celebration
- Pasadena Chalk Festival
- Eaton Canyon Hike
- Levitt Pavilion
- The Norton Simon Museum
- Rose City Ballroom
- Mystery Dinner Theater
- Heavy Lifting Competition
- Foothill Cycle Club
- 4th of July Fireworks Celebration
- Dots Cupcakes
- Pasadena Farmers Markets
- The Gamble House
- Walking Tour of Historic Old Pasadena
- Vegetarian Fast Food
- Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
- Garfield Park Summer Concert Series
- Outdoor Film Festival in Old Pasadena
- Lacy Park
- Colorado Street Bridge Party
- Crossroads Trading Co.
- Treasure Hunt at the Rose Bowl’s Flea Market
- Kneeling Man With Hammer
- PappaRich Buns
- Julia Child’s First Home In Pasadena!
- Cantaloop Frozen Yogurt
- Pie ‘n Burger
- Movie Night At the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center
- Kidspace Museum Bug and Insect Fair
- Pasadena Ice Skating Center
- Free Ice Cream Social With the Family
- Canterbury Record Inc.
- Local Social Membership Clubs
- LA Street Food Fest Summer Tasting Event
- Green Street Restaurant
- Boston Court Performing Art Center
- LA Mud Run At the Rose Bowl In Pasadena
- Lucky Boy Drive-In Restaurant
- Jazz Summer Concert Series
- Dish Bistro & Bar – Unfortunately Dish Bistro has closed it’s doors.

- Tarantino’s Pizzeria – A Perfect Spot For Lunch
- The Bunny Museum
- Breakfast at Marston’s
- Gold Class Cinemas
- La Estrella Taco Truck
- Huntington Spa at The Langham
- Chris Ellis’s Photo Exhibition For Charity
- Cooking at the Arboretum
- Mediterranean Cafe
- Soldiers’ Angels In Pasadena, CA
- Kidspace Summer Family Fun
- Intelligentsia Coffee
- Cafe Bizou
- Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine
- Daisy Mint
- Old Focals
- Bird Pick Tea & Herb
- Comics Factory
- McCormick & Schmick’s
- IN-N-OUT Burger
- Porta Via Italian Foods
- Broadway Songbook VI (2010) Performance
- Pizza Place California – best Clam Chowder, Garlic Rolls, Four Cheese Pizza, & Tiramisu
- Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA
- Echo Mountain Hiking Trail
- Old Pasadena Walking Food Tour
- Open Road Bicycle Shop – best bike advice around town is here!
- Bungalow Heaven
- Fashion’s Night Out – FREE EVENT – Sept. 10th – 6 P.M. – 11 P.M.
- Heirloom Bakery & Cafe – BEST Hostess cupcakes, carrot cupcakes, and bread!
- Lovebird’s Cafe’s Strawberry Lemonade
- Panda Inn Mandarin Cuisine
- Romantic Locations – Japanese Garden at the Langham
- Creme De La Crepe
- Pasadena Freeway
- Pasadena’s Whole Foods Market
- Celestino Ristorante & Bar
- Historic Castle Green
- Lebanese Kitchen
- Altadena’s Haunted House
- Pasadena Wine Festival
- Pasadena Treasure Hunting
- Father Nature Lavash Wraps
- Le Pain Quotidien Quiches and Tartines
- L.A. County Fair
- Zushi Restaurant
- Hollywood Palladium
- Wiggle Waggle Walk
- Big Draw LA at The Huntington
- DineLA Week
- The Ice House
- Moon Party
- Eagle Rock Music Festival
- Taste of Pasadena
- Nicholas Sparks Book Signing
- Pasadena Lower Arroyo Nature Park
- Sierra Madre Wine Jazz Walk
- Root Beer Making
- Pasadena’s Taco Station
- National Curiosity Day
- Dish Restaurant
- Run With Us
- The Huntington Library’s Children’s Gardens
- Cupcake Craze
- Vroman’s Bookstore
- Halloween Hauntings & Thrills
- October Festivals
- Kids Halloween Fun
- ARTWeekend
- ARTWalk
- Old Pasadena Cultural Dance Festival
- Lucky Baldwins Pub
- Comedy Benefit
- Color Me Mine
- Danny’s Farm
- Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend
- Cheval Blanc Bistro
- Tuskegee Airmen
- Locals Only Special Offers in Old Pasadena
- Pumpkin Carving Contest
- Pasadena Symphony’s Classics Concert Series
- Holiday Dinners
- Equator Cafe
- Lula Mae
- Matzo Ball Soup
- Mignon Chocolate
- The Counter
- The Wizard of Oz
- Tournament of Roses Tickets
- Bodega Wine Bar
- Teri & Yaki
- Old Pasadena Halloween Celebration
- Viewing Stones
- Russell’s Diner
- Bonsai Court
- Haunted Building in Pasadena
- Pasadena Views Pumpkin Carving Contest
- Pro Fitness Massage
- Red Velvet Cupcake
- Pasadena ARTS Bus
- Jones Coffee
- Pilates
- Gone With The Wind
- Monday Night Football at Yard House
- Heritage Wine Company – Closed.
- Beyond the Olive
- Kabuki
- Support our Soldiers
- Jake’s Burgers & Billiards
- Three Dogs Bakery
- Pasadena History Lesson
- Colorado Street Bridge
- Pasadena Historic Homes
- South Pasadena Historic Homes
- Historic Homes In Madison Heights
- Historic Homes in Lower Arroyo Seco
- Old Pasadena Historic Homes
- Small Business Saturday
- Pasadena Pops Holiday Spectacular
- The One Colorado Courtyard Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Thanksgiving Traditions
- Old Pasadena Holiday Celebration
- Pasadena Places to Shop
- The Nutcracker
- Holiday Tour at Castle Green
- Ice Skating!
- Pasadena Taco Crawl
- Rose Bowl Game Selection
- Christmas in Altadena
- Holiday Fun for the Kids
- Afternoon Tea at Rose Tree Cottage
- Stats in Pasadena
- Distant Lands Holiday Open House
- Christmas Tree Lane
- Balian House
- San Marino Majestic Pines
- Holiday Lights Display
- Holiday Cooking Classes
- Bar 1886
- Running With the Santas
- Trim The City of Pasadena Holiday Tree
- Holiday Decorating Tour and Tea
- Teddy Bear Tea
- Paseo Colorado Holiday Festivities
- The Soap Kitchen
- The Bissell House Bed and Breakfast
- Lets Play Golf!
- Holiday Dinner In The Park
- Pasadena Heritage City
- Snow in Pasadena
- Christmas and New Years Tradition
- Geocaching
- Santa Anita Park
- EquestFest
- Rose Parade Safety Guidelines
- Rose Parade Quick Facts
- Happy New Years Eve!
- 2011 Rose Bowl Game
- Rose Parade Float Viewing
- 300 Bowling
- Spaghetti Factory
- The Hale Solar Laboratory
- St. Andres Art & Architecture Tour
- Antique Auction
- Family Adventures
- The LTD Womens Expo
- Caltech Latin Jazz Concert
- Barks and Books Reading Program
- Winter Pet Adoption Fair
- Pointo8
- Luciano’s Ristorante
- Free Practice PSAT Test
- Stephen Hawking Speaks at Caltech
- Oak Tree Inn
- Texas State Fair Cooking
- Personal Fitness Training
- DineLA Restaurant Week 2011
- The Baby and Kidz Expo
- Tortas Mexico
- Pasadena Pinotfest
- Carmela Ice Cream
- Camellia Show and Sale
- Burger Continental
- Gourmet Food Trucks
- Beakman on the Brain
- Celebrating Chinese New Years
- Tommy’s Burger
- Wolfe Burgers Pasadena
- Long Beach
- Vince’s Deli
- Maisona Akira
- La Caravana Salvadoran Restaurant
- Valentine Day Activities
- Stairs at Lacy Park
- Sweet & Savory
- Sushi of Naples
- The Cheese Store of Pasadena
- Fancy Food Truck Fridays
- Valentines Day Weekend Activities
- Webster’s Fine Stationers
- Bulgarini Gelato
- Mad for Hats
- Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas
- Jackie Robinson Center and Park
- NBA All-Star Weekend 2011
- Tokyo Deve’s Sushi Bar
- Free Museum Days
- Old Pasadena First Ever Happy Hour Week!
- Mijares Mexican Restaurant
- Celebrating The Cat in the Hat
- Tell a Fairy Tale Day
- New York Deli
- Carmiene’s Italina Restaurant and Bar
- Stroll Down Pasadena’s Colorado Bridge
- Plate 38
- Fox’s in Altadena – Good Old Charm Dining
- National Pancake Day
- Paw Boutique
- Dangerous Beauty, the Musical
- Jungle Book in Pasadena
- The Crepe Kitchen
- Firefly Bistro
- Saladang Song
- Slaw Dogs
- Fargo Street Challenge
- Natural Selection
- Pasadena Hiking Club
- Derek’s Bistro
- The Only Place in Town
- Donate to Japan at the Rose Bowl
- Gnomes and Flower Fairies
- The Oinkster
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Adopt a Caterpillar
- Music, Martinis and the Maestro
- Wistaria Festival
- Pasadena Heritage Spring Tour
- Suriya Thai Restaurant
- Bar Celona
- T. Boyles Tavern
- In the Kitchen with Chef David Feau
- My Sweet Cupcake
- Alondra Hot Wings
- City of Angels
- Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles
- Pasadena Restaurant Week
- Santa Anita Food Truck Festival
- Mother Dough Pizza
- Cafe Verde
- El Molino Viejo
- Mike and Anne’s
- Big Mama’s Rib Shack
- Seafood Grill
- Bungalow Heaven Home Tour
- Kevin Smith Sells Out
- LA Spring Fair
- TK’s Cafe
- Griffith Observatory
- Toyota Farm to Table Tour
- Pasadena Showcase House Tour
- Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival
- Gold Bug
- Wild West Days
- Magical Kingdom Playground
- Papillon Cafe and Creamery
- Thousand Hearts Benefits Concert
- Bella’s Gourmet Pizza
- Egg-Stravaganza
- Gaon Authentic Korean BBQ
- Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters
- JPL Open House ’11
- Cheese and Wine Tasting
- Pasadena Art & Design Open Market
- LA Book Festival
- The Coffee Gallery
- Pasadena Doo Dah Parade
- Bike Week Pasadena
- Altadena Ale House
- Mothers Day Brunch
- Kings Row Gastropub
- Noda Sushi
- Cinco De Mayo
- Pasadena Roving Archers
- Elements Cafe
- Technique Restaurant
- Pasadena Marathon
- Arroyo Vista Inn
- Museums of the Arroyo Day
- Blick Art Material
- One Year Anniversary at Bodega Wine Bar
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