Pasadena
 

This was a quick trip to someplace we've been exactly once before, and only for dinner, despite living in California for nearly 40 years. We flew from SFO to LAX uneventfully (thank goodness), and took the shuttle to Fox for our car. We were scheduled to get a PT cruiser, which I hate, so they told us we could take any compact they had. We chose some sort of Kia, which drove fine, but wow, what a tin can. Every time I turned the corner, I could hear the water swishing in I guess the radiator. Well, it got us where we needed to go, and we got home safely, so I guess that's what counts.

Stayed at the Courtyard in Old Town (sorry, ksucat, but we did see the Langham, and it it gorgeous. Really, more than gorgeous. We'll stay there if we're down there for more than an overnight). The Courtyard is in a fantastic location, the room was nice, the shower was good and the bed was comfortable. Ergo, a good hotel.

Saturday morning spent wandering Old Town, mostly shopping, and window shopping. Breakfast at Russell's, a local diner. Good, not great. 3*.

Followed by the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. I'm writing this report simply to say "how did we miss it all these years?". Nothing I can say can convey how wonderful this place is. It helped that it was a spectacular afternoon (weatherwise), but that wasn't it (at least that wasn't the only thing). The gardens are so fantastic, the libarary with the original manuscripts, the art museum with all the Gainsboroughs (I saw Blue Boy on a field trip to the Met when I was in elementary school, so I was particularly interested to see it again). Absolutely amazing place, and worth every penny of the entry, which was, I think , $20 per.

Lunch at Mi Piace in Old Town. Very good salad and pizza. The thinnest crust pizza we've ever had. We love thin-crust but this didn't really have the consistency we favor (we prefer our's crispy, this was a little cakey, but the topping -- Margherita, so just sauce and cheese-- was excellent). 3-1/2*. The bread-like things they serve were addictive.

Dinner at Santorini in Old Town. Walking distance from the hotel. Nice place, although they did screw up our reservation. I made the reservation on their web site for 8 p.m. They confirmed by email and by telephone. And when we showed up at 8, they had us down as a no-show for a 7:30 reservation. Strike one. But they sat us, fortunately, because the place was almost full. The service was very good - just attentive enough. An excellent pear martini, and delicious food -- my DH had chicken kebab, and I had the sea bass special (enough for 3 people, I might add) - sea bass with a chipotle cream sauce, with roasted veggies. A solid 3-1/2*. Not "I must go back to Pasadena to eat there good", but if I lived nearby, I'd definitely frequent the place. Entrees were in the $18-25 range, with my special being $29.00. I think the whole bill for 2 -- 2 drinks, 2 apps, 2 mains -- was just about $100 all-in.

Next morning, breakfast at Aux Delices Bakery & Cafe in Old Town. Another 3*. Good but not go-out-of-your-way-good. Nice that they offered me fresh fruit instead of potatoes with my breakfast.

After that, the Gamble House and the neighborhood around the Gamble House. We live in a Craftsman house that was built sometime around 1908, so this really interests us (even though ours is no longer "pristine Craftsman", it's unmistakably from the same era). We picked up the neighborhood guide in the bookstore, and walked around to see all the local Greene & Greene homes. Our's would fit in the neighborhood, but it would look like the poor man's cottage in comparison to the others! The tour of the Gamble House was excellent.

That's all the sightseeing we did. It was a fun weekend, made extra-special by being bowled over by the Huntington. Can't wait to return.

You mentioned 2 of my fav places in Pasadena - Huntington & the Gamble House! Thanks for the report!

Awesome report sf!!
Did you have that delicious sounding Pear martini at the 'funky casual' place I recommend? ;)

<<<Did you have that delicious sounding Pear martini at the 'funky casual' place I recommend?>>>

The funny thing is, I didn't wear jeans, but absolutely could have and noone would have noticed!

When I was a kid - I rode my bike to the Huntington Library several times. The gardens are a great place for a kid to roam around in.

Stu Dudley

And there were lots of kids there on Saturday -- it seemed like a really eclectic mix of young and old and in-between, locals and tourists, tourists from far and near.

So glad you loved the Huntington too. I also really loved the Norton Simon Museum, maybe a stop for you in the future. It is not a huge collection but excellent nonetheless with quality pieces and some really big names too--Botticelli, Raphael, Degas, Rodin, Moore....

Sounds like a perfect weekend! (So where do you go at home for crispy crust?)

<<<(So where do you go at home for crispy crust?)>>>

Delfina Pizzeria, preferably the one in the Mission (next door to Delfina Restaurant). I could live on their tri-color salad and margherita pizza!

I thought you would say that! I have more questions, but I'll put them on an SF thread. Thanks!

I was in LA last weekend and had to choose between the Getty and the Huntington. Went to the Getty and had a lovely visit. NEXT time, though, I am going to make time for the Huntington!

The Norton Simon is often overlooked. Easy to get to, free parking (!), smallish entry fee, beautiful garden, nice cafe, and a wonderful, interesting permanent collection with well-presented special exhibitions, lectures, and musical performances. I can never understand why it isn't more crowded.

http://www.nortonsimon.org/

sounds great! I am planning an overnight trip to Pasadena with my son, staying at the Langham, and I will have to take him to the Norton Simon museum. We plan to dine at Cheval Blanc which is an excellent little French restaurant right in Old town; they had the best French onion soup I've had in a looong time. I was so tired of being disappointed with that soup at other places.

Another wonderful architectural tour, for me anyways, is just doing the neighborhood walk around the Langham hotel. The homes are marvelous.

<<<I was so tired of being disappointed with that soup at other places.>>>

I MAKE better french onion soup than most restaurants! (P.S. the Langham is gorgeous)

sf7307, Can you post your recipe?

Sure, but later (don't want to leave anything out!). FWIW, I started out (when I first learned to cook, circa 1970) with Julia Child's recipe, and doctored it over the years!

I will be waiting..not patiently, but hungrily. (is that a word?)

Jean, I have always wondered why several Southern California locations are overlooked. Another example is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Really enjoyed the Japanese wing, and the traveling exhibitions were excellent.

Tourists go to the Getty. Art enthusiasts go to LACMA. Even LACMA's BCAM alone has more exhibit space than the Getty.

SF - sounds like a wonderful weekend~ I will have to put it on our list of a weekend getaway. :)

MomDD, that's what it was for us --- a weekend getaway followed by a visit with my 90-year old dad (while my DH attended a conference). It's amazing what 1 or 2 days away from home can do for your psyche!

I looked at the Langham -wow - that is some place. Dh and I will be due soon for the two of us to sneak away - so will have to keep this in mind. The Langham is a little out of our current price point but nice!

<<<The Langham is a little out of our current price point but nice!>>>

Ha ha - we stayed at the Courtyard in Old Town and used Marriott points!!

SF - you know that is right up my alley :)

Mom, take a look at this B&B. It's not as close to Old Town but in a beautiful residential area with many Arts and Crafts and Victorian homes.

http://www.bissellhouse.com/

Jean: I agree. The Norton Simon is a gem of a museum. Getty would just buy "stuff" but Simon seems to have had an eye for art.

sf7307: glad you had a good time. It's a beautiful area of Greater LA.

Jean - that looks wonderful!!

I'll wait for that french onion soup recipe as well any time you're ready, sf! :)

does anyone know if any of the museums have a display of weapons? especially ancient weapons?..... of particular interest to 13 yo boys.

ncounty, I posted it on it's own thread!

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...e-for-lcuy.cfm

its, not it's :-)

Just came across your post. I love the Huntington, too. The gardens are a real treat, especially on a beautiful day. I know all the restaurants you visited and the I think your star system is right on. Mi Piache used to be a lot better. It's more a people watcher place nowadays than a good eaterie. Thanks for posting. You show that Pasadena can be a destination in its own right.

SF7307,

I also just noticed this post and as we said on other posts, the Huntington is truly a fabulous place. The desert garden is so striking. The Chinese garden is really serene and beautiful and that is just two of their many great themes. Not to mention the great art too!

How does Filoli near San Francisco compare to the Huntington gardens? I know it doesn't have the artwork or library as Huntington does, but it is supposed to have great scenic walking trails.

I haven't been to Filoli in many many years. As I recall, it was beautiful (worth visiting), but it's nothing like the Huntington.

sf7307: I didn't realize that you were in Pasadena in April. That was about a week after I got back from Paris. I'm a Pasadenean since 1965. I had the Asia forum GTG in Pasadena and over a three-day period of dinners and activities. I recommended that they stay at the Courtyard Marriott, too and they did. If you want to read about their stay, you can go to
www.guenmais-gtgpart3.cfm or Guenmai's GTG/Part 3.

And as for the Langham, I think that was formerly the Ritz Carlton and then before that the Huntington Hotel, when I was young. I had one of the pre-GTG luncheons at the Ritz Carlton. Happy Travels!

Correction: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-gtgpart-3.cfm
I must be half asleep. I hope that link works. Happy Travels!