Museums
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On January 1st of every year the
Norton Simon Museum on Colorado St. becomes the backdrop for the
Rose Parade. The TV cameras are located high up in
temporary stands above where this photo was taken. |
The Norton
Simon Museum is home to a superb art
collection spanning the centuries and the world. To welcome visitors
outside the entry is Rodin's monumental "Burghers of
Calais". Inside you will find works by Impressionists
including Degas and Manet along with Indian and Southeast Asian
Art. Be sure to take some time to visit the sculpture garden.
Most of the art exhibited is from the private collection of Norton
Simon.
Our personal favorite is the Pasadena
Museum of California Art on Union St. The art starts inside the garage on the
street level where you will see graffiti art commissioned by
the museum. (Free parking!) Upstairs in the gallery spaces are changing shows of
California art from 1850 to the present. The shows are always
very interesting and can be enjoyed even by the non-art
lover. This museum, founded in 2002, is small and a visit to it can easily be
combined with a visit to the Pacific Asia Museum in one afternoon.
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The
Pacific Asia Museum on
Los Robles and Union was originally a private home.
Today it contains an notable collection of ceramics and other art work
from East Asia and the South Pacific. |
The Huntington
Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is, technically, in
San Marino. From Colorado Street in Pasadena, go south on Allen
until it ends at the entrance to the Huntington. This former home
and estate of Henry and Arabella Huntington is internationally famous --
with good reason. There is something for everyone here -- from old
manuscripts to Blue Boy and Pinkie to a desert plant collection to the
newest addition: a traditional Chinese garden built by craftsmen brought
from China. It will take more than one afternoon to see it all.
Theaters
We strongly suggest that you pick up a free copy
of the Pasadena Weekly to see what is playing at local theaters, music
venues, and jazz clubs. There is much, much more than we
list here.
The Pasadena Playhouse opened in
1917 and
plays are performed there to this day. The famed Pasadena Academy
of Dramatic Arts, part of the playhouse, was attended by actors
such as Dustin Hoffman, Mare Winningham, Gene Hackman and Diahann
Carroll.
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The Boston
Court is an equity-waiver theatre in the Playhouse District
that often mounts experimental and/or new plays. But you may also
find yourself watching a Shakespeare classic in this very modern
theatre. |
Classical Music
From the earliest days of Pasadena in the
1870s, music was a part of the city's life. Today, Pasadena is
home to the Pasadena Symphony
which performs at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The Symphony and
the California
Philharmonic Orchestra have merged because of the current economy.
Books
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The Pasadena
City Library , founded in the late 1800s, is the heart of the local literary
world. The Central Library building on Walnut St. is
architecturally interesting. Even if you don't want to
check out a book, the building is worth a visit. Be sure to look
at the fairytale fireplace in the children's reading room.
Once a year in April, the Library sponsors an event
called "One City, One Story". For this event 5 books are
nominated, then one book selected, and everyone in Pasadena is
encouraged to read the book. There are special lectures tied to
One City, One Story.
There are many bookstores in Pasadena, including the famous
Vroman's on Colorado Blvd. in the Playhouse District.
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