Old Pasadena Blog

Vertical Wine Bistro on Raymond Avenue

Old Pasadena is home to two varieties of the Tabebuia, or Trumpet Tree as it is more commonly known.  There are approximately 100 different species of the Tabebuia, mostly from South America and other tropical locales.  Tabebuia chrysotricha , one of the many species with yellow blooms, is the national flower of Brazil, and Tabebuia rosea, with a pink bloom, is the national tree of El Salvador.  The wood from the Tabebuia tree, known as Ipê, is in high demand for furniture, particularly in the United States, and conservationists have expressed concern that Ipê wood from the Amazon rainforest continues to be harvested illegally.

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Our wonderful Old Pasadena Holiday Celebration kicks off this Friday, November 27 with Santa’s Arrival and Tree Lighting in One Colorado Courtyard.  Saturday and Sunday, more than 50 merchants and restaurants are participating in our Holiday Open House by offering special in-store promotions, treats and events. Every $50 you spend in Old Pasadena on Saturday and Sunday qualifies you to enter our drawing for a $1,000 Old Pasadena shopping spree.  More details here.

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Jim Plotkin - Old Pasadena stakeholder

Jim Plotkin has made a significant investment in Old Pasadena and is as committed as anyone to keeping the District vital and competitive, particularly in this tough economy.  Jim started out in retail in 1964 as the owner of the Pasadena Vacuum and Sewing Company located in the Stanton Building at 80 East Colorado Blvd.  He purchased the building and then refurbished the property in 1972.  The Stanton Building is now the home of the Sprint store.

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One Colorado

The award-winning One Colorado project is comprised of an entire city block in the heart of Old Pasadena.  Located on Colorado Blvd. between Fair Oaks and De Lacey Avenues, it was the first project to spark the redevelopment of Old Pasadena. The property’s historic architecture, alley, and brick courtyard are filled with dynamic shops, restaurants and public art pieces.  One Colorado also plays host to an innovative series of special events, such as outdoor film festivals with films beamed onto one wall of the courtyard, live concerts, as well as various art shows for thousands to enjoy.

Patagonia's pre-1900 building

The One Colorado Management team led by General Manager Sally Lunetta and Operations Manager Tony Lucero have completed a number of improvements to the buildings and courtyard over the last year in order to preserve and enhance the character and charm of this urban oasis.  In April 2008, they power washed, repaired and re-sealed the courtyard brick plaza improving the overall look.

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Starbucks Old Pasadena

We are pleased to make note of several remodels and improvements, both interior and exterior, taking place on Old Pasadena businesses and properties.  In an effort to promote these enhancements and this type of pro-activity, we will be featuring many of the individual efforts here so check back every couple of days for each new installment.

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Indiana Colony 1874 - Stereoscopic picture

1.     Present day Pasadena was settled by a group of Indianans seeking fairer weather following the exceptionally cold winter of 1872-73. The Indiana Colony was incorporated on January 31, 1874, and was later renamed Pasadena because the name “Indiana Colony” was rejected by the Postmaster General.

2.     The official paint color for all street furniture in Old Pasadena is “Tavern Square Green“, as stipulated in the Streetscapes and Alley Walkways Plan.

Original Schoolhouse

3.     The Schoolhouse parking garage is named for the Fair Oaks schoolhouse, which was relocated shortly after the turn of the century when it became exposed to the bustling activity of the developing center of town and potential danger to the children.

4.     The Old Pasadena Property-based Business Improvement District (PBID) was renewed by petition vote in 2005 for another five year term, by an overwhelming 94% approval by the property owners.  The Continuation Campaign is getting underway for the 2010 renewal.

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This year’s edition of the Old Pasadena Film Festival included a very special occasion.  We were offered the opportunity to present a recently restored version of the Mary Pickford silent film Daddy Long-Legs (1919), her 226th film appearance at the age of 27, with a newly commissioned score composed by Maria Newman.  This particular film coined Mary Pickford as “America’s Sweetheart” and one of the most beloved actresses in history.

The composer Maria Newman was born into one of the most famous and influential musical families in Hollywood. The youngest daughter of the nine-time Academy Award-winning composer/conductor, Alfred Newman (The King and I), she grew up in a family of renowned musicians and composers, including Randy Newman (Toy Story).  Ms. Newman has received numerous commissions from the Mary Pickford Foundation to compose original music for newly restored vintage classic films of the silent era.

So it was that on a balmy Saturday evening in Old Pasadena, members of the Malibu Coast Chamber Orchestra performed the exhilarating musical score to the silent film under the direction of Maria Newman.  On July 11th, the film was screened for  a capacity crowd in the Courtyard at One Colorado and the musicians received a warm standing ovation at the end of their performance.

We have received wonderfully enthusiastic praise for this event and heard from many people who treasured this magical evening. Don’t miss the last weekend of the 2009 Old Pasadena Film Festival featuring An American in Paris and Gypsy on Friday, July 24th, West Side Story and Twilight on Saturday, July 25th.

While it is our mission to support the businesses of Old Pasadena, a very important part of this event is the partnership with Union Station Foundation Homeless Services, located right here in Pasadena. They are celebrating 35 years of assisting the homeless community through numerous programs that address hunger, housing, and job training and placement. Their facilities are extraordinary and if you aren’t familiar with what they do, they are very worthy of your attention and support. You can begin very easily, by eating well yourself this coming week and letting Old Pasadena restaurants make the donation for you. Ten percent of the proceeds from Old Pasadena Restaurant Week will go to Union Station and the incredible work they do.

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