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.

De Lacey Avenue

Currently the Golden Trumpet Trees along Raymond Avenue and the Pink Trumpet Trees along Holly, Union and De Lacey Avenue are in full bloom. Although the slow arrival of Spring seems to have impacted the timing and perhaps the amount of blooms this year, the vibrant color and quantity of blossoms are still glorious and well worth a visit to see.

Here are some photographs from our archives and some recent shots of our colorful flowering trees.

POP Champagne & Dessert Bar on Union Street

Lulu Brandt in the Van der Vort Building on Raymond Avenue

Bird Pick Tea on De Lacey Avenue

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.

To prepare for the festivities, we have been working hard to “set the stage” in Old Pasadena.  Last week Anna Addis, our VP of Operations, stayed up all night long to oversee the annual installation of the Reindeer Decorations, which are placed on four rooftops in Old Pasadena via cranes and careful maneuvering.  This is done in the wee hours of the morning so as not to disturb the regular traffic flow.

Then Barton Designs installs the spotlights to highlight our reindeer friends in their perches above the hustle and bustle of Colorado Boulevard.  They also install projected lighting (“gobos”) of snowflakes and other holiday themes to cascade along the sides of Old Pasadena buildings and alley walkways.  This year we’ve added more locations around the intersection of Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado Blvd.  Locations include Pottery Barn, Louise’s Trattoria, Crate and Barrel, Distant Lands, Schoolhouse Parking Garage, and several alley walkways.  So, look for them when you visit us.

Dekra-lite, another team of specialists, installs the  lit snowflake falls on the streetlights to round out the holiday decor.  Last year they installed the lighting on the glorious Ficus trees of Green Street.  It was such a success with residents, merchants, and visitors alike, that we decided to leave the lighting up year round.  Don’t miss this great evening photo op.

To top things off, this year we added almost 150 poinsettias to our landscaping around the parking garages and alley walkways.  We’ve even switched out the music on the alleys to light holiday fare… so don’t miss the celebration this upcoming weekend.  We are ready for the holidays to begin.

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.

T-Mobile architectural detail

This would be the first of many properties Jim would acquire and restore in Old Pasadena through the years.  In addition to the Stanton Building, Jim now has investments in several other Old Pasadena landmarks.  He owns the Web & Seward Building located at 124 East Colorado Blvd.  The Web & Seward Building once housed the original drug store in Old Pasadena, and is currently the home of Pasha Grill.  Jim also owns the Holly Building, located at 2 East Holly Street, which was formerly the old Holly Hotel.  Re-furbished in 1991, it now includes such businesses as Lula Mae and Mignon Chocolate.

T-Mobile façade - freshly painted

Finally, there is the T-Mobile Building.  With its Art Deco design, this building dates back pre-1900 and was originally a pawn shop.  In order to preserve the historic integrity of the building, Jim commissioned Paul Rogers, with Drawger, who researched the historic art deco color schemes to be used in the preservation of the buildings façade. Working with the City of Pasadena Design & Historic Preservation office, Jim and Paul made the final color selection.  “I am so pleased with the way the restored façade came out.  It has re-branded the original art deco vibe from the early 1900s.”

As a founding member of the Pasadena Business Improvement District (PBID), Jim was instrumental in the re-development project which raised funds for the Schoolhouse and De Lacey Parking Facilities.  As a board member and active investor in Old Pasadena, Jim’s passion for a better Old Pasadena is much needed and greatly appreciated by us all.

Posted by:  Anna Addis, VP of Operations

Photos by: Janet Swartz

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.

Crate & Barrel Old Pasadena

Also, in 2008, the Patagonia Building located along Fair Oaks and Union Street, underwent an extensive exterior brick upgrade preserving the integrity of the facade which dates back to the pre-1900s.  In March 2009, the brick exterior of the Crate & Barrel building was painted with a specialized elastomeric paint which was matched to the building’s original historic color.

Gold Bug boutique

Recently, the Gold Bug boutique expanded their space and Time Center Watch & Clock Repair moved a few doors down to allow for this.  Each store benefited from these changes  as evident in both their renovated exterior and interior spaces. All in all, One Colorado’s dedication to both preservation and entertainment make it a fun and exciting place to spend an afternoon or evening with the family.

Time Center Watch Repair

Posted by:  Anna Addis, VP of Operations

Photos by: Janet Swartz

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.

Starbucks, located at 117 W. Colorado Blvd., is celebrating its 15th Anniversary in Old Pasadena.  Coinciding with their anniversary, Starbucks has recently completed an “all-green” makeover of the store using recycled materials, including a refurbished church bench donated by a local parish.  The remodel also exposed the original brick interior walls and includes the addition of electrical outlets distributed throughout the store to accommodate customers laptops and other electronic devices.

Although only closed for ten days during the remodel, “customers couldn’t wait for the door to reopen”, said store manager Alek Klebanov.  “The new look of the store has given our staff and customers alike a renewed energy and enthusiasm.”  “The response from our clientele has been over the top”, he said, “and they are also very excited about the launch of our new product, Via.”  Come check out the new look at Starbucks Old Pasadena and sample Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew “instant” coffee soon.

Posted by:  Anna Addis, VP of Operations

Photos by: Janet Swartz

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.

5.     In 1929 Colorado Street (now Colorado Boulevard) was widened by 14 feet on both sides. Many of the elaborate Victorian faces of the buildings were lost to reconstruction and replaced with Spanish and Art Deco designs.

Old Pasadena Clean Team

6.     The annual Tournament of Roses Parade attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators to Colorado Boulevard and they begin lining the parade route at noon on December 31 in preparation for the New Year’s Day kick-off at 8:00am.  Old Pasadena’s Clean Team has the streets and sidewalks clean by noon so that merchants can open for business and visitors can enjoy shopping and dining.

7.     The Ambassador Guides patrol the District walking a total of miles in one year that more than circle the earth.

8.     Many people know the downtown area as “old town”, but the team of people working on the revitalization plan in the 1980s christened the area “Old Pasadena” to distinguish it from so many other “old towns” and mark the new beginning.

9.  17,434,560 square feet of sidewalk in Old Pasadena are pressure washed annually.

Rose Parade ca. 1905

10.  The first Tournament of Roses featuring rose-bedecked carriages was staged in 1890 by members of Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club, former residents of the East and Midwest eager to showcase their new home’s mild winter weather.

11.  The intersection of Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena is the zero-zero, east-west, north-south postal division of Pasadena.

12.  The recently redesigned website oldpasadena.org receives as many as 1,300 unique visitors a day and the average time spent on the site is 10 minutes.

Armory Center for the Arts

13.  The building that now houses the Armory Center for the Arts on Raymond above Holly was originally built for the California National Guard.  The old brick building on Holly across from the Pasadena Senior Center was the National Guard motor depot.

14.  1,992,090 cars enter and exit the three City-owned Park & Walk garages annually: Schoolhouse, Marriott, and De Lacey.

15.  The Braley Building on South Raymond Avenue was originally constructed in 1906 as a bicycle factory and its “wheel-and-spokes” motif remains to this day throughout the architectural details, both inside and out. The building has just begun renovation by its new owners, the Church of Scientology.

Green Street - Ficus trees

16.  At the same time that Colorado Boulevard was being expanded in 1929, Kansas Street was also widened and renamed Green Street, now known for its gorgeous canopy of Ficus trees, which are now lit year round.

17.  Colorado Boulevard, which runs straight through Old Pasadena, was a segment of the original Route 66.

18.  123 trash cans are emptied twice daily by our Clean Team.

Williams Store

19.  Restaurant Barney’s LTD was named for “Barney” Williams, who did double duty as the postmaster, and ran the first general store.  His home place was on the site now occupied by Central Park.

20.     Old Pasadena receives 30,000 weekend visitors on average.

City Hall ca. 1902 - The Container Store today

21.  In 1902 City Hall occupied the building on the corner of Union Street and Fair Oaks Avenue.  City Hall was relocated several times.  In 2003 the building was retrofitted and remodeled to resemble the original building. It  is now home to The Container Store.

22.  Pasadena means “crown of the valley” in the Minnesota Chippewa language.  Dr. Thomas Elliott, one of the city’s founders, contacted an Indian missionary friend in Michigan who had worked with the Minnesota Chippewa Indians and submitted the name for translation.

Santa Fe Station is now the site of La Grande Orange Cafe.

23.  The Metro Gold Line Del Mar Station was originally the Santa Fe Depot of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.  La Grande Orange Café now occupies the original station building.

24.  Built in 1887, the three-story red brick Victorian at 107 S. Fair Oaks Avenue was a showroom for a stage coach or carriage company. In the early 1900s it was converted to the Hotel Mikado and served the Japanese American community. In the 1940s it became Pasadena’s first black-owned hotel, the Hotel Carver which housed a prominent jazz club in the basement, and finally closed in 1985.  Now several boutique shops occupy the street level retail spaces including Jumping Jellyfish, Bianca Luce, Rising Sun Denim, Elements Kitchen, and Images Nail and Spa. Check out Pasadena Daily Photo’s blog post “Hotel Carver: Then and Now” with a great photo of the building.

Raymond Theater

25.  “Pulp Fiction” (1994) shot scenes in Kendall Alley (off of Union Street and Raymond Avenue) and the exterior of the Raymond Theater at the corner of Raymond Avenue and Holly Street.  The historic theater was also used in the filming of “Spinal Tap” (1984).  Kendall Alley was also a location for the filming of “Paper Moon” (1973) and more recently, “Live Free and Die Hard” (2007), which also featured Brenart Café.

Historic photos:  Courtesy of the Pasadena Museum of History Archives.

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.

I am very excited to invite you to the first Old Pasadena Restaurant Week, June 1st through June 8th. More than 25 of Old Pasadena’s great eateries have put together selections for a three-course fixed-price menu for lunch, dinner or both. With lunches starting at $15 and dinners at $25, you can experience a great sampling of renowned and international cuisine without breaking your budget! The best part is that while eating great, you will also be doing good.

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.

We received a call yesterday from a gentleman that was inquiring about restaurant week. He wanted to let us know he particularly appreciated the give-back to Union Station as he himself was a success story, having benefited from the Foundation’s services some years ago. That simple phone call really brought home the possibilities realized from a donation. It can change a life. We see the problem every day on the streets of our downtown, and it’s nice to hear from someone who has made the transition and felt like he was coming full circle in supporting those that had supported him.

We hope you will take advantage of eating great, supporting local businesses, and giving to a very worthy cause. You can look through some very tempting menus at our website www.oldpasadena.org/restaurantweek. Return to one of your favorites or try someplace you keep talking about getting to …eventually. Who would have guessed that eating out could do so much for so many! As our Old Pasadena Restaurant Week ads state, “Giving back never tasted so good!”.

Posted by:  Steve Mulheim, President & CEO