Daily Archive

Pasadena is a great place to see Arts and Crafts architecture and furniture. And because it’s the centennial year for Greene and Greene’s Gamble House, there are several related events happening. Easiest to see for conference participants is the comprehensive exhibit on Greene and Greene’s work that will open at the Huntington on October 18.It will be up in the Boone Gallery while you’re here and promises to be fabulous. Also, the Pasadena Museum of History is exhibiting two Arts and Crafts shows: one on Arts and Crafts textile design; and another about the lives of Greene and Greene in Pasadena. The Pasadena Museum of California Art is presenting a collection of photos of Greene and Green Architecture.

The Pasadena Vistor and Convention Bureau (right across from the Hilton) has maps of the ARTS buses that will take you to these three museums. The visitor bureau also has maps of walking tours of the arts and crafts neighborhoods in Pasadena if you’re interested in trying to squeeze one in. Pasadena Heritage also does these tours for groups, so leave a comment here if you’re interested in going with a group to see some of these wonderful houses.

First thing, stop by the convention bureau table and pickup information about restaurants that are convenient to the Hilton. If you want to focus on healthy food, there are several restaurants in the Paseo Colorado (just half a block north of the Hilton) you might want to check out. California Crisp focuses on salads and healthy sandwiches. Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe specializes in wraps and salads. The Paseo Colorado is also the location of Gelson’s–a high end market that includes salad and sushi bars, a full-service bakery, and a deli. There’s an outdoor eating area alongside the market. It might be a good option when you need to have a quick meal and want to keep it healthy. Go to the Paseo Colorado Web site at www.paseocoloradopasadena.com and click on restaurants and food to look at menus, hours and locations for all three of these options.

Restaurants in Old Pasadena, which is also nearby, tend to be more about celebrating food than keeping your cholesterol low. With effort, you can find healthy dishes on the many menus featuring cuisine from around the world. One of my favorite places for a light and healthy meal is the take-out area at the back of Il Fornaio. They have homemade soup every day and their amazing, hearty breads to go with it. There are tables outside rather tucked away from the bustle of Old Pasadena.

If you’re at the Huntington for a workshop, you will probably only have time for lunch at the Huntington Cafe located in the gardens. It has a limited menu, but always has at least one kind of homemade soup and fresh fruit and salads. Even though the menu is limited, one of my favorite parts of workshops at the Huntington is spending a pleasant lunchtime in the shady, outdoor dining area and having time for chats with the other artists.

If you’re not taking a class on Friday morning, join a group for breakfast at Clocker’s Corner at Santa Anita Racetrack in nearby Arcadia. A Santa Anita landmark, Clocker’s Corner is a trackside, open-air café that is open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m, Monday thru Friday. Enjoy an early morning breakfast and mingle with the horsemen as the horses go through their morning workouts. Workouts continue at Santa Anita Racetrack, even though the season closes on October 26. Send e-mail to asbavisitors@sbcglobal.net if you would like to go.

For more information about the racetrack and its beautiful location, go to the track website.