What a fun experience…read more My lady & I enjoy Pasadena for its many great spots for history. We visited this museum on a Saturday and were greeted very warmly by Christian who presented a small group of us with a great narrative tour. Such a nice time to see how the wealthy used to live back in the day. I highly recommend this museum and a special bonus if Christian leads the tour.

I would recommend you verify what the installations are before you go along with doing it on a day…read morewhere you can tour the house so it's worth the fee. $9 per person to just see two small installations is too expensive. I believe if you tour the home it's $20 per person and you get into the museum as well. The stag was lovely and polite as well as the property being beautiful.

The first time I went here was for a high school field trip. I loved it so much that I continued to…read morecome back every few years long after I had graduated. Back then, what I remembered most were the beautiful porcelain pieces inside the mansion. Afterwards, now that I keep coming back as an adult, it's the Chinese Gardens that are my favorite. This place is the closest thing to being both in China and Europe. It's all very refined and beautiful. At the same time, it's welcoming and not intimidating. I've heard children playing in the Chinese garden while at the same time listened to elderly people conversing with each other in Chinese under the shade of one of the many pagodas. That being said, as beautiful and tranquil as the scenery is, it's not quiet. There's too many people to have true peace and quiet. Nonetheless, I remember thinking to myself as I stared at the Chinese bridge with 3 arches that reflected 3 perfect circles in the water "I don't want to go inside. This is the type of scenery that painters paint. I'm looking at the real thing." However, this time around I came during a heat wave and I did spend more time in the exhibits than I normally would just to be in the AC. I usually come during fall and winter, but what drew me out in summer was the hope of seeing not 1, but 2 corpse flowers in bloom. Unfortunately, I've now learned that by the time I've learned they've bloomed, it's too late. When I arrived they were both dead, corpses in and of themselves. It would've been better if I had come earlier when they hadn't bloomed yet because at least then they would've still been standing. There's no dress code, but the women noticeably dress up in sundresses both to stay cool and because the setting sets itself up for taking beautiful photos. I would also recommend bringing parasols/umbrellas and refillable water bottles. As many times as I've been here, I'm sure I'll come back even though tickets are a bit expensive at $34 each. Maybe one of these days I'll actually see a corpse flower in full bloom. I'll just need to remember to bring a collapsible stool for the long line to see it.

I am shocked that we live near The Huntington, yet we visited for the very first time two days ago…read more The garden was pretty and spacious. The good part was that I enjoyed the garden and had my daughter all to myself for a few hours. The bad part was that we did not have enough time for her to visit the museum. She did not even tell me until after we left, and she blamed me for wasting too much time in the garden. In my defense, we did arrive only a few hours before closing. What you need to know before going: I recommend going early in the morning so you have all day for sightseeing, especially if you will be photographing the place. They are open from 10 AM to 5 PM, six days a week. They are closed on Tuesdays. I suggest booking tickets in advance. I am sure they allow you to purchase tickets there, but to be safe, go on their website and book ahead. https://www.huntington.org Parking is free and there is plenty of it. They do have ticket windows like the ones we see at amusement parks. You come up to one of the windows and they scan the barcode on your ticket for entrance. You may come any time after your booked time that same day. They do ask to verify ID if you choose the student ticket. Student is $28 per ticket. Adult is $34 per ticket. Check their website for more pricing. They offer membership as well. Ladies, do not wear heels. You will regret it. Make sure to bring flats or other shoes just in case. I seldom wear heels now, and my tennis shoes sure saved the day. They do have shuttles to take people around the garden, but I could not find the shuttle stops. Plus the garden was too beautiful to waste sitting on a shuttle. The Huntington includes the following landscapes, but is not limited to: the Japanese Garden, the Chinese Garden, a bamboo grove (my favorite), a koi pond, an arched stone bridge, open lawns, and beautiful flower beds. After the garden, my daughter and I dropped by 1919 Cafe near the entrance to grab a quick bite and get refreshers. It was a fulfilling visit, at least I thought so. Not so much for my girl, but there is always next time. SYOY!

Glad to have had the chance to attend the season opening concert of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS…read moreseries at the beautiful Ambassador Auditorium. Today's orchestral performance was conducted by the talented Brett Mitchell, with Orion Weiss on piano performing the Ravel piece -- absolutely wonderful. I also really enjoyed Jim Self's composition, which added a nice touch to the program. The main piece of the evening was Symphonie Fantastique by the young French composer Berlioz. It was a long performance, but truly fantastic, living up to its name. This was our first time attending a concert here, and the experience was amazing from start to finish -- great acoustics, comfortable seating, and an inspiring atmosphere. Can't wait to come back for more!

Scouting locations for event…read more Staff we met with was very friendly and accommodating with all of our questions. Beautiful retro feeling in the lobby area. Bathrooms are accessible by staircases. There is a very small, two person elevator available for ADA access. Nice dressing rooms. Very large stage to accommodate performers and musicians. View of stage is great and there isn't a bad seat in the house. Exterior of venue is also very retro in the architecture and landscaping and water fountain designs. Great photo ops. Parking is challenging. There are a few ADA spots. There are stairs to enter venue via Lobby I can't remember if there was a wheelchair ramp. Overall very nice venue.

I just completed the five day Grammar Review course taught by the lovely and patient Emma. The…read moreclass was great as was she. We reviewed the major tenses and chatted in French about many things. Emma was patient and thorough and waited for my brain to switch from English to French. We rarely spoke English. I also attended the Bastille Day luncheon and the Happy Hour at the Raymond. Attendees at both events were warm and inviting. It was easy to practice French no matter what your level in such congenial company. A professional place , friendly atmosphere, and a real desire to help you learn the language, that's Alliance. As a side note I've taken class all over Los Angeles and nothing comes close.

Excellent school. Lovely teachers, small classes, and people are very friendly and kind. I took a…read morebeginners accelerated course 2 days a week for 3 hours a day for a month. Our teacher was lovely and very patient. I learned a lot and will be taking more classes with Alliance Francaise.

Caltech Science Museum's is in room 131 of the Beckman building. It is open for Walk-Ins from 1 to…read more4 PM on the first Friday of each month from September - June or by appointment (626) 395-2704 This small museum is devoted the history of chemistry and to work of Arnold O. Beckman, a CalTech professor and the inventor of the pH scale we use today to test acidity. If you or your kid love chemistry then this is a must see!

From the owner: The Beckman Museum is dedicated to special exhibits on the history of science and technology at…read moreCaltech.

This place is amazing but really small…read more I love that they have little workshops. I was here for a paint with flowers//tea. We used hibiscus, tumeric and butterfly pea flower. My work wasnt good but other had the most beautiful paintings. I dont know how they made such small lines when mines came out as blobs. Cyanotype Workshop is also really fun. You just put items on a paper when youre ready and let the sun do the work. You just need to check their website to see what event is going on. Cyanotype Workshop

I came to check out From the Ground Up: Nurturing Diversity in Hostile Environments, and the…read morecuration was fascinating. Lots of color, texture, and thoughtful pieces. It was creative, engaging, and fun to walk through. The space itself is on the smaller side, so you can take in the entire exhibit in about thirty minutes. It's just a clean and well-presented collection. Best of all, admission is free, which makes this an easy yes if you're anywhere near Pasadena and want something interesting to wander through.

This was my first time visiting The Spooky Swap Meet at Heritage Square Museum. It was pretty…read moreamazing! My only regret was that I wish I didn't have enough money. The Victorian houses are beautiful and all the venders, scare actors and staff were friendly and accommodating. I was surprised to see Nikk Alcaraz giving out candy and signing his book, Peculiar Baking! I'm a big fan of his so I had to buy a copy of his cook book for my girlfriend. There were many photo ops, food vendors, atmospheric music, trick or treating and a few haunted mazes. The only thing lacking was parking. I recommend using a Ride Share company rather than struggling to park in their tiny parking lot or getting VIP parking. Today (Sunday, 4/26) is the last day until next year. If you're a fan of Halloween (the holiday and the movies) I highly recommend attending this swap meet.

Super fun event with a great spooky vibe! Tons of unique booths, creepy-cool items, and themed…read moredecor everywhere. Perfect for Halloween lovers--plenty of photo ops, rare collectibles, and fun surprises. Highly recommend if you're into horror or vintage oddities.

Phenomenal earth day visit to the gardens. It's a peaceful way to experience the naturalness of…read moreOjai. We met so many pleasant workers, visitors, and resident artists along the way.

Taft Garden and Nature Preserve is one of the most beautiful places I've visited in my long life…read more The peace and beauty is enhanced by the limited number of daily visitors. It is possible move about the multiple trails at your own pace self guided, or join tours (when offered) to learn about the Plants, Birds, Geology, and Art. The garden is tucked away, and for me getting there and back to Ojai proper was a big part of the magic of the visit. Thank you to all who created and maintain Taft Garden and Nature Preserve.