Jazz = good. Mary b = should not drink. Apologies…read more I found a great street spot on Baldwin on a beautiful Sunday in Arcadia. Peacocks? Yes, beautiful exotic birds are walking down Baldwin Ave. eying the mall. It is not your imagination! I learned upon inquiry that these beautiful birds belong to the city and are given free reign to come and go as they please. -Neat. I enjoyed the Latin jazz that was my entrance to the park at 3 PM. The horn section had their act together and Latin percussion is... always awesome. I bought tickets (no cash taken at the booths) to spend on my lovely friends for treating me to this amazing concert. With discriminant eyes I perused the refreshments. Soul food? at a jazz fest? No brainer right? I sampled and shared barbecue rib platters with dirty rice and coleslaw. It was Kansas City style so the sauce was ridiculous good eating. I grabbed the first round of pomegranate margaritas for the girls and started the fire. A table was easy to come by so the we parked it, noshed, gossiped, giggled and listened to the aphrodisiac that live music is. The weather was perfect and the grass was the greenest right where were I was sitting. The air was electric where musicians mingled among us after an exit of stage right. Who put this lovely Riesling in my hand? Mary B! Everybody knows that you have no inhibitions to lose! Catching a buzz at a cool concert can only lead to mad trouble and will almost certainly lead to wild debauchery. This is why I love espresso! My favorite kind of jazz is dry, tricky and messy like the wind. I am immensely fond of the classic Miles Davis, Chet Baker and Cole Porter. Many of he acts commissioned by this festival, while phenomenally talented, were more of the "smooth jazz" variety made known to us by the likes of Kenny G. etc. Polished, refined and a little slick for my taste but there is something to learn and be heard at every concert and this one one was no exception. Each sound wave is one to be treated uniquely. The choir made a key change a cappella at approximately 8 PM. SWEET. *This is very tricky and requires an obscene amount of talent. the Soprano sax player's performance was perfect but he was "schooled" by the gospel singer's solo at approximately 9 PM. I danced in the aisles, sat on the steps and soaked up the energy. I may have been even flirtier that my usual flirty self. Forgive. Inspired, I hit the *record* button in my studio in the middle of the night with confidence that my skills to pay the bills were "all that". I hit playback at 6 AM this morning. It was anything but "all that"! Mary b should not be hitting the drink! Well done by all involved in organizing the seamless event at a stunning location. Mad props to all and the many hands that made it happen. Thanks for taking me with you Valerie! (OMG I love that girl!) Next year, no Riesling for Mary b so that she may take away a more inspired take ;-)

Stve W. and I attended the redwhite+bluezz Pasadena Jazz Fest on Saturday, August 28th courtesy of…read moreYelp. Getting there at 12:30 PM allowed us to gain great parking near the entrance at the steep price of $18. Later we found out you could park at Santa Anita Park for $12 and then take a free tram to the event. I had never been to the LA Arboretum before nor a jazz festival of this size outside of Orange County, so I found this event (because I generally love to go and see live music) and the location to be a treat. The Arboretum includes rolling hills, expansive lawn areas, fountains, trees, a few benches and a gang of roaming peacocks. I wasn't all that hungry so I drank lemonade, but Steven enjoyed a Greek beef gyro wrap from Neomeze and a diet coke. They were also selling assorted beer, wine and a ton of stuff I couldn't eat made with butter or milk like cobbler and garlic fries. It sounded good, but not for me. The set-up for the festival was great and it wasn't as busy as I thought it could have been. There were two stages, one main and a side stage which alternated between playing and set-up and they did a good job with the sound system. Surprisingly, the talent on the side stage was outstanding. I really enjoyed The Delgado Brothers second set which sounded a lot like Steve Windwood and G Mack & The Polyester Players which highlighted their two vocalists and three piece horn section. Right out of the gate they were getting the crowd on their feet and dancing the electric slide in front of the stage to Kool & The Gang's "Hollywood Swinging". There were also the obligatory vendors selling clothes, jewelry, things for house and home and then we found LA Weekly. They were giving away various ipod clings, summer event guides, copies of LA Weekly (of course) and these square packets of sunscreen that happened to be about the same size as condoms. While the concert was going on, I spotted a reporter for the Pasadena Star-News and he interviewed Steve and I about the festival. They only used what we said as general comments though about the high prices. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_15928601?IADID=Search-www.pasadenastarnews.com-www.pasadenastarnews.com Oi vey. If it wasn't for the ants, the weather that was too cold for me and the fact that we were told we could not go back and forth to get gear from the car, we could have stayed until the very end... We did get to see Everlast do a few songs though before I just couldn't take the cold and the dew anymore and called it a day after being there for something like 6 and a half hours. All in all, it was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon/evening.

This is probably the greatest horror convention in the west coast! Absolutely amazing! Try to get…read morethere as early as possible, so much to see and pick up. Even if you're not interested in autographs and horror celebrities, believe me, there is absolutely so much more to catch your attention. I brought cash but they also accept cards, but the WiFi can be quite low so I recommend bringing cash. I bought a few things here and there but I already regret not buying more! I guess I'll have to wait until next year. Today, Sunday 5/31, is the last day until Son of Monsterpalooza in Burbank, later on this year.

AMAZING DAY!!! We had so much fun at Monsterpalooza yesterday 5/30/2026 at The Pasadena…read moreConvention Center !!! So much to see So much to experience ... The costumes.. The booths .. The people such a great vibe .. What an awesome community .. We took my 8 year old nephew who is into everything Horror and Monster related. He had the time of his life .... To top this day off .. My nephew took his drum sticks to have Bill Ward from Black Sabbath sign them. We waited in a long line and it was so worth it !! Bill and his team were so unbelievably kind to my nephew ~. What a day !! What a day it was ... grateful for this experience. We will see you ALL next year !!

Pasadena Playhouse. Brigadoon. If you're considering…read morespending your hard-earned time and money at the Pasadena Playhouse, do yourself a favor: skip opening night. Wait for the unbiased reviews to trickle in before committing to their latest offerings, because if Brigadoon is the current standard, the bar hasn't just been lowered--it's been buried. Wednesday's opening night was, to put it bluntly, a stinker. We arrived with open minds and tempered expectations; we weren't looking for a Gene Kelly reincarnation or a Broadway-scale miracle. We understand the constraints of regional theater. However, what we witnessed was so profoundly lackluster that it felt less like a professional production and more like a mediocre college workshop. The "Highland" Lowlights: * Atrocious Casting: With the sole exception of Betsy Morgan--who possessed the only singing and dancing chops worthy of the material--the casting was a disaster. * Cultural Caricature: The premise of Brigadoon relies on a town preserved in time to protect its Scottish heritage. Why, then, was this cast like a generic Disney Channel original movie? The "Scottish" culture on display was a cringeworthy caricature reminiscent of a Mike Myers sketch. In a city like Los Angeles, home to thousands of versatile actors, is authenticity really that hard to find? * Anemic Energy: The choreography was limp, and the vocal performances were consistently weak. The sound system was so quiet it felt like a mercy killing; perhaps turning it up would have provided the "punch" the performers so desperately lacked. I cannot remember the last time I saw a professional audience flee after only a few scenes. We endured the first half, but left at intermission. It was simply that unbearable. While the Pasadena Playhouse relies on the generosity of donors to stay afloat, one has to wonder: is there any quality control left? Or is the current mode of operation simply to shovel substandard content at a captive audience? Thank God we aren't trapped in this version of Brigadoon for a hundred years. 45 minutes was more than enough.

It's always amazing to watch impeccable performance here at Pasadena Playhouse. We came for the…read morepremier of Amadeus on 02/11, Wednesday. It was definitely worth it. Thanks to Yelp experiences! The Playhouse also hosts a Mini Mozart concert before the show. It was a great, immersive experience. This is not my first time watching the shows performed by the talented artists. It's really a versatile team that for many times, I'm stunned by the artists' intelligence and impressive vocals. Amadeus is a show that fans will love it with widely entertaining effect and a touching story.

A MUST DO! A FREE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & POPS CONCERT. The Pasadena Symphony gives a Free Concert -…read more MUSIC UNDER THE STARS on July 7, 2018 @ The Historic Pasadena City Hall. Gates open @ 6 PM Concert Begins @ 8 PM. POPS Conductor Larry Blank leads the orchestra in a celebration of music from Broadway, Hollywood and the Great American Songbook, featuring soloists taken straight from Broadway, and the JPL Chorus! Arrive early for gourmet food trucks, a musical instrument petting zoo, and pre-concert family fun!. Larry Blank, conductor Maximo Marcuso, soloist Christina Saffran, soloist Lisa Vroman, soloist JPL and the Donald Brinegar Singers Check website for more details http://pasadenasymphony-pops.org/concert/muts_2018/?utm_source=Pasadena+Symphony+and+POPS+Email+List&utm_campaign=2515008d90-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_05_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_60187e5bad-2515008d90-180966349 It used to be, you had to have mega bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

What else can I add to what Grace C. has already extolled about this event? :)…read more It was my first time to A Taste of Old Town Monrovia, after hearing my boyfriend rave about all the deliciousness of years past. Thus, expectations duly raised, I went into the event with high hopes and an empty stomach. I was not disappointed. There were fifty booths this year, representing many a palate. From hotel cuisine to soul food, there was a stand to satisfy one's appetite. Did I go back to Paradis Gelato's stands twice? Maaaaaybe. ;) Thanks to this event, I had the opportunity to sample foods from many different eateries. Jake's Roadhouse, Sena on Myrtle, and Bottega della Sera were particular faves for me. There are many other places that I look forward to visiting. The live music was wonderful, everyone was friendly, and the overall atmosphere was just lovely. I really like the palette-like trays they gave us (there's a slot for holding your wine glass, too!). The Kiwanis Club did an excellent job organizing this wonderful event! Totally brings me back to my days of volunteering with Key Club in high school :) Thank you again! I look forward to returning next year.

My first time ever at this 6th annual event organized by Monrovia Kiwanis! I've been meaning to…read moreattend one of these Taste of Old Town Monrovia events ever since I moved to Monrovia 3 years ago, but something always came up during my October weekends and I would have to skip out. Finally, this year, everything fell into place and at 5 pm on Sunday, with my pre-bought ticket in hand (you save $10 not buying at the door!), I was ready to taste and drink my way through the main street on Monrovia on Myrtle Ave with the over 50+ vendors from Monrovia and the surrounding areas. The entire street of Myrtle is blocked off from Lime to Colorado. Upon check-in (and checking your ID to make sure you're over 21), you're handed a reusable tote bag with a wine glass and reusable food tray (with handy slot to house your wine glass). The tote bag is great in holding coupons and menus and business cards handed out by the various vendors. Some vendors have storefronts right here on Myrtle while others are in nearby cities (like Duarte, Azusa or Pasadena) or can provide catering and private orders! You definitely will not go home hungry! A tip learned from this trip is that it may be worthwhile to do a walk through first to see what's out there and pick what piques your interest. Otherwise you'll be full before you hit the halfway point! Plenty of food and availability to go back for seconds on your favorites! The lines were very reasonable, with the max being maybe 4 people ahead of you in line. The BF and I tried plenty of sweets (cupcakes, bundt cakes, ice cream!), BBQ foods, Mexican food, comfort food, and so much more! Plenty of alcohol flowing here too! I love that everything is included in the ticket price so you don't even have to bring your wallet if you don't plan to bar hop afterwards! Other than the food, there's a live band (Time Bomb) providing some great tunes through out the night, in front of an area set up for dancing to work off the food. A photo booth was nearby as well to capture your picture pre or post food coma. I have to give major props to the Kiwanis Club of Monrovia for such a well run event. Tickets could be purchased online (with a small convenience fee) or at a couple of different Monrovia merchants in person (cash or check only). The day of the event, checking in ran super smooth and the Kiwanians were all over the event -- making sure trash cans weren't overflowing, providing bottled water at their booths, and making sure everyone was having a great time! If I wasn't already a member of another Kiwanis club, this event would motivate me to join their club! And of course, the proceeds of the tickets all go towards benefiting the youth programs they organize in the community. What a win-win situation -- the kids supported by Kiwanis wins and my tummy wins in trying out so much variety of food! Of course, I have to comment that I had no problems finding parking as well. There are plenty of street parking and spots at the various free public parking lots next to Myrtle Avenue. Just turn on one of the side streets one or two blocks before you hit Line or Colorado to avoid the buildup of traffic from the blocked off streets. As I was heading out, stuffed to the brim at 7:30 pm, I saw a sign saving the date for the event next year - October 15, 2017. You can bet it will be on my calendar and it should be on yours too, especially for any first timers!

My first time at this comedy club and we had a great time! I…read moredidn't realize they served food here too so we actually had dinner before our show. Ended up ordering a drink and a dessert each to meet the 2 item minimum. We got the cheesecake the and dessert nachos and both were excellent. As for drinks, I ended up getting a spicy margarita mocktail and my partner got a regular margarita. Our drinks took forever to arrive, and when it did, I realized that my mocktail had alcohol in it. Since the drink was kinda sweet, you dont really taste the alcohol at first, but I started getting the Asian flush so there was definitely alcohol in it. Not a big deal for me since I dont mind the alcohol, but I'd imagine this could be serious for people who are avoiding alcohol (Allergies, pregnancy etc). Other than that, the venue is great. Intimate vibes, great setting, clean establishment, good AC :P Will return again!

I hadn't been to the Ice House since the 1990s, and it was great to return to such an iconic…read morePasadena spot. It is wonderful to see that it's still around, thriving, and headlining some of the absolute best comedians in the business. My niece, nephew, mom and I came to see the headliner, John "Polar Bear" Gonzales. I like him for his Mexican-American stick, where he compares the white and Mexican side of his family. The venue itself is pretty solid, super clean, and spacious, while the main room maintains a nice, tight, and intimate vibe. The setup is excellent--you can get a decent view from almost anywhere in the room, and both the sound quality and lighting are great. Just keep in mind that the seating is a bit compact, and it gets pretty cold in there once the AC kicks on, so you might want to bring a jacket. There is a standard two-drink minimum, and the prices are reasonable. The also offer specials. The drink service inside the showroom is fast and comes without any attitude. Pro tip: Don't buy a drink at the external bar beforehand if you only plan to hit your two-drink minimum for the event. All in all, we spent about $180 (including tip) for six drinks, garlic parmesan fries, mac and cheese, and mozzarella sticks. The alcoholic drinks were loaded and well-crafted, though the mocktails could have used a bit more flavor punch. As for the food, everything was tasty and hit a solid, dependable Chili's quality level. The staff was super friendly, and I really appreciated that the servers checked in often while being incredibly mindful not to block anyone's view of the comedy show while taking orders. For parking, you can choose between metered street parking or a paid lot across the street for $15. If you arrive early enough, there is street parking available--we lucked out and found a spot just a couple of spaces down from the venue. It's a fantastic, nostalgic night out that still delivers.

Hotel Pasadena now...Blu Bar is gone! No happy hour for food or drinks…read more This place as we knew it is no more.

The Famous Blu Bar is a great place to meet local friends, as well as friends from out of town. It…read moreis located inside The Hotel Constance near the intersection of Colorado Blvd and South Lake Ave. They have a great Happy Hour, with special drink and appetizer prices. They also have a full service menu available. The food is a mix of Asian and American. I love their Chicken Satay, Quesadillas, and Bacon Cheeseburger. They have vegetarian dishes as well. A variety of live music is available Tuesday through Saturday. Guests can enjoy a single guitar or pianist, as well as a jazz combo with their drink. There is a small bar, as well as tables in the lounge area. Drinks and food are served by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. If you're not sure what to have, ask the staff they have great recommendations. They have paid parking in a parking structure or you can park along the street and enjoy the walk. This is a great area to walk. The Ice House is only a half a block away. As a local, I enjoy meeting people from other parts of the US, as well as other countries. I highly recommend The Famous Blu Bar.

We had a tea reservation for 3:15, we got there on time and we're our food came promptly. Our…read moreserver. Her name was Taylor. She was wonderful and food and tea were all very good.

walked in after a Christmas party & the owner was behind the bar, she was out of control yelling at…read morethe customers & refused to serve my friend! It's too bad because we live in the neighborhood & have been great patrons. People should not treat people the way she treated her customers!