Pasadena Off The Beaten Path

that is, to see "Suicide Bridge" in Pasadena! Officially, known the Colorado Street bridge, this 1913 landmark has quite a morbid history. Several dozens of people have commited suicide from jumping off the bridge. The number was high during the Great Depression period in the 1930s. There has been some measures to prevent suicides on here but there is no stopping a really daring and misguided soul. Oh such a glorious, man-made beauty but so, so tragic. However, there is not just gloom when thinking about the bridge. Pasadena has even thrown celebrations for the bridge, as seen on website.

Facts :
The bridge is 1,467 ft high.

It cross the riverbed, Arroyo Seco (Dry river)

It is an extension of Colorado Blvd and is west of Orange Grove.

Bungalow Heaven is dotted with lovely turn of the century Craftsman bungalows. These homes create a lovely old fashioned neighborhood with loads of charm and style. They were constructed of prefabricated kit homes at the time, but now compared to modern construction have many wonderful details. Design elements that typify the style are low pitched roofs, wood shingles, and porches. Craftsman style tried to create a more natural environment. This movement was a backlash to both the Victorian era and the Industrial revolution and began in England. Popular from about 1900-1920 in the United States. The term bungalow is an Indian word meaning hut or small house.

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Bungalow Heaven was the first historic district to be designated in Pasadena and every year they have a tour that includes stops at several examples of bungalows in the neighborhood. I went on the tour on April 29, 2007 and on the one on April 27, 2008 and the tour included 6 or 7 homes that were open for viewing, fine examples of the Craftsman bungalows built in California, much different than the bungalows built in the Chicago area. The tour is self guided and most people were doing it on foot even in the extreme 90 degree heat. There was also a guided option but with the self guided tour they provided you with a very nice guide to the homes you were seeing and the different bungalow styles.

Next tour April, 2009

Pasadena Heritage also does a Bungalow tour, 16th Annual Craftsman Weekend is October 17-19, 2008. The ticket price is a little steep for a self guided tour, $45 for non members.

Located in Old Town Pasadena but not on Colorado Blvd. Off by it's lonesome on Fair Oaks. These were very tasty and moist. US$3.00 for regular size cupcakes and US$1.50 for the mini cupcakes. Deeeelicious! Worth the stop.

21 N. Fair Oaks, Pasadena, CA 91103

There is also one on Arroyo Parkway south of Old Town, 400 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, Ca 91105

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This sprawling grounds of the former robber baron is a testimony to a forgotten era of opulence and a love of classic elegance.

Huntington built the house to lure his wife to the wild west. It took 12 years to build and he only lived in it 6 years until his death. Wifey wasn't thrilled.

But you will be. There are many gardens with plants from around the globe, classic paintings like "blue boy," notable architecture and some pretty good eats.

Email me if you want to learn about an unadvertised super discount program.

Across from City Hall, there are two giant bronze busts of Mack and Jackie Robinson. You've probably heard of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in major league baseball in 1947 when he went to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. His brother Mack was also an athlete, he won a silver medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the 200 meter dash.

Their connection to Pasadena is that they both went to high school and junior college there. Mack stayed in Pasadena so his bust is facing city hall. Jackie's bust faces east towards Brooklyn, NY.

Located on Garfield Avenue, across from City Hall

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Tutti Gelato is really, really hard to find! The best Gelato in town! There's another Gelato store on Colorado Blvd., easily visible but it doesn't compare to the quality of the Gelato here.

It's in an obscure corner of the Miller Alley located at 62 W. Union Street # 1, Pasadena, CA 91103 next to the Laemmle Theatre and Sushi Roku.

I would LOVE to see the inside of Castle Green but it is now private residences although parts of it can be rented out for special events, it is not open to the public normally. The first time I went by it looked like there was a reception taking place, the garden was filled with sharply dressed people, possibly an Indian wedding.

There is a way that you can visit the interior, around Christmas they open it up for a special tour where you will see some of the apartments, the Moorish and Turkish Rooms, the Bridge and Penthouse. This year it's on December 2, 2008, see the website below for more information.

Castle Green was built in 1898, by Col. George G. Green of the Patent Medicine Business,
as an annex for the Hotel Green. It's a beautiful Moorish style building that was part of a resort for visitors escaping winter in colder parts of the US. It was sold to a group of the regulars who frequented the hotel and turned into separate units in the 1920s. The original hotel on the east side of Raymond street was demolished but you can see a picture of it on the attached website.

Located at 99 S. Raymond