Albert Tate moved to Pasadena 17 years ago to attend Fuller Seminary and start a job at Lake Avenue Church. After five years, he launched the gospel-centered, multiethnic, intergenerational community Fellowship Church in Monrovia. Now, through his new book, How We Love Matters, he is leading a call to face the racism that exists in the church and teach readers how they can start to practice relentless racial reconciliation. Here, Tate shares his favorite local places to start that work of meeting face to face and building relationship over meals and shared interests.
I have four children, two boys and two girls, and the best place to catch up with them is The Huntington Library because it is just breathtaking to watch on a walk. If I’m meeting someone new, and this is obviously a special person because this is a very special place, we go to Arroyo Chop House. If I’m taking my wife out on a date, we go to the Great Maple because she loves desserts and they’ve got a doughnut with a maple bacon glaze that’s just amazing.
If I’m meeting friends, we’ll go to the Rose Bowl because it’s a fun place to watch some football. My favorite venue for live music is Lake Avenue Church, the Christmas Eve service. It’s some of the most majestic music you’ll hear. The best ticketed event in town is the Rose Parade. The best view in America is right here in Pasadena.
For exercise, I go to the Rose Bowl. I prepared for a half marathon walking the 3-mile track. To shop for clothing, it’s Nordstrom at the Santa Anita mall. If I need to buy a gift, I’ll get a gift certificate to Parkway Grill.
For family breakfast it’s got to be The Peach Cafe in Monrovia because they’ve got a waffle with bacon in it. For brunch though, it’s Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles. For a late-night snack, In-N-Out. Dessert? BJ’s Pizookie.
