BEST WAY TO FEEL LIKE A FOOD NETWORK STAR
Duff Goldman of Food Network’s Ace of Cakes founded Duff’s Cakemix, a one-of-a-kind, do-it-yourself cake- and cupcake-decorating studio. All cakes are prebaked to perfection in both chocolate and confetti flavors. Everything you need to take it from there is provided, including fondant, colorful frosting, decorations, candies, decorating tools, and help from the experts. All you need to bring is your imagination. 165 S. De Lacey Ave., Pasadena
BEST WAY TO APPRECIATE ARCHITECTURE
The Gamble House is one of the most complete and best-preserved examples of iconic design by brothers Charles and Henry Greene, masters of American Arts and Crafts architecture. It sits in a historic neighborhood that is well worth exploration, but make time for at least the one-hour guided tour. Better yet, reserve a spot for the Behind the Velvet Ropes tour for an exclusive survey of this National Historic Landmark. 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena
BEST CHANCE OF RUNNING INTO A MOUNTAIN LION
Escape the bustle of the city and visit the Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park & Nature Center,
a 190-acre zoological, botanical, and geological nature preserve, located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Explore the hiking trails on your own, or on Saturday mornings, from 9 to 11 a.m., the center hosts a guided walk geared to families, including the little ones. 1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena
BEST LITERARY EXPERIENCE
You can leave your boa and heels at home (but no one’s judging if you don’t), because all you need to attend Drag Queen Story Hour hosted by Vroman’s Bookstore is your fabulous self. Designed for participants of all ages, the fun story-time event features the Los Angeles area’s most glittering, magical drag queens reading quirky and progressive children’s books. 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
BEST PLACE TO BREAK A LEG
Dubbed the Star Factory in the 1920s-’40s for turning so many up-and-coming stage actors into household names, the Pasadena Playhouse is still going strong today. Under the leadership of producing artistic director Danny Feldman, the Playhouse is staging an intriguing lineup of shows, including the sci-fi musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors (Sept.-Oct. 2019) and The Great Leap (Nov.-Dec. 2019), a sharp-witted new drama directed by Tony Award winner B.D. Wong. 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena
BEST PLACE TO LET YOUR KIDS’ IMAGINATION RUN WILD
Offering more than 40 hands-on, interactive exhibits, activities, and programs, Kidspace Children’s Museum provides a nurturing learning environment for little ones ages 10 and younger. Unique, engaging experiences such as Arroyo Adventure, where visitors can splash and play in a miniature version of Pasadena’s own Arroyo Seco, are designed to connect kids with nature and inspire imaginative play outdoors. 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena
BEST WAY TO ROCK OUT
For daredevils and adrenaline junkies, dangling off a cliff is all in a day’s fun. For the rest of us, there’s Hangar 18 Arcadia (formerly Arcadia Rock Climbing Gym), where climbers ages 5 and up with all levels of ability and experience can hone their skills amid top-notch indoor facilities before taking to the mountains. Lessons range from bouldering (free climbing) to belaying (securing ropes). 305 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia
BEST PLACE TO COOL OFF
Just because the temperature is freezing doesn’t mean you won’t work up a sweat skating laps around the rink at the Pasadena Ice Skating Center. Public skate sessions are open to all ages and skill levels. Competitive types ages 18 and older can grab a hockey stick to join one of the center’s pick-up games. Want more? Sign up for the center’s in-house hockey league. 300 E. Green St., Pasadena
BEST PLACE FOR A (SAFE) WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER
Get up a close-up look at the wildlife at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, home to more than 1,400 animals and 270 species. The beautiful grounds at the northeast corner of Griffith Park provide a welcome respite anytime, but keep an eye on the zoo’s calendar for special events such as Roaring Nights, Brew at the Zoo, and Beastly Ball, as well as shows, activities, and featured exhibitions. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles
BEST TASTE OF THE TOWN
Melting Pot Food Tours offers a tantalizing taste of Pasadena with a 3.5-hour, small-group walking tour of Old Town. Colorful alleys and secret thruways along the 1.25-mile loop lead to some of the historic neighborhood’s best ethnic eateries and sweets shops, where participants will meet the proprietors and sample diverse dishes and treats. Exact meeting location provided at time of ticket purchase. Raymond Avenue and Holly Street, Pasadena.
BEST ESCAPE
Whether you’re looking for a challenge or you want to take date night beyond dinner and a movie, Pasadena’s only immersive escape room, The Bunker Experience, provides an exhilarating glimpse of an imagined apocalypse. If you want to “survive,” you’ll need quick wits, smart friends, and the ability to stay calm while solving clues, keys, and codes—anything that might help in your escape. 20 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
BEST PLACE FOR CINEMA NOSTALGIA
It’s difficult to believe, but there was a time when theaters showed films that weren’t remakes, reboots, and superhero flicks. Regency Academy lets you relive those glory days with its weekly Flashback Tuesday series. See classics like E.T., Labyrinth, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail the way the world first saw them: projected on the silver screen with a tub of popcorn in your lap. 1003 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
BEST PLACE TO IMPROVE YOUR PALATE
For many, the sight of a five-page wine list can be downright panic-inducing. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Total Wine & More offers a wide variety of opportunities to sip your way to sophistication. Fun, casual classes cover sparkling wine and champagne, the wines of Napa Valley, and more. With your newfound knowledge, you’ll never fear the wine list again. 721 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
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