Old Town Pasadena - Old Pasadena Today

Old Pasadena Today

Pasadena’s downtown declined between 1930 and 1980 but has since been revived as “Old Pasadena,” one of Southern California’s most popular shopping and entertainment destinations. Dedicating parking meter revenue to finance public improvements in the area since 1993 has played a major part in this revival.

Old Pasadena today is mostly a business district with some mixed use. It now boasts a shopping mall, upscale restaurants, a movie theater, nightclubs, shops, posh outdoor cafés, pubs, and comedy clubs. Hence, the nightlife is very active in the area and it remains a popular tourist attraction for locals and out-of-towners alike. Most of the buildings also have offices and apartments on the upper floors.

Old Pasadena is connected to Downtown Los Angeles via the Metro Gold Line light rail. The Del Mar Station is two blocks south of Colorado Boulevard, while the Memorial Park Station enters from Holly Street and Arroyo Parkway. The Norton Simon Museum is located at Orange Grove and Colorado Boulevard. Pacific Oaks College Eureka campus is located at Fair Oaks Avenue and Eureka Street, the very north end of Old Pasadena. On New Year's Day the Tournament of Roses Parade travels through Old Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard. The spectacle draws on average 1.5 million spectators each year, thousands of whom camp out on the route in an overnight vigil to have a prime view of the parade.

ArtPerformance offers free concerts on multiple stages throughout Old Pasadena. This annual outdoor music event showcases emerging and nationally recognized talent in conjunction with PasadenART Weekend, a three day citywide event.

Two street intersections in Old Pasadena, Colorado/DeLacey and Colorado/Raymond, use the pedestrian scramble system, like those in Tokyo, on the strip in Las Vegas or on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.