Eat Drink Play 2019

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E - Entertainment
There is also no shortage of entertainment in Pasadena.
The Pasadena Civic Auditorium hosts shows like
“The Nutcracker,” the Convention Center is home to all
kinds of expos, and the Rose Bowl has seen the likes of
Beyonce, The Rolling Stones, and some of the biggest
sports events, including FIFA World Cup Finals, Summer
Olympics matches, and five Super Bowls.
F - Friends
Not all bars are created equal. Some have scant seating
room, high table tops only, a sad attempt at a bar
menu, or not a good enough beer selection. King’s Row
Gastropub (kingsrowpub.com) gets it. With an outdoor
patio, ample seating inside, arcade games to enjoy, and
some of the friendliest bartenders you’ll ever meet,
you’ll want to bring your friends and never leave.
G - Grandiose
One of the best things about Pasadena’s favorite burrito
at Lucky Boy (luckyboyburgers.com) is its size. Just
about every review about it raves about the enormous
portions before they get around to how great it tastes.
Easily shareable, or split between two meals, Lucky
Boy’s burritos are one of the most indulgent meals you
can have — and not regret a single bite.
H - Home
Nothing beats a restaurant that is so cozy that it
evokes the feeling of enjoying a meal at home. The Pan
(thepan1.com) is exactly that kind of place. It reminds
me of staying over a friend’s house as a kid and waking
up to the smell of pancakes. You walk over to their
mom’s quirky kitchen and suddenly it’s the one of the
best weekends you’ve ever had.
I - Instagram-worthy
What are ornate, picture-perfect dishes without an
Instagram post? An estimated 36,000 followers generate
thousands of likes per photo, with videos showcasing
the best looking dishes imaginable. Brick and Flour
(brickandflour.com) best exemplifies the importance
of social media today. Word of mouth is crucial, but a
picture really is worth a thousand words, and maybe a
thousand bucks.
J - Juice
Remember when Oprah walked out on stage at the Oscars
and attributed her weight loss to a liquid diet? Years
and some controversy later, we can’t seem to get enough
of our liquids — juicing, juice cleansing, and most recently
the celery juice craze. By now though, we have a much
better grasp of how to consume them in an even healthier
ways with Pressed Juicery (pressedjuicery.com) and
Nektar Juice Bar (nekterjuicebar.com).
K - Karaoke
The only time and place where people who are tone
deaf but love to sing are safe — where those that can
belt out Whitney or Aretha go to show off their talent
and entertain a crowd. I was surprised to learn after
years of dropping by Barney’s Beanery (barneysbeanery.com)
that they hold Karaoke nights on the weekend.
It’s held on the underground level, which is more intimate,
and the encouragement from those watching is as
enjoyable as the singers themselves.
L - Local
Even though we have our fair share of popular chains
all over the city, and more and more that appear every
other month, it’s important to continue supporting locally
owned businesses — a win-win for everyone.
M - Meats
Is there anything more glorious than a giant steak or
stack of ribs? Alexander’s Steakhouse (alexanderssteakhouse.com)
and Gus’s BBQ (gussbbq.com) know
the answer to that. Both offer a diverse menu with the
best quality and serious dedication to their respective
crafts. Meat lovers, unite!
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EAT • DRINK • PLAY PASADENA WEEKLY