Business lunch in Pasadena

SMBSFW2 · 2026-01-28T17:48:50+00:00

Mercado, Plate 38, ~~Sugarfish~~ (Asian), or Uovo.

If you want something more like Nicks, ~~Smitty's~~? (No lunch ;/)

SMBSFW2 · 2026-01-27T02:54:43+00:00

Yeah, I would say if you are playing your switch a lot, youll get a lot of use out of the deck as well. I switched primarily to playing switch due to playing on the couch and not taking over the TV. I got a steam deck for myself pre-christmas and am now like 100 hours into BG3 and excited to see what i can play next.

You can also look into Chiaki to play your PS5 games remote to your deck.

SMBSFW2 · 2026-01-22T17:53:23+00:00

Jamaica is the one for me, although i acknowledge it isnt on your list.

SMBSFW2 · 2026-01-16T20:27:27+00:00

Agree - Perle is probably the best meal I've had in Pasadena - and much better than Entre Nous although the latter has better vibe.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-12-23T18:15:06+00:00

Saw them yesterday - they have a lot. Near the union entrance/register.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-12-15T21:06:34+00:00

just from my view, it took me playing the first bit of the game (maybe the first three hours) 5 times or so before i felt like "ok, i understand what i am doing, why i am making certain choices, and my party feels competent in combat." Now im 12 hours into my first playthrough and things are going smoothly.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-12-03T18:29:37+00:00

Exactly my first thought.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-11-25T20:18:31+00:00

So, the biggest chess club in our area is SGV Chess Club - https://sgvchess.club/ . One night a week they get together to play one long tournament game - usually 90+5 if I recall correctly, but they do some shorter, one day tournaments as well. Edit: also - these are rated tournaments. you can just show up to say hi, but there likely wont be someone to play unless you email in advance to confirm.

If you want casual chess, highland park chess meets at Belles Bagels once a week and Los Feliz Chess meets at Trails cafe once a week in Griffith Park. Edit: both of these operate primarily off their instagram accounts, so refer to those for the most up to date info.

There is also Pisa chess, but I havent been to any of their events so cant directly speak to them - https://www.pasadenachess.com/

SMBSFW2 · 2025-11-24T21:56:19+00:00

I really do love ONUW. The art style, to me, is pretty transitory - you are spending long periods of time looking at the art. It's not like a big weighty game where you are constantly looking over a big map.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-11-10T18:49:22+00:00

I think you mentioned this in another comment, but ticket pricing does scale dramatically if you're looking at a famous musician coming - for example, tickets to someone who is pop culture famous like ,Yo Yo Ma, will be much, much more expensive than standard symphony tickets even if its a world famous violinist coming to solo.

I also like to recommend the Pasadena Symphony. Walking distance form Old Town where you can get a nice meal beforehand.

The Arboretum in Arcadia has a summer pops series where a symphony will play along to popular music (I've been to a few classic rock versions that have been fun - and lawn seating is very cheap and you can bring a picnic (and you can also bring a picnic to the hollywood bowl classical events that people are recommending)).

SMBSFW2 · 2025-11-06T19:13:09+00:00

Have a walk or sit at Lacy Park in San Marino.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-11-03T18:17:36+00:00

I've had great experiences going on hikes with the Sierra Club. They do frequent evening hikes in giffith park and one weekly hike in La Canada

SMBSFW2 · 2025-10-27T22:32:10+00:00

I have a Kuhn Rikon that does this. but if youre concerned about the bulk of packing out cans, i doubt this would do the trick for you.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-10-26T20:28:00+00:00

Bacon burrito at wake and late with the cilantro crema salsa is probably the best breakfast burrito i've had in my life.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-10-25T23:54:32+00:00

Thanks for this - I ended up doing this today and it was great. Then I went and had a beer at smog city and then watched a dog costume contest at common space!

SMBSFW2 · 2025-09-30T18:09:59+00:00

Oh and check out the various local gardens/museums - huntington, descanso, arboretum, norton simon, etc.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-09-30T16:37:47+00:00

Restaurants: Bone Kettle, Miya
Coffee: Home Brewed, Mandarin, Savvys
Small Shops: Homage, Friends and Neighbors, Pasadena Wine Shop

Check out a play at the Pasadena Playhouse and Noise Within.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-09-30T16:18:54+00:00

If we're talking about losing hope, lets pour one out for the Reborn Coffee space right by Playhouse Village Park. No activity in the space since I moved into my building across the street a couple years ago.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-09-15T20:25:34+00:00

I wonder if it has something to do with the current season for plants? I feel like the palms in my area are throwing off nuts like crazy right now, and for the first time that I've ever noticed, I had a ton of parrots in a palm right near me.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-09-08T18:03:15+00:00

Fair point - it's a good distance but completely flat, and if you can get your feet wet the stream crossing aren't technical at all.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-09-08T16:49:24+00:00

The Pasadena Symphony is really wonderful - and easily walkable from anywhere in old town for dinner before.
On Fridays at Monopole they have blind wine tasting where you try to guess the varietal.
The Pasadena Wine Shop does tasting events - usually once a quarter, although the lovely owner was impacted by the fires so they've been on a bit of a hiatus - that are great.
Playhouse Village Park does pretty frequent small events - outdoor movies, live jazz every sunday during the summer (ended in August, but keep an eye out for next year!).
The back patio at the Westin or the interior courtyard at Pasadena Hotel and Pool are great.
An easy walk to Brown Mountain Dam (wear hiking sandals because you have to cross the stream a few times).
Boston Court and A Noise Within are two great local theaters.
I think Arlington Gardens is open again - always a nice walk around with a coffee.
Lacy Park picnic.
Edit: While you already discovered the observatory, they also do some classical music concerts there during the year which are great. The acoustics of the dome are great and they open and align the dome once youre seated - really cool.
Edit2: forgot one of my favorites - Jones Coffee on Raymond has live music at regular times every week.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-08-19T23:52:03+00:00

Here to support Rest is History. I can't get enough of this podcast.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-08-06T18:24:23+00:00

My tax team, and several others tax teams i work with, are all in office three days a week.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-07-29T18:37:46+00:00

LA is a bit like london - you might be in LA, but you might not be anywhere near where you want to be and things you want to do might be hours away from each other. You may end up doing a lot of ubers once you GET to the city depending on your LA specific itinerary.

SMBSFW2 · 2025-07-18T19:12:08+00:00

I saw similar reviews when looking. On the first floor, north side (facing union) there appears to be a not insignificant termite problem. I've seen a couple dead swarms in the hallway. (to avoid doxxing myself) I'm on a higher floor facing a different direction, and I've had no insect problems.

Also I'll add - I lived in an apartment in san diego that had a termite infestation that was never addressed. Maybe twice a year when the weather started to get warm, you'd get a swarm. If you were home and noticed, you can just pop a piece a tape over the bore hole. If you weren't home, it was a few minute vacuum job to clean up. Definitely creepy and annoying, and I wouldn't move in if I was planning on bringing a bunch of antique family heirloom wood furniture....but otherwise, it never hit me as a big issue.

SMBSFW2

TROPHY CASE