07/13/07

Great window shopping - splurge dining

by netter1

If you live on the east side of town (no, I don't mean Silverlake - try further EAST), you'll already know that Pasadena has spent the last decade revitalizing their old town neighborhood. Many of the local small businesses that used to line Colorado Blvd between Pasadena Ave and Arroyo Parkway are long gone, replaced by upscale big-name shopping chains like Sur le Table, Chico's , Victoria's Secret, and the Pottery Barn. Additionally, your dining options have followed suit and great favorites like Lucky Baldwin's are being overlooked for choices like Buca di Beppo, Barcelona, and The MeltingPot. Don't get me wrong, I really like the new "Old Town". It has its place in our world of consumerism and excess. Just don't expect to find much of the "old" here these days.

• Pros: choices, pedestrian friendly
• Cons: parking

10/05/06

Upscale but family-friendly shopping district offers big-name chains, local favorites, and stylish dining options.

by Contributor

The Appeal
This thriving shopping/dining/movie mecca of the East Valley is lined with charming, two-story brick storefronts (circa late 19th century), and lively pedestrian plazas in alleyways. Afternoons are filled with shoppers browsing through upscale boutiques, tony interior decor shops, and charming cafes. Nighttime draws a bigger, louder and more diverse crowd.

Features
There's an eclectic mix of big-name mall brands--Saks Fifth Avenue, Pottery Barn, the Gap, Crate & Barrel, Banana Republic, Williams Sonoma, Barnes & Noble and Urban Outfitters--along with homegrown favorites, lie the fabulous Distant Lands travel bookstore and the funky Equator coffee house. There are two movie theaters and several chain restaurants (Buca di Beppo and the Cheesecake Factory, among others), but it's worth seeking out local restaurants like Akbar Cuisine of India, Xiomara, Yujean Kang or Tre Venezie, one of the best Italian restaurants in L.A.

07/19/04

Barneys Ltd.

by mlodymaker

Spent last weekend strolling the sidewalks and shops of Old Town Pasadena and came across a little joint I hadn't been to in years. Barneys Ltd. restaurant is still kicking! Now in their 25th year in Old Town, this place still serves the same old fabulous fish and chips like it did years ago. (Just one of the items on the 27 page menu!) The atmosphere - casual and relaxed, but jumpin'. With sports on the t.v.'s and the latest hip-hop/rockin' tunes on the speakers, this place is just down right cool. Service was still strong, "easy on the eyes" (As it always was) and the girls are just as witty as they are pretty! I felt like I'd gone to visit an old friend and was welcomed like I'd never left. I highly suggest one stops by for a cold brew or some nosh. Barneys is still the bomb!

• Pros: inexpensive, over 100 beers, wide ranged menu

08/25/02

Not bad...could be worse

by roseygirl

I'll admit that there are quite a bit of the hipster wannabe crowd, along with some pretty scary looking teens. However, I still believe that retail facelifts bring dollars...as evidenced by all the crowds. That's simply how things work - if the area was allowed to continue decaying, people would whine that something needed to be none. Now, that something has been done, people are whining about the traffic. Just accept it as change.

• Pros: accessible, well known stores, variety
• Cons: obnoxious shoppers, parking-not good, crowded

08/07/02

Nice but expensive_Night Life

by AJDURAN

Great for a nice walk down Colorado Bvld to see many shops, food and people. Night Life

• Pros: Great Food
• Cons: Crowded, Expensive, Parking

08/06/02

Old TOwn is still it

by heavenbee

My best friend lives out in arcadia so we come to old town alot. This is the place to be on a friday or saturday night. THere are so many places to choose from to eat and shop. The crowds are usually couples or young married pepole or hot dates. During the day alot of people like to just walk and window shop. No matter what mood your in you can find it here. They have fast food, expensive places to sit and eat, bars, movies, books stores, cd stores, and hey even a couple places to get a tattoo or a piercing. It always happening and even if you just walk up and down the strip you will see something exciting. There is often people in the street singing and doing some sort of show.. see yea there

08/01/02

Better than any mall.

by izelmorena

Old Town Pasadena is the best place to spend the day shopping. Not only does it have major chain store such as Victoria's Secret, Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn, but it has many small wonderful independent stores as well. Catch lunch or dinner at Cheesecake Factory or King Taco. And if you want to kill some more time, catch a movie at the two theaters within walking distance. Parking is a pain, but there are many structures to help with that.

• Pros: Variety of Stores, Many Restaurants, Chain/Inde stores
• Cons: Parking, Crowded

07/23/02

Great Shopping

by kungpao

Great shops, variety of restaurants, and plenty of movie theaters! Great place to take a date or the family.

• Cons: Inconvenient Parking

07/03/02

Cool place to Cruise

by jerry_watkins

I only live about 4 miles from old town. Don't really stop and walk around on the streets much. But Iv'e cruised down colorado blvd. about a thousand times. Its basically just something to do out of boredom. Sometime's you wont see much. But the fun part is that your not looking for anything specific. Maybe a pretty face in the crowd perhaps. As for walking down old town. Theres alot of shops but the only one that interest's me is Barne's and Noble's. They got every magazine you can imagine in stock aswell as thousands upon thousands of books. The end of old town is also only several blocks from paseo colorado. So need some out door mall shopping? Check both places out!