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ART CREDIT
emerging destinations Pasadena Old-world charm meets new-world amenities
Get outside Ideal for outdoor receptions and events, the Spanish-colonial–style Plaza Las Fuentes flanks Pasadena’s City Hall and the 350- room Westin Pasadena. Pedestrian walkways, sculptures, gardens, pools, and fountains all dot the six-acre plaza, which is also a short walk from Old Pasadena.
Great spaces The 130,000-square-foot Pasadena Convention Center offers 80,000 square feet of total exhibit space as well as a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, 29 meeting rooms, the 3,000-seat Civic Auditorium, and a 22,000-square-foot outdoor plaza.
Located just 10 miles northeast of down- town Los Angeles, Pasadena’s charming, walkable downtown conjures images of some of Europe’s greatest cities. But with a LEED Gold–certified convention center and the easy access of four airports and ample public-transportation options, Pasadena also has the modern-day facilities planners need for successful meetings and events. Within easy walking distance of the city’s
1,200-plus downtown hotel rooms and the 130,000-square-foot Pasadena Convention Center, Old Pasadena is one of Southern Cali- fornia’s most popular shopping and entertain- ment areas. Attendees can explore 22 historic blocks lined with more than 200 stores, restau- rants, bars, and lounges. In addition, even more retail therapy can be found in the historic Play- house District, on tree-lined South Lake Avenue, and at the massive Rose Bowl Flea Market.
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Another reflection of Pasadena’s Euro-
pean influence is its 14 museums and 11 performing-arts organizations, which offer a constantly evolving collection of art, architec- ture, and entertainment. At the Norton Simon Museum, visitors can view masterpieces by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Rembrandt, or experi- ence one of the country’s foremost examples of Arts and Crafts–style architecture at the historic Gamble House. The 207-acre Hun- tington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is home to 11 million treasures as well as 16 gardens, and the Pacific Asia Museum offers 15,000 pieces of art, including the museum itself, which was built in the 1920s and is considered an important example of Chinese architecture. Relaxation options in Pasadena are
also plentiful — from championship golf to spa experiences like the newly revamped,
11,000-square-foot Huntington Spa at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena. Groups can also take a guided tour of some of the desti- nation’s most coveted attractions, including the Rose Bowl, which began offering tours for the first time in the stadium’s 90-year his- tory this past summer. The tour now allows visitors to go behind the scenes and see the UCLA locker room, renovated Pavilion, Court of Champions, oficial working press boxes, and even the playing field.
For more information: Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau — (800) 307-7977; meetings@visitpasadena.com; pasadenameetings.com