Pasadena, California

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet … especially if it were named Pasadena. Home of the Rose Bowl and Tournament of Roses Parade, this suburb of Los Angeles comes alive every New Year's Day with festivities for the famous college football celebration. Known for its sports, but also a leading participant in arts and science, there's a lot going on here.

Pasadena is home to a number of centers dedicated to nurturing the talents and expressions of both amateur and professional artists. Places like the Armory Center for the Arts let you explore some of the newest mediums of graphic art to help hone your skills. Want to step up on the stage? Then the Pasadena Playhouse offers some of the best acting instruction around and was the starting point for renowned big-screen stars such as Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. If you'd rather watch than participate, be sure to catch the ballet, musical, or award shows at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, one of the most revered performance halls in the country.

In addition to an eclectic assortment of the arts, Pasadena has an eclectic assortment of neighborhoods and shopping areas. The Playhouse District, where the Pasadena Playhouse is located, is an artsy area and has an interesting mix of bookstores and specialty and antique shops housed in gorgeous turn-of-the-first-century architecture. Old Pasadena has similar architecture but an entirely different mix of shops and boutiques – it was once the commercial center of the city and is now the trendy part of town. Old Pasadena is also the home of Tournament of Roses Parade. If you're looking for something more chic, South Lake Avenue is the spot for you. One of California's most exclusive shopping centers, this European-style district is noted for its British-style phone booths.

Whether you consider a good time to be a great game of football, a shop-'til-you-drop spree, or a classy night out to the theater, you'll find everything you could want in this city of 133,936. Life is rosy in Pasadena.

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