The world and the political sphere are burning up, and Pasadenans are doing what they can to improve that situation, but in the meantime they seem intent on dancing as long as the band keeps playing. Based on this year’s Best Of winners, they’re spinning to reliable old feel-good favorites while trying out challenging new steps too.
This year’s Best Of poll results yielded some interesting change-ups. The Mixx outshined Kings Row Gastropub and The Rose, both past winners, and emerged as PW readers’ pick for Best Live Music Bar/Club. Known for its long bar (which contributed to its Best Happy Hour runner-up status) and dance floor, the sleekly designed venue earned the approval of local music lovers with its nightly mix of blues, jazz and swing artists (many of them veteran sidemen), not to mention Tuesday night blues jams. If you haven’t yet been, make plans to check out the Halloween Salsa & Bachata Bash with consummate showman Ricardo Lemvo y Makina Loca and DJ Alex Love.
No surprise, jazz remains a go-to soundtrack of choice for many Pasadenans, and jazz tenor saxophonist Chuck Manning was selected as this year’s Best Local Musician, likely thanks to his classy appearances at local venues like the 1881 Bar, Boston Court Pasadena, and Studio City’s Baked Potato.
Meanwhile, White Horse Lounge bested the competition to claim the Best Bar and Best Cocktails titles, thanks in no small part to its luxe, century-old ambiance and Louisiana-flavored libations. Just around the corner geographically but an alternate universe vibe-wise, Freddie’s 35er upheld tradition as PW readers’ pick for Best Dive Bar, while across town T. Boyle’s Tavern elbowed Rocco’s aside to earn Best Sports Bar ribbons and Mijares retained its years-long rep for serving the Best Margaritas. Best Beer Selection and Best Pub Grub honors went to the venerable Lucky Baldwin’s in Old Pasadena, along with its friendly satellites, Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste on East Colorado Boulevard and the cozy Lucky Baldwin’s Delirium Café in Sierra Madre. Kabuki Japanese Restaurant once again earned readers’ votes for Best Happy Hour, thanks to its surprisingly hearty, budget-friendly offerings.
In recent years the Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, has conscientiously sought to expand and connect with the community via its programming choices and special events. That obviously resonated with theater lovers, who once again selected it as the Crown City’s Best Live Theatre Venue and gave it additional props for presenting the Best Theatre Production. (Speaking for ourselves, we have to say the Playhouse’s fantastic staging of “Ragtime: The Musical” and Nia Vardalos’ heartrending adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s “Tiny Beautiful Things” were two of the most memorable theatrical experiences we’ve had in a long time.) The Ice House, another beloved Pasadena institution if ever there was one, retained its more or less perennial mantle as Best Comedy Club; in a year of record need to have funny bones tickled, it responded by booking audience favorites like Fritz Coleman, Joey Coco Diaz, Joe Rogan, and Sherri Shepherd. And cleverly named Best Bowling Alley winner Bowlero continues to get thumbs up from PW readers for spiffing up the joint with some nightlife pizzazz while still maintaining its safe, multigenerational appeal.
KPCC’s repeat Best Radio Station win was well and smartly earned, thanks to its diverse, consistently interesting programming and focus on community, not to mention its In Person series and other gatherings at the Crawford Family Forum. Seriously, if ever you’re feeling funky about the state of the world and wondering if the grass really is greener over some other city or state fence, tune in to 89.3 FM. We’re damn lucky to have them.
BEST BAR
White Horse Lounge
41 S. Delacey Ave., Pasadena
(626) 583-9013
whitehorsepasadena.com
Reader recommened
Blind Donkey
53 E. Union St., Pasadena
(626) 486-2379
theblinddonkey.com/pasadena
Lucky Baldwin’s
17 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
(626) 795-0652 | luckybaldwins.com
Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste
1770 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 844-0447
Lucky Baldwin’s
Delirium Café
21 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre
(626) 355-1440
BEST BARTENDER
Stephanie Delgado
Noor
260 E. Colorado Blvd. A209, Pasadena
(626) 793-4518 | noorevents.com
Reader recommended
Megan Varney
The Rancho Bar, Altadena
BEST BEER
SELECTION
Lucky Baldwin’s
17 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
(626) 795-0652 | luckybaldwins.com
Lucky Baldwin’s
Trappiste
1770 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 844-0447
Lucky Baldwin’s
Delirium Café
21 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre
(626) 355-1440
Reader recommended
Congregation Ale House
300 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
(626) 403-2337
congregationalehouse.com
Yard House
330 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 577-9273
yardhouse.com/locations/ca/pasadena/pasadena-paseo-colorado/8307
BEST BOWLING ALLEY
Bowlero
3545 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 351-8858 | bowlero.com
Reader recommendation
Bowlmor Pasadena
3545 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 351-8858 | bowlmor.com/location/bowlmor-pasadena
BEST CASINO
San Manuel Casino
777 San Manuel Blvd., Highland
(909) 864-5050 | sanmanuel.com
BEST COCKTAILS
White Horse Lounge
41 S. Delacey Ave., Pasadena
(626) 583-9013
whitehorsepasadena.com
Reader recommended
Roy’s Restaurant
641 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 356-4066
roysrestaurant.com
Alexander’s Steakhouse
111 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena
626) 486-1111
alexanderssteakhouse.com
BEST COMEDY CLUB
The Ice House
24 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena
(626) 577-1894
icehousecomedy.com
BEST DIVE BAR
Freddie’s 35er
12 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 356-9315 | 35erbar.com
Reader recommended
The Colorado
2640 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 449-3485
facebook.com/TheColoradoBar
The Rancho Bar
2485 N. Lake Ave., Altadena
(626) 798-7634
ranchobaraltadena.com
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Kabuki Japanese
Restaurant
88 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 568-9310
3539 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 351-8963
kabukirestaurants.com
Reader recommended
The Mixx
443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 500-0021
themixxpasadena.com
We Olive and Wine Bar
32 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 787-1000
weolive.com/pasadena/
BEST LIVE MUSIC
BAR/CLUB
The Mixx
443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 500-0021
themixxpasadena.com
Reader recommended
Kings Row Gastropub
20 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 793-3010
kingsrowpub.com
The Rose
245 E. Green St., Pasadena
(888) 645-5006
wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/rose-pasadena/
BEST LIVE
THEATRE VENUE
Pasadena Playhouse
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena
(626) 356-7529
pasadenaplayhouse.org
Reader Recommended
A Noise Within
3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 356-3100
anoisewithin.org
Parson’s Nose
95 N. Marengo Ave., Pasadena
(626) 403-7667
parsonsnose.com
BEST LOCAL
MUSICIAN
Chuck Manning
Jazz Saxophonist
Reader recommended
Krys Mach
Past Action Heroes
BEST MARGARITAS
Mijares Mexican
Restaurant
145 Palmetto Drive, Pasadena
(626) 792-2763
mijaresrestaurant.com
Reader Recommended
El Portal Yucatan/Mexican Cuisine
695 E. Green St., Pasadena
(626) 795-8553
elportalrestaurant.com
El Cholo
Paseo Colorado, 300 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 795-5800 | elcholo.com
BEST MOVIE THEATER
ArcLight
300 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 568-9651 | arclightcinemas.com
Reader Recommended
Laemmle Playhouse 7
673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(310) 478-3836 | laemmle.com/theaters/6
iPic
42 Miller Alley, Pasadena
(626) 639-2260 | ipictheaters.com
BEST PLACE
TO DANCE
Elements Dance Space
1222 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena
Suite 110
(626) 817-9988
elementsdancespace.com
Reader recommended
Dance Street
780 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena
(626) 791-7746 | Dancestreetca.com
Ixtapa
119 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 304-1000 | cantinaixtapa.com/the-lounge.htm
BEST PRIVATE
EVENT VENUE
Noor
260 E. Colorado Blvd. A209, Pasadena
(626) 793-4518 | noorevents.com
Reader recommended
Elements Dance Space
1222 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena
Suite 110
(626) 817-9988
elementsdancespace.com
BEST PUB GRUB
Lucky Baldwin’s
17 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
(626) 795-0652
Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste
1770 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 844-0447
Lucky Baldwin’s Delirium Café
21 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre
(626) 355-1440
luckybaldwins.com
Reader recommended
Kings Row Gastropub
20 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 793-3010
kingsrowpub.com
BEST RADIO STATION
KPCC 89.3 FM
474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
(866) 893-5722
scpr.org
Reader Recommended
KUSC 91.5 FM
1149 S. Hill St., Suite H100,
downtown Los Angeles
(213) 225-7400
kusc.org
BEST SPORTS BAR
T. Boyle’s Tavern
37 N. Catalina Ave., Pasadena
(626) 578-0957
tboylestavern.com
Reader Recommended
Rocco’s Tavern
44 W. Green St., Pasadena
(626) 765-6810
roccostavern.com
Barney’s Beanery
99 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 405-9777 | Barneysbeanery.com
BEST THEATER
PRODUCTION
Pasadena Playhouse
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena
(626) 359-7529
pasadenaplayhouse.org
Reader recommended
A Noise Within
3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 356-3100 | anoisewithin.org
Parson’s Nose Theater
95 N. Marengo Ave., Pasadena
(626) 403-7667
parsonsnose.org
BEST WEDDING/
BANQUET HALL
Noor
300 E. Colorado Blvd., No. 200, Pasadena
(626) 793-4518 | noorevents.com
Reader recommended
Castle Green
99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Castlegreen.com | (626) 793-0359
BEST WINE
SELECTION
Total Wine & More
721 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 463-1444
totalwine.com
Reader recommended
Mission Wine & Spirits
1785 E. Washington Blvd.,
Pasadena
(626) 794-7026
missionliquor.com
We Olive & Wine Bar
32 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 787-1000 | weolive.com
BEST WINERY
San Antonio Winery
737 Lamar St., Los Angeles
(323) 223-1401
sanantoniowinery.com
Reader recommended
Villa Laural Fine Wines/Old Oak Cellars
2620 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 827-9800
villalauralfinewines.com.
