Colorado Blvd. & Route 66 Through Pasadena

PART 4 - Lake Ave. to Arroyo Pkwy.

The final section of this Route 66 guide covers Colorado Blvd. from Lake Ave. to Arroyo Pkwy. On the southwest corner, you’ll find Pasadena Towers, a modern development completed in 1991. If you enter the parking garage from the Lake Ave. side, you’ll come across a hidden modern mural depicting Route 66, the Rose Parade, and other iconic Pasadena landmarks. Just a little self promo thrown into the mix here ;) The image of a peregrine falcon in the mural is there because a handler regularly brings his birds to the building’s rooftop for pigeon control—a common practice on taller buildings throughout Los Angeles.

These next few locations are part of the historic Playhouse Village, an area I recommend exploring on foot to discover its unique businesses. It’s a lesser-known spot compared to Old Pasadena, so it tends to be less crowded with tourists and much easier to park.

Established in 1956, Canterbury Records has outlasted legendary giants like Virgin Megastore and Tower Records. Its secret to longevity might be its appeal to music lovers of all genres. While vinyl enthusiasts will especially appreciate the wide selection, the store also offers a solid variety of CDs. They are proclaimed Los Angeles' (county) oldest surviving record store.

Also noteworthy is the mid-century building next door, now home to our frequently visited Target. Originally designed for affluent postwar shoppers, it was built as a Robinson's department store (1958) with prime views of the Rose Parade. In 1993, it became Target’s first multi-level store. Underneath a set of outdoor stairs that leads to the store’s adjacent parking structure, you can see a bunch of handprints from Target’s grand opening that year. The largest set of handprints belongs to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar signed with “Abdul Jabbar #33,” referring to the Lakers’ jersey number 33.

Vroman's Bookstore, founded in 1894 by Adam Clark Vroman, is a must-visit landmark in Pasadena. Originally from La Salle, Illinois, Vroman moved to Pasadena in the late 1800s, hoping the climate would improve his wife Esther's health. Like many wealthy Midwesterners of that era, Vroman settled in what was once called the Indiana Colony.

In addition to being a bookseller, Vroman was a passionate photographer, renowned for his images of the American West and portraits of Native Americans. His work even inspired legendary photographer Ansel Adams. I’m a big fan of his reverse italics handwriting!

Vroman's is currently Southern California's oldest independent bookstore. After 50 years of ownership, Joel Sheldon has recently put it up for sale, seeking new owners who will respect the store’s rich legacy and continue its core values.

One unique feature of this location is the exterior-facing magazine stand, a rare sight in Southern California. It reminds me of the freestanding newstands I would see growing up in New York City. Don’t miss the mosaic mural, ‘Stage & Cinema’ (2016), located around the back of the store. Created by contemporary American artist Kenton Nelson, the mural reflects his signature style, evoking mid-century American life through large-format figurative paintings. You can see a video of the mural installation process below:

Additionally, there’s a modern mural by LA-based street artist WRDSMTH on the Colorado Boulevard side of the building. This is one of the few pieces of contemporary public murals along Colorado, and I hope to see more public art investments along Route 66 in the near future. A big shoutout to Playhouse Village for independently contributing numerous public art murals to the community. These murals create a vibrant atmosphere and enrich the local environment. You can find a guide to their murals here.

Blaze Pizza, a national chain was founded in Pasadena in 2011 by Elise and Rick Wetzel of Wetzel's Pretzels. A year later in 2012, James joined as investor and paid endorser of the brand. The location in Pasadena is it’s flagship and one where Lebron James himself worked undercover as “Ron” to prank customers. You can see the viral video below:

The historic Pasadena Playhouse is just south of Colorado Boulevard on El Molino, but its historic neon sign is still visible on Colorado. One of my favorite new Pasadena restaurants, Bar Chelou, is conveniently located right next to the Playhouse.

If you look up at the northwest corner of El Molino, you'll see the ‘Three Graces’ public art installation (2006) by artist Peter Fink on top of the Trio Apartments building. This sculpture features three tall, stainless steel spires that are both kinetic and illuminated with programmed colored lights at night. During the day, the spires sway with the wind, and their polished, mirror-like surfaces reflect the natural sunlight.

The United Artists Theater facade from 1931 has now become a highly decorative Art Deco style ‘Sweetgreen’ chain restaurant sign. The original theater would often show early versions of films to get public feedback. They took that feedback seriously and Hitchcock to reshot the ending of ‘Suspicion’ (1941) as a result of early audience reaction. Such theaters were called "preview houses" and the practice is still relevant in the industry today with test screenings.

The historic First Trust Building and Garage (1927) features a distinctive steel and glass cupola on its roof, which my son likes to call the “lighthouse.” He’s not far off—it once housed a revolving beacon that made the building a prominent part of the Pasadena skyline after sunset. While the beacon is no longer active today (imagine the complaints it would get now!), there's a unique modern art installation at Mt. Wilson that serves a similar purpose.

The ‘Sunstar,’ created by artist Liliane Lijn and astrophysicist John Vallerga, is on loan to the Mount Wilson Observatory. Each day, it beams a light to various spots across Los Angeles, including the Rose Bowl and Pasadena City Hall—or anywhere with a clear view of Mount Wilson along Colorado Blvd. Not everyone can see the Sunstar at the same time. It's a single ray of sunlight that passes through a prism, reflects off a mirror, and is directed into town. It’s as if the light finds you. So, look up every now and then during the day—you might catch a glimpse of the colored ‘star’ shining from the white tower in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Sorry for going off-topic, but back to the First Trust Building. In the original main banking room (East end), two large chandeliers hang over the public area. These chandeliers were designed more as decorative pieces than as the primary light source. There’s also four preserved large colorful murals by Alson Clark from 1929. These murals not only capture the essence of Pasadena and Southern California industries but are also technically accurate. One mural depicts a movie being filmed, another shows workers in an oil field. The third features a fishing ship in the Los Angeles Harbor, and the fourth illustrates a harvest scene in a citrus grove. You can still catch a glimpse of these murals through the windows today.

The original Star News building (1925) at Oakland Ave. is now the home of Wake and Late known for their delicious (and very pricey) breakfast burritos. The building also holds a place in Southern California's radio history, once hosting two radio towers that broadcast Star-News programming under the call sign KPSN. In 1926, KPSN aired the first-ever radio broadcast of the Rose Parade. Later, the famed underground FM station KPPC used the same towers to transmit its signal from studios located in the basement of the nearby Pasadena Presbyterian Church. The Star News building also makes a brief cameo in the 2007 film Transformers with a scene featuring a young Shia LaBeouf (a Pasadena local) riding past on a bicycle.

The Warner Building, constructed in 1927 by architects Marston & Maybury, is a prime example of Art Deco architecture in Pasadena. Designed by Jess Stanton, the building's facade features intricate glazed terra cotta details. Today, it’s home to Linden Optometry and remains a testament to Pasadena's rich architectural heritage. In a photo from 1937, it appears Vroman’s had it’s location here as well. Note a glimpse of the Sherwin Williams “Cover The Earth” billboard in the background, one of my favorite logos!

Last but not least, the historic Pasadena Post Office is worth a visit. The original building was designed by architect Oscar Wenderoth in 1913, and a respectful addition, also designed by Marston and Maybury, was built in 1938. There’s plenty of historic photos of this building. In early 2012, the building was renamed "First Lieutenant Oliver Goodall Post Office Building," in honor of an Altadena resident and Tuskegee Airman. From this same intersection at Garfield Ave., you’ll also have a clear view of the Public Library to the north, just beyond the iconic City Hall, and the Civic Auditorium to the south.

We’ll stop at Arroyo Pkwy right before you get into Old Pasadena. The 1940-64 Route 66 turns south along Arroyo Parkway while the 1926-40 Route continues straight along East Colorado. I’ll think about continuing the tour through Old Town but it’s going to have quite a lot of information. Until then, I hope this was a good resource for creatives to get inspired!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Visit Pasadena - Route 66 Centennial and Colorado Blvd Celebrations

Water and Power Associates - Early Views of Pasadena

PART 1 >> Rosemead Blvd. to Sierra Madre Blvd.

PART 2 >> Sierra Madre Blvd. to HILL Ave.

PART 3 >> HILL AVE. TO LAKE AVE.