Road-trippers know that certain pit of the stomach-y feeling that dawns as you drive into a new town and stare out the passenger window, then the driver's side, looking for any sign of a place that might sell a hamburger or a bowl of pasta or something.
Old Town Pasadena has never presented the newcomer with such a challenge, or the long-timer, been-around-the-Crown-City-forever local. Why? Because that stretch of Colorado Boulevard -- and the surrounding streets and alleys -- is absolutely flush with foodie places and hot dog joints and posh trattorias and Spanish taverns and bakeries and desserteries and every other place you might want to get a nosh.
The Ol' Town P though does take this veritable garden of good eating lightly; it sets the scene for A Tastes of Old Pasadena each and every year. The date for this year is Tuesday, Sept. 16, and the sampling of savory tidbits from over two dozen Old-Pasian places starts at that perfect just-after-work time of 5:30 p.m.
The meal-heartier spots? Think Brothers Pies 'n Fries, hot dog purveyor Jake's and Italian fave Sorriso and tapas-nice Bar Celona and piquant Wokcano. The sweeter end of things? Yogurt from 21 Choices, plus goodies from The Pie Hole and Sugar Fix.
Cost is thirty bucks. And the host? It's the Pasadena Foothills Association of Realtors Charitable Foundation, and 100% of the proceeds will help out charities around the Crown City.
Wouldn't it be nice if every town we toodled through had such choice? Yes. As nice, though, is to get acquainted with the towns in the region where we live, the better to know what local eateries offer up.
Doing so in one fell swoop, and supporting local organizations, is even nicer.
