Just experienced a short visit to Pasadena, courtesy of the city’s Convention & Visitors Bureau , and really got to enjoy everything from the incredible architecture to some fine dining to a look at a soon-to-launch convention center facility that will give a major boost to the city’s meeting venues.

 

            Got stuck in a bit of traffic after arriving at LAX (surprise, surprise) but it was worth it for the meal at JJ’s Steakhouse on Colorado Boulevard. The attractive second-floor establishment is hailed as one of the city’s best, so my hopes were high—but everything lived up to or beyond expectations, especially a three-pound Maine lobster that melted in my mouth. Personally, it doesn’t get much better than that for my taste buds.

            I then checked in at the Hilton Pasadena on Los Robles, a 40-year-old property looking much newer thanks to some recent lobby and lounge renovations. The property is upgrading every guest room, and also standardizing some meeting rooms as part of a national effort for Hilton. After an hour in the Jacuzzi I called it a night and fell asleep in my king bed watching David Letterman crack wise.

            Rejoined my group the next morning for an excellent buffet breakfast (including a superb made-to-order omelet) and then toured the facility, including the block of rooms currently beginning renovation. The changes are subtle yet substantial, with the new design aiming for a more “boutique” look and feel; brand-new flat-screen TVs are also in the works. We then hit the road and saw a good chunk of the city.

            My personal highlight of the full day of touring was probably getting to go behind the scenes visiting the Rose Bowl. The historic stadium has hosted five Super Bowls (and every Rose Bowl, of course) and is a cool mix of old-school and modern elements. Groups can choose from some interesting meeting venues or catch a game together in an executive suite.

            Lunch at Café Santorini, in the city’s charming Old Town, was delightful, especially the setting—which includes venues like an awesome outdoor patio on the second floor and the oddly elegant Rococo Room. The food was fine too (I had a tasty seafood salad), as was an absolutely amazing key lime martini. Other high points of the day included stops at the hip Museum of California Art and the famed Huntington Library and Gardens. The Paseo Colorado adjoining Café Santorini was very cool too, an outdoor patio area with movie theater (plus occasional outdoor films), eateries and cool shops, all in a brick-lined, Old West-style setting.

            The visit climaxed with a topping-off ceremony for the new Convention Center expansion, celebrating the last piece of steel completing the building’s superstructure. Mayor Bill Bogard was on hand, and all seems set for the $142-million facility to open in the spring of 2009.