This Is The Last…

Pasadena has seen a lot of changes in the last few years. Old Town was once a seedy (ok, dodgy) place to be. But in the last ten years or so, Pasadena has been transformed into a commercial mecca–much to the delight of some, and the chagrin of others. Though I tend to lean towards the latter point of view, there is still a thriving arts community in Pasadena. And so the city attempts to redeem itself from its capitalist sins with ARTNIGHT. Various museums, galleries, and cultural centers keep their doors open into the wee hours, hosting special events and art showings. The best part? The entire night is FREE (and who doesn’t love free stuff?). Shuttles circle the city, transporting art lovers between venues, while some of the local restaurants offer special deals to patrons.

The highlight of the evening for me was the Castle Green–a historical hotel turned apartment building. The Castle opened its beautifully preserved lobby to the public and hosted an art show. Many of the featured artists were one-time residents of the Castle. And if you happened to bring your sketchbook, there were models dressed in turn of the century boudoir costumes available for posing.
So, even though at first sight Pasadena may seem like nothing more than an outdoor mall, it’s nights like these that make me think that this city is not only worth saving, but it’s worked out it’s own redeption.

So you missed ARTNIGHT? Never fear–Catch it next time Friday, March 14th. You can find more about ARTNIGHT here.