What to Do After the Parade!

Alhambra float, 2019 (File Photo – Rose Parade)

When the Parade is over, it may take you longer to get home than it took to get to the Parade!

By Brian Rodriguez

You’ve got many choices after the Parade, on January 2, this year. You can head to the ‘Rose Parade Showcase of Floats’ (Washington & Sierra Madre Blvd) to view the floats up close. You can start heading to the Rose Bowl and enjoy the game. Or you can linger a bit in town and check out the taste and flavor of our City. Here’s our advice on how to avoid the “After the Parade” traffic.

Right after the Parade!

As Pasadena streets will be fully packed, many businesses in the city will be open for a ‘bite and wait for traffic to die down’. Here’s a sample of what you might find:

• Green Street Village

  This area (Catalina Ave. & Green St.) offers a feel of New York away from New York. Visit Century Bookstore and check out the local flavor.

• Playhouse Village

  This area (in and around El Molino & Colorado Blvd) boasts Landmark Pasadena, Great selections at Monopole Wine, Blaze Pizza, Arcade Lane, and Urth Cafe (Madison Ave & Colorado Blvd). Drive a bit beyond Lake Ave. and you’ll get to Hummus Labs (950 E Colorado Blvd, Site 104).

• South Lake Ave

  This area (in and around Del Mar & South Lake Ave.) has Urban Plates, Float at the British inspired Burlington Arcade, Lemonade Restaurant (@The Commons,) and Magnolia House.

• Old Pasadena

  This district has shopping, dining, bars and much more.  You ask for it, we got it at Old Pasadena (some may still refer to it as old town). With that many shops and bars we are confident that you will find something to occupy your time and have fun. (Check out Neon Retro Arcade, a favorite hangout of young and young at heart writers).

• North Lake Ave toward Altadena

  Go up on North Lake Avenue for more shops and make sure to check the Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena in the evening. (Christmas Tree Lane Model Railroad Society is open on New Year’s Day only).

• South Pasadena

  If you’ve taken our advice and you parked on side streets, an alternative close-by city is South Pasadena. Their Mission Street is a friendly-pedestrian street (between Diamond Ave. and Meridian Ave).

When will traffic subside?

Usually traffic flow takes three to four hours to become normal again, so enjoy your stay and have fun. Life is too short to be spent stuck in traffic!

You’re advised to leave before the Rose Bowl game ends and traffic becomes crazy again.

Enjoy Pasadena!