Playhouse District, Pasadena, California
Encyclopedia
The Playhouse District is a neighborhood in Pasadena, California
. It is Pasadena's premier entertainment and financial district; the headquarters of IndyMac Bank
and Community Bank
are headquartered there, and Countrywide Financial
keeps an office there.
The Playhouse District is bordered by Interstate 210
to the north, California Boulevard to the south, Los Robles Avenue to the west, and Hudson Avenue to the east, with a panhandle
-like extension to Wilson Avenue. The district is also notable for its manhattanization
, the legacy of extensive urbanization from the 1960s to the 1980s.
At the Playhouse District's center is the world-famous Pasadena Playhouse
, as well as Vroman's Bookstore
, Pasadena's oldest operating bookstore. Several shopping plazas surround the area. At the neighborhood's east end is the Ice House comedy club. Fuller Theological Seminary
is located at the western end.
At the corner of Colorado Boulevard
and Oakland Ave. is the Pasadena Star News building. The newspaper started publication in 1884. The building now houses Technique at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
.
Additionally, the First United Methodist Church and Pasadena Presbyterian Church, on the former home of KPPC-FM, are located on Colorado Blvd. in the district.
The Pacific Asia Museum
, which started in 1971, is located on North Los Robles Avenue. It has a collection of 15,000 pieces of Asia and the Pacific Islands art work. Around the corner on Union Street is the Pasadena Museum of California Art.
and John Muir High School.
, just north of the neighborhood. The Playhouse District is served by Metro Rapid
line 780; as well as Metro Local lines 177, 180, 181, 485, 686, and 687. It is also served by Pasadena ARTS routes 10 and 20, and Foothill Transit
route 187.
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. It is Pasadena's premier entertainment and financial district; the headquarters of IndyMac Bank
IndyMac Bank
OneWest Bank is a federal savings bank with 82 retail branches in southern California and approximately $14 billion in deposits as of February 2010....
and Community Bank
Community bank
Community Bank, with $365 million in assets as of December 31, 2010, is a commercial bank serving customers in Oregon and Washington. The bank is headquartered in Joseph, Oregon.- History:...
are headquartered there, and Countrywide Financial
Countrywide Financial
Bank of America Home Loans is the mortgage unit of Bank of America. Bank of America Home Loans is composed of:*Mortgage Banking, which originates purchases, securitizes, and services mortgages. In 2008, Bank of America purchased the failing Countrywide Financial for $4.1 billion...
keeps an office there.
The Playhouse District is bordered by Interstate 210
Interstate 210
Interstate 210 may refer to:*Interstate 210 or the Foothill Freeway, a major east-west freeway running through the valleys north and east of Los Angeles, California*Interstate 210 , a bypass route in Lake Charles, Louisiana...
to the north, California Boulevard to the south, Los Robles Avenue to the west, and Hudson Avenue to the east, with a panhandle
Panhandle
A panhandle is an informal geographic term for an elongated arm-like protrusion of a geo-political entity, such as a subnational entity or a sovereign state.-Term:...
-like extension to Wilson Avenue. The district is also notable for its manhattanization
Manhattanization
Manhattanization is a neologism coined to describe the construction of many tall or densely situated buildings which transforms the appearance and character of a city. It was a pejorative word used by critics of the highrise buildings built in San Francisco during the 1960s and 1970s, who claimed...
, the legacy of extensive urbanization from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Landmarks
Pasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engagements each year.-History:...
, as well as Vroman's Bookstore
Vroman's Bookstore
Vroman's Bookstore is the oldest and largest independent bookstore in Southern California.- Founding and early history :Founded in 1894 by Adam Clark Vroman, the original Vroman’s Book and Photographic Supply store was located at 60 E. Colorado St in Pasadena, California. A.C...
, Pasadena's oldest operating bookstore. Several shopping plazas surround the area. At the neighborhood's east end is the Ice House comedy club. Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
is located at the western end.
At the corner of Colorado Boulevard
Colorado Boulevard
Colorado Boulevard is a major east–west street in Southern California, United States. It runs from Griffith Park in Los Angeles east through Glendale, the Eagle Rock section of Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Arcadia, ending in Monrovia...
and Oakland Ave. is the Pasadena Star News building. The newspaper started publication in 1884. The building now houses Technique at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
Le Cordon Bleu
Le Cordon Bleu is the world's largest hospitality education institution, with 35 schools on five continents serving 20,000 students annually. Its primary education focus is on hospitality management and the culinary arts...
.
Additionally, the First United Methodist Church and Pasadena Presbyterian Church, on the former home of KPPC-FM, are located on Colorado Blvd. in the district.
The Pacific Asia Museum
Pacific Asia Museum
The Pacific Asia Museum is an Asian art museum located at 46 N. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California, United States.The museum was founded in 1971 by the Pacificulture Foundation, which purchased “The Grace Nicholson Treasure House of Oriental Art” from the City of Pasadena...
, which started in 1971, is located on North Los Robles Avenue. It has a collection of 15,000 pieces of Asia and the Pacific Islands art work. Around the corner on Union Street is the Pasadena Museum of California Art.
Education
The Playhouse District is served by McKinley School and both Blair High SchoolBlair International Baccalaureate School
Blair International Baccalaureate School is located at 1201 S. Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106 and is in the Pasadena Unified School District ....
and John Muir High School.
Transportation
The Metro Gold Line operates a station on Lake AvenueLake Avenue (Pasadena)
Lake Avenue is a major north-south feeder road for the Pasadena and Altadena communities in Los Angeles County, California. The road was developed in the mid 19th century and takes its name from a lake which was located at its southern most end known variously as Mission Lake, Kewen Lake, and...
, just north of the neighborhood. The Playhouse District is served by Metro Rapid
Metro Rapid
Metro Rapid is a bus rapid transit service in Los Angeles County, California that operates in mixed traffic environments and has fewer stops than the Metro Local service. The system is mainly operated by LACMTA. Two routes are operated by Santa Monica Transit and one by Culver City Transit...
line 780; as well as Metro Local lines 177, 180, 181, 485, 686, and 687. It is also served by Pasadena ARTS routes 10 and 20, and Foothill Transit
Foothill Transit
Foothill Transit is a joint powers authority of 21 member cities in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. It operates a fixed-route bus public transit service in the San Gabriel Valley of Greater Los Angeles, California.-Overview:...
route 187.