If You Haven't Been to Pasadena Before . . .

CaptainBevo

25+ Posts
The Rose Bowl doesn't offer quite the "location" experience that the Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange Bowls do. In other words, don't expect a great deal of conveniently-located entertainment. I'd been to the Fiesta Bowl before, and found Tempe to be an awesome town. Same for others in my group who'd been to the Sugar Bowl (turns out there's quite a bit to do in New Orleans).

So when my group went to the '06 NC, we thought for sure L.A. would offer plenty things to do--and it did. What we didn't realize is that Pasadena is, by no stretch of the imagination, "L.A." Pasadena is to L.A. what Katy is to Houston, or what Cedar Park is to Austin. In fact, while Pasadena may be a little CLOSER to LA than either of those communities are to their respective "big cities," the only thing Pasadena has in common with LA is godawful traffic; so that fifteen mile trip could take you an hour.

After making it back to the hotel after the game, we cleaned up a little bit and asked the concierge where we could go to celebrate. He looked at his watch, and then looked at us like we were crazy, and said, "guys, it's TEN THIRTY. Where were you planning to go?" So we ordered pizzas and watched SportsCenter until about 4 a.m. California time.
 
Indeed, Horn Dawg.

1996, inaugural Big XII Season. Big XII champion Texas v. Big Ten Champ Penn State.




We lost.

But still, it was a great experience. It was my first bowl game as a college student. Tickets were free (a friend of a friend was on the team at the time and gave us his allotment). Wasn't able to get the time off from work, so I quit my job (ah, college). Used the money from selling my textbooks back to the co-op to pay for gas and food. Passed through Tombstone on the way out; took a picture at Lester Moore's grave. Lodgings were free, also: stayed @ my fraternity's ASU chapter. Went to the Grand Canyon.

Came home broke, unemployed, hungry and out of gas.

Why did I graduate?
 
Too bad there aren't any large towns nearby with things to do.
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Seriously, dude, ever heard of the metro? Or how about a taxi?
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No worries. In fact, I'd forgotten that the Fiesta is no longer played in Tempe.

Shame, really. I don't know much about Scottsdale, but I can tell you that Tempe was awesome. VERY similar to Austin. The year I went (1996/97) there was a New Years party headlined by the Monkees. THE MONKEES!
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Who doesn't want that?
 
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles on Pico. They got your chicken. They got your waffles. What else do you need?

And Vince was there too, after he won us the NC in 2005.
 
I went in 1996/1997 and remember the Monkees and the Classic Rock All-Stars and I think Alice Cooper. I was only like 14 though.

I went last year too and Scottsdale ie much better than I remember. Lots of restraunts and shopping.
 

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