What to do before the game in Pasadena?

I lived in Hollywood and worked in Glendale and North Hollywood 21 years ago.  I'm not sure about game day as getting in and out of Pasadena is probably a nightmare.  I'd watch the parade.  Not on game day here are a few interesting things:

Miceli's Italian restaurant has singing waiters. There is one in Hollywood and one in [Glendale].  

Birds is a small restaurant on Franklin Street across from the Scientology Celebrity Center.  20 years ago you'd always catch 1-2 celebrities there and the burgers were out of this world.  This is the neighborhood that Swingers was filmed in.  The Brown Derby is about a 5 minute drive down the road. The Bourgeois Pig is a cool coffee shop that Forrest Whitaker used to write at, but it looks like it is closed now.  

The Groundlings is really cool if you like sketch comedy.  I'm 40% sure I was invited on stage with Kristen Wiig for a sketch in 2000, but it was before she was famous so I'm not sure if it was her  According to Google Maps the Upright Citizens Brigade has a theater next to Birds, but I've never been there. There used to be a comedy club at the 101 exit onto Franklin where the Sklars and other up and coming comedians would perform.  I never managed to make it there when the Sklars were performing.  I'd had a couple of classes with them and wanted to check them out and say hi.

The first disc golf course ever is somewhere in La Canada near Pasedena and JPL.  

The Getty Museum, Venice Beach and 3rd Street Promenade are all fun touristy things.  Getty makes you feel like you are in a star trek episode on  a perfect planet.

If you know somebody The Magic Castle.  Edit:  Trader Vic's from that wearwolves song is on sunset near the Magic Castle. Fun to get a tiki drink.

Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd are fun to check out.  Quick walk or drive would do it.

The Standard Hotel used to be a cool place to get a cocktail.  It was in a few movies in the 90s.

The Frolic Room is a cool dive bar on Hollywood Blvd (Sunset?) . It was in LA Confidential.

The bars and beach at Hermosa Beach are great to see lots of good looking people.

I can't remember the names of the theaters, but check out a funky movie while in Hollywood.  I've sat behind Quentin Tarintino, Matthew Perry, Heather Graham, The blond woman from MAD TV and one of the guys from swingers (John Livingston).    

The Bowling Alley where the exterior scene from The Big Lebowski is in Hollywood, but I can't remember the name.  Vince Vaughn was there once when I was bowling.

That's all I can remember at the moment.  Thanks for the tour down memory lane.  

Snowboarding at Mt baldy 

We are making a week-long trip out of it (Dec. 28th through Jan. 4th).

So far, we know we want to go to Universal Studios, but I am having trouble filling out the other days. The pier at Santa Monica is probably going to happen.

I've been to LA, but not for sightseeing/tourism, primarily for work, and I've never attended a Rose Bowl, so any advice would be appreciated!

The town of Pasadena is beautiful, especially the Old Town Section, which is entirely walkable; you'll find a dozen good brunch places just by walking through it. Great Maple and Russell's are the most popular.

All the Blue faithful should go see The Blue Boy at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in nearby San Marino CA.

Seriously, it's a great visit if you're into museums and gardens and such.

I'll be sleeping as much as possible and then sitting in traffic.

I've been lucky enough to attend 3 Rose Bowls. I am 2-1 in games!  My advice, reading what others have said, you cannot go out there and NOT attend the Rose Parade.  It's going to be an early day for you for sure, but you'll be on eastern time if you are coming from these parts. The day is rather compressed for sure, but I've done it a couple ways.  I've stayed up all night on Colorado Avenue watching the craziness happen before the parade-it is literally an all-night party! So much fun, great memories. The other thing is also what has been discussed. Get up very early, get to the parking area, golf course most likely, walk up to the parade route where it begins, and find a place to watch. Then, after the parade, walk back down and right into the stadium for the game. Forget the restaurants, there should be plenty of street vendors. As for drinking, you are on your own. Pasadena itself will be packed to the gills. Most people are there for the parade in the morning and then leave but then the game traffic arrives. It's better you be there early.

Have fun and GO BLUE!

I figure my username is relevant here!  I spent four years at Caltech in Pasadena (many years ago), and this is what I remember...

• Zankou Chicken - the best Lebanese food I've had outside of Dearborn.  The roast chicken is great, but the tri-tip shawarma plate still haunts my memories.  If I could have one last meal in Pasadena, it would be the #10 from Zankou.
• Pie n Burger - exactly what the name implies.  Really good burgers and really good pies.
• Lake St between Colorado and California has all of the fast-casual places you could ever want.  Paseo mall has slightly more upscale chain restaurants (like Yardhouse)
• Old Pasadena is the closest major restaurant/bar area to the stadium and has plenty of spots.  Old Towne Pub is a good choice.

Whatever you do, DO NOT GO TO YOSHINOYA BEEF BOWL.

Day of the game - just get to the game.

Otherwise, if you have a few days, rent a car and explore!

If I were to give you a week-long day trip guide if you haven’t been here, it would be something like:

-Day 1: Land at Santa Ana/John Wayne Airport and drive 15-20 minutes down to San Clemente/Dana Point Lantern District/Salt Creek Beach. If you have the money, stay at the Waldorf or 4 Seasons  both are right on the beach basically.

-Day 2: Drive up the PCH from there and hit up Laguna Beach in the morning, and make your way up to Newport Beach to check out Lido Isle and the Balboa Peninsula. If you want to shop, Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza are the two nicest malls in the country and are right there as well.

-Day 3: Continue on up the highway and tour the new SoFi Stadium (it’s batshit crazy nice), Santa Monica Pier, and maybe drive up to Malibu if you have time. 

-Day 4: Take a hike up to the Observatory and/or the Hollywood sign. The entire hike up and down from both should only be 3 hours. If you have time, head down to Rodeo Drive and feel poor (or right at home if you have $$$).

-Day 5: Game.

-Day 6: Head out to Big Bear and then to Palm Springs and get a round of golf in.

-Day 7: Depart from Palm Springs 

Zankou chicken, get the tarna plate.

You can walk around the caltech campus.  Its pretty.

If you have time, theres huntington gardens and norton simon museum.

Sunday brunch on the queen mary is nifty if they still do that.

Take a trip to the rest room so you don't have to wait in line and miss the big play.

Well, my grandmother and great grandmother were little old ladies from Pasadena, but they're no longer around to ask for tips.  Best I can do is refer you to Eater LA.

https://la.eater.com/maps/best-pasadena-restaurants-california-los-angeles-south-pasadena-old-town