All my life Pasadena has been the home of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Believe me, in January when it's cold and dreary where I live, Pasadena has looked many times like paradise. And, I do like to watch. At parade time, there's something unusual onscreen and everyone wears one layer of clothing to boot. Comfort certainly defines paradise for me. (I guess my response played right into the hands of the originators of the parade, eh? But, a good idea is easy to recognize.)

So, Salut Rose Bowl Parade!! That’s what I've always called it. And, even better, the 1970s came and brought Pasadena the Doo Dah Parade, a satire on the Rose Bowl Parade. Participants include a barbecue marching grill team and other silly groups to pay attention to. Sounds ideal to me. I’ll laugh.

Once upon a time there were grand homes along Pasadena’s South Orange Grove Boulevard, but they were replaced by apartments and condos. However, the grounds are still well kept. This modicum of decency is unheard of back east. When grandness goes, often so does pride in upkeep. But, not in Pasadena. Yay!

Parrots are important in Pasadena. They like the cedar trees.

Many cities has sister-city affiliations with other cities in the world and so does Pasadena. Uniquely Pasadena also has a "friendship agreement" with a Japanese city, Kasukabe. The distinction from sister city isn't clear, but each city does send delegations of citizens to the other city. They alternate years, though. Sounds ideal again.

Sadly, Pasadena may have lost the Emmys this decade, but they gained the Miss Teen USA pageant. It’s still show business, though. And, speaking of show business, Jack Larson is from Pasadena. (Hey, Jimmy! Where’s Clark?) Finally, after show business is said and done, let’s not forget CalTech and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. There are both beauty and brains together in the same "neighborhood."