A Night on the Town
29 Nov 2012
A few years ago, I came to Pasadena for a conference, having no idea that I might end up living here one day. I was totally charmed by the snowflakes they project on the buildings in Old Town. There’s no way we’ll ever get snow here, so this is the next best thing. Since I’m from a place that also gets snow so infrequently that it is an awesomely big deal, I will definitely take what I can get. The crazy thing is that it was 88 degrees on Saturday. A girl can dream (of snow!)
We went to Old Town to go out for my birthday dinner, even though my birthday was a few months ago. I was sick my birthday weekend, and then we were in Istanbul, and then we were really jet-lagged, and then I totally forgot about my birthday dinner. But Eric didn’t! So we went to Vertical Wine Bistro, which we really like. The steps up to the restaurant feel very Paris arcade.
We ate a little on the early side, so we had this whole huge dining room to ourselves, and they seated us right next to the fireplace. Lovely!
I think this is why they call it Vertical. I love the ladder.
After dinner we strolled around town, and I took more snowflake pictures. Snowflakes! Maybe I appreciate them so much because I have always failed at cutting them out from paper.
And, true story: it wasn’t until I was in college that I actually believed snowflakes really look like that. This girl in a warm Southern climate thought everyone must be exaggerating. Every single snowflake with its own unique splendor? No way. The first time I saw an individual snowflake, I stared at it until it melted. I couldn’t believe it was so tiny and perfect and so delicately ornate. It was a beautiful discovery. And I do miss that snow.
But this guy is making me feel better about it. Happy holidays!

Nov 29, 2012 @ 16:28:40
I miss snowflakes, too. All we have here are chubby little droplets of water that smear my glasses.
Love the snowflake photos and glad you finally had your birthday dinner; as they say, лучше поздно, чем никогда!
Dec 02, 2012 @ 22:38:55
I am definitely getting some glasses smearing over here too! But it’s such a desert here, and the summer was so infernal, I don’t care if it rains from now until March! It’s sort of more fall than winter, but I’ll take what I can get! I hope you have some dry days ahead of you after all the downpours!
Dec 01, 2012 @ 05:48:34
I never knew you didn’t believe snowflakes looked like that! Some things you just have to leave home to learn! Old Town looks pretty as usual, but I love being out at night in places with festive lights! Will you return to the Vertical Wine Bar?
Dec 02, 2012 @ 22:43:37
Yes, and I also didn’t believe in the Big Dipper! I used to look at those drawings when I was a kid and think, “But wait, couldn’t you just connect those dots into whatever shape you wanted?” I didn’t believe in the Big Dipper until I saw it at Oberlin. Skeptical city girl! Yes, I think we’ll go back to Vertical–we had some amazing scallops there 😉