EDITOR’S NOTE

It’s the mo wonderful time of the year

EVEN AS AN ADULT, THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE FREEDOM OF SUMMER, AND THIS YEAR, WE’RE ALL APPRECIATING IT MORE THAN EVER.

As this issue goes to press, we’ve just been given the OK to go outside maskfree, giving us slow and steady signs that we’re heading back to some sort of pre-2020 regularity just in time for summer—and this issue is dedicated to some of the best ways to make the most of it.

First, we’re taking time to salute some of the best things in our city with our annual “Best of Pasadena” issue. Here, we’ve asked a diverse range of industry leaders to share their favorites, recognizing many of the great restaurants, works of art, cultural gems, and other spots that make our city so special.

Second, since we’re also a bit eager to get away, but much of the world is still closed for travel, we’ve curated the best experiences to have both near and far.

We hope this issue takes you away,

> A FEW OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES FROM THIS ISSUE:

Dammuso Jolly at Tenuta Borgia

1Tenuta Borgia on Pantelleria (page 60). A very chic friend who owns the very chic store Evoke the Spirit, in Sayulita, Mexico, shared this underthe-radar gem with me recently. The tiny Italian island comes to life in the summer, and this resort that features seven dammusi, restored stone houses indigenous to the island, is high on my list for future travel.

2Writer Ramona Saviss’ day trip with fourlegged best friends to Beverly Hills (page 65). There’s nothing wrong with solo travel (personally, I’m a huge fan), but isn’t everything better when your dog can come too? It might be a surprise (or perhaps a cliché?), but Beverly Hills is one of the dog-friendliest areas of Southern California, full of easy outdoor cafes and ample parks for leisurely walks. Fido deserves a vacation too, after all.

The Beverly Hills Hotel Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara

3Writer Carole Dixon’s Southern California food exploration (beginning on page 47). Journeying everywhere from West Hollywood to Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, she’s created a mouthwatering array of food destinations delightfully close to home that feel like an escape—no TSA PreCheck required.

Villa Santa Cruz

4Glamping in Cabo. As much as I love and appreciate a five-star resort with ample amenities, I heard about a new boutique glamping spot that opened in May directly on the beach in Todos Santos (see page 58) and instantly fell in the love with the idea of the setting, as well as the tents’ fully functioning private bathrooms—tubs and all.