 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| WAVE Journey |
| Women's Adventures, Vacations, Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
Seeing Art In Architecture, Gardens in Pasadena & The Getty ~
Article & photos by Lucy Komisar
Article & photos by Lucy Komisar
| Page 1 of 2/ Next Page |
A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life.
WAVE Journey is your one-stop online resource for women-oriented businesses and
services around the world.
WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities
this website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are
interested in finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online
resource.
WAVE Journey is your one-stop online resource for women-oriented businesses and
services around the world.
WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities
this website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are
interested in finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online
resource.
The huge brown stone Spanish tiled roof Langham Huntington Hotel dominates Pasadena like an
historic memory. A sojourn here is not just a place to rest your head; it's a place to get your head
full of history and also art.
historic memory. A sojourn here is not just a place to rest your head; it's a place to get your head
full of history and also art.
Covering 23 acres in the San Gabriel
Mountain foothills, it was built as a
winter resort in 1906 by General
Marshall C. Wentworth, who had
served in the civil war, though
general was an honorary title. He
had built a grand summer resort in
Jackson, NH, but his Pasadena
venture was ill-fated. It failed after
the San Francisco earthquake,
because construction workers were
not available and torrential rains
flooded the building which had only
Mountain foothills, it was built as a
winter resort in 1906 by General
Marshall C. Wentworth, who had
served in the civil war, though
general was an honorary title. He
had built a grand summer resort in
Jackson, NH, but his Pasadena
venture was ill-fated. It failed after
the San Francisco earthquake,
because construction workers were
not available and torrential rains
flooded the building which had only
a temporary roof. Wentworth gave up and went back East.
Fortunately, Henry Huntington, a railroad tycoon, was developing the
famous Huntington Gardens and thought this would be a great place to put
his guests. He bought it, finished it, and reopened it in 1914 as the
Huntington Hotel. There were formal dinners and dances in the gilt-ceilinged
Georgian ballroom which is still there, and gilded, like the age it still
represents.
Fortunately, Henry Huntington, a railroad tycoon, was developing the
famous Huntington Gardens and thought this would be a great place to put
his guests. He bought it, finished it, and reopened it in 1914 as the
Huntington Hotel. There were formal dinners and dances in the gilt-ceilinged
Georgian ballroom which is still there, and gilded, like the age it still
represents.
A tour of the hotel is a bit like touring
a museum. A highlight is the famous
picture bridge, the only one in the
United States. A picture bridge has
paintings hung in succession from its
beams. The 1920s manager Stephen
Royce went to Lucerne, Switzerland,
saw one there and insisted the
Huntington had to have one. As
Huntington was an art collector, he
couldn't object. Royce commissioned
the bridge from Frank Moore, a local
a museum. A highlight is the famous
picture bridge, the only one in the
United States. A picture bridge has
paintings hung in succession from its
beams. The 1920s manager Stephen
Royce went to Lucerne, Switzerland,
saw one there and insisted the
Huntington had to have one. As
Huntington was an art collector, he
couldn't object. Royce commissioned
the bridge from Frank Moore, a local
artist, who painted 41 panels, all California scenes, and finished the work in
1932.
1932.
Another stunning work of art is the
Japanese garden, also built in 1920s.
A focal point is the red bridge at the
bottom. See it peaking through this
photo. If you wander down, you'll find
places where you can: sit and
contemplate. The adjacent lawn holds
150 people and is popular for
weddings.
During World War II, the hotel rented
itself out to the U.S. Army. Senator
John F. Kennedy in July 1960 had
Japanese garden, also built in 1920s.
A focal point is the red bridge at the
bottom. See it peaking through this
photo. If you wander down, you'll find
places where you can: sit and
contemplate. The adjacent lawn holds
150 people and is popular for
weddings.
During World War II, the hotel rented
itself out to the U.S. Army. Senator
John F. Kennedy in July 1960 had
lunch there with heads of the Democratic party to discuss his possible
nomination as Democratic presidential nominee.
The building went through various owners, and in January 2008, it was
bought by Langham Hotels International, headquartered in Hong Kong, which
owns the Langham in London. So, it's now the Langham Huntington.
The décor is soothing and tastefully elegant, with grillwork, wood paneling
and Chinese and English paintings hung in the public rooms and corridors.
That feeling carries over to the warmly furnished bedrooms. From our
window, we could see the horseshoe garden, the original entrance where
people arrived in horse carriages.
nomination as Democratic presidential nominee.
The building went through various owners, and in January 2008, it was
bought by Langham Hotels International, headquartered in Hong Kong, which
owns the Langham in London. So, it's now the Langham Huntington.
The décor is soothing and tastefully elegant, with grillwork, wood paneling
and Chinese and English paintings hung in the public rooms and corridors.
That feeling carries over to the warmly furnished bedrooms. From our
window, we could see the horseshoe garden, the original entrance where
people arrived in horse carriages.
A holdover from the gilded age –
well, actually, we have one
ourselves, don't we – is the Club
Lounge available to gilded guests.
It's set up with intimate groups of
tables and chairs or couches to
afford comfort and privacy.
well, actually, we have one
ourselves, don't we – is the Club
Lounge available to gilded guests.
It's set up with intimate groups of
tables and chairs or couches to
afford comfort and privacy.
I chatted with a businessman staying
there who explained that it was
perfect for him, because he regularly
came to town for meetings at a
nearby medical center he owned.
With the five food and drink services
-- continental breakfast, mid-day
snack (ie lunch), afternoon tea,
cocktails and hors d'oeuvres (enough
for dinner), and chocolates and
cordials – he never had to worry
there who explained that it was
perfect for him, because he regularly
came to town for meetings at a
nearby medical center he owned.
With the five food and drink services
-- continental breakfast, mid-day
snack (ie lunch), afternoon tea,
cocktails and hors d'oeuvres (enough
for dinner), and chocolates and
cordials – he never had to worry
about meals. He'd just stop at the 8th floor for the on-going shifting buffet.
He was a repeat guest.
He was a repeat guest.
I took advantage too, inviting my aunt
and uncle for drinks and delicious
canapés, accompanied by a charming
mountain view, before we went out to
dinner at one of Pasadena's trendy fish
restaurants.
and uncle for drinks and delicious
canapés, accompanied by a charming
mountain view, before we went out to
dinner at one of Pasadena's trendy fish
restaurants.
Wandering around the hotel, I
discovered the Lobby Lounge, really
the old lobby, because it looks out on
the horseshoe garden. Look further
and you see the San Gabriel Valley.
Afternoon tea is served there Thursday
through Sunday.
If the Japanese Garden reminds you
that Southern California is wonderful
for gardens, don't forget the
Huntington Library, Art Gallery &
Gardens practically next door. It has a
superb botanical garden, with sections
highlighting the fauna of different parts
of the world. But I'd been there before
discovered the Lobby Lounge, really
the old lobby, because it looks out on
the horseshoe garden. Look further
and you see the San Gabriel Valley.
Afternoon tea is served there Thursday
through Sunday.
If the Japanese Garden reminds you
that Southern California is wonderful
for gardens, don't forget the
Huntington Library, Art Gallery &
Gardens practically next door. It has a
superb botanical garden, with sections
highlighting the fauna of different parts
of the world. But I'd been there before
opened in December 1997. Its gardens are a highlight.