JOT-10

Show Stoppers | Taste Sensations | The Night Beckons 

Jack of All Trades | Retail Therapy 

You may be scanning these pages looking for the Best Place to Meet Single Peruvian Guinea Pig Breeders or the Best Avocado and Mother of Pearl Mojito, but remember that life isn’t all sex and drinking.

In fact, the stuff that makes up most miscellaneous categories is the true mortar of our lives. Where you go to get your nails done, where you go to get your car washed, where you go to stay healthy and alive — these are the everyday decisions that constitute modern human existence.

Maybe you think it doesn’t matter all that much that Zoey Van Jones Brow Studio is the best place to get your eyebrows waxed, or that you can get a real old-time phosphate at Fair Oaks Pharmacy. But these are the verities, the assurances, the things we know we can count on, even when the Peruvian breeder doesn’t call back after that wild night of mojitos leaves you with avocado remorse.

And it isn’t just maintenance or comfort; people also want to improve themselves and cure what ails them. Which is why you can find some of the best care for yourself at Huntington Hospital and for your turtle at Vanderhoof Veterinary Hospital. That’s why places that extol the virtues of the physical self — whether Shan Tung Kung-Fu Academy, Balanced Concepts

Pilates or Bikram Yoga Pasadena — are so various and so popular. It’s why 24 Hour Fitness is open 24 hours.

So consider these categories the mortar used in constructing the house of your very lives! These aren’t just conveniences, and they aren’t just services. They’re the things your use to build yourself, to improve yourself and to live well independent of that Peruvian and his seductive mojitos.

— Brandon Reynolds

Winner photos by Bettina Monique Chavez (unless otherwise credited)  

JAT10_01

Best Acupuncture:

Dr. Ya-Wen Cheng Acupuncture and Chiropractic
612 W. Duarte Road, Ste. 801, Arcadia | (626) 292-6899 | www.drcheng.net
One hundred and forty years of alternative medicine generates a lot of loyalty. Dr. Cheng's practice, a family business since 1960, combines Eastern and Western medicines to treat not only the typical chiropractic stuff such as backaches and arthritis, but also infertility, depression and tennis elbow.

Reader Recommended:
Allison Levinson King
2808 Glendale Blvd., Silver Lake | (323) 662-3907
King's approach to acupuncture blends Chinese herbal medicine with diet and exercise to treat pain and illness. Her specialty is women's health, from pregnancy to menopause. King's practice has been so female-focused she caught the attention of W magazine in April 2008. For Pasadena women, it's been well worth the drive.

Jean Tom Acupuncture
127 N. Madison Ave., Ste. 215A, Pasadena | (626) 793-8988
www.jeantomacupuncture.com
Tom has made a name for herself by working on a variety of disorders, from pain and allergies to more focused areas such as digestion and facial rejuvenation. Her clinic's philosophy is to maintain beauty as well as health.


JAT10_02Best Architect:
James V. Coane & Associates
30 N. Raymond Ave., Ste. 611, Pasadena
(626) 584-6922 | www.jvca.com
Coane's firm ranges far and wide both stylistically and geographically. It's worked on projects as far away as Aspen and Beijing, and as diverse as custom homes, corporate interiors and retail spaces. They've been recognized in Architectural Digest and Kitchen Trends, but perhaps the biggest nod to their talent is that so many of their projects have been used for TV and film locations.


JAT10_03Best Attorney/Law Firm (TIE):
Law Offices of John Ciccarelli
225 S. Lake Ave., Ste. 300, Pasadena | (626) 432-7257
A specialist in medical malpractice, elder abuse and catastrophic injury cases, John Ciccarelli is the man to call to help get your life back on track when fate throws one of its nasty curveballs. Most of Ciccarelli's clients find him through referrals from past clients and attorneys he's litigated with or against, which speaks pretty highly of the services he provides and, most importantly, the results he gets in court.

R. Scott Jenkins at Hahn & Hahn LLP
301 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 796-9123 | www.hahnlawyers.com
Jenkins knows his way around business, taxation and construction law, emerging over the years as perhaps the go-to attorney in Pasadena for developers navigating the city's permit and approval process. But he also knows his way around a parade. Jenkins isn't just a partner with Hahn & Hahn; he's also a very involved member of the community as a member of the Tournament of Roses Association.


JAT10_04Best Auto Repair:
Mike Gibson Auto Service Center
1701 E. Walnut St., Pasadena | (626) 795-3726
If you can find a service center in which the words "reliable" and "fair" don't instantly combust in one of the bays, then you've found a good shop. Mike Gibson's place maintains its loyalty to ACDelco products and locally based customers and, if you're willing to count, they boast 99,000 auto parts for sale (not all of which you'll need, they promise). In addition to big repairs, the service center also does smog checks and tune-ups.

Reader Recommended:
Douglas Auto Body & Paint
2453 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 795-7577 | www.douglasautobody.com
This 50-year-old business has mastered the three automotive Rs: repair, refinish, repaint. They've ensured loyalty through good work, nice prices and the perks: lifetime repair warranty, 24/7 towing and rental car service.


JAT10_05Best Bank/Credit Union:
Wells Fargo Bank
82 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena | (626) 449-8611
350 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 449-3661
655 N. Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena | (626) 685-9275
1739 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 578-7820
3701 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 351-4960
www.wellsfargo.com
You didn't really expect to see some mom ‘n' pop bankin' hut top this list, did you? Banking's true currency is convenience, and Wells Fargo has chosen
its locations strategically. People report overall satisfaction with the customer service, but it's also possible that the bank encourages warm thoughts from we pioneering Californians who always think fondly of the stagecoach.

Reader Recommended:
Bank of America
1687 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 578-5181
399 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (818) 507-6700
145 W. California Blvd, Pasadena | (626) 304-3386
880 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 304-3120
929 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena | (626) 578-5125
www.bankofamerica.com
Following the ubiquity trend in banking is the one that was first to take the country's name. All those locations are sure convenient, but what's even more so is the BofA app, which does everything but spit money out of your smart phone.


JAT10_06Best Beauty Salon:
Starr House The Salon
2636 Mission St., San Marino | (626) 799-0828 | www.starrhouse.com
When you cut and color better than anybody else, people find out. That's the kind of thing that gets around, as does the fact that Starr House carries its own makeup line. This year Starr House added planet-saving to the roster by collecting hair clippings to donate to cleaning up the Gulf Coast oil spill. The bikini wax, however, has not yet solved any environmental problems.

Reader Recommended:
Tangles
145 W. Green St., Pasadena | (626) 792-2948 | www.tanglespasadena.com
Straightening the curly, curling the straight ... this Old Pasadena salon is full of solutions. The salon famously solved problems with stylistic plainness this year when it was featured on the TLC makeover show "Real Simple Real Life."


JAT10_07Best Car Wash (TIE):
Pasadena auto Wash
164 W. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 449-9944
It's satisfying to see someone (or many someones) take the time to hand-wash your car and give it the business inside and out while you relax inside on a leather couch and eat some free pretzels. There's always a bit of pageantry to getting your car washed, the procession and all, but in the end, Pasadena Auto Wash gives people what they want.


Lucky Car Wash
3698 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 796-4888
Quick service and pretty reasonable prices make Lucky a local favorite. People take their cars and car-washing very seriously, and so it's clear Lucky has been doing something right to win the trust of picky Pasadena car owners.

Reader Recommended:
Walnut-Hill Car Wash
1465 E. Walnut St., Pasadena | (626) 449-6217
Walnut-Hill gets a rep for being fast on the follow-through, but they get extra points for having classic video games on hand to keep you busy while your Camry is getting a rub-down.


JAT10_08Best Chiropractor:
Dr. Seth Mittleman/Chiropractic Health Center
131 N. El Molino Ave., Ste. 140, Pasadena | (626) 793-9915
www.sanctuaryofwellness.com
There are six steps to wellness in Dr. Mittleman's clinic, and while we don't want to give away the surprise, one of them is electromagnetic therapy. The chiropractic mission is to balance the person, from physical structure to nutrition. Should any of this be unclear, the Web site provides a helpful "wellness glossary."

Reader Recommended:
Focus Chiropractic
236 W. Mountain St., Ste. 107, Pasadena
(626) 449-0900 | www.focuschiropractic.net 
Focus introduces patients to its regiment of relief, correction and wellness for a host of ailments, treating the whole patient from before they even walk in the door: the Web site is full of useful info and a 3-D Spine Simulator.


JAT10_09Best Cooking School:
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles
521 E. Green St., Pasadena | (866) 230-9450
http://chefs.edu/Los-Angeles
Well, come on. It's Le Cordon Bleu. They have a December gingerbread bake-off that will probably make news. This is where old-school foodmasters get braised to perfection. And it's not just cooking; there's also baking and restaurant management. What's perhaps best for Pasadena is the restaurant attached to the school, where locals can submit to being a delightful kind of guinea pig.

Reader Recommended:
Old Town Cooking School
2245 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 265, Pasadena | (626) 791-0358
www.oldtowncookingschool.com
This school teaches the art of home cooking. Mostly in the Tuscan and French styles, the school's selection of classes also presents students with lessons in eclecticism, from autumn fruits and food/wine pairing to the always titillating world of curry.


JAT10_10Best Cosmetic Surgery:
Dr. Alexander Villicana
624 W. Duarte Road, Ste. 201, Arcadia | (626) 447-6641 | www.drvillicana.com
Dr. Villicana has seen a lot of faces, and he's made quite a few of them prettier. After more than 11,000 cosmetic surgeries in a quarter-century, the man has become no less than a stylist of skin in the world of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Reader Recommended:
Dr. John Gross/Skin Deep Laser Med Spa
425 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena | (626) 449-8873 | www.skindeeplaser.com
It's all very sci-fi at the Skin Deep Laser Med Spa, which readers say is dedicated to defeating aging. Skin gets exposed to a lot that will cause a wrinkle, in time, and Skin Deep has a treatment to smooth and exfoliate and resurface. Acne, hairs, large pores and age spots - here they're all so yesteryear.


JAT10_11Best Dance Studio:
Le Studio Dance
57 Palmetto Drive, Pasadena | (626) 792-4616 | www.lestudiodance.com
Just imagine the patience required of someone trying to teach a 3-year-old how to plié. This more than anything should illustrate the dedication of the Le Studio staff, who teach hip-hop, jazz, modern and ballroom in addition to ballet, and to almost literally all ages. Keep an eye open for upcoming performances.
Reader Recommended:

Arthur Murray Dance Studio
100 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena | (626) 793-1030 | www.ampasadena.com
These are the people who make sure you don't throw your bride during your first dance at the wedding. They're the ones who teach you the cha-cha and the two-step and the elusive hustle and so on, because you never know when you'll need to impress a crowd with the Viennese Waltz.


JAT10_12Best Day Care:
Kids Klub Pasadena
380 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena | (626) 795-2501 | www.kidsklubcdc.com
There's certainly a holistic, development-center approach to childcare at Kids Klub. The social and emotional nurturing is there, as is the teaching of respect and manners, with caregivers cueing into a child's individual needs. There are summer camps, too, of course, but parents probably give it extra love for being open nights and weekends.

Reader Recommended:
Goodman Family Day Care
1090 El Campo Drive, Pasadena | (626) 578-1815
Having a lot of patience and love for developing humans and generating positive word of mouth is the 24-year secret to day care success for Jacqueline Goodman. "Once you're in the program, you're part of the family," she said.


JAT10_13Best Day Spa/Massage:
Burke Williams
39 Mills Place, Pasadena | (626) 440-1222
www.burkewilliamsspa.com
It's Europe brought west, with spa baths, body wraps and the famous facial. Behind all that relaxation and old-world charm is a dedication to modern science that makes the most out of a healthy experience.

Reader Recommended:
Amadeus Spa
799 E. Green St., Pasadena | (626) 578-3404 | www.amadeusspa.com
A lot of movies and TV shows have been filmed at this rejuvenation station, which means that the spa is doing something right and that filmmakers are pretty clever about picking locations. Body massages, skin treatments and something called "Spa Me Amadeus Specialty Packages" promise a whole lot of relaxation.


JAT10_14Best Dentistry:
InStyle Dental
3007 E. Huntington St., Pasadena | (626) 304-2625
www.instyledental.com
The InStyle tripod is built on preventative care, cosmetic services and orthodontia. Within those categories, the clinic practices dentistry that will carry a person from baby teeth up to dentures - most importantly, with a dedication to comfort and respect.

Reader Recommended:
Dr. Michael S. Yung, DDS
696 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 224, Pasadena | (626) 449-5420
www.michaelyungdds.com
A neighborhood dentist with a relaxed style in both manner and office, Dr. Yung has become a favorite of patients, who get comfortable in his chairs as early as age 1.


JAT10_15Best Dermatologist:
Dr. David Denenholz
960 E. Green St., Ste. 330, Pasadena | (626) 449-4207
An award-winning doctor with a vast knowledge of all the things that can go wrong with your largest organ, Dr. Denenholz has received much gratitude from the first-time pimple-sufferer to the many-times wrinkled.

Reader Recommended:
Dr. Seth A. Vaccaro
800 Fairmount Ave., Ste. 425, Pasadena | (626) 449-9992
Dr. Vaccaro has been looking deep into Pasadena's pores for 25 years and, while he may not always like what he finds, he hasn't gotten scared away yet. Customers, on the other hand, are more than happy to recommend him to friends.

JAT10_16Best Doctor (TIE):
Dr. Tina Yang
128 N. Oak Knoll Ave., Ste. 100, Pasadena
(626) 795-3000
Dr. Yang got to the top of the list by being professional and personal, by listening to the many aches and ailments of the Pasadena community and making her patients feel like people rather than bundles of woe.

Dr. Clair Tilem
65 N. Madison Ave., Ste. 800, Pasadena | (626) 792-3141
Dr. Tilem knows the power of listening as a diagnostic tool. And given the enthusiasm of her patients, she knows the curative power of listening as well. An internist really is treating the whole patient, and Dr. Tilem starts at the beginning.


JAT10_17Best Dry Cleaner/Laundry:
Bryan's Cleaners & Laundry
544 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena | (626) 796-4335
www.bryanscleaners.com
Those magic words: "free pick-up and delivery." It's a big operation that behaves like a little one, and that balance of professionalism and personal attention, plus the whole "free" thing, makes it tops in the area.

Reader Recommended:
Pasadena Laundry
2585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 744-2948
www.pasadenalaundry.com
This laundry boasts high-tech machines that clean better and faster. But, anticipating the inevitable wait for those towels to dry, Pasadena Laundry has also outfitted itself with Internet access, TV lounges and a place for kids to play that will keep them out of the darn machines for once.


JAT10_18Best Eyebrow Waxing/Threading:
Zoey Van Jones - Brow Studio
45 E. Union St., Pasadena | (626) 683-3308 | www.zoeyvanjones.com
It calls itself an "avant-garde beauty salon," so we guess we'll go with that. What Zoey's place (formerly BrauHaus) definitely is, though, is a place where you will get absolutely the right thing done to your eyebrows. This is what specialization looks like, friends. But worry not, for they will also wax the heck out of any other part of your body that dares to foliate.

Reader Recommended:
Madison 101 Salon
101 S. Madison Ave., Pasadena | (626) 683-1188 | www.madison101salon.com
The eyelash fills come highly recommended at Madison 101, but that doesn't mean you should ignore the waxing and massage possibilities, too. This salon is wasting no time in establishing itself as a big player in the beauty game.


JAT10_19Best Fitness/Weight-Loss Program:
Breakthru Fitness
345 S. Lake Ave., Ste. 201, Pasadena | (626) 396-1700
87 Fraser Alley, Pasadena | (626) 396-1700 | www.breakthrufitness.com
A secret to success of any fitness club is access. Breakthru promises it'll never get too crowded because they limit memberships. So simple, it's brilliant. A boutique club, Breakthru is designed to give you the best chance for maximizing health and fitness in an environment that is more personal, but not uncomfortably so.

Reader Recommended:
West Coast Boot Camp
Rose Bowl Lot 1 (Seco Street and North Arroyo Boulevard), Pasadena
(888) WCBC-FIT | www.estcoastbootcamp.com
It seems like a neck-breaking kind of place, maybe because it meets in a parking lot. But the West Coast instructors build strength and stamina through motivation and discipline rather than intimidation and threats.
            
JAT10_20Best Golf Course:
Brookside Golf Course
1133 N. Rosemont Ave., Pasadena | (626) 585-3598
www.brookside.americangolf.com
Next door to the Rose Bowl is another piece of venerable sporting history. The Brookside Golf Course is 36 holes in a fine corner of Southern California where apparently the desire to compete is somehow etched on the land itself.

Reader Recommended:
Altadena Country Club
2290 Country Club Drive, Altadena | (626) 794-7163 | www.altaclub.com
Golfing in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains can only be made better by the luxury of belonging to a private club that cares enough about golf to maintain a 27,000-square-foot clubhouse.

Eaton Canyon Golf Course
1150 N. Sierra Madre Villa Ave., Pasadena | (626) 794-6773
Out here, it only makes sense to be playing in range of the hills. This 18-holer has all the amenities, including the 10th Hole Bar & Grill, and lest you not be sated by one kind of sport, Monday Night Football is popular there too.


JAT10_21Best Gym:
24 Hour Fitness
525 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 229-9788
www.24hourfitness.com
Its appeal is right there in the name: 24 hours. Who knows why you absolutely must do your curls at 3:45 every morning, but do them you must, and so you have only one place that understands your needs.

Reader Recommended:
Gold's Gym
36 S. Altadena Drive, Pasadena | (626) 304-1133 | www.goldsgym.com
Good prices and all the weights without the fanciness make Gold's a perennial favorite, especially with those who love their free weights.


JAT10_22Best Hair Salon:
Starr House The Salon
2636 Mission St., San Marino | (626) 799-0828
www.starrhouse.com
People love their Starr House, and because its services include not just cut and color but also waxing and manicures and good company, there's always a reason to hang around a bit longer.

Reader Recommended:
Crowned Studio
89 E. Green St., Pasadena | (626) 844-5042 | www.crownedstudiosalon.com
The focus on hair exclusively - whether colored or cut, conditioned or with a scalp massage - means there's a lot of energy going into making you look right on top at this stylish Old Pasadena salon.


JAT10_23Best Home Remodeling:
Navarro Construction, Inc.
3579 E. Foothill Blvd., Ste. 259, Pasadena
(626) 398-1777 | www.navarroconstruction.com
Residential remodeling specialists at Navarro Construction, Inc., offer complete design and build services from a project's initial conception to its satisfying completion. A general, electrical and plumbing contractor, Navarro's specialists are more than comfortable working in any architectural style - from Craftsman to contemporary and beyond - and have been making people at home since 1991.

Reader Recommended:
Cynthia Bennett & Associates
501 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena | (626) 799-9701 | www.cynthiabennett.com
What once was a kitchen design firm has expanded into all the other rooms of the house, growing into a general contractor and residential remodeling agency that can take a project from concept to the turn of the key.


JAT10_24Best Hospital:
Huntington Hospital
100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 397-5000
www.huntingtonhospital.com
A nonprofit facility, the 636-bed Huntington Hospital serves its community in many unique ways, among them being the only trauma center around. Its focus on neuroscience, cancer, orthopedics and pediatrics makes it an option for people of any age.

Reader Recommended:
Methodist Hospital of Southern California
300 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia | (626) 898-8000
www.methodisthospital.org
Serving the central San Gabriel Valley, Methodist covers major health concerns as well as spiritual care and community outreach.


JAT10_25Best Hotel:
The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa
1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena | (626) 568-3900 | pasadena.langhamhotels.com
Its 23 acres and numerous amenities, from a Michelin-rated restaurant to the exceptional Huntington Spa to bars with magnificent views, give the Langham the kind of range of experience that encourages the losing of time and the enjoyment of the moment. Nearly 150 years old and it's still hitting its stride. Photo courtesy of The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa


Reader Recommended:
Westin Hotel Pasadena
191 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena | (626) 792-2727 | www.westinpasadena.com
A fine way to rediscover your own town is to see it as a new visitor might. The Westin offers that kind of perspective for vacationers, business travelers and people who want to enjoy contemporary amenities for a night or two - even if they live right down the road.


JAT10_26Best House Cleaning Service:
Maid Brigade
1433 Glengarry Road, Pasadena | (323) 254-6243
www.pasadena.maidbrigade.com
It's not enough to keep a house clean. These days you've also got to save the surrounding planet. Maid Brigade is a Green Clean Certified maid service, meaning you get a shiny house without brain-wilting chemicals. Also, they pride themselves on being right on time, which can mean a lot to a customer who has things to do out there in the big green world.

Reader Recommended:
MAGIC CLEANERS, LLC.
500 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena | (626) 577-7067 | www.IDEPSCA.org
This business has the magic touch for those seeking to keep their house clean while staying eco-friendly, with all-organic products utilized by the ace staff and free quotes provided to boot.


JAT10_27Best Interior Designer (TIE):
Interior Devine Photo courtesy of Interior Devine                                       30 S. Oakland Ave., Pasadena | (626) 795-5025 | www.interiordevine.com
Interior designers have their favorite styles, like any artistic biz. In the case of Interior Devine, a frequent Pasadena Showcase House of Design participant, the focus is on timeless images inspired by nature, antique prints and framing that evokes a classic aura of sophistication.

Robyn Navarro
Navarro Construction, Inc. | 3579 E. Foothill Blvd.,
Ste. 259, Pasadena | (626) 398-1777 | www.navarroconstruction.com
Principal designer for Navarro Construction, Inc., Robyn Navarro is the go-to person for all your residential design needs. An architectural designer with a strong art and design background, Navarro builds character through color, lighting and surfaces, carrying ideas from concept to construction and glorious completion.

Reader Recommended:
Armida Baylon, Baylon Design
3316 Grayburn Road, Pasadena | (626) 390-3751 | www.baylondesign.com
Baylon Design makes its name by providing top design services to the full range of possible interiors in the Pasadena area. Whether residential, industrial or commercial, locals have found this design firm capable of not only finding the right rugs really to tie the room together, but doing the necessary construction work to realize a complete vision.


JAT10_28Best Local Pharmacy:
Phoenix Pharmacy
2523 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 791-7600
www.phoenixpharmacy.com
Not just a get-your-pills-and-go kind of drug store, this pharmacy, located in the Phoenix Wellness Center, gets all holistic on you as a complete alternative health center. Whether it's herbs and homeopathics or massage therapy, hypnotherapy or aromatherapy, Phoenix has impressed Pasadena with its compassionate commitment to customers and products and services that actually help what ails you.

Reader Recommended:
Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain
1526 Mission St., South Pasadena | (626) 799-1414
www.fairoakspharmacy.com
A staple of Route 66 nostalgia, Fair Oaks Pharmacy has since 1915 been a place to pick up a fizzy phosphate or ice cream sundae along with that itch cream and painkiller. They've also got retro gifts to remind us how people used to shop. Now as then, this is where you come to get something to make you feel good.


JAT10_29Best Martial Arts:
Shan Tung Kung Fu Academy
2245 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 101, Pasadena | (626) 577-0525
2451-A Foothill Blvd., La Verne | (909) 596-0638
www.kungfuusa.com
Practitioners of Northern Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung-Fu, Shan Tung has since 1989 been teaching Pasadena how to protect itself while attaining discipline and balance. Master Ken Edwards oversees instruction of kung-fu, self-defense and tai chi classes for all ages and experience levels. And if you think you'll be able to stroll in and watch, think again - the Master insists you try a free private lesson.

Reader Recommended:
Fight Academy MMA
61 W. Valley St., Pasadena | (626) 737-0442 | www.fightacademymma.com
As mixed martial arts becomes the most popular fight sport around, Fight Academy MMA offers classes in this as well as Jiu-Jitsu, judo and Muay Thai kickboxing, should MMA not be mixed enough for you.


JAT10_30Best Med Spa:
Oh! U Beauty
130 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale | (818) 551-1682
www.oubeauty.com
Our readers' favorite for skin care, Oh! U Beauty promises rejuvenation via Botox and other medical health and beauty treatments. Perhaps just as important is that the miracle workers follow up with a full line of products by the big names in skin care, all tastefully arranged in its remarkable 2,000-square-foot retail floor. If you need it, they'll find it.

Reader Recommended:
Skin Deep Laser Medspa
425 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena | (626) 449-8873 | www.skindeeplaser.com
The future of youth is in constant maintenance, and Skin Deep has all the tools to preserve and restore skin that has seen many sunny Southern California days. Luxury and elegance are key components to doing the job right, whether it's laser hair removal, skin tightening, photodynamic acne therapy or any of a number of facial treatments.


JAT10_31Best Mortgage Broker:
Brett Stumm, Kennedy Capital photo courtesy of Brett Stumm
553 S. Marengo Ave., Pasadena | (626) 440-9430
www.kennedycorp.com
When it comes to residential lending, Stumm and the people of Kennedy Capital manage home purchases, loans and more with professionalism and the desire to help people make the choices that will work best for them. Scan the Web site for home-buying basics, then call to reap the benefits of top-notch customer service.


JAT10_32Best Nail Salon:
Tinzee Nail Salon
436 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena
(626) 403-3311 | www.tinzeenailsalon.com
Between the massages and citrus crystal exfoliants, Tinzee knows that getting your nails made nice is as much about making you relaxed and mentally refreshed as it is about getting your toes polished. It's sort of a mind-i-cure as well as the usual mani/pedi, and you owe it to yourself to try it.

Reader Recommended:
Dashing Diva
27 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena | (626) 449-3482
www.dashingdivapasadena.com
Dashing Diva has been pleasing the hands and feet of Pasadena since 2006 with a full menu of highly indulgent mani/pedi services in an environment dedicated to cleanliness and safety. Indulgences double on Thursday and Friday evenings, when cocktails enter the mix for Girls' Night Out. 


JAT10_33Best Party Rentals:
Dolphin Party Rentals
1901 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 795-5131 | www.dolphinpartyrentals.com
Because weddings and other events that require the use of rented chairs tend to be massively stressful things, Dolphin eases the mind of bridezilla with services such as event previews, an on-site manager
and about 70 years of experience with local venues, including The Rose Bowl and Caltech.

Reader Recommended:
Sir Michael's Party Rentals
4771 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock | (323) 225-5466 | www.sirmichaelsrentals.com
Offering just about "all of your party needs under one roof," Sir Michael's Party Rentals (and limousine services) brings dedication and attention to detail in creating celebratory spaces, from deejays to dance floors, Santa suits, fog machines, champagne fountains and even ceremonial scissors.


JAT10_34Best Pilates:
Balanced Concepts Pilates
1109 E. Green St., Pasadena | (626) 792-1036 | www.balanced-concepts.com
With private and semi-private classes, corporate seminars and a balanced living program, this Pilates studio is as concerned with comfort and peace of mind as it is about you getting stronger and more coordinated.

Reader Recommended:
Le Studio Pilates
236 W. Mountain St., Ste. 111, Pasadena
(626) 792-9866 | www.lestudiopilates.com
Le Studio's hands-on approach to Pilates reminds us that there are some things an instructional video just can't teach, and that balance and body control should be something worked on with a professional.


JAT10_35Best Realtor:
Ann-Marie Villicana, Dilbeck Realtors
225 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 431-2252 | www.dilbeck.com
Villicana knows how to sell a house - and serve her community. The former Pasadena City Councilwoman has been one of the 100 top-selling Realtors in the country, and she also serves on the Pasadena Rotary and is a board member for the Nature Conservancy. For Villicana, knowing the community means serving in it.

Reader Recommended:
Deena Willis,
The Property Concierge
980 S. Arroyo Parkway, Ste. 200, Pasadena
(626) 432-4615
www.theproperty-concierge.com
With her husband Doug, Deena navigates the waters of real estate sales by using innovative designs and clever use of cyberspace to get her ideas to a house-buying public.


JAT10_36Best Senior/Assisted Living:
The Fair Oaks by Regency Park
905 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena | (626) 773-8800
www.regencypk.com
Fair Oaks is all about access - to a fine restaurant, its spas, massage centers, library and movie theater, as well as to cultural events in and around the city, to which Fair Oaks' staff will take you, executive-style, in a Lincoln Town Car. It's assisted living with all the luxury of a fine hotel, and all the independence of, well, a fine hotel.

Reader Recommended:
The Oaks of Pasadena
2954 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 356-2600 | www.oaksofpasadena.com
For upscale independent and assisted living, The Oaks has impressed Pasadena with its fine apartments, social calendar, outdoor spaces and full-service restaurant.


JAT10_37Best Summer Camp:
Tom Sawyer Camps Photo courtesy of Tom Sawyer Camps  
707 W. Woodbury Road, Ste. F, Altadena
(626) 794-1156 | www.tomsawyercamps.com
The summer day camps for ages 3 and up, with locations at Hahamongna Watershed Park and Arcadia County Park, offer the kind of character-building and fun that seem to define childhood summers when kids aren't parked in front of a PS3. The camps offer horseback riding, rock-climbing, rope courses and other activities that fill out nostalgic scrapbooks in adult years.

Reader Recommended:
Camp Shi'ini
1613 Chelsea Road, Ste. 279, San Marino | (626) 922-0945
www.campshi-ini.com
The Native American-themed camp for ages 4 to 13 features the kind of age-old camp activities that are harder to find as you get older - fishing, canoeing, archery and a month-long treasure hunt that would certainly liven up a summer office workplace, let alone a kid's summer vacation.


JAT10_38Best Tattoo/Piercing:
In the Skin Studio
586 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena
(626) 683-8380
www.intheskinstudios.com
It's where Britney Spears' tattoo artist, Max Scott, works. And if it's good enough for Britney, well ... pop stars aside, In the Skin has become a Pasadena favorite for its custom and traditional tattooing, well-handled body piercing and, because real people, like pop stars, often have second thoughts, tattoo cover-ups are also available.

Reader Recommended:
Prix Body Adornment
56 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | (626) 405-9253
www.prixbodypiercing.com
The Old Pasadena store is the original, having opened before the Sunset Strip location flung open its doors in response to the growing need for a good piercery.


JAT10_39Best Veterinarian:
Foothill Veterinary Hospital
2204 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 792-1187 | www.foothillvet.com
Since 1963, Foothill has been keeping pets on all fours while adjusting to the times. Long ago the veterinary world was all surgery, flea dips and shots. Foothill offers diagnostic health screening, microchipping, ultrasonic cleaning and, of course, diet counseling.

Reader Recommended:
Vanderhoof Veterinary Hospital
2235 Lake Ave., Ste. 101, Altadena
(626) 798-5901
Vanderhoof's quality care inspires great loyalty in its customers and, if they could talk, probably its
animal patients as well. And they see patients of all kinds; turtles and rabbits are as welcome as dogs and cats.


JAT10_40Best Yoga:
Bikram Yoga Pasadena
2089 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena | (626) 304-9642
www.bikrampasadena.com
Yeah, this is the sweating kind. The hot-room exercises help muscles and joints loosen up, improve circulation and reduce stress, so long as you come with "an empty stomach and an open mind." Owner Val Sklar came to Bikram with serious hip problems and ended up starting a business that now helps many others.

Reader Recommended:
Yoga House
11 W. State St., Pasadena
(626) 403-3961 | www.yogahouse.com
Comfort and relaxation, hard work and intense focus - Yoga House spans the spectrum of body and mind experience with classes, retreats and products for beginners and experienced yoga-ers alike seeking exercise that's right for them.