Feb 11th, 2007 by Jill
This door is just across the way from The Majestical Roof:
Old Towne Pub
It takes you to the Old Towne Pub, which is also hidden away and accessible only through tunnels or alleys.
No persons under 211 allowed
Old Towne Pub
66 N Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 577-6583
http://lochnesspub.com/
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This used to be the Loch Ness Monster Pub — or at least share a parking lot with it. Back when I first lived in Pasadena, Old Town was a derelict bunch of old buildings cheap enough for painters to rent. Said artists would, at the right late hour, stumble to this pub to drink and smoke and play darts. Old Towne Pub retains the same grotty atmosphere, and quite possibly some of the original stains.
this is funny!
ooooh… I didn’t know about this place! I’ll have to search it out next time I’m in the neighborhood!
That’s totally my kinda place…
Looks cool – though I hope I’d still get carded; I may not pass for under 21 anymore, but I hope I don’t pass for 211
This was called the Loch Ness Monster from about ‘72 till who cares. After Ralph Parsons Co. destroyed the heart of Old Town, these remaining bldgs were pressed into service as hot bars for the afterwork yuppies of those days. 10 years after they were well grounded established cash cows, the Gay-Architects and their Boyfriends bought the whole place out and Voila! New Old Town. This exact location withstood the overt gentrification, and alternative lifestyle persuasion of the rest of the ’storyville’ lots. Primarily due to the crowd and thereby $$ drawing efforts of a now relatively obscure band called “Snotty Scottie, and The Hankies”. I myself helped pay many a months rent on that brick pile, one or two beers at a time. That was the Bar at which I first became aware that I might be an alcoholic. For the longest time it had a huge Scots clientele with flags, bloody heads, and bagpipes. Then the true Old Town denizens discovered that they weren’t being thrown out, so they took over, and it became a “trendy” dive to slum in at and catch a novel Rock band, namely SS&TH. They were the first, and still only rock band to feature solos by their electric fiddler Max Buda, on his wood face, plexiglas backed elctrified violin. He was and remains the worlds hottest rock fiddler. But sadly no longer plays with that band. But that band does still perform around pasadena area. I tell you without the music, the place now is slightly depressing because it has been completely isolated from view by surrounding Tony/Phoney stores and bagelries. For a while the management stiffed some of the local bands, so it was under boycott from surviving locals. But I heard that it is changing mgmt and may be restored to acceptable by same soon. Funny that what was the back door, right by tiny toilet rooms, is now presented as best entry. many a processed beer was deposited immediately to the right of it. How have the Mighty Fallen, and stumbled, and spewed.
My wife and I met at Loch Ness, 32 years ago. A hot August Saturday afternoon, I stopped in for a cold beer. It was the first time I’d ever gone there in the daytime. I didn’t/don’t drink in the afternoon, not even a beer. I don’t know why I went in, other than thirst.
I was the only one in there, nursing a frosty mug, when she walked in, quietly up to the bar. Long red hair, dark green striped jacket and the bluest eyes you ever saw. A stunner. She took her beer outside and sat down.
Usually unwilling to bother anybody, even modestly cute girls, I knew it like a bolt, I had to meet her. Without hesitation I got up and walked out on the patio, she was sitting in the corner looking down at an album she had just bought from Canterbury Records, Steeleye Span I remember.
I walked over to her table in the shade and stood there a moment until she looked up at me, perplexed. I said, “would you mind if I sit down?”
I saw in her face what anyone would expect to see in the face of a pretty girl approached by a strange man, “oh god not again”, “why can’t they leave me alone” “just a little privacy that’s all I ask” in the pause while she considered I understood that and felt a little sorry for her, but only just a little. She looked down, sort of sighed and then looked up at me and said “ok”
She told me it was the first time she had ever gone to Loch Ness in the daytime, didn’t know what made her stop in, never drank in the afternoon.
We’ve been happily married for 30 years.
The Loch Ness was a GREAT bar!