Growing up in San Diego, I would occasionally visit Los Angeles, and though it has never been my favorite city, I have always adored visiting Pasadena, CA. Less than 10 miles north of downtown, it seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of L.A. The feel of Pasadena is “upscale vintage” to me, with the abundance of Craftsman-style homes and wide palm tree lined streets.

Yet, one of the things that has always intrigued me on our dives was, traveling North on the 110 Freeway from L.A to Pasadena, we would pass this...