Michigan Fan’s Guide to Los Angeles

On January 1st, the Michigan Wolverines will take the field in Pasadena, CA for the 110th annual Rose Bowl Game, and thousands of Michigan fans will be traveling there to root on the team. The Rose Bowl is paramount to Michigan football history—this year will mark the Wolverines’ 20th appearance in the game that is “The Granddaddy of Them All.” But the 17 years between trips to the game means that a lot has changed in the Los Angeles area. Autograph, who are proud supporters of the University of Michigan, the city of Pasadena, and beyond, want to help Wolverine fans enjoy their travel experience and this trip to the Rose Bowl.

MUST HIT EATS
For a tradition as storied as Michigan playing in Pasadena, here are some recommendations for restaurants that are—and feel—equally historic.

- Casa Bianca Nestled between Downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena, Eagle Rock is home to one of Autograph’s favorite pizza spots: Casa Bianca. Casa Bianca opened its doors in 1955 and has proudly been serving pizza and Italian food since. It is old school in every sense - cash only, red-checkered tablecloths, powdered soap in the bathroom, the walls covered in Moretti Beer signs and pictures of celebrity patrons. Oh, and the pizza is (in this writer’s opinion) far and away the best in the city.

- Pie and Burger In the heart of Pasadena is Pie and Burger, a coffee shop and diner that has been open in the same location since 1963. The burgers are amazing; it’s on a short list of LA burger spots that Angelinos hold in the same regard as the fabled In-N-Out. And the pie is just as good! Find a spot at the counter and you might feel yourself transported back in time. On January 1st in 1965, 1972, or 1981, a Michigan fan likely sat down after the game in that same seat and ordered that same burger.

- Lucky Boy Lucky Boy has been serving the City of Roses since 1961. The classic breakfast-lunch-dinner spot has more to offer than breakfast burritos—but the giant wraps are certainly the marquee item on the menu. The breakfast menu is unavailable after 10:30 in the morning but the burritos are exempt; Stop by anytime between 6am and midnight and order one. Bonus points if you finish both halves.

GAMETIME
The Tournament of Roses is one of the longest-standing New Year's traditions in the United States, and commands a huge audience and fanfare each year. If you haven’t attended, navigating the parade, traffic, and parking can be a challenge. The Official Rose Bowl Game Guide is a great resource for attendees and we think it offers great advice to avoid gameday-transit panic.

- Traffic to Pasadena from Los Angeles will start in the morning on Jan 1. The Rose Parade kicks off at 8am, and festivities continue to roll straight through the game. Either get yourself to Pasadena early for the parade or, if you want to sleep in a little longer after New Years Eve, try to get to the game at least an hour before kickoff.

- The LA metro system may be crowded on gameday, but we think it’s a great option for getting to the Rose Bowl. Take the Gold Line to Memorial Park Station and either hop on the shuttle to the stadium or enjoy the 1.5 mile walk through Brookside park to the stadium. The LA metro has put together a comprehensive guide if you are considering taking a bus or train to the game.

- Taxis and rideshares are not allowed to access the stadium on gameday. All rideshares can drop off on Holly St. between Fair Oaks Avenue and Raymond Avenue—right next to the Memorial Park metro station. From there, you can walk down or take the shuttle to the stadium itself.

GO BLUE!