Planning a unique pre-wedding event that’s more engaging than just popping in ‘A Lot Like Love’ DVD for the tenth time? Look no further than a custom movie-themed scavenger hunt! My friend Natalie Drees from Pop Planning, a true party whisperer, has become legendary in our circle for crafting incredibly personalized scavenger hunts. She designs them for almost every gathering she hosts, and they’re not just fun—they’re fantastic icebreakers. So, when we decided to host our rehearsal dinner at the stylish POP Champagne & Dessert Bar in Old Town Pasadena, inviting all our loved ones, I immediately knew a scavenger hunt was the perfect way to celebrate. I asked Nat to create a movie locations-themed hunt to make our evening unforgettable, and thankfully, she enthusiastically agreed!
Champagne shots at Il Fornaio during the scavenger hunt
Since Natalie lives in San Francisco and isn’t intimately familiar with Pasadena, she partnered with fellow movie location enthusiast Owen to bring this vision to life. And let me tell you, they absolutely nailed it! Natalie understood that not everyone shares my level of obsession with filming locations. So, instead of focusing solely on pinpointing exact film spots, she designed the scavenger hunt around discovering Pasadena restaurants and bars that also happened to be famous movie locations. Teams could earn bonus points by figuring out which movies were filmed at each spot—either by chatting with the staff or using their smartphones—but movie buff knowledge wasn’t essential to participate. Beyond deciphering the location from each clue, teams also had to collect specific items from each place to successfully complete the hunt. As always, each team received pens, a collection bag, and a booklet detailing the mission, rules, and cryptic clues.
Scavenger hunt booklet for Pasadena movie locations
The scavenger hunt booklets were distributed at the end of our rehearsal dinner at POP Champagne Bar. My amazing bridesmaid Kylee, the hunt manager, gave everyone five minutes to strategize before announcing, “On your mark… get set… GO!” And just like that, fifty people surged out of the restaurant! It was a hilarious mass exodus, and I can only imagine what the other diners thought! LOL. Here’s a peek at the clever clues that set us on our Pasadena adventure:
Clue 1: Italian Charm in Old Town
Clue Number 1 –
It’s been said “men want
a lady on the street . . .”
Perhaps women want
An “uomo” who can take the heat.
Once they find him,
They’ll take some “pane”.
Bring it back to the judge
And you’ll “vincere”.
Il Fornaio Pasadena exterior – What Women Want filming location
Il Fornaio Pasadena interior – What Women Want filming location
The answer to Clue Number 1 was the delightful Il Fornaio restaurant. Movie buffs might recognize it from the 2000 rom-com What Women Want starring Mel Gibson. Fun fact: Il Fornaio holds a special place in my heart as the very first movie set I ever witnessed after moving to Los Angeles. Before settling into a house, my family lived in an Old Town Pasadena apartment, and Il Fornaio was our go-to spot for weekly dinners. We became friendly with the staff, and one evening, a server let us in on a secret: Mel Gibson would be filming a movie there the next day! Naturally, my mom and I were there bright and early the following morning to watch the magic happen. It was an unforgettable experience. While we didn’t get a personal meet-and-greet with Mel, he did wave and say ‘hi’ during his cigarette breaks.
Natalie’s genius shone through in her clue design. She incorporated foreign words related to each restaurant’s cuisine. For Il Fornaio, being Italian, she sprinkled in Italian words— “uomo” (man), “pane” (bread), and “vincere” (win). The phrase “women want” immediately clicked in my mind, and my team—including my fiancé, my best friend Robin and his girlfriend Steffi, and Mike from MovieShotsLA with his fiancé Ame—raced towards Il Fornaio. However, my equally savvy mom also cracked the code instantly and was hot on our heels! In What Women Want, Il Fornaio is the backdrop for the heartwarming scene where Nick Marshall (Mel Gibson) has lunch with his daughter Alex (Ashley Johnson) after buying her prom dress.
One of the scavenger hunt rules, crucial for keeping Pasadena’s restaurants happy, was that each team had to order a round of drinks at every bar location. Upon reaching Il Fornaio, Mike jokingly suggested shots to expedite our visit. Being a champagne enthusiast and a lightweight, shots were definitely not on my pre-wedding agenda! But then, Steffi, ever the resourceful friend, lined up six shot glasses. “No shots for me!” I exclaimed, to which she replied, “These are champagne shots!” Champagne shots? Apparently, she’d convinced the bartender to pour a bit of bubbly into shot glasses. The bartender was initially hesitant but, upon hearing about the champagne-loving bride-to-be, happily obliged. We’re raising those adorable “champagne shots” in the photo above – a truly memorable and sweet moment from the entire wedding celebration!
Clue 2: French Elegance and a Father’s Tale
Clue Number 2 –
Don may ride a white horse
To get to this filmed bar.
If he were in gay Paris
This would be more on par.
Once he arrived
A “serviette” he’d obtain.
In Pasadena it’s this,
Hopefully without a stain.
Clue Number 2 led us to the charming Cheval Blanc Bistro. I had previously blogged about Cheval Blanc, recognizing it as the bar from the original Father of the Bride movie where George Banks (Steve Martin) takes Bryan MacKenzie (George Newbern) for a drink. Pasadena isn’t overflowing with French restaurants, making this clue relatively straightforward. The name “Don” – my dad’s name and “father of the bride” – was another obvious hint. Incredibly, my mom’s team was still right behind us! At Il Fornaio, my aunt Lea, part of my mom’s team, had asked the bartender about French restaurants in the area. The bartender mentioned Cheval Blanc, and my mom’s friend, fluent in French, exclaimed, “Cheval Blanc means white horse! That’s it!” and off they went. At Cheval Blanc, our required item was a “serviette,” French for “napkin.”
Both teams, feeling ahead, lingered at Cheval Blanc, enjoying drinks and a relaxed moment. Serendipitously, my mom’s team even encountered a working actor at Cheval Blanc and snagged his autograph for 50 bonus points! He wasn’t a household name, but with an IMDB page, he qualified as a “star.”
Actor autograph at Cheval Blanc Bistro Pasadena scavenger hunt
Clue 3: California Rolls and 90210 Nostalgia
Clue Number 3 –
You can get a roll
In California’s 91105.
This filming location
You may not recognize.
You won’t need a fork,
But two pieces of wood
To experience
Lindsay’s favorite hood.
Maikobe Japanese Restaurant Pasadena exterior – former Ruby's Diner/Peach Pit 90210
The answer to Clue Number 3 was Maikobe Japanese Restaurant. For those in the know, Maikobe was formerly Ruby’s Diner, famously known as the Peach Pit from Beverly Hills, 90210, my all-time favorite show! For anyone familiar with me or Pasadena, this clue was a dead giveaway. However, in a stroke of bad luck, Maikobe had unexpectedly closed just days before our rehearsal dinner. Arriving for the scavenger hunt, we couldn’t go inside to get our “two pieces of wood” – chopsticks. Mike, ever resourceful, spotted another sushi restaurant across the street (perhaps Maikobe’s competition! 😉) and dashed over for chopsticks. But, unbelievably, my mom’s team had already grabbed chopsticks at Sushi Roku near Il Fornaio earlier in the hunt (they’d gone in for matchbooks for bonus points, and the hostess randomly gave them chopsticks!). Realizing Maikobe was closed, they sprinted to the final stop, ultimately winning the scavenger hunt! Yes, despite having Mike from MovieShotsLA on my team, we LOST! Unbelievable! But at least you can see where my movie location obsession comes from – it’s definitely a family trait! By the way, you can see a fantastic photo of Maikobe back in its Ruby’s Diner/Peach Pit days here.
Maikobe Japanese Restaurant Pasadena interior – former Ruby's Diner/Peach Pit 90210
Clue 4: Latin Rhythms and a Love Story
Clue Number 4 –
At this Latin lounge with a fitting name
Their life together they can star living
Before their honeymoon, as husband and dame.
Ask for this in your drink-o.
Tie it in a knot with your tongue
To get an extra cinco.
Vive Lounge Pasadena exterior – A Lot Like Love filming location
Vive Lounge Pasadena interior – A Lot Like Love filming location
The final clue led us to Vive Lounge! Movie lovers, especially fans of romantic comedies and perhaps owners of the ‘A Lot Like Love’ DVD, might recognize this location from the movie A Lot Like Love starring Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher. When the movie was filmed, the venue was a Chinese-Malaysian fusion restaurant called Nonya. Nonya closed in 2006, and Vive Lounge took over, but remarkably, much of the original décor remained, making it instantly recognizable from the film. As Pasadena’s only Latin-themed lounge, and with “vive” translating to “live” in Spanish, my mom’s team easily solved this final clue. Their reward for winning? Bags of microwave popcorn and AMC movie passes – perfect for a cozy movie night, maybe even to watch ‘A Lot Like Love’ DVD!
Overall, the scavenger hunt was an absolute triumph! Every guest, even those trailing behind, raved about how much fun they had. It was the ideal, interactive, and memorable finale to our rehearsal dinner. On a bittersweet note, we recently walked by Vive Lounge and discovered it has also closed. Fingers crossed that any new establishment keeps Nonya’s original décor intact for us movie location enthusiasts to appreciate for years to come.
Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂
Stalk It: Want Natalie Drees to create a customized scavenger hunt for your party or corporate event? Contact her through her event planning website, Pop Planning: http://popplanning.com/.
- Il Fornaio (What Women Want): 24 West Union Street, Old Town Pasadena. http://www.ilfornaio.com/?page=138&restaurant_id=3152
- Cheval Blanc Bistro (Father of the Bride): 41 South De Lacey Avenue, Old Town Pasadena. http://www.chevalblancbistro.com/
- Former Maikobe Restaurant/Peach Pit (Beverly Hills, 90210): 45 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena (currently vacant).
- Former Vive Lounge/Nonya (A Lot Like Love): 61 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena (currently vacant). http://vivepasadena.com/
