My Pasadena: Dan Whitmore, founder of Whitmore Rare Books

Antiquarian book dealer Dan Whitmore began his career as an attorney. The Pasadena native graduated with a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the prestigious law firm O’Melveny & Myers in downtown Los Angeles. However, a year later, in 2009, Whitmore left the firm and launched Whitmore Rare Books.

Today, collectors come from all over to his store on Union Street in Pasadena to find Shakespeare Folios, Jack Kerouac’s early letters to family and friends, as well as contemporary works including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ( Sorcerer's in America). “It’s been a fantastic career choice,” says Whitmore. “I’m able to pursue something that I’m passionate about but also have more flexibility over my schedule, which is great, especially having young kids.”

Whitmore thought about locating his shop in other cities but ultimately knew Pasadena was the right fit. “I think Pasadena has enough history and name recognition that even people who don’t live in the area have heard or know about Pasadena from the Rose Bowl game or Rose Parade. We get a lot of [book collectors] visiting from out of town.”

An Altadena resident, Whitmore lives near Eaton Canyon with his wife and their four boys who range in age from 7 to 10. “It’s an area we really love,” Whitmore says of his neighborhood. “We get wildlife you wouldn’t expect living in a suburb of Los Angeles. We get bears, bobcats, foxes and owls. It’s really special.”

For kid-friendly dining, California Pizza Kitchen is a go-to destination for Whitmore, “partly because the kids enjoy the food but also because, when we sit outside, they have access to a large area with fountains,” he says. “My wife and I can watch them run around while we have more time to sit and talk.” For date night, Maestro, Dos Besos and Union are the most popular picks.

“A lot of my focus revolves around family life,” Whitmore says. “We’ve been members of Kidspace Children's Museum over the years. Even as the kids get older, there’s always something new for them to engage with.”

Another place they enjoy is Vroman's Bookstore. “The boys like reading and they get very excited if we take them to Vroman's. [Both] locations in Pasadena have something to offer,” Whitmore says.

He says he’s looking forward to his upcoming summer fly-fishing trip to Montana with fellow members of the Pasadena Casting Club (a nonprofit with a clubhouse and casting pool in Lower Arroyo Seco Park) but says there’s no place like home. “[Traveling] makes you appreciate and value the things about Pasadena that you missed while you were away,” he says. “There’s always something to draw you back and plug you back into the community when you get home.”