What's in Store for Pasadena's Cheeseburger Week

Haven Gastropub's lamb burger

We know the hamburger didn't originate in Southern California, but the cheeseburger, some believe, was created right here in Pasadena at a long-gone joint called the Rite Spot Cafe on Colorado Boulevard. The story goes that in the early 1920s, teenaged cook Lionel Sternberger burned one side of a burger and decided to put cheese on it to mask the char. Of course the customer enjoyed it and the cheeseburger was born.

Since there's all sorts of burger history around these parts, Pasadena has designated this the second annual Cheeseburger Week, which runs through January 21. It's unclear if there are any particular specials at places like The Counter, Slater's 50/50, Umami, the Original Tops, Pie'n Burger, Vertical Bistro or Haven Gastropub, but there are a lot of cheeseburgers in Pasadena - the vortex is growing - and you can take the Cheeseburger Challenge by voting for your favorites for a chance to win a free cheeseburger somewhere. Of course, if you eat all of the cheeseburgers in town, chances are you probably won't want another one for a long time.