Attending Pasadena Symphony concerts at the Ambassador Auditorium tend to be carefree, elegant, and quite enjoyable affairs.

Is it possible to make the experience even better? With the addition of the new Symphony Lounge, it looks like it can.

“The Symphony Lounge is intended to create a social atmosphere and a really fun lounge setting for concertgoers coming to the Ambassador,” says Lora Unger, Pasadena Symphony and Pops’ Chief Operating Officer.

Though the Ambassador Auditorium is already capable of a “stellar acoustical experience and a musical experience inside the concert hall,” Unger says, “we really felt that now is the time to really expand and elevate the experience of our customers, because people not only want to have that great musical experience, but they also want to be social and have wonderful things to eat and drink with their friends.”

In short, the Symphony Lounge is an extension of the concert hall’s superb musical experience, translated into a social venue during intermissions and get-togethers before and after concerts.

The Symphony Lounge, Unger explains, is “a gorgeous garden setting, with a beautiful fountain, and we’re going to have a 40 x 60 heated tent with beautiful lighting [and] beautiful lounge furniture. We’re going to have a full cash bar. Claud & Co. is going to provide the food for sale,” which will include small servings of seasonal food, ready-to-order sandwiches, roasted nuts, and more, according to Unger.

Take note, the Lounge is not a restaurant that’s open daily. Unger says, “it’s only on play on Saturday. The Symphony Lounge hours are from on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. because we have a 2:00 p.m. matinee, and then again 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. because we have an 8:00 p.m. concert.”

Unger also adds that the Ambassador Auditorium is “known as the Carnegie Hall of the West.” She says, “it was running literally 250 events and shows annually. So Pasadena Symphony, being the resident orchestra, moved in there in 2011. The Symphony Lounge is the next step of essentially bringing The Ambassador back to being the place for live acoustical symphonic music in Pasadena.”

It’s the full experience. A place where eveyone can enjoy great symphony concerts and where all can gather to relax, eat, and drink, before, after, and during intermissions.

It makes perfect sense.

Ambassador Auditorium is located at 131 St. John Avenue. To learn more about Pasadena Symphony and Pops, visit http://www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org or call (626) 793-7172 for more details.