One night each year, Pasadena Heritage invites everyone in town over for bridge. Colorado Street Bridge, that is. They shut down traffic and from dusk 'til long after dark, Pasadena parties all across its favorite icon.There's food, entertainment, more food...John and I first walked from one end of the bridge to the other (as did many people) to case the joint first and see what our choices were. We settled on beer from the Craftsman Brewing Company, which was so delicious that—
Various local organizations were there to show off not only what they do but what they contribute to Pasadena. We visited the Pasadena Heritage booth to thank them for the party. They've been instrumental in helping to preserve much of Pasadena's heritage, including important structures such as the Herkimer Arms and the very bridge on which we were standing. We even stopped by to visit our favorite heroes at the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team booth, which was being personned by the very team member who experienced her first rappel while I photographed it July 10th.
I'm not sure who worked harder last night: the barbecue servers or the guys pouring the beer or the security guards or the musicians or the volunteers from various organizations. But they all made it a great evening for those of us who didn't do a darned thing but enjoy it.
Hey! There's a new blog in town. Check out Laurie Allee's Glimpses of South Pasadena. A beautiful addition to the SGV blog family.
14 comments:
Bucolic, covivial, a reverie—all watched over by globes of municipal grace. No jumpers last night; in the morning, arroyo crews collect only plates, cups and one much-regretted camera, dashed to digital smithereens on the pigeon-sullied stones.
That'll teach you to use your wrist strap.
Wow, Petrea! Thank you for the shout out!
I drove under the bridge festivities on Arroyo in the early evening. It looked like a lot of fun and if our little one had not been so cranky we would have been there, too. Your photo captures that wonderful, wistful quality of the bridge. It's just lovely.
Petrea, I swear, at first I imagined you were talking about one of those rubberband-like devices for resisting addictions. Thot maybe there was an anti-suicidal application.
Beer, bbq and good company...what else does one need?
Geez - I find those big round globes disturbing!??
I'm worried they are going to drop off like a big ripe peach and bonk someone on the head.
They need to be picked.
Light work if you can get it.
Nice...and that's just referencing the beer and ribs. Pasadena is one happ'nin burg! Thanks for sharing.
"Louis" likes the street light in this photo - so much more character than those modern stalks with those horrid orange-glowing sodium vapor lamps.
Thank you, Laurie. You could have brought your cranky little one. There was a Cranky Little One convention! It's tough to be teeny when the party's so big.
Interestingly enough, Elaine, the Colorado Street Bridge is nicknamed "Suicide Bridge."
Portable toilets, Rose. There were plenty. Clean, too.
Freefalling, in 95 years I don't think a single globe has bonked a single person. Now that you've said it, though...
Bernie? picking peach globes?
Thanks, Coltrane. We've got jazz clubs, too. I need to get pics for you. (You can tell what a night owl I am.;)) In my Chicago years (when I really was a nightowl) I lived down the alley from the Kingston Mines. Blues, not jazz, but very cool and for me the music was always free.
Louis, I couldn't agree more.
How very cool! Sounds like a lot of fun!
This photo is a perfect representation of the word summer! I liked the photo very much, but I enjoyed reading your post even more!
I'm so sad that we were out of town for this. It is such a cool idea to have a festival out on that bridge.
Oh, and if you ever get a chance make a call to Craftsman and get their "tour". It's pretty cool to get an inside glimpse at the brewing process on such a small scale. If only I had brought my camera way back then!
Thanks, Christie and Kelly. And Ben, thanks for the tip. That tour sounds like fun.
Post a Comment