Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Pasadena's New Year's Eve

What's that I see across the dark Arroyo? Over there, on the other side of the freeway. Why, it's the Rose Bowl Stadium, all lit up on a cold night.

On this New Year's Eve, as on every other New Year's Eve in Pasadena for the past 118 years, Pasadena awaits the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl Football Game.

That doesn't mean we just sit around all evening. We have company! Folks are here from out of town! We have to entertain.

So the bars and restaurants are full. Colorado Blvd. is a [no tents allowed] campground all the way from Orange Grove Blvd. in the southwest to Sierra Madre Blvd. in the northeast. It's five miles of solid partay.

Not everyone is celebrating. Tournament officials are busy putting on the finishing touches. The Rose Queen and her Court are presumably getting their beauty sleep (if they're not too excited). I imagine there are some nervous college football players tossing and turning somewhere out there, too. Float decorators are still poking posies into chicken wire, or however they do it these days. Glue guns?

I hope you have a fun and safe New Year's Eve. Here in Pasadena everyone has something to do. The weather has warmed up and it looks like tomorrow's going to be a glorious day for football and roses.

20 comments:

John Sandel said...

Boiiinnngg! What unhallowed abysses of the night portend, in the City of Roses? Those taillights slit the dark like electric blades.

Anonymous said...

Ok, oh great nice one. Sensational photo.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year!

USelaine said...

And congratulations to you, for completing an ENTIRE YEAR of Pasadena Daily Photos! Whoooo-Hooooo-oooooo!!!!

Tash said...

Magical photo!
Dear Petrea, wishing you and your loved ones a very happy & productive New Year. Tash

Curly said...

I hope you don't mind me taking the easy route by copying and pasting this comment, it is by far the easiest method of getting my message to so many CDP photobloggers.
I am not sure that I can sustain South Shields Daily Photo much longer, it is so difficult to keep finding new material on a daily basis,
and after more than two years inspiration and motivation are becoming harder to find, so I may become less daily from time to time.
I hope you can find new hope and inspiration, and that a new start in 2009 brings everything that you desire.
The CDP photoblogging community has grown massively over the past year and I'd like to thank those who have visited South Shields Daily Photo, especially those who have been kind enough to leave a comment or two.
Best wishes for 2008

from

Curly

at

South Shields Daily Photo

Pat said...

Hi, Petrea! Read on PDP that y ou have an anniversary tomorrow, so congratulations a bit early. Mine will be in March. This is a nostalgic photo for me, not t hat I've been to the Rose Bowl, but used to watch the Rose Parade on tv.

A Happy and Health New Year to you.

Unknown said...

BONNE ANNEE Petrea!!!!!!!
Bisous

West Coast Grrlie Blather said...

Happy 1st blogiversary!

I think this is the 120th parade, so this is the 119th New Year's Eve prep day.

A lovely, surreal photo...

Coltrane_lives said...

Congrats on a year of blogging Petrea. Though I don't always comment, I try to visit your blog as much as I can. (You know, my Mondays are always "Zendays" now lol) May your new year be filled with much peace and happiness and great photos too. Cheers from the cold Midwest. :-)

Anonymous said...

New year'S to you happiness, and quiet and the welfare will bring.

Petrea Burchard said...

Glad you like it. I've been saving it for today.

Merci, U.S.E.! Today is my 365th day, so that makes tomorrow the actual anniversary. I started on 1/1/08.

WCGB, I got my stats from the TOR website! But I trust you.

Coltrane, it's nice to know you're out there. I'm grateful to the lurkers, whoever you all are. Thank you for being here, whether you comment or not. Happy new year to all!

Margaret said...

Beautiful. Happy New Year.

Katie said...

So glad it's warmed up in Pasadena for the big day tomorrow. I'll have to tune into the parade and see if I recognize anything. Yay for one year of blogging! I'm so glad I figured out how to get to people's blogs from the PDP comments section (duh), and that I found your blog! It's been great fun getting to know Pasadena through your eyes (not to mention getting a personal tour!) and I look forward to more wonderful photos from Pasadena in 2009!

Ms M said...

Have a happy New Year, Petrea! Looking forward to "seeing" more of Pasadena through your eyes.

Lynette said...

Portland Oregon Daily Photo sends you heartfelt wishes for the new year. May your 2009 be filled with good health, riches of the mind and heart, loved ones returning home, an increased respect for our fragile planet, and the cessation of wars across the Earth.

I'm looking forward to watching the parade on TV tomorrow. I always enjoy it very much.

Volmon said...

As you've probably already guessed, Petrea, I'm one of those irritating people who thinks of every day as the beginning of a celebration-worthy new year. However, since holding to this view is likely to make me seem like a grouchy old party pooper (which I'm not) I'd like to wish you, your loved ones and your legion of readers all the best for 2009!

{:-})

Meead said...

Happy New Year and Congratulations!
Thanks for your comment Petrea.

Cafe Observer said...

Well, we just got back from eating Pizza from across the street. Better than I xpected! My friends from Burbank treated me. Another suddenly decided he was gonna go it alone and do the Subway.
They came all dress to the 9's in USC garb. Of course, I, 4got my cap. But whatya want from a K9.

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