Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Glory Days

Not a beautiful photo, but quintessential November in Pasadena.

We're on Orange Grove Avenue at Green Street, facing northeast. The stands are going up for the Rose Parade on Orange Grove Avenue from Green St. to Colorado Blvd. You can see the Norton Simon Museum if you look behind the stands across the Elks Lodge parking lot. In the foreground is a cast/crew directions marker for a TV shoot (we see those year 'round and we welcome them).

Beyond it all: the San Gabriel Mountains and that autumn light, coming in low and gold.

And then there's some old bushy tree. I wanted to get rid of it by retouching, but my program just makes it look like I'm trying to hide something.

19 comments:

Joanne said...

Wow, there's a lot going on here. Plus now I've got the Springsteen song in my head ;)

Mister Earl said...

Fun time of year in Pasadena! One year I did a photo essay by email for friends all over the US. From October to January, I showed the bleachers going up, and the South Pas float being built from chassis to tear-down. Even caught a shot of the float on TV.

Petrea Burchard said...

Joanne, I wonder if they use that for the TV show's theme. I found a film with that title also: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116422/
I guess it came and went.

It is fun this time of year here, Mister Earl, though I admit when I saw the bleachers I thought, "Already?" Seems like they just came down.

Jean Spitzer said...

Looks like home. Miss the Norton Simon.

Margaret said...

Funny enough, they review that show in today's LA Times.

Petrea Burchard said...

It does, doesn't it, Jean? That's why I put it up. Right about this time of year, it's us.

Did they like it, Margaret? I hope so. I want to see Hollywood successful, it's good for soCal's economy.

Petrea Burchard said...

Here's the LA Times review of the new TV show, Glory Daze.

Joanne, I now have the Springsteen song in my head, too. It's fine. I always have something playing in my head and I'd rather have Springsteen than some of the other junk that gets stuck in there.

TheChieftess said...

The older I get, the shorter the time between bleachers down, and bleachers back up!!!

Pascal Jim said...

Ah, those bleachers...now is the time to consider building permanent structures in The Grand Roman Style.

Long time residents know that the T of R controls Colorado Blvd. (and portions of Pasadena City Hall)

Bellis said...

They've been filming Glory Daze for weeks at the Ambassador campus. I loved watching them doing a nighttime scene in the Italian garden using those full-moonlight balloons.

Your photo's very Pasadena - all you need to add is City Hall, the Gamble House and the Colorado Street Bridge. Have I missed anything?

And you've reminded me to go see the newly arrived Raphael at the Norton Simon.

John Sandel said...

Please, Bruce, don't hurt 'em!

Anonymous said...

I love everything you were able to pack in one photo. And my mountain.

Petrea Burchard said...

Chieftess, maybe that explains it.

PJ, I'd love to see a stone stadium and bleachers. Cold on the old behind on New Year's Day, though!

Fun! I'm glad that place gets a lot of use, Bellis. Incentive to maintain it as it is.

I will have to speak to Mr. J+P and request a translation.

Hiker, share, please.

Katie said...

Great photo. I like the juxtaposition of the amazing golden sun on the mountains and the workaday stuff in the foreground. How you Pasadenans (is that the correct term?) deal with the parade every year is beyond me. (Although I guess I should come check in out some year.) I read the review for Glory Daze and got flashbacks to my 80s college years. Yikes.

TheChieftess said...

I don't know Katie, the closer I get to snow season, the more I think dealing with the Rose Parade is a piece of cake!!!

wv: it's plain otskeri to think of snow all winter long!!!

Ms M said...

Interesting photo. And now I'm hearing Bruce's song in my head, as well as feeling in a daze myself after a long day at work. :)

Petrea Burchard said...

Some of us don't, Katie. Deal with it, that is. I need a space heater and a front row seat, then maybe.

Chieftess, you have a point.

Ms. M, I think I had the same long day!

Amy said...

I forget that the bleachers go up so early.

Susan Campisi said...

That photo really does capture the essence of Pasadena in November. I love this time of year, though I had the same thought: already?