Sunday, June 12, 2011

Happy Birthday, Pasadena

I wasn't the only one photographing the birthday balloons. I couldn't resist.

Yesterday, on the grounds of the Pasadena Museum of History and the adjacent Avery Dennison Corporation, Pasadena held a 125th birthday party for itself. There were antique cars, wonderful bands, high-powered super-drummers, food stands, historic photographs, hat making, a children's area, representatives from the police and fire departments, more music and more food. Despite the June gloom, the crowd didn't seem the least bit morose.

Alas, I promised you cake, or at least a photo of it. Actually what I said in Thursday's comments was, "I hope to make it before anybody messes with that cake." The birthday cake, created by the student pastry chefs at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts (about whom we brag at every opportunity) is a depiction of Pasadena's history. Or so I hear.

True to my word, I got there three hours before the cake was scheduled to be messed with, and unfortunately I had to be somewhere else at messing time. But I found the pastry chefs, which is the next best thing to cake.

Okay, not really. Coffee is probably the next best thing to cake. Or the other way around.

I think the chefs had been up since very early. They were applying last-minute sugar-roses and sugar-balloons to their precious cake, which was hidden inside a shadowy tent so I couldn't even sneak a peek, much less a photo. But the chefs were hyped on sugar and coffee amiable, and willing to show me some of what they were working on.

Last year, as well, I met and photographed the chefs. They were a friendly, happy bunch, just as these were.

I ran into Jeannette Bovard, the Museum's Media Consultant, soon after I took this picture. She put forth the theory that when you're always creating festive and delicious works of art, you're bound to be a cheerful person, and of course it's true. Caffeine and sugar come in handy, too.

23 comments:

dive said...

Yay! Happy Birthday, Pasadena!
Sounds like quite a party.

Birdman said...

Ya! HappyHappy!

Speedway said...

Mmmm, coffee and cake! Happy birthday, Pasadena!

Keith said...

Happy Birthday, Pasadena! They should have saved a piece of cake for you, Petrea.

Bellis said...

Oh dear, I didn't go in the end, so I missed seeing the amazing cake. I'm hoping they haven't cut it up, as the cake slices being handed out were baked separately. If anyone knows where it is now, do tell.

Speedway said...

Everyone of Pasadena's organizers should be happy for such a beautiful town, with its involved citizenry. Also, be glad you weren't sent out to buy the balloons to celebrate the birthday of a town in Thailand, siad to have the longest placename --

"Happy Birthday, Krung­thep­maha­nakorn­amorn­ratana­kosin­mahintar­ayutthay­amaha­dilok­phop­noppa­ratrajathani­burirom­udom­rajaniwes­mahasat­harn­amorn­phimarn­avatarn­sathit­sakkattiya­visanukamprasit!"

TheChieftess said...

Happy Birthday Pasadena!!! Just a youngster at 125!!! I'm sure you toasted to Pasadena's good health with a good cup of java Petrea!!! (even if not with a piece of cake!)

irinapictures said...

Happy birthday, Pasadena!

Virginia said...

What? No cake pour moi??? Hmmmmm. Well Happy Birthday Pasadena, with or without the sugar high.:)
V

Petrea Burchard said...

Speedway, did you google that?

I can't speak for Pasadena, but I'm sure our city will be thankful for good birthday wishes all year long.

ben wideman said...

Really wish I had been free to go to this!

Speedway said...

Yep, googled it. Thought it was a little town in Wales that had longest name, wanted to verify spelling. Turned out to be that place in Thailand. Should've used spell check for "said," but would have confused it to make sure of town name. Whew "Can I buy a vowel?"

pasadenapio said...

I was up in Clovis, Calif., for four days for my grandsons' (fraternal twins) high school graduation, which turned into a big family reunion with people coming in from all over the country. It was really great!

My original plan was to return to Pasadena yesterday in plenty of time for the 125th birthday kick-off extravaganza, but I got so swept up in family get-togethers that I didn't get back to Pasadena until the hoopla was over.

It was very generous of the Pasadena Museum of History to host the kick-off event.

There are additional events throughout the summer.

Linda Centell has done (and continues to do) a magnificent job publicizing the event on the City of Pasadena side, from the website linked above to the light pole banners in Old Pasadena, articles in the media and Pasadena In Focus, and much more. I owe her thousands of gold stars!

Petrea Burchard said...

It was a great party! I had expected it to be good, but it was beyond my expectations. And that website (additional events) is lovely, Ann and Linda. I caught a glimpse of Linda on the museum grounds but unfortunately I wasn't there long enough to catch her in a free moment.

Steve Scauzillo said...

To see a picture of the 125th birthday cake, go to here (The Rose Magazine facebook site):
http://www.facebook.com/rosemagazine

TheChieftess said...

Not quite what I was expecting!!! Before I enlarged the photo, I thought the numbers were pink flamingos!!!
And yes, I did have my glasses on!!!

Ms M said...

Happy birthday to Pasadena -- and many more!
Hope the cake was deluxe :)

Petrea Burchard said...

That flamingo thing is not THE cake. I'm not sure what that is, maybe part of it? The Star-News has some pictures, but you can't really tell what it is. Maybe that's because it's huge, and it has so many shapes and colors on it.

TheChieftess said...

Ok!!! That makes more sense!!! The other one must have been just for the article!

Susan Campisi said...

That's a very elusive cake.

Shell Sherree said...

Darn, it's not fashionable to be late for a birthday party. Happy Birthday, Pasadena. Coffee and cake is a happy marriage. And I'd find it hard decline a nice sugar flower if offered one.

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt said...

Happy Birthday, Pasadena!you choose nice idea for birthday celebration..wonderful place

Petrea Burchard said...

Pasadena PIO has the best pictures I've seen of the cake. She got it from all angles.