Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Bridge Endures

It can't hurt to post a photo of the Colorado Street Bridge, can it? This one's not perfectly framed, but I wanted a shot of that climbing, clinging vine. I don't know if the vine's still there; I took this shot quite a while ago. But we've had cloudy days of late, so it's a fitting picture.

There will be a Bridge party this year, on July 14th. Watch the Pasadena Heritage website for information. If you haven't attended one of these parties, give it a try. Though it gets crowded there's something magical about being able to hang out on a major thoroughfare while you drink a locally-brewed beer and listen to music. They close the road to vehicles and you can walk across, gaze out over the Arroyo and enjoy one of Pasadena's loveliest landmarks.

If I'm not mistaken, one of the reasons for the founding of Pasadena Heritage was to preserve this very bridge. Thanks to them, the bridge will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2013. This year, we're going to party like it's 99.

19 comments:

John Sandel said...

That vine will out.

Shell Sherree said...

The little vine that could. I hope it's there to see the bridge party. Sounds like a truckload of fun, Petrea. Minus the trucks, of course.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

I love architecture and this bridge is something to admire... I am surprised w/the tremors of past that not a hairline scratch...maybe those vines are the key? Great angle,P.

Profile Not Available said...

This is a beautiful bridge! Great angle.

Katie said...

Fantastic photo. Very impressive man-made bridge but I like that mother nature has added some vines. Since the party is on Bastille Day will there be French food?

Petrea Burchard said...

I hope the vine will take a very long time, J.

Shell, perhaps there'll be food trucks at the west end of the bridge. There are often interesting booths and performances there.

Kalei, there are definitely some scratches and patches. They had to close it down in 1993 to retrofit. But it's a well-made bridge and it has stood the test.

Hi Kelly! Nice to see you. Check out Kelly's post today, it's definitely one for dog lovers. Kelly has Geneva Daily Photo. Geneva, Illinois, is a gorgeous town.

Katie, the mayor has called Pasadena "the Paris of the Pacific" so I'll venture to say it's possible. But not probable.

Virginia said...

The Paris of the Pacific? That has a nice ring to it. Let's have a macaron to prove it.

LURV this POV here P. Gorgeous shot. Hope you had your parapluie handy.
V

TheChieftess said...

Love this photo of the bridge!!! It is a beautiful bridge and I'm very happy that Pasadena Heritage came about to save it...it is an iconic part of the SGV!!!

Pasadena Adjacent said...

My beloved bridge. A long time friend of mine

Bellis said...

PA, I'd love to hear from you what the bridge looked like before it was more or less taken to pieces and rebuilt. The creeper has, I'm sure, been cut off at the base now. No mercy for greenery.

"Party like it's 99." I love it! (and your Kenton-Nelsonesque photo).

Petrea Burchard said...

Ma parapluie, Virginia? Je ne me souviens pas. I probably didn't have it--too many hands to hold that and a camera.

Agreed, Chieftess. The party celebrates that and raises funds for more of the same.

You've known her longer than I have, PA, but I love her, too.

Thank you, Bellis. Was it really taken apart? Wow.

Ms M said...

Love the way you framed this photo. And glad the bridge has been preserved. It deserves celebration. They should have at least some French wine and a few macarons, perhaps some fromages, to do it justice, don't you think? :)

Ms M said...

Oh, and I hope the vine is hearty, hale and in attendance at the party.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

It looks the same except that they added stylistically appropriate lighting and (don't jump) railing. They did reroute the trail underneath the bridge. It once went on the west side - over that little bridge and across the stream under the 210 back up near to where they chopped down that palm.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I think we went on that small bridge, but I'd have to go back and look at that again. I did find an old glass bottle when they were doing the retro fit

Susan Campisi said...

Bridges are such feats of engineering. Pretty amazing, even more so when they're pretty. I'll see you at the Bastille Day Bridge Party. Tommy will be wearing his beret.

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't know the palm but I know the small bridge, PA. I like it on the west side of the stream, love it under there.

Tommy is so sociable, Susan! Boz likes parties, but only small ones.

Latino Heritage said...

The shadows under the bridge are quite grand.

Steven said...

Beer and music! Plus you get to walk across the bridge. I'm there. Nice photo too.