Sunday, April 22, 2012

Downstairs Downtown

I went out the other night!

After dark and everything!

I know!

Old Town Pasadena has nooks and crannies, too many to count. I like to wander there any time, to peek into places that appear to be secrets. But after dark an intrigue is added, perhaps imagined, perhaps real. Alleys, stairwells, doorways--everything looks different in artificial light and the shadows it throws. At night, I notice things I've never seen during the day. And they become stories in my head, or thoughts I shouldn't be thinking.

21 comments:

This is Belgium said...

Ha ha ! like it very much.. the picture as well as the story !
have a great sunday
anni

dive said...

Oooooh, the 'green door' …
How can you not give in to temptation?

Shell Sherree said...

You have a writer's imagination, Petrea, which is fortuitous, given you're a writer. This does have an air of mystery about it.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Wow, I love all the colors u captured here.. Funny how those stairs won't look as mysterious in the daylight!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Anni, you too!

Dive, I am literally not going there...

Shell, thank you.

Kalei, I took this with the new iPhone. I didn't change the colors and I remember it this way, but now that I think of it I wonder if the phone exaggerates color. It looks wild. But I think it was green and pink.

irinapictures said...

Sounds that it could be very adventurous. But looks like someone prefers reading a book in a comfortable chair under the lamp at home..

BaysideLife said...

Pretty colors. That door is certainly alluring, though I think I'd prefer to be upstairs with that smiling couple. A bar? Cafe?

Leslie said...

That's a fantastic photo. I love the light, the railings, the color.
Is this on Fair Oaks, the place that used to be McMurphy's Bar?

Petrea Burchard said...

I think you know me, Irina!

A bar, Bayside. I didn't go in but the place was hopping.

It's Fair Oaks, Leslie. I don't know what it used to be but if I remember correctly it's south of Holly and north of Colorado.

Linda said...

Certainly multiple possibilities for this shot...

Desiree said...

Congratulations on stretching your horizons--

Bellis said...

I thought this was Vertical wine bar but that's on Raymond.

The photo's a bit like the path to heaven: you go through a door, up a dark staircase with bars, and then, if you've been good, you end up in a place of light and warmth where everyone's having fun. Or is that hell? .........

Ms M said...

Oooo, I like this photo! Good inspiration for a story or poem or song. Love the colors.

Adele said...

What an amazing shot - and an intriguing story. When I saw your photo, I thought of a certain place, from a long time ago (when I was young, and hung around in Old Town at night). From your description, it's the very same place. Definitely memorable!

Petrea Burchard said...

Good imaginations, all of you.

Desiree, touchee...

Bellis, I took this photo from the street, standing outside.

Petrea Burchard said...

Adele, someday I'll want to hear all your stories about the old days of Old Town.

TheChieftess said...

Very noir...even in color!!! Was there a 44 Packard parked out front???

Adele said...

I'd love that! They may not be too exciting, but it was fun. Although I much prefer being old(er) in the "new" days!

Petrea Burchard said...

Chieftess, there's no parking on that stretch of Fair Oaks. But something like a Packard was parked a few blocks away on Raymond: http://bit.ly/Isa0It

So far, Adele, so do I.

Steve Scauzillo said...

I love the purple in the photo. Was that a natural shot?

Petrea Burchard said...

It was, believe it or not. I guess that's how the place is lit. I think the iPhone may exaggerate, but those are the colors.