Yesterday, Ann led a group of local bloggers on a tour of City Hall. We got an earful of history and an eyeful of one of our city's most beautiful buildings, if not the most beautiful of all. In this photo I'm looking straight up at the lantern in the main entry breezeway. And I do mean breezeway. Ann says it gets windy in there, yet though sometimes this lantern sways quite a bit, it's original to the 1927 structure and has never come down. Yet.
There's something else about the lantern. I'm not going to tell you what. But if you went down to City Hall and took a closer look, you might see it.
Be sure and vote for your favorite Camelot Where You Are photo from this week. (The poll is at the upper left of the blog.) The winner will receive a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication. We'll have Zen Monday tomorrow, and follow that with more contest entries!
30 comments:
I've looked at it and looked at it again but I have no idea what the secret to the lantern might be.
It's a terrific looking photo but that's no secret...
K is right it is gorgeous.. btw I think I know the answer to this and did not want to spoil your fun here.. I emailed you on what I think it may be...
I took Ann's tour of CIty Hall a few years ago with Chieftess, Irina Netchaev, Ben Wideman, and others! Great stuff. Nice to see that you've become a freeway fighter!
Gorgeous details. They sure don't build them like this anymore. Nice to see something so well preserved.
You have to see the lantern to know what I left out, Kevin. I won't keep you in the dark, though, and will let you in on it later.
KBF, you could have left your comment! I might add the info you found, if you don't mind. It won't spoil the secret, although I appreciate your taking such care. Okay with you?
Thanks, Mister Earl. (Mister Earl refers to a letter I wrote to the San Marino City Manager. I posted it on the No 710 Freeway Extension group on Facebook (join!) and three newspapers requested it. Two have printed it so far. Lots of comments on San Marino Patch.)
Meghan, I'm amazed at the care they took with the details of this building. You're right, they don't build them like this anymore.
Oh, I was going to speculate that the lamp has a modern low-energy lightbulb in it, but KBF seems to have found out a lot more. Intriguing!
Did Ann talk about the brass light fittings stolen from City Hall recently? It was in the local paper, but they didn't give details.
@Petrea: Sure, go ahead and add it.. I didn't know if I would of spoiled it...
OK, so it wasn't lamps that were stolen, but still very depressing. The theft of brass for resale as scrap is a growing problem, one that would be very easy to control if all scrap merchants were honest and/or monitored. From the Pasadena Sun June 19: Several fixtures, fittings for chandeliers and decorative elements were stolen from Pasadena City Hall over the weekend, according to Pasadena police. Eleven ornamental pieces known as finials, as well as brass fittings for chandeliers and other materials, were taken. Police have no suspects.
Ann didn't mention the theft before I left, Bellis, but I had to go before the tour was finished. Thanks for the info. No follow-up since June, eh?
Here's what KBF uncovered, a different story:
"U got my curiosity !... I googled and from what I found, there are a series of lanterns that light the way into the building... L.A. Times mentioned how there is a story that there are different passage ways, nooks and secret places in the building... From the article I read, they discovered this during their renovation."
I was kind of hoping for nooks and passageways on the tour, but they remain a secret!
I recognized this beautiful lamp and ceiling as soon as I saw it! Yes...I was there with Mr E, Irina, Ben and Cafe Pasadena for one of Ann's awesome tours. And darn it! I don't remember what was so unique about the lantern other than it's gorgeous!!! I love the angle you that you shot this Petrea...well done!!! I've not seen the secret passageways in Pasadena City Hall, but I have seen secret passageways in the Capitol building in Sacramento!!!
Oh how I love this, Petrea. I have spent so many hours sitting by the fountain outside and then walking thru City Hall in my college days. I recognised the ceiling but didn't know the story about the lantern. (Another excuse to come home for a visit.)
Beautiful ceiling and I'm sure that lantern is gorgeous from any angle. The breezeway must be a nice place to sit on hot Pasadena days. I'd love to tour your City Hall someday.
Now I have to go check my photos and see if I can remember the secret.
OK. I'm looking at my side-view photo. The lantern has several fleurs de lis on it and a castle design on top. Maybe it came from France?
I'm not sure I'd know the lamp, Chieftess, but I would know the ceiling. Does that make sense?
I think it makes sense to you, LOL.
Katie, I'll take you on a tour when you visit.
You've got it, Mister Earl. Maybe someone will enter a certain photo in a certain contest.
Maybe it came from Camelot???
Truth be told...it was definitely the ceiling that gave it away!!!
Maybe the sometimes-swinging lantern is a mysterious pendulum?
Could be, Chieftess.
I like that idea, Dina.
By the way, if you were thinking of entering a photo of the lantern in the Camelot Where You Are photo contest it's too late. Mister Earl took the bait.
Have you voted? We've got 21 votes and no clear frontrunner, so click on one of those circles at the upper left if you haven't already done so, and vote for your favorite entry this week.
I was sorry to miss Ann's tour, but at least I get the inside scoop and a gorgeous photo here.
Now I'm off to vote. Hope I'm not too late.
Oops. Guess I should've looked at the poll before I said I'd vote. Sorry I missed it. But the upside is I don't have to endure the anguish of having to choose.
Oops is right. The poll should work 'til midnight Pasadena time. If you can't get it to accept your vote, send me an email with your vote. I'll accept all emailed votes received by midnight tonight, California time.
This is beautiful. I'm going to have to go over there and visit!
I recommend it, Adele. Lots of photo ops.
Great shot. Would love to do one of those City Hall tours sometime, there's so many great things to see there!
Devon @ alloverpasadena.tumblr.com
Devon, have you checked in at Ann's blog? Make sure she knows how to contact you and I'm sure she'll put you on the list for the next one: http://annerdman.blogspot.com/
Thanks Petrea, I will check her out!
Devon @ Alloverpasadena
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