Pasadena Is in Shape

Pasadenans can feel good about this one: we've been named one of the 10 Healthiest Mid-Size Cities by MyLife.com. Click the link to find out how we rate, and who beat us to #1. You might be surprised to see which of our neighbor cities are listed in the top 10 as well.

MyLife has an interesting batch of information about us. Regular readers of Living Vicuriously might also recognize the spot where they took their representative photo. Thanks to Bryan Vu at MyLife for sending me the information.

More fun for those exploring Pasadena is the new Walking Pasadena Facebook group, started by Sarah Emery Bunn. You're welcome to join and share. Sarah's Flickr page gives you an idea of the treasures to be found as you stroll the streets of Pasadena.

Art

Last weekend the Lower Arroyo hosted an art installation from Newtown called "Re-Imagining the Arroyo." 

No description in the program matches our bird friend. I don't know who made it or what it's called. Please let me know if you have information. It's a wonderful piece. (see the comments)

Elizabeth Garrison deconstructs the California state flag. The bear is fuzzy. You can pet him. Did you know that California is the only state in the union that has an extinct animal on its flag? Notice the gun.

 

Poet Linda Dove shared this part of the exhibit with Elizabeth. I love how the sunlight shines through the plaque and projects the poem onto the ground. To partially quote Linda's poem, A Love Letter to California, "In the nation of red, a single star glows against sky. It says, the light must fall through traps and mix again with earth." 

We enjoyed the large pods (four of them) by Leonard Rusch. This installation was called "Acoustic Artifacts." Rusch's sound system wasn't working when we were there, but it didn't matter. Tucked beneath the trees as though they had always been there, the pods were cool and they had their own sounds.

Dangling from trees throughout the Lower Arroyo were several "Yo-Yo Men," by Cindy Jackson. John emulates this one for you.

We liked much of it, didn't like all of it. You would like different stuff than I liked. Such is art.

We talked about whether or not art is necessary. I think it is, but your necessary art is not the same as my necessary art. Does the world need Camelot & Vine? No, but I needed to write it.

So here's my segue: please come to the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse this Thursday night, November 7, 7-9pm, for their Welcome the Holidays party. I'll be there along with authors Dianne Dixon, Michael Mullin and Allen Griffiths. It's a family party with stories, games, free wrapping, personal shoppers, a raffle and refreshments. Get your book signed! Have some punch! Win something!

The store is full of art, some necessary, some un. You decide.

Let's Hang Out This Fall

this chess set-up is no longer in the Lower Arroyo

Do you mind if I share some calendar information? I'd love to see you, so please come out.

October
Script Kitchen starts up again this fall. Instructors Tara Samuel and John Sandel (you might know him) lead you through the process of building your story into a viable film script. I highly recommend this class for any writer/storyteller. I never would have been able to write a novel without John's teaching.

October 5
The annual Friends of the Duarte Library Festival of Authors is a low-key, fun book festival in Duarte. I'll be sharing a table with Margaret Finnegan. Margaret and I are going to read your Tarot cards at the festival! I don't know how to read Tarot cards, but I have a deck so why should that stop me?

Other local authors at Duarte will include Anne Louise Bannon and Kerry Reis. Lots and lots of authors will be there, local and otherwise, and there will be panels and bookshops (like Vroman's) in the park.

October 12
When you sign up for Free Book Friday you can win free books, like my novel, Camelot & Vine. I know, I know, October 12th is a Saturday. I'm not sure how they work it but I'd suggest you sign up before then. The date is subject to change, and I'll notify you if it's not going to happen the week of the 12th.

October 18-20
Anime Fusion. What's an author doing at an anime convention? you ask. Well, besides writing Camelot & Vine I voiced a popular anime character, Ryoko the space pirate, in an anime series called "Tenchi Muyo!". "Tenchi" has become a classic, and I love going to conventions and meeting people who love the show.

November 7
Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeeshop is having a party sort of evening. I'll be there from 7:00-8:45pm signing books, meeting people and reading from Camelot & Vine. More details to come on what looks like a fun time in this gorgeous store.

There's more in the new year, with a reading at San Marino's Crowell Public Library January 13, a chat with members of Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeeshop's Brown Bags and Books reading group February 5th, and GATOcon, an anime convention in Kingsville, TX February 22nd & 23rd.

Then maybe your book group, your con, your something-or-other. You never know 'til you ask.

By the way, books make fine holiday gifts!

Six, Day One

First things first! You should be able to see the Tournament of Roses Parade right here. We'll chat after the parade.

******

I hope you enjoyed the parade! I'll add links later as I find them.
Here's one already! Dive is watching the Parade in Norwich, England.

The first of the year is traditionally a theme day for City Daily Photo. In the past we've shared our "best photo of the year." We're skipping that today and will do a different theme later in the month. I'll do a little "best of" retrospective tomorrow.

For now, here's a favorite picture I haven't posted before. I took it in December of 2008, while Boz and I were gallivanting about in the Lower Arroyo near the Colorado Street Bridge. I began this blog on January 1, 2008, which means today marks five years of daily blogging.

I am nuts.

You get it down to a system, but it's still nuts.

Rewarding, but nuts.

Thank you for visiting and commenting, for your support and encouragement. I wish you the happiest new year. Make every day better than the last.

Arroyo Steps

I thought I might have published a photo of these stairs before. It turns out I have, from a different angle. I've also wondered but never known if they're vestiges of the original Busch Gardens. They're off the main path where you can't easily see them. Watch for side trips.

I do know that's poison oak on the right.

Will you have some time off over the next few days? It looks like we're going to have perfect hiking weather.

Let me know if this picture's too big on your screen. I'm tired of the teeny ones. I like big. But I need some easy watermarking software.

Cool Relief

We're having hot weather (not unusual) and actual humidity (rare for soCal). It's not what I'd call oppressive, but it's been tough on Boz. Mostly he's bored. A trip around the block is all he can handle in the heat, yet he's restless. He wants action, baby.

So on Wednesday, before the ground got too hot for tender paws, we took Boz to the Lower Arroyo to enjoy the shade and (yes!) the stream that trickles from north to south among the reeds. He got as muddy and stinky as a dog can get without immersing himself. The picture shows you how far under Boz will go. He doesn't swim. He likes to walk about and cool his belly. He loves to dip his muzzle and bite the water.

From parking lot to bridge and back was all he needed. He slept for the remainder of the day, and he was fine all day yesterday, too, until evening when he became restless again.

Last night it rained, a light rain borne of overwrought humidity and a stressful sky that just had to shake itself out. It didn't pour, but it refreshed the humans almost as much as a trickling stream does a dog.

High Temps in the Lower Arroyo

We've had a bit of cold weather. That's relative, of course--"cold weather" doesn't really occur around here. But for my walk with Boz yesterday I wore my winter coat with a scarf and mittens. It should be said, however, that my neighbor was wearing shorts and flip-flops. I can't tell you which of us is the sane one. Not objectively.

Suffice it to say I didn't take this picture yesterday. I did, however, take it this month.

Rainy Day Mood

The Richard H. Chambers Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Building, seen from the Lower Arroyo

It didn't rain all day yesterday, just all morning. Still, I was in a rainy day mood. I craved the cozy feeling of running the heater and drinking hot tea, and I indulged.

One cloudy day some time ago, PDP's resident geologist Becca and I took our dogs to the Lower Arroyo thinking it wasn't going to rain. It did, of course, as soon as we were as far from our cars as we could possibly get. We were the only non-wild creatures in the Arroyo between the Colorado Street Bridge and South Pasadena. Everyone else, wild or not, knew enough to find shelter.

It began to pour, rattling the leaves and forming puddles on the path. The stream ran full from north to south. Becca and I were soaking wet. We let the dogs run free and they were out of their minds with the joy of it.

Yesterday, Boz curled himself into the shape of a Lima bean and spent most of the day by the heater, with the exception of our neighborhood walk. Now that he's older he craves being cozy, too. Because I know the feeling I run the heater for him, but he turns up his nose at tea.


Here's another view of the Courthouse from the Arroyo, with Boz posing in the foreground.

More Weekend Calendar

You thought I was finished yesterday. Nope! There's more. Here are some good things to do this weekend for those who like to get their hands (and hiking boots) dirty. If you know of an event, please feel free to add it to the comments.

The Theodore Payne Foundation's Native Plant Sale and Fall Festival offers discounts to all today and tomorrow, 8:30-4:30. If you're a member your discount is larger, so it's a good time to join.

The Arroyo Seco Foundation offers a Mount Lowe Railway hike on Saturday. Sunday, there's a volunteer opportunity: a Central Arroyo Clean-up with super-naturalist and native plant expert Tim Martinez.

It's going to be gorgeous this weekend, if a tad toasty. Bring a water bottle, wear a wide-brimmed hat and enjoy autumn's glory in southern California.

Update: The comments are always part of the post and today isn't the first time they make it better. Here's what Bellis had to say this morning: "I hope lots of people will go on one of the guided hikes in Rubio Canyon, where the Mount Lowe railway tracks are still visible in places. The privately-owned part of the canyon was recently purchased from a generous landowner by the Arroyo and Foothills Conservancy with donations from many local residents and others. Thank you to all those who saved this lovely canyon so we can hike in it forever.
We have the women of Pasadena and Teddy Roosevelt to thank for saving the Lower Arroyo Seco park pictured in your photo - but that's another story."

I've Got Your Pasadena Weekend

I know it's only Tuesday but calendars fill up. Listen, don't worry about it. I have your weekend planned for you.

Friday the 26th: Wine tasting and silent auction benefiting the Be The Match Foundation, the national bone marrow registry. They'll be tasting wines from some of California's top vineyards. There will also be a "pole dance" the likes of which I'm told Pasadena's never seen before, and that's all I'm saying about it.

Saturday the 27th: hike the Lower Arroyo with Tim Martinez, who knows everything about the native flora here except the Latin names. Tim's talk about plant uses was one of the highlights of last spring's Hahamongna Walkabout. Join him and you'll learn fun stuff like "the best" plant in southern California or what to mix with tequila as a topical for aching muscles.

Sunday the 28th: treat yourself to an ice cream social sponsored by the League of Women Voters, celebrating the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. It's only $5, you need reservations and there's still plenty of time to make them. It's being held at Hillmont House, one of Pasadena's most beautiful Victorian homes.

Then I'll see you back here on Zen Monday and you can tell me how much fun you had.

Why Don't They Have to Pick Up the Horse Poo?

The other day I posted a photo of Boz at a Hollywood cafe, contemplating a pair of LA's mounted police. In comments, Laura mentioned the volunteer mounted patrol that assists the mountain rescue unit in Altadena, adding that there was once a mounted patrol in Old Town Pasadena, too. Old Town gets so crowded now; maybe that's why we don't see horses there anymore. Unless you've seen them?

Lo and behold, there's a mounted patrol officer in Lower Arroyo Park. Apparently she's not fully ordained, as she doesn't issue official warnings or make arrests. However, I can attest to the fact that she can and does issue threats.

Boz and I recently came upon her engaged in heated discussion with a dog owner. Basically, the argument went like this this:
"The dogs aren't bothering anyone and they ought to be able to walk off-leash in the Arroyo."
vs.
"The law's the law."
There were more words, and exclamation points.

They each had a point, though neither won the argument. Somebody, and I'm not saying who, could benefit from Nice lessons.

For some, the dog park is not an option. It's too stressful for dogs of a certain (uh, omega) temperament. As much as I approve of the concept, I wouldn't take Boz there. It's not for everyone.

The Lower Arroyo is for everyone, yet not everyone is comfortable with dogs. I haven't heard of any unpleasantness, but then again, I don't hear everything.

What do you think? Should dogs be leashed in the Lower Arroyo?

Arroyo Kenpo

I've seen many artists working in the Arroyo Seco, but this is the first time I've seen martial artists.

When I came across Juan Serrano (that's him on the right) and his pupil Clayton practicing, um, judo? karate? tai chi?--I thought, why not? You're not going to find a more beautiful place to work.

It turns out they were practicing a mixture of things called the Casa de Kenpo Martial Arts System. The two demonstrated some of the moves Juan teaches in Glendale. You can check out Juan's youtube videos here.

What Juan and Clayton were working on alternated between fight moves and something like dance. Because nature alternates between peace and violence, the birdsong and dappled sunlight of the Arroyo seemed the perfect fit.

Zen Monday: #145

or

It's a Zen Monday twofer!

Today's the day you experience the photo(s) and tell us what you've learned. If you've been lurking, I hope today's the day you'll jump in.

Is this your first Zen Monday? Just say what the pictures make you think of or feel. Usually I post one photo, but today I thought two views of the subject might enlighten you further. There's no right or wrong, no secret, no prize. Just have fun.

Parker-Mayberry Bridge

The Parker-Mayberry Bridge is a small, graceful bridge under the colossal, graceful and more famous Colorado Street Bridge. The Parker-Mayberry doesn't have a Wikipedia page, nor do many links point in its direction. Scroll down to the second photo in this post by Pasadena Public Information Officer Ann Erdman to see how the two bridges compare in size.

The Parker-Mayberry Bridge was built in 1916, three years after the Colorado Street Bridge. I had thought it was the older of the two, but no. The earlier structures on this spot in the Arroyo Seco were the Scoville Dam and Bridge. "Remnants of the early construction can still be found there," according to the Arroyo Seco Foundation.

The Parker-Mayberry is closed to automobile traffic, but you can approach it on foot. While walking in the Lower Arroyo Park, continue north on the west side of the the wash past the footbridge and cross under the Parker-Mayberry and Colorado Street Bridges. Soon you'll be above the water where I took this picture early in my blogging career. From here you can walk onto the Parker-Mayberry Bridge. Behind you there's stonework; likely the remnants the Arroyo Seco Foundation refers to.

Dogs on leash. Look out for poison oak. Let me know what you find.

Zen Monday: #108

It's Zen Monday, the day you experience the photo and give us your thoughts rather than me telling you what I think the photo's about.

I look for a photo worth contemplating or, failing that, something odd or silly. And unless I absolutely must say something I stay out of the comments box to avoid influencing the discussion. 

Let your imagination run free. There's no right or wrong. We're here to have fun.

Stairway to A Secret

If you're willing to get off the main path, Lower Arroyo Park will give up its secrets. Stone walls, steep trails, hidden stairways and more lie waiting in the underbrush along the walls of the Arroyo.

I've sometimes wondered if these human-made bits might be traces of Busch Gardens. The walls, maybe. Some are old, elegant and overgrown enough. But I suppose this simple stairway is too pedestrian to belong to so grand a memory.

Still, what's it doing there? Why stairs on a woodland path? Where did they once lead?

Don't answer. I prefer the mystery.

************************************************************************

Today I welcome a new advertiser, Donna Chaney of Chaney Financial Services. See the purple and blue ad over there on the left? Click on it to set up a free consultation with Donna to start planning the life you want--not just when you get old, but right now. I know Donna personally. She's tops.

Bridge Benefits

Every year--except this year--Pasadena Heritage holds a fund-raising party on the Colorado Street Bridge. But due to the "challenging economic times," this year's party had to be canceled.

That doesn't mean you can't celebrate the bridge, and raise funds for Pasadena Heritage as well.

Today is Bridge Benefit Day at these local eateries who support Pasadena Heritage:
Big Mama's Rib Shack
Los Tacos
Cha Da Thai
Robin's Restaurant
Chandra Thai

Can't spare the bucks to eat out tonight? A walk in Lower Arroyo Park is free.

Opportunist

The Arroyo is arrayed with spider webs. They dangle like ornaments from the branches of innocent trees who have no idea of their complicity.

Rovers

If you're looking for something to do on a Saturday (and you're checking in here early, before 8:30 a.m.), head on down to Lower Arroyo Park and let the Pasadena Roving Archers show you a thing or two.

You're going to be shooting arrows, so there are requirements. Like minimum age 10 years, proper attire (a t-shirt would work), tie your hair back (because ouch! you don't want it getting caught in the bow, I remember that from high school), and bring some water (it gets hot down there). Read all the requirements here.

What is not required: money. Beginning classes are free of charge.

I met three Roving Archers in the Arroyo last week; pictured here is Robert Storts, retrieving his arrows. Ernie Lateer and Ramon Oceguera are two more of the expert archers you'll meet, and they were friendly (and really, really good shots). You can stop by and speak with members and/or club officers on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

The archers rove throughout the southwest side of Lower Arroyo Park, where you'll see different targets peering out from the brush. It's a case for keeping that other Rover on a leash.

Update: While we're on the subject of the Arroyo, I've just updated this post (about the fluffy white tree north of the dam), thanks to information Ann Erdman was able to find.

Irrepressible

Some people just can't be stopped.