Fraser Alley Art

Along about World War II, downtown Pasadena wasn't looking so good. By the late 1940's, nobody was much interested in opening new businesses there, and things deteriorated. This might have been a good thing for Old Town Pasadena, because nobody bothered to renovate the buildings and they retained their historic character.

By the mid-1990s, however, revitalization was well underway. Now Old Town is known for great shopping and dining. It's also known for its historical buildings. Oh--and did I mention its pretty alleys? I think I must have said something before about pretty alleys.

This garage door is in Fraser Alley, which runs parallel to Colorado Blvd. on the south. Click on the photo to enlarge it and see the stenciled artwork peeking back at you.

Altadena Alley

Pasadena's north side borders on Altadena, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. (Altadena's north side borders on the San Gabriel mountains.) Altadena has its own town council, but has resisted being governed by Pasadena or anybody else.

Altadena's character can't be defined in a word. It's artsy, diverse, old-timey, forward-thinking, stuck in its ways and anti-establishment. It is its own self, one might say, defiantly.

In an alley behind Mariposa Street, I came upon this door. Told you our alleys are pretty.

State of the Arroyo

I'm disappointed because I got home too late to attend the "State of the City" event this evening at the Rose Bowl. Not just at the stadium. Inside the new locker room complex. A female doesn't get a chance to visit those rooms very often unless she's a sportswriter or a cleaning lady.

Mayor Bill Bogaard will be speaking tonight, so I've decided to comfort myself with this photo, which was a contender for yesterday's post. I had the pleasure of being introduced to the mayor at the event for the Central Arroyo Stream Restoration. While Andy Byrne, Program Manager of the Arroyo Seco Foundation, made the introductions, Mayor Bogaard waited to go on and I snapped this picture.

The bridge in the background is not the Colorado Street Bridge. (That's behind the mayor in this photo.) The one you see here is merely an onramp to the westbound 134 freeway. If you think our freeways are pretty, wait until you see our alleys.

Wonder

I attended a civic function today on the Parker-Mayberry Bridge, under the Colorado Street Bridge. I had never been there before.

We were there for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the Central Arroyo Stream Restoration. To quote the press release, "Stream habitat enhancements, runoff treatment and devices that prevent trash from polluting streams are among the components of this exciting $2.5 million project that will turn [the] Central Arroyo into a model of what can be done in urban areas to help clean up waterways." The City of Pasadena loves to partner with organizations like the Arroyo Seco Foundation to do good stuff like this.

After the speeches, the mayor and other dignitaries planted a native oak and posed for photos while everyone cheered. In all the hubbub, I noticed this father and son across the Arroyo, standing under the Colorado Street Bridge and wondering what the heck was going on.

A Bit of Paris

Colorado may be the famous boulevard but Green Street, paralleling Colorado to the south, is its sophisticated cousin. Lined with vine-covered buildings, boutiques and cafés (mon dieu! I had to go seek an accent aigu!), Green Street always has a surprise for you, even if you think you've seen everything it has to offer.

You know the food is good at Il Capo, so you may ask why the tables are empty. I took this photo yesterday at lunch time and there were plenty of people inside. But the southern sun was blazing on those red chairs, and we had the only table in the shade.

Antique Hues

From the Rose Bowl Flea Market to high end antique shops, I can safely brag that Pasadena has it all (and lots of all of it). It can get pricey, too! Pasadena's known for its Craftsman and Arts & Crafts homes, so of course that era is well represented in the shops. But every other era has its dealers here as well. So does every European monarch who ever had furniture named after him. If you like shopping for antiques—or if you just like shopping—Pasadena's a prime spot.

I caught this shot at Antiques on Fair Oaks today, where they gave me a cup of coffee when I walked in the door. Friendly!

Flea Market Ladies

I hear the Rose Bowl Flea Market is world famous. It ought to be, if for no other reason than sheer size. The second Sunday of every month, vendors surround the stadium selling everything new, used, old, horrible, fabulous, grotesque or sublime.

In proving the adage, "One man's trash is another man's treasure," you may have to dig deep--or walk a long way. Use your imagination, wear comfortable shoes, and bring plenty of cash.

Grand Opening

Melody Soul Food Restaurant, on Washington Blvd. at N. Hudson Ave., is having its grand opening. I haven't eaten there yet, but I intend to remedy that situation before the balloons come down.

Balloons make things more festive. It's a proven fact.

Companions

As usually happens, I was on my way to take pictures of something else when this pair of old friends caught my eye in East Washington Village, on Washington near Hill.

Good things come in twos. And in pink!

Out of Line

Built in 1898 as an annex to the long-gone Hotel Green, Castle Green on Raymond Avenue is one of Pasadena's most recognizable buildings. Maybe not from this angle.

You can rent grand, Victorian rooms for filming, weddings or other events. Or if you love the place (and if there's an opening) you can live there. The Castle is normally closed to the public, but at holiday time, tours of the building take you into private apartments.

This gate on the south side of the building guards the castle. Although it looks like one of the guards is breaking ranks.

Peeking Under the Devil

While I show you around Pasadena, I'm learning to use my Olympus SP-350, which I had for a year and a half before I bothered to read the manual.

Under the Devil's Gate Dam I found shadows and light. This relatively simple camera (by today's standards) picked them up pretty well.

That's Boz in the lower right corner of the photo. He often accompanies me when I shoot. He's not particularly interested in photography, so usually he stays out of the frame. But I can't guarantee he won't show up from time to time.

Sign Sign

I wonder how many times I've driven past this. I suppose it's a good thing I never noticed it, because when you're driving you're supposed to watch the road. But lately I've been parking the car and getting out to take photos. When you do that, you see things you never noticed before. Today I parked across the street from this parking garage on Union Street, intent on taking photos of something else.

And there it was.

Water Everywhere

Tucked up above Devil's Gate Dam and below NASA's (or, as we like to think, Pasadena's) Jet Propulsion Lab, is a hiking/biking/dog walking heaven called Hahamongna Watershed Park. Most of the time you'd be hard pressed to find much water there. But after a weekend of rain, boy howdy! Devil's Gate Dam was doing it's job, and the watershed basin lived up to its purpose.

Where did they get that name, Hahamongna? Try saying it five times fast. I shouldn't complain. People have trouble pronouncing my name all the time.

Those river rocks I mentioned before--I believe they're manufactured in places like this.

Ubiquitous

River rocks are everywhere. They seem to have always been basic Pasadena building material. Fences, walls, columns, fountains--all kinds of things are made of them. This retaining wall caught my eye while I stood on the Holly Street Bridge shooting pictures of the Rose Bowl the other day. I had never noticed the wall before.

Farmers Market, Rain or Shine

The rain let up for the Farmers Market, but attendance was slim today on both sides of the counter. Some of the farmers we usually see didn't make the drive. Who can blame them? Many come from surrounding counties, and that can be a long drive when the skies threaten and you know there won't be a lot of buyers. Plus, rain is a mighty good excuse not to get up at 3AM.

Farmers Markets happen every day in SoCal, and many of the same merchants sell at several of them. At the Saturday market in the parking lot of Pasadena High School, we can purchase fresh fish, nuts, artisanal olives, handmade cheeses, flowers, decorative plants, handmade granola and cookies and a variety of breads, as well as the seasonal fruits and vegetables you'd expect. There's another market Tuesday mornings at Villa Parke Center, and one in South Pasadena Thursday evenings.

Besides the fresh, organic food the best perk is getting to know the people who produce it. You can't beat that.

Rain

It's raining in southern California today. It's supposed to rain all weekend. We're not very good at dealing with it. We drive in rain like southerners drive in snow. (Midwesterners make fun of us for this--I know, because I'm a transplanted Midwesterner.)

Even so, we welcome the opportunity to practice our rain coping skills. The weather experts tell us three days of downpour won't solve our drought problems. It's better than no rain at all, though, which is what we've been having for a long time.

It was mid-afternoon when I took this one, but it seemed later because of the cloudy darkness. The location is facing south on San Marino Avenue at California Blvd. (That part's easy enough to figure out.)

Tear-down

This crew was dismantling the Rose Parade bleachers in front of the Vons grocery store on Colorado Blvd. at Sierra Madre Blvd. this afternoon.

When I look at the mountains in the background I think, no matter the job, you can't beat the setting. I grew up in the flat lands of Illinois--a beautiful area, but I'm always amazed when I look up and see mountains. Around here, that means I'm amazed pretty much all the time.

Does the crane get a parking ticket?

Quiet Grandstand

The clean-up crews were already sweeping litter while the game was underway yesterday. The grandstands will be here for a few more days. This is the one that faces west at the northern part of Orange Grove Avenue, between Green Street and Colorado Blvd. The floats make their right turn onto Colorado at the left side of the photo, by the American flag.

The Rose Bowl

Welcome to Pasadena Daily Photo! Of all days, it's most fitting to start on New Year's Day. Pasadena's calm enough throughout the year, but this town throws a new year's party like nobody else, with the colorful Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl football game.

I admit I'm not a fan of crowds, so even though U of I is my alma mater I didn't go to the game today. This photo was taken during the game, looking north from the Holly Street bridge. It gives you an idea of the size of the mob I missed spending my afternoon with. More cars were parked on the golf course north of the stadium, and on front lawns of enterprising citizens living in the surrounding neighborhoods. Nearly every parking lot in town is full, if not with RVs, then with Rose Parade floats. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)