I've lived in Los Angeles for 20 years. From Santa Monica to Silver Lake the one consistency for me has always been the frenzied pace. It's a swirl of chaotic quests for the newest and fuel-injected launches toward the fastest and always, without fail: traffic, traffic, traffic.And yet here in downtown South Pasadena -- even leaning toward rush hour -- it's as facile and peaceful as Mayberry. Yeah, I know, nearby the big city coils and teems. But it's nice to catch your breath, check the clock, and have a little time to spare.
14 comments:
I love seeing public clocks. Your image is so nicely composed, and even the calming pink hue helps make your point of being rested rather than rushed. I spent 20 years in SoCal, and learned to drive thre while in high school when the speed limit on the Santa Ana Freeway was 70 and all the on ramps were about as short as the mini skirts we wore! Talk about a panicky fast pace.
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo
Clock towers are a universal image, and yet each is unique to an area. I love the huge bold lollipo head of this one, and the angke you've taken it at. Great shot again
Calm in the middle of the storm, no doubt.
Don't you just love it? The best of both worlds. We've got LA if we need a dose of that pace, and we get to come home to Mayberry and have an ice cream soda at the corner drug store, where we actually know people and they don't care if we're carrying the latest Kate Spade bag.
You keep taking the words right outta my mouth re: South Pas! :)
I too have been here for 20 years--came out from Tulsa, Oklahoma in June '88.
Where are did you grow up?
RE: the clock: it seemed to be stuck on the same time for awhile, but I'm glad to see it's working now. I look at it everyday because I take the train downtown to work...and I love stepping off the train in the afternoons (especially Thursdays when the Farmer's Market is there) and breathing a sigh of relief and slowing down a little...
Glad you like the name...looking forward to seeing more pictures!
Hello friends!
Kim -- ah yes, those miniskirts. All I can say is that I'm glad I was YOUNG at such a skimpy time in fashion.
Babooshka, I'm fond of public clocks, too. In fact, I like clocks in general. WHen I was a young girl, my mom and I would visit Bastrop, Texas for its abundance of antique stores. There was a wonderful place that specialized in old clocks. I wish I'd taken photos there.
Which brings me to THursday's question: I grew up in Austin, Texas and moved here fresh out of college in February of 1988. As long as we're talking about time -- let's talk about how it FLIES!
OH, and Petrea -- I hear you. I was getting dizzy from trying to figure out just why my standard issue plain leather purse was not hip enough for the west side. Last year it was because it wasn't a Louis Vuitton. I think this year it's because it's not Prada. Egad. Now where's that ice cream cone?
What a great image. You're right, South Pas. feels incredibly different even from Pasadena in the north. The farmers market on Thursday night is like a slice of Americana. Love it.
There is something very special about a clock on Main Street of a town. One of my earliest recollections (and I have to go WAY back), is of a clock on the square. Time marches on.....I love your prose, I love your descriptions. Aunt Bea surely must be in the vicinity looking for Opie.
L, i'm an oddity - a real L.A. native. Yet, points west of here-L.A. et al, are 4 me just "a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to..."
L, you still look YOUNG to me! If you haven't already, you need to next ck out Sierra Madre.
Interesting how all these comments gave birth at Mission Station.
Alright, i gotta get bak 2 work.
What a beautiful town!
This brings back part of my childhood in Temple City, the corner of South Golden West and Woodruff, from about 1962 to 1965. In those days, the air was bad, but the pace was gentle.
Tried to drive down Mission Street at 6:00 yesterday. It's the one time the traffic is like LA! (Farmer's Market!)
It's nice to find these little oases of sanity. "Louis" found Places des Vosges in Paris to be one of those when he lived there.
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