Glimpses of South Pasadena: Connected

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Connected

"We never grow tired of each other, the mountain and I."

--Li Bai (701-762)

18 comments:

Brian Shumake said...: Good Saturday morning!!! The quote explains why I never get tired of looking at the same scenery as well!!! Hey, Laurie, we in Mission District are trying to save a 40 foot Camphor tree from new construction...care to take a picture? It is on Meridian, the west side, just south of El Centro? It just may help our cause! And there's always a cause...isn't there? Brian Shumake; August 6, 2011 at 5:53 AM
Laurie Allee said...: Brian, please email me about this. I'm very interested in knowing more. (Email is on the right side panel of this blog!); August 6, 2011 at 11:54 AM
San Diego Farmgirl said...: Great view!; August 6, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Judy Williams said...: Barbra Streisand singing "On a Clear Day" just popped RIGHT into my head.

Your quote is so nice. It made me smile. :); August 6, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Shanna said...: And I never get tired of clouds. Those are some really nice ones!; August 6, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Mister Earl said...: I believe the building Brian is talking about will replace the little house that has been a vets office. Very old house. The neighbors in the new lofts next door are not happy about this building either, I've heard.

Stopped by the Dumpling truck today. They don't understand how the city can issue them a business permit and then ticket them. I don't either. I keep thinking South Pasadena is a Wonderland... as in Alice in Wonderland.; August 6, 2011 at 2:39 PM
Dixie Jane said...: c'est magnifique! Oh, I do love this so much.; August 6, 2011 at 6:46 PM
Cafe Pasadena said...: Poor Dump Truck. I meant, Dumpling Truck. Cities sometimes make me wonder.; August 6, 2011 at 8:35 PM
Trish said...: I'd recognize those trees on the left anywhere. Beautiful view!

but of course, now I'm ROTFLMAO over the "Dump Truck".; August 6, 2011 at 10:21 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Mister E, I am sure it's the tree behind the former animal hospital. Brian, let me know what is being done to protest and I'll help. I don't know details.

Ah, the dumpling truck situation. I've avoided discussing it here because I find it to be one of those WONDERFUL first world problems to have. In other words, if we have time to bitch about food trucks in this economy, at a time when 1 in 7 Americans are on food stamps and the unemployment rate is at all time highs ... then we are really, really lucky.

Or maybe just spoiled rotten with no real problems to complain about.

In other words, it's a non-issue to me. Maybe it's because I assume cities are places where we as individuals don't get to art-direct activities in public places to suit our own, personal preferences. Food trucks, in my opinion, are part of a city landscape, they're licensed and people enjoy the food. As far as I can tell, they're never going to replace our city's restaurants and there is no way the free market would allow more than a couple at a time because they wouldn't sell enough food to survive even if they could all get licences. South Pas is not in danger of becoming a local food court.

So, the whole "controversy" gets a big, fat WHATEVER from me.

And yes, I'd still feel this way if one parked in front of my house. (Just please, put something gluten-free on the menu so I can order.)

Thanks, as always, for the great comments, everyone.; August 6, 2011 at 10:25 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Just realized I posted the previous comment with typos. Oh well.

I know the food truck subject is a hot-button issue and I welcome all opinions.

Thanks again, gang.; August 6, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Well said above, Laurie. It's a weird thing for some vocal cranks to get hot and bothered about. Starving Somalians would sure like these kinds of problems.

Jason; August 6, 2011 at 10:36 PM
Mister Earl said...: The food truck is not a real issue to me, either. I've never patronized one. The issue with the Dumpling Truck is only of interest to me as an example of the way the city functions and the way some people are reacting to it.; August 7, 2011 at 5:19 AM
Pasadena Adjacent said...: That was Peoples vet. I love that little building. Like the lofts weren't enough of a bad idea; August 7, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Trish said...: the food truck revolution may not seem huge in SoPas, but there's a few issues. One of which is the City is issuing licenses, then directing the Police to ticket them for doing exactly what they said they'd do. It's a liability for the City, that may come to another expensive head if a truck decides to hire a lawyer.

Secondly, the trucks won't close the restaurants, any more than HiLife would draw people away from Gus' or Shiro.

Thirdly, there is a huge movement in NorCal food trucks, ala some of the LA truck fests. It can be 1 truck, it can be a handful, it can be 10-15. An agreement with the town or city is usually in order and it nets the city a) money, b) goodwill and c) people visiting who would not ordinarily visit (in a good way) who also tend to hang around and spend MORE money in town---maybe not the first time, but on their next trip.

I was never a food truck person (except in high school when we didn't have a cafeteria) and never thought it would appeal to me as I hate crowds. I gave it try once and could *not* stop eating. A taco from this place, a taco from another, ribs from another, silog from another (a first for me) and noodles from yet another. All a few bites worth, a few dollars each.

As with the farmer's market, I could see trucks lining Meridian, or in the old El Centro school parking lot, or ringing around the library---for an event---not just as a "show up whenever you want".

Win-win situation, if the City does it right. But from the sounds of it, they've done a pretty good job of hosing up most things that seem to be good for the town.; August 7, 2011 at 4:56 PM
Anonymous said...: I keep hearing about food trucks in So Pas. Where are they?; August 7, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Mister Earl said...: Dumpling Station is at Garfield Park, parked on Mission near Marengo on Saturday afternoon, and also on Sunday when a band is there.; August 7, 2011 at 9:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Yep, a picture like that sums up my fondest memories of that place.

Nice catch.; August 8, 2011 at 4:31 PM