One of the things I love the most about my 116-year-old house is the large beveled mirror above the mahogany built-in. There are a few dings in the frame, but the mirror is crystal clear, and the bank of nearby windows offers the kind of soft-glow lighting that makes every day a good hair day. In the century since my home was built, a lot of people have looked at themselves in that mirror.
So how, exactly, has South Pasadena's reflection changed?
It's hard not to get caught up in the horrors of recent news. I find my solace and inspiration in the ever-changing sky. Clouds part. Darkness turns to light.
And for a few brief moments every day, it's magic hour.
Want to leave a comment? (Come on. Don't be shy. I can see you thinking about it...) Head over to the Glimpses of South Pasadena Community Forum and start a conversation. (Or just say hello!)
The Los Angeles region doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to preserving landmarks. Despite the efforts of dedicated preservationists, many architectural wonders have been lost to the wrecking ball. The Richfield Tower, The Brown Derby, The Garden of Allah, and The Ambassador Hotel are just a few of the historic structures that have been demolished in the name of progress. (Many South Pasadena residents were worried that our very own Rialto Theater would meet the same fate. Luckily, for now, that disaster seems to be averted.)
You won't find points of interest once the last art deco tile or Spanish arch has been hauled off to a landfill -- a parking lot here, a nondescript office building there. What's left behind is a creeping blight of utilitarian sameness that has earned Los Angeles the title of "Strip Mall Capital of the World." We've gained a lot of dry cleaners and nail salons, but we've lost a lot of our history and perhaps more than a little of our soul.
Buckle up, vintage car afficionados, and take a sweet ride in the South Pas 4th of July Parade
From the 7:00AM Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast to the 9:00PM South Pasadena High School Fireworks Show, July 4th in South Pasadena is jam-packed with all-American, small town goodness. There are many great things about the day's events, but I'm partial to the parade. (It starts at 11:00AM downtown on Mission Street.) Take a look at my video above for a vintage car lover's dream array of sweet rides, all gussied-up-for-the-4th.
Click here for a complete schedule of all the activities.
The only thing better than watching the parade is marching in it!
In December of 2007, after many years on the west side of Los Angeles (and at least a third of those years spent stuck in traffic on Pico Boulevard) my family settled into a happy little house in South Pasadena. This daily blog covered almost 5 years as I put down roots in my new home town -- and almost 5 more as I settled in and became a South Pas old-timer.
You can always find the blog at its original address:
Question Style Authority! Check out my style blog archive for those who wear what they want, not what they're told. Timeless looks, ethical style, fashion history, curated picks and more.
my multimedia column archive: Views from the Front Porch
Published at Patch.
Elsewhere...
Thank you Charlie's Coffee House for hosting my photo exhibit, South Pas: Observed. From October 2011 through January 2012 my pictures graced the walls of the best place in town to get a cup of coffee!
Read the nifty story on photo bloggers Petrea Burchard, Ben Wideman, Kat Likkel and little old me featured in the September, 2011 issue of Pasadena Magazine.
Some posts on this blog include recommendations with affiliate links to Amazon. What does that mean? If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, Glimpses of South Pasadena receives a small commission from the sale at no extra cost to you.
