Settings: Part 30

It's no wonder South Pas acts as a backlot for Hollywood. Not only does our city play a recurring role in film and television as America's hometown, but at ten minutes from downtown Los Angeles it still has a few unpaved rural pockets like this one. So... (you all know what's coming) if you were going to set a scene for a movie here, what would happen?

Just Guessing (Part 2)

It was still quite light out of doors, but inside with the curtains drawn and the smouldering fire sending out a dim, uncertain glow, the room was full of deep shadows.

--Kate Chopin

Remnants of the Raymond

If you drive around Raymond Hill today you might not notice this broken bit of river rock wall lining several of the streets. The quiet stretch of stone is all that remains of the world famous Raymond Hotel. At the turn of the last century wealthy patrons were shuttled to their grand hilltop accommodations via an elaborate underground subway tunnel and elevator -- the only hotel entrance of its kind in America. After checking out the posh digs, the guests could admire the 19 foot ceilings of the dining room, play golf or hike around the Raymond's extensive garden pathways. If they made it to this stone wall they could survey the vast flower fields which grew around the base of the property. Those flowers added to the Raymond's cachet. The hotel was hyped around the world as a floral "paradise on earth", with fresh cut flowers placed daily around the hotel and in all the rooms -- even during winter months.

I always look to see if there is an errant poppy or snapdragon blooming near the wall now -- more subtle reminders of what was once there.

Suburban Citadel

Monterey Hills is a time capsule of mid century through eighties architecture -- a great counterpoint to all of the classic Craftsman, Victorian, Tudor and Spanish homes found around the rest of town. In fact, if I didn't already know that the Brady Bunch house was in Studio City, I would swear you could find it somewhere in the Altos.

I've heard of a man's home being his castle but this place seems more like a fortress. (A 1960s fortress where the guys from Dragnet might pull up for a stakeout...) Even so, I just love the way those beams cast sharp, pretty shadows in the afternoon sunlight.

Another Sunset Along the Arroyo...

...no two are ever the same.

Hands Full

Been trying to juggle too many things lately? Yeah, me too. This guy from the recent South Pasadena Fourth of July Parade makes it look so easy!

How hot was it?

It was so hot even the lemonade stand proprietors packed it up early and headed for the comfort of Popsicles and air conditioning.

Frozen margaritas, anyone?

The heatwave continues...

Rainbow at Dusk

Sweltering heat and increased humidity combined to create a lovely sky surprise last night.

Or bats?

I'll admit, I always look up at the belfry of St. James Church to see if I can spot Quasimodo or Scottie Ferguson lurking on those mysterious wooden stairs.

I've seen too many movies.

Hoofing It

With two local stables (and a little girl who squeals like Christmas morning every time she sees a scene like this one) it's easy to envision a horse in my family's future. While nearby rush hour drivers fight freeway squall, here a few riders meander along the Arroyo with a peaceful clip-clop. Say what you will about Los Angeles and its car culture. In this neck of the woods the horses get the right of way.

like a changing dream

But then the sunset smiled,
Smiled once and turned toward dark,
Above the distant, wavering line of trees that filed
Along the horizon's edge;
Like hooded monks that hark
Through evening air
The call to prayer;--
Smiled once, and faded slow, slow, slow away;
When, like a changing dream, the long cloud-wedge,
Brown-gray,
Grew saffron underneath, and ere I knew,
The interspace, green-blue--
The whole, illimitable, western, skyey shore,
The tender, human, silent sunset smiled once more.

--Richard Watson Gilder