Noir Week (#4)

Yeah, South Pasadena's 4th of July Parade is about as homespun as apple pie and Andy Griffeth. But just look at the parade route at night...

I'm having fun with Noir Week this week, everyone. Join me as I go crazy with black and white.

Noir Week (#3)

“It seemed like a nice neighborhood to have bad habits in.”
― Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep

Noir Week continues here at Glimpses. Join me as I lurk around in the shadows for a few more days.

Noir Week (#2)

It's always the most innocent looking ones that you have to look out for: the sweet girl next door with something to hide, the devoted wife with a big secret...

This lovely lady looks like she's up to something. Is that a small pistol in her hand?!!

(Actually, she's my sister Judy, and she's just texting her son from my office.)

Welcome to another day of Noir Week where I play around with shadows and light. (And let my imagination run wild.)

Noir Week (#1)

Mayberry's dark side? Well, maybe I'm stretching a bit. (Especially here at Charlie's. The only thing dark about my favorite coffee house is the fresh roasted coffee brewing daily.)

It's Noir Week here at Glimpses. Join me as I pretend I'm John Alton for a few days...

Priorities

If there was ever a question about whether South Pasadena loves its trees, let this homestead offer up a hearty affirmative. For generations, homeowners have allowed the front yard tree to have its way with the lot -- front door be damned!

I've featured this home before, but I haven't quite captured the whimsy of it. I mean honestly ... that tree!

Steampunk Border

People throw around the term steampunk, but just below Raymond Hill's north side is a great example of the real deal. Pasadena's Department of Water and Power Glenarm Steam Plant was built 104 years ago when our region was just finding its industrial groove. You've probably admired the elegant Depression-era fountain and iconic building at the very border of South Pasadena.

Now under the umbrella of Pasadena's Integrated Resource Plan, the Glenarm Power Plant is slotted for updates and renovations, while supposedly preserving the historic integrity of the buildings and fountain. (That fountain was designed to function as the cooling tower for the generating equipment. How's that for an example of bygone ingenuity?)

Caption This Photo (#91)

Anyone?

Just Next Door...

San Marino may be the official city of the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, but South Pasadena is so close it feels like our very own backyard garden.

Our very own biiiiiiig backyard garden!

It only takes me about ten minutes to drive there, but once inside it's like being transported to another dimension.

Summer butterflies are fully aflutter in the Rose Garden, the sunflowers are about to bloom in the Children's Garden and the orchids are peeking out among the rocks in the recently renovated Japanese Garden.

I think the name should be changed to The Huntington Oasis.

South Pasadena Fourth of July Festival of Balloons

There is no way that anyone in South Pasadena could possibly be reading this blog post right now ... because half the town is in the parade and the other half is watching it!

Start early with the 7:00AM Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast at the fire station, watch the parade starting at 1100AM on Mission and end the day with fireworks at 9:00PM at the high school. For full details on all the day's events, locations and times: click here.

Skateboarding To The Beat of a Different Drummer

Right on!

With Feathers

Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

--Emily Dickinson

Chimney

"Mommy, all I know is that if I were Santa I'd hope this family was on the naughty list. Just look at that chimney. It's impossible!"

(Today is the first day of the month and that means it's Theme Day for participating City Daily photo bloggers. Today's theme is Chimneys. For a look at some of Santa's other worldwide choices, see the contributions of my fellow bloggers. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.)