Air Conditioned Adventure Awaits!

The heat has arrived (oh joy). Our house has air conditioning, but when the temperature hits 95, our poor a/c unit struggles. It is better to seek out corporate air conditioning. Plus, Pippa and I go bat shit crazy if we stay inside all day. We also get bored if we frequent the same places over and over (see my Parks Project).

I started a Beat the Heat Cheat Sheet, but then got lazy and never finished it. I'm going to use it myself, but I doubt I will ever polish it to perfection. Instead, I am challenging myself to take Pippa to at least 25 awesome air conditioned places between now and the end of September and keep track of those places here. Without further ado...

1. Magical Playground - 7/5/14. My thoughts on this place are here in my Beat the Heat Cheat Sheet.
2. Petersen Automotive Museum - 7/6/14 - This was a fun place to wander around with Pippa and Nathan. My inner history buff loved the first floor dioramas that showed beautiful old cars in their natural habitats, so to speak. The entire third floor is a play area that Pippa enjoyed. This is definitely the place to bring a child obsessed with cars. Pippa is only mildly interested in cars, so I doubt we will rush back (unless the Model T suddenly replaces her obsession with dogs, monkeys and elephants).
3. IKEA - 7/7/14 - I assumed this would be either (a) an awesome outing or (b) a total fucking disaster. Yay, it was awesome! Pippa would have stayed in the children's section all day if I let her. We did not even have time to wander through the rest of the furniture floor, and Pippa would enjoy scaling the couches and chairs (and I would enjoy soaking up the design inspiration). Bonus: there is a Barnes & Noble across the street from the Burbank IKEA which we will have to make time to visit next time.
4. California Science Center - 7/8/14 - Love this museum! It's free, the adjacent lot is $10. There is so much to see that Pippa and I barely made a dent. We will be back soon soon soon.
5. Kidspace - 7/10/14 - so effin unbelievably awesome

Courtney's Big Ass Parks Project

I love taking Pippa to new parks, but it is so easy to get into a park rut and keep visiting the same two or three parks over and over and over. Then we both get bored and sick of the same effing slides and tunnels. If I visit the same park too frequently, it turns into A Place Where My Happiness Goes To Die. But if we visit an ass shit ton of parks, Pippa and I both have fun and crack up as we run around.

In order to avoid the Park Rut, I'm going to keep track of all the parks I visit. My goal is to visit 100 different parks by the end of the year. (I reserve the right to realize that I'm insane and extend the deadline.)

I thought a lot about whether this list may include indoor playgrounds and decided it may NOT. This is about parks with fresh air and birds. Most of them will involve playgrounds, but the point is to visit new outdoor places.

But I have another list in mind that will include indoor playgrounds.

Parks I Have Visited - Woot Woot!:

1. Singer Park - 7/5/14 - I have driven by this park at least 100 times and always thought that I should take Pippa there. Finally, this morning, I did and it was awesome. From the street, it looked ok, but once we parked and walked over, we could fully appreciate its awesomeness. It's shady in the morning, there are lots of different things to do, plenty of greenery, and there are fences to prevent little ones from bolting into traffic. We will definitely visit this gem again - but not too soon! I don't want to transform it into A Place Where My Happiness Goes to Die.
2. Brookside Park - 7/7/14 - The mother of all Pasadena parks.  There are not one but two playgrounds. Lots of open space for toddler adventures. The Rose Bowl Aquatic Center (which I still haven't visited - someday). And of course, there is Kidspace. Today we went to the Pirate Ship Playground behind the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center. I know I will be tempted to include Brookside Park multiple times on this list since it feels like three different parks but I shall resist temptation!  
3. Memorial Park (the Sierra Madre edition) - 7/9/14 - A small SHADY park. The playground's main structure is simple, but Pippa played happily for 90 minutes.
4. Tournament Park - 7/14/14 (Bastille Day! And my brother's birthday!) - Tons of shade, Pippa wandered around listlessly thanks to some wicked teething; but the park is great so we will be back. I'm sure she will love the slides and sandbox when she is not in pain.
5. Mason Park - 7/15/14 - This was another miserable teething day. I had to drive around to help Pippa fall asleep and then schlepped to Chatsworth because I had read good reviews about this park and figured Pippa deserved a diversion from her gums.  The park is fantastic. Amazing playground, even more amazing splash pad. We shall return when Pippa's gums are not torturing her. Poor girl had zero interest in the splash pad, which is very uncharacteristic of her.
6. Eaton Canyon Natural Area - 7/17/14 - More teething, but since we were having a lovely reprieve from the summer heat, I decided it was time for some Nature. There is a little nature museum with some snakes and bugs in terrariums and turtles outside. There are also a ton of stuffed animals (by stuffed, I mean both "taxidermy" and "cute sewn teddy bears.") There is an easy nature walk, but my teething tot was not interested in walking. Also, there were signs warning about rattlesnakes and recent bear and mountain lion sightings. So yeah, we won't be going back any time soon! (Unless we have daddy to protect us from snakes, bear and lions - oh my!)
7. Vina Vieja Park - 7/20/14 - Another amazing Pasadena park, but this one has a bonus: there's a dog park! Pippa is obsessed with dogs and she loved watching the dogs romp around, and even got to pet a friendly chocolate Labrador; but she had even more fun at the playground. 
8. Victory Park - 7/21/14 - The toddler area is pretty shabby, but I still love this park.  Spectacular views of the mountains, lots of open space, shade, and Pippa loves the big kid playground.
9. Dunsmore Park - 7/21/14 - WOW! Love this place! The playgrounds are fun, clean and safe. There is a ridiculous amount of shade. And during the summer, on Mondays and Thursdays from noon-5, they fill up the little skating rink and turn it into a wading pool. It's FREE and only for kids 8 and younger.
10. Gwinn Park - 7/23/14 - No playground, just a big ass open green space with lots of pretty old trees. Perfect place for picnics, tossing a Frisbee, cloud gazing and letting a toddler explore the world. 

As of mid-July, I have visited seven different parks which means I have 27 weeks to visit 93 parks. That's 3.44 parks/week. Chop chop, I better get a move on!

    11.  Some park in Southampton - first half of August 2014 - Pippa and I spent two weeks in New York and visited the local park many times. We both loved it, especially the ducks. We need to find a local park with feathered friends.

    12.  Garfield Park - 8/16/14 - Love love love! Easy parking. Lots of trees and shade. Great playground for toddlers. The bathrooms REEK of death, despair and diarrhea, but we shall return.

Two weeks in Southampton slowed down this project, but we are back! Watch out parks, here we come!

    13.  Central Park - 8/17/14 - Love! I can't get over how many amazing parks are so close to home. Great playground and bonus, walking distance to Old Town. Win-win.

    14.  Lacy Park - 8/20/14 - Love the new playground but the slides were too hot to use - next time we'll go in the morning. But this park is spectacular. The grounds are so lovely to wander. Also, I saw a Mom Fight.

    15.  San Rafael Park - 8/21/14 - Great playground, tons of shade, but no restroom. And if your bladder is a time bomb like mine, you will appreciate what a liability this is.

This project is fun but ridiculous - how the effity eff am I supposed to visit 100 different parks in six months?? But I love visiting new parks - new people, new playgrounds, new neighborhoods fresh air, nature. So I will soldier on, for shits and giggles, just to see how badly I end up missing the mark.

Courtney's Beat The Heat Cheat Sheet

I love Pasadena, but the summer heat sucks. I'm compiling a list of places I can take Pippa so we can stay cool and still have fun this summer. If you are a regular reader, this is a good post to skip. If you are a stay-at-home mom in Pasadena looking for things to do this summer, welcome!

Libraries: Even though she is only fifteen months old, I signed Pippa up for Pasadena's Summer Reading Program. I'd like to visit all the local libraries with her this summer - except there are so many! Maybe by the end of 2014. Right now, every freaking storytime happens during Pippa's morning nap, but she will not take a morning nap forever and one day, by Jove, we will make it to storytime!

• Central Library - Opens 9 a.m. every day but Sunday.
• Allendale - 1130 South Marengo Avenue Pasadena, CA; Monday-Thursday, 10-6; Fridays 2-6; Saturday, 10-6; closed Sundays.  Preschool storytime Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
• Hastings (our closest branch!) - opens 10 a.m. everyday but Sunday, opens Sunday at 1; preschool storytime at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesdays.
• Hill Avenue -55 South Hill Avenue Pasadena, CA; 10-6, Mon-Thurs, 10-2 Fridays, 10-6 Saturdays, closed Sundays. Preschool storytime Tuesdays at 10:30
• La Pintoresca - 1355 North Raymond Avenue Pasadena, CA  91103 - Mon-Sat, 9-6, closed Sundays. Preschool storytime Thursdays at 10:30.
• Lamanda Park - 140 South Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107 - M-Th, 10-6, Fridays 2-6, Saturdays 10-6, closed Sundays. Preschool storytime Tuesdays at 10:30. Infant and toddler storytime, Thursdays at 10:30.  Family storytime Thursdays at 3:30.
• Linda Vista - 1281 Bryant Street Pasadena, CA 91103 - M-Th, 10-6, F 10-2, Sat 10-6, Sundays closed.
• San Rafael - 1240 Nithsdale Road Pasadena, CA 91105 - M-Th 10-6, F 10-2, Sat 10-6, Sundays closed. Preschool storytime Wednesdays at 11 a.m.
• Santa Catalina - 999 East Washington Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91104 - M-Th 10-6, F 2-6, Sat 10-6, Sundays closed.
• Villa Parke - 363 East Villa Street Pasadena, CA 91101 - M-F, 10-1 and 2-6, Sat 10-2, closed Fridays. Preschool storytime, Tuesdays at 10:30.
• South Pasadena Public Library - 363 East Villa Street Pasadena, CA 91101 - 1100 Oxley Street
  South Pasadena, CA 91030 - M-W, 11-9, Th-F, 10-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. Lots of storytimes. 
• Crowell Public Library - 1890 Huntington Drive, San Marino, 91108 - M-Th, 10-9, Fr-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5.
• La Canada Flintridge Library - 4545 N. Oakwood Ave. La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011. M-W 10-8, Th 10-6, F-Sat 10-5, Sun closed.
• Altadena Main Library - 600 East Mariposa St. - Altadena, CA 91001 - M-Tues, 10-9pm, W-Sat 10-6, Sunday closed.
• Arcadia Public Library - 20 West Duarte Road, Arcadia 91006.  M-Th 10-9, F-Sat 10-6, closed Sundays. 20 West Duarte Road, Arcadia, CA  91006
  20 West Duarte Ro

ad, Arcadia, CA  91006
Indoor Playgrounds: Why didn't I come up with this business model first?

• Magical Playground: Many indoor playgrounds are brightly lit with brand new toys and a cheerful pleasant vibe. Not Magical Playground! The toys must have been purchased at garage sales and the lighting is depressing. But Pippa loves it. There's a big climbing structure with tube slides, moon bounce, play houses, etc. The place wears down her endless toddler energy. We just bought a month long pass from Groupon, so we will be living here until mid-July. Open Play is M-F, 9-6:30 p.m, with some limited playtime on weekends, depending on whether the place is booked for a party or not. Tots under 2 are $7, check website for other pricing info.
• Baby Polka Dot: Our current fave. Pippa plays independently for at least an hour whenever we come here, usually more, and then she plays with me as well. I get to relax and do some writing or read. The floor is cushioned, the toys are clean, and there is a small ball pit with a slide that Pippa adores. I bought two discounted passes in May, so we will be here a ton this summer. M-F, 10-6, sometimes open on the weekends depending on party schedules.
• Amy's Playground: I love this place, and so does Roo. Skylights make the place feel airy and cheerful. Open play, M-Th, 10-6, F 10-5, the place sometimes closes at 3 on Mondays. 2 and under are $7.
• Caterpillar Kids Place: M-Th, 9:30-6, F 9:30-5. Free parking in rear. $12, kids 1-8. Ouch! That's a bit steep, but it's an all day pass. I will certainly check it out at least once. 965 Foothill Blvd., La Canada.
• Peekaboo Playland: Open play M-Th, 10-6, F 10-5. $9 for ages 1 and up. We have never been but definitely going to check this one out soon. Located in Eagle Rock on the corner of Colorado and Maywood Ave. 
• The Awesome Playground:  Open play, M-F 10-6. $8 all day pass. They have water play Fridays from 2-5.  Two hour street parking is available on Avenue 52. All day street parking is available on Lincoln Avenue (one block south of York Blvd.) and Avenue 52 south of Lincoln Ave.  5158 York Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90042. We have never been but this is high on our Must Visit list.
• Jump n Jammin at the mall

Kidspace Children's Museum: Oh, Kidspace! Glorious, glorious Kidspace. We are members and will go here at least once a week all summer long. A lot of the exhibits are outdoors, true, but there is plenty of fun to be had in the air conditioned buildings. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Kidspace is open M-F 9:30-6, weekends 10-5.

The Huntington Library: This is a great place to visit when it is hot but not brutally hot. Pippa loves the children's gardens, especially the fountain areas. She would play there all day until she fell asleep if I let her. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, open 10:30-4 every day except Tuesdays.

California Science Center: Free! Air Conditioned! Free! With Three Play Rooms! And it's free! (Unless you want to see the Endeavour Shuttle or an exhibit.) Open daily, 10-5, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. There is so much to do here. So much. It's a bit of a schlep, but definitely worth the drive.

Natural History Museum: Another worthwhile schlep, although this one costs money. Adults $12, 2 and under free. Open daily 9:30-5. The butterfly pavilion is open all summer, and I hope to visit that soon.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Another free gem for the kiddos. Children 18 and under can become Nexgen members for FREE and each child gets to bring one adult to the museum for FREE. There is a children's gallery where they can paint and make a mess on someone else's floor. (Parents can paint, too!) When Pippa was a pre-crawler, she happily looked at the art. Now she loves to run around and there is plenty of art she is allowed to touch. The best art for tots is outside, so this is good on a hot but not sweltering hot sort of day.

Splash Pads and Water Play: (oh hey, this section is under construction - not certain how close all these places are, so will delete if they are ridiculously far from Pasadena! I know, I'm such an amateur)

• Kidspace (see above) has a splash pad and water table. I always visit Kidspace with a towel and Pippa's swimsuit.
• Dalton Park in Azusa: This is about 15-30 minutes from home, depending on traffic. 18867 E. Armstead Street, Azusa, CA 91702. We have not been yet but from the photos, it looks awesome. Not certain when the splash pad turns on, but there is an adjacent playground.
• Splash Zone in Rosemead: This looks like a 15-20 minute drive from East Pasadena.
• Grand Park in downtown L.A.
• Santa Fe recreation dam
• Park in Alhambra has one
• Santa Monica has one
• The Cove Waterpark in Riverside - Riverside sounds like its on the other side of the moon, but really not that far
• Raging Waters in San Dimas for a fun splurge
• Universal City Walk
• also a water feature now at Universal Studios - could be worthwhile, but a total production to get there
• Garvey Park in Rosemead - how far is that?

More coming soon soon soon! Museums with play rooms! Splash pads! But Pippa just woke up and its cuddle time!

A Walk At Descanso

There are two types of Americans: those who live for Black Friday and those who don't. Nathan and I both fall into the latter category. I don't know what we will be doing today, but it will NOT involve shopping.  

For those of you who are avoiding all retail centers, here are some photos from a walk I recently took at Descanso Gardens. I cannot overstate how much I love Descanso Gardens (or, incidentally, how much I loathe the idea of camping overnight outside a Best Buy to get the latest gadget). I've been at least ten or twelve times, and each time, I discover something new and leave the gardens feeling renewed.

The garden has lots of paths for wandering and loitering. (And I promise, no Black Friday shoppers are lurking behind the trellises. No one is going to trample you in order to reach the discounted iPads!)

During my last visit, I discovered a bird viewing station. I can't believe I had walked past this spot a dozen times and missed the ducks. (I wonder where the ducks will be doing their Black Friday shopping this year. They look like Target devotees.)

I finally managed to take some photos of my beloved San Gabriel Mountains. I see them every day, but they always make me smile. (And the mountains have never punched me in order to get the latest Elmo talking sensation toy.)

 

 

This Model Railroad Is Really Bad Ass

Last Saturday, Nathan and I visited the Pasadena Model Railroad Club's open house. We'd been once before, two or three years ago, so I knew what to expect; and yet I was still blown away by the awesomeness of their model railroad.

First, it's big. The Main line Travels about 1700 feet. What does a 1700 foot model railroad look like? Behold! (If you mutter "holy sh** under your breath, you are not alone.)

It's HUGE. This model railroad is so vast, my camera could not capture the entire thing in a single frame. And look at how many people it takes the operate the trains! Screw the Panama Canal, this bad boy ought to be one of the wonders of the industrial world.

The model railroad is also detailed. Incredibly, painfully and beautifully detailed. I don't know how many times I gasped, grabbed Nathan's arm, and directed his attention to something new.

Here's the main city (lit up for night!):

Here is the railroad yard:

 

Here comes a train out of the tunnel! Choo choo!

 

 

Below is my favorite photo from the model railroad. I love the people standing on the bridge, the people bathing in the river, the trucks parked on the side of the road ... I want to beam myself into this photo and wander around and then give the entire model railroad a big hug.

 

The industrial zone:

If I had to pick a favorite part of the model railroad, I'd probably start to cry. How could anyone pick a favorite spot? It's all so magical! But if you pointed a gun to my head, I'd pick the ski slope. I hate skiing, but I love all the skiers whizzing down the mountain. Only one thing could improve this part of the model railroad: a yeti.

I realize it would be pretty crappy to actually live in a house built next to the tracks, but these houses are just so picturesque. Look at that clothesline! Again, I realize it would be pretty crappy to have to dry all my laundry on a clothesline, but clotheslines are still very photogenic. The members of the Pasadena Model Railroad Club lavished so much love and attention on these tiny details.

As if the model railroad was not cool enough, there were a few Star Wars figurines hiding for visitors to find. Can you spot Yoda below? He's really tiny, standing in front of the cabin. (Yes, my cabin this is.)

Apparently Darth Vader is traveling the countryside by train. I can think of no other viable explanation for why a Stormtrooper is guarding this tunnel:

If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Pasadena Model Railroad Club, I cannot recommend it strongly enough. It kind of makes me want to transform our living room into a model railroad, except then we'd have to baby proof the whole thing in a year when Baby Girl starts crawling and that would be a nightmare. We'll just have to get Baby Girl an ass-kicking baby friendly railroad, like so.

The Fork In The Road

This is my favorite fork in the road, and it's right here in Pasadena:

 



Here is an article describing the fork's origins. It's located at the intersection of Pasadena and St. John's Avenues, very close to the Huntington Hospital.

It makes me smile every time I see it. I think the Rose Parade route should be redirected to pass the fork at least a dozen times. In fact, let's just rename the Rose Parade the Fork in the Road Parade. Instead of floral floats, we can all admire floats constructed entirely from cutlery.

If I ever run for political office in Pasadena, this will be my platform.

Pumpkin Pancakes!

I really, really, really like pumpkin pancakes. A lot.

But can you blame me? I mean seriously, just look at these beauties:

My favorite pumpkin pancakes are at Dish in La Cañada Flintridge. (And they would still be my favorites even if the restaurant did not have the banner, but I must admit, the banner pushes these bad boys over the edge).

Please excuse me: I have to gorge myself on as many pancakes as possible while they are available.

The Wizard of Bras



I'm not making this up. There is actually a store called "The Wizard of Bras." It should be in the Guinness Book of World Records for "Best Store Name in The World" (assuming such a category exists). 

 

I cannot tell you how many times I've driven past this sign. The Wizard of Bras is located in Monrovia, right off the Myrtle Exit on the 210 East. If you are going to Peach Cafe for breakfast from my house, then you get off at this exit. The Peach Cafe makes the best blueberry pancakes in the world, so Nathan and I often find ourselves taking the Myrtle Exit on weekend mornings. And whenever we exit the freeway, I think, I really need to visit the Wizard.

Recently, we have not been frequenting the Peach Cafe as often as we would like. The service is less than stellar. In fact, one could say it sucks. The kitchen is soooo sloooooow. I do not understand why it takes them so long to make an order of pancakes. Are they laying the eggs themselves?

More importantly, the Peach Cafe is always playing the same Beatles album. (It's the one with Rocky Raccoon). At first, it was kind of endearing. Oh, hey Nathan, they are playing that Beatles album again. Now it just makes my skin crawl. Holy effing crapballs, if I hear Rocky Raccoon one more time, I'm going to smash that stereo and then destroy every Beatles album in the Los Angeles area.

But Peach Cafe's blueberry pancakes are magical, so we keep going back. And we keep driving by the sign for the Wizard of Bras.

Sorry for the tangent. I just had to get that off my chest. (Pun intended). Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. 

I needed some new bras recently. I would ordinarily just go to Nordstroms. Although I am cheap about things like t-shirts and jeans, I am a believer in expensive bras. A bra performs a serious job - perhaps the most serious job in a lady's wardrobe - and I find the expensive models perform better. If I'm going to wear a cheap bra, I might as well stab myself in the chest with some rusty wire - because that is what is going to happen when the bra disintegrates. (In Madrid. While sitting on a park bench with my freshmen roommates, if you must know). 

Instead of Nordstroms, I decided it was finally time to pay a visit to the Wizard.

The Wizard of Bras is a unique bra-shopping experience. I wish I had more photos to share, but the entire store is basically the changing area.  Although I sometimes have a potty mouth, I am not about to post photos of ladies in various states of undress, thank you very much.

When you enter the store, you fill out a slip of paper with some basic information. Then a saleswoman leads you to the back. There are a few bras on display, but mostly there are just curtained, individual changing rooms. My saleswoman (name already forgotten, so let's call her Bianca) took my measurements and asked me what I needed. Then, Bianca disappeared to the back room and returned shortly with a few bras for me to try.

Five minutes later, I had two new bras.

Bianca was very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. She also did not to push me into buying more bras than I needed. I wish I remembered her real name so I could give her a shout-out.

The Wizard of Bras is not for everyone. If you like browsing through racks of lingerie, then you should go to Victoria's Secret. But if you are like me, and you get intimidated by racks and racks of possibilities, then the Wizard of Bras is a godsend.

The Wizard of Bras is also not for the painfully shy. I read some Yelp reviews that made it sound like your boobs are on display for the world to see. This is not the case. Every customer tries on her bras in a private, curtained dressing room. But, if you want the benefit of the staff's advice, then you need to expose yourself a little.

I highly recommend the Wizard of Bras to anyone in the Los Angeles area in need of a well-fitted bra. And if you time your trip right, you can stop by the Peach Cafe for blueberry pancakes. (Just remember your ear plugs if you're not in the mood for the Beatles). 

To Bee or Not To Bee?

My apologies for the lame title, but I could not resist. A few weeks ago, I noticed some bees humming around the tree in front of our house. There were just a few bees, so I did not worry about the situation. However, one of my neighbors called the City of Pasadena, and a person from the Department of Health did this to the front of my house: 

The bees themselves have not caused any trouble; but the red tape has prompted screams from teenage girls and sent neighbors running across the street. I realize the City was trying to prevent bee stings with the red tape, but I think they are just daring little boys to throw rocks at the tree until a swarm of bee descends upon my neighborhood like a Biblical plague.

A few days after the tape went up, the Bee Guy arrived:

It's hard to tell in the photo, but the Bee Guy basically stuck a vacuum cleaner in the tree to suck out the bees. This made the bees VERY ANXIOUS, ANGRY AND ANNOYED. Before the Bee Guy arrived, I had seen, at most, five or six bees hovering around the tree. Now dozens of bees were circulating the tree and having a collective nervous breakdown. I went outside for a better photo, but the Bee Guy shouted at me to get back inside. The honey badger might not care about getting stung by bees, but I do; so I watched the proceedings from the safety of my living room.

Poor bees! They just wanted to pollinate the flowers and make delicious honey! Why did we have to destroy their hive? If the City of Pasadena is going to kill all the bees, I guess we might as well outlaw flowers, sunshine, laughter and unicorns.

p.s. This probably does not need to be said, but I obviously need a beekeeper suit (or at least the beekeeper mask - very bad ass).

The Norton Simon Museum

I became a member of the Norton Simon Museum last week.  The art collection at the Norton Simon is just ridiculous.  I usually get sucked into the twentieth century gallery, with its Van Goghs, Picassos and Degas sculptures, but the other galleries are equally impressive. 

I joined the museum so I can stop by for a brief visit whenever I'm in the neighborhood and not feel guilty.  When I pay for my admission, I feel like I'm supposed to look at as much art as possible.  But I prefer my art in short doses.  After about forty-five minutes, my eyes start to glaze over and my brain screams, "No more!  No more!  Let's play the Wii!"  

With my membership, I can dip into a gallery or two, look at a handful of paintings and then sit on a bench and people watch.  Museums are one of the best place for people watching.  If the weather's nice, I can amble around the lily pad garden before I go home.

Okay, okay.  Technically, it's a sculpture garden, but we all know lily pads are way cooler than any sculpture.  I thought I saw some tadpoles swimming in the water, so maybe there will be frogs at a future visit.

Figure, Jacques Lipchitz, 1926-1930



p.s. Isn't this sculpture amazing?  The creature looks painfully shy and nervous, like he's trying to hide from the museum patrons.  I want to be his friend.  Maybe if I bring him some chocolate covered raisins, he'll calm down a little.   

Lunch at Santa Anita

We had lunch at Santa Anita, a.k.a. The Great Race Place, on Sunday.  This is the view we had from our table:

Look at those mountains!  And clouds!  And the horses!  The Santa Anita race track was built on one of the most beautiful spots on Earth, and after a few rainy days, the mountains were showing off how pretty they are.  

Do you see the horse at the back of the pack?  The one that looks like it's out for a morning jog and doesn't realize it's supposed to be running as fast as possible?  Yeah, I bet on that pig.  (Le sigh).

As we left the restaurant, we rode in the elevator with the Santa Anita bugler.  He serenaded us, bringing new meaning to the phrase "elevator music."  We had already had a great day at the track, but this was the perfect finish. 

I wonder what the bugler's hourly rate is.  If I ever have an entourage, I clearly need this bugler for some extra flair.

Breakfast at Clocker's Corner

We had breakfast this weekend at Clocker's Corner at the Santa Anita racetrack.  It's like two activities for the price of one: (1) you get to have a relatively nice restaurant breakfast; and (2) it's a trip to the racetrack, minus the betting. 

The breakfast seating is right next to the racetrack.  It is quite a scene.  I don't know what is more interesting to watch: the horses or the people.  The horses race around the track, alone or in pairs.  They gallop, canter, trot, walk and move at every speed in between.  I could watch the horses for hours. 

As for the breakfast crowd, there are jockeys, trainers, owners, reporters and professional gamblers.  The jockeys are so small, and they wear their riding helmets even when they are mingling with the trainers and owners.  As for everyone else, there are a lot of interesting mustaches and hats.  Some people are dressed up, as if the Kentucky Derby is running that day; more people are grisled and look like they have led hard, hard lives.

This past Saturday morning, it was foggy.  Usually, the San Gabriel Mountains watch over the racetrack, but the fog concealed the mountains entirely.  Horses are beautiful to watch, and Nathan gave me a Flip video camera for Christmas - so I filmed some footage.  If you want to experience breakfast at Clocker's Corner, just pour yourself a cup of coffee, fry some bacon and watch the video on repeat.  (The video is just 25 seconds long, so you will probably have it memorized by your third sip of coffee).

Skip the Parade; Admire the Floats

I like all of the elements of the parade, especially the bands and floats, but the whole parade experience sucks.  You have to arrive early if you want a good view; but no matter how early you arrive, someone will block your view.  Vendors are selling vuvuzelas, aka the devil's favorite musical instrument, so you get to spend the entire day listening to the sounds of a dying elephant.  And if you have to go to the bathroom, may God have mercy on your soul.

Wouldn't it make much more sense for the parade to just stay in one place for a few hours?  Then, you could see and listen to everything at your own pace, just like at a museum.   

After the Rose Parade, the floats are displayed for 1.5 days at the end of the parade route.  It's like an outdoor museum, and it eliminates the evils of actually attending the Rose Parade.  I walked over this morning and discovered that if you subtract the vuvuzelas, I actually love the Rose Parade floats.  

I love dinosaurs, so this is my favorite float.  End of discussion.

I was a Girl Scout, and the Girl Scout float makes
 me want to earn another merit badge.

 Volunteers wearing white suits and red ties guard the floats.  I know

what you are thinking and I agree: I need to dress like this every day.

My internet connection is acting like it's 1997, so I'll post more photos later.  

Ah, The Rose Parade

My neighborhood is under siege.  The Rose Parade route passes within a block of my house, so my neighborhood is a parking lot for the parade.  The situation is pretty bleak.  For example, I hope the owner of this car is not planning to leave the parade early:   

I walked over and watched the parade for about three minutes - and those are three minutes of my life that I will never get back.   

As a Pasadena resident who can hear the Rose Parade from her living room, I feel like I am morally obligated to love the pageantry.  But I must be missing a Parade Lovers Gene, because I just can't get excited about a a rocket ship made from daffodils.  Sorry, Pasadena - I love you, but your parade is pretty lame.   

Scavenger Hunt: The Rose Parade Edition

First, a Public Service Announcement: Pasadena's Rose Parade is January 2, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. PST.  Wait, what?  Isn't it supposed to be on New Years Day?  Did somebody reschedule New Years Day?  No, silly, New Years Day is still on January 1, 2012.  But the Rose Parade is never held on a Sunday, so this year, it has been pushed to Monday, January 2.  (Long ago, God struck a deal with Pasadena).

Part of me loves the Rose Parade.  They make floats out of flowers!  How cool is that?  But parades are slow and tedious.  When I go to a parade, I always pick the wrong spot: the floats speed by, and the bands linger.  I end up hearing a marching band's rendition of the Macarena five or six times but only see each float for approximately 0.7 seconds. 

Lucky for me, I live within walking distance of the Rose Parade.  Rather than camp out all night and stand in one spot for the entire parade, I just walk along the route.  If there's something I want to admire, I stop and look.  I don't see everything, but I see enough.

But I realize some of you are committed to watching the entire parade.  In that case, I recommend playing a scavenger hunt to pass the time.  This is not the sort of game that involves knocking on neighbors' doors and collecting weird items.  This is a game where you just look for "moments" and "sights."  You can play alone, with friends or even with your worst enemy. 

If you are watching the 2012 Rose Parade, try to find:

• A skittish horse about to throw its rider.
• A marching band from a city you have never heard of.
• A vendor selling cotton candy and wearing an absurd hat.  (Last year, the vendors by my house were wearing hats that looked like panda heads).
• A person riding on a float who looks bored.  (Bonus points if she's a member of the Rose Court).
• A vehicle in distress - e.g. moving erratically, not moving at all, etc.
• A child asking his parents why the parade is so boring.
• A float that looks like one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
• A tuba player on the verge of a heart attack.
• A float with a message/theme that makes no sense - e.g. "The Humble Water Tree Unites The World" or "Let's Be Jubilant and Weep."
• A float that makes children cry.
• A float that is bigger than your house.
• A marching band that makes you want to stand up and dance.
• A marching band that makes you want to leave the country and avoid parades for the rest of your life.
• An extended family that has been camping along the parade route for several days.  Bonus points if they have installed a couch on the roof of their RV.
• Onlookers watching the parade from a precarious position, e.g. children sitting on collapsible lawn chairs on the slanted roof of a house.  Which I actually saw last year (and briefly, thought about alerting the authorities).
• A lost car trying to drive across the parade route. 
• A police officer ready to defend the parade's integrity with his dying breath.
• A pizza being delivered to someone watching the parade.  Bonus points if you ordered the pizza yourself.
• Onlookers who seriously misjudged the weather. 
• Cheerleaders who are entirely too excited about the fact that they are in a parade.

Pasadena's Greatest Hits List For Rose Bowl And Rose Parade Tourists

To all of the Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers fans who have traveled to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl: Welcome!  Pasadena is a great city, and I hope you enjoy your visit.

To all of the tourists from distance parts who have traveled to Pasadena for the sole purpose of camping in the streets and watching the Rose Parade: Seriously?  It's a parade.  You can watch it on t.v. It's broadcast on multiple channels!  Outside, it's cold, crowded and the bathroom set-up is questionable.  Inside, it's warm, comfortable and if the bathroom is questionable, that's your own damn fault.  But you're here, so I guess you must really like parades.  In which case, you have come to the right town!  Welcome (and please do not park your car on my front lawn). 

For all of the tourists who are descending upon the city, I thought I'd compile a list of Pasadena's Greatest Hits.  Enjoy!

Things to Do:

• If you liked the movie Sea Biscuit, go to Santa Anita Park, a historic and beautiful race track.  You can bet on the horses or just admire the grounds.  I promise, you will feel like you time traveled to the 1930s.  If you've never bet on a horse race before, here's my super secret tip: just pick the horse with the best name.  (And yes, I started my list with a place in Arcadia, but Arcadia is Pasadena-adjacent).   
• Go shopping in Old Town Pasadena.  It has all of the stores you expect to find at a good mall, like Banana Republic and Pottery Barn, but it has the charm of an old Main Street.  There are tons of restaurants, and many of the restaurants have outdoor seating.  If you want a cup of coffee while you are shopping, go to the Starbucks at the Barnes & Noble and ask for a cup from the Clover Brewer.  Trust me.
• If you are traveling with small children, I understand you should take them to Kidspace Children's Museum.  I have never been, but my friends with little ones claim it is the place to visit.  So there's that.

Museums and Gardens:

• The Huntington is a beautiful old mansion turned into an art museum with spectacular gardens.  (Warning: the gardens were damaged during Pasadena's recent wind storms).
• The Norton Simon is a small but excellent art museum with a sculpture garden and lots of paintings from the Impressionists (think Degas and Van Gogh). 
• Descanso Gardens are just a 10-15 minute drive from Old Town Pasadena, but it feels like another world.  In thirty minutes, you can wander through a formal rose garden, a Japanese garden (with bridges over a koi pond) and an oak forest.  There's a small train for the kiddies.   

Breakfast Spots:

• Green Street Restaurant: The zucchini bread is a must.  They make my favorite egg dishes.
• Russell's: A good restaurant with good breakfast in Old Town.
• The Terrace at the Langham: If you are interested in an upscale ($$$) breakfast in a beautiful setting, this is the place.  The Langham is the best hotel in Pasadena, and the grounds are lovely.  If you watch Mad Men, Don Draper had cocktails at the Langham's bar during the California episodes.  (When the UCLA Bruins are playing at home at the Rose Bowl, the football players stay at the Langham.  If you are a Ducks or Badgers fan, maybe your players are staying here as well).

Mmm, Hamburgers:

• In-N-Out: This is California's hamburger chain restaurant, and the burgers are delicious.  Warning: the location on Foothill just has a few outdoor tables.  I recommend the drive-thru.
• The Counter: A nice restaurant with gourmet burgers.  Warning: the website plays loud music!
• Super Burger: This is a hamburger stand with al fresco dining.  (By "al fresco," I mean you will be sitting next to a busy street, across from an old gas station, and surrounded by fearless pigeons).  The ambiance is best described as "rough."  But the cheeseburgers and fries are excellent.  If you are the sort of person who is always searching for the best burger, go here.

Mexican Restaurants:

• El Cholo is a Los Angeles institution.  This is the place for margaritas, guacamole and fajitas.  (Note: there are multiple El Cholo's in Los Angeles County, but there is some family drama, so the Pasadena location has its own website.  You have to google Pasadena El Cholo or just click the link I provided).
• Chiquita Bonita has no ambiance. But the food is amazing.  If you are looking for cheap but delicious and filling Mexican food that will leave you in a coma for the next week, this is your place.

And In Its Own Category, I've Saved the Best for Last:

• Pie N Burger: This is the best pie in the universe.  During your visit, you should probably just skip regular meals and eat pie all day.  Especially the boysenberry. 

Pie n' Burger; Or, This Is The Pie They Serve In Heaven

Would you take a look at this pie? I mean, seriously, pie this beautiful should not be legal, but apparently it is, and you can buy it by the slice at Pie n' Burger in Pasadena, California.



If you like pie (and who doesn't?) and you are within driving range of Pasadena, then you must visit Pie n' Burger.  And if you love pie, then just get on a plane and come here tomorrow.

If you are going to visit Pie n' Burger, I recommend two strategies:

1. Arrive around 8:45 p.m. and order a slice of boysenberry pie with ice cream. You will be tempted by the other selections - which are admittedly all excellent - but if you know what is good for you, you will order the boysenberry pie.

2. Go for lunch or dinner but at a weird hour (like 2:30 for lunch, or 4:47 for dinner). Sit at the counter with your date, friend, etc. Order ONE patty melt and ONE order of fries - this is all you need. Do not finish the fries because you have to save room for dessert. Then, order a slice of boysenberry pie with ice cream (see #1, above). When the waitress asks, "Just one slice for the two of you?" give her your best look of horror/shock/confusion/disbelief. Then, calmly explain, "No, we would each like a slice of pie; two slices of boysenberry pie. Please." This is important. If you try to share a slice of boysenberry pie, someone is bound to get "accidentally" stabbed with a fork.

 

The Santa Stump

I know I have been blogging like a broken record about the Santa Ana wind storm (aka Windocalypse) that hit my neighborhood last week.  And I'm going to try to stop blogging about all the fallen trees.  But I just had to share this photo:

Someone put a Santa hat on a stump.  How awesome is that?  Talk about making the best of a bad situation.

Now I want to buy some cheap Santa hats and put them in random places to make people smile.  Do you think it's a federal offense to put a Santa hat on a mailbox? 

Happy Holidays, Natural Disaster Style

Last week, the Santa Ana winds tore through Pasadena and kicked the crap out of my neighborhood.  It was a natural disaster in a major city, but the media treated it like a bad traffic jam.  They did not even try to give the storm a cool name, like Windocalypse or Stormy.  

You know why the media basically ignored Windocalpyse?  Because it hit suddenly and with unexpected intensity - so the media did not get a chance to go into pre-storm panic mode and predict The Coming of the End of Days.  And, fortunately, no one died - so the media did not get to speculate about the death toll.  Who wants to report on power outages and fallen trees?  BORING.

But Windocalypse was a natural disaster, and it caused a lot of damage.  Thousands lost power for days.  In Pasadena, more than 400 trees fell, landing on houses, fences and cars.  The streets were literally dammed with trees, as if hoards of devil beavers had attacked Pasadena during the night.  

The City of Pasadena has done a five star job cleaning up the mess.  My only complaint is that I have forfeited my right to complain about the City (and come on, who doesn't like to complain about the government?)  

While I was taking a walk in my neighborhood this weekend, I saw this holiday sign:

Let's just zoom in on the sign:

My neighbors lost their white picket fence during the storm, and now they are wishing everyone "Happy Holidays."  Or are there?

I cannot decipher the intended tone for this message.  Do the owners mean "happy holidays" as in "let's hang the stockings, drink some egg nog and count our blessings - we're so lucky we just lost this old fence"?  Or, do they mean "happy holidays" as in "we maxed out our credit cards on Black Friday, Grandma Edith started drinking again during the storm, we forgot to renew our homeowner's policy last month, so Santa can take our picket fence and shove it up his you-know-what"?

My Inner Cynic tells me it's the latter.  But, in the spirit of the season, I've decided it must be the former.  Maybe Santa will bring them a new picket fence for Christmas.

Pasadena Santa Ana Wind Storm, Part Three

I would like to thank the City of Pasadena for its swift response to the damage caused by last night's Santa Ana wind storm.  I have been listening to the musical stylings of chainsaws all afternoon as clean-up crews attack the fallen trees.  I cannot imagine how long it will take to clear all of the debris, but it seems like the City effectively triaged the situation.

I would also like to commend my postman, who is still delivering the mail, despite the fact that half of the blocks in my neighborhood are impassable.  Benjamin Franklin, the first United States General Postmaster, would be proud:

And finally, as I wrap up these storm posts, my thoughts and prayers are with my neighbors who suffered serious damage to their homes and personal property.

It's only 2011, but I hope this was Pasadena's "Storm of the Century."