The Year in Review

In 2011 we occasionally stepped beyond the rosy boundaries of Pasadena to recognize the fact there are some things outside of Pasadena which also deserve respect & honor. Here are two examples…

 

Just across our city line is the unique Pasadena Waldorf School and their wonderful annual ELVES FAIRE!

 

And, naturally, Pasadena & Los Angeles have had a close relationship throughout their history, especially through this special place that’s STILL THE ONE.

 

I recommend you also check out these fine places of learning in this new year!

 

 

Gotta Get Going! Stay Thirsty My Friends

An Altadena Holiday

 

Every month of the year in the USA we have some major holiday. A time to party, to take off work, or spend and get in more debt and just be unproductive. Hmmm, maybe that’s one reason why our economy is suffering.

In October I was visiting friends who own an elegant old craftsman home in north Altadena around Halloween time. They told me to check out another special house nearby, around the corner. So I did…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was beginning to feel kinda uncomfortable in this part of Altadena. But they had a welcoming committee to assure visitors everything was gonna be alright. Right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One part of the economy apparently doing good business in these parts.

 

 

 

 

The county is always wrestling with Altadena, like with a wild child, on what they are and aren’t permitted to do.  They have to enter at their own risk.

 

 

 

 

Nobody would believe the horrific things I saw if I didn’t bring back these photos for y’all to see!!

 

 

 

So that’s what I found. I’m glad I was able to return safely with this report to y’all. But you, you be careful when you drive in this unincorporated part of the county, north of the Altadena golf course. You never know what lies just around the corner.

 

 

Gotta Get Out of Here! Stay Thirsty My Friends

Pasadena Waldorf School

My good blogging buddy, TR the AltadenaBlogger, did some good work in mentioning the Waldorf School in his newspaper column this past Sunday.  Which reminded me of something…looking for something to do this weekend? I have you locals covered for Saturday.

A beautiful young lady from Pasadena with a wonderful old house, and talented youngsters, also wanted me to mention this special community event dear to her heart.  What is it??  You old timers probably already know. But for those of you not so old…

 

The 26th Annual Elves’ Faire!!

 

Presented by the Waldorf School of Pasadena. It only comes around once a year – the week before Thanksgiving.

What is it?  Basically the Elves’ Faire turns the school grounds into a medieval faire grounds! Fun & games, food, shopping, entertainment, and the Silent Auction of all sorts of wonderful donated items!! Something for every kid from junior to senior citizen!  The school uses this annual event as a fundraiser mainly to assist with students tuition.

 

 

When?  This Saturday from 10am – 4pm!

How much?  Well, admission is FREE. But if you really want to get into the fun & games, food, holiday gifts, prize drawings, & much more if you choose, you’ll have to take out your dollar bills. But once you see what is waiting for you, you’ll say this is a good deal! Like the super Silent Auction!

You can bid for items created by the parents & students such as clothing & shawls; services donated by local businesses such as massage, facials; gift cards/certificates to restaurants for example, consultations, tickets/passes to events, and so on! This is just a fraction of the hundreds of items donated on behalf of the Waldorf.

Where is it?  Waldorf School of Pasadena, of course…Wait a second! Ok, for those who love even more questions I have a little something for you below! Phone number, links, address, etc:

 

 

 

The Pasadena Waldorf School offers a developmental and experiential education in which the arts & relationships are fully integrated for children Preschool through Grade 8 on a historic (ye olde William A. Scripps estate) wooded campus.  Although it’s Pasadena’s Waldorf School, it’s located just across the border in Altadena and the student come from the Greater Pasadena & L.A. area.  The Waldorf School will expand in Fall 2012 to include a high school!

 

 

 

What I’ve said it in black & white pales in comparison to the color & fun you’ll experience by coming out this Saturday. So, I’m asking y’all not to miss it – even if you have no time but 30minutres. Come and check the Elves’ out at least once. You’ll find it difficult not to come a second time!  And if you have school age children, well you just might find yourself wanting to get them into Waldorf

 

 

Gotta Support the Kids. Stay Thirsty My Friends

A Safe Place at a Funky Little Coffee House

 

A funky little coffee house (FLCH) aka the Coffee Gallery to out of towners, up north in Altadena held a reception for an artist earlier this month.

For a gifted gal who grew up in Pasadena, left for many a year to the Big Apple, but now is back home in The Crown City/The Rose City, aka Pasadena to out of towners.

She invited me to her reception for the watercolor exhibit she was calling a “Safe Place.” I indicated I would be there in support. Well, I didn’t make it.   I had a perfectly good reason of course: “something came up.”  You know – laziness, blogginess, and brain freeze.

 

 

Then just the other day a mutual friend reminded me of the FLCH exhibit.  I had to make it this time. But I didn’t have much time left. Her art is on display only this month!

 

 

A fairly busy day for the drinkers & surfers…

 

 

I got to talking with Donna a local Altadena blogger, the resident FLCH artist, et al. She also runs their Open Mic Nites, etc, and what doesn’t she do for the FLCH??!  And another thing -  she’s now getting into the Fluke, and maybe even starting a FLCH of Flukers!  What??  Well, I just had to get a picture of that -  I mean of her Fluke while at rest…

 

 

The FLCH has an alternative art gallery that promotes the artwork of emerging and established artists from the Greater Los Angeles area.  Here’s just a few photographs of Victoria’s artwork from her current exhibit.  Ahem, the lighting & the glare weren’t exactly up to Huntington Museum Gallery standards this day:

 

     

 

For this artist painting is synonymous to going to a safe place. Don’t we all need at least one place like that.

 

 

You say you wish you could paint, but don’t know how?  Well if a botanist (Donna) and mathematician (Victoria) can do art, so can you.  Visit Victoria’s art exhibit this week, then see Donna about her watercolor classes.  All at this Funky Little Coffee House – that’s The Coffee Gallery for the rest of you.

 

 

Gotta Get My Brain Going! Stay Thirsty My Friends