#242: Lower Arroyo Seco Park

As a new parent, I find that my mind and body are often at odds with one another.  In my mind, I envision myself taking my little girl on fun filled adventures everyday. My sleep deprived body, however, says... Um.... Uh.... Zzzzz... 

Take last weekend. After spending Saturday sprawled on the sofa, Brad and I vowed to at least take our girl to the park on Sunday. Sadly, our tiredness won out yet again and our front lawn became the "park". Yeehaw. 

This weekend I told myself "Mind Over Body!" and was determined to get out and do a nature walk. Kelly encouraged me to check out the Lower Arroyo Seco Park in Pasadena. The walk takes you along a river bed and under beautiful bridges, including Colorado Street Bridge. It's also on fairly flat ground, making it great for the out of shape and weary. The pictures on Yelp looked amazing, so when our little rooster woke at 6 am, we hit the road. 

We started our walk at the parking lot which can be accessed at the corner of South Arroyo Blvd and Norwood Drive.  

Turn when you see this sign and follow the road down to the parking lot.  

at the beginning of the walk

heading north toward the bridge

The walk starts at the archery range and takes you north along the concrete channel towards the Colorado Bridge.



You can walk along either side of the channel, but as you approach the bridge, get to the right side (the left side dead ends).

Once under the bridge, you'll have to go up a semi steep dirt hill to continue along the path, so this is not a walk for strollers or high heels.  Continue walking and you'll find yourself under the 134 freeway.

We continued walking a little more, and then turned back around. This KCET article outlines our 1.4 mile walk.  If you want a longer walk, I found this L.A. Times article that describes both a 3 and 7 mile walk you can take in the area. 

When we left around 10 am, the lot was full and there was a line of cars waiting. I think this was due to Saturday morning archery practice. So if you plan on going, you might want to avoid this time or just park on the main street and walk down.

I loved Arroyo Seco Park and only wished I had more time to explore it. While we were there, we saw a lot of joggers, hikers and dog walkers, but in no way did the park feel crowded. It's the perfect urban nature getaway! 

Have you been to Arroyo Seco Park? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below! 

Arroyo Seco Park

#230: Bungalow Heaven

When Brad's parents came to visit a couple of weeks ago, they mentioned wanting to see Bungalow Heaven, a cozy neighborhood in Pasadena that has the largest collection of Craftsman-style homes ("California Bungalows") in the country. These homes were built between 1905 and 1925, and because of their historic significance, the neighborhood is included in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
























I have to admit, I had no idea what Arts & Crafts style architecture was before our visit. The name brought to mind popsicle sticks, Elmer's glue and colored glitter... Needless to say, I couldn't have been more wrong. It turns out that the Arts & Crafts style is a departure from the ornate Victorian aesthetic to a more simple, nature-oriented design. It emphasizes fine craftsmanship over mass production, incorporating locally crafted wood, metal and glass work.

Perhaps the most well known Craftsman house in Pasadena is the Gamble House, which was built for David and Mary Gamble of the Procter & Gamble Company.  I still haven't gotten around to visiting this historic house. You can beat me to it--they offer public guided tours on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and the weekend. Click here for more info.

Want to visit these homes yourself? For 364 days of the year, you can only drive around and admire the outside of the houses in Bungalow Heaven.  However, one day a year--this year it's Sunday April 29th--you can take self-guided tours inside eight of the houses. Docents will be around to answer any questions you may have. One of the eight houses even offers a "Living History" tour in which actors pretend to be homeowners of the time.  Click here for more info about the 23rd Annual Bungalow Heaven Historic Home Tour.


Bungalow Heaven

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#189: The Pasadena Chalk Festival

This past weekend, Angelenos treaded lightly on the streets of Pasadena as over 600 artists took part in the world's largest display of chalk art: the Pasadena Chalk Festival.

Over 25,000 pieces of chalk are used up in this yearly event, which takes place on the sidewalks of Old Pasadena. We went on Sunday afternoon just as artists were finishing their creations. It was amazing seeing how something like this:

could be reinterpreted as this:

Artists competed in various categories, including Best 3D Effect, Most Humorous, Best Rendering of a Masterpiece, and People's Choice. The First Place Best of Festival winner was this beauty:

The Pasadena Chalk Festival is free, and both garage and street parking are available nearby. Click here to see a gallery of this year's winners.

The Pasadena Chalk Festival

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#122: NASA's JPL Open House

Mission Control

Mission Control, We have lift off!

Yesterday was a scorcher in Pasadena... Enough to make a west sider wilt and cry for her coconut water. We got to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab at around 2:30 pm (first mistake) for their much acclaimed Open House. JPL only opens its doors to the public for two days of the year, and we had some burning questions that needed answered (i.e. "What should we do to prepare for the sun exploding in six years?" "What happened to the city on the dark side of the moon?" and "Which studio in Burbank did they film Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon?")

At 2:30, parking was abundant, but required a 5 minute uphill trek to the laboratories. It was unbelievably hot, I had no hat (mistake #2), and I only brought half a cup of water (mistake #3).

We headed into the first exhibit we saw--the microtechnology lab--mainly because it was too hot to stay outside. Here, we got to see the labs where they made small microscopic things. (Can you tell I didn't really read the informative signs they posted?) We then met up with a friend who was in line at Deep Space Operations--aka mission control.

After waiting in line for 45 minutes, we got into the building (yay!) only to wait in another line (aw) for another 20 minutes.

Line outside

Line inside

Then we finally got to see mission control, which was the coolest part of our visit. I took a picture of a guy down there working on something... important... Zoom and enhance!

To sum it all up, long lines + heat = not so much fun.

So why did I include the JPL Open House on my list of "amazing unforgettable things to do in L.A.?" One man's misery is another man's pleasure. Take, for example, the four college guys in line in front of us at Deep Space whose enthusiasm (read: nerdiness) for space even surprised the JPL workers. One guy's "This is Awwwwsome!!!!" trembled with such excitement and anticipation, like a little kid waiting in line at Disney Land. The guy in line behind us decked out in a gray JPL t-shirt and JPL hat was, I'm sure, just as thrilled.

So if you are a science nerd, or if you don't mind long lines (it actually looks like a cooler day today), then head out to JPL now!

JPL

#119: Rose Bowl Flea Market

Photo from ratestogo

On the second Sunday of every month, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena opens its gates to hundreds of vendors selling everything from vintage clothing to antique furniture. For just a $8 entry fee (free parking!), from 9 am - 3 pm you can shop till you drop or just browse till you feel... dizzy... (I was in the latter category :P)

So Brad and I visited the Rose Bowl flea market this past Sunday. It was cold, windy and overcast, but we scoured the aisles relentlessly in search of a coffee table. I guess I was expecting to find an amazing table at like $30 or something, but they were all in the $200-$500 range. I think craigslist is the better place for deals, personally. No matter, though... We had fun gawking at the beautiful vintage finds. Among the highlights were these really cool mod pieces of furniture by GoModRetro. I could definitely drop a pretty penny here. There was also a stall selling these amazing glass bottles topped with star fish and sea horses for $50-$100.

Image from Anthropologie

I then saw the same things online at Anthropologie for $200! o_O

Rose Bowl Flea Market

#69: The Armory Center for the Arts

Rainbow In The Sky

A crocodile ottoman, a giant pork rind, and a room filled with numbered feathers falling from the sky are just a few of the modern art pieces displayed at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena.

Usually when I go to an art exhibit, this is what goes on in my head:

oooh perrty!

wut?!

oh-em-gee!!

So when my friend Laura who is in art school right now decided to teach me a thing or two about art appreciation, I was so thankful. The biggest tip she had was to ask a lot of questions and see things from the artist's perspective. For example, "Why is there just the skeleton of a canoe hanging from the wall and not a fully made one?" "Why is this a red candle and not an orange one?" or "Was this humongous tapestry made by hand or a machine?". It's the details that make a world of difference.

The Armory Center is free, and it also features installations around Pasadena. We caught the last day of the Rainbow In The Sky exhibit a few blocks down. This museum is a hidden gem in the heart of Pasadena. They also offer adult and children classes in various arts including photography, ceramics and print making.

Armory Arts Center

Crocodile Ottoman

Classroom

Feathers from the Sky

Giant Pork Rind

#67: Old Town Pasadena

from OldPasadena

With its historic streets and plethora of galleries, theaters, restaurants and shops, it's clear why Old Town Pasadena can brag that it's "The Real Downtown." (Oh snap!) Here are some things to check out if you're in the area..

from pasadenachalkfestival

The Pasadena Chalk Festival

This is a yearly event that takes place every June for one weekend only. Hundreds of artists cover the sidewalks of Old Pasadena with stunning chalk recreations of masterpieces as well as original art.

photo by Timothy Nolan for Make Music Pasadena

Make Music Pasadena

Another June event! With a lineup heavy on the indie rock, this festival is the perfect hipster hangout. The best part? It's free!

Old Pasadena Film Festival

The Old Pasadena Film Festival is a free four week movie series held in July. It's the largest free outdoor film festival in SoCal, and is guaranteed to show something for everyone.

from youarehere

Pasadena City Hall

This impressive building is located at 100 North Garfield Ave. It's pretty hard to miss. It was designed in the early Renaissance style and construction was completed in 1927. It's worth a visit to admire the stunning architecture of this hall.

from aecom

The Pasadena Convention Center

The Pasadena Convention Center holds conventions, events and performances that change every month. I was recently there for a Chinese Acrobatic performance called Dare. Click here for a calendar of events.

#44: Norton Simon Museum

Sure, the Getty and LACMA make The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena seem like an ant in their Herculean shadows. However, don't underestimate the Norton Simon Museum; it has beautiful art amid a tranquil setting.

Perhaps my favorite part of the museum is the garden and lake in the back. The lake is a great place to sip some coffee and meditate. Afterwards, you can walk around the lake to view the sculptures. When you're finished, you'll find plenty of shopping and restaurants are just down the street on Colorado Blvd.

Norton Simon Museum

#12: The Bunny Museum

Have you ever encountered something so bizarre that it simultaneously scared and amazed you? Welcome to the Bunny Museum of Pasadena.

I own two bunnies, and I seriously love them, but I promised myself I would never start collecting bunny paraphernalia after stepping out of this place.

The Bunny Museum is smack dab in the middle of residential Pasadena. That's because this "museum" doubles as a house. Not sure which house it is? Well just look for the giant bunny hedge sculpture ala Edward Scissorhands.

We got there at the same time as a family of 5, all of us bearing gifts of veggies and treats for the 3 bunnies that live in the museum/house. When I first got in, I really was taken aback; every square centimeter of this place was crammed with bunnies from floor to ceiling. There was literally no space for more!

Brad in the stuffed bunny room

How did all this bunny madness begin? The husband and wife decided to give each other a bunny every day as a token of their affection. Well, they are coming on their 17th year together... Assuming they are together until ripe old age, how will they fit any more bunnies into this place? Where's Clean House when you need it?

These are the owners' previous pet bunnies that are now stuffed.

Ok, well it was not all "mess". In fact, there was actually a method to the madness---the bunnies were organized into sections: the bunny puzzle section, the bunny themed food section, the stuffed bunny room, etc. The coolest part of the museum was their deceased stuffed pet bunnies that they keep in a glass case. Are ya creeped out yet?

The Bunny Museum