Hot Jazz

I'm one of those people who almost always needs a sweater in the evening, so I treasure these summer nights when I can be sleeveless outside. It's hot during the day, but to me it's worth it to have evenings when I don't shiver.

Here's a good way to spend a couple of hours on warm a Sunday evening: the Playhouse District's 6th Annual Free Jazz Summer Concert Series, Sunday nights, 5-7 pm in the courtyard at Vroman's.

I took this photo last Sunday, July 12th. Nick Mancini's Quartet was scheduled, but this was definitely a trio. So if you're particular about which group you're going to see I recommend you give a call first (there's a number listed at the link). Otherwise, just go. The music's going to be good, and you'll get to sit outside without a sweater.

Bridge Benefits

Every year--except this year--Pasadena Heritage holds a fund-raising party on the Colorado Street Bridge. But due to the "challenging economic times," this year's party had to be canceled.

That doesn't mean you can't celebrate the bridge, and raise funds for Pasadena Heritage as well.

Today is Bridge Benefit Day at these local eateries who support Pasadena Heritage:
Big Mama's Rib Shack
Los Tacos
Cha Da Thai
Robin's Restaurant
Chandra Thai

Can't spare the bucks to eat out tonight? A walk in Lower Arroyo Park is free.

Opportunist

The Arroyo is arrayed with spider webs. They dangle like ornaments from the branches of innocent trees who have no idea of their complicity.

Freak Creek

Pasadena Daily Photo has had a lot of outside input lately. As long as people tell us interesting stories, you won't find me complaining.

This one's not so much a story as it is a question: What is, or was, Woodbury Creek?

On June 24th, I received an email from Stan Ellington of Pasadena, telling me about this "concrete stream bed that flows from under Mountain Street just east of El Molino Ave. (Gladys Ct. and Mountain St.). I think this is Woodbury Creek," he said, "that used to flow through Washington Park but is now mostly underground. I can't find it on any map of Pasadena. Do you have any information on this stream?"

I didn't have any information, but that didn't stop Stan. He found LA Creek Freak, a blog about LA's lost waterways, and asked them the same question. On June 29th they posted the outstanding entry, Woodburied Creek. They even posted maps. The one I've linked to shows a blue line through the area at the southeast corner of Washington and El Molino, where you'll find Washington Park. The line continues south between El Molino and Palm, meeting up with Mountain Avenue at Gladys Court where Stan had first noticed the creek.

In her post on LA Creek Freak, Jessica Hall said, "I suspect the City of Pasadena may also have stormdrains over the creek, as we all know it is encased in concrete today." Gee, ya think? From the same position where I took the above photo, I turned around 180 degrees and took this:
The framing's not perfect. I didn't realize at the time what I was taking a picture of. But sure enough, there you have a storm drain and a manhole cover.

Just yesterday Boz and I were walking along another street that crosses the creek path, and we passed a driveway with a manhole cover right in the middle of it. I'd never seen that before. I checked the map and it, too, is in the (concrete) path of Woodbury Creek.

Stan's question still feels unanswered. But I want to thank Stan for asking it and for turning all of us on to LA Creek Freak. They are a find. Maybe someday we'll find Woodbury Creek, too.

Free Time

Are you free this afternoon? Well how about that? So is the Pasadena Museum of History.

Pasadena family histories are highlighted at the PMH right now, and on Wednesdays until January 10, 2010 you can get in free if you live, work or go to school in our community. They're calling it Community Wednesdays. Click the link for times and requirements. You have to prove you live here, and the link tells you how.

I took this photo upstairs in the Fenyes Mansion, which is part of the museum. (Mansion tours may be separate; check the website for times. A $4 donation is suggested.) It's the bathroom. Just the bathroom.

As Pasadena's Public Information Officer says, "Don't cry to me that there's nothing to do in Pasadena this summer." (Check this post for a list of free activities for kids and teens.)

Storming

This storm is not happening today. No, no, this happened sometime in the past. But we can commemorate it.

Today is Bastille Day in France, and because it was a French man who inspired me to create Pasadena Daily Photo, it's fitting to honor him and all my French amis with a photo.

I searched my files. I had no red, white and blue. I should have run out and taken a photo of the Alliance Française de Pasadena, but I was working today. I didn't have a picture of a Bastille. But storming? Storming I've got.

Zen Monday: #56

Zen Monday is the day you experience the photo and give us your thoughts rather than me telling you what the photo's about.

As I post each new Zen Monday photo, I'll add a label to last week's to identify it if necessary (if I know what it is).