Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The graphic below shows the most common words used by Altadena residents when describing what they treasure about Altadena, what problems it has, and their vision for its future.
At the first county Altadena Community Visioning workshop on April 4, the consultants asked participants to stick Post-It notes to the wall laying out what they treasure about Altadena, the challenges Altadena faces and their vision for its future. The roughly 125 participants came up with a whole variety of responses, but their were some common themes. The first graphic above captures some of them--the graphic is a word cloud that was created by inputting every single response written down on the Post-Its by the April 4 workshop participants. The next three graphics show what words people mentioned in each specific exercise, the first when they were asked about what they treasure about Altadena, the second when asked about Altadena's …
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
For a gesture beyond the usual flower and chocolates, we suggest some alternatives, right here in Altadena.
I’ve never been a fan of long stemmed roses, Hallmark cards, Pepto-Bismol pink, or institutionalized sentimentality. And this has proved to be a problem in more than one relationship. The men I’ve known have always been gooey marshmallows when it comes to Valentine’s Day. Oh, well, opposites attract. I believe in love, indeed I do, but mandated romance and gaudy displays of affection embarrass me. One boyfriend used to have funeral-sized flower arrangements delivered to my desk at work. What innocent bystander did he think this would impress–Steve in Human Resources, Cathy in Accounting? I couldn’t stick pins in the Forever balloons fast enough. Then there was this chap I married. Thinking we were kindred spirits, I didn’t buy him …
Friday, January 20, 2012
Any hidden gems, little shops, mom & pop's, you’d care to share?
It seems the general consensus around here is that we avoid poor Cousin Ralphs whenever possible, and pay the occasional visit to his rich relations in La Cañada or Hastings Ranch. In addition to the well-heeled side of the Ralphs family, likely most of us can, at some time or another, be found at a TJ’s, Whole Foods or Super King. But surely, there must be something else within whistling distance of Altadena. As several people have mentioned, Altadena Food Fair is worth a stop. It’s right across the street from our town and features fresh spices and roasted coffee beans, nuts, a meat counter, produce, sandwiches, a cafe. Also, given the right time of year, they offer an abundance of locally (or regionally) grown fruit, such as apricots…
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Revvel Revati loves fitness regimens, talking freely about emotional problems that manifest into physical pain, and hula hoops.
Since 1977 Revvel Revati has been trying different techniques to get in shape, becoming in the process a body work therapist, foot reflexologist, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and voice dialogue. This year it occurred to her that there are probably many more women like her who were in the same position. This gave her an idea for what would eventually bloom into her current small business, which she runs from home. She started circulating the idea of holding exercise classes, to put it mildly, among women she knew as well as posting on the internet. To her surprise, several women showed up to the first class, on Aug. 15. Her classes, which are for women aged 40 and older only to maintain a certain comfort level, start slow and over …
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
For some memorable holiday photos, professional photographer Ibarionex Perello says forget the camera (figuratively speaking)
- HOLIDAY GUIDE 2011
- Karin Bugge
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Taking photos at a holiday gathering is like cooking a holiday meal–without proper preparation, the end result may prove uncomfortable for all involved. The digital age has made photography both easier and harder, better and worse than it was before. Better, because now we just snap, print and publish. Worse, because now we just snap, print, and publish. Today, it’s way too easy to publish photos–photos that look overexposed, underexposed. And photos that those near and dear, friends and family, might find less than flattering. Post in haste, repent at leisure. The digital photography phenomenon has other quagmires, as well. The cameras themselves, for example, have an insane number of settings and options. We can get lost in …
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The monthly food truck event will not take place this Friday evening.
The popular monthly Fancy Food Truck Friday event that was originally scheduled to take place this Friday has been canceled because rain is in the forecast, according to Meredith Miller, the co-owner of Webster's Community Pharmacy, and an organizer of the event. The event, which had its status up in the air for a while because of permit issues, is planned to resume as normal in December, she added.
The homegrown Altadena gelato business is opening a second branch in Culver City in December, the Los Angeles Weekly reports.
Homegrown Altadena business Bulgarini Gelato will be expanding to Culver City next month, according to the Los Angeles Weekly. Leo Bulgarini, the owner, has made it in Altadena offering hand-made gelato with fresh ingredients, many imported from Europe. He offers a variety of flavors that switch up periodically from his shop in the commercial center at the intersection of Lake and Altadena. Read Altadena Patch's profile of Bulgarini here Bulgarini initially won wider fame in the county when he made the list of LA Weekly food critic Jonathan Gold as "one of the 99 things to eat in L.A. before you die." His new shop will be on Washington Boulevard in Culver City at Teaforest Coffee and Tee Bar. According to the Weekly, Bulgarini intends to…
Monday, November 7, 2011
Two Altadena residents have started a CrossFit gym in Pasadena after deciding that driving to Monrovia to work out was too far. Can they make a living from it?
New business owners Peter Danenberg and Tom Scoble have a modest goal for their gym: they want to make enough money to break even. And if they can do better, then they can make it their full time livelihood. Danenberg and Scoble, both Altadena residents, just opened a local branch of the CrossFit franchise last week. CrossFit is a gym craze that has participants switching quickly from one activity to another in a pre-set list while timing themselves and competing with others. Danenberg and Scoble were both big fans of Crossfit and met while working out at the Monrovia franchise, the most convenient CrossFit location for them to attend. While there is also a CrossFit location in Old Pasadena, the parking there is difficult and the cost …
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1830 Locust St, Pasadena, CA
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Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Saturday's workshop at the Zane Grey Estate demonstrates that happy goats and good small dairy practices make for expensive milk but a rich life
Was I really thinking about raising goats? Well, maybe; probably not; no. To be honest, I’ll use any excuse to visit the Zane Grey Estate on a Saturday morning. It’s such a pretty place, a connection to old and new Altadena that smells of pine and healthy earth and growing things. So a workshop on raising goats? Sure. Should they ever offer Window Washing for Dummies, Do it Yourself Drywalling, or any other skill I have no intention of practicing, I’ll still be first in line. The only downside to visiting Steve Rudicel and Gloria Putnam of Zane Grey and Mariposa Creamery fame, is that I feel like such a slacker. I don’t raise goats and chickens, make my own cheese and wine. I don’t own a restaurant like Steve, I’m not an astronaut or …
Steve Lamb
2:12 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
somehow I doubt that business is more in the minds of Altadenans than say trails or nature. more ›