Greetings from GinaB

Holiday greetings to friends of Pasadena Daily Photo from GinaB! Here she is with husband Yayo and their rowdy wards, Samson, Canela and Hamlet. Happy New Year, too!

Santa Paula Stroll

John and I took a trip to Santa Paula a couple of weeks ago. We love to get in the car and wander for a day into the small towns nearby. It's not hard to get out of Los Angeles and find something sweet.

Originally a Chumash Indian village, Santa Paula is now the Citrus Capital of the World.



The town seems to be doing well, but I like this empty store shot.
We made the mistake of eating in Fillmore. Don't do that. Eat in Santa Paula. There are a few good choices. Antique shops, too. It's an easy drive from Los Angeles, and a nice place to stroll the streets and feel like you live in a small town for a day.

Hollywood Woman

Rain

Passing by Warner Bros. in Burbank on a late September day.
Rain.
Not much, but when you live here you take what you can get.
When it was over my car was filthy! (Of course my car was filthy before it started...)

Devil's Gate Dam

These photos show some of the inner workings of the Devil's Gate Dam at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena, California. I don't know what they are, I just thought they looked interesting. These photos are overflow from a post at Pasadena Daily Photo.








Below is a broader view of the dam. To give you an idea of scale, click on the photo and enlarge it. You can see streetlights on top of the dam. The greenery is full-sized trees.

I took the photos above by shoving my camera inside the workings of the vertical grate at the bottom center of the dam.

Bastille Day Eve with the SoCal PDP Fan Pod

Southern California fans of Paris Daily Photo celebrated Bastille Day at Lilly's French Cafe in Venice. We'd have gone to Perris, but it's too far from L.A.


Here we are early in the evening, when we first met and before the ice was broken. Seated, you see Tall Gary, Pont Girl and my husband, John. Standing: that's Carrie on the left and me on the right.


Wow, what a difference after a Kir Royale and a meal, huh? What a wacky bunch! Actually we had a great time discussing our mutual interests in France and its history and culture, plus our work, our travels and the other things that make up good conversation. We talked a lot about Paris Daily Photo, the unique and wonderful blog that brought us together, and all the unique and wonderful people we've met there—especially Eric Tenin, the master of ceremonies.


This is "Eric the Escargot." He didn't make it through the meal. Too tasty. You know we're big fans.

5 Questions

Aaron Proctor has this nifty column in Pasadena Weekly, and he was kind enough to feature me this week. Thank you, Aaron!

Altadena Mountain Rescue Rappelling Sequence

These members of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team were training a new recruit at the Devil's Gate Dam the other day. This photo sequence is of her first rappel (ever!) . More information at Pasadena Daily Photo.

Pasadena Police Classic Car Show

The Pasadena Police 2008 Classic Car Show was held on Colorado Blvd. Sunday, June 15th (Fathers Day).


Gee, I just want a look at that Datsun 2000...


Nice line-up.


Paul says this is the car he drives around town every day. He and his car will appear on the June 30th episode of "101 Cars You Must Drive" on cable TV's Speed Channel. Paul says his car is the star of the "not sexy" segment.






Ah. There's the Datsun.

Elegant Entropy

South Pasadena's Rialto Theatre, on the National Register of Historic Places. A few shots:

The marquee.


These stairs are on the south side of the building.


Detail of the stairs.


This yellow door is at the foot of the rusty stairs.

Cinema 21 Extras

A window at Cinema 21.


Cinema 21 at 845 Washington Blvd., a little the worse for wear. You can see where someone ran into the near corner. The window bars are iron, so I'd say the vehicle was big, and going fast.


The lobby.


Under the marquee.


Vandals have been busy.


From the back, you can see where the apartments were in relation to the cinema.


Reminds me of an old tenement. I guess that's exactly what it was.


At street level, cold air flows from the windows, even on a hot day.

Pasadena's Iraq War 5 Year Anniversary Vigil

Yesterday's vigil was heartening, to say the least. I met and photographed a lot of great people. The turnout was terrific, and the support from the traffic (honk!!!) was spectacular.


P.J. the positive!


A well-spoken patriot.


Jaunty tie clasp.


A veteran of the first Iraq war shows up for peace.


Teach your children well.